Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-06-08
CATHOLIC LITERARY ASSOCIATION,
Opening of the New Hall-Pleasant
Meeting.
THE FORMAL OPENING

THE FORMAL OPENING
of the new rooms of the Catholic Literary
Association, of this city, took place on last
Thursday evening. The rooms are situated
in the JOURNAL BUILDING, No. $40 Market
street. facing the City Hall, and occupying
the entire third story of that long and airy
building
THE FRONT ROOM
SO feet deep-is used as a Reading and
Amusement room. A large number of first
class journals and periodicals are regularly
| fled in this room. and, together with q rap
idly increasing Library, they form the nu-
cleus oil the literary character which this So
| ciety is destined to make marked and
prominent feature of its Organization. limo
| cent games are also provided, with which
the monotony OF study and reading may for
the time be relieved by the members engag
ing in game of chess, checkers, backgam-
mon, or other interesting and harmless rec
reation. No cards or card playing is allowed
in the rooms; nor is there anything permit
ted, either in the shape of literature or
amusement, that would, in the least degree,
detract from the respectabillty or moral
standing OF the membership.
THE LARGER ROOM
81 feet deep, and running the entire length
of the back building, is reserved for lectures
and the general meetings of the Association
when discussions and debates upon business
or literary topics are held. The rooms are
well lighted with gas, and the walls, particu-
larly of the front room, are provided with
! richly painted pictures OF religious and lis
! torical personages of eminence in the Church
and the world.
THE OPENING
on Thursday last was held in the Lecture
room, and was conducted under the auspices
of the very Reverend DR.. BECKER, BishOI
of Wilmington. Those of our readers who
have listened to the discourses Of BishoI
BECKER, will recognize In him gentleman
d who measures and studies well the force anG
e power of every sentence he utters, and will
>, therefore the more readily appreciate ou
e remarks when we tell them that upon thi
special occasion of the inauguratng of the
II new association, he addressed his hearers
>, aptly, proitably and with force of convic
:, tion that left nothing TO doubt or coniectur
Il in the mind oil a single individual in III
re room. AS we took no notes, wo will not al
tempt 10 give even a synopsis Of his addres
e In his own language, but will have to con
T. tent ourself with the general and univer
: sally admitted remark that il was scholarl
,e in lis logic, dlgnified in its tone, and paren
8 tai in its exhortations and admonitions, Ell
D, peciallY 10 the younger members of the Sc
G. clety. He urged them all to read only sue
le works as would be profitable to their mind
le and improving to their intellects. To rea
o. not only, but to digest as we'll; and 10 II
" ceive as sound and intellectually wholesom
+ nothing that would not stand the test
!. truth and reason. He told them that as th
/ Church was the mother of religion, scieno
~ literature, and the arts-the chosen guardia
III and defender of them amid centuries OF pei
Us secution, and the wicked prejudices OF I'M
ne deliiy SO now should her children
le the enlightened evidences of her liberali
ne and dprotecting care in dispensing TO the wor
y at large, those sacred trusts committed TO b
- keeping. he especially cautioned them again
Y, becoming too familiar with the light and fl
o. volous stuff that fills the columns of the 80
D. sational and sentimental papers of the da
" The influence they exert lie considered dal
" aging 10 public and private morality. TT
IN Bishop was justly severe aud unanswerab
ly truthful in his observations upon the CO
ne rupting tendencies OF large portion of I
public press He stated iacts-sound, i
e- scathing facts-which every one who rea
70 the political papers Of the times must recO
OK nize as such. Vague assertions; wholesi
u u talsehoods; cringing, sycophantic snbser
~ ency; and an utter disregard of all 1
u amenities and pToprieties which should chs
~ acterize the high-toned, honorable man, a
", now the prevailing features of many of {
~ editorials of the partisan presses oil the cou
~ try; and Bishop BECKER did well In war
70 ing the children OF his Church against Il
VI evils OF this growing licentiousness-tl
~ criminal poisoning of the popular mind a
T.. heart by hireling scribblers of a pamper
9ie press.
W The Bishop spoke of the inherent spiritI
IVY strength and power of the Catholic ChurC
/, whose founder and sovereign is Christ. But
~, her, the world to-day would have no substa
gh tial christianity in it. To Holy Mother, I
u custodian of the Faith through all the terri
ne storms of blood and persecution, religion. c
~ ilization and science have looked, and not
'ss vain,-for light and life. To this Church
:, urged his brethren to be steadfast. In b
" arms would be found safety, and on her
9i 9n som peace salvation, eternal glory. He clos
Nv by announcing his official sanction Of the
'1s 70 jects of the Association, and commended
~ members to the keeping of their mother
ils Holy Catholic Church.
" " After the Bishop had resumed his seat
gu msln general call was made upon several gentlen
III III invited guests-for remarks.
hD Mr.. Brennan, the -President-Bis
J., Becker being the President-called upon
,ee MAYOR VALENTINE,
Who slept upon the platform, and made
ma pertinent and encouraging remarks, upon