The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-07-10
The Treatment of
Historical Truths

i
The following address dealing will,
the "Fundamentais Of The Philosophy
Of History" was delivered by Brother
6ernadine before the Catholic Eduea.
tionai Association In st. Paul.
The necessity Of keeping within the
narrow time limit set by the occasion
obliges me to veer away from the In
tensive analytical mode of treatment
which the subject demands. and to
keep closely to it's broader synthetic
implications. From this latter point
Of view believe the actual mode of
treatment accords fairly well with the
title chosen.
Accordingly, the following PROPOSE
tions are assumed to be true and that,
for the reasons subjoined: First, there
is philosophy Of history; asserted as
true because derived from, and in
cluded in the priori judgment there
is nothing without reason for It,"
Second. there Is a personal Supreme
Being who is the Creator and Preserv-
er of the Universe, and whose attrib-
utes as such Creator and Preserver
are manifested to mankind under the
special aspect Of providential guidance.
In conconance with this truth, every
creature in this world has its assigned
final end and is actually directed
thereto in accordance with the all
regulating plan set by the Supreme
Ruler of the Universe; asserted as
true, because the proofs thereof are
established in, and by, the science of
natural theology, and are further con-
f1rmed by the truths of supernatural
theology.
Accepting these postulates as fun
damental principles in the philosophy
of history, the immediate object of this
exposition Is to enunciate. as clearly
as may be, the law of divine provi-
dence, especially as related to man.
kind, and to apply 1t to the solution Of
the Observation-Disclosures problem
connected with the rise and develop
ment of the Romano Teutonic empire
Of Charlemagne. g.
Holding therefore by the truth that
this world in which we live is the work
Of an all-wise personal being, and that
all men are endowed with powers Of
body and mind suitable to the attain
ment of the high destiny intended for
them by this same being, it is reason
able to infer that real and definite re.
lations exist between the casual pow
ers of man regarded as an intelligent,
self-determining agent, and the effects
he produces under the conjoint condi-
tions Of his personal freedom and the
concurrence Of the all-perfect efficient
cause. God, through and by whom all
creatures live and move and have their
being.
Combining then, in thought, human
personality with the conditions which
govern human activity as the latter is
related to the primary course of all
activities, and then posting the de-
pendent nature of all contingent
causes, we can discern In the general
plan of the universe of which our
world is a part, clear evidences Of
adaptation and design.
These evidences connote the opera
ton of law, which, from the nature
Of the case must govern not only the
particular isolated events and occur
rences that affect the lives and con-
duct Of individual men, but extends
likewise to the vast accumulated ex-
periences which constitute the back
ground Of all the great historical move.
ments, and mark the achievements of
men and nations at every stage of their
progress on the road to social prosper.
ity, freedom and true civilization.
Looking at the manifestations Of de.
sign as coincident with the manifold
actions and events recorded in history,
and regarding the effects themselves
as dependent upon the cooperation Of
the Creator with human beings re.
garded as secondary causes in the
scheme Of intelligent action and there.
fore as capable Of being rightly inter.
preted in terms Of an actually exist.
ing Providence, the law which express.
es the rationale Of q divine. and a hui
man agency in history may be formu'
lated thus:
Historical events constitute col
lection Of effects which have for their
mediate causes the volitions of human
beings primarily actuated by God, the
first efficient cause Of all that exists
and acts. Every action that conforms
to right reason is positively willed by
the Creator and contributes to the true
welfare Of him who elicits 1t, and Il
the external glory Of his Creator
| By inference, all such actions promot.
the true progress Of individuals, Of m
tions. and Of all mankind towards th,
final end ordained Of God.
/ In this view. what ID called civiliza
tion has as its-norm Of perfection .
! certain adapatability to aid men, salonl