Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1875-11-04

lions. lie Was accompanied BY his CathO-
drai Clergy and by the bishop If Il neigh
boring See. He stands 80 high in the
hierarchy Of the church in America, 81
venerable in years, SO exalted in digui'y,
so reverenced for learning and picty-
that his personal appearance in the hall
would have been OF itself = notable and
gratifying event. But his action was NO,
SIMPLY that Of passive endorsement, but
OF earnest advocacy In the Ca, hedr"l he
illustrated, enforced, pleaded for our prin.
ciples. In the convention hall he ratified
commended, aud praised Our organization
US great Catholic Union. lu every way
the mantle OF his dignity and authority,
Is u teacher and Prince OF the Church, WAS
flung over the grex: convention, and in
his diocesan city VT all telt the welcome
1T his hospitality and the hearty glow Of
his palernxl love. Surely God has given
our Union a great an powerful friend in
Archbishop Purcell, the patriarch Of the
WeSl.''
The Convention, in its composition, was
Al admirable one. The attendance was
large, numerically, and in another aspect
it was simply wonderful. II drew its dele
gates from mos distant parts OF our own
country and from the neigh boring Domin-
ion. to the North. Hon"red priests from
the Catholic City Of Montreal and from
the distant shores of New Brunswick came
among Us to represent their societies.
Delegates, lay and clerical, from the great
cities OF the Central, Eastern aud Western
and Southern States, came 10 speak tor
the parochial associations, and Diocesan
Unions. Telegraphic salutati"n from the
Cathedral If san Francisco and from the
Vatican in Rome brought iulony Of the
interest and affection inspired by the
Grand Union Of America throughout the
Catholic world. 10 have achieved such
a high standing in few years, to have
Won such strong hold on the thought Of
our widely scattered element in America
TO have illustrated the feasibility Of
combining the moral force, social infu-
ence and religious exertiuns Of whole
people in one grand phalanx against
terrible public evils Il work Of wondrous
agnitudc. The convention stands as
proof that under Gods blessing this has
been largely accomplished and that the
full iiuition Of the work under tie Ca,ho-
lie Total Abstinence Union may he look
ed forward to with hope and faith.
Then the convention, in its proceedings,
was most remarkable. The ri, alri. aud
clashings that usually 'cumber large dele.
gate bodies have disappeared from our
Union. Irving Hall in 70 was not quite
free from. this, all but. common lol" Chi
cago SAW less Of divergence Ut views. Gin
cinnati saw absolutely none. whatever.
1t was the kindliest and best. united eecu>
lar body Of Catholics that ever represent
ed 40 States and Territories and Proyin.
ces on this continent.
To look over tue hall one saw q sea Of
faces; it WAS = calm sea, not troubled by
breath of anger. 1t waves of debate
swept over it, they we're waves of honest
intelligence, tempered by Catholic chart.
ty and broti'erly good will. A more edi.
flying or cheering sight one could not be.
| hold. In our Union movements of the
past, \ scene to rival it was never present
ed.
In the three aspects, then. of its dihtin.
gu,shed reception by most illustrous
dig0itsry Of the Church. of its compost.
tion, and of its own snimsting spirit, it
stands on record Is a most glorious Con.
vention. .''
Finally in its results, in it's outgivings,
as embodied in the addresses and, above
oil, in its legislation for the better order.
Ing Of the affairs Of the organization, it
has been truly great convention, The