The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-10-10
THE GREAT WAR AND THE CATH
OLlC MISSIONS.
An Appeal to the Catholics of Americ

An Appeal to the Catholics of America.
The whole world suffers from the
effects of the great war, says Reverend
F. Markert, S. V. D., but perhaps most
of all the mission work of the Catho-
lie Church.
Up to the present time five-sixths of
the contributions to the missions
were furnished by France, Germany
and Belgium. With the beginning of
the present war these resources are
suddenly closed and there is no hope
that they will be opened again until a
long time after the war.
1t is impossible to determine
accurately, the loss of the various
missions but all of them will suffer
heavily. In the last twenty years the
world has witnessed the awakening of
missionary zeal unparalleled in his
tory and the hope that at last the en-
tire world would be acquainted with
the great message of the Gospel was
we'll founded. The war has suddenly
cut off nearly all revenues of the Cath
Ole missions. Reports have already
been received here, which say that
the mission Institutes of Europe are
empty, pupils, priests and brothers
have been called to the colors. The
large printing establishment of the
Society of the Divine Word at Steyl,
which helped in very large measure
to secure the means of support for
| the missions, had to be stopped, and
similar conditions undoubtedly prevail
in other mission houses.
Help from Europe is not to be ex-
pected for a long time to come. Thou
sands of missionaries will see the re-
suits of long and arduous 'labors de-
stroyed in a few months, if speedy
| help is not extended to them.
And this help must come from
| America. We Catholics of America
have double reason to lend this
assistance. In the first place, we can
not thank God enough for having been
spared the hardships of war, and the
| best way to show our gratitude would
be to contribute generously to the
cause of the missions, which is work
| of peace in the highest sense of the
word. 1t may be true that here too
prices rise is consequence of the war,
but that is nothing compared to the
huge sacrifices of life and property in
case of actual war in our own country.
But Catholics of the United States
have another and very special reason
to come to the aid of the stricken mis-
sions. The Protestant missions have
of late become a powerful rival of the
Catholic missions in nearly all parts
of the world and they are provided
with funds in most lavish manner
by wealthy Americans, while the Cath.
Ollie missions have to get along with
almost beggarly sums. Undoubtedly
the Catholic missions are nearing a
crisis which must prove disastrous
unless speedy and generous assist
ance is given them. The revenues OF
the Protestant missions will continue
to flow almost uninterruptedly, while
those of the Catholic Church will
cease.
Catholics of America: The eyes o.
Mother Church are fixed on you in this
time of trial for the preservation ant
continuation of her most cherished
work, the apostolate among the
heathens. Thousands of missionaries
who left all to preach the Gospel O
peace and to save human souls from
eternal destruction, implore you. Mil
lions of neophytes raise their hands
and their voices for help that they
may not fall back into the night anG
barbarity of heathenism. Millions Of
little children sheltered in the found
| ling homes and orphanages of the mis-
sions ask you to provide means fol
them SO they may grow up in the
atmosphere of the faith. Shall the
blood of so many martyrs, missionaries
and neophytes be shed in vain? Let
us make haste and show to the world
| that we know to improve the present
hour, to manifest our gratitude and
zeal. Let us be generous in this
urgent necessity of our Holy Mother
the Church.
Give quickly and give generously in
order to forestall at least the worst
disasters which are threatening the
noblest and hottest cause on earth
Gods richest blessings will be yours
if you respond generously to this cal
made in His name and for His sake
and for the sake of Holy Church.
Contributions with the remark For
the foreign missions" may be sent tc
the following addresses, from where
they will be RENTED to the mission
| fields.
st. Mary's Mission House, Techny
Ill.
Society for the Propagation of the
Faith, 627 Lexington Avenue, New
York City.
/ American Mission Seminary Ossin