The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-01

~ 'Er r1flA.
y ~ s
noouc1 ossu.on Hesoso tlse O. Y.
M - U.-1pscsAss On "worssrs vain
uons)sr asd ~Eetseson In POlltlcs.'
m Dsfers : vast concourse Of dele
ustes q ths Catholic Young Mems
uAiop Whieh thsonged the Immense
cethsteaA ssssmbled In annual con-
vcneien' y Philadslphla last week. In
e1udlne' larss number Of United
staess eoldiers' and sailor members In
rniforp. the TT, Rev. william t.
Rusnsll ID. D.. Bishop Of the Char
>eston. q c., diocese. and well known
- oamtsr. delivered a masterful SER
non. NJ
N part. the Hishop spoke as tol-
)oko:
''Bs NOT sonformed to this world 8
(lsomsns XII. -
\. 'yssps Christ has declared that be-
tween Him and the world there cot
b. no compromise. 4 am not He
says, 'of This world MY kingdom Is
not Of this world II wo would not
have part with Christ we must hold
ourseives In readiness to sacrifice the
world. We must be of those that use
. thb world as not abusing Il. Clearly
Goeo or Lord mark the cleavage be-
| tween Himself and the world when
He says: He that gathered not with
Ne. soattsreth.'
why. indeed. should we conform 10
this woridY Review this world In the
ruin Of nations that strew the path OF
history. Whatever of civilization we
poeDsa. We owe TO Jesus Christ ana
llis Church. Hath not Cod cries out
ehs Apostls. made foolish the wisdom
- this worldr venture to say that
nsvsr mas this bcen more apparent
thnn n our own time. The world
boastsd OF its progress. Of It's civili-
sation. Of Its humanity. Religion was
rslegated to the past. What was the
consequence. Instead OF pure homes
We have the loathsome evil of di-
vcrce; instead Of exalted motherhood
We have birth limitation; instead of
charity We have statistics; instead of
God We have humanity, and human
ity. when reduced to It's last analy-
sis. = found to be naught else but
. refined concentrated selfshness.
Hero be thy gods. o Israel
Tho world has boasted that is
own aims. Its own interests It's own
methods were all sufficient for the
peace Of mankind. The blasphemer
Of the eighteenth century had said
II there were no God we must make
one. because religion. true or false.
In necessary to civilization but the
blssphemer Of tho nineteenth GEN.
tury proclaimed: Even there is q
God. we need Him not The god Of
this yorld had blinded the mind.
We all remember how at the peace
conferences of The Hague the repre-
sentatives Of religion were excluded
There was no need of religion. The
commercial interests Of the world
were sufficient guarante Of peace.
War h improbable. The commercial
welfare Of the nations will prevent
such a catastrophe. Such was the
spirit OF The Hague conferences.
Truly,i as the Apostle says. The wis
dom Of this world Is foolishness with
God Would you see the peace of
this world? Visit tho shell-torn bat
tlefelds OF Europe. Visit the smould
ering firesides where happy families
once gathered. Look on the tangled
mass Of ruins that were once a re-
nowned cathedral. List to the groans
OF fathers. sons and brothers. wei ter-
Ing In their iife's blood. Harken to
the shfieks of dcfenseiess women drag
ged to dishonor and death. The worlt
has asked to be allowed to work out
its own destiny without religion an(
God has accepted tho challenge.
Hath not God made foolish the wis
dom Of this world
whether our present age is less
Christian than the centuries which
have preceded US may be considered
IN academic question. Our present
time. however. with It's standards. It's
aims and Its methods demand our
consideration because II urges some
burning questions that are personal
to each one. Am I compromising
with the world; how far Is my exam
pie detrlment to the advance and