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Show RELIGION TESTED. In this issue will be found a letter of a convert stating the reason why he joined the Catho'I.-church. Catho'I.-church. His case is the same as that of thousands who struggle for years with doubts and uncertainties uncertain-ties in their form of belief and who, though mrTP than half convinced that the Catholic church represents rep-resents the true form of Christianity, yet are reluctant reluc-tant to take the step which would make them r:e. "The truth shall .make you free." The reasons fur refusing to take that step vary according to tfo-dispositions, tfo-dispositions, environments, early training and social so-cial surroundings of each individual. Judging ! from the religious agitation that is now taking place the great majority of Protestants find them selves not only in a position where their particular form of belief cannot be logically defended, bur they have thrown aside the mask and deny all theological theo-logical doctrines, dogmas, and authoritative teaching, teach-ing, and reduced Christian principles and the Christian Chris-tian religion to a vague sentiment, no more tin-work tin-work of God than any other form of religious belief. be-lief. .They fail to see in Christianity its vivifying power by which it infuses into the soul its supernatural super-natural life through faith and the sacrament-; instituted in-stituted by our Lord. Convince the fair minded, intelligent and unprejudiced un-prejudiced American of the divine origin of r!u Christian religion, viz.. the Resurrection of Chri-u from the dead, and with him there is no middle J ground between the truth of the Catholic ehup-h and infidelity to rest on. For twenty centuries she has stood before the world as a visible organization divinely authorized to teach, declare and apply ;'.i-law ;'.i-law of God. The objections of the past to certain doctrines are no longer considered. What the human hu-man mind needs in all branches of learning is certainty cer-tainty and certainty without authority, outside ..f the sciences, which, when demonstrated, are au thoritative. is not attainable. If it be conceded th. t Christianity is the supernatural law. that it i a positive religion, having an unchangeable form .:' faith, where will they turn for the realization of all these essentials? When Cardinal Xewman. from whom Henry E. Granger derived his inspirations the truth, reached this point he took the step whicl. immortalized his name. He disputed every inch of ground with the Catholic' church, and did not take the final step until his gigantic and logical mi-.d forced him to do so. It is needless to say. that the objections to the Catholic church are not derived from the fact that it is a religion positive and well defined with its code of morals which restrain the will. In fact these are the ground work of the e'e jections to her as a visible organization; whilst on the contrary the real defense of Protestantism resis on the fact that it is not a positive religion with its faith well defined, that it places no restraint on the will, gives full scope to man's fancies of church membership as he is free to join any club or social organization which his fancy chooses. All objections objec-tions to the Catholic church reduced to their la-' analysis rest on the secular order, viz., that she is less favorable to thrift, progress, commercial activity ac-tivity than the protestant religion. These, even if true, are no objections, or if they were they could !" urged with greater force against Christ and the apostles. A new awakening in behalf of the nerd of religion will bring out the true mission of religion, reli-gion, its origin and the reasons why it should be accepted or rejected. |