The Irish standard., 1908-06-06
PRo.cATAEoRAL CEREMONIES.

day We're both inspiring and enlight
ening. In these days. when it is said
that the obligations of religion have
little binding force. the demonstration
by the Catholic laity of the Northwest
o. their zeal and loyalty to the Church
least the hold of the CHURCH upon the
minds and hearts of its children is as
great as ever. 1t is only through oc-
casional public demonstration that the
wide field and manifold work of the
Church can become known of all. The
ceremonies of last Sunday were little
less enlightening to Catholics them
selves than to non-Catholics. With
the work of individual parishes in
dividual Catholics are acquainted, but
with the work of the Church Catholic.
which is directed and carried on by the
hierarchy, individual laymen can have
little conception.
Aside from the religious character of
SlIG SCi GIAlSI-ISo SiAS udS "eS AA6A1Ay AAA
structive and interesting. In small
way we can gain some conception of
how the mighty cathedrals of Europe
were built. We can begin to appre-
ciate how the Church carries the Cos
pei to men of every race; how 1t es-
,ablishes hospitals and asylums and
engages in many lines of work not
strictly religious. Those who deny the
divine origin of the Church point to
its splendid organization as the sole
reason for its great success and for it's
perpetuity. The recent celebration in
New York and. in a smaller way, the
laying of the cornerstone here on last
Sunday. are striking illustrations of
the material vigor of the Church in
this country, and after all the material
success Of the Church is a certain indi-
cation of its spiritual hold upon it's
members.
1t has been common charge that
the great material success of the
Catholic Church was brought about in
former times through government aid.
In no country has the Catholic Church
progressed more rapidly than in the
United States. Another charge which
has been made against the Church and
which was doubtless voiced more than
once on last Sunday by nom Catholics
is that it unnecessarily burdens its
members with the construction of
great churches and institutions. The
United States census reports prove
that there are fewer Catholic churches
in the United States in proportion tt
the Catholic population than there are
Of any other denomination and that
there are more Catholic charitable in
stitutions in proportion to the Cath
olic population than there are of any
other denomination.
The Catholic Church does seem to
build for the future. 1t builds it's
churches with no fear that the future
will find them without membership. 1t
builds it's churches in the business
districts of the great cities without
the least prospect that the changing
residence districts of the city will com.
pei removal. Families may move.
one nationality may give way to an
other. but the Catholic structure, like
the Church. is for all time and for all
people.
Those who viewed the ceremonies on
last Sunday can realize how the Cath
olcs of Minneapolis can expend ST.
100000 in the construction of a church
They must realize that those who took
part in the demonstration are each
willing to do their part toward the
work and that their children and their
cfildren's children will complete the
work. Those who took part in last
Sundays ceremonies will but do their
part. Much OF the work will be left
for those who come after. The reason
why such undertakings can be COM
menced with assurance of completion
Is found in the assured perpetuity of
the Church. An undertaking which
may seem financially large. based on
the population and wealth of today, is
Insignificant. il we take into consid-
GRAFTON the future. Certainly there
exists in the world today no institu-
ton. even from a financial standpoint.
which offers better security than the
Catholic Church. 1t is better even than
the strongest government, because
governments have failed and disap-
peared while the Church continues on,
THE OREGON ELECTION
The election in nrevop nras>,+. A. -