The Cliff Hamlet (verse)
Hanlon, John
January 26, x927 THE COMMONWEAL 317 which thereby have developed between the Greek-Oriental and the Roman-Germanic ethos. The Catho- lic mind of the East is therefore prei~minently liturgical and...
...It was affirmec that the work of the Catholic Union and of the Monk., of Reunion must be fbstered by episcopal supporl everywhere, that apologetical books not polemic ir character should be distributed, and that persons in terested in the work and living in the East be drawr into the great effort...
...Of course, his lis- teners bore in mind that he himself was a native of Poland...
...Then some Man shoulders forward shyly from the band Before the ill-stocked store, and wistfully Offers his little, since he has no more To offer...
...January 26, x927 THE COMMONWEAL 317 which thereby have developed between the Greek-Oriental and the Roman-Germanic ethos...
...Baron Wrangel then enumerated a whole list of facts which have halted the union movement, and expressed in particu- lar the idea that charity and relief work should be separated from the effort to promote union...
...When fog is quelled by summer, townfolk come To picnic...
...JOHN HANLO?r...
...He believes that the millions of those who have never accepted the polemical books can be considered as living in the spirit of the Catholic faith...
...It remains to say something of the practical measures recommended by the delegates...
...This address was, perhaps, the most important delivered at the congress, although various other speakers developed ideas of great significance...
...A drab scape, ave where blue Waves crest in opal, climbing toward the cliff Iris, or where reefs lace a pattern through Calm patches of cool chrysoprase, as if The alchemists of Neptune were amused By watching emerald and sapphire fused...
...The object must be to stress what is common between East and West...
...to look hopefully toward the reconstruction of the Russian Church rather than to expect advantages to accrue from its collapse, and to preserve honest frankness in the tenor of the discussions...
...the East appears lifeless and hidebound to the West...
...He offered a very interesting survey of the historical development of religion in Russia--espe-dally interesting because the point of view was that of a Russian whose interpretation of events was fre-quently far different from what would have been of- fered by a western mind...
...At any rate, it is clear that whatever is hostile to this faith in Russia has been de- rived from later Greek and Protestant sources...
...Thus Catholic truth may be preached and the existing psychological gulf may finally be bridged over...
...Kolpinski, who affirmed at the Vienna con-gress that there is no radical difference between eastern and western religious consciousness...
...Therefore, the West seems dogmatically revolutionary to the East and aloof from the ancient bases of the faith...
...By their doors the women stand Aloof, or, hidden, twitch at curtains, dumb But greedy eyes afeast upon the grand, The fortunate, who are not exiled from Gay city crowds to cliffs that will be sand A thousand thousand years from now...
...The opportunity to invite students ot Orthodox theology to attend Catholic institutions ot -training was alluded to, and a decision regarding the propriety of such action was requested...
...The delegates to the congress were particularly im- pressed with the psychological character of the prob- lem of union...
...Despite these differences, however, it seems ad-visable to accept the opinions of the Warsaw author- ity, Dr...
...It need scarcely be added that the congress did no~ expect to bring the day of union much nearer...
...This was described by Baron Wrangel, brother of the general and a member of the Orthodox Church...
...Kolpinski also developed the thought that a great error lies in drawing too close a distinction between intelligence and feeling in the practice of religion...
...He expressed himself convinced that the chief responsi- bility for this error rests upon the shoulders of the Russian intellectuals, and declared that the return of these to the Church was often prompted by nationalis- tic rather than spiritual motives...
...First, it was decided that literary appeals could never have the value of personal contact, and that therefore yearly meetings must be held to which Orthodox theologians and prelates might be invited and given a chance to state their points of view...
...Faint Nasturtiums grope toward sunlight from a crack In broken boulders, for the grim restraint Of granite conquers gardens...
...At the conclusion of the congress, Cardinal Pifl] transmitted to the Holy Father a number of official resolutions...
...On the black, Oft-burned blueberry barrens, the complaint Of crows is loud...
...in the West, dogmatic speculation has been fostered for its own sake...
...Neverthe less, many helpful contacts were established, and per haps the way to the fulfilment of the divine mandate-- Ut omnes unum sint t--is now a little dearer...
...He believed that courteous respect for the Russian heart would accomplish far more than could be gained by keen proselytizing or learned arguments...
...Thost present realized that success can only be the result oJ pentecostal grace, and that human effort must be con fined to preparing the way, to influencing hearts, ant to removing obstacles of an obvious kind...
...The Catho- lic mind of the East is therefore prei~minently liturgical and mystical...
...The work of rapprochement is very delicate in character and is often nullified by wholly unintentional tactlessness...
...Here is hospitality With the warm welcome of the humble door Unlatched, the bed for asking, and the bare Cupboard made wealthy by the wish to share...
...The Cliff Hamlet No architect planned here---each shabby shack Seems hurled together, and, if ever paint Emblazoned battered shingles, the attack .9 Of rain and blizzard bleached it toneless...
Vol. 5 • January 1927 • No. 12
