The sun., 1916-08-27

ceived. What 10 there that I can give
with best effect and highest profit?
In other words. she has her ideals she
sees them clearly enough from the in
eide. as II were. the side that reflects
her school experience; what gives her
pause IL the other side. the bearing of
her ideals upo actual life. their rela-
tion to the environment which she must
enter and then their likelihood OF reali-
xation In greater or lesser degree.
II IL Just here. I venture to say. that
the federation has q preliminary but very
important function to perform. It has,
through careful study and deliberate ex-
change OF views, to make clear for all
its members those 'ideals Of. Catholic
womanh6od." which II proposes 10 up
hold. to emphasize their practical value
for life right here and now In this coun.
Try Of ours and in all lands Of similar
condition. 1t Ia . process Of focusing.
with plenty Of light on ore side that
The lens II federation.
II IL. Of course. . good thing to get
people to realise that they have. or BY
their antecedents ought to have. an ideal:
consequently that they are net to fold
their hands and drift with the other
driftera But supposing this. Il IL q bet
ter thing to make them understand that
an ideal Is either the most practical Of
the minds conceptions. or no ideal at all.
The fashion Of thought which confounds
ideals with dreams II not to be COM
mended any more than Is me error Of
those who imagine that the doing Of only
common things Ii proof OF common sense.
Probably mistaken notions about the ma
ture and value OF ideals Is accountable
for more than ma failure. People who
start out with the impression that tho
ideal n too hne a thing ~ be attained
in ordinary life usually end by settling
down to the much betrodden line Of least
resistance.
II IL well then that this Federation OF
Catholic Alumne has emphasized the
Importance Of striving for something that
II noble enough TO arous enthusiasm
and vet m closely hound M with the
artualties of existence that the op,ortu-
nifty n realize y IL never wanting, The
fact 'ha' so many educated women have
united and agreed moor certain things
as worthy of attainment 's IN itself .
success and II Ia also q source Of en-
conrasement to further endeavor.
There II more diversity than II COM
monty thought among our educational
institutions. and among the tyres Of
women which fhev produce. This u due
not So much to differences IN courses OF
study or methods ~ teaching a. n tho
influence Of certain characteristic traits
which make one order Of religious teach
err different from smother. uncon-
ac'ouslv the pupil takes on habits OF
houRht. attitudes and wen ambitions
that are inculcated more ny dailv cir
eumstance than nv direct instruction 30
along with the alma mater devotion there
eoes a conformation OF the spirit which
At times might aeem IN be Of more Sc
rious 'mnorf than the essential being Of
the sp'rit and ~ the life which n sup-
ports.
None the less when all the differences
have been duly estimated one finds that
they are hut various patterns wrought
upon the snme subtantial foundation Of
Catholic life. The Identity Ia far more
stgn'hcant h the diversity. The same
beliefs lie hack Of all. with the same
ethical standards. religious practices, at.
tachmenf 10 the Church, And twsf here
IN the essence Of things which differ only
BY the outward signs. lies the basis on
which the federation IL TO build. The
ideals Of Catholic w%omanhood" are.
hrst OF all. Catholic truism no doubt
and vet not too obvious for emphasis.
It IL. however. obvious to say that
among their ideals loyalty to the Cath
Ollie faith comes first. This 10 the main
purpose az Catholic education. It In the
most valuable asset that tho graduate
receives, ana II ID implied IN everything
else that her school or college has to
give. Doubtless. too. It Is uppermost In
the girls own mind as she looks forward
TO her later career. But II IL not uni
versally regarded with esteem. BY many
II 10 considered q foible. II not q DOWN
right hindrance to the enterprise OF life:
It 10 not progressive" Our graduate
soon feels the need OF adjustment not
by yielding to external pressure. which
would really be weakness: nor yet by
refusing TO have any part In the action
n thought Of the day. which would b
idleness: but by discovering the wants
which only her faith can supply and the
errors which II alone can correct. A.
concerning these things the frivolous
have nothing to say but to thoughtful
men n women of every creed II Is be-
coming moro n more evident that in
spite Of our progress, or perhaps Just
because Of that progress. we are come
TO the point where the world needs re-
newal BY faith. We have tried every
thing else. run through many PHILOSOPHERS
and adopted all the reforms. only to ind
that our problems are bigger than ever.
Have our Catholic women understood.
and with practical effect, that their faith
10 not for their own salvation alone. that
by reason Of It they are debtors to all
the worid7
THO world. however. win not be paid
With wordA II u old enough 20 know
that counterfetts are Of easy circulation.
II looks to deeds for the stamp Of rem.
utnsnssA But deeds are done ~ In