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Show Some Recent Converts. (London Catholic Times.) From time to time we find good advice ad-vice offered to those who serve the truth by controversy. As for controversy contro-versy in itself, there can be no doubt that it is a holy and necessary work, which has been practiced by saints and doctors in all ages. It is difficult, therefore, there-fore, to approve of the idea put forward sometimes that all controversy should be eschewed and abandoned. Some educated edu-cated Catholics there are, or were, who have even said and boasted that they have never entered into controversy, meaning that they have taken it as a rule never to do so. It is difficult to approve of this rule, surrounded on all sides as our people are with what may be called jets of controversy, spouting forth errors every day. Those who make the boast forget the needs of our own people. Controversy, then, divides Itself into two parts one directed to instruct Catholics, the other to convince Protestants. Both of these are well approved ap-proved of in the annals of our own church in England. We can hardly name one of our great bishops, priests and writers who have not engaged in controversy. The list, indeed, is too long to give here. Again, controversy branches out into two othr wei do- fined and approved departments. There is the controversy to instruo and convert; con-vert; there is the controversy to expose ex-pose and denounce. All these have to be considered. General exhortations to mildness and charity ought to be supplemented sup-plemented with particular lules of controversy con-troversy called for by the requirements of truth on the one hand and of heresy on the other. It is true, Indeed, that some, who are not fitted for the work take 'a part in this difficult task; but there are others who are fitted for it who do it well and who ought to be encouraged in following out a mission divinely provided for the salvation of souls. |