Part 1 (1/2)
The Greater Love.
by George T. McCarthy.
PREFACE
To him who will but observe the genesis and development of moral qualities, whether in the individual Man or in the collective State, there finally comes, with compelling force, the conviction--G.o.d is in His world and has care of it! Out of the slime of things mundane, out of the very clay of Life's daily round of laughter and tears, loving and hating, striving and failing, living and dying--the romance of Peace, the Tragedy of War--G.o.d is still creating men and nations and vivifying them with souls Immortal. Providence but looks upon the water of the commonplace, and behold! it becomes wine of Cana!
The recent world war, hallowed by the very purity of motive and intention with which our American Manhood took up its burden, led us nationally unto those heights of moral perspective and spiritual vision known only to him who toils upon the hill of Sacrifice. No Spartan of Athenian fields, no Regulus of Rome or Nathan Hale, was n.o.bler, higher motived or less afraid than our own heroic American Doughboy!
Into the shaping and formation of his moral character many forces entered; and, not least of these, the Military Chaplain. This man--and every sect and denomination generously gave him--was pre-eminently G.o.d-fearing, thoroughly patriotic, unselfishly charitable, untiringly zealous, and whole of soul devoted to duty.
Mine was the privileged and sacred duty, as Vicar General of the Fourteen States comprising the Great Lakes Vicariate, of knowing intimately and directing the splendid work of these heroic soldiers of the Cross. The inspiration I drew, both from these priests and from contact with their work and written reports, whether in cantonments, camps, hospitals, transports, battles.h.i.+ps, or on the flaming front of the battlefields, I shall ever treasure and recount with pride.
Archbishop Hayes, appointed by the Holy Father ”Chaplain Bishop” in charge of all priests in Military Service, and who conducted the vast responsibilities of that most important work with such eminent success, has declared our Chaplains to be ”the Flower of the American Priesthood.” One of such is Father McCarthy, Author of this book ”The Greater Love.” The same zeal that prompted him to follow the boys in Khaki and Blue Over There--making himself one with them in hards.h.i.+p, danger and wounds for the sake of their immortal souls, now impels him to the writing of this Book. ”The Greater Love” is a religious message which teaches that as man needed G.o.d in war--with a crescendo of need reaching full tide in the front trench--even so he needs him in Peace.
The message is clothed in the narrative of adventure--personal experiences of the Author--and every page an epic of absorbing interest.
No one is better qualified to bring us message from Over There.
RT. REV. MSGR. WM. M. FOLEY, V. G.
”THE GREATER LOVE” BY GEORGE T. MCCARTHY, Chaplain, U. S. Army
CHAPTER I
LEAVE HOME--BASE HOSPITAL NO. 11--CAMP DODGE
”Very well then, Father, you have my permission and best wishes.”
How the approving words and blessing of good Archbishop Mundelein thrilled me that memorable morning in 1918. The rain-washed freshness of April was abroad in Ca.s.s street; and the soft breeze, swaying the curtain of the Chancery window where he was seated, brought incense of budding tree and garden.
Patiently he had listened, while I presented my reasons for wis.h.i.+ng to become a war Chaplain. How, obedient to that call to National Service which is
”The pride of each patriot's devotion,”
millions of our boys were exchanging the shelter of home and parish influence for the privation and danger of camp and s.h.i.+p and battlefield.
To accompany them, to encourage them, to administer to their spiritual and moral needs, to fortify their last heroic hours with ”Sacramenta propter homines,” here was a Christlike work pre-eminently worthy the best traditions of the Priesthood.
Even as, earnestly, I pleaded my case, I bore steadily in mind recollection of that lofty patriotism and brilliant leaders.h.i.+p which had already made Chicago's Archbishop a foremost National Champion. It was but yesterday that the Secretary of the United States Treasury had called, personally, to thank and congratulate him on his inspiring patronage of Loan and Red Cross Drives.
In the sympathetic glow of his face I read approval even before hearing the formal words of permission.
”Moreover, Father, I will appoint an administrator at once, to care for the parish during your absence. You will receive, through Father Foley's office, letters duly accrediting you to Bishop Hayes, Chaplain Ordinary, and the National authorities.”
A fond ambition, long cherished, was about to be realized! I had, of course, been doing something of a war ”bit,” co-operating with paris.h.i.+oners, and town folks like Mayor Gibson and Doctor n.o.ble, in the various patriotic rallies and drives. Father Shannon of the ”New World”
thought so highly of our city's efforts as to visit us and eloquently say so at a monster Ma.s.s Meeting of citizens. ”Do you know, George,” he remarked that night as he marched beside me in the street parade, ”if I could only get away, I would gladly go as a Chaplain.”
Then I told him my secret, how I had filed my war application some months before, and had been meanwhile seasoning my body to the out-of-doors and practicing long hikes.
But a single cloud now remained in the radiant sky of dreams--the thought of parting! Ten years of residence in so Arcadian a place as Myrtle Avenue, and in so American a town as Harvey, engender ties of affection not easily to be sundered. Then, too, the school children, how one grows to love them, especially when you have given them their first Sacraments, and even joined in wedlock their parents before them. Of course for the priest who, more perhaps than any other man, ”has not here a lasting city,” whose life is so largely lived for others, and whose ”Holy Orders” so naturally merge with marching orders, the leave-taking should not have been so trying. Preferable as would have been