The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-06-03
CHURCH PACKED
AT OPENING OF
SPRING MISSION
Large Crowd on Hand at
Services at Church of the
Blessed Sacrament.
NON CATHOLICS
IN ATTENDANCE
Mission Being Conducted by
Apostalate Fathers of
New York City.

airy Band opened a two weeks mis-
sion last evening at the Church of the
Blessed Sacrament on Union avenue.
The first week of the mission is re-
served for the women and the second
week for the men. There were about
800 women present last night at the
opening services which consists of in
struction on some dogma of the Cath
Ole faith, the recitation of the Ros-
airy, sermon and Benediction of the
Blessed Sacrament.
The evening services begin prompt
ly at 7:45 o'clock and the morning
masses and instruction are at 5 and
7:45 o'clock Many non-Catholic wo-
men were in attendance last evening.
At the 1890 o'clock mass yesterday
morning the sermon was delivered by
the Rev. Joseph C. Fleming. He said
in part:
This war is but another instance
of Gods providence. 1t means the
chastisement of a sinful world" The
average man has little patience with
the mystical Interpretation of facts,
but mysticism has won great favor
since these words were spoken. Three
years ago unbelief laughed at the
it is said everywhere that His wise
purposes are being served in this
great 1rpheaval.
To regard such holocaust Of hui
mainly simply as war is the narrow
est possible view of the whole situa-
ton. War? Yes; the most frightful,
the most devastating war in all his
tory. 1t is something more---it is the
worlds Christening. Humanity is in
the wine press of Gods wrath, and
no man can tell when God will decide
that humanity has accepted Him as
sovereign of earth as well as of
heaven. The world is being made
over and the Almighty God, who made
it thousands of years ago, is making
it over again. Nations. like individA-
uals, remember God best, when want
makes them suppliant. Too often
prosperity tempts nations to forget
the bountiful hand that raises them
to their high estate. 1t was so, just
prior to the flashing of war which
shot around the globe on that mem
orable day of August, 1914. The
people had grown proud in their con-
ceits; they made no room for God at
their council tables; and He finally left
the men that regarded Him as an in
truder and chaos came.
Peace will return to this war-seared
earth when mems hearts are ready to
receive it. God is in His heaven, so
all must be we'll with the world. Even
now the Prince of Peace asks hear
ing. But never will the coveted man
tie of heaven come to the earth until
the earth raises its hand in supplica-
ton and obedience.
The war had hardly begun when
self-authoriZed dogmatists throughout
the world loudly asserted that Chris
tianity had failed; that Christianity s
| failure was the actual cause of the
war. Christianity had not failed Men
that were depending solely on their
finite limited intelhgences failed, and
the civilization that broke was the
resultant of mans stubborn refusal to
listen to Christ.
There is a division of opinion as to
whether there will be a revival of re-
ligion as an effect of this war or not.
Competent witnesses declare that the
revival has already occurred. We are
just crossing the threshold, as it were,
but no one can deny that there is a
remarkable quickening of religious
spirit and enthusiasm in our beloved
land. The same report comes to US
from the various battlefronts. 1t is
refreshing for Christian ears to hear
that the men in the trenches are men
of faith and the homes they left be-
hind are homes of earnest prayer
Whether humanity will be better or
worse after the war, it is absolutely
certain that it will be a different hu-
manity. Not long ago a celebrated
Scotch singer stumbled upon an old
principle of spiritual life; in a. great
catastrophe like the present one, men
must become either better or worse.
This publication that God has decreed
must bring the world nearer to Him
self or drive it further away. There
will be a marked accepting Of Christ
or a marked rejection of Him.
1t is a bounden obligation upon us
as Christians to see that the rights of
Christ shall not suffer in the recon
struction of the world when the war
is done. Genuine Christian faith is
not content with personal possession
and enjoyment of the Lord; it begets
untming zeal to have others know
love and serve Him. Our eyes have
become accustomed to the poster
which reads, Wake Up, Americans
Your Country Needs You" Today
Jesus Christ is appealing to us, wake
Up, Christians, My Cause Needs You
There are for us Americans two sym
bols that we must love---the Cross
and the Stars and Stripes. Together
they represent everything worth liv'
ing for, they summarize all the ideals
that are necessary to make up wor
thy citizens of the United States an6
future citizens with the saints il
heaven.
President Wilson has pledged the
last man and the last dollar thai
America owns to realize the sacred
ideals of democracy. No less ambi
tious should we be as Christians fol
the Kingdom of Jesus Christ
How may we best further the in
terests of Christ? The most effective
exemplification of Christianity is d;
practical Christian life. This is thu
argument that wins souls for Christ
A counterfeit Christian, like a coun
terfeit coin, has no value. Very oftel
the apparent foes of Christ and Hi
teachings are in reality the scandal
, lied victims of individual Christians
, who have betrayed the trust Chris
placed in them. The genuine disciple
: of Christ finds generous room for Hin
in business, in recreation---in fact, il
levery department of life. He live
Christ before the world; he is Christ
interpreter. Make your faith a living
r loving force that will make those VIII
have not your heritage of religion
realize that Christianity is the onl.
r power worth while, the only powe
: that viii bring light and hope an.
truth to souls seeking unconsciousl.
: for these boons. America, may sh
make the world safe for democracy