The San Francisco call., 1909-11-21

beings were born criminals and could
never be anything else, and he secuted
the notion that free viii or human re-
sponsibility had anything to do with
the commission or omission of crime.
Free will had no place in his system.
nor was there room in it for the heal
ing processes OF grace.
For this reason the Christian soci-
ologist must hold himself aloof from
Lombroso and his followers. For the
latter, pushing his theories to their
conclusions, PROFOUND unnatural, odious
remedies for what they presume to call
incorrigibIe crime.
We are informed. for example, that
during the session of the American
Prison association. held recently at
seattle, there were earnest discussions
as 10 the propa cation of the Indiana
Idea already adopted by Connecticut.
which allows the state TO so treat
habitual and degraded criminals that
they can never reproduce their kind"
But the Christian sociologist, know
ing that the reform Of criminals. no
matter what their ancestry. physical
conformation. etc. is never impossible
with God. studies how to eliminate
AAL4VLS 4niIeHCcS. without ue6nlinR II
needful TO work a cure through the
preparation of greater crimes against
nature.
Grace. the sacraments the influence
OF prayer and of the gospel teachings.
are the means God has put in mans
hands for the healing of his brethren;
and every day witnesses wonderful
cures thus effected in seemingly hope
less criminals.
The recent reception into the Catho-
lie church Of the members OF the Angli-
can Society of the Atonement. at Gray
moor. near Garrison. n. Y.-this society
being expressly authorized to continue
Its corporate existence in the Catholic
church-is an event unique in the his
tory of conversion from the Protestant
Episcopal church. Father Paul, the
superior. is the editor of the Lamp.
journal devoted to bringing about the
corporate reunion of the Church of
England with the Catholic church. A
petition was recently presented 10 the
pope through Mgr. Falconio in Wash
ington. which has secured for the so
ciety this remarkable privilege. The
grounds UPON which this favor was
asked and granted have not yet been
made public
The Italian anti-ciericals make no
secret OF their aims They proclaim
openly that they want the abolition
OF the last shred Of religious instruc-
tion in all schools. the rising genera
tion brought up with purely lay"
ideals; they want the abolition of
Christian marriage. the destruction of
all the religious orders and the con-
fiscation Of all property held by relig-
ious bodies; they want the state TO ban
ish the pope from the Vatican, and to
there and in the churches. pretty
comprehensive program, which the
reader viii at once recognize a iden-
tical with that already so largely car
ried out by the present atheistical
French government.
On the day selected the military
court appointed 10 try Ferrer, consist
ing Of Lieutenant Colonel Don Eduardo
de Aguirre Lacaile and six captains,
convened in the presence of 200 re-
porters and about 250 OF the general
public-as many as could crowd into
the main hall OF the Barcelona city
prison. Ferrer entered. walking brisk
ly. not hsndcuhed, and seated himself
al q table.
The dispositions of / 5 witnesses were
read, together. with the answers OF the
accused to their testimony, and also
his statements when confronted by the
same witnesses. On the testimony of
these witnesses and the discriminating
documents found in HIS house, he was
condemned.
During the period OF % days allowed
him by the military code for presenting
testimony in his favor, nobody had
offered him any help. A captain OF en-
gineers. Don Francisco Galceran. was
appointed his counsel. and made a
brilliant ard eloquent plea in his be-
half