Evening star., 1939-01-24
Archbishop Cur|ey
Sees Religion as
Democracy's Bu|wark
Addresses PIeo t. All
Sects at Retreat
League Jubilee


League Jubilee
Blaming "godlessness" for the rise
of materialistic totalitarian states
abroad and for the spread of crime
and subversive activity through the
United States, Archbishop Curley
Of Baltimore last night urged that
all Catholic, Protestant and Jewish
men in America undertake q great
campaign of prayer to spiritualize
the country"
A spiritual awakening would be
a safeguard that this Nation of
ours will never be overcome by an
outside material force" the arch
bishop said, in speaking at the May
flower at the 25th anniversary BAN
quet of the Washington section Of
the League for Laymen's Retreats.
The banquet also celebrated the 25th
anniversary Of his conservation as q
bishop.
Leading Clergy Attends.
Leading Catholic clergy of the
archdiocese, which embraces Wash
ington, and many important officials
attended the dual jubilee celebra-
ton. Postmaster General Farley,
Attorney General Murphy and Gov
Herbert O'Conor of Maryland sent
messages of congratulation, which
were read at the banquet.
The Most Rev. John M. McNa-
mara. Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore
the Very Rev. James p. Sweeney,
vice provincial of the Society of
Jesus; the Very Rev. Arthur A.
OLeary, S. j., president Of George
town University; the Very Rev. John
B. Walker, o. p, prior of the Do
minican House of Studies. and the
Very Rev. Ignatius Smith, o. p,
dean of the school of philosophy
Catholic University, were among the
religious present.
Justice Harold M. Stephens Of the
Circuit Court of Appeals; Senator
McCarran Of Nevada, Joseph B
Keenan,, assistant to the Attorney
General; Assistant Attorney Gen.
eral Mcmahon and Maj. Ernest W.
Brown, superintendent OF Metro
politan Police, also sat at the honor
table. Maj. Brown heard the arch
bishop describe his force as "as fine
a body of men as you will find In
the world"
Moral Rearming" Held Need.
The need for religious upsurge
to save the United States and its
democratic system of government
from the fate of some democracies
abroad was repeatedly emphasized
by number of speakers at the ban
quet. Senator Mead, Democrat, Of
New York stressed the need for a
moral rearming" J. Edgar Hoover,
chief of the Federal Bureau of In
vestigation, a Protestant, told the
1000 Catholic laymen present:
you have great part to play in
keeping America American and in
getting away from the mollycoddle
trend of socialistic tendencies"
The archbishop condemned with
equal vigor Communism, Nazi-ism
and Fascism. Russia, he said, is
soulless. He said Hitler, whom he
did not mention by name, is a
form Of egomania." He declared:
Unless We bring back Christ into
the lives of our American people,
unless we bring back love for fellow
men, We have no guarantee that
We are going to be able to survive
the moral rottenness growing in
America today as the result of un-
belief. The world is troubled today
precisely because Christ is put out
of it,"
Praises Retreat League.
Archbishop Curley complained
also that there is too much mur-
der" in the United States. AS an
ideal method of spreading the true
religious feeling that would halt the
murder and save our democracy, he
pointed to the work of the Laymen S
Retreat League and extolled its GEN.
ter of activity, the Manresa Retreat
House at Manresa a-on-Severn, near
Annapolis, Md.
The Rev. Father Robert S. Lloyd
S. j., the retreat master at Manreza
recalled that the house was opened
in 1924, about 10 years after the Re-
treat League was organized, August
80, 1914. Archbishop Curley, who
has been head of the See of Balti-
more since 1921, became Bishop OF
st. Augustine June 80, 1914.
DR.. M. Darcy Magee, president OF
the Washington section of the
league, said that the organization
began with IS men going from Bal
timore to Georgetown University
for a retreat. Last year, he said
1,700 men in the Baltimore archdio-
cese made retreats at Manresa
spending week ends in prayer and
quiet and contemplation.
so Policemen Make Retreat.
The Metropolitan Police we're es-
pecially praised by DR.. Magee be-
cause so of their number made a
retreat at Manresa last summer. He
introduced Capt. Sydney s. Marks
commander of the 18th police pre-
cinct, who, though he is a non
Catholic, organized the policemen's
retreat. Capt. Marks recommended
that all men 60 to Manresa, make
a journey to that house and receive
little touch of Heaven"
On behalf of the police, the cap
tain presented watch to the Rev
Father John p: Gallagher of St
Aloysius Church, who is spiritual
director of the Catholic Policemen,
Club Of Washington. Capt. Marks
is the clubs president.