The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-03
of accidentals of non-essentials, of filter
forms to clothe unchangTng truth.
Adapts Herself.

of accidentals. of non-essentials, Of filter
forms to clothe unehanging truth.
Adapts Herself.
The church adapts herself to the emer-
gencies and the needs of each age and
time and cline. In the first centuries the
church was sapling. To-Day 1t is
mighty tree with spreading branches. fair
fruit and fragrant flowers. Who dare say
the wood is not the same. II is but Won
derfully evolved. So, then, when the state
ment Is made that the church today Is
different from the church of apostolic
days you may answer essentially, no. In
non-essentials grant It If you will
The second statement frequently made
is. the church is antlquated. out of date.
unprogressive, a foe to progress. As a
general rule those who make that state
, ment are theorists with new-fansled pam
aceas to cure all human ills. Knowing the
vast influence and power of the church
they arc disturbed and indignant that It
does not give them the seal of her ap-
proval. The church, however, is a great
body and moves slowly. She bides her
time. In possession of immutable truth
she knows, having the accumulated wis
dom of nearly twenty centuries, that the
wildcat schemes and jaclS-o-lantern pro-
jeets of such sociological theorists will
be discarded on the morrow for others
more impracticable still.
Abreast of Progress.
No the church is not the foe of pro-
gress She is abreast Of progress. adapts
and encourages inventions and discovery
in every field but she Is unwilling to
laud and hail as luminares those so-called
savants that rush forward with views
and theories and deductions based on in
sufficient and far from established facts.
Besides in many cases such theories are
outside the churehs mission. The church
was established to save souls, to do in
the world Christ's work, to teach and
preach to those that are in darkness and
| in the shadow OF death
| Yes. this Is an age of criticisml crlti-
cism of everything. Nothing escapes now
adays. and no wonder the church is at
| tackled. But most of the attacks of the
day are but the resurrected attacks re-
futed time and time again in the CEN
turtles since the days of Christ. Indeed
the attacks of today are but puerie and
| weak
+, Many think that the hypocritlcal attl-
| tude toward Christianity in general and
the church in particular a mark of in
telectuality and superiority. In reality
such an attitude but marks the superb
cally read. Their learning and knowl-
J edge is the learning derived from the
I 10 cent magazine and the modern fash
ionable novel that read raved about and
forgotten.
Weary But Amused.
We Catholics are weary of the old as
saults. weary and somewhat amused as
each newly-fedged opponent In rusty ar
NOR with Anticipated weapons rushes into
the arena and makes a noisy din. This
age is an age of indlfferentsm. OF warn
ing faith. They who oftily criticise the
rock of ages do so, It seems with doubt;
with doubt that the great minds of by
gone days who were masters in science.
literature, are and withal little children In
! their childhood submission to mother
6church knew more than the men of to-
day though heirs OF all the ages gone.
And truly they did for they had the
great gift of faith. Faith is pleasing to
God. Faith is 1auded by the late laureate
in these wonderful words:
! How ever 1t seems to me
] IT'S only noble to be good.
| Kind hearts are more than coronets
And simple faiththan Norman blood"