Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-18

Tending neighbors with a smiling face
and go in and sit down in their parlors
The Catholic Church in the United
states is lover of American liberty
cultivates reverence for law and order
Is an upholder Of legitimate authority
| Is ready to defend the freedom we pos
sess. even to the shedding Of blood: il
the stanchest defender of the Bibl,
against those who would destroy Its au
thority, is against the saloon and othe
agencies that would degrade citizenship
With these professions. made as sincerel,
as IL is possible to make them, and writ
ten high on her banners, the old mother
church stands before the American PEG
pie, and she Is eagerly DESTROYS to have
the help of the churchmen of other de
nominations to support her in her fgh
against 1nfidelity, irreligion. fncivicisn
and immortality. She cannot join will
nelghbors who are constantly assailins
her.
In order to secure reunion of the
churches more quickly 1T is necessary as
a nrst step to come together more fire.
quenty, to unite oftener for some com
mon purpose. to establish community
of interests in some way or other, fol-
most of our animosities and misunder.
standings come from not knowing each
other well enough or having a proper ap-
probation of each others motives 1t is
necessary to build the bridge over the
streams Of prejudice. ignorance and erro,
that run between the various bodies oil
our common Christianity. These streams
are the great barriers that keep us apart
The stream of prejudice is the broader
and more difficult to bridge because 1t is
filled with the poisonous acids of hatred
1t is this spirit of prejudice that makes
the malicious charges, throws mud, hop
ing that some will stick. How often have
We all heard charges, inspired by malice
against different churches, made in maya
zfoe and from platform.
Prejudice knows that all these malicious
charges are unfounded and other than
postponing the blessed day Of Christian
unity, these SANDERS do no harm Bridge
this stream. No longer will our feet
tread in the mud OF prejudice. nor will
our lips be wet with it's poisons
The other streams, ignorance and error
may be more easily bridged. better
knowledge Of each others life purposes.
and closer acquaintance with the funda-
mental convictions OF all. will eliminate
In his homely way used to say: 1T is
better not to know so many things, than
to know too many things that are not SO. IS
These streams Of ignorance, error and
prejudice must be bridged over, and to
do ii We must have some common ground
to stand on. wherein we can place the
pediments and from which we can swing
the arches so that a broad and unob-
StTucteQ roadway may De made. over
which the children Of the next generation
may pass. We may not hope that this
generation will consent to forego their
traditional beliefs, but it is an easy thing
for us to come together on some neutral
ground. for some great civic purpose
come together so that we may know each
other better, so that we may appreciate
each others integrity Of life and rectitude
of purpose. Then we shall find that there
are infinitely more points In common than
we dreamed of. and instead of harbor-
ing suspicious of each others good will.
we shall see how little there is to be
done in order that we may be one soul
and one body.
Census reports tell us that two thirds
Of the American people are outside of all
church homes and have drifted away
from the influence of church organiza-
tons. How much Of this is due to the
constant squabbling that is going on be-
tween church bodies? Religion Is as
necessary for the perpetuity of our Amer
lean institutions as the cement is in the
mortar. 1t makes the cohesive bond.
And unless the churches get together,
and furnish a larger supply OF religion.
we shall not be able to live as a nation.
Moreover. the criminal statistics show
marvellous prevalence Of crime. The
papers, as a mirror. reflect the corruption
of the American heart and they have be-
come q record OF crime, one worse than
the other There is dire need OF some
persuasive voice that will preach restraint
Of passions and some potent influence