The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-12-18
MAS RlT-SKEPTIcISM HAS
DESTROYED FAITH, SAYS AR
MOLD BENNETT, BUT LONGING
FOR FAITH STILL SHOWN AT
CHRISTMAS-TIDE - NEED OF
DAYS OF PEACE.

written by the Rev. Albert Muntsch,
S. j., for the Press Bulletin Service
of the C. B. of the c. w.
The blight of pessimism and skeptic-
ism is one of the unfortunate results of
the pseudo-science which has been
preached from the housetops during
the course of the last century. The
effect of this dark gospel upon the toll
ing masses has been disastrous. Deaf
ened by the roar and rattle of ma
chinery, lashed by the urge of indus
trialism, driven by the fierce competi-
tion of modern capitalism, the tired
and aching heart hardly knows of an
escape from the dreary monotonous
days of dull routine in workshop and
factory.
Need Of Ideals and Days Of Peace.
The amusements so lavishly pro-
vided by modern enterprise often fail
to bring the healing balm and the
spiritual uplift so sorely needed by the
large masses of people. Speaking Of
"the discontented laboring man." Mr..
David Harold Colcord says that "after
several rounds of the movies, plate
of ice cream, and a jazz selection on
the phonograph, his store of amuse-
ments is exhausted" He needs some
thing better than this. He Graves
ideals; he sighs for peace. But these
are not to be found in earth's paltry
pastimes. Their source is in the lofty
truths revealed by a merciful God and
Father to encourage His children in
their efforts, to support them in their
trials.
What Has Happened.
But these benign truths which mean
SO much for the weary wayfarer
through life, have been rejected by
pseudo-science, and stolen from those
who most need their inspiring mes.
sage. Many man now gropes
through the darkness like a battered
ship seeking port of refuge. Se-
ductive, sense-begotten phantasies lure
him on, but he never finds the wonder
full "blue flower" the happiness for
which he yearns. What would he not
give for the faith that makes glad the
soul of the child, and that once was
his, when the heart was young?
The Perennial Vitality Of Christmas.
Who would expect a thorough man
of the world, modern among mod.
erns, to give expression to thoughts
like these? And yet, in his charming
book "The Feast of st. Friend" Ar
mold Bennett (the English novelist and
essayist),. deplores "the decay of the
old Christmas spirit among adults,
| though "in the old days Of not long
ago the festival began to excite us in
| November" He attributes the blame
to the spirit of denial let loose by
Spencer, Huxley and Darwin. "They
inaugurated the mighty age of doubt
and skepticism." And what has beer
the dread penalty? Having beer
compelled to abandon it's belief in va
rious statements of alleged facts, i
Jumps principles and ideals with al
legged facts, and hastily decides not tt
believe in anything at ALL
But the supreme need of the Christ
mas spirit can never be questioned
"And people know it. Somewhere II
the most central and mysterious fast
ness of their hearts, they know it. /
they were not, in spite of themselves
convinced of it, why should they b
). so pathetically anxious to keep aliv
in themselves, and to foster in thei
4 Children, the Christmas spirit? OF
lviously, profound instinct is foreve