The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1918-01-17
BISHOP BUSCH IS
SQUARELY BACK OF
/. 5. GOVERNMENT
IN LETTER TO MEMBERS OF CA
THOLIC FAITH HE URGES
LOYAL SUPPORT.
MUST help FINANCE The WAR
CHURCHES OF DIOCESE TO HAVE
MEETINGS TO ENDORSE
PRESIDENTS AIMS.

Right Rev. Joseph Busch, bishop Of
the diocese of st. Cloud last Sunday,
issued a letter to be read at the high
mass in all the Catholic churches of
the diocese, urging that as soon as
possible, a meeting be called in every
parish to indorse the recent deciara-
ton by President Woodrow Wilson OF
Americas war aims and peace terms.
The presidents statement with it's
enunciation of principles of righteous
ness and truth is in harmony with the
peace message of the pope that pre-
coded it, Bishop Busch's letter says,
and is consistent Herewith and should
be so regarded.
Letter Urges U. S. Backing.
The letter of Bishop Busch in full
reads as follows:
To the Priests and Faithful of the
Diocese of st. Cloud-Beloved Breth-
rem: Since congress felt it necessary
to declare state Of war existing be-
tween our country and the socalled
Central Powers of Europe, our pray
ers have been offered for the divine
guidance of our civil authorities and
for our president in particular, that
they may lead the nation toward the
goal Of lasting peace, based upon
the principles of righteousness and
truth.
+ The recent solemn declaration of the
war aims of our country as conceived
by our president and uttered before
the representatives of our nation in
congress assembled, persuades US that
our prayers have not been said in
vain.
The lofty spirit of justice and
charity, as Catholic in substance as it
is Catholic in scope, which animates
our presidents message, makes it
harmonic perfectly with the peace
message of our holy father to the ma
tions and wrings from us most spon-
taneous assent full of admiration and
gratitude.
Church Pledges Loyalty.
From the beginning of the war we
have felt it our duty to stand firm in
our loyalty to the constitution of the
United States and ready to obey every
demand of our lawful authorities, and
now that our chief magistrate has SO
candidly and so explicitly opened his
mind to the nation, we cannot but re-
joice and hasten to ratify our presi-
dents declaration as eminetly reflect
ing the mind and the heart of our
great American people.
We, will continue our prayers and
add to them our vows of loyal and
enthusiastic cooperation with our
president-until, his message addressed
alike to the enemy, the co-belligerent
and the neutral nations shall have
been irrevocably written into the i'm
ternational laws of the world.
1t is my earnest request that as
soon as possible in every parish of
this diocese, a meeting be called, the
purpose of which will be to ratify in
some solemn way the declaration of
Americas principles as uttered by our
president and to have this act of rati-
fication recorded in some fitting man
ner, to be sent to me and by me to be
forwarded to our representatives in
Washington to be presented to his
excellency, the president of the United
States.
Pastors will please read this letter
at the high mass next Sunday. Very
sincerely yours in Christ, Joseph F.
Busch, Bishop of st. Cloud.
The bishop also sent copy of the
letter to Arthur R. Rogers, ninth re-
serve district chairman for the Liber-
ty Loan campaign and Minnesota state
chairman for the war savings cam
paign. Copies were also sent to the
abbot of the Benedictine order and
other eminent members of the clergy
within the diocese who are not paro-
chially assigned.
Meeting Called for Jan. %.
TIL ebishop has announced there is
to be meeting in st. Cloud Jan. %
of the clergy of Stearns county and
other diocesan clergy and laymen, at
which the matter of governmental
financing, and the attitude thereto of
the diocese will be discussed. With,
the copy of the letter the bishop cpn<
veyed to Mr.. Rogers. an appreciation
of the work he is doing, and said
that if he desired to attend the meet
ing and speak of the governments