The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-01-18
BISHOP OF DULUTH STIRS LARGE
RALLY OF HOLY NAME MEN IN
CHlCAGO-MORE THAN TWO
THOUSAND MEN LISTEN TO
TELLING SERMON ON DUTIES
AND OBLIGATIONS.

Sunday evening, January 5, two
thousand men, representing one hun
dred Holy Name Societies of the city
assembled in Holy Name Cathedral
Chicago. Right Reverend John T. Nc
Nicholas, Bishop of Duluth, Minneso'
ia, spoke to them as follows:
Soldiers of Religion.
We are met today within the sacred
walls of this temple dedicated to the
holiest of names, as soldiers of re.
ligion. Following the standard of the
name of God, we promise to render
to Caesar the things that are Caesars
and to God the things that are Gods
We promise lifelong allegiance to the
teaching Of the divinity Of Christ. We
recognize the gospel Of authority
known in the state and in the Church
When it was announced that the ap-
pointment was made to this great
metropolitan see of the prelate who
now rules the Archdiocese, the Holy
Name Society rejOiced, because a
peerless leader would be it's uncom
promising champion.
| came to Chicago but few weeks
after your Archbishops arrival, as the
National Director of the Holy Name
Society. | marveled at his vision, but
the unprecedented events that have
occurred proved The power, the pru.
dence, the courage that directed them
| congratulate the Holy Name Society
OF Chicago on the great work that is
accomplished through you and also
the Jealous, efficient Spiritual Director
who has wrought such a great work in
such short time, Of which you are
here tonight as representatives.
The thought, my dear men, upper
most in the minds of men today is
peace. The entire world, in this ap
of a restoration again to normal con
ditions. 1t is praying for a warless
world Peace has been purchased al
the price Of the most terrible war OF
all history. The Holy Name Society
has had its part in it; fearlessly and
v
Of this country gone forward and shed
it's blood and given of its treasure
that peace might be purchased. 1t is
calculated that 100000 Holy Name men
of the United States have deserved
the commendation of this country in
the war. You have fulfilled your duty
in this hour of trial.
Duty of Peace.
But, my dear men, there is another
duty, a duty to humanity, duty tc
your country, in relation to peace il
this hour What is it? 1t is that Of
earnest, fervent prayer that Almighty
God may illumine the minds ant
strengthen the judgment of those who
sit in the councils of the nations. The
Holy Father, the Vicar of the Prince
of Peace, appeals to the whole worlt
to pray that human wisdom may seel
divine aid and that the aid may be
granted by an infinitely wise Provi
dence. Let us pray, my dear men, tha
peace will be such that an infinitely
wise Providence and a universal
paternal God will approve.
If you ask why are Catholic me1
or to put it more concretely, VIII!
have the Holy Name men been 81
faithful in their war duties,' the full
explanation is in their religion.
Religion commands of men, ou
Catholic men, to be true, loyal citi
zens, to give their sons if necessar.
to their country, and by reason o
the natural virtues that actuate an.
man, but it demands more than that
1t demands that they do this from
supernatural motives, and so it ha
been in the present war From man.
sources in Europe, have heard wha
an edification our American boys hav
been by reason of their religion
Every place have they given good eH
ample and every place have they rec
ognized the deep religious sense-es
pecially among our Catholic boys an
generally among the soldiers of Amer
ca. From an unquestionable source
a distinguished English prelate-
have learned that $4,000 English so
diers have been converted to tn
Catholic faith in France.
All. yes, religion makes us noble i
war time duties. But it also fits u
for the duties of peace. Religion i
naturally something ennobling, eleva1
ing. The reason is simply becaus
God has made a spiritual impress III
on our nature God, in creating us
has put a spiritual element into ou
being and has raised us to supel
natural condition and, consequently
by virtue of our nature, there is de
mand for religion, a demand for some
thing spiritual, demand for Goo
And it is only religion that is elevatin
and the nations of the world realiz
the elevating influence of religion
they recognize its immeasurabE,l
value to society, even in the mer
natural order, and may the Peac
Council of the nations take into a.
count the extraordinary asset in ever
country, of the value OF religion
Never let the idea take possession
you that religion is an impedimen