The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-02-21
Pastoral Letter To Be Read
 To Total Of 2O,OOO People

tons TOT the puDllc welfare was at once recognized. With the initiative taken by the Knights of Columbus, the unselfsh spirit of the Catholic thusiasm shown by the organizations of Catholic women, we realized that it was necessary to unify our activi- ties. With this object in view, the established the National Catholic War Council. Under it's di- rection provision was made for the moral and physical welfare of our Catholic soldiers and sailors. Chap lainS were supplied for the men in camp and for those in service abroad. In every possible way, our people showed their appreciation of the men who were offering their lives for our country.
 How well deserved and how pro- ductive of good were these patriotic efforts, is plainly to be seen from the record of Catholics in every branch of the national service. We are proud of their loyalty. We honor their heroisn. We are grateful for the ex- ample they have given us. Let us pay them the highest tribute by inni- tating their fidelity to duty, their sacrifice of self and their devotion to the cause of freedom.
 
 America's Pledge to the World.
 We went into the war and ended it. In any material sense, we had noth- ing to gain. We fought to make the world better place for all mankind. In proclaiming our purpose, we held up our country and it's institutions as the hope of humanity. The pledges we gave must be redeemed. As our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XIV, de clares, the American people, retain ing firm hold on the principles of reasonable liberty and of Christian civilization, are destined to have the chief role in the restoration of peace and order on the basis of those same principles, when the violence of these tempestuous days shall have passed"
 Our Present Situation.
 Though the war is ended, our coun- try is not yet restored to its normal condition. On every side, there is un- rest and agitation. The conflict of class with class makes progress inn possible. It threatens to undo the splendid things which the union oi all our people accomplished. It is i'm porting into our country the very evils which brought disaster on Eu- rope. If America is to be preserved, for it's own sake and for the sake of humanity, a remedy must be found for our present situation.
 Need of a Solid Foundation.
 This is not a time for makeshifts The facts are before us, plainly and roughly. They cannot be set aside with mere expedients or forznalities that smooth the surface of things, but leave the virus beneath. Rightly or wrongly, the movements which are shaking the foundation of order. come out of mems souls. They em- body a demand for right. They may be stayed for a time or diverted; ; but if in keeping with American prin- ciples, order is to rest on the willing ness of the people and their free CO., operation, their souls must be reach. ed. They must be trained to think rightly and to do as they think.
 Let us not deceive ourselves in this matter. Ignorance is an evil: as such It must be removed. But it is not the only evil. What we have chiefly to fear is educated intelligence devoid of moral principle the man who uses his knowledge to abuse his freedom. This is the dangerous type To continue its production or allow it to multiply would not be the par, of wisdom.
 Tho Wars First Lesson. The first and most essential lessor 1n true education is that which the War has taught us- For a long tim, the attempt was made to regulat, | human affairs without any referenc, | to God. 1t was thought that the ad 0f Pfv ! science and the growth of commerc, l had made the peace of the world SC cure. Religion was excluded, in Erea 1 measure, from public life, and entire 1 ly from the council of nations I i was a vast experiment, conducte, 1 with all the resources of power an l skill. And now we see it's results.
 We cannot afford to repeat the ex pertinent. If we are to build anew l we must build on a sure foundation
 not on quicksand. The stone whic,
 the builders of the modern world re Jected, must become again the hea of the corner. In the teaching an
 example of Jesus Christ, mankin
 must learn the way of salvation
 There is no other.
 There are many indeed who admir-
 the Christian ideal and vet clair ! 1AAAH OIiA AS NASAlAAty DS I1OO1l1S i to suit the demands of our age. Br , ! as these demands are countless. an : as some of them are openly { variance with the spirit of Chris nothing will be gained by yielding I } them. Too much, in fact, has aIread been lost in these vain attempts ] satisfy the world with a dilute s Christianity. In the final issue, n, 3 only particular doctrines have bee r set aside, but the central trut, 2 namely that Christ is the Incarna- l God, has been questioned or denie Those who regard Him simply as tI r perfect man, feel justified in inte !, preting His doctrines according Q their version as Christianity; ar 0 they may find it inadequate in u ? present conditions of the world. B
 | this is no warrant for saying tn
 Christia nifty has ceaseds to be
 power for truth and righteousness. # Justice and Charity.
 y Christianity requires that we acee # two fundamental principles as t, -S basis of our human relations. The n are the principles of justice al s, charity. The application of these e private and public life is the fiji y step toward the restoration of pea t, and order. Lg JuStice obIieeS 11S to give eve