Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1922-01-13

Ing man.
Father r. f. Flynn, in opening his
address, explained that he would
quote freely from Pope Leo XIII.
The wide subject presented for our
consideration can only be treated here
in summary manner. We know that
civil society is true society, designed
by the Creator, invested by Him with
authority, and adapted to the temper
al well-being of mankind. The
church is a society expressly founded
by tn Goldman, Jesus Christ, whereby
men may achieve the supreme and
final end of their existence, that is,
complete happiness after this present
life. The church has her place in So
cial matters. "The office and mission
of the church is to mankind, in the
precepts and teachings of the Cos
pei, and by safeguarding the integ-
rity of the moral virtues, such as
justice, diligence, sobriety, honor, and
the exercise of the Christian virtues,
faith, hope, charity, humility, ETC., to
teach men to that happiness which is
held out to everyone in heaven"
The church is the oldest of social
lIStiluiiolS. OllC Tic IlOSl dCNObth
of social workers, as the records of
her history testify. Her experience is
the most complete, for it includes all
centuries; since the days of Christ, all
phases in the formation of our civili-
cation and all countries. She claims,
moreover, that her Intervention is
necessary. Doubtless this most seri-
Gus question demands the attention
and efforts of others besides our
selves, to-wit, of the rulers of the
state, of employers of labor, of the
wealthy and of the working classes
! themselves. But we affirm without
hesitation, that all the striving of
men will be in vain if they leave out
the church. "-Leo KILL
The action of the church is felt
powerfully, in the contrast she pre-
sents with the insecurity and change
ableness of false opinions. She has
in all times been the uncompromiSlng
defender of the doctrines entrusted
to her keeping. With a weakening of
belief in the supreme lordship of God,
there follows inevitably a weakening
of belief in any inherent authority of
the state. The public authority be-
comes nothing more than the power
of a majority-a majority at the
polls secured by caucus. With no
future consequences, no more imperi-
Gus moral obligation than attaches to
ones own opinion, why should a man
put up with the unequal dOles of hap
piness which everywhere prevail ?
Such an inequality is the deprivation
of the very purpose of his existence,
namely, personal and complete happl-
ness. Exclude the idea of futurity
and forthwith the very notion OF
what is good and right would perish.
(Rerum nOvarum). The church is the
safeguard of right conduct. She is
! infexible in her enforcement of the
obligation of the moral law, and par
ticularly in matters of honesty, truth,
sexual morality, and brotherly love.
Without this obligation we have moth
ing more than legal enactments
framed by men and enforced by phys
ical penalties. Only the will of God
can place a man under binding re-
straint of moral conduct. To guard
the moral code by word and example
is the special function of the church.
A specimen of her social teaching oc-
ours in the writings of Pope Leo Kill
l. She bids the employer: Not to
look upon the workman as his bonds
man. but to respect him, for his labor
is honorable. Not to exploit him or