New Britain herald., 1926-03-17
PLEA FOR CHILDREN
 MADE BY PA0NESSA
BlameS Parents for Conditions
 at E, B. C. Armies Banquet

We must have rivalry in religion. Without rivalry we would have no religion" said Mayor Angelo M. Paonessa speaking to a joint ban quet of the Blue and White armies of Eycryman's Bible class last eve- ming at the Y. M. c. A.
 The mayor said each person , should be loyal to his or her own church and should believe his or her . own church is the best, regardless of creed. "The Bible stands today where 1t was first put and it will stand there until the end of the world" he added.
 We must believe in religion. I was glad when the school authorities cooperated In the movement 10 teach religion to tho children. Wo should teach the children religion '' from the very beginning, as well as other forms of education.
 T am only the chairman of the board of directors of the city of New Britain. My office Is the clearing house for all the troubles and ills of tho city. The biggest trouble that comes to mo is the problem of handling the boys and girls. don't agree that boys and girls are far worse today than they were in our day. The trouble is we have forgot ten that we were boys and girls ourselves years ago.
 "Seventy-tve per cent Of the cases involving boys and girls reported to me are the fault of the mothers and fathers. Too many people in this city do not pay enough attention to their own children.
 1 want to ask Everyman's Bible class to help the government of the city of New Britain by helping these unfortunate families. We have many fathers in the city who do not care for their own children, and I regret to say there are plenty of mothers in the city who do not care for their children.
 T am not afraid to be attacked hy politicians nor am I afraid of indi- Fldual criticism when ] say these things. but when I see children being neglected it almost breaks my heart. What we want to do is to take Caro Of the boys and girls; give them re- ligion, education and recreation.
 How happy I was last summer after II years of effort to give the boys and girls chance 10 swim. We want to make New Britain the best American city but we cannot do it without giving our children the very best in religion, education and rec reation.'
 The mayor told the story of the little girl who died from neglect in the New Britain general hospital q few weeks ago. "Oh, If we had only known this two or three weeks be- fore, we might have saved her life" he added.
 Elimination of Sums
 we are going to eliminate slums from America or else stop holding Bible classes" said Dr. Henry K. Denlinger, professor of history at the Connecticut Agricultural col lege, whose address followed that of the mayors. Dr. Denlinger spoke on The New Individual" Speaking of : individual actions as applied 10 tho theory of evolution. he said Its just as hard to explain a half mad fish as II is to explain mans arrival. What '; do you think of the story of II. G. Wells that, when the waters receded from the earth fish decided to walk on land? Silly idiot.
 The one sin against the Holy Ghost is the sin against individual 1ty The sin of America is that we do things as others do because we must hc like other people. l don't mean that we should be different just for the sake of being different. That's something else.
 Suppose the calla lily should suddenly decide it wanted to be like the rose. Suppose it took q scis- sors and cut itself into small petals and painted itself red like the rose, The gardener would say This Is a . both Of a flower and would pluck it out.
 q hope the American cities will become the ccntcrs of great art and . beauty and I hope New Britain will become q city as beautiful as Flor ence or Naples. To do these things We must have social organizations. "The drug act is a good act be- cause it helps my freedom by help ing my knowledge. How am l going to help somebody? You cant help anyone unless you first find out what they want and then supply their needs"
 Over 900 Tn Attendance T The Y. NJ. C, A. banquet hall was literally swampcd with guests, Plans < had been arranged, according 10 the advance sale of tickets to take care E of 130 persons. More than 200 at |" tended and it was necessary to set several tables the second time to handle the overflow crowd. Hans Oquist who, on February 1. saved the laVes of q man and four children by Tagging 6 train which was bearing down on stalled auto at the Main street crossing, was pre- scented with q modern Bible bearing his name in gold letters on Mor- occo cover The fly leaf was in- scribed; Presented to Hans Oquist by the Blue and White armies in recognition Uf his resourcefulness in saving of lives on February l." Tho | presentation was made by Rev. Dr. Joseph Sullivan of Springfield. Mass. Dr. Sullivan said; Tn presenting you with a mans book, We are recogniz- ing the fact that in time of emer- gency you took mans part" A silver bound ivory rule, pre- sentcd hy the Stanley Rule and nvcl Co was nrpScntcl 10 Dr. Den