The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-15

the jubilee Of to-day is link in luml-
nous chain OF events. which make Up the
history Of an empire so vast. so mighty
so different IN aims and purposes from
all empires that earth has known: so
high above them all In the character OF
its influence, which II exerts upon human
ity and by which it shapes the destinies
Of men and OF nations One single glance
is needed TO perceive that II is divine.
This kingdom was founded by the
marvellous Man who appeared upon our
earth nineteen centuries ago. and by in
contestable evidence demonstrated that
He was divine being lie created here
on earth a universal society. OF which
His divinity was TO be the corner stone
through faith, love. and alteration. II
was TO be a kingdom Of truth, a king
dom Of light. by which His own mind
and thought were 20 be kept before the
world and be impressed on mems minds
Catholic by its very nature. II assumed
the title Of Catholic at the commence
ment OF its existence, a title which no
one has ever dared 10 dispute; a title
which no other organization has ever
dared to claim. 1t IS not my purpose 10
trace TIE history Of the church along the
course Of ages. A glorious history II IS.
a history of conflicts and successive vic
tories in which fits loyal subjects have
found reason for pride and Joy and ex-
altation, Just as the American citizen
glories in the history of our republic, so
does the Catholic glory, and for infinitely
better reasons. in the triumphal progress
10 the goal which the church has reached
and 10 the position which Il occupies to-
day. when every honest. intelligent per-
son must recognize It as the only safe
teacher upon this earth. whether Of re-
ligious dogmas or natural duties and
rights.
Such she was from the beginning, Il
is true, but men did not recognize her as
such. They would be teachers unto them
selves. They walked in their own in
ventons.' They would not submit their
proud minds to teachings OF another.
They have sought the truth from every
other source. and to-day, with all the ex-
perience Of the ages before his eyes. the
honest intelligent, thinking man must
turn 20 the old Catholic Church as the
only teacher upon this earth whose voice
is not illusory.
DeninIs Arc Many.
There IS not one distinctlvelv Chris
tian doctrine which has ever been held
as true by any non-Catholic which has
not been denied and proclaimed false by
some other non-Catholic Christian sect,
a-a hat in the name OF the very same
authority. and in both instances appeal
aas been made to the very same revela-
ton One and the same witness in one
and the same breath aff1rms and denies
the self-same proposition. In a word.
truth Is but an empty name, and man is
but a miserable plaything Of opinions
which succeed each other without end.
Such is the confusion. intellectual dis
order, created by man destitute of a
divine guide. He stands in the midst of
ruined, shattered, and wrecked opinions.
THE Catholic Church bases herself
upon the clearest words and explicit dec
larations Of her Divine Master. I am
not going 10 quote many Of them. He
said to the apostles: AS the Father has
sent Me. so also I send you. Co teach
all nations. Go, preach the gospel 10
every creature. He that heareth Won
heareth Me, and he that desplseth Won
despiseth Me
The Roman Catholic Church presents
itself as an ever living articulate indi-
vidual. which at no period Of its existence
has lost any one Of its faculties. but IS
able every day 20 reafirm with a livinr
voice every doctrine It has taught in the
past; 10 reafirm it in virtue of the same
supernatural knowledge.
THE living church. through which He
speaks is present before the world. She
is 70 the world to-day just as He was 10