SSI
I
T HE HESPERIAN
it
winning that contest we shall probably be regaled
with as many essays on women's progress as we were
when Miss Fawcctt won the senior wranglership at
Cambridge. .
The Illinois colleges are having a hard and judg
ing by the language a hot time in the selection of
their state orator. Charges and counter-charges,
consisting mostly of maledictions and inucndoes,
follow each other in rapid succession. This is un
fortunate, but not nearly so bad as to have all the
colleges lulled to sleep by the cooings of the white
dove of peace as is the case in this state. Having
experience in both, we must confess that we prefer
belligerent activity, to such dense inactivity, even
if it is peaceful.
It is not a generally known fact among the stu
dents that Profevsor Hunt has been furnishing articles
op. "Lcsons in English Grammar" to the North
western Journal of Education. The originality of
Professor Hunt's ideas on this question, together
with the discussion that they will probably arouse is
of so much interest to every student that they will be
read by every one. It is said that the articles will
be issued in book form although this has not been
defmately decided upon.
It is said of the University of the Pacific that ad
mission is denied students using tobacco. If this is
true a diploma from that school is nearly as good for
a certificate of moral character as an O. Ked. bill for
a golden harp and its necessary adjunct, a pair of
wings.
Why is it that some of the university musicians
have not, acted on Professor Bessey's suggestion
about a university sung? With so much musical talent
in the university tl.ere is no reason why we must sing
the songs that some other college has put its stamp
of adoption upon.
LITERARY,
-''-"Ignatius, Q. S. B. (Monk)" is .the Hgnature to mi article
in 'the current number of the North American Review and
curiously enough the article is a criticism of an article
signed "Ouida" that appears in the same number. The topic
treated is, Is Christianity a Failure?"
The question is not a novel one, bat the character of the
disputants is noticeable. "Ouida", whatever may be her
power as a novelist, was never suspected of aspiring to hon
ors as a polemic. Her previous writings have not been the
most consistent with Christian ideas of morality. Indeed
they have been so inconsistent with such ideas that their
character has never been regarded as resulting from the
scepticism or "free thought" that challenges the attention oi
the most intelligent among the clergy. "Ouida's" article
displays no re markablc depths of logic, but an almost tota.1
ignorance of history. The wonder is that Ignatius (Monk)
should reply to the article. "Ouida" sees in modern Christi
anity nothing but useless restraint of human passion, of all
that makes life worth living, to her it is a mere form, a sham,
a delusion. She terms it the religion of "democracy," of
"socialism."
Tgnatius, too, believes that the church has wandered far
from the paths of pristine purity, but he sees the world and
Christianity with the eyes of Saint Francis or Saint Dominic.
Christianity in his opinion is still the force that is to regener
ate the world, after the church itself has been revivified. It
is not from sunh as "Ouida" that the monk need tear oppos
ition to his ideas. Participants in vice and immorality may
justify their course to themselves, but they are in no position
to combat the arguments of morality. Vice proselytes in
silence. It is from those men who, protected by their private
morals, wage intellectual war upon religious dogma, that
monkish views must fear defeat.
,
The career of Father Ignatius is a remarkable one. I lis
life work has been to revive monasticism. Sin.e 18G1 he has
striven to establish an abbey, and at last he seems to be suc
cessful. When he first began his labor, opposition met him
everywhere; his bishop frowned upon his efforts, and his
ncighbois slone.l him. lie uuduied sickness and pel sedition
such ar greeted Luther in his labor for reform. He jaw his
followers become disheartened, or die; yet he struggled on.
His character displays all the mystic purity that hallowed the
names of Francis and Pominic, and again the order of Saint
Hcnedict seems Hue theirs, the inspiration of a fanciful and
unbalanced mind.
By strange chance the order of Saint Benedict survived
the persecution of Henry VIII, though it disappeared from
public notice long ago. Taking its name, Ignatius reared
upon its ancient foundation in the law a new order. Strict
and rigid rules, poverty, a magnificent alter, and scourging;
celibacy, an appcaraiu-e of the Virgin Mary, and the monk
ish habit; Ignatius had revived all the vicious elements of
monasticism.
It has come to be the common opinion that monasticism
had within itself elements opposed to oocial welfare, which
finally worked its ruin. Nothing seems more foreign to mod
ern ideas cither social or religious. The ascetic spirit of the
age seeks not solitude but the dense populations of "darkest
England." Hy association with his fellows, he still gains
pious order, but his fellows are the suffering masses, not the
pious few. Society is more interested in the uplifting of the
masses than in the development of a community of saints,
The world calls craven the man who seeks a refuge trom the
turmoil of daily duty under a monkish cowl. There is n
realism in other things than literature. Charity has ceased
to be an indiscriminate alms giving; it is no longer an ideal,
but a real, practical virtue. The economic example the mon
astery once set is no longer needful, the pupil has outstripped
the master. For many years learning has felt no need to
seek a refuge in the cloister. Religion long since ceased to
seek defense and strength in the monastic organizations.
Not religion, but its enemies now choose the battle ground,
and the cloister affords no advantage. Community has
not served to defy the attacks of modern heretics. How re
ligion is to profit is not apparent from Ignatius' exposition of
his plan.
The world is full of suffering, toiling men and women who
demand relief, The problem of the hour to more than' one
government is the relation of capital and labor, the ever
widening grief between luxury and poverty. Every- great
city has it.3 masses who form threatening proletariat. 'Their
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