e Reconstruction.
This period of unrest is in itself a challenge to Christianity, to the
Church. But the vitalizing force of Christianity can solve these
problems of a decrepit civilization just as it solved the problem of
tottering Rome. Problems therefore must be faced and solved. Every
Catholic has his place in this world-wide work. If our religion does
not make its influence felt in every phase of our life's activities, it
is--as far as our life and its influence on others is concerned--a
gigantic fraud. Bishop Kettler understood this pressing obligation
when, breaking away from a too conservative programme of action, he was
the first in the Church to give an impetus to the study of the modern
social problem. His policy and action were said to have prompted the
celebrated letter of Leo III, _Rerum Novarum_. The words of this great
democratic Bishop still bear his timely message to Catholics of to-day,
"To save the souls of countless workmen entrusted to her by Christ, the
Church must enter the field of Social reform, armed with extraordinary
remedies. She must exert herself to the utmost to rescue the workmen
from a situation which constitutes a real proximate occasion of sin for
them, a situation which makes it morally impossible for them to fulfill
their duties as Christians."

"The Church is bound to interfere '_ex caritate_,'" as these workmen
are in extreme need and cannot help themselves. Otherwise, the
unbelieving workingman will say to her: "Of what use are your fine
teachings to me? What is the use of your referring me, by way of
consolation, to the next world, if in this world you let me and my wife
and my children perish with hunger? You are not seeking my welfare,
you are looking for something else."

Our fair and broad Dominion has not escaped from that spirit of unrest.
Spasmodic eruptions in the East and in the West indicate the same
central fires of the universal volcano upon which the world now sleeps
uneasily. Yet, various reasons have urged us to limit our
investigation and reflections to Western Canada. The predominating
interests of the West have of late become more and more evident in the
economic and political life of our country. Lord Salisbury, when
trouble was brewing on the far-flung border of India, gave to the
people the famous warning "Look at big maps." To get a just
appreciation of our mighty West we may well follow that same advice and
"look at big maps." The sudden