The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-08-21
THE MOST REV, ARCHBISHOP RYAN
SPEAKS ON THE NEW RELIGION
The Eminent Philadelphia Pa Eloquent Discourse Takes
the Case of France illustrate What Nation May Become
When filings Off the Christian Yoke and Mady Plunge.
y Into Widest Paganism. 4s

The following eloquent discourse by
Archbishop Patrick John Ryan, of Phil
adelphia. on the new religion outlined
by DR.. Eliot of Harvard, appears in his
official, organ, the Catholic Standard
and Times:
Christianity is . fact in the history
Of the human race, the most mysterious
in it's nature, the most stupendous. and
universal in Its effects-a fact which
philosophy cannot ignore, nor infidel-
ity deny, nor skepticism doubt. which
has influenced religion. arts, arms.
sciences, literature, social life, politics,
human happiness. human suffering, hu-
man progress more than any other fact
in the history Of our race. The unte-
lever who regards it lightly as one
Of the many false religions embraced
by man at various periods of his
history, who thinks that It's .nflu-
ences were simply and exclusively
confined to the secret intercourse be-
tween the Creator and the creature,
such a one can never adequately un.
derstand the philosophy Of human his i.
tory. Christianity iefashioned the
whole being Of man, politically and
socially, as well as religiously. It
sformed not only the Christian saint
but the Christian statesman, the Chris.
tion warrior, the Christian citizen. the
Christian artist. the Christian soldier
and the Christian phiianthropist.
Christian civilization is based on
and 'motived by great Christian doc
trines. which II weakened or denied
will weaken or ruin the great super
structure itself and send us back not
merely to pagan civilization. but mucn
farther. For even paganism taught
great conservative truths, such as the
existence of. the Supreme Being and
His providence over men. and the doc
trine of future rewards and punish
ments, which modern unbelief affects to
deny.
world which have remained unconvcrt-
ed, and those also, the nations, that
tried to Christlanize themselves.
Take as specimen France. once SO
gloriously Christian, in the full noon
tide Of her un-Christian days. She
sought in the mad paroxysm of the re-
volution to. cast aside her Christian
doctrines and traditions, and with them
lost her Christian civilization. She
abolished the Sabbath, desecrated TN
sanctuary, shattered the tabernacles,
broke the statues of Christ and His
saints, and flung of the Christian yoke.
BY one wild. desperate spring she
plunged into the chasm Of worse than
arms, looked on from a distance to
see how France could live without her.
Deeds Of blood fearful as those OF
Roman story, characterized the new
regime. The mere humanitarian
theories Of, in1del philosophy could
never elevate her. When tried, they
melted in the sunshine like the wax
en- pinions Of the Athenian artist
France sank into the Widest bar
barianism in the Reign of Terror"
This is a lesson to posterity Of the es-
sential connection of Christianity. and
true civilization.
But here I may be confronted by
some young orator Of progress, who
would say to me: II acknowledge
that Christianity did great things in
its days, but that day has passed. II
helped humanity in its infancy to
rise and walk, but now 1t needs no
such assistance. The Church must
conform herself to the new and ad-
vanced state Of things or be pulverized
beneath the chariot wheels of pro-
gress. We freely admire the Sermon
on the. Mount and it's Preacher. We
take It's morality, but we care little for
it's doctrines. for these doctrines only
lead to differences Of opinion and 81.
tarianism." -
One Of the most fatal demoralizinl
superstitions Of this country is this at.
tempted separation Of morality. from
doctrinal teaching. Doctrines are, 2,
the granite foundation to the, whql.