The Irish standard., 1913-05-24

however, continuous in this instance.
The first step was a denial of the au-
thority of the Church, the next re-
pudiation OF the authority of the
Bible, and the last the negation of
civil authority, by Socialism, and it's
numerous progeny.
Signs of tho Times.
Thinking men the world over, who
can discern the signs of the times, are
compelled to admit through force of
argument and experience, that the
most potent factor on the globe today,
acting for the conservation of nations,
whether of faith or morals, and the
stability Of civil and parental author
ity, is the Catholic Church.
Were it not for her constant and
untiring efforts to fulfil her sacred
mission, the world would have been
long ago engulfcd in chaos and dark
ness, equal to that of Paganism. This
danger our present Holy Father clear
ly foresaw when he proclaimed the
watchword of his pontificate: ITO re-
store all things in Christ"
Fifty Million Churchess.
Our own country is leading the ma
tions in many paths which are bene-
fetal, useful and commendable. There
are so many defects, however, which
Stand out SO prominently that they
cannot be overlooked. Those who are
capable OF obtaining correct informa-
ton assert that fifty millions of pco-
Pile in these United States never 80
to church. Since religion, as has been
maintained by the wisest of every age,
Including our own Washington, is the
basis Of morality What. is to become
of these fifty millions and their des-
cendants? They are growing up with
ais?
Among non Catholics religion is not
generally taught in the home, not at
all in the public schools, and, if we are
to credit the newspapers, the average
Protestant preacher either presents to
his hearers a diluted Christianity or
the sensationalism of the hour with
the hope of drawing the crowd. New
erthclcss, their churches are empty.
In the Middle West, we are told, that
hundreds of them have been aban-
doned. This is sad to contemplate,
as it Enthusiastically demonstrates the
fact that millions OF Americans are
departing from Christian truth and
descending into the dark valley of in
fidelity and sin.
1t is humiiating to learn that we
are the laughing stock of the rest of
the world as regards the number OF
our divorces. Thousands Of Amer
| leans have forgotten the Ten Com
, mandmcnts, il they have ever learned
them, especially these: Thou shalt
not steal; Thou shalt not kill; Thou
shalt not commit adultery"
Barnyard Morality.
Alas! we have fallen to barnyartl
morality. Dishonesty is rampant in
private and public life; race suicide
has also been lesscning our popula-
tion.
Lest may be misunderstood let me
add that l am glad to acknowledge
that there are many good people,
without as well as within the church,
precisely because God in His mercy
will take care that the wheat" is
more abundant than the "tarcs."
What, then, must be our final judg-
, ment? Society and the individual
have advanced in intelligence, in edu-
cation, in material progress and in
natural science, while at the same
time the general trend outside the
Catholic Church has been towards un-
belief and immortality. Hence our
watchword should be: Away from
Pagansm and back to Christ!
Bishon Heffron at Eochester.