St Joseph High School - Annunciata Yearbook (Williamsport, PA)

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THE ANNUNCIATA Dyes and Dictators N the days of old when knighthood was in flower, a soldier expressed his patriotism by wearing the armor and carrying into combat the banners and standards of his country. Today, however, shirts are gradually replacing armor, banners, and standards as signs of patriotism. The recent trend began in Italy when Benito Mussolini and his black- shirted Fascists gained control of the government. Hitler followed suit with his German brown-shirts3 but perhaps the most abominable and despicable of all are the red-shirts of the Communists of Stalin. These three dictators wish to be supreme, not only in political affairs but in styles. If a black, brown or red shirt suits me you must wear it, seems to be the motto. The black has the advantage in regard to laundry effects. Since Hitler is abolishing all religion in Germany, he must substitute myth- ology or fairy lore for it. He probably wants all his men to be brownies Hitler has created stories within the last two years as stupendous as those of ancient mythology and as airy as the tales of Grimm. Quite recently a new myth spread over his fair land to the effect that Ger- many was never defeated in the World War. All his stooges apparently think it easy to believe it: though I can imagine few things more difficult to believe than that a great and somewhat arrogant Empire consented to sink its entire fleet and give up all its colonies, when it had not really been defeated. We have nothing in common with this hit and myth philosophy of the brown-vestured Jupiter. Stalin and his followers may have had white shirts at one time but the blood of so many martyrs has dyed them red. In a recent side-walk interview a radio announcer asked a young lady why the Red Sea was so named. The witty maid promptly replied: Because it's near Russia. The young lady's geographic knowledge may be inaccurate, but her idea of dyes was not at fault. The Communists in America, however, seem to wear chameleon-tinted shirts which constantly change color to suit their tactics, and right now they have turned from red to yellow. The old style revolutionist is no more. The Reds have gone yellow. Today instead of skulking about the industrial section await- ing to put a bomb under a power plant and die on the gallows, a martyr in the noble class war, the Reds do nothing more daring than lurk in Church pews awaiting an opportunity to recruit some kindly Gold Star mother to the Communist cause of peace and defense of the Soviet union. Our contemporary Reds-gone-yellow have forfeited all claims to respect or even tolerance. They have compromised all the convictions for which their Red predecessors fought and died. The corpse of Lenin must twitch a trifle as his faithless followers in America sell out the class struggle, forgetting that Hre- ligion is the opium of the people in order that they might circulate among Christian ladies and wheedle contributions out of them under pretense that Communism aims to make the world safe for mothers who do not rear sons to go to war. But we never know when the yellow will switch back to red: so we should be constantly on our guard. We can thank God that we have no Hitler or Stalin here and that we can wear also any color that suits our fancy. KARL GRAMLING Six

