November 13,1924
From the archives Throughout 1999. Commonweal lias been celebrating it* 75th anniver- sury. Here from the first issue, No- vaulvr 13. 1924, is an excerpt from an editorial introducing the...
...To that high task Vie Commonweal is ded ica ted...
...As a sure background The Com-womival will ha\e the continuous, unbroken tradition and teachings of the historic Mother Church...
...Its pages will be open to writers holding different forms of Christian belief, nnd in some cases lo authors who do not profess any torm of Christian faith...
...Ti n: Eon ors Commonweal 6 November 19,1999...
...It is unquestionably a spiritual, moral, and patriotic duty for thinking people at least to make an effort to apply the conserving and regenerative forces of the fountain head of Christian tradition, experience, and culture to the problems that today all men of good will are seeking to solve...
...As opposed to the present confused, confusing, and conflicting complex of private opinions and personal impressionism, mirrored in t>o many influential journals, the editors of Tne Cowmomoeal believe thnt nothing can do ho much for the betterment, the happiness, and Lhe peace of the American people as the influence of the enduring and tested principles of Catholic Christianity...
...1924, is an excerpt from an editorial introducing the magazine to its reader...
...Where the opinion of its editors, contributors, and readers differs on subjects yet unsettled by competent authority, it will be an open forum for the discussion of such differences in a spirit of good temper...
...But it will be in no sense—nor could it possibly assert itself to be—an authoritative or authorized mouth piece of the Catholic church...
...For the difference between The Commonweal and other weekly literary reviews designed for general circulation is that the The Commonweal will be definitely Christian in its presentation of orthodox religious principles and their application to the subjects that fall within its purview: principles which until now have not, we believe, been expressed in American journalism except through the medium of the official organs of the Catholic church and the various denominations...
...It will be the independent, personal product of its editors and contributors, who, for the most part, will be laymen...
Vol. 126 • November 1999 • No. 20
