The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1910-06-16
FATHER CONWAy'S ADDRESS
Does ID Matter What u Man
Relieves

ibtN " w Iitt " wan
Believes
Large numbers are attending the
lectures to non-catholics given by
the Paulist, Rev. b. s. Conway, IN
st. Columban's church, Arlington
The topic Sunday evening was ''ls
one church as good as another2 p
or does II matter what a man be
lieyes2" He treated the subject In
very interesting manner His earn
est eloquence commands the atten-
tion OF his audience. Ii would be
difficult to find man who can talk
more smoothly and rapidly He
knows his subject from A to u and
his faith and sincerity are nothing
short of inspiring.
He spoke in part as follows:
Two fundamental principles un-
derlie the sixteenth century religious
revolution, or what is called the
Anglo-German phase of Christiani-
". The reformers taught that one
method OF finding the Gospel OF
Jesus Christ and attaining to saliva
tion was by the Bible, interpreted by
private inspiration OF the Holy
Spirit The second was belief in
Jesus Christ as a personal Saviour
These two principles furnished the
basis OF modern forms of Protestant
Christianity. As in the case of all
unsound principles there has been
a decided reaction from the position
held by the reformers, and today
orthodox Professionalism holds quite
the opposite view Luther taught
that faith alone Is necessary to sal
walton. that II makes no difference
what or how many sins man com
mitted. II he only believed; his fol
lowers of the twentieth century Say
IL doesn't matter what man be
lieyes, If he ouly does well. Faith
alone, said Luther; works alone
say the Protestants of our day. The
Catholic Church says both theories
are wrong; you must have rlght
principles in order TO have right con
duct, and your conduct must square
with your faith. There is not q
minister who would dare stand IL
a Protestant pulpit today and pro
claim Iuthers doctrine. j care not
what wrong you do providing you
believe The Catholic Church says
you must believe right and YOU mus
do right, or your faith profits you
nothing
is that modern principle correct
Ia II true as men say that II doesn't
matter whether you are a Baptist
a Methodist, a Jew, a Mohammedan,
a Buddhist, providing you are
good Baptist, or a good Jew, etc.
There is half-truth in that prin-
ciple. No philosophy ever taught
was wholly erroneous. Now Whai
does the Catholic Church say In re
gard TO this teaching? 1t comes ou'I
plainly against H. The Church say
II does make difference. that snch
a doctrine Is false and destructive
Of all morality.
The Church says that faith v
necessary 10 salvation, but that u
a man Is ignorant Of the teachings
Of Jesus Christ. through no fault
OF his own, II a man born and bred
in a Pagan religion holds TO the
Of that faith because he
does not know any better, that man
will not be damned, providing he
observes the laws Of God as they
are revealed 10 his conscience. A
vicious man who has had Christian
teaching cruelty blinds his child and
sends him into the street 70 beg
The pitiabie condition Of the chic
eaeltes the COMPASSION Of a ehartia
BIZ. Chlnaman who with the kiudiier
motive gives n coin 10 the niue
beggar Holy God will judge right
N and reward the charity Of ~"
good Chinaman. which is IN stfik
Ihs contrast to the absolute maiic, I
of the ehiids father The Church
SAYS no man viii be- damned unless 1
Dy bis own fault
we believe that our Church has
ail the revelation Of Jesus Christ |
hat she alone Is the Divine teachei /
Df an truth. How can a serious /
minded man be indifferent 70 the 1
question ~ religious belief and prae
lice. Il Is very serious ihins /
Tor a man 10 know the truth ana I
deliberately reject Il Because faith 4
: not like a problem Ia geometry
! philosophical principle a STUDY 4
d pante. OF 0f the various arts /
.ud aienees Faith has 10 90 slth 4
matters that are vitality important