St Ignatius College - Ignatian Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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mlm Muni 5 Ee Milam! ' i sg igwlgg ,v T WAS one of those chill raw evenings of November. For want of something better tw to do, I picked out a soft divan in the lux- urious lounging room of the club, and de- cided to spend a quiet evening with my pipe. I-cj 'X ' I had been pulling slowly away for a few minutes, my mind centered on nothing in particular, when tive of the other members entered and gathered round a table to my right. I was in the shadow of the wall, and none seemed to notice my presence. For a while they roamed from current topics to small talk and from small talk back to current topics. It is a peculiar thing how, in these last few years, subjects, that before were restricted to the technical expert or to the philosopher, are now discussed by the uninitiated with the same freedom and certitude as for- merly characterized the student. No subject has perhaps become so popularized as ethicsg in club-room, on the street, over the dinner-table, the morality or immorality of acts is argued and commented upon from as many angles and with as widely differing opinions as there are speakers. I was scarcely surprised, therefore, to hear the conversa- tion turn from the consideration of a recent newspaper scandal, to the general basis of morality. One of the group, a young fellow evidently just having completed his studies, and who up to this time had been a silent listener, was re- sponsible for the change. While we are discussing the foundation of ethics, he remarked, could any of you gentle- men tell me, why I must be moral P What do you mean Hughie? spoke up a middle-aged gentleman, who bore all the Whisker marks of a doctor. . Well, what I'm trying to find out, is, what obliges me

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78 IGNATIAN drawn face, framed in ringlets of black hair. It was a beautiful face, beautiful in suffering, and the big eyes, glow- ing with the warmth of fever, were turned expectantly to the open door. Francois crowded up close to me, and I whispered a word of comfort. I could feel his boyish heart beating madly in the desire to rush forward and clasp the sweet mother to him. A moment, and he has brushed past Sister and nurse, and flung himself with a cry into those outstretched arms, that closed about him, and strained him passionately to the mother-bosom. Silently, and with a catch in our throats we three, Sister, nurse and I, gently closed the door after us. I felt the hot tears, tears of joy, and there was joy, heavenly, measureless deep down in my heart. That Christmas Day was those two hearts, made one separation. I offered up my Child for the part granted me reunion, and prayed earnestly one of untold happiness for again after years of painful fervent thanks to the Divine to play in this little drama of that the cup of happiness of which they now drank might never be dashed from their lips. JOSEPH S. MCINERNEY. Uhr Eihhen Gnh Disdaining pomp and clothed in robes of earth, That hide His God-head from all mortal eyes, The Savior comes and as an Infant lies Upon His lowly manger-bed. His birth The heavenly choirs announce, but lost in mirth Cruel Bethlem hears no strains, nor in the skies Beholds His star whose dazzling light outvies The sun in splendor and proclaims His worth. Oh, may our hearts upon Christ's natal morn, Unlike those hearts of old that laughed to scorn His humble birth, adore, and gladly own That bed of straw, the Great Creator's throne! And sweetly may they with the angels sing A welcome to our God, our new-born King! Jos. LEISNER.

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80 IGNATIAN to do one act rather than another? Why may I not com- mit murder if I feel so inclined? , While that's a rather peculiar question, replied the ap- parent M. D., yet I scarcely think the answer is as dillicult as you seem to think. Every man, instinctively feels that some things are good, and that other things are bad. He feels an inclination toward the good, and an aversion to the evil. Hence the answer to your question is simply this,- instinct, . But even granting that it is instinct that makes acts right and wrong, that does not tell me why I must be moral. It merely inclines, to use your own words, and does not oblige me to act. Now look here, Hughie, spoke up the older man, isn't it the instinct of self-preservation, for instance, that causes us to say that murder is wrong? Well, let us grant, for the sake of argument, that instinct does oblige us to refrain from acting, what follows? Either man has a free will, or he has not. If the latter hypothesis be assumed, he must act under necessary laws. But to say that, what man does, he cannot help doing, is not only a contradiction of fact but of reason. How can a man be held responsible for doing what he cannot help? Do you for a moment think that, if you murdered another, and when arraigned for trial, you pleaded that you acted under the compulsion of instinct, you would be acquitted? By no means, common sense says that we must be free, if we are responsible. To make the argument stronger: Did you ever see a dog or a cat in jail? Can't say I did, replied his questioner with a laugh, unless you call the pound a jailf' Well, if you were to analyze your doctrine, you would be forced to admit its conclusion: If instinct were the sole force that obliged men to do good, and avoid evil, then, since instinct is possessed by the brute, you should hold the brute acountable for his acts just as you do in the case of rnan. If for instance, your neighbor's cat seeks to warble a mid-