New-York tribune., 1917-12-26
Pastors Plead for
Sacrifices to Aid
America in War
Patriotic Appeal in Christ.
mas Sermons From Prin-
cipal Pulpits of City

Patriotism and unquestioning sacri-
fee to country were upheld as Chris
tian duties in Christmas sermons
preached yesterday from pulpits
throughout the city. Soldiers and
sailors mingled plentifully in the
throngs which filed churches of all
denominations. In st. Patrick's Cathe-
dral, where Cardinal Farley celebrated
pontifcal mass, a congregation which
taxed the edifice heard the Rev. John
Z. Wickham, superior of the New York
Apostolic Fathers, pledge the "Catho-
lie Church to the last man" to the ma
tion's cause.
America has given the Catholic
Church the protection Of the fag," said
Father Wickhsm, "and now that the
flag is endangered the Catholic Church
will repay with the coin of her blood.
We Catholics are one-sixth of the ma
tons people. We have sent twice our
quota TO man the nations guns. Tens Of
thousands OF Catholics have gone over,
hundreds Of thousands will follow, and
if God wills it. millions will tread the
road through France. Before this gov
ernment should vanish every Catholic
would be offered on our altar of free
DOM"
America is boastful of her material
power ard has made wealth her god"
declared the Right Rev. David II.
Greer, Bishop OF the Protestant Episco-
pal Diocese OF New York, in Christ
mas appeal for sacrifice made yester-
day morning from the pulpit of the Ca
! thedral Of st. John the Divine.
"We always supposed that sheer
material power expressed rulership."
he continued. To-day the scales fall
! from our eyes and we see that ma
terial power in this land is not all.
We see the real purpose of our wealth
that we may have more 20 give in
/ sacrifice and service. We are begin
ming to realize that the priceless jewel
of American life is service to our
country and the rest of mankind"
! A stirring appeal to "every rich
member of this congregation" not
merely TO send money donations but
"to bring your gifts together with
/ yourselves in sacrifice 10 your coun-
/ try" was made by the Rev. DR.. J. P.
| McComas in old Trinity Church at tho
| morning service.
Your part in this soul-trying day
/ is a glorious one, rich men," he said.
Your possessions are not yours, but
are given by God into your steward
! ship so you can have your part in the
good that is done. Do your part, then.
! Give all you have"
The failure Of "peace and good will
toward men" 20 materialize despite
/ two thousand years Of Christian teach
| ing was attributed by the Rev. DR..
John Henry Jowett, preaching in the
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, 70
mans failure 20 heed Scriptural com
| mand.
This Christmas morning nothing
/ seems so far away from the world as
/ peace and good will" he said. after
two thousand years since the advent
/ OF Christ on earth the song Glory TO
/ God in the highest and peace on earth
and good will toward men gives rise
TO thoughts OF the remote. dreamlike
and unreal. Some are thinking and
few are saying that the old song is
delusion. That promised peace is
/ but mirage and a mockery and that
/ the thirst for peace is a baseless
dream having no background in real
/ ity. But that part OF the message
/ Glory TO Cod has been ignored, and
in Ignoring this fundamental we have
been expecting harvests 20 grow out
! of rothinOn