New Britain herald., 1917-06-12

1stss the First Connecticut Infantry. and one chaplain of the Naval Militia. Several others have applied for serv- ice. My appeal for equipments for the work of the chaplains is meeting with encouraging response. There is much which only the women can do, and which I am confident they will be only too glad to do. The J)io- cesian Board of Religious Education is planning to. interest the Sunday school children in service. ,
 Loyalty to Ideals.
 At this time. the church's corpor- ate influence should make it's impact upon the conscience of the nation, to keep it true to the highest ideals. The momentous step has been taken without popular excitement or pas sion, with quiet and deep conviction of the principles involved. The church's influence should so towarh maintaining this self-restraint, cad against the intrusion of unworthy motives of hatred or vengeance, and any unjust treatment of those anonx us who are of foreign birth or percentage. The church should be ministering inspiration of comfort and strength. Each one of our church buildings, open. 50 far as pos- sible, for frequent short services and for silent prayer, should be refuge for the heavy hearted, a stronghold for those who are in grief or anxious fear. It Is time to make much of the help that lies in prayer and sac- rament. There will be need of all the dynamic force of motive and sptr- itual power we can draw upon.
 This country goes into the war in order to help make the world safe for democracy 1t behooves us to far as in us lies. to Keep the situation in America safe for that democracy that Is inherently essential to genuine catholicity. Recently a highly es- teemed brother told me he did not be- lieve in social service, and, in his worry language, betrayed q failure to under stand what social service means for the church today. This h . time that calls for vigilnace to guard the hard won gains in social progress and polat- ical and economical freedom: vigil- ance to resist attempted evasion of laws framed to conserve the nation's' strength, for example, as regards tho labor of women and children, or any lowering of standards already att tained, to resist all injustice and what ever makes against fair relations be- tween man and men. It is q time that calls for high-mindedness and larGe- heartedness, that 50, through the commo discipline of our experience as . nation, there may be still luther set forward, deepened and strength ened, the tr1re democracy of Christian brotherhood. Thus let our loyal sup- port of the nation'A contest be con- structive in preparation for some bet ter thing God is preparing for the world.
 How to Meet the Crisis.
 the worlds affairs is the time for a new valuation of all values which. putting the premium upon service, shall at once dignify and spiritualixe labor, exalt above wealth the com- monwealth, and lift us all out of petty interests of self or of class into large. high thinking and plain living. self control and self-denial. It is a time to avoid waste of material and the waste of self-indulgence. As the. world is confronted by a food crisis, it becomes us, as Cristrians and as citizens. to enlist on the side of food production against what diminishes the food against strong drink. against the production and sale. at this time, of alcoholic beverages which require the use of food material in their man. ufacture. Shall we not each one of us. in the interest of conserving food stuffs as we'll as of increased efficiency pledge ourselves to absain from alco- holic liquor as a beverage during the war? That would be very small self-denial on behalf of a cause that is great and compelling in its appeal.
 For the moral issue in this contest is very plain. In human history do not recall 8 more signal tragedy than the lapse of an honored nation into lust of domination, it's subjection to a sinister and soul-less exaltation Of might above right, its revolt from Christian principles and reversion to pagan ideals, shown in defiance of moral law and in the ruthless and shamelessly brutal prosecution for warfare upon humanity.
 Crusade for HalIowed Ideals.
 'sIn solemnity and awe we under take to contend on behalf of the civ- ilization resting upon law between nations that has been slowly built up through the t centuries, the public right that should endure from gener- ation to generation, the liberty that has been at such cost won, the sacred ness of personal life bearing the image and superscription .of God. the touch of humanity that came with the Word made flesh, the brotherhood of men in Christ. No crusade for holy places was ever as sacred as this crusade for hallowed ideals. The cause is as clear as there is living God. Let us