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Five THE ANNUNCIATA The Eucharistic Conference MAY 18, 1937 HE eventful day, so long anticipated, dawned with unusual beauty. The sun cast its brilliance from a clear sky, while all nature seemed to smile in expectation of the coming events. The Church of the Annunciation was decorated with God's choicest fiowers and all awaited the hour when the Ninth Annual Eucharistic Conference of the Diocese of Scranton would officially be opened. Throngs of people from far and near were on the scene to give open manifestation of their love and devotion for Christ, the Eucharistic King. At eleven o'clock, a Solemn High Mass was celebrated. The oHicers of the Mass were: celebrant, Rt. Rev. Monsignor M. J. O'Connor, V. G., rector of St. Peter's Cathedral, Scranton: deacon, Rev. Bernard T. Borr, Pastor of St. Boni- face Church, Williamsport: sub-deacon, Rev. James G. Gilloegly, Pastor of the Church of the Ascension, Williamsport: master of ceremonies, Rev. Raymond E. Larkin, Pastor of St. Lawrence Church, South Williamsport: thurifer, Rev. John Kozlowski, Pastor of the Holy Rosary Church, Williamsport: acloytes, Rev. William L. Cawley, Pastor of St. Aloysius Church, Ralston, and Rev. Thomas Tomasko, assistant Pastor of St. Boniface Church, Williamsport. An inspiring sermon was delivered by Rev. Michael A. Gilloegly, Pastor of St. John's Church, Scranton. The afternoon sessions of the Conference were held in the Church of the Annunciation. At three o'clock, the multitude of clergy and laity assembled again for the final service of the day. A procession of the clergy of the Scranton diocese and the altar boys of the various parishes of the Deanery formed at the main Altar of the Church and slowly moved down the center aisle and out the main entrance of the church to Fourth Street, thence east on Fourth Street to Walnut Street, north on Walnut Street, to Edwin Street, east on Edwin Street to Locust Street, south on Locust Street to Fourth Street, and west on Fourth Street to the Altar on the convent grounds. Here the same Lord and Master who blessed the little children and their happy mothers, bestowed His benediction upon the kneeling multitude. The officers of Benediction were: celebrant, Rt. Rev. Monsignor Connel A. McHugh, V. G., pastor of St. Mary's of the Mount Church, Mt. Pocono: deacon, the Rev. John B. Meyer, pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, Bastress: sub-deacon. Rev. Thomas P. Durkan, pastor of St. Peter's Church, Wellsboro: deacon of exposition, the Rev. Peter A. Nolan, pastor of St. Luke's Church, Jersey Shore, masters of ceremonies, the Rev. Robert A. McNulty, and Rev. William A. O'Mara, vice-chancellors of the Diocese of Scranton: thurifers, the Rev. Hugh O'N. Kelley, pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Elkland, and the Rev. Aloysius Boylan, assistant pastor of St. Andrew's Church, Blossburg, acolytes, the Rev. Joseph P. McDonough, assistant pastor of St. Peter's Church, Wells- boro: the Rev. Thaddeus L. Kotarski, pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Morris Run. As the Host was elevated, the kneeling assemblage reverently bowed their heads and received the blessing of their Eucharistic King. It was with this tribute of adoration to Christ the King that the Ninth Annual Eucharistic Con- ference drew to a close. RITA KELLER MARY JANE HARTNETT

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Seven THE ANNUNCIATA Communism HE strongest and most common objection to Communism is that it is essentially atheistic. In this, Communism reverts to the godless doctrines of Marx and Engels-philosophers whose principles permeate the teachings of the radical modern leaders. Marxism is materialism, and is necessarily op- posed to Theism or belief in a living personal God. According to the Com- munistic theory, man is devoid of a spiritual nature: he is superior to the animal only in as much as his intelligence is of a higher order. Communism is ma- terialistic, and hence atheistic, because in it is embodied the scientific socialism of Marx and Engels. Lenin, the advocate of Marxian philosophy, is the god of the Communist! He taught that man is not composed of body and soul but is purely a material thing subject to the blind laws of the universe. Materialism and Atheism are. therefore, not mere transitory phases of Communism: they are essential in the entire scheme. Our program is based entirely on scientific-to be more precise upon a materialistic world conception. In the explaining of our program, therefore, we must necessarily explain the actual historical and economic roots of the re- ligious fog. Our program, therefore, necessarily, includes the propaganda of Atheism. When we consider these words of Nicholas Lenin, we wonder why Atheism and religion are scarcely mentioned by Communistic propaganda. Class hatred is referred to, the success of Russia's economic achievements is al- ways dwelt upon, but Atheism is tactfully ignored or forgotten. Perhaps the solution may also be found in Lenin's words, The class struggle will convert the Christian into an Atheist much more quickly than any sermon. Why? When the poor oppose the rich and Capital crushes Labor, all thought of God and His Attributes-Justice, Charity and Mercy, are forgotten. Man's bestial, not his spiritual nature, comes to the fore. Despite his harsh and militant atheism, Lenin cleverly advised his under- lings not to accentuate the anti-religious aspect, if it would hinder the world- revolution. If Atheism were openly preached many would rise in rebellion. If Communism controls government first: later, it will destroy churches and ruin will follow. It is not an accident, therefore, that Stalin does not emphasize his Atheistic tendencies. Why does Communism battle religion so doggedly, though so guardedly? Because Christianity, and especially Catholicity, is recognized as the strongest enemy of Communism. When people are deprived of their religion, life becomes empty, disheartening and discouraging. Such a thing may happen here: we are not invulnerable. It is for us to stem the flow of Communism, Materialism and Atheism-all synonymous terms. Let us look ahead, The past we can only lament: the future we may control. ROBERT KLINE