The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-12

Without once referring directly to the
French government and the recent CLASH
between the state and the Catholic
Church. Senator Albert J. Beveridge put
himself on record At the thirty-fourth
annual dinner of the Carroll Institute
last night as being strongly opposed TO
the drastic policy of the French govern
nent.
When Senator Beveridge entered the
hall he was greeted with cheers. Free
quently during his speech he was inter
trupted with applause. especially when he
made his points clear as being opposed
to the action of the authorities of the
French government against tie Catholic
Church.
Not Official Opinion,
With reference TO the religious ques-
ton, Senator Beveridge said in part
with the purely governmental contro-
verSy between any nation and its citizens
or subjects. We Americans. as a nation,
have nothing 10 do IN such questions We
Americans as individuals may have our
personal opinion. bat not an official opin-
ion. But when any government on earth
grounds its policy in an attack on reiig-
ion ITSELF then it is time for all men who
believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ to
speak out in protest For such an attack
IS the beginning Of a movement against
all religion and its end is TO dethrone the
Saviour OF the world as the Sovereign of
the spiritual and moral empire of man
kind
When powerful public man I'm any
land uses such language as this: All of
us together. first by our forefathers. then
by our fathers, now by ourselves have
been attached 20 the work Of ire
lgion. We have snatched the human
conscience from belief in future life
- 10 you think the work is at an end
No. IL is but beginning
When conspicuous political leader
declares that IT is time TO set rid of the
Christian idea We have hunted Jesus
Christ out of the army the navy the
schools. the hospitals, insane and orphan
asylums and law courts. and now we
must hunt Him out of the state alto
gether
When such words are not the, ex-
pressions of individual atheism. but the
formal announcement Of an anti-reiigi0us,
political and social movement then all
believers I'm God, In Christ. and in i'm
mortality must promptly take their stand
for their faith and for all that the main
tenance Of Christianity means To the up
liftment of the world and the salvation
of the race.
Preservation of Religion.
When the issue is thus broadly, clearly
drawn. it ceases to be a Catholic question
and becomes a question Of the preserva-
e tion Of religion itself. It affects all Chris
tian churches equalIy-the Methodist as
much as the Catholic. the Presbyterian
as much as the Baptist the Episcopalian
as much as either. IT affects. in a word.
the ongOing OF the CoHquering march Of
the ideals OF our Lord.
AT its root the question is this Shall
the civilized world be atheist or Chris
tian? Upon that issue do not hesitate
10 take my stand The vision Of Daniel
Of the stone, cut by hands unseen from
the mountain side rolling on till it fills
the earth with It's glory, must come true
will come true. The Masters re:gn
must spread, and will, until all mankind
Acknowledges its blessed sway. Whoever
battles I'm that cause, whether he be Pro-
testant or Catholic is a soldier Of heaven
lighting in a sacred cause.
7 wonder If men who talk so boldly Of
exteTmInaung our faith understand what
would happen if that faith were de-
throned. How long do you suppose the
republic would last if ali the churches
were turned into factories and all the
preachers and priests-ministers of the
same gospel-ceased forever their holy vo-
cation? How long would society itself en-
dure? Morals are the influence that make
us men instead of beasts, and religion -
the principle Of life which vitalizes morals.
What this country needs. and what the
world needs, is not less. but more, religion
not less. but more faith in a real tangi-
BILE Supreme Ruler. to whom each one of
US is accountable for our most secret
thoughts; not less. but more belief thar
afoer death we live again. and that but by
striving 10 live as lived the Son of Man.
we shall live better here and live
gIoriOusly hereafter
Absolute Liberty.
Freedom Of faith, tolerance Of opinion.
inviolable right to believe what we will.
and serve God as our conscience com
mands US, absolute liberty to all cur
brothers to do the same thing-this is
what free institutions mean. Men have
rebelled against the intolerance Of dogma
men should no less rebel against the intol-
erance OF politics. Men have resisted in
tolerance of the church. both Protestant
and Catholic: men should no less resist
the intolerance of the state. whether re-
publican or mOnarchicaL
The Christian religion asks nothing
more than fair play and an equal chance.
Who would deny that? Indeed. il does
not ask that much; it is prepared to suf-
fer and be prosecuted, for the followers
Of the Crucified One have assurance more
certain than earthly knowledge that in
the end the crown of thorns will be the
celestial diadem to which all earthly
power viii bow
Previous to his remarks on the church
and government affairs. Senator Bev-
eridge discussed individuality and higher
education He said that if he had it to
do ever again he would go to college and
devote his entire time to history and the
study OF languages
Rev. Francis T. Mccarthy, of St. Alloy
sius' Church, was the first speaker Of
the evening. He was introduced by James
F. Shea, president of the institute Mr.
Shea said that If conditions and rela-
tIon between the state and the church
prevailed in France as in this country,
the recent incidents would have been
avoided. Father Mccarthy spoke on
education OF the soul as we'll as the
body. He made reference to the good
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