The Irish standard., 1915-01-23

discourage him: Through his efforts
the: misery and suffering. Of a great
number of the worst sufferers from
the war are to be slightened, while the
anxiety Of their family and friends
will also be greatly lessened. Recent
ly the Pope sent request to the SOY.
ereigns Of the warning nations that
they should permit the exchange OF
prisoners who are sick, wounded or
otherwise SO disabled that they will
not be able to return to the fighting
line. He has received prompt, favor
able and even enthusiastic answers
from most, If not all, the rulers con-
cerned. The amount Of misery and
suffering this will alleviate can be
judged from the estimate made that
100000 wounded and disabled prison
ers will be Immediately affected, while
many others will be during the course
of the war. How huge load of hu.
man misery will be removed can be
appreciated when it is remembered
that not only will 100000 men be
saved from the monotony, the pain
and physical and mental anguish of
being prisoners of war-a condition
which deeply objects even the strong
and well-but the return of each of
these prisoners to his family will re-
move the misery and heart-breakine
anxiety of wife, mother, children,
parents and others.
This is far from being the only eft.
fort Of the Pope to decrease wars har-
vest of human suffering. Many Of his
admirable deeds in this direction are
undoubtedly not publicly known. But
it is known that few weeks ago he
issued general order to all officials
of the Catholic church of whatever ma
tionality, directing them to use every
effort to humanize the great strife. A
similar order was issued directing
them to do their utmost to make GER
tain that the wounded soldiers receive
good treatment. 1t was especially
stated that no discrimination because
of nationality, of friend or of foe, was
to be made. The sufferer was to be
helped because he was human being
who needed aid and comfort. French.
German, English, Russian, Austrian,
nj $o oil CIV nix
crushed and broken brothers in sore
need of help. The spirit shown, the
broad humanity and unselfish devotion
displayed have won and earned the
praise of the world regardless of
creeds.
One of the most striking indirect re-
suits Of this fearful war is the won
derful revival of Catholicism now
sweeping France. Strictly speaking,
this return to the church began to
be apparent about three years ago,
more particularly among the young
men and women, the younger genera
tion" of France. But the war and
events connected with the war have
given the movement tremendous i'm
petus. In additionato the attitude and
efforts of the Pope one of the strongest
influences in France has been the Won
derful patriotism, devotion and un-
selfish bravery displayed by the priests
of France, especially in the war swept
districts. History has no more i'm
pressive, more noble, more touching
page Time after time they have
saved villages or parts of villages
from being burned; again and again
they have protected women and chill
dren, the wounded, the weak and the
helpless. Always they have done this
at the risk, often at the loss of their
lives, yet there is no instance of a
single French priest in the war-strick-
en- district, faltering or failing to show
the highest patriotism and unselfish.
ness.
There is still deeper influence at
work in France, an influence which
springs from the deepest and strongest
instincts of human nature. In times
of terrible stress and suffering, people
instinctively turn for help to some
power higher and greater than
man. Every fair and broad-minded
person, whether Catholic or Protest.
ant, will rejoice at this result in
France. For it is not a question of
Catholic France or Protestant
France. France does not tend toward
Professionalism. 1t is a case of a Cath
Ollie France or a nation without re-
ligion. There is no question, no shad-
ow of doubt which of these conditions
is better for a nation. Agnosticism,
the creed of doubt, the belief that
ends all and that there is no reason
nor proof of personal God who
knows and cares for the individual,
may and does satisfy some persons. T.
is a creed which fails to meet the
needs and cravings of nation and his
tory shows that it always has failed.
Especially does it fail in times like
the present when over much of Eu-
rope death and ruin and heart-break.
ing misery pour in an ever increasing
food, when the landmarks of centuries
are vanishing, when everything which