The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-12-25

VI Ai4OASAh pIOSIGSSy DuL q OGIHluS
gang of infidel innovators who, under
the guise of scholarship, were trying
to undermine the foundations of all
Christian Faith by robbing divine rev.
elatfon of its supernatural character.
/ learned that the Catholic Church,
while condemning the alterations of
socialism, did not give her sanction
or support to the legalized robbery of
the masses but stood firmly i'll favor
of social Justice, demanding that the
rights OF all classes in the economic
world be fully respected. learned
about the tremendous debt which sci.
ence and art and letters owe to the
| fostering care of religion which /
supposed was an outworn garment
cast aside centuries ago. And had
before me a vivid illustration of that
truth in the inspiring and illumnat-
ing words of the lecturer, in the mu.
sic, the painting, the sculpture and
the architecture of that beautiful
chapel
Nor were my first impressions IA
vorable to the Church, all drawn from
the science of art displayed: it was
the truth and beauty embodied in life
and conduct that won my assent: the
conduct of Catholics in the chapel
their piety and deep devotion; the
conduct of the priest at the altar, and
afterwards when I was introduced to
him, living witness of the culture he
preached; surely, ! thought, this is
the product of true religion: all the
others are counterfeit. 1t took me a
number OF years to overcome my
preiudices, a number of years to dis
pei the mists and gain clear vision
of Catholic truth; but the grace of
conversion began to work in the days
when frequented that little Catholic
chapel at the University Of Wiscon-
sim"
A Field for Catholic Enterprise.
If the Catholic Extension Society
would ever decide to extend it's activ-
tiles in this direction, there is a splen-
| did harvest to be reaped in supplying
not only chapels but suitable lectures
to the various state institutions of
higher learning wherever such oppor.
tunitles have been overlooked or ne.
elected. America needs as such edu.
cational centers the very best talent
| that the church commands, and the
amount of good that might be done is
incalculable. If the Knights OF Co
lumbus would build and squip a mum.
Der of Catholic chapels at state uni
versities where they do not exist a;
present, it would be a far wiser ex-
penditure of their surplus capital than
the fruitless task of chasing non-Cath.
Ollie agitators to their lairs or follow.
ing the rainbow of bigotry into stormy
regions where the enemy is in.
trenched beyond any hope Of immedi.
ate ejectment Out of certain big.
oted, ignorant sections of the coun.
try, anti-Catholic agitators are bound
to issue from time to time, and a. spe
cial miracle OF Divine Providence
would be needed to close their foul
| lying mouths OF effectually shut of
the supply. Like the demons that is
sue from the mouth of hell to afflict
and seduce mankind, these foul, OBJ
scene birds, the ex-priests and ex
nuns, the Maria Monks and Crowleys
and Gallaghers, must trouble and pol
lutte the American air, fitting fro1r
city to city and from state to state
Yet it is safe to affirm that they wiz
no following from among the better
class of American citizens. And it is
to the better class of our non Catholic
citizens that the university chapel ap
peals. 1t is to the educated and lib
eral class of Protestants who feel I'M
certain of their present ground anu
who are looking for the light. More
over, If we succeed in winning the
more intelligent class, the less intelli
gent will follow in due course of time
The uprooting of heresy and error oil
all kinds is a very slow process among
the ignorant, bigoted classes; it is not
so difficult among the better informed
So that the university chapel may be
classified as one of the very best aids
and instruments we have for the con
version OF the whole country.
Priestly Influence at Universities.
The Importance of establishing
spheres of influence in state univer
sites is well understood by all the
Protestant bodies. They look upon
the school system of the country from
the university down to the lowest
grade of country school, as an adjunct
of Professionalism. While the law does
not permit the teaching of their re
spective religious tenets, their minis
tiers and proselyters are, nevertheless
hoVerlng around; they are on the
ground, so to speak; they hang about
the halls and corridors and never miss
an opportunity to s'offer prayer" or tc
visit and address the students. Sc
that the young unsophisticated stu
dent gets the impression that some
how as far as religion is concerned
this is really Protestant country. Or
the other hand, the Catholic priest is
seldom, If ever, seen in the University
halls or at the Normal or High School
commencements. He is never listed
among the special lecturers, although
he has quite as much right to be there
as his heretical rivals; Catholics pay
taxes to support the system and their
representatives ought to be and have
a right to be on the ground. And
am prepared to say in defense OF
American love of iucfinn and fair NAV