Arizona republican., 1922-02-23
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHU
BY Or, FRANK CRANE
Copyright 1921, by Frank Crane)

The recent death of the Pope attracted the atten-
ton of newspaper readers everywhere to the curious
ceremonies connected with the election of his successor
AT a time when the Roman Catholic Church is thus
IN the foreground of the it may be well to cor
slider that great institution and the causes of its power
Removing ourselves from all the passion Of con-
troversy and considering the question merely from
historical and psychological standpoint can set
down five elements which have given this Church its
amazing influence over large portion of the human
race for so long time.
First of ALL it is founded on mankinds sense of the
infinite 1t has its roots in the very deepest instinct of
wonder. 1t deals with God. H. G. Wells said the two
greatest problems before the human race would always
be God and Sex Hence the Church and the Family are
its most abiding institutions.
In the second place, the appeal of this Church is
frankly to faith 1t has never made the mistake of en-
deavoring to establish religion upon scientific proofs
The religious sentiment cannot be rationazed any
more than any other sentiment It is not founded upon
what know for this is variable and uncertain but
upon what we do not know and that is both infinite and
eternal
In the third place, the Roman Catholic Church has
all the momentum Of the centuries: 1t is DID, 1t is prob
ably the Oldest Institution which exercises considerable
influence upon the world Perhaps the strongest motive
for human con6.,ct is imitation The reason why we
90 most things is because we have always done them
This antiquity not only gives the Church its power but
1t gives it rare charm which is felt not only by the
great masses of people but exercises powerful effect
upon cultured minds.
In the fourth place, this Church postulates de-
penuaDle auLnOrlLy People do not like to decide for
themselves and instnctively crave something to lean
upon The Roman Church does not hesitate nor fater
but speaks as one having authority"
Most people like that.
And the fifth reason for the hold Of this institution
over the mind of humanity is that is perhaps the most
perfect organization ever known in history It is the
smoothest running machine for the control of human
beings that has been devised OF course it has its
external opponents and its internal schisms But it
keeps right on going.
This idea is expressed in the classic sentence Of
Macaulay "She (the Roman Catholic Church) may
still exist in undimnished vgor when some traveller
from New Zealand SHALL in the midst Of vast solitude
take his stand on broken arch of London Bridge to
sketch the ruins of st. Paus"
There is no government on earth that can exact SO
prompt obedience from its officials as that govern
ment which has its seat in the Vatican
There is no nation on earth which receives more
passionate loyalty than that spiritual State of which
the Pope is the Head.
There is no army on earth whose generals are
obeyed with more prompt and unquestonng obedience
than the authorities Of this Church receive from their
subordinates
Whether we regard the Roman Catholic Church as
force for good, force for evil no intelligent
can resist the conclusion that it one of the great
est forces operating today upon mankind