The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1918-01-19

and CARRY on
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horror and devastation. The blight
ing cloud Of destructiveness has as
yet only cast feeble shadow over our
lives, but we may we'll be convinced
that the weeks and months Immediate
~ before us will be more heavily
darkened under its ominous passage.
We must brace ourselves, not only
for the deprivations and sacrifices of
our everyday life, but also to with.
stand the more grievous bereavements
that are sure to be the fruit of the bat
uefield, the mighty clashes of the bat.
tleships, and the duels Of the aero
planes in the air. Our court 10 now
the battlefield and the arbitrament Of
the sword is to decide whether or not
the democracy of the world shall per.
ish from the earth.
Our Duty to Those at the Front.
The sacrifices and deprivations Of
our everyday lives, however great, are
Of course petty when compared to
those who are actually engaged in the
business Of war, and whose lives are
placed in jeopardy for the safety Of
Ill. These are surely our friends, for
they have met the supreme test Of
friendship, they have laid down their
lives for US. Let us not, therefore,
forget that we have q reciprocal duty
to perform in relation to them. What.
ever is necessary for their wants and
comfort should be cheerfully and un-
grudgingly forthcoming from US.
Whatever we can provide for their sus-
tenance and efficiency by our saving
and self-denial should be promptly laid
at their disposal. We should care.
fully and conscientiously obey the
mandates and regulations of those who
are officially charged with the imme-
date duty Of supplying their needs.
The effect of such foresight and care
on the part of single individual may
seem trifing, but the cumulative ef-
feet of such observance when multi
piled by the total of the population of
the country is tremendous. The con-
servation thus achieved may, indeed
spell the difference between depriva-
ton and abundance in the fighting
trenches.
Our Special Duty az Catholics.
When it became apparent that such
large percentage of the men in the
army and navy service are of the
Catholic faith it was natural and log
ical that the leading Catholics, both
clergy and laity, should feel special
concern regarding the spiritual and
moral welfare Of these hosts of young
great adventure of their lives. It is
fairly estimated that over forty per
cent of the army is made up of Cath
olics, while the percentage in the navy
is even greater. With keen solicitude
the Catholic hierarchy and leading
laymen foresaw the dangers to which
these young recruits must inevitably
be exposed II no provision was made
to ward them of. Assembled In the
several / camps and cantonments
throughout the country IL left to them
selves without safeguarding from the
outside 1t was felt that many of them
would fall victims to the temptations
and allurements surrounding army and
navy life and would be estranged from
their religious faith as a result of their
new environment. The loss to tho
men and to the Church would obvi-
ously be incalculable.
Realizing these conditions and the
possibilities for evil in the situation
many Of the leading knights of Co.
lumbus, considering the fact that such
q large number of their members are
in the service. determined to devise
4 comprehensive plan for the preser-
walton Of their physical comfort and
moral and spiritual welfare. The Y.
II. G. A. were already In the field do
ing excellent service for the soldiers
along the lines Of their educational
and moral welfare work, but it was
felt that many Catholics would be 70.
metant to participate In their activi- |
ties In respect to spiritual and re-
ugfous matters. To surround these
Catholic soldiers with Q more con.
genial spiritual environment together |
with the facilities for physical and
reereatioHal welfare became the great
digestive Of the promoters Of this
noble plaa. The Knights themselves
at first made IN appropriation Of one
million dollars In furtherance Of the
movement which was to be raised |
chiefly by an assessment upon its own
members. But soon the magnitude Of |
the task was realized, and it became |
necessary to raise this figure to three |
million dollars to carry out the great |
What Has Been Accomplished.
1t is not necessary here to recount !
in detail the tremendous work that |
has been already accomplished At
all or nearly all of the great canton
ments where the troops are modified |
there is to be found knights of Co.
t,,S1 IN ioI |