Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-02
NOTED JESUIT SEES
LITTLE DANGER OF WAR
FOR UNITED STATES
But Dislike of Americans Rap
idly Growing in European
Countries, Says the
Rev. Joseph Mullan
CALL US TOO SMART

The chances of the United States becom
| ing involved in the European war are very
! vague at this time, according to the Rev
! Joseph Mullan, former secretary to The
| Superior General OF the Jesuits, who has
arrived in this city from Rome to engag,
In the writing OF Catholic religious works
at st Joseph's College. 18th and Thompson
streets
Father Mullan said, however that an
intense dislike for the United States and
Americans was growing I'm Europe.
"They think you are far too smart over
here" he said significantly
When asked whether Europeans were
angered because America showed a dis
position to profit commercially by the
war. he replied "I will not go into that
phase Of the question; OF course. every
body is trying to profit by the war; it Is
sufficient to say Europeans dislike Amcri-
cans very much"
The growing Importance Of the United
states as n Catholic country i'm the eyes
of the Holy See was emphasized by
Father Mulan when he announced the
creation OF an American division Of the
Society Of Jesus.
THE government of the society,"" he
said. "is divided into six grand divisions,
In other words, the world Is divided into
six fields. and each field has a special
supervisor Until recently the United
States was under the English division.
Now America is a division by itself. and
is presided over by special officer at
Rome"
Asked whether he could forecast
trend toward things religious at the close
of the war, Father Mullan replie
"ft is impossible to forecast anything
in regard to religion at this stage Of the
war Everything Is turmoil with little
immediate prospect of calm. or course,
the newspapers have had Il lot to say
about the war causing n swing back to the
truths of religion, but | have formed no
decisive opinions on that question at this
time.
"Do you view the revival wave in the
United States as n turn to things re-
lgious or do you regard it simply as
sweep of hysteria?'' he was asked.
81 have observed the efforts of Billy
Sunday and other evangelists but I have
not yet diagnosed the symptoms of this
was the reply.
Father Mullan charged that the news
papers in the various countries of Europe
were conducting n regular propaganda in
the matter of keeping the real facts of
the war from the people.
ITO tell the truth in Rome" he said
"means imprisonment
None of the newspapers in England
tell the truth with perhaps the exception
of the London Times Once in while a
real truth does creep into the Times, but
pains are taken to bury il at the bottom
of column, so it will not cause undue
excitement"
Speaking of the preparedness movement
In the United States. he said:
"Of course America has a perfect right
to prepare herself for the preservation
OF peace, but really | see no cause for
alarm at the present time The dangers
Of the United States becoming involved
In war seem to me to be very vague in
deed"
For many years Father Mulan has been
a powerful and dominating figure in the
Society of Jesus. He directed it's affairs |
In all parts of the world. His influence
for Christianity has been felt in the jun
giles of Africa as well as in the worlds |
civilized centres.
4 Epf nine years Father ATullan lived in |
Rome and absorbed the atmosphere of |
he high circles of the Catholic Church. |