The Irish standard., 1910-05-28
heaven be the happy end and the rich
reward Of the years and the work."
The Past and Pressn+

The Past and Present.
AS we thus roview the details of
this great event and behold these six
successors of the Apostles going forth
on their missions our minds instinct
lively revert to the time when the
Apostles themselves were spreading
the Gospel of Christ The Church was
then in it's infancy, it's members were
few. But the genuine ardor of the
Apostles soon captivated followers for
the new doctrine, followers who loved
their religion 80 intensely that it be-
came the essential part Of their being
and to maintain It they were willing
to receive tho Drown of martyrdom.
Tests Of their sincerity were not want
ing for, . pagan world, alarmed at the
astonishing spread of the new doctrine.
resolved on its destruction. Then it
was that the carly Christians showed
how dearly they priced the divinely in
stituted religion. Forced to seek Sc
clusion In the very bowels Of the
earth in order to pay due homage to
Him who was to them more dear than
temporal prsferment Of the faith kim
died in them to a fury that human
wrath could not check and, while the
wondering world stood aghast at so
strange . spectacle, they grew in pow
.er and numbers until they came forth
from the hallowed catacombs Of Rome
to erect on that very scene the grand
est temple Of worship that genius has
ever designed!
What story is that of the Church
from Nero to Dioclesian! Ten pro-
longed prosecutions in which the cruel
est of barbarian. atrocities were per-
petrated to obliterate the church of
Christ from the face of the earth! But
those ten prosecutions proved to be
no more barrier to her progress than
the frailest skin on the ocean is to the
movement of the flashing waves. Down
through the centuries she comes, re-
lying implicitly on Divine Providence
and inspiring implicit reliance in her.
self. The friend of humanity, regard
less of country, distinction or wealth
she has been in the forefront Of every
movement for enlightenment since she
received that divine commission, GO,
teach all nations" The same humble
faith that inspired st. Peter to ask
his prosecutors to attach him to the
cross with his head downwards has
inspired devoted men in every age to
carry the light of the Gospel beyond
the frontiers into uneXplored wilder
nesses, there to minister to uncivilized
men, and alas, too often to become
the targets of their cruelty. The as
surfing words Of the Savior, IT am with
you all days even unto the consum-
nation of the world" have ever rung
in the ears of those loyal champions
and the hope which they inspired made
the dark nights Of despair fit by like
passing shadows. Such valiant devo-
ton could not be in vain. 1t has result
in raising the papal throne, once step
to martyrdom, from the head of society
of a few oppressed Christians to a po-
sition where it is recognized as the
administrative seat of an organization
which, for the number of it's subjects
and the thoroughness of its govern
ment, has no parallel in the records of
the human race.
Other institutions have risen to the
zenith Of their splendor and then
gradually declined until history chron-
ION of the worlds activities but she,
as fixed and prominent as the North
ern star, has been during all the ages
the chief compass point for wander
ing humanity.
No wonder, then, that throngs gath
cred to watch, with reverence and ad-
miration, a ceremony which, in the
words of the Apostolic Delegate, twill
certainly make a new epoch in the
ecclesiastical history of the United
States" No wonder that many in that
audience were thrilled with emotion
as they gazed with mingled feelings
on that scene of solemn splendor, for
for in it's real significance it was the
transference of the commission which
Christ Himself gave to His apostles and
which has been handed down by an
unbroken line of bishops to the pres
cnt day. And if the occasion was
full Of meaning for those who as
senbled to witness the ceremony how
much more so must it be to those six
men who were it's central figures.
By raising them to that high station
the Church not only puts it's stamp
of approval on the work of their past
lives, but it places it's own welfare in
their hands. They are given new re-