The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-16
GIVING A REASON.

the greater number of ocontro.
versies and disputes lies III ignor.
ance of facts, True, malice and
deceit also play their part, but
usually a person will drag out a
controversy because he is not in
possession of the facts in a given
case. Rather than plead nescience
he will attempt to bolster up a
bad cause with worse arguments
rather than allow his pride to be
wounded he will invent reasons
and pretexts and cover them over
with the" veneer of plausibility,
or perhaps, of acrimony. In his
heart Of hearts he realizes his er-
ror, but he will venture to hope
for greater ignorance in his OPP
ponent, thus to win his point.
The difference between an ex-
pert i'll any given line and a
novice is that the former possesses
a thorough knowledge based on
facts and science, while the latter
depends to a great extent on his
innate spirit of discrimination.
This spirit ordinarily is colOred
and shaped by mere appearances
or doubtful experience, by an il
legitimate application of irrele-
want incidents. The result is that
the expert reaches a logical end in
his work or thought: the amateur
is buffeted about by the waves Of
uncertainty, or precipitated and
engulfed in the depths by false
step.
An intelligent citizen prides
himself Oh keeping informed on all
the questions of civic interest as
well as of national Importance.
He is ready to reason about the
policies of government, the re-.
sources Of the country, the posi-
ton occupied by the nation. His
knowledge may not always be
drawn from the most intimate
sources, but it is the knowledge
possessed by all well-informed
citizens. He can give reason for
the political belief which he pro-
fesses. True, he may at times diff
fer with his leaders; but again he.
is in a position to assign reasons
for his difference of belief. The
Indifferent citizen, on the con-
trary, reliesTupon prejudice or the
dictates of blind partisanship. To
him the welfare of the country is
represented by his personal ag-
grandizement Or profit, not by the
happiness and prosperity of his
fellow-men.
What is true i'll a political, or
any other, sense, is equally apple
able to Catholic with reference
to his Church and her life. The
life Of the Catholic Church is pull
sating with ever-expanding inter
ests; her life is. one of vigorous
growth: she takes an active part
in all problems that interest hui
either actually entering
the field of discussion, or by plac-
ing the seal of approval or dis
agreement on the great questions
that agitate human beings. Her
mission is to elevate and construct
and lead back to Christ the vari-
Gus units of the race: the means
at her disposal she seizes within
and without. The present great
war in Europe has not touched
her directly as have so many other
struggles of the past. She is with
out actual territorial dominion;
and yet the voice from the Vatican
is the one that sounds the loudest
and that commands the widest
and hearing. Her children
are found on every battlefield up
holding the traditions of the
Church for loyalty and courage.
In the forefront Of danger her
sons are falling in the attack or
leading on to victory. Many Of
the leaders on various sides in the
present conflict are humble and
devoted sons of the Catholic
Church. In every walk in life, in
a word, the influence of the
Church is felt and respected. AT
times she is attacked viciously;
again, she is hailed in triumph;
but ever. in all places, at all times,
under all conditions, the vitality
of the Church is apparent.
In spite of this varied life Of the
Church how many of our Catholic
people-pers0ns otherwise well-in-
formed and fairly intelligeht-are
conversant with the manifold ac-
tiyities that flow through her
channel? How many Catholics can
give reason for the faith that is
in them; nay, how many keep in
touch at all with the most general
and commonplace works that en-
gross the attention and efforts of
that same Church? They may
plead ignorance of so vast sub
ject as Church history; they may
allege lack of time for study of
the diversified activities of their