The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-07-29
A TALK BY
REV. SEROCZYNSKI
OF HAMMOND
IN THE BOY SCOUT CAMPAIGN
THERE. FOR THEIR Two
YEAR PLEDGES.

Acadenicaily we can have a republic
without a democracy. and vice versa a
democracy without a republic, but to
our American minds this is a paradox.
ard next TO the attainment Of the prime
end Of this war-the freedom Of the
seas. without painting any stripes on
our ships except the Stars and Stripes
we are lighting the cause of democracy
and dream of an ultimate republic Of
the world where free peoples need not
constitute themselves vast nghting ma
chimes % be set in motion at the com
mand Of ~ individual
We shall encircle peace with good will
Now good viii like trustworthiness. 10y
alyt. helpfulress. frienduness. courtesy.
kindness. obedience, bravery. and rever-
enoe. IS a spiritual quality. Our rela-
tions with our fellow men depend en-
tirely and absolutely upon our attitude
toward God. If we lack faith in God
VIC cannot have faith in men and what
ever loyalty we may display is grounded
upon namby-pamhy sentimeatalism
which viii stand no test
Without spirituality we cannot have
any of the above qualities; without these
qualities we cannot have service: with
out service we can have g most a sham
democracy castles, classes and masses
more divisional than those depending
upon royal decree.
true American wants a democracy
where everyone strives to do the lowliest
work. Every true American wants TO
preserve this q democracy where they
kick man downstairs who brings So
cinl political. or financial pressure 10
bear upon any agency Of the govern
ment TO keep his son in q semi-non-
combatant corps. where there is little
danger from gas and shells; where the
only thing that hurts is a yellow CON
science.
This barrage isn't meant to be fatal
but now lets go over the top. Five
thousand dollars in two years.
The poor Will furnish 80 per cent Of
cur soldiers and Boy Scouts. The
wealthy. that is. all whose fortunes ex-
coed FIVE thousand dollars. ought TO fur
nish 30 per cent of the money This
line Of demarcation has been brought
low so as not TO draw fire from the
Weather Of my audience and beyond
If you cannot furnish boy. then fur
nlsh the money. Is hundred dollar
check more important than a boy? Shall
We be more tender with our dollars than
with the poor mans son? The only
question q wealthy American may ask
gracefully today is, How much2" Let
us not be patriots by proxy. The poor
thousand dollar a year man gives twelve
dollars for the Red Cross. His twenty
thousand dollar year employer sends
in check for one hundred dollars.
Puzzle. find the patriot.
Let us draw up a list Of Hammond's
five hundred wealthiest men and women
Divide the list into hundreds Put the
names Of the wealthiest at the. head
Ct the list Appoint a committee for
each hundred. Call on them in the
order named. Try to hold them TO the
ratio adopted by the government for the
income tax. Then, appeal to the poor
and see who beats.
Until the rich have given till It hurts
until they abandon their expensive cars
for those Of cheaper make until their
wives wear simpler frocks. until they
have given largely Of their unearned
I increment, until they live as frugally
as the family in moderate circumstances
not to speak of the poor; the rich re-
peat. display splendid courage in ap-
pealing TO the poor for financial assist
ance in any movement. If the rich will
but give the example, the poor will Guido
them in generosity The danger Of class
strife viii disappear: democracy will
have received an impetus and momentum
and our Boy Scouts will have learned
supreme lesson in heIpfulness and gem
crosby from those who should be the
leaders in our community