Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-09-12
Worlds Future
Claims Faith
Cardinal MERCER

ave" ! Va n, eSpt' - \~A' = - w.
dinal MERCER. Archbishop of Ma
lines, Belgium. whose defiance of
Germany during the invasion of his
country at the beginning of the war
attracted universal attention. has
written a letter to George l.. Duval,
of this city, in which he gives his
hopes for the future of the world
from the moral point of view.
1.-The world at this hour" writes
the eminent prelate, lis a great in
physicians, all lips anXiously asking:
is there hope of recovery? Have
you a remedy. the remedy? The
physicians have no concrete answer,
or rather. they give divers answers
all at once. The more the consulta-
tons and remedies multiply the more
we realize that we are at stand
still.
"Optimist or pessimist, which shall
it be? From a hypothetical consid-
Grafton of the situation in the pres
ent premises, there is something to
justify and explain either tendency,
but, in my humble judgment, under
the broader view which should be
decisive. optimism must prevail. Be
confident in spite of all. We're my
words to my fellow citizens at one
of the darkest hours of recent his
tory. No matter how troubled, how
close to disaster and despair condi-
tions may be. let every one keep his
head erect and his heart steady, be-
cause encouragement has never be-
gotten energy, and energy alone
breeds triumph.
20, we young men, compatriots,
men of the people, whether of Bel
GUM or of other countries. do We
wish to help your brothers, the allies
of yesterday, in the struggle we have
made for ten years to attain peace?
Then be men of energy, be We, the
controlling ajority, at all events
steadfast.
Alas, I know that both nations
and individuals have undergone a
great change: self seeking the thirst
for pleasure. the lust for money have
too often overcome self-denial and
devotion to the common veal. while
political partisanship and class strife
have impeded unity of action and
have rended the commonwealth
asunder. In this, howeyer,iI reCog-
niZe the effects of nerve collapse due
to the hyperStrain OF protracted war.
A few more swings, and the pendu-
lum will return to the vertical. Here
in Belgium and in France, there is
no doubt that the rising generation
gives promise of an abundant re-
serve of national energy. faith and
discipline. Respect for and love of
authority are growing. clearing the
air. spreading currents OF confidence.
casting seeds of peace.
oil trtn 20 S,,hr,if
to one Qnd the same moral authority,
it would be possible to keep the
peace. But should one of them deny
this moral authority, seek alliances
to build up it's predominance over
others, the peril of war must newt
ably ensue.
THE notorious 'internationale'
dreamt of by socialism or commun-
ism is really a universal and perma-
nent organization for war: the very
antithesis of peace.
"Bolshevism. the last end of social
dissolution, is radically atheistic.
Anti bolshevism. the restoration of
order. can only be built upon God.
Christ and He alone is King of
peace. He teaches us that we are all
brothers. that we have one and the
same Father in heaven, and that the
predominant law of our life, in which
all other commandments are COM
passed, is charity. The love of all
for their Father. and for the sake of
the Father the love of brothers for
one another. In such measure as this
love pervades, in so far will peace
reign over the world.
Tn order, therefore, to work for
universal peace, 1t Is necessary to
build up the gospels rule. Let all
believers set to work on this apostle
late. Let all Christian nations, with
out mental reservation or dread of
facing the truth and it's consequence
es, make loyal effort to bring about
the realiza ton of Our Lords supreme
wish as He was about to ascend to