Evening star., 1916-01-03
SPECIAL SERVICE HELD
FOR THE EPAN-AMER|CANS
Sermon at St. Patrick's Catholic
Church in Both Spanish and
English.
Bishop Currier Discusses War in Eu-
rope and Contrasts Conditions
There and Here.

st. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church
yesterday was the scene of gather
ing of delegates to the second Pan
American Scientific Congress. together
with their wives and other members
of their families in attendance on the
an-American mass, at which a sermon
was delivered in both Spanish and Eng
lish by Rt. Rev. Charles Warren Cur
rier, former bishop of Matanzas. Cuba.
High mass was celebrated by Rev.
James Smythe, assistant pastor OF st.
Patrick's. assisted by Mgr. Russell,
pastor. and Rev. Thomas F. McGuigan,
Rev. John NJ Mcnamara and Rev. Mar
tin p. J. Egan.
The church was elaborately decorated
with evergreens and the program for
Christmas day was repeated. A feature
of the services was the singing by a
mixed choir of 100.
Bishop Curriers' View'of War.
Characterizing war as the arch en-
envy of civilization, progress and sci
ence, Bishop Currier spoke feelingly of
the contrast between conditions in the
National Capital of the United States
today, where representatives of all the
countries Of the western hemisphere
were gathered at the feet Of Minerva
to learn wisdom, and conditions in
Europe, where the people are Following
in the steps of Mars.
"It may be right to prepare for war
in time of peace. but war shouid be
avoided even at great sacrince,
Bishop Currier said Il 90 not say an
any time raise my voice in favor OF
war, which God forbid, do not hold me
to be inconsequent or changeable.
Minerva Flees When Mars Appears.
"when Mars rules, Minerva must fee.
What does war care for universities.
colleges, laboratories. for art, for
science or for civilization? From the
days of the destruction of the Baby
lonian library down to today war has
crushed science. under its ironshod neel,
used universities for stables. freight
depots and hospitals and sold the books
of science for the price of a drink of
intoxicants.
How the nations of Europe, bathed
crimson In the ever-gushing blood of
men on the field of battle. must envy
the nations of the western hemisphere
today! While the roar of cannon and
the din of battle are heard abroad, the
foremost intellectuals Of this hemi-
sphere gather mere IN washington to
progress and development of our peo-
ples, exchanging ideas and ideals and
putting forward for assimilation all
that is best, ennobling and developing
in their respective nations"
Civilization and Culture.
you men Of the south possess a civil
lization older than ours and an exqui-
site culture that we may well strive to
emulate. You need not think that pro-
fessors of foreign religion go to your
shores under pretext of carrying to you
the light of a civilization of which they
boast: you yourselves must solve the
problem of your civilization.
You must assist us in the fields of
culture and morality as we help you in
the material and practical walks of
life. The American people are instinc-
lively religious. We begin our official
acts and the distribution of our legis-
lative assemblies by invoking the bless
ings of God. Our people have no re-
spect for atheistic and irreligious ma
tions.
ueious sentiment. will be an object les
son for those Of the old world, who
seem to have forgotten God-the Alpha
ara Omega Of existence and happineSS