Evening journal., 1917-08-28
CATHOLICS PLEDGE
LOYALTY TO nation
President Of American Fed.
Grafton Sounds Keynote
at Kansas City
COUNTRY DRIFTING
TOWARD PAGANISM

KANSAS CITY. Aug. 2f-Catholics
OF America viii support the cause OF
their country "vith undertaking loyalty
throughout the war with the central
cmpires. That pledge wps given here
by John Whalcn, OF New York. in hii
annual address az president before th'
opening session Of the convention Of th
American Federation OF Catholic So
cleties
-All Sacrifices demanded Of us should
b. mot cAeeriullv." Mr. Mhalen declar-
cd "Nhcther the struggle be long ol
Short. We pledge the undertaking loyalty
10 our country OF S.o0oO00 Catholi,
nca snd women united in federation
Catholic be estimated would prove
10 be- IS per cent. Of the fighting forces
Active work already is under way TO
provide for their spiritual and physical
needs.
.Ninch as we deplore war. we want nc
peace with present danger or OF with
iuiure danger 10 the starry Banner, or
a. tire world al large he went ON. "Bui
ihis does not take IRON MS our privi
iege and our duty 90 pray and strive
for q true. lasting peace that shall give
sreooy and permanent comfort TO the
lonc-sriiering human race. We rejoice
20 the earnest. wise fstherlv efforts "a
bring atom such peace by our great
spiritual clioi his Holiness Pope Bene.
dict NN Bis efforts win not be in
tan
Plan Catholic Y. VI. G. A.
Anthony Matre. OF Chicago the na-
tioUl secreary reported that the
federation now hed membership Of
100000. A crusade Of large pro-
oortions has been taken up against
t'ce and immortality. and plans. he
reported. were under way for the
ormation OF a Catholic Young Men
,hristrn Association.
Paeanism with all its accompany
ing vices is the shoal toward which
he United States is rapidly drifting
recording 10 the report Of the morals
committee Of the convention OF the
American Confederation OF .Cathofc
Societies. presented late yesterday.
. q. society the report reads. Shows
startling decline. Justice no longer
rules. The family life OF the nation
Is endangered virtue. public and pri
gate. is decadent
"A largely contributing factor IN
this pagan zing OF The nation is di.
Vorce.' said the report 1T has heer
recently estimated Lhnt up 20 the
present more than a mi1ion divor- e.
have hem granted in this country and
The exnected number for the current
year will be greatly in excess OF 100
opo It would he wholly useless Ia
devote any consideration 10 the
viciousre7s or this evil and what II
means morally 70 the nation"
TT co7ba' tbs condition the com.
r''f'ao reco-nrnends.
Nn"ctmenf OF S ato laws reouir.
irg notices Of 'mnend'ng marriage IA
be nosfed several dave before issu.
ance OF i'cense; abolition of c<nnor
IL" marriage wherevor rncooni7e'
and finally n States where only an.
soil-e divorces are granted provi.
sions for legal separation be made
Modern pictorial reviews and ia,
movies also COME in for their shar,
OF condemnation.
"One ot the mos. serious assault.
upon morality OF the corutiy toda,
Is manifested in indecent irus ration
and some publications. and 9Th,
stories in debauching magazines
says The report. "Then there is thl
established fact tha. a high par
centage OF phoioplay production
deals With crime