Evening star., 1941-11-15

sesquicentennial OF their first Amer
lean seminary, threw the spotlight
on q little-knoWn Catholic order of
priests.
The Sulpicians are small group
whose sole task is to educate stu
dents for the priesthood. Although
there are slightly more than 100
members Of the order in this coun-
try, they have instructed a large
percentage of the Roman Catholic
clergy.
The order was founded in France
and played an important role in the
French Revolution. While aristo-
Gratis and other enemies of the re-
public" were being guillotined, Fa-
ther Emery. superior-general of the
order, directed the entire activity
of the Catholic church in France
from his two rooms in the Sulpician
Seminary.
Many OF the seminary's graduates
were guillotined, and eventually
Father Emery himself was sentenced
to death He was imprisoned in
the Conciergerie from which Louis
XVI and Marie Antoinette had gone
to their deaths. From there he con-
tinued directing the work of hunted
priests throughout the country
Finally, he was released when
Napoleon came to power.
Father Emery established the first
Sulpician Seminary in America in
Baltimore eight months after the
first Catholic bishop. John Carroll,
arrived in the same city. The semi
nary, now known as the House of
Philosophy, still stands on the same
site
More Religious Thanksgiving.
Increased emphasis on religion
will mark this years celebration of
Thanksgiving Day if the plans of
many religious groups throughout
the country are realized. Among
the celebrations scheduled through
out the country are special services
In churches and synagogues. But,
in addition. community observances
are expected to show new religious
trend.
The movement for more religious
Thanksgiving has been spurred by
action Of mayors OF town and cities
to designate periods of prayer, as
we'll as by petitions sent to Presi-
dent Roosevelt urging a Nationwide
call to prayer on Thanksgiving or
on some other specially designated
day.
Latest Of the communities to
establish period of PRAYER is
Greensboro, N C. It's Mayor. Huger
s. King. this week issued a proc
lamation setting aside the two min
utes before noon of each day for
prayer. All citizens are asked to
pause and pray for divine guidance
for themselves and that If it be
the will OF God. this Nation may
be spared from war, and that peace
be restored TO the world" Church
bells will signal the period.
For the past several months the
citizens of Meridian, Miss, have OBJ
served a similar period, announced
by f1re sirens. Mayor Clint Vinson
has received inquiries on the
Meridian procedure from all parts
OF the Nation and Canada.
Restoration Of religion to Thanks
giving Day Is the object of a cam
palgn being waged by the Church
Federation Of Los Angeles. Fifty or
more union services will be spon-
sored that morning and widely pub
llclzed In advance. Catholics and
Jews have been asked to participate
IN their own churches and syna-
gogues.
Church attendance on Thankseiv-
ing Day as a matter of discipline is
emphasized in the federation ap-
peal. Church attendance, the appeal
states, will be "a dramatic demon
stration Of conviction and resolution
regarding religion and its relation
to our democracy