The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-11-26
Prelate Urges Contributions
to Help Those in
Stricken Nation
CARRANZA is CALLED
FOE OF ROMANISM
Wilson Recognized Mexican Over
Protest of American
Churchmen.

INO N@lhOllC Churches III lnlS city, ask
ing the congregations to join in the
thanksgiving tomorrow,
and urges all Catholics to remember,
the unfOrtunates in Mexi-
co.
Contributions are asked to be used
IN giving aid to the Catholics in Mexi-
co, and His Grace expresses the hope
that President Carranza will give the
worshippers of the Catholic faith pro-
lection.
Carranza has been called the foe of
the Catholic Church in Mexico, and
President Wilson is said to have rec
OgniZed Carranza against the united
protest of the highest officials of the
Catholic Church in the United States.
Since Gen. Carranza's return to pow
er, Catholics in this country have been
apprehensive for the Catholics living
in Mexico.
Solemn high mass will be given in
both the St. Vincent's and st. Mary's
churches tomorrow. The request of the
archbishop will form an important
part of the services. The letters reach
ed each church in time to be read last
Sunday.
The letter of the Archbishop fol-
lows:
1t would be, | think, eminently fit
ting that the Catholic Church in
America should give a religious value
and purpose to those feasts, which,
though of secular origin, yet readily
lend themselves to religious aims as
well. Such holidays, for instance, as
the Fourth of July, symbolizing ma
tiOnal enfranchisement, standing for
civil and religious liberty, may well be
:aken to the Catholic heart. The idea
for which it stands and the nation
whose freedom it proclaims deserves
the unstinted and continuous support,
as well as the blessing of the Holy
Church.
Likewise the Thanksgiving festival,
even if in this land it originated out
side the Catholic Church, is outside
only in form; for in fact the Church
has constantly, yes, daily, made her
Thanksgiving prayer and offering to
God. We may, therefore, with good
grace have a special offering Of
thanksgiving on the day set aside by
national authority for this purpose.
I would like to see in every church
IN the diocese a mass celebrated with
all possible solemnity and thanksgiv-
ing made to Almighty God for the
blessings Of peace and prosperity
which we enjoy as Americans; and for
the civic and religious liberty, which,
in spite of the activities of few
bigots, is still the heritage of Catholics
equally with all other citizens.
And furthermore, in making this,
our thanksgiving, for the blessings we
enjoy, we should remember especially
our neighbOrng people in Mexico, who
have suffered and who are suffering
so much because Of the revolutions
which afflict and continue to afflict
that unfortunate country. The revolu-
tionary leaders and their followers
have in turn plundered and looted
They have destroyed the subsistence,
and in many instances the lives of the
peaceful and law abiding citizens of
Mexico; so that today, while the lead
ers thrive, the people starve.
1t is true that the recent recogni-
ton of Carranza, perhaps the worst of
the revolutionaries, is not suspicious;
still we cherish the hope that the Gov
eminent of the United States together
with the Governments of the Southern
who saw fit to give him rec
ognition, will not now desert an un-
offending people. Our Government,
founded on justice and equal rights,
would not be true to itself-would not
be true to its people, or its traditions
if, now that it has undertaken the
recognition of Carranza, it permitted
him to continue a career of injustice
and outrage. Our Catholic people
await the outcome with anxiety and
Meanwhile since the law abiding
people there are starving and appeal
% our charity, something must be done
20 help them. His Eminence, Cardinal
has, with the advice of
number of American prelates, invited |
our Catholic people to contribute
through the St. Vincent de Paul So
,iety of the United States, which So
,iety will cooperate with and transfer
o the st Vincent de Paul Society Of |
Mexico, such funds as may be received