Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-17
Rev. Frank O'ReiIIy Praises
President for Putting Morality
Into Craftsmanship.
EXPECTS WAR TO RESULT
IN STRONGER CIVILIZATION
In Sermon on ''St. Patrick in His
tory" Preacher Predicts Return
to Christianity, With Peace.

America is to be the savior Of the
nations. President Wilson has put
morality into craftsmanship. Thereby
the United States stands forth today
in its International relations as the
one Christian nation in a world OF
Machiavellian paganism that will lead
in the rebuilding of the nations ac-
cordinG to new order of justice
rather than might.
These We're lessons pointed out today
By Rev. Frank OReflly Of the Catholic
University of America in a sermon In
St Patrick's Church on est. Patrick In
History. The preacher foresaw that
the knotty problems regarding the pol
icy Of the United States toward Mexico
viii be equitably solved. not by force
of arms but by patiently considering
and aiding in adjusting the conditions
that underlie affairs in Mexico--polit-
ical. religious. educational, economic
He took issue, with DR.. Charles W.
Eliot, president emeritus of Harvard,
who recently stated in a signed article
that the nations are at war today be
cause Christianity has failed. DIR.
OHeilly asserted that tie war Is not
because of Christianity, but in spite Of
1t. and predicted that q stronger civil
ization VIII arise from the ashes OF
war, through a return to Christianity
None Specifically Named.
There was no specific mention OF any
Of the nations at war, nor OF Mexico,
nor of President Wilson, nor Of DR..
Eliot; but the reference was clear and
emphatic. Bishop Shahan, rector Of
the Catholic University, said the mass,
this being the first big public service
at which he has officiated since his
conservation.
The preacher first explained why the
Catholic Church honors st. Patrick. be-
cause the church is a divine teacher.
He said: "St. Patrick and all other
saints are honored not for their own
es, but because in them the church
recognizes SO many avenues that Iead
to God.
The history Of st. Patrick he con-
tinued, "is at once the history OF
peoples awakening and an epitome
of Gods plan in bringing the nations
of the earth out Of the wilderness of
paganism into the promised land Of
the new dispensation-'
Then he questioned: What special
lesson has the history Of st. Patrick
for us at this particular time Hls
world distracted by war. The situation
which confronts us at this time IN
many respects is not unlike the crisis
which threatened Europe in the time
of st. Patrick. Then the state. even In
the persons of Christian emperors, was
pagan in it's morality rather than
Christian.
God in His providence called from
the north and the east nations whom
the Romans were pleased to call bar
barians," and when the smoke OF bat
tie was cleared 1t was seen that more
vigorous and healthy Christianity had
arisen. SO, too, in the present world
crisis we may live to see spiritual
regeneration and ner alignment OF
the Christian forces.
For some time back the governments
of the earth. even In the persons OF
Christian rulers. have been Machiave!-
liam rather than Christian in their
principles of international morality
foundation Of right and physical force
and appeal to arms recognized as the
arbiters to settle the claims of civil
lied states.
Enviable Position Is Merited.
1T is refreshing at this time to see
our government introduce Christian
morality into craftsmanship.
whatever be the shortcomings OF
our own form of government; however
much individuals and parties may dis
agree with regard to political plat
forms, all fair-minded citizens can
agree at least on this, that our nation
has today merited an enviable position
among the great powers of the earth
by emphasizing truly Catholic prin-
ciple namely, that moral conscience
and principles of Christian morality,
instead of brute force and mater fal
interests, should De the guiding factors
in determining the relations of states.
And l am convinced that with regard
to many knotty problems that are des-
tined to arise in the near future.
America. the youngest of the great
powers, will lead the way to justice
ard to truth.
'sMay we not hope, therefore, that in
the present crisis divine Providence