Norwich bulletin., 1920-07-05

 form the essence and substance of all moral life.
 God, the highest God, Supreme Wis dom, is the object of mans will He is the first, unchanging, all blessed end of life. Science may study, dig and search, 1t can find nothing better, higher and nobler than the simple words of the catechism. God made me to know Him to love Him and to serve Him on earth and to be happy with Him forever in heaven. Human life must have pur- pose, otherwise it is not worth living. It must be attainable for all, an end that is supreme, subject to no other, but bringing unity into life's serious ways and satisfying the warnings of the hu- man heart. That end is God alone. He is the goal of all mans activities, and in the possession of Him we shall be hap py. The theory of a code of moral life independent of religion is an absurdity. All moral commands whether traced in effectively in the heart of man by the finger of God, or taught by the Savious of mankind receive their sanction from God and we cannot transgress them without offending Him and turning away from our last end Religion is an es- sential part, yes the flower and crown of all moral life. Without religious sane tion the observance of the moral law is impossible.
 True to these principles the church maintains that if there is no morality without religion there can be no moral education that is not religious It is thus in her schools today no less than in her pulpits that the Catholic church is solving quietly. patiently and effect ually the problems that agitate earnest and thoughtful citizens. The hallowing influence of religion alone can raise lit- tie children unspotted from the world, impose upon their youthful minds that they are free and responsible beings ac- countable to a living God, bound by obli- gations of justice and charity their fellowmen, and that it will be of no pro- lose their souls.
 It is not only the child but also the family that is blessed and safeguarded by her teaching. ennobled and exalted by her watehful presence. Sacred rights, promulgated by God for the maintenance of the family, the home and society are in her deposit of faith. She stands today as in the days of Philip, the FalS, Henry the Eigth and Napoleon, the bulwark of society and the defender of the most sacred obligations of human life. No power on earth, no organization, secular or religious, save the church can stem the tide of destruc- tive agencies that threaten our ciyiliza- ton, or destroy the cancerous growth that is eating away the vitality of hu- man society,",
 Since she teaches the moral laws to her children, protects and safeguards the family and the home, she is eminently patriotic. As the family no less than the individual cannot subsist independ- ently but must grow strong and vigorous in union with other families and form the state, so nature creates this spirit ual bond, this soul of life, patriotism, the love of the fathers, their glory, their re- nown and achievements What nature demands through her laws, God wills, for He has created the natural order and has foreseen and willed the result of His work.
 Divine Providence rules the destiny of men and states. The state is from God, authority is from God; the rights and duties of citizens come from God. Listen to Saint Paul: !" Let every soul be subject to higher powers; for there is no power but from God. and those or dained of God Therefore he that re- sisteth the power resisteth the ordin- ance of God Therefore be subject, for conscience sake" It is herein that faith strengthens and ennobles love of coun- try Loyalty to country, to the state whose citizens we are, to it's interests and laws is loyalty to God. The Cath olic church claims by her very constitu- ton that she forms good citizens when she forms good catholics.5 Be a good man she commands, and you will be a good citizen who will render the high est service to his country. Be faithful to your duties of citizenship, she ad- monishes, because God inspires them. Do your duty looking up to God and without murmuring when in the hour of trial and sacrifices are required that are great and heavy. A good catholic is by his very office a good citizen because in obedience to God and conscience he full fills his duty to his country.
 At the completion of Fr. MeAuliffe's eloquent address there was great ap- plause after which Hon. William J. Null ligan, national director of the Knights of Columbus, who was overseas for many months during the war, was introduced by Fr. Keefe.
 Mir. Mulligan sand in part:
 We celebrate our national anniversary here this day, children of many peo- ples, united by a common bond of Ameri- can citizenship. American aspirations, American ideals.
 Long were the elements working that famed into the final revolution and the rue Ol ueLlOCIdCy III AIHeFlCd the events of IT'S and the years suc- ceeding.
 Today we celebrate the victory and the glory that God has preserved and in creased the power and the might of the republic which our forefathers founded on July 4, IT'S.
 We know that the liberty and freedom we enjoy came to us consecrated in the labor of cur fathers and baptized III their blood and We are proud of the record of intervening years which has enlarged and increased the spirit of liberty
 Tonight we can repeat with veneration and respect the philosophy of the declar- ation of Independence which set on fire the political situation of the world, and by which nation after nation and people after people have been inspired to learn its philosopry and to march with the blazing light of it's advancing civiliza- ton.
 But, ladies and gentlemen, what was saved by war must be preserved.
 The days when patriotism was a duty have not departed. New conditions in- deed confront us new perils menace us. Civil, political, and social happenings of America are watched the world over, with intense anxiety. A service must be rendered by all A service to God and country. Patritism and religion go hand in hand. Patriotism cannot be divorced from religion and survive.
 This is only one lesson we can take