The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-04-17


nificent support being shown by the
general press throughout the country
in condemning bigoted publications
and their supporters.
LAS a result of its investigation the
commission has reached the opinion
that these bigoted attacks made upon
religion come largely from three
classes:
"First-Those who fail to appre-
ciate the constitutional provision re-
garding freedom of religious worship
or to understand the belief of those
protesting a religion other than their
own.
"SecOnd-ThOse whose purpose is to
destroy not only the Catholic religion,
but all religion and all duly consti-
tuted government.
"Third-Perhaps the worst class
comprises those who, despite their ex-
pressed motives of high purpose, are
actuated solely by sordid, mercenary
considerations.
1.-The commission invites the coop
Grafton of societies and organizations
of all religious beliefs to the end that
the constitutional provision regarding
freedom of worship may be under
stood and upheld.
1.-THE commission will request the
postmaster general to make public
statement regarding his position on
the exclusion of non-mailable matter in
view of the decisions of the United
States courts apparently overlooked
by him in his annual report"
The investigations leading up to the
conclusions thus expressed by the
chairman covered wide field, extend
ing over the whole country and into
many phases of national life and &C.
tivity. Nearly every state and district
deputy, most of the grand knights and
large part of the membership of the
order have united in furnishing the
commission assistance and advice. No
less helpful have been the suggestions
coming from the great body of Catho-
lies outside the order, and many non
Catholics even, manifest every willing
ness to aid in suppressing the rancor
of religious bitterness being engender-
ed by few designing men. With but
few exceptions the press at large has
responded generously to the keynote
sounded by the chairman in his call
that summon all fair-minded men to
put away the things that make for
strife and study the things that make
for peace. =
All this is source of much con-
ISOLATION that quite repays the effort
spent in the past and encourages
greater effort for the future by in.
spring the hope that this initial
success but indicates the splendid
achievement that is to come, when
men Of different religious beliefs will
agree to disagree on doctrine and
dogma and still not think it necessary
to sadden their lives with hatred, bit.
terness and strife.
The three classes mentioned as dis
tinct opponents of religious prejudice
like all other classes, merge and over.
lap to confusing extent. AS is evil
dent, one person can belong to all
classes, not understanding the spirit
of religious freedom or the belief OF
his neighbor, wishing to abrogate all
religion and all government and ex.
plotting these views with sensational
embellishments for the sake of money
or other mean advantage. Sometimes
the distinction among these classes is
only nominal; again, only psycholog
ical. Usually, even where working
along separate lines, they produce the
same unhappy results. For these rea
sons, the three classes, though clearly
known, are not always clearly dis
tinguished.
Most pernicious of the classes men
toned, and by reason of its sleepless
INSCRIPTIONS, daring activities the
most dangerous as we'll, is that which
while pretending high purposes, is
moved solely by sordid and merce
nary considerations. This class mum
bers but few, which is fortunate, fol
did it comprise large number the
task of the commission would be 8
hopeless task, because members Of
this class cannot be reached by per
suasion or reason.
There is another class which, though
larger, and in its way no less active
is less dangerous, because it avows
its purpose openly. 1t would destro!
all religion and all existing govern
ment, but it takes no pains to hide 1T
object, and hence, none are blind t.
its aims but they who will not see
This class comprises ultra material
lists, rabid secularists, Socialists VIII,
subscribe to the philosophy of discon
tent propounded by Marxists, ant
others-a goodly number, all lnalcon
tents of existing society who are read!
to espouse and further all movement
that promise to bring about any meas
ure of social disintegration. Discon
tent and strife Of every kind are wei