The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-05-17

1. The Church teaches that all I'M
baptized people cannot enter heaven.
Now there are millions of heathens |
who never heard Of God or of baptism,
but who live good lives according to
their lights. Will they never see Goo?
& DO the rubrics of this diocese for
bid the singing of solos during Mass
Also is 1t forbidden TO publish In the
papers the program of music to be
sung on a certain day? 8. Scientists
and students of the ancient mention
things that have happened and animals
that are supposed to have lived tWen-
ty-fiVe, fifty, and even hundreds of
thousands of years, ago. How is this
possible when, according to Bible his
tory, the world was created only four
thousand years before Christ?
/. It is the teaching of the Church
that God not only wishes all men to
be saved, but gives sufficient grace
for salvation to all, whether they be
pagans or Christians. The pagan who
lives in invincible ignorance of our
holy religion and leads life of hon.
esty and righteousness, observing
faithfully the natural law according to
the light given him, will certainly be
saved, for God does not permit any one
to be lost unless he is guilty of wilful
sin. We do not know in what manner
God accomplishes this. We are taught
that baptism, either in reality or in
desire, is necessary for salvation, and
even though the pagan may know
nothing about the Church or about
baptism he may be ready and willing
to do whatever is necessary in order
to secure happiness in the world to
come 1t is certain that he will not be
condemned except through his own
fault 2. There is no absolute pro-
hibition provided these things are in
keeping with what is required in the
way of liturgical music. 3. The ques-
ton of biblical chronology is beset
with great difficulties and has not yet
been completely worked out. The
Bible does not claim to give COM
plete chronological record of the world
from the beginning, nor even COM
plete history of mankind. 1t is not the
province of the Bible to teach scien-
tiic truths and hence there can be no
conflict between the biblical record
and the proven data of science in re-
gard to the length of time that has
elapsed since the creation of the
world. The scientific theory postu-
lates long periods of time for the work
of creation, whereas the Bible states
that it required only six days. The
whole question hinges on what is
meant by a "day." No entirely salts
factory explanation has been given.
Few, if any, accept the six days in
their literal significance by contending
that it took just that length of time
to create the world. Some maintain
that the six days represent long
periods of time. The tendency among
Catholic scholars is to admit day of
twenty-four hours. They say that in
the account given in the book of
Genesis the inspired writer desired to
emphasize the fact of creation, and
not it's objective sequence; and that
he did this by means of tableaux, as
it were, in which he represented the
work of creation as taking place with
in a week of six days followed by a
seventh day Of rest. One may, if he
wishes, regard the day" as an in
definite period of time. Whether or
not scientists are correct in ascribing
so many thousands Of years to the
earth is a question which need not
nh 1xfI oil
ways be found that there is no con-
flict between the teaching of the Bible
and the well-established conclusions
of science. The Church has not de-
fined anything in regard to the age OF
the earth and we are free to accept
the verified conclusions of science in
regard to matter which does not fall
within the province of the Church.
Where and when were Free Masons
organized? Was there ever a time
when Catholics were permitted to join
the Masonic order? What are the
objections Of the Church aside from
its being secret society,"
Masonry, in the form in which we
have it today, originated with the
foundation of the Grand Lodge OF
England on June "a, 1717. 1t is not
improbable that in the beginning Cath.
olics were found in the ranks of the
Masons, but since 1888 they are
strictly forbidden, under penalty OF
accommodation to enter or promote
in any way, Masonic societies. Cath.
o1ics, therefore, who join these socie-
ties contrary to the known law of the
Church are guilty of grievous sin and
incur the extreme penalty of excom-
munication or exclusion from her
membership This deprives them OF
the Sacramento, of all share in the
public prayers of the Church and of
Christian burial The Catholic Church
condemns Masonry not, precisely, be-
cause it is secret society, but be-
cause it is a secret society which
takes on the characteristics of a. sect
with code of belief, ritual and cere-
monies. 1t stands for naturalism in
religion and for a morality founded
on purely human motives Masonry
exacts from those who join a pledge
OF absolute secrecy, under the direst
penalties, if they reveal its doings
even to those who have a right to
know such things. This oath of blind
obedience cannot be justified from the