FOR 'POLAND'S PATRONAL FEAST
By a Staff Reporter " Scatter the people that delight in war " was the text chosen by His Eminence Cardinal Hinsley, preaching on the occasion of Poland's patronal feast of St. Stanislaus at Westminster Cathedral on Wednesday last.
The High Mass was sung by Mgr. David Mathew, Bishop Auxiliary of London. His Excellency the Polish Ambassador and Countess Raczynska; Admiral Swirski (0.0.C., Polish Navy), General Kaiwus (Chief of Air Mission), Polish Army, Navy and Air Attachés, Vice-Admiral Hormall (representing the Polish Mercantile Service), and officers representing the British Navy, Army and Air Force were also present, together with detachments of the Polish Navy and Air Force, and representatives of Polish organisations in London.
" Inhuman " Invaders
Beginning by quoting the Holy Father that Poland had a right to the generous and brotherly sympathy of the whole world, the Cardinal indicted the invaders of Poland as "inhuman,"
" Wantonly and treacherously Poland was overrun from two sides by hordes which rained and poured destruction on her unprepared armies and death on countless defenceless women and children. Even the blood shed in warlike operations has not satisfied the lust of the barbarous invaders; they have continued to glut their savagery by persecution, summary murders, deportations and enslavement.
" Against Her Soul "
" Not only against the body of Poland," continued the Cardinal, " but against her soul, her religion and her culture do these tyrants vent their hate.
" You know the hideous details of this persecution, all the world knows them, and no distortions, no specious propaganda can conceal or excuse them, nor will mountains of falsehood forestall the verdict of veracious history.
" The services of Poland in defence of Christian civilisation," said His Eminence, quoting the Holy Father, " are written in indelible characters in the annals of history.
" Our prayers to-day," His Eminence concluded, " are for the intentions of the Holy Father—for a just, honourable and lasting peace through the conversion of aggressors and thorough reparations for all the wrongs they have inflicted; particularly do we pray for their martyred famine-stricken victims. We pray for the dead and dying in this war; and for the soldiers and sailors and airmen who are fighting for the victory of justice and freedom."
The Cardinal's sermon was afterwards read in Polish for the benefit of the Polish people present, and broadcast by the B.B.C. to the Polish nation,