Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-27
Rev. Frank Pratt Points tc
Service They Rendered
Civilization.
EMPHASIZES ACTIVITY
AFTER FALL OF ROME
Recalls How Church Was Re-
spcc,ed During Period ;
Of Chaos.

Rev. Frank Pratt spoke last night
at the Unitarian Church upon
Things We Admire In the Catholic
Church" This was the second in
series OF lecture sermons upon
Things We Admire In Other
Chmrchr."
Dr. Pratt spoke in part. as fol-
lows
We all owe debt OF appreciation
I" TIA" Catholic Church for it's ser
vices 10 civilization. During the
tim" OF chaos, which followed tho
fail Of the Roman empire. the church
Was III" only power respected. Even
Ia" rough Northern barbnrians. who
suhdu"d the empire. grew to respect
IN" influence and authority Of The
church hut we owe still greater
d-ht ~ apprcciatiSn to the Catholic
Church for i,s rescue OF the world
from the Manlchcans. Contc and John
M"rl"y-ncither Of them churchincn
declare that even civilization itself
was in danger of destruction and was
narrowly saved by the bold aggr.s-
'iv" faith Of Christcndom The con-
hict began with tha great Augustine
in the fourth century and continued
for 400 years. He turned the minds
OF men away from the blind fatalism
"t the Manichcans to the considcra-
non OF world Of human souls. which
he declared was the real battle
ground between good and evil.
Church Encourage. Art.
Through the long Middle Ages tho
Catholic Church was the guardian Of
letters and learning. Tho church has
always encouraged art and has
known how To- use ii In its worship
IN" Pr",.sian, Church has not been
wholly friendly with any OF the arts.
The Reformation brought "A distrust
"i beauty. AS Il result. worship in
Professionalism has usually been bare
and unbchutifui. The Catholic Church.
on III" other hand. has known how
I" utilize the great Scniuses Of art,
OF music and -. architecture The
greatest art Of tho world is associated
WIN the Catholic Church. !, was the
church which set Michael Angelo to
work upon theimmortal ceiling ar the
Sist'nc Chapel 1t was the church
which called forth some OF Raphacls
greatest frcscoeg and pictures
We must admire in. tn. Catholic
church tn. spirit and purpose OF the
confessional II brings abou, a soul
relationship between the individual
and the church. which is now almost
wholly LACKING In Professionalism
IN" Protestant Church has dcpcndrd
largely upon the sermon for spiri,u3l
guidance. But II does not meet IN.
need growing out Of personal prob
lens. People who are physically III
20 To physician. Those who are
spiritually Ill ought To go TO a phv
Sician Of the soul. II YOU are
catholic. YOU 70 TO a priest. who il n
physician .: the soul. hut il you are
q Protestant. you arc more apt 10 go
10 your doctor than to Your minister
RMS shows that one of the great
needs OF the Protestant Church today
Is some relationship between people
ana minister which corresponds with
inc Catholic confessional.
Fnther Dnmien Di-s for I.eper..
the world could III afford 10 lose
Inc great souls Of the Catholic Church.
'ahtcs contribution to humanity
SUI! remains Il living factor in civil
cation. Thomas kcmpis gave the
world the Imitation OF Christ The
words OF aspiration and spiritual in
s'eht which it contains stin find
'"c uccp places of the human soul
SAINT Francis Assist gave humanity
still greater gift. Thomas n KEN
pis embodied the spirit of christ i'm
DOCK saint Francis. OF Assist. showed
us his spirit in his lie, and his was
INC trucr Limitations" To com. %
modem times. we have no better ex-
ample Of that spirit than the com
piete self-sacrifice of Father Damien
as ne gave his life for the lcpers OF
the island OF the Pacific
we must admire the sense Of re-
sponsihiiity the church feels for evcrv
soul within its embracing arms. II
docs not consider that il is freed fror,
ms responsibility by the sin and I'M.
worthiness -. the. individual. sin
ana unworthiness only increase tho
sense OF responsibility of this church
IL mas the feeling of a mother r.,
every one OF It's children.