olicy generally accepted in the West. This habit of evasiveness is
not Christian and often leads to the sacrifice of Catholic principles.
Far from us be the idea of advocating rash obtrusiveness, of untimely
aggressive and inconsiderate zeal. But between this excess and that of
a "_laissez faire_" policy there is a golden mean. What is then wrong,
our method or our zeal?

A right understanding and a deep conviction of our duties in the matter
under consideration are of the greatest value for the Church in Western
Canada. May we preface our chapter by asking the reader to keep before
his mind the illuminating distinction of St. Augustine between the Body
and Soul of the Church. Many souls outside of the visible Body of the
Church are nevertheless within the beneficial influence of her
invisible pale. This is a commonplace of theology, we all know, but
evidently, very often forgotten.

Are we in conscience bound to spread the true faith among our
non-Catholic brethren? Most undoubtedly we are. The examples and
precepts of the Master, the canons of the Church, the love of God and
our neighbour, are among the pressing motives which should appeal to a
true Catholic and make him zealous within the sphere of his influence.

"Thy Kingdom Come!" That prayer of the Lord, which has become our
morning and evening prayer, is vain, if in the ordinary course of life
we do not try to extend the boundaries of that spiritual kingdom in the
very souls of those with whom we come in daily contact. Is not the
light of our life to shine out so that it may serve as a beacon to
those outside the Fold? But nothing is more striking than the words of
the Good Shepherd: "And other sheep I have that are not of this Fold;
them also I must bring and they shall hear My voice" (Jo. X., 16). Who
could explain the profound yearnings of the Divine Master's heart and
the deep feeling of obligation that are summed up in these words: "Them
also I must bring." The Divine Shepherd finds Himself responsible for
the sheep that are not of His own Fold and His only ambition is to
bring them in.

This recommendation of Our Lord, His Church understood when in her
Canon-law She makes it a duty for all bishops and priests to look upon
the non-Catholics residing within the boundaries of their jurisdiction
as recommended to them by the Lord and placed in their charge. (Canon
1350, No. 1.)

The Plenary Council of Quebec, the authoritative voice of the Ch