Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-06-06

NnuNcultnCe, OF 70 lne ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
OF others no more discriminating than
ourselves But when we come to realize
how short the time is that we can devote
to intellectual pursuits, and the great
variety to be found in their field, and,
further, the relation which they neces-
sarily bear to our whole life, it surely is
not too much 20 insist that, ere we de-
termine upon an indiscriminate employ
ment OF our time in this direction, we
should resolutely apply ourselves to a
determination OF the relative claims upon
our attention OF the various-if not,
indeed, IN many instances, adverse
competitors for that attention,
Thus only shall we be able to derive
the greatest profit from our studies and
save ourselves from the vain regrets that
Will be sure to follow upon our too late
discovery Of how we have practically
wasted our time and labor in violating
the Law OF Proportion.
All this is moTe evident and lamentable
when these intellectual pursuits are con-
cerned with things theological; especially
when the intellect reaches the region Of
faith, and occupies itself with questions
Of doctrinal character, as enioined by
the church Of Christ.
While we may say safely enough that
there are some doctrines more important
and essential than Others. il is not TO their
relative claims that | am now alluding
The violation of the Law Of Proportion
that ! have in mind in this connection.
is that OF which think the mind is guilty
when 1t fails to restrain as TO essential
doctrines the exercise Of its functions
within what deem TO be its proper re-
strictions
In other words, the mind is not justi-
ned IN thus exercising itself as though IL
were dealing with some mathematical
or other scientific problems, or the obiter
dicta Of fallible men, The truly Catholic
doctrines of the church are fixed and
immutable; not subject to any of the
changing and evanescent spirits OF the
age, which arrogantly claims that they
may be interpreted and reinterpreted in
the light and meaning of the changing
thought Of the world
Therefore the mind must hold in due
proportion the veneraticn or belief of
doctrines which are truly Catholic
however so much beyond our power of
entire comprehension some Of them may
be-and that liberty or independence
which II may properly enough claim in
regard to such as are not formally and
authoritatively enioined in the creeds
Of the church.
There are men, and not a few Of them,
who arc ready enough to acknowledge
the authority of law as concerns their
social and commercial life, and are quick
to denounce any infringement of its
prohibitions, who seem TO consider them
selves quite free to think as lawlessly as
they please.
We shall never know the full extent
Of mischief wrought by those who arro-
gate to themselves the right TO submit
the great cardinal tenets of Christianity
to their constant intellectual review.
This mischief is not confined TO them
selves. They are misleading and be-
wildering and hurting others who are
looking up TO them for guidance and in
struction, and who, in not a few in
stances, I fear, become in time utterly
creedless and hopeless
In thus decrying this disobedience as
evinced in the undue exutation OF the
right OF private judgment over the in
herited deliverences of the Catholic
Church, am not moved by the slightest
fear as to any appreciable result of such
lawlessness so far as the church herself
is concerned or her sacred deposit of
Interchangeable truth, the fxity OF which.
amid all the assaults upon it-whether
from within or without-is one of the
most comforting assurances OF her con-
tinuous life in her adorable Head.
No. have absolutely no fear for the
church and her creeds, Whatever may
be their own opinion Of and confidence in
their supposed intellectual or moral SUI
periority who are disturbing the peace
of the church by their disproportionate
and, therefore, lawless treatment Of doc
trinal questions, they are by no means
superior to many other equally lawless
students who have through the centuries
been likewise disturbing, so unjustifably,
this same peace. Strong as they may be.
they are not so strong as the gates of hell;
and we have Christs own promise that
these gates shall not prevail against His
church. These words, however. so chari-
tably / may say them, may seem to those
concerning whom they are written as
wanting in charity But, while disclaim-
| ing any such lack, may / further say
/ that such persons seem to be utterly
oblivious Of the real pain and grief which
they themselves are so often inflictine
upon trustful and peaceful souls by their
I crude and ill-advised sentiments and
groundless conclusions Nay, not this
only; but alasl in not a few instances they
are actually bringing about, however SO
unconsciously and unintentionally, the
total loss of their faith.
! tell you, my dear brethren, there is
clear violation of the Law OF Propor-
tion when men let loose the powers OF
their intellect and attempt to bring
under their sway the revealed truths OF
God as manifested in His lnearnate
Son, without regard to their Divine
origin and their imperious claims upon
the worlds acceptance and maintenance
in all their integrity. Men are not asked
10 abdicate their right to think and Ia
reason; but their intellectual parts are
not to usurp the functions Of their con-
sciences and souls. The Observance OF
a due proportion will preserve the har-
mony Of their life, and save them from
anarchy and ruin.
Once more, this same violation of the
| Law OF Proportion is very evident in the
/ distribution by men Of their time. their
energy, and their substance. How little
in most instances, how very little. of ali
/ this is devoted directly to the cause OF
Christ and His church,
recognize, unequlvocally, the pro-
priety Of such claims upon them as NAV
arise out Of their relation to mems fami-
lies, their business, their civic com
munities, and their regard to their own
health and recreation.
But just as unequivocally assert that
there is, by the very laws of our creation
and preservation, a proportion Of all
this belonging to the relations in which
men stand to God and their ecclesiastical
membership. But many men. alasl
seem to be utterly destitute Of any sense
Of obligation in this respect. II thew