The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-08-08
SOME CLAIMS OF THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH,

In late number of the Catholic
World. Bertram c. A. Windle, M. D.,
F. r. S.. brilliant 1rishman (among
the many has remarkable article
on THE Intellectual Claims of the
Catholic Church." in which he
shows that those who take the
trouble to study it in the dry light
of science. will soon discover that
our church, from the intellectual
standpoint, is just as much a matter
for marvel and for thankfulness as
1t Is from any of the many other
standpoints from which it may be
viewed"
Mr.. Windle does not deal with all
the claims our church has on the
minds of the intellectual, but he
gives a few facts which that most
Objectionable of creatures, the
superior person." would do we'll to
study. as far as his intellect will
permit him. Without taking our
bearings from Mr.. Windle directly
or solely, we think we can (and
may), name of the church's claims.
as follows:
(a) She is the only Church Christ
founded, even if Wattaker's almanac
names more than hundred sects
for England alone
(b) She is the only One, Holy,
Catholic and Apostolic Church
even If Chiniquy's books, Rev. Clot,
Mother Eddy and Deacon Jasper
Johnson say the contrary. E.
(c) She is the only church whose
ministrations reach the childle of
all nations. matter belonging to
her Catholicity, but solely dispnt.d
by the founders of the Campbellitcs.
(d Her philosophy and theology
presuppose in those who study them
some education. They were never
meant to be understood by self-or-
dained exhorters or self-immortal-
lied sciolists.
(e) The greatest poets, literateurs,
scientists, general scholars, philoso-
piers have, in 80 per cent of the
cases, been Catholics. What was
Pasteur? What is Lorenz, Van
Roentgen, etc.?
(f) Even Darwin got his cue from
the Schoolmen.
(g) The great scientists who are
not Catholics are not Protestants
either; they are infidels. So are the
best theologians outside of the
Church. Catholic argument, when it
does not win them, at least Smokes
(h The Catholic Church is the
only one where poor and rich, ignor-
ant and learned, feel equally at home
I'D She is the onoly Church which
can win a Newman, a Manning, a
Won Stolberg, Schlegal, Brown
son, etc.
CD She is the only Church, as
Comte de Nun says. who can give
Gods answer to the agitated social
body
(k) She is the only Church that
can boast of hundreds of thousands
of monks and nuns. What is the
sacrifice of Christian Endeavorer
when compared with that of the
priest. brother and nun among the
lepers?
Q She is the only Church that
tries to save the Child.
(m) The only Church that has
civilized the world. Here and there
others turned up. once the savages
lost their thirst for blood.
(n) There is even, as the late
Father A. F. Hewitt, c. S. p. once
said. a distinct charm in the word
Catholic" for those who retain the
Christian tone and temper of mind.
(o) She is the only Church infldels
find worth fighting.
Cpl Christ was fought by all
classes of men in Jerusalem; His
Church has inherited the common
hatred of all heretics. infidels, Jews
and schismatics.
(q) The unbroken chain of her
Popes forms the backbone of general
history. Luther is dead, but there
is still Pope.
(r) The Church, as Archbishop
Hughes once said is not foreigner
on any continent or island Of this
globe.
(s) She is the only Church that
can speak with authority, and the
only Church that truly respects the
l.ihle.
(t) She has given the artist. the
musician. the sculptor. the archi-
tect, etc., their noblest themes, the
themes that immortalized them.
(u) She is the only Church that
deserves the common hatred of such
blackguards as Luther, Calvin, Hen
ry VIII, Zwingli and Knox, and such
cads as Chiniquy, Combes and Glenn