The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-03-18
THE PLAYGROUND MOVEMENT
An Address by Rev. Father John j.
Mccoy Of Worcester

The following address by Rev. Faith
err John j. Mccoy of st. Anne's
Worcester, Mass, is of par
ticular interest just now inasmuch as
the Bennington playground appropri-
alton is to come up in the village
meeting tomorrow.
Influential people in America today
are more concerned about the welfare
of the child than at any other hour
in our history. This has in it the
earnest of an abiding good.
Whatever Theodore Rooseyelts
faults and errors may be, all good
men unite in blessing him for one
thing-his strong word when in high
place for the glory of the family. IT
was a clarion call; people listened;
and the pulse and conscience of q
whole nation have been quickened
His voice was not the first, nor by
any conceivable measurement the
strongest. The church had spoken in
every age; schools of philosophy hac
written down their word; those tC
whose heart the welfare of the state
was closest had repeatedly warned
while the clean souled people who
were made ashamed by creeping
signs of a decadence, which thei
knew presaged national doom, haC
stormed heaven through many a year
But he spoke at an opportune time
He cried out with something OF al
old-time prophets fire, that the Amer
lean child must be accorded the God
given right to be born, and now thous
ands everywhere are searching TO
the best there is on earth and in hea
ven to bestow upon the child whel
born.
We are forming societies, for who's
existence we give no reason but dc
sire for the betterment of condition
in the life of the young. The move
ment is as rapid as a running fire;
warns and Eliminates as It goes an
in the main it is good.
There are several phases OF tn
work in child welfare, which are nc
in full harmony with the sweet oil
Catholic delicacy. These always on
people must eschew, but there are a
hundred other phases to which "
may heartily give aid and counter
ance. Many things of charactC
looking toward a general uplift,
least in their modern dress, original
outside the circle of our church
school activities, and we mistrul
them naturally. We do ii with GOO
reason, too. We have so often bee
cajoled into permitting the breach
our walls, when made In seemir
kindness, and we have paid for OF
trust so often with the loss of Il
children's faith, that the world Is u
fair when 1t hastily blames us Il
fearing the Greeks even though the
bring us gifts
But the old danger is passing
large measure, and II ought to pa
entirely and forever when we Cath
lies go into the great public NOV
ments and show therein as much
terest and intelligence and zeal 4
the general good as our neighbo
show, and protect our own whit
there and bring to them, II honest
deserved, the very best each NOV
ment has in its heart.
We have been accustomed to stat
back with cold eyes and let the har
be done. We rallied bitterly when
was done, but the railing has help
! us very little. wonder If II were n
. wiser now to stop Gliding and
frighting horse and child as the 81
aeon riders and mothers were used
: do by "Dost thou not know there is
Richard In every bush." and so wi
them to the bush for the soothing a
healing Of its shade, and for the ba
of it's mellow fruit, when 1t promis
good for body and for soul? 7
Catholic beyond any other should
/. deeply interested In everything u
h has to do with the betterment Of CT
dren. Most OF them In America
:. his. and he must answer for all W
= bear his name.
Have you ever given n moment
this great thought? The young p
L pie OF America are the heirs to
}. the values OF the ages, and what
= marvellous heritage that Is tn
L are of a certainty too, the men a
!, women of destiny. In their hands
u short time will be all the intere
3D. OF life and those that concern ct
r. nifty. Religions. systems of COVE
10 ment. the armies and navies OF
world that even now are shak
4. earth and sea and sky In thunderC
m throwing OF the grim dice Of
iron game" the oeaseless broathii
Of the mighty engines OF our ind
q tries. the passing ships Of CONNER
y swift almost as the lightning fr
shore 10 shore. the courts, the scho
= the philosophers, the arts, litcratr
the knowledge Of natural forces {
the power Of their application
will be theirs.
n The old or the middle aged cit
have finished or are putting the
touches to their life work. They
= up or over the mountain and are
ing down into the soft glory of
sunset but the young with 8
shout are breasting the eastern h
with all the radiance OF a new m,
ing in their eyes and with the 4
a OF a new purpose glowing in n
hearts.
And they must be fitted for q
mission. Ror this reason the
lzens come and deliberate togett