The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-08-24
YORKTO WN CENTENNIAL.

NIB N0ioci"eiou d1 1OIhgoWu SuOulu Ue
inaugurated with BETTING religious SER.
vices. The patriots who won the freedom
OF the colonies were never slow to recog-
mise the favoring hand