Evening star., 1939-02-12

G.. Ugollni. and presented to the
university by Leo himself in 1889,
the half-hour ceremony was staged
on the lecture platform of Mcmahon
Hall, administrative building of the
university.
Colorful robes, designating aca-
demic attainment of their Wearers,
various habits and frocks of re-
ligious orders. and the purple and
maroon of the monsignori con-
trasted with the humble black and
white of the many nuns present.
Doctors of philosophy and under
graduates sat together in the
audience.
Appeal for Cody Government.
BIN the midst of the broadcast
came challenge to American
Christianity-Catholic and non
Catholic alike-to start a national
crusade for God in government.
1t came from the lips of the Right
Rev. Joseph NJ. Corrigan, rector of
the Catholic University. 1t was
picked up and amplifed by the
Most Rev. Michael j. Curley, Arch
bishop of Baltimore and chancellor
of the university.
Directly to 100000 American
Catholics the appeal was made ito
defend the Republic against atheistlc
propaganda, to maintain respect for
rightly constituted authority and
obedience to lawful administrators,
and finally to combat fearlessly
every invasion of the rights of any
citizen or any group of citizens. >
These were the words of Msgr. Cor
rigan. No sooner had they been
uttered than machinery was set in
motion to carry the same appeal
to every parish in the United States
by diocesan orders. First to enter
the crusade will be the archdiocese
of Baltimore.
In amplification of his set speech
to Vatican City, Archbishop Curley
said, in a statement to The Star,
that aside from the 81 100000 Catho-
lies in America the crusade would
seek to enlist the best part of the
100000 non Catholics - God
fearing men and women all"
A Religious Crusade.
1t was made known by Catholic
University officials that the crusade,
which will get under way formally
today in all Catholic churches Of
this diocese-and spread from here
to all parts of the Nation-was a
cherished object of Pope Fius XII,
who wrote letter to this effect at
the beginning of the Catholic Uni
versity's jubilee ceremonies last fall.
Intention had been to launch the
crusade on the 18th anniversary of
the coronation of the late Pope.
That would be today. Instead, it
was launched yesterday as tribute
to his memory.
Within a few days plans will be
set up at Catholic University,
through the Offices Of the Right
Rev. Patrick j. Mccormick, vice
rector, for the start of a religious
crusade comparable to the crusades
of old. minus the military aspects.
AS M. Corrigan outlined the plan,
1.-THE National Crusade is not con-
cerned with the past religious diff
ferences, save as they color and
affect American citizenship of the
present. 1t has no time for either
the intolerance of irreligion or the
inertness of unapplied and unprac-
ticed Christianity"
Fear that unless some revival of
religious fervor takes place through
out the Nation, that unless empty
churches are filled again, there may
be a wave of agnosticism sweeping
over the country, prompts immediate
action, sponsors Of the crusade say
Unless Catholics and all other
Christians in America carry Christ
from Sunday into daily conduct, the
same process operating abroad will
rush swiftly on to the destruction
of this Republic" was the way M
Corrigan put 1t.
A New Youth Movement.
Pastors in the pupits of Catholic
churches throughout the land will
soon ne-echo the sentiments ex.
pressed at the academia yesterday
Today and succeeding Sundays all
through this year will bring a con.
slant hammering away at the idea
for God and country. On specially
appointed Sundays Catholics will
pledge themselves to active support
| of the crusade.
In connection with the crusade
the Catholic educational system
from parochial schools, to higl
schools, to colleges and universities
will be thrown up as front-lin'
trenches for the 9Fht to maintain