Norwich bulletin., 1916-09-18

officers assumed charge of the meet ing.
 Grand Knight J. A. Desmond an- nounced the following appointments: demic as we do the physical? The energy of our efficient health officer has done much to keep Norwich free from infantile paralysis. Statute law puts a quarantine around a home suspected of having infantile paralysis, saying: You shall not expose the chil- dren of the community" Why don't we put quarantine around the Sa loon and worse places and say: " ou shall not infect the nations young manhood?" When a case of smallpox is discovered it is simply stamped out but when it comes to the discovery of prostitution we simply say: Twenty five dollars, please, for damages done to society" and then we shoo off the guilty parties to some other city. Apart from home instruction, and her own sense Of virtue, what protection has a young girl from that stain that is in- deible? We should know at once what to do with a physical leper l suppose one reason why we do not dc more along this line is that the moral epidemic is less visible than the phy- sical. A dried up conscience is not so noticeable-fOr a While-as a shrunllen leg.
 Is it not a great pleasure to think that an overwhelming majority of peo- pie are not touched by epidenics of this character? From statistics at hand, 1 figure out that less than one hundredth of one per cent. of the na- tiop's little ones is afflicted with in fantile paralysis. But even that num- Der is too big. May science discover some remedy for he awful malady! As it is the unusual that is brought tn 101r1O1iP notice ivy forming the usual, is unnoticed. There is no reason why newspapers should notice the ninety and nine sensible sheep that go straight; it is the one stray sheep that gets into the trap and is nauled by wild beasts that furnish es the scare headlines of cheap jour nalism.
 Epidemic of Religion Needed.
 Thus far attention has been called to epidemics we would like to z.anp out, root and branch; other things we would like 10 see spread for the word epidemic applies to good things as well as bad. The text is authority for this statement: "A nd the word of God grew and multiplied From it's divine cen ter it spread to other centers until it overran Judea like wildfre and at length put new life into the dead heart of the Roman empire. While Christian ity is an abiding principle in the hu man heart, the expression of it may get a little dopy at times. The re- ligiOus world may have it's elevated plateaus and deep, dark valleys as well as the physical world, and hence reYiValS or epidemiCS of religion are necessary. The city of Norwich needs an epidemic of religion. Whether we need it more or less than they do in New London or Willimantic is neither here nor there-we simply need it. would not throw mud at the city by marking back to the good old times" for the purpose of jnvidious compari- son. I suspect that the good old times could have stood a little moro religion with perfect safety. Taking everything into consideration, believe that the best times are now, and yet a little more religion wouldn't hurt us. I would like to see such an epidemic runs along three channels: 1. We need an outbreak of good will toward the community at large. Let the Word Of God Grow. Canned theology, put up in the mid dle ages, will not settle modern prob lems. Contagion that comes from per- sonal contact with the living Christ | will do more to quiet the unrest of the modern world that one hundred years of WordY legislation. Let the word of God grow and multiply in our | own hearts then we become centers of
 
 | come into contact with us. In this way ] the blessed epidemic will spread What | a world would such an outbreak of | good will produceI When one man ! thinks enough of the other fellow to | wipe away his tears, lessen his heart aches, lift him up when down. guide | him when astray, feed him when hun- | gry, say Q good word for him when l others curse him-then we shall hear 1 St. John cry out in Paradise: The | new heaven and new earth have l come" Good will and selfishness can- not live in the same heart, and with | selfishness cut out there will be no | conflict between capital and labor, and | then no strikes, no railroads tied up, 1 and no industry paralyzed. Good will may not settle all the problems of the universe, but these problems will never be settled with good will want i ing.
 2. We need a larger exercise of i faith and courage.
 1 These qualities always rage as an i epidemic. In the past they have beer ! vital sparks that have kindled great
 conf1agrations. On the eve of the bat 1 tie of Inkermann gloom had settled i over the British troops. The whole ] Crimean situation was in jeopardy Late at night soldier started to sing Annie Laurie, then others joined in | until the whole English army touched |
 tional favorite. It inspired such cour- age that every soldier was ready to Hay him doc and dee' for his coun- 1 try. It was not Lord Raglan but An nie Laurie that gained the victory next | day.
 The rapid spread of Methodism a century ago shows what an outbreak | of warm religion will do for two con l tinents. I am thinking of the splen- 1 did exhibition of faith and courage | September usually brings, when the l young fellows come from all points o1 l the compass to begin their college | course. With slender means and de 1 pendence on self support largely faitf | and hope brace them up for the ordeal l May the blessed contagion spreadI 8. We need an epidemic of church going.
 When the word of God grows and 1 mu1tipIies in the hearts of the masses l they will want to go to church, eSpe- I cia1ly church members. It is not ex. I travagant to say that in most of oul Protestant churches the usual Sunday l morning congregations could easily b, doubled without taxiug the Seatinj