The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-08-11
Big and Little Catholics
THE EDITOR OF "AM ERIC Az
DRAWS A CONVINCING LESSON.
FROM PRESENT DAY CATERING
TO WEALTH AND POWER.

From newspaper reports 1t appears
that there are big and little Catholics
in New York city. The former are
very important, the latter count not
at all, except perhaps in the eyes of
God, writes Rev. Richard II. Tierney,
S. j., in America. Recently the met
ropOlitan press announced that one of
these big-Wigs hit the trail in Sum
days tabernacle and in moment of
spiritual eXaltation endorsed the evan
gelist as follows: Il am proud and
happy to shake hands with Mr.. Sun
day. There was not word in his en-
tire sermon that any one could pos
sibly take exception to, and l want
him to know that l appreciate his
work
Forthwith there was the usual COM
motion, out of which came an incon-
spicuous Reputation of the aforesaid
sentiments from the big Roman
Catholic" and a flood of letters
directed to the Office of Amer
ica." Some of these communications
were calm and dignifed, others were
high-pitched and hysterical in their
denunciation of politicians, Papal
knights and of the "aloof," "secre-
tive" mysterious" editor Of Amer
lea" who is held accountable for con-
sciences which do not exist and for
the actions of men who are but names
to him. The incident might be closed
here were it not for two pertinent les
sons to be drawn therefrom.
Thank God, there are "big" Catho-
lies in New York city and in almost
every city of the world. The Spirit
of God is breathing sweetly over the
souls of men and making them bloom
as the lily, fair before the face of the
Father. Little children are coming
from the altar-rail with the light of
heaven in their eyes and the music of
golden harps in their souls. They are
big Catholics, the biggest of all for
of such is the kingdom of heaven"
Unknown nuns and Sisters are has
tening towards complete earthly OBJ
liyion, in prayer and all holiness, alert
of eye to catch the first sign of the
Catholics. Blessed are the clean of
heart for they shall see God" Bless
ed are they that hunger and thirst
after justice, for they shall have their
fill" Lowly fathers and mothers are
sweating their lives away in poor
tenements, serving God in humility
and meekness and sorrow, in labors
above measure, in all privations. They
are big Catholics. Blessed are the
poor in spirit, for theirs is the king
dom of heaven. Blessed are the meek,
| for they shall possess the land. Bless
ed are they that mourn, for they shall
be comforted." Yes, there are big
Roman Catholics" in New York; the
merciful, Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy" the
peacemakers, Blessed are the peace
| makers, for they shall be called the
| children of God;'' the prosecuted,
| Blessed are they that suffer persecu-
| ton for justice sake, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven" ALI these are
big, big by the measure of God, who
reckons not according to cleverness
or wealth or title or social distinction
or newspaper notoriety or trumpery
of any kind, but according to the
things of the spirit. God, not man,
set the norm of greatness, when,
through the mouth of Jehu, he asked
Jonadab, the son of Rechad, rs thy
heart right as my heart is with thy
| hearth"
Two Important Lessons.
There is the first lesson to be learn
i ed from the event that made the wires
/ of the Associated Press hum with
twaddle. All men would do well to
ponder it, especially those discomfort
ed with their lot The world is pass
/ ing and they with it. and in the end,
when the ships of Tarsus have disap-
lpeared, the heart only will count.
i The second lesson lacks nothing in
i Importance. Billy Sunday is no doubt
Ia good man. he is moreover, an asset
to disintegrating Professionalism, which
/ has sore need of him. But he is not
a Catholic, his doctrine is not Cath
Il OllC, his S0FplC0 is HOT OdIuUlIC, LIP
| tabernacle is not Catholic. Ne is q
Regularly ordained Presbyterian min
lister; he is a protest, therefore,
against the Catholic priesthood,
I'against the Mass, against confession,
against the Immaculate Conception,
against Papal infallibility, against all
save few shreds and patches of the
faith delivered to the saints by Christ.
| His service consists also of prayers
and hymns quite foreign to .Catholi-
cism; his tabernacle is a Protestant
| meeting house, set up for Protestant
services, dedicated to that purpose by
the inyocations of Protestant minis
tiers. Billy Sunday is a minister con-
Quoting heretical service in a con-
lventicle. BY what right, therefore, do
lCatholics attend his functions? BY
/ what rule of conduct do they justify
Itheir action? Is curiosity their norm
If so, where is the Justification? There
| is no justification. but only a CONTEMPT
Itible weakness that does not lead
Iheavenward Does sympathy with his
mission, belief in his partial, mutilat-
ID doctrine. lure Catholics to the tab