The Irish standard., 1913-02-15
His Answer to the Question, What
is the Greatest Need of 49,
Our Times?
Urges Faithfulness to Duty and
Declares the Man of Char
acter Will Win.
The Slave of Human Respect is
Universally Detested or
Despised.

Cardinal Gibbons in his sermon in
the Cathedral at Baltimore on Sum
day, February I'd, talked particularly
to young men, and declared that the
greatest need OF the times is men Of
stcadfast faith and fidelity to duty.
He asserted that the man who Is OF
tho greatest service in life is not tho
one who dashes to tho cannon's mouth,
hut the one who takes tho place in
life assigned to him and fills it to the
best OF his ability and does what his
conscience tells him is right. even In
the face OF criticism. The slave Of
human respect" he said, rs deteyted
or despisea because he cannot speak
or live up to his honest convictions"
The topic OF his sermon was Man
liness." and His Eninencc said:
I'm commenting on the life Of our
Divine Saviour we are usually inclin-
ed to lay particular stress on His ten
derncss of heart, His amiahle DISPOSE
tion. His mcekness OF character and
His compassion for suffering human
ity. This is indeed as It should be.
for these affcctionate qualities shone
forth conspicuously in the life of our
: blessed Radeemer. ..g.si
Both Lamb and lioE.
But in gazing 80 intently on these
swcet-tcmpered traits of our Lord, are
/ we not apt to overlook Ills sturdy
manhood and force of character? If
Christ is called the Lamb of God,' He
Is also called the Lion Of the fold OF
J1da.' If He exhibits the meekness Of
n lamb when He Is led before His
Judges and His executioncrs. He dis
plays the courage of a lion when He
confronts the scribeE and Pharisces.
He rebukes their hypocrisy, and He
tears Off the mask and exposes them
in all their hidcous deformity Those
eyes that were moistened with tears
OF compassion at the tomb Of Lazarus
flash with righteous Indignation when
He denounces the desecra tion of Gods
temple. The hand that was habitually
raised to bless innocent youth and
repentant sinners is lifted up to smite
the money changers that profaned
His Fathers house.
Il propose to speak to you this
morning on the subject II the manli-
ness Of Christ. My remarks will be
specially addressed to young men and
women, though they will not be mis-
applied if the adults of both sexes are
included.
What Is Greatest Nesd?
"rhe question may be asked, What
is the greatest need of our times for
the betterment Of Christian society?
Is it churches? Temples Of worship
are, indeed, very necessary. The con-
strnction Of elegant and well-adorned
houses OF worship is an evidence Of
tho faith and devotion of the people,
but they are not the most essential
thing for our day. The primitive
Christians paid homage to God in the
~N"S"''oSs tIA'u ooHic ~ Jul 4OI01dIus
ers adored their Lord under the can
opy of heaven in secluded mountains
and in caves Of the earth: and they
were the best Of Christians. More
over, what would be the use of
churches If we had no worshipers to
frequent them? ~
"Is 1t schools that are m,st needed?
Christian schools are certainly de-
nanded for the preservation Of the
faith and morals of the rising gen.
GRAFTON. A parish Is not complete
without school. But they do not
constitute the most essential requisite.
There have been dark periods in the
Church's history, when Christian
schools were not tolerated, and their
absence was supplied by heroic moth-
ers who nourished The seeds Of reli.
gion in the hearts Of their children.
Does 'he country need majestic and
colossal State houses for our lesisla-
tive bodies? The convention that met
! in Philadelphia in 1887 to devise the
most momentous Constitution ever
framed for the civil guidance Of man
assembled in q hall not conspicuous