The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-06-12
CATHOLIC BENEVOLENT UNION
THIRD ANNUAL CONVENTION.
FIRST DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
OPENING ARDRE>s OF PRESIDENT
kILsiOUR.
LETTER OF WELCOME FROM
BISHOP GIBBONS.
Preliminary Business &c

terday at Monticello Hall, William hilgour,
of Aiexandris, president, and james D.
Brady, Of Portsmouth, secretary.
A little after t. O'Clock President kiIgour
raped the Convention to order and for
mally opened the proceeding will the fol-
lowing address r.
Gentlemen Of the Convention. Another
year Of rapid transit has rolled by since | tst
l had the honor of presiding over your de;
lberations in Convention assembled in tho
city OF fredericksburg. The retrospect Il
such rs to gladden. and cheer every one who
has at heart the interest, welfare, and suc7
cess of those indestructible principles which
are founded in the stability OF faith. the
pleasures of hope, and the blessings and re.
wards Of charity. 80
1t becomes aow my duty. Is 1t is my
pleasure, to call TO order the third annual
Convention Of the Catholic Benevolent
Union OF the State Of Virginia. IN doing
SO, I am forciblv struck with the rapid
growth which our Union has made within
the past three years. Originally composed of
about three societies, and those societies
representing comparatively bura small mum.
Der of the Catholic manhood of Virginia, 1t
has gone on in faith ana in spirit until
Catholic in heart aud sentiment has united
it elf with us. More than this the grand
objects. a. contemplated in the formation of
our organization, have so fhvorabiy and
strongly commended themselves to the
Catholic MUD throughout the State that in
those places where no societies exist the
propriety and necessity of their establish
ment are already conceded, and we may con-
sequently indulge the anticipation that with
every annual convention our Union will IT,
ceve additional strength and power.
independent of these local considerations
may state that our Union has been brmlv and
l hope indissVlubiy connected with the Irish
Catholic Benevolent Union of the United
States !; an institution which, though in its
cradle, stretches its arms from the Glnnitesn
cf the North to the "El Dcradcs." Founded
upon the enduring rock of Catholic charity.
It's progresS has been onward. and It's mission
Is freighted with the holiest works of love
and mercy. Though bearing the name OF
"lii>h Catholic Benevolent Union" its mem.
bers in convention bave solemDIy declared
81 that they were not organized tor national
purposes nor would their deliberations bp
characterized and governed by national
svmpathies.;' They baye hoisted the sym,
bol of their faith, and with outstretched arms
earnestly invoke all natiouaIities into her
fold, who can accept the articles of their re-
liciou> belief.
There i, Il MAN upon their honored roll
that answers to the "State Union Of Vir.
ginia.' sincerely hope that no action upon
our part will ever tend to tarnish its Iustrt
OF seek to sever its connection. Matters oi
serious importance will he brought
before You, to which l would invite your
calm consideration. The reports OF the
Committees upon Education aud Emigration
rs we'll as the report OF the Committee up,n
the Constitution certainly require more
than Ia sing notice.
With the close OF the present Convention
will terminate my official relations with the
Union: which, it is needless for me to say.
have been Of a most pleasing and ~ itifying
character. At the time you selected me as
your presiding officer, | was thoroughly i'm
pressed with the conviction that you could
have chosen from among your number d
more efficient and experienced pilot. An
enterprise in its very infancy, and in which
Was embarked so much of all that is good
launched upon sea OF uncertainty, neceSsa
rily awakened anxiety and care, lest the OBJ
iects should miscarry and It's grand mission
should fail of successful issue. Aided and
sustained by the wisdom and ability of you,
Executive COMMITTEE, cheered aud animated
by the scc cites comprising the Union, ALL
proud to know that we have successfully
sulmounted the barriers and difticutie4
which impeded our progress, and to-day we
as semble under the shadows of the Cathedral
and around the altar of our beloved Bishup.
In retiring from the presidency of the
Union, which have bad the honor to hold
from its inception, should be doing injus.
tice to my own sense of gratitude Us we'll rs
to yours, if did not allude to the uniform
Kindness and courtesy we have received
through the press and at the hands of those
who differ with us in matters of faith. II
could not be otherwise in Virginia. Her
people are ciararterized by generosity, mag
naniInity, aud Il high sense ot honor. And
when time shall have grown old. and all the
bitter passions which party struggles may
have cngeDdered are buried beneath the
murky veil OF oblivion, even then the Catho'
liz heart will remember with gratitude that
period in the history of this Government
when the people OF the proud old Common
wealth of Virginia. under the guidance io
her distinguished sons, rose in their might
and power and heat back the waves OF
passion and prejudice, and proclaimed 10 q
voice which rolled aud feverberated through
her mountain Businesses, " There shall he DC
RELIGIOUS pei secution in Virginia. Living
in a State with such record as ibi>, With
her institutions founded Oh the. ealighten.
nlent of the age, and her laws dealing oUt
equal and impa, tlal justice TO every man,
peoyled by brave and generous race, we
uay lest secure in the assurance that what
G, er ills and misfortuDeS it may be her
destiny to endure, its freedom OF conscience
will be protected and religious liberty lie
preserved to the end. have nothing more
TO say, but to declare the Convention IN ses'
sion. and after prayer by the Rev. +. Jaus'
sens will proceed with business.
Rev. +. JansSenS, of the Cathedral, Rich
mond, Va, opened the Convention by
PRAYER. ".a..s-
COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS.
The Pre- ident then appointed the follow
ing Committee on Credentials: Messrs. Is.
Mchianus aud William A. Walsh, of Ports
mouth; William Donovan and 5. L. Phil
lips. of Norfolk John K. Edwards and j.
r. i'm, of Alexandria +. b. Leonard OF
Fredericksburg; T.. j. Handley, OF Martins
burg; aud E. P. Murphy, Of Richmond. !,
Tie Committee on Credentials reported
the following Societies, with names OF dele"
gutes: p.,,
81. Patr,ck's Beneficial Soaety, O. forts-
mouth bernard McManus, John O'Connor,
J,., aud Edward MahoDy.
81. Patichs Beneficial Society, W -Nor-
tolk. William Dunnayan and Thon'asf ar
ren.
Alexandria Catholic Beneficial Society, !.
Rev. Denis O'Kane, Orlando WOOD. Micnaei
ii. N..sh, John B. Edelp, and James A. Hig-
gins.
S.. Marys Cath0lic Benecotent Society, ct
FrederickSburg.- Terrence McCracken ana
Tbemas B. Leonard. 81