The Irish standard., 1918-02-02
Archbishop Moe|Ier
Defines laymen Duties
A Comprehensive Survey Of the Du,
ties Of Church Members.
How They Promote the Progress OF
the church-Lines of Cooperation
and Personal Service Elucidated.
Should Relieve the Clergy of Many
Unnecessary Worries and
Activities.

Activities.
Archbishop Moeller, of Cincinnati
who visited several Colorado cities
few months ago, recently gave an ex
cellent address in his see city on the
position Catholic layman should holt
in the Church organization. He said
History relates that some ninet,
years ago, a Scotch Presbyterian, who
had serious doubts about his religion
consulted q Catholic priest and asked
him:
If l become Catholic, what viii
be my position in the Church?
Know What my duty is in the Presbyte
rian Church, and would like to know
what would be my status in the Cath
Ole church,
Your question: replied the priest
is easily answered.. The position OF
layman in the Church of Rome is
| tWofold: he kneels before the altar
that is one position; and he sits be
fore the pulpit-that is the other; and
there is no other possible position
This brief statement, which illus
trates one view of my subject, cannot
of course, be taken as furnishing an
adequate and complete definition of
the status of a Catholic layman of
the present day in the Church.
ITO begin with, he is always being
invited, and is in duty bound to as.
sumo another very important duty in
regard to the Church, namely, that of
putting his hand into his pocket to
furnish the money necessary to meet
the thousand and one imperative de.
mands, incidental to the present cir.
cumstances of Catholics in the Church.
Must Contribute to Good Works.
But this is not all. He must look
not only to his own spiritual welfare
by worshipping God before the altar,
by listening heedfully to the Word of
God as he takes his place among the
faithful, gathered around the pulpit;
not only must he give of his means
to foster works of charity and religion,
but he must also, as far as he can,
interest himself in promoting the spir-
itual work of the Church.
"Now, there are many ways in which
the laity can laudably assist in the
Church's mission, ways that are we'll
known to you. They are, however, lost
sight of frequently and hence it will
be profitable to restate and to empha-
size them.
II would urge you, if you desire to
serve the church and deserve we'll of
her, do your duty faithfully as citi-
zens. This ready compliance of yours
will undoubtedly rebound to the glory
and prestige of the Church, and will
strengthen her beneficent influence.
Oh, how much good can an American
citizen accomplish! In many coun-
tries all power is in the hands of a
few; not so IN our beloved country,
where every citizen has something to
say; every one can take his proper
share in public affairs; in word, the
rights, privileges and duties of citizen
ship are practically extended to all
and for the benefit of all. Yet the
citizenship under the Stars and
Stripes, however good and desirable,
has it's lurking dangers.
Blind Party Spirit.
II shall not speak of the danger of
a blind party spirit; nor of the dan
ger of being governed by a numeral
majority alone; nor the danger of be-
ing unduly influenced by eloquent but
interruptions orators; nor of the dan.
ger of acting from mercenary motives;
I pass by these ugly dangers and call
attention to the insidious danger, alas
too prevalent, of not having in view
the spiritual, the moral and the so.
cial betterment of the whole COM
munity. This is also the exalted aim
Of the Church, and should be the chief
object of every Catholic
TT is not enough to have a correct
idea of citizenship, but it must be
exercised wisely. It avails nothing
to have right views and sublime ideals,
if we do hot steadily bend every en-
ergy to put them into practice.
True Ideas o: Authority and Liberty.
1--WE want men with true ideas of
authority and liberty, with true ideas
about education, with ideas about the
Church and her ministers; with hearts
that can feel for, and hands that are
ready to help. their less fortunate
brethren; men Of prudence as we'll as
zeal; men who have enthusiasm, but
whose enthusiasm is controlled and
disciplined by knowledge; men who
are ready to work for the cause in
public life without any thought Of re-
ward or return-these are the men
we want to lead the way. Such men
bring honor to themselves, and their
lives attract and draw others, soften
prejudice and smooth the way for the
Church's greater progress and in.
crease.
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