The sun., 1916-12-17

ular preacher among the masses he
had seen for himself the desperate
lengths to which men would 70 In
support Of Catharism.
Surely there was sore need OF com
batting q system that struck not only
al the very roots of Christianity but
Of civil order itself. Force would not
check the onward march OF the new
chariot. A display Of pomp would
but put another weapon into the hands
Of the enemy. But instruction Of the
people by means Of popular preaching
and illumination OF the popular
preachers by sound and adequate
teaching seemed to the discerning
Spaniard to be the crying need Of the
hour.
The fact that disciples soon gathered
around him was sufficient guarantee
TO Dominic that he was not being car
ried away by a passing. short sighted
enthusiasm. The fac, that disciples
continued to come to him In such num-
bers that by the time of his death.
August 5. 1921, they could he counted
by thousands settled the question for
ecclesiastical minds as to the actually
and potcntialities u the Dominican
conception.
Now. the Dominican order. rising as
II did during the days when the
masses were beginning 10 enjoy for
the first time the full breath OF free
dom after the sitting atmosphere Of
feudal domination. borrowed wisely
though daring.y from the new democ-
fucy that was abroad. The Dominican
friar Of the rank and file was to have
a voice n all elections of his superiors.
Superiors were to be elected for a def
mite period Of time. at the end Of which
they were to return TO the ranks
whence they had been called without
enjoying any special privileges there
after. No laws were to be wantonly
forced upon the body by the leaders.
for frequently representatives Of the
brethren would be gathered in chap
tiers not only to legislate but also to
pass judgment on the most recen,
constitutional enactments. This was IA
unique departure in m~onasticism.
II, however. these fundamental DEM
ocratlc principles were adopted by the
Dominicans their General tied to tho
rock of central authority the entire
body by his right to veto any legisla.
ton. and his privilege OF despatch.ng
anywhere at any tim any of the
brethren from any part Of the world.
Thus individualis:n was undone among
the Dominicans by the abolition OF
the vow Of stability. by which a mar
remained attached to one place: local
km was destroyed by the universal
Jurisdiction OF the supreme head: the
~aristocratic ethos was eaten away as
by an acid by the right OF appeal and
referendum entrusted to the brethren.
Since. then. the Dominican Order took
over democratic principles which
were championed by Magma Charta.
these have hlte red into our own Con-
stitution, we Americans are in a splen-
did position Ia understand why its
character and temper exercised a
charm just a little short OF witchery
over the medieval mind. 1t In a mat
ter OF history that absolutist rulers OF
h most pronounced type have shown
a constant incapacity to understand
the democratic ideals Of the Dominican
Order. On the other hand. those ideals
have always been comprehended by
the people. Of whom the friars have
been the eve ready champions,
whether in the late Middle Ages in
Italy or Germany or in the early nine
tenth century In Argentina. where
Fathers Justin d'Oro and Manuel
Perez were the trainers OF the republic
can code OF government.
Las Casas was the consistent friend
Of the Indians oppressed by the Span
ish Conquistadores. as Savonarola was
the fearless challenger Of the high
handed Mcdici. Indeed the essentially
democratic spirit OF Dominicanism has
been a powerful force in the world to
make palatab!e to men the very prin-
ciplcs OF democracy which have
Powered so l%uxuriantly in our own
land.
In accordance with the ideas Of their
founder the Dominicans have always
made study an essential means TO ef-
fective preaching. They were the irst
to substitute intellectual pursuits for
manual labor as a means OF self-disci-
pline, which after all is the first con-
sideration Of all monastic rules. And
during 700 years these men have pro-
duced giants In every sphere of knowl-
edge, sacred and profane.
This was possible because of the SUI
perior academic regime that was
elaborated in their cloisters. During
the golden days OF the medieval uni
yersitics, when men were actually