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Show CATIIOLICS AXD SECTARIAN IXSTITU- TIOXS. (Written for the Intermountain Catholic.) Is the Y. M. C. A. a sectarian body? Xo one, I believe, who is at all familiar with this admirable organization, will hesitate to answer this question affirmatively. . It therefore seems odd that the editor of one of our Catholic journals should resent, with an uncommon un-common degree of ardor and asperity, the declaration declar-ation of a contemporary that it is not advisable ! for Catholic young men to affiliate themselves with j this institution; and particularly is this a remark ; ante instance ot journalistic acrimony in view ot the fact that the censored editor did not,- insofar as is apparent from his utterances quoted by the journal mentioned condemn the organization in the abstract ; on the contrary, he seems willing to frankly admit that it may be beneficent in its ministrations min-istrations to and influence upon its non-Catholic members and patrons. Why. therefore, this Catholic journalist should feel called upon to thus fervently espouse the championship of the Y. M. C. A. passes understanding. under-standing. It is difficult to comprehend just what gives' rise' to the casus belli that seems to present j itself so luminously before his mental vision. If j the organization under consideration is really 5 rendering an inestimable service to society, it is not at all probable that this will be seriously interfered in-terfered with if Catholics, believing that they can most effectually serve humanity by conferring upon it the light of the one true religion, refrain from allying themselves with an effort, however com-! com-! mendable in the abstract, that is of far less vital importance than is the divine work of the grand old Church with which they have the good fortune for-tune of holding communion. But this valiant and volunteer champion seems to hold that it is a monstrous evil that our Catholic Cath-olic young men should themselves be deprived of j the benefits, from an educational standpoint, that inures to the patrons of the Y. M. C. A. Is there aught of substantial validity in this contention? The writer honestly doubts that there is. Even if some educational advantages might accrue to these youths by affiliating with the organization, this fact does not, I am convinced, justify courting the danger to faith that is inherent in identifying oneself with a movement, a salient feature of which is the propogation of sectarian tenets of. belief. However humiliating may be the confession that this danger exists, the fact stubbornly remains, and it is sheer folly to loftily ignore it. There is something some-thing irresistably fascinating, to the young mantri particular, in the idea of being a "free-lance: When his daily, his most familiar and, mayhap, " j his most highly esteemed associates are wont to flout the idea of wearing the "yoke" of dogmatic I religion, of "ignobly" submitting to the "onerous" j dictates of an "infallible" Church, it is but natural that he should become inoculated with the f also I notions and perverted sentiments that constitute the mental and moral atmosphere that he habitual- I ly breathes. I If, therefore which I do not. by any means feel . bound, in fairness, to admit our Catholic young men are deprived of a meed of important knowledge ; by holding themselves aloof from associations that j. would be a menace to their faith, the sacrifice in- j j voivea is one tnat may tie cneenuiiy matte, imam-tain imam-tain that an abiding faith in the saving truths of Holy Church is of far greater importance unspeakably un-speakably more conducive to man's well-being, in all important respects even in this terrestrial life, '' than would be the moity of additional knowledge which may thus be forfeited. Will the editor in question deny the validity of this conclusion To hold that an institution or a system may. in the main or under particular aspects be com-mendable com-mendable and yet essentially pernicious in influence influ-ence -if any it might exercise upon men more or . ' J less substantially endowed with the fullness of truth, is not at all paradoxical. Thus, the Y. M. C. A. might confer an inestimable benefit upon an atheist by imbuing him with the half-truths in the. spiritual order which it is prone to progagate, whilst a Catholic who might be prevailed upon to '.''. accept the tenets of their faith in lieu of that fullness of light and truth that may be found in , 1 lus Church would sufferan irreparable injury. Is any one at all competent fo express an in- " telligent opinion upon this point disposed to que.?- ..'-' tion the integrity and validity of the conviction here expressed i If it be necessary to emphasize the truth of the ; proposition above stated, let us for fa moment consider con-sider the influence wrought by the movement which , boasts the appellation of "Christian Science." Xo one, I take it for granted, who is even remotely familiar with the scope of this movement, will f j gainsay the fact that many who were wrested from . the soul-blighting and utterly degrading effects of ! gross materialism and sensuality by accepting the j teachings of "Christian Science" were thereby ele- j vated in heart and mind. Does it, therefore, fol-low fol-low that these teachings have aught in them that would be elevating to the intelligent Catholic? Would not the Catholic who might relinquish his faith for the really absurd '"doctrines" of this fanciful cult be thereby unspeakably degraded? Docs it not follow from all this that what may (Continued on Pajje 4.). -f ? CATHOLICS AND SECTARIAN INSTITUTIONS. INSTITU-TIONS. ; (Continued from Page 1.) do good enough for others is by no means ncecs- j sarily "good enough" for Catholics? f Let us then accord to the Y. M. C. A. all .that is claimed for it by its most enthusiastic chain- -piousnot excluding the somewhat egotistical. ' Catholic journalist, the self-constituted in its relations re-lations with the general public, but let us, at the same time, solicitiousiy safe-guard the spiritual interests in-terests of our own youth against the heresies cher- i ished by its membership. And in making this ple.i I am loth to incur the grandiloquent denunciations 1 ; of the aforesaid journalist because of my want of charity and liberality. I have no protest to niako I against the freest intercourse on the part of Cath-olics Cath-olics with themc-mbers of the Y. M. C. A., a large f majority of whom, I am convinced, are most ex- cellent gentlemen and citizens. In the daily walk of life they could not, I am sure, choose more agree- able associates. But if they are to meet on a reli- f gious "footing." I would much prefer that thi ! I should occur in our own churches or assembly f rooms. I "In essentials unity" which is paramount to declaring that, in matters of faith and principles . I ' there must be no tendency to compromise or tenir . porize, however much it may be incumbent upon ' Us, by virtue of our religious professions, to bo ! charitable and liberal in all things ouisido their I ' proper domain. I - A. C. LAYMAN. J f: i I : ' ' |