Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-25
World Needs Men
Christmas Message from Cardinal
Gibbons in Nsv Xorf rndspsndsn..
w HAT is the srsa's., need of our times for To-

VIZ HAT is the greatest need OF our times for the
w betternent Of Christian society? ls
churches7 Temples OF worship are indeed very
necessary The construction Of elegant and well
adorned houses Of worship a evidence OF the faith
and devotion Of the people. But they not ths
most essential thing for day The primitive
Christians paid homage God in the cataoonbs, and
some OF forefsthers adored their Lord under the
canopy Of heaven in secluded mountains and in caves
OF the earth. And they the best OF Christians
Moreover. what would be the OF churches " we
had worshippers to frequent them7
Is II schools that most needed Christian
schools indeed demanded for the preservation OF
the faith and morals OF the rising generation.
parish s not complete without school But they do
not constitute the essential requisite. There have
been dark periods in the church's history when
Christian schools not tolerated and their alb
sence supplied by heroic mothers who nourished
the seeds Of religion in the hearts Of their children
Is II hospitals and santariums that the time calls
for7 Hospitals indeed the landmarks OF Chris-
tian civilization and contribute immensely TO fhe
alleviation of human suffering But they do not
stitute the greatest need OF day They relieve
the misery Of only small portion of the community
Does the country need majestic and colossal stats
houses for our legislative bodies7 The convention
that met In Philadelphia in i7s7 to devise the most
momentous constitution framed for the civil
guidance Of men, assembled in hall conspicuous
for Its majestic proportions
The call Of the times for men, sturdy Christian
men, and women too. endowed with the courage OF
their convictions. We need men who controlled
eNpedlenCys
are guided by principle rather than by popularity,
men who are influenced by a sense OF duty and not
by self-interest who swayed by a spirit of pa
trotism rather than by a desire political prefer
ment Above all need men OF strong Christian
faith who allowed to uphold their religious con-
victons in the face OF oboquy and popular prejudice
In word. we need men and women Of upright Chris
tian character.
But this fidelity religious and moral principles
demands small Of heroic virtue Many
soldier who fearlessly rushed to the oannon's
mouth has quailed before the shafts Of ridcue The
man who calmly fuifiis a duty against public camor
displays higher than the captain who cap
lures cities. The man who acts up TO his conscience
has but one master and that master Ia God. But the
slave OF human opinion has many masters there
are individuals whose censure he breads or whose
smiles he secures at the expense of duty.
That is why not only am hopeful but feel a GER
tain assurance that the republic OF the United States
Will continue for innumerabs generations to come.
base my belief the genius and good sense of our
public men. the wisdom OF legislation and on the
patriotism OF our people at large. The evidence Of
these characteristioS Of nation that republic
will persevere is all the stronger because we are
| religious nation.
| the church IL the institution that never changes
Amid the universal ruins of earthly monuments, II
Ia the one monument that stands proudly pre-.
| eminent Amid the general destruction OF Kingdoms
its kingdom is never destroyed. Ever ancient and
ever new, time writes wrinkles its divine brow
i"o Vhurch mas seen tne oirth or every govern
ment in the world, and It IL not at all improbable
that II shall also witness death OF them ALL and
chant their requiem. II than 400 years old
when Columbus discovered our continent and the
toundauon OF our republic Is yesterday II. II
calmly looked on while invaders swept like a torrent
over Europe subvertng dynasties II has seen
monarchies changed into republics and republics con.
solidated into empires All this II has witnessed while
| It's own divine constitution has remained unaitsred
What subject Of great glory be citizen OF the
republic OF the church. which lasted for nineteen
w
which counts It's millions OF children in every CLINE
| which numbers Its heroes and its martyrs by tho
thousand Every individual has a mission from, GOD
TO help his fellow beingl Differ in faith we may
we stand united upon the common ground Of chart
and benevolenoe and OF good will to all men.
Baltimore. Md.