The Catholic bulletin., 1921-11-12

they are inexcusable." Romans, !,
20.
For religion and morality there is
no truth more fundamental than the
existence of a Creator. This truth
that, Il believe in God, the Father Al.
mighty, Creator of heaven and EARTH
is but brief re-statement of an inn
memorial tradition which the inspired
Moses embodied in the first chapter
of his Genesis. Here in six wonder
fully graphic pictures, as in so many
dramatic acts, the great prophet un-
folds to our vision the mighty events;
Of creation. This first article of faith
to which Christian and Jew give un-
hesitating assent, is a prayerful call
out of the depths of human frailty to
acclaim the lasting grandeur of Be-
ing mightier and wiser than man.
Such profession is a universal echo of
the Unborn consciousness of man who,
as Tertullian pointed out, by his very
nature is religious. Curious and hon
est, unless blinded by passion and
pride, man finds in the recognition of
his supreme Benefactor his greatest
hope and consolation and at the same
time obtains the most reasonable ex-
planation of the first origin and final
evolution of all things.
History is eloquent witness that the
whole human race has shared the
common conviction in an hereafter,
and Higher Being to whom we are
responsible. And even if pagan ma
tions, in the course of time, somewhat
caricatured their notions of the super.
natural, adding lesser deities as
through sin their vision became more
corrupt, yet in the main they all
agreed that we are responsible to
Higher Powers. Humanity, then, like
mighty stream, now flowing quietly
and now more turbulently, reflects
more or less distinctly the Eternal.
The annals of history include among
the believers the foremost of men, dis.
tinguished by their intellectual ability,
humanity; in ancient times, Plato,
Aristotle, Cicero, Seneca, and others;
in more recent times scientists of fame
like Copernicus, Kepler, Newton, Lord
Bacon, Descartes, LeibnitZ, Pascal
Bossuet, Voltaire, Linnaeus, Ampere,
Volta, Pasteur, etc.. DR.. Dennert re-
Gently has compiled list of the most
illustrious names that have appeared
during the last three centuries. Among
three hundred there were two hun
dred and forty-two believers, seven
teen infidels, and forty-one whose re-
ligious opinions were indefinite.
A still more cogent proof for the ex-,
istence of God, however, is that from
Scausality:~ Wherever there is, an eff
feet there must be an adequate cause;
nothing can make itself. All scien-
lists agree that the world once began
when it was too hot for any living
thing: to exist. We must, therefore,
conclude that there must be an out
side Being superior to human power
and science; Being who gave all
things their first motion, development
and harmony and finally impaired to
the form. of man it's immortal spirit,
the simple image of His own. We
cannot grant for one moment that the
lion, the monkey, and man, by blind
chance, came from the same rock or
grain of sand. That may be poetry,
but not a matter of fact proved by
experience or science.
Again, design, law, and order in ma
M m INT fo1l
law-giver. Examine any toy or tool
produced by human ingenuity and then
behold in greater wonderment the
cosmic order of the universe in it's
better than clOck-like regularity of
change and motion. Even the little
butterfly as work of art surpasses
the best mechanical work of man. See
its beautiful wings exquisitely adorned
with gold and sapphire, how richly
stained with the most gorgeous color
ing. How gracefully its tiny muscles
allow it. to. alight on any fragrant
fiower!' Surely, whatever his name,
the one who made the trees, the birds
and the beasts and gave them power
to increase and multiply, must be a
wonderfully intelligent Being.
The grateful recognition of God in.
spires to virtue, satisfies reason, up.
fuilds character, whereas unbeliet
stands helpless and hopeless in the
sight of. temptation, sickness, and
death. Faith leads to justice and re
spect for law; unbelief leads to dis
order as it opens the food-gates OF
passion and crime
And finally, conscience, in it's ready
discernment of good and evil, spon
taneously points to an absolute law
and it would be inexplainable were il
not an effect that must have for. its
cause reasonable and permanent
law-giver. =
AS Christians we have also the evi
dences of Jewish and Christian his
tory with it's prophecies and miracles
fulfilled; it's records of rewards and
punishments; holy faith coming
through the prophets and the Messiah
and giving to frail men the light and
the courage to be just, strong and
noble.
Surely, this intelligent Being has
demonstrated in many ways his exist
ence.
"Glorify then the Lord, all We Gen
tiles! Praise the Lord as much a:
you can, for the Lord is exceeding
great, and of His majesty there is NJ
end. Who is like unto Thee, o God
before Whom all the nations are a!