New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-02-13
COMMUNICATED.
TO OUR MOTHERS.
Dr. Mann, Calls on Them for Unset
fish Cooperation.


If ever there was an hour in the
! history of nations when allied peoples
rCodcd to stand together and en-
courage ono another it is now.
Now is the time for such a loyalty
CT heart in the hosts at home or be-
hind the firing lines as Will cheer and
encourage our boys at the front and
inspire the unity Of purpose and ac-
ton which cheerfully meets their
needs. through the loved ones left be
hind. The hour demands Christian
cooperation along the practical lines
limited to us by those, who. from the
president down, stand in the watch
towers Of official observation and are
Therefore, the first to see. This is no
time for individual or organized agi-
tation among independent Or selfish
lines.
Every living soul within our ma
ton should from now on until the
victory is won do his or her best to
help to defeat the enemy; and to do
our best means to stand willingly
and gladly on individual watch-tow-
ers of u0setfishncss, where we are
proof against the subtle enemy whisp-
erings which would make us waste
time in selfish regrets, self-pity, or
in any other dainty luxury in which
our real soldier boys in the trenches
have no time to indulge.
Our sacrifices and effort for the
great cause for which our nation and
orr grand aIlios are lighting must he
voluntary or they carry not with
them the spirit and virtue of God
with US. In Germany loyalty is de-
manded at tho point of the bayonet
and a. mother must not weep for her
fnr he at he nd
of the go dof war to be sacrificed on !
the altar of autocracy.
But such loyalty is blindness, which !
has never blessed the world; it is the |
bitter fruit Of the darkness Of hell !
whose awful War-cloud now threatens |
the whole earth
Contrary to this false, selfish, !
wicked sense of duty, our American |
nation calls for a loyalty or faithful |
ness which is born of light or true /
Love.
1t cannot be denied, and men and /
women alike. whose hearts arc not i
made of stone must admit it.-that !
the mothers of our nation are called !
upon by war to make special sacri |
nee. All are called Upon to con-
righteous warfare; but q, righteous
cause demand of mothers the SUI
preme sacrifice of the favorite son.
Here the Christian hearts Of
nation should stand by and encour-
age each other as they did in Bible /
times, When Nehemiah assured his |
worthy fOllOwcrs.-'"Thc God of !
heaven, Fe will prosper u.s. and
when Isaiah assures us that in times
of great portent, like ours today j
They helped every one his neigh !
Dor: and every one said to his broth !
ers Be of good courage. So the car |
penter encouraged the goldsmith, and |
he that smootheth with the hammer !
him that smote the anvil
History teaches us that only the |
willing human sacrifice Of what is
most dear to us builds on the sure
foundation of Principle which is !
dear TO patriarch and patriot than
anything that we can personally pos !
scss or than human life, scifshly !
lived and preserved, itself.
One cannot imagine that Isaac's |
mother did anything less than CO.
operate Fundamentally with Abra- |
ham when he was called upon to Of /
fer UP Isaac
All Christians have their final ex-
ample Of self-sacrifce in the life and !
crucifjxion Of Jesus; and mothers Of |
n w
would do better than the mothers Of |
the enemy, will find, | pray, special
encouragement at this time, in Mary's
necessity of old, when the boy Jesus
at II years of age, said to her: twist
We not that I must be about my
Fathers business" Humanity speak
ing the dear mothers heart would
have held on to her boy; she at that |
time little dreaming that in her own
child was fulfilled the Scriptures "a +
little child (nOt a KaiSer) --shall lead |
them The little child then pointed |
as the pure, unsefish thought now
points, UP to the duties prompted by |
Principle,
May every mother in all lands Of |
our allied cause, like the true mother
Mary, not hold back her son, give
him grudginglT. but with her Chris j
tan consolation. gladly and lovingly |
bid him Godspced in his response to |
duty's call.
JOSEPH G. MANN.