Norwich bulletin., 1921-05-31
MOOsup's Beautiful Monument
 DOdcated--- ---136 Names HOnOred

vice they, too, have rendered the Union and included also words of thanks to all of the people of Moosup who in any way assisted in making the dedication exer- eises such a success
 ~Father Mccarthy then introduced Rev. Francis T. Ledwlth. M. S, formerly of Boston, now of Hartford. Father Ledwith spoke eloquently in both Frenc hand En- glish. He said in substance:
 America today pauses in her onward march of progress to shed a tear over the low green tents of heroes, over those tents whose certain never outward swings Today the living and the dead hold communion.
 This day is more than . celebration of physical braVery-it celebrates Q mo ral victory as we'll
 This magnificent monument pays trib- ute not to those alone who took up arms, who braved the danger and din of the battlefield, but speaks for the signs the tears and the groans of v-'--~s mothers children and sweethearts - ch rise to- day as mighty requiem. Each name upon that placque, whether it's bearer re- turned home or whether he made the supreme sacrifice, contains a story most Interesting and most inspiring
 The symbol of the cross, and the angel
 
 all. It reveals their motive-religion and love of country.,
 My friends. in that cross you have the symbol of true patriotisni-a patriotiFn based on religion. True pariotism can not be divorced from religion and sur vives
 | Scan the pages of history and you will 1 find the two go hand in hand and the l stronger t&he religious spirit of nation :, the stronger and more enduring is it's patriotism
 The world has never seen Q nation of atheists, unless you exalt by that name the monster et the French revolution If men are false to their God, how can they be true to their country? If they despise Him the Centre and
 Source of authority. how will they re- spect the authority of his creatures? ] Tho phzans understood this and made i their religion the source of an intense patriotism. Men fought as fercely for
 the triumph of their particular gods and for the humiliation of the gods of their | enemies as they did for personal gain or l the glory of the state
 For your altars and your fires has
 been from the beginning the cry of peo- pies entering on deadly strife. The pa.
 gan made-the fatal mistake of exaItfne
 the state at the expense of the individ-
 ual.
 It was Jesus Christ who gave to tI,S world the principles of true patriotism | He came with the great message of ius- tice and charity. He taught the value o1 the human soul and the great doctrine iof the brotherhood of man. His wa. the spirit that made man truly free! The history of 2.o0o years demon strates what the world owes to Chris l1a .,4t az,fA A1.- served inviolate against all attack, against the marriage bond. thus lavine the foundation of pure family life. th, ;, hone of the nation
 The brotherhood of man gave the deatF blow to slavery, which at the time O i Christ covered the whole earth with aw i ful gloom. From the fall of the Roman empire it was the church through be i missionaries that labored to civiIize tn, inrushing hordes of barbarians an, if7ved Europe from lRpsing into barbar Ism
 Through the middle ages she was tbi
 advocate of the rights of the oon51o, people. Her crusades, by carrying wa f for 2GQ years into the bands of Moham med strengthened and united Europe.
 It was religion and patriotism tha enabled Archbishop Langton to wrin from the tyrant John. the great charte !, Of English rights. trial by jury, etc. tn principles of which form the foundatio stones of our own Constitution. . It was the great master. St Thomal who in the thirteenth century. taugf 3 that to decree anything for the cornmo : good belonged 10 the whole people C 2 those delegated by them.
 ! My friends. the foundations of our o,v = country were laid in religion. It wa s religious zeal that inspired and encou1 e aged Columbus. Differ as we may h dogmatic opinions. the fact remains thf the early colonists came, inspired by r, Q liigous motives and when the momel = came for reparation from England t was with a high consciousness of dfvf7 n Providence working through them fc - the good of mankind.
 r Religion is manifested in our Cor
 stit1tion. Fhe late Cardinal GibboI Q said that it made 10 difference wneth, e or not the name of G5d was to be four | therein as long as His, spirit Dervad, S our laws and their Interpretation. The men who formed the country ar t the men who have guided the ship l. state through troubled waters have z e been religious men. American state s mansh:p has always the principle (
 George Washington that religion al f morality are the props of political pro y perity and that no man can be called '- patriot who attempts to subvert them
 Will you be patriots? Then be got Catholics. We have had q glorious hi
 tory. A Catholic discovered the cou try-Catholics first explored it and se l tied it and it's independence was ma possible by the aid of Catholic Franc We are in the minority of populatio