Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-11-02
What Was The Religions OF The
Unkuown Soldier?
From an editorial in the Salisbury
(Md) Advertiser.

(Md) Advertiserl
Under the amber sunset glow Of late
September the cold outlines Of the stone
which hides our unknown Soldier soften.
Loosed from the ever-present tokens of
love, vagrant leaves caressed by the breeze
rustic over the granite. From the Capitol
drifts the murmur of the tide Of life at the
home coming hour
Shutting feet of age timidly approach the
stone. and beneath the Romany shawl
which covers the gray hair dark eyes, filed
with pain and longing. strive to see beyond
the sealed portals and withered hand
makes the sign of the cross. Shadows fall
across the stone and Rachel. leaning on
the arm of Jacob, mourns and will not be
comforted.
The step of vibrant wonanhood and
boys questioning voice. do you think he
might be daddyH" A stifled sob and the
answer, Hush, dear. Nobody knows only
Cod" Pure passion lays rose upon the
stone, and in the last rays Of the sun its
crimson warmth seems to touch the stone
as gently as the first kiss of love.
Who was this unknown Soldierf Jew or
Gentle. Protestant or Catholic2 o. one OF
those who found life and service religion
enough and the glory Of God greater than the
glory of creedY One thing we know--that
he gave all that he had and was and hoped
to be in order that this government of
the people. for the people and by the peo
people should not perish from the earth"
Never do the loving ones who press close
to his last resting place raise the question,
was he Jew or Gentle. Protestant or Catho-
lic because love leads them there-and
love is kind.
When he. whose couch marks the trails
end for the feet of the nation. stood at atten-
ton in the ranks for the first time. did
lifted eyebrows mark his declaration of
religious faithH Or. when in the silent
watches of the night he crouched in
cramped fashion with death at his elbow
in the listening post" were those he
guarded doubtful because of his religionY
When the sergeant's whistle shrilled at
the Zero hour" and our Unknown Soldier
charged through the flames that scared in
mo Mans Land" did any hesitate to lead
or follow him because he had learned his
childhood nra vara in a diffarant faahion ?
And when his soul had passed into the
purple mists of glory and stood before its
Creator did God ask. Are you Jew or Gen.
tile, Protestant or CathoIic2'
And yet-and yet, to our shame-tOday
here in Wicomico county a mans fitness
for high Office is being questioned, not
because he is mentally unprepared or
morally undesirable-bu because he is
Catholic.
Alfred Z. Smith. Democratic candidate
for President. with an inspiring record of
twenty-five years in the service of his State
and people, and endowed with the God
given quality of leadership which has
brought to his support the progressive men
In all parties-is unfit and unsafe to guide
the destiny of this nation-because he is
Catholic.
What commentary upon our PrOtes-
tantism which has existed for hundreds Of
years How easily we barter the birth
right Thomas Jefferson gave us-fOr mess
of political pottage.
What is more serious. if that is possible.
are the ceaseless and senseless accusations
made against this man Smith by women.
wives and mothers. from whose lips little
children must get the foundation of their
knowledge of right and wrong. and all be-
cause Smith is a Catholic Can there be any
greater injustice done to childhood than to
teach it to hate when the very being of a