New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-18

be true that they are the men who have
hitherto blocked every scheme Of reform
since tho dsys of oHstamti'
nople Correspondent Of The London Times.
The Catholic Church aad the Centennial.
Rev. G. Raymond, Vicar General Of the
Roman Catholic Church in Louisiana, has
issued the following circular letter, direct
ing an appropriate observance Of the next
fourth of July a. q part of the national
centennial celebrations:
Beloved Brethren-As individuals, we
are bound to give honor and glory to the
Lord, TO thank Him for His blessings, to
implore His forgiveness for our daily faults,
and beg Of Him those graces which are 90
necessary to US.
As nation, We are no less obliged to &C.
knowledge God as our Sovereign Master
and Lord, thank him for the many favOrs
bestowed upon us, humble ourselves for
our ts ults, and ask for the continuation OF
His favors.
But if We ere bound to do so at all timer,
how much more at q moment, when we cell
citrate the glorious centennial jubilee Of our
national existence
And indeed, on the fourth of July, 100
years ago. new brilliant constellation ap-
u
young as yet, being just born, but destined
to the brightest destiny, took it's rank
among the nations of the earth; and that
nation to which we have the honor to be-
long, whose children We glory to DO. is the
glorious republic Of the United States OF
America.
The fourth of Jaly will then be for US all
a day of joy and gladness. day OF triumph
and glory, the great centennial jubilee OF
ou- beloved country.
We are ill called without exception, on
this joyful day, to give solemn thanks to
the Lord for the many precious blessings he
has bestowed upon us.
But, as TOR US Catholics. how many
special reasons have we not on this day to
give glory to the Lord.
And, indeed, WAS not the continent OF
America discovered by an iilustrious Catho
licl Did not its first inha bitants come from
countries on the globel When the persecu-
ton of the Old World gave rise to the col
Onies of the New World, was there . colony
comparable to the Catholic colony of Mary
land? and our own beautiful Louisiana, was
abe not the cherished daughter of beautiful
France, the Catholic country by excellency.
When the British persecution forced the
thirteen colonies to proclaim their 1nde'
pendence, who stood by the immortal WASH
ipgton but the illustri0us Carroll. Of Car
rollton. who came forward joyfully. and
boldly signed his name, and generously Of
fered his fortune and his life on the altar of
his cOuntryl
At later period, at the battle of York
town, which eecured for everthe independ-
ence of the United States, were not the
illustriOus Lafayette and Rochambesu and
the valiant soldiers of Catholic France fight
ing aide by side with our own intrepid sol
diers, thus having with them . glorious
share in the accomplishment of our indie
pendence Glory be to the Lord for the high
protection he granted to our fathers.
Gu. glorious country existed; it Was weak
undoubtedly; but it was everywhere re-
spected; and owing to the uninterrupted
protection Of kind Providence, it increased
wonderfully, and is now one OF the first Ia
lions of the earth.
But there ia one point on which the
Catholics of the United States ought to be
particularly grateful, and this is the pre-
cious right to practice their holy religion
with unlimited liberty, and the protection
granted to them in the exercise of this
right.
Let us give again glory to God for SO
great blessing.
And, indeed, while the Catholic religion
is prosecuted almost everywhere; while
the sovereign POntitf is prisoner in his
palace; while bishops, priests, religious
are ignominiously dragged out Of their
country, cast in obscure dungeons. or wan
tony massacred by tigers in human shape
as the hostages of the Commune; while,
by iniquitnus laws, Christian education is
banished from our schools, aud replaced by
pagan education; while they go 30 far as
shamefully to Danish those earthly angels,
those admirable sisters Of charity, whom
intidels themselves had 30 far respected,
We, the Catholics of the United States, en-
joy here full and complete liberty.
In fact, have We not our temples, our
chapels, wherever Catholics are fOundl Can
we not celebrate our holy mysteries with
the most perfect liberty inside our churchesi
and are We not respected by the entire
popu' alton, when preceded by the cross,
with our banners unfurled, We go through
our streets and public places in our religious
PROFESSIONS and Catholic demOnstratiOnsl
Have We not unlimited liberty for our paro-
chial schools, our academies, our colleges
and Catholic universities!
Our asylums for orphans, our houses of
retreat Tor old sge, our industrial schools,
our hospitals for the sick, our establish
ments for charity, our religious houses are
every where, and every here perfectly re-
speoted. In WORD. there is no place 10 the
world 10 which the Catholic religion enjoys
more freedom than it does here. What .
new motive for us to show our gratitude to
the Lord for such blessing!
II will therefore be for us, dearly beloved
brethren, q sacred and sweet duty, on the
day of our centennial celebration, to con-
secrate ourselves to the Lord with our be-
loved country; to send up to Him the
thanks Of our hearts, and make the vaults
OF our temples resound with the joyful
sounds of OR gratitude and love, and
begging Of the Lord to hurl from the face
of the earth into the bottomless abyss the
hydra Of corruption and fanaticism, which
now and then tries to raise its hideous
head, We shall recOmmence, with the grace
of God, q new era of prosperity and virtue,
q new era Of grandeur, and glory, and
happiness in this world, new era of Chris
tian virtues which prepare US to everlast
ing bliss in the next.
These feelings, dearly beloved brethren,
are not commanded; they come from the
very bottom Of our heart.
Walking in the steps of the venerated
Archbishop Of Philadelphia, the place in
which was signed, one hundred years ago,
the declaration of independence, we ORDER
as follows:
l. On the fourth of July next, at the
hour which will be judged most suitable,
there will be CT LIBERATED, in every church in
the city and diocese, a solemn high mass of
which will be the mass of the
Holy Trinity, with Gloria. CredO, and the
grafton Pro gratiarmm aetione under the
same CONCLUSION. There will also be an
appropriate to the occasion.
9 After mass, the blessed sacrament will |
be exposed, the TIE Deum will be sung, after
which the benediction Of the blessed sacra-
ment will be given.
3 All faithful are earnestly invited to |
assist at this touching ceremony.
3. Catholic societies are especially invited |
to attend in body, with their banners and |
insignia, this grand religious and patriotic