Year: 1870

~


Professionalism a religious belief in its various
divisions and subdivisions, has representatively
existed for nearly three hundred years, and now,
at the end of that time, its votaries-that is, its
leaders-think it necessary to assemble in coun-
Gil, and if it has defects suppose, change them,
and suppose means will be attempted to make 1t
more eficacious in the future than II has been In
the past. AS a spiritual power every sensible
man knows Professionalism is q ridiculous failure.
Germany, that was once Christian, is in a greet
measure infidel; England is partly heather, and
the United States of America are, to a lamentable
extent. lost in irreligion heathenism and infdety
Professionalism has been always the leading reli-
gion in these countries since its BIRTH and there
fore we see the resut.-the rejection of an infal-
lble Church, the Bible the only rule of faith and
every man his own interpreter of it. These false
principles have killed the religion Of Luther and
Calvin; have brought whole peoples back to the
paganism OF Greece and Rome. Admitting then
that Professionalism religion is the most un-
successful and foolish of all-wOrse In diffusing
itself among the people than Brahmanism or
Buddhism in China and Japan and Fetishism in
Afrca-yet as a moral and matera power, it
has moulded and changed the whole face of the
modern world. DR.. Ever of New York (whose
soul is in Rome, but whose form appears weekly
before bankers and gay ladies in Christ church.
Fifth avenue, in New York;, says all this progress
Is brought about by awakening mind. But does
he tell us what caused this Awakening mind ~
Europe and all the then civilized world, from the
fifth and sixth centuries to the protest OF Luther
in the fifteenth was held by the spell by the grasp
of religion. There was moral corruption, no
donbt-there was superstiton--there were many
bad and wicked men in those days, but, after all
there reverence for God there was wide
spread and humble faith, there was loyalty TO
truth and loyalty to God. Men placed then
eternity above time and heaven above earth.
Hence civilization or human progress, democratic
liberty and the Improvement of mans temporal
condition were plants Of slow growth. But
Luther came and said, Let us reconcile reason
and revelation, time and eternity, heaven and
earth, Christianity and civilization; let us have a
religion with common sense in it, that will please
men; and, therefore, from the day that Luther
nailed his thesis the door of that simple village
church to this very honr that simple childke faith
In God has been on the decline in the civilized
world, and never more, unless by miricle, unless
by second advent, can that true faith in God be
restored widespread throughout the earth. 1t is
gone never to return. In the iron horse, putting
and blowing defantiy; in the steamer with her
immense wheels FLASHING the sea in foam, in the
telegraph sending news almost by miracle, in the
gigantic stores of commerce, in the huge printing
presses spreading news to millions in all the tone
and tenor of nineteenth century civilization can
see the worldly influence of the reformation and
the aim and intention to make paradise of earth.
The Vatican Council Is failure, because the
worldly character and spirit of this age will not
UeeQ IL. Inc coming fTOIcSLaUb COUNCIL VIII DC
still greater failure, because it will join with the
age and, therefore, renounce the Christion life of
Professionalism. The future is indeed gloomy.
The Christian, civilized and enlightened West is
hardly better in moral and religious condition
than the idolatrous and semi-cvilized East, civil
Szed beathenism being far worse than pagan idol.
airy. TO sum up, if the highest aim and destiny
OF man is to invent steam, lay telegraph wires,
build huge commercial piles and establish NAM
moth printing presses, to distribute doubtful news
to eager millions, to build palaces and live like
modern Dives and centre ones entire attention on
the life that closes in the grave, Professionalism
~, indeed, success; but If, on the other hand,
simple, childbke faIthin God, widespread through
out the earth, is necessary for true life on earth
and blissfu future in heaven if faith hope and
charity firmly rooted in the heart are better than
Intellectual power, wholly used for temporal ends;
II the simple chapel is a more beautiful edifice
than bank of the Rothschds; if a. pale Charity
Sister is a more beautiful mOman than voIuptri-
eus harot; if this life is only probation prepar-
Ing man for life of real happiness beyond the
grave: il eternity should always eclipse in mans
mind time; if heaven is a far more desirable place
than earth; if the poor, oppressed Christian man.
like Lazarus, is really better in the eyes of God
Than Dives; IT, in fine tho secular character of
this arc is hurtful TO mans soul. jeopardzing his
eternal life. then indeed, Professionalism is the
greatest curse that man has seen on earth--de-
stroying faith, hope and charity, enthroning Satan
and disesabshing Christ.


WESTERN CATHOLIC.