Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-10-22
FIGHTER
GAINS S0LACE
THRU RELIGION
OFFICER WHO HAS GONE SAYS IN HIS
LETTER THAT MEN SEEM TO DRAW
GREAT AND MARKED FORTlTUDE
FROM THEIR FAITH.

Correspondence of The associated PreSs.)
DUBLIN. Oct. 22.-Thc ~olace and COM
fort which the Irish soldier gathers from
hl~ religion. l. one Of the phases ~ front
line life frequently touched upon by the
late Major William Redmond IN h- letters
home. some of whicvh Mr. Redmond has
collected INTO Il memorial volume In one
of these. given 10 The Associated Press,
the popular Irish leader wrote, shortly be-
fore his death:
THE tortItudc the men seem to draw
from their faith ~ great and marked The
man who has been with hi- chaplain and
who has prepared himself by the ~acra-
ment- J. ready Tor any fate. and shows il
IN h> very demcanor. Often the writer has
heard Officers declare their pleasure at the
devotion of the men 10 their religion. and
frequently those offlcer~ have been of 9th
er religions themselves"
I'D another letter. Major Redmond
writes NJ the work ut the French priest. !:
with All the evils that ha- followed i'll IT'S
train. Il j. good 10 find at least one bene-
fetal result from the war Ii has led 10 the
revival of religion in most remarkable
way.
~ 10 this. practically everyone j.
agreed. and Il J. apparent IN 4 hundred III
rectiun-. Perhaps this revival j. most
marked uf al IN France and there Il |, at
irlbutable in on little degree ~ the splendid
record ~ the French priests in the army
ITO many people II seemed a wrong thing
that the ministers of the Prince of Peace
should be called upon to take up arms and
play part IN the terrible work of blood
she'd and slaughter which ha~ converted
- large 4 portion Of Europe into 4 VERT
able -hambe~. What seemed wrong and
what from some points NJ view wa- wrong
no doubt. ha- III the result turned out Il
blc~ sing
THE spectacle of thousands of priests
marching and fighting for the country and
the flag ha~ touched deeply the heart Of
France and many man who wu- perhaps
ready enough ~ proclaim himself an anti
cleric viii never ~ describe himself any
more. The bravery ~ the French priests
N haiilc-iwo thousand III them have been
kIlled-ha~ been only equaled BY their de
votion 10 their holy office
by accident or design. one must de
eide according to the measure of ones
yharity. the Germans have DESTROYED MANY
churches and ~hrne~ and converts III the
war. They present b sad spectacle. int II
would seem that IN proportion ~ the rum
thus caused. the faith has taken refuge
more and more III the hearts of the people.
with the result that. IN the opinion of most
men. religion has been perhaps the one
thing n all the world. - far. strengthened
and built az airc-h amidst the horrible
ravagc~ uf war. That there ha> been \
similar result al over the world. and away
from the actual scene VI war. w the te-ti-
nunv NJ unbiased observers.
The fact !, that the rum and carnage
have been - ,tupendou~. the sacrifices
have been - great. The horrors have been
- widespread. and have - penetrated
into almost every family circle, that AZ
m"-t every human being in the world ha,
been affected and ha- turned tc look tor
hope and comfort beyond THE grave"