The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-09-30
Mind VS.. Matter.


stract, universally practicable. 1t is
the idea neither of a sealene, nor OF
an isosceles, nor of an equilateral tri-
angle; to be universally practicable,
the idea must be wholly out of the
order of things with three dimensions.
Mind, as it were, lifts the mental
representations of the natures of
things called ideas from out their con-
crete. Sensible settings, it raises
them to a plane transcending sense
data which are always particular,
concrete, individual But, if mind is
completely dependent upon matter,
is, so to speak, immersed in matter,
the universal, abstract idea were an
impossibility. But the universal idea
is fact When we call triangle
triangle, no matter what its dimen-
sions or it's classification, it is be-
cause the mind perceives that each
possesses the essence of a triangle,
of which the idea is, the mental rep
resentation. A material faculty, that
is faculty operating through a phys
ical organ, could no more form alb
stract ideas than a man can over
reach himself! The argument from
self-consciousness by it's simplicity
has a great attractiveness, Consider
that in the operation of the mind
known as self-consciousness there is
recognition of the perfect identity be-
tween myself thinking about some
thing and myself thinking about that
thinking self, that there is here a
mental phenomenon with self the sub
ject and object of one and the same
operation Who ever heard of the
tip of a finger touching itself? Mat
ter acts upon other matter, but new
er upon itself Surely here is an OPP
Grafton in which matter can have no
part. Death need not, therefore, be
the end of a day. Is it not rather
the beginning of that which has no
end?
Consideration of Immortality.
Did you see brave sons and broth
ers march away during those last ter
rible, yet glorious years? Some re-
turned not. Duty had commanded to
the death. Is nothing and nothing
ness the portion of heroes? Effort
means fuller life and life yet more
full. The heros grave is but trench
into which 1.-The seed of Immortality
must needs be cast" DUTY cannot
be in irreconcilable conflict with ra-
tional self-love" But even where life
lengthens out to a span of four score
and ten, be it ever so rich, life does
not fill all mans capacities nor sat
isfy his yearnings to the full. To
know more is to peer down the beck
oning avenues of knowledge along
which travel is impossible. True the
saying: "Schola vita brevis"-Educa-
ton is long whereas life is short.
The power of conception also exceeds
the reality; the will knows no satie-
ty. Restless the heart, nor shall it
find quiet until it rests in Thee
Sin is Fact.
But more than all these, perhaps
for most men the most intimate and
convincing consideration comes from
the majesty of the law. The first
postulate of science is the reasonable
ness of natures law, the uniformity
of her modes of operation. An engi-
neer cannot plan a bridge unless he
take for granted the consistency of
his findings concerning strengths and
strains, unless his is the assurance
that his materials and his laws will
act always the same under like cir
cumstances. An all-wise and all-pow-
erful God ordained line of reason
able human evolution which we call
the moral law. Here alone we have
no conviction of definite, constant,
uniform, rational procedure. Terri
BILE the gift of self-mastery! Into the
cosmos man can wantonly introduce
disorder. Sin is a fact in the world.
Shall the law of human life, the no
blest in nature, alone suffer ultimate
Illustration, alone be cheated, alone
be made a mockery? Men may be
sentimental about it; it cannot change
the facts. The reasonableness OF the
law, the wisdom and power of God
forbid it. But take away final ire
vocable retribution, and leave man
free, and the law may ultimately be
frustrated. God can be made fool
gudgeon, a mockery. When time will
have passed for the individual and
for him there will be only eternity,
the majesty of the law will be vindi-
Gated in a glorious destiny for those
who obey, by the irresistible fact of
hell for it's impenitent violators in
grave matters. Besides this sanction
of the law involving the concept of
the eternal survival, or rather, life OF
the soul, all other sanctions are as
if they were not. The categorical
imperative" of Kant does not COM
mand: the age has developed the
prudential sinner" responsibility is
only skin deep. To make SHINING with
impunity impossible, there must be
life interminable after death.
Cardinal Newman and Immortality.
But the last is, however logical,
stern consideration. For the great
masses of men Immortality means go
ing home. Who cares for Nirvana?
II immortality is not personal, what
boots it, 1t is who wish to go home.
1t is my mind that would plummet
the depth of the secrets and wonders
of a million worlds. 1t lis my Will
that would love in secure and unend-
ing possession the perfect Good
Naught Is there to blight my faith