The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-10-18
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
A NOVEL IDEA.
To the Editor:

In letter addressed by Father E.
Vincent Wareing of London to Rev
J. j. Wynne, S. j., of New York, We
| find the following interesting and sug.
gestive item: Some months ago
there was instituted over here a Cath.
Ollie Evidence Guild. 1t is composed
of laymen who are supposed to take
a course of study under priests di.
rection with a view to being suitably
equipped to speak on the Catholic re-
4 ligion in public parks and elsewhere.
l believe it has already done excellent
work"
Is not this a novel idea? At first
sight it may seem so, but on ref1ec-
ton it will appear that the principle
on which it rests is as old as Catho-
licity ITSELF Although our Lord Sc
lected only twelve Apostles on whom
he appointed seventy-two Disciples, to
visit every city and place whittier he
himself was to come" and instructed
them to say: The kingdom of God is
come nigh unto you duke X, l, 81.
He gave as a reason the fact that :"the
harvest indeed is great, but the la
borers few" adding, Pray We there
fore the Lord of the harvest, that he
send laborers into his harvest" He
thus sent His Disciples as His ad-
vance agents, so to speak, not, to pla-
card the cities with flaming posters,
h1f tn s1hnol tho eiol-1'
other mighty works. and thus at
tract their attention and announce
His Gaming. Like the precursor, they
were p prepare the way of the Lord
and make straight his path" Hence
cooperation between clergy and laity
ever since. In missionary countries
today like India, China and Japan, the
missionaries are ably assisted by lay
"catechists." In our own country we
find shining examples of similar ac-
tivity in our Chapel Cars" and Mr.
Goldstein's Mission Autovan."
Why could not this work be still
further developed along the lines sug-
gested by Father Wareing and brought
home to every city, town and hamlet
in America. The world war has shak-
en- the faith of humanity in all things
terrestrial, and millions of souls are
cropping in spiritual darkness looking
eagerly for the lights of heaven"
which Viviani boosted he had extin-
guished forever in France. But Amer
ico &c Tho full 1iphf IF
Christianity has still to come to this
land. But, alas, the anointed apostles
are SO few! Might not their efficiency
be increased by appointing lay "disci-
PIES to help to prepare the field for
the official reapers?
We are told that among our 2,000,-
600 doughboys in Europe religion was
one of the chief topics of debate.
Surely some able defenders of the
faith must have been graduated from
that severe training school. If soap
box" orators can be found with the
| zeal, the courage and the ability to
preach all kinds of fads, hobbies and
novel political theories, might not
hundreds, nay thousands, Of returned
! soldiers and sailors be found willing
| to spread a knowledge of the only
creed that can save the country?
The Catholic Evidence Guild might
| be divided into active and associate
members. The former, after care
full course of instruction and training
| by the most successful and expert
| ~ ~F
ligious orders, would appear in public
places like the "Four-Minute Men
who did SO much to fan the flame OF
patriotism during the war, and pro
claim in simple, clear, logical, but non
controversial language, the fundamen
tai truths of Christianity which alone
will ever make the world safe fol
democracy A question box might
be provided, the simpler objections
being answered off-hand and the more
difficult ones reserved for fuller treat
ment at the next meeting, thus offer
ing special inducements for those
really interested to 'come again.
But since neither eloquence, or log
ic, or wit, or publicity by them
selves will ever make a convert, the
associate members would constitute
by far the most important part of thu
entire membership, for it would b.
their task to furnish the sinews of wa
and that indispensable morale
which wins victories, by offering dali.
prayers, Communions, and Masses
either individually or in common a
stated times and places, for the sue
cess of the active members on tn
fighting line. For this reason assC
ciate members would be composed no
only of laymen but also of all religion
orders including the clustered null
Perhaps the most appropriate commo
prayer would be the Rosary since tia
was the prayer so effectually emplo!
ed by st. Dominic to eXerpate the A
, bigensian heresy in France. The la
associate members might distribut
tracts, pamphlets, books, Catholic p;
, pers and magazines among the aud
, ences and mingle with them to SUI
; port the speakers and give the gait
erings an atmosphere of sincerity, di;
: nifty and responsibility. They migf
; even help to attract an audience b
: contributing a vocal or instruments
!, solo or quartet of some kind. FunG
for the work might be obtained /
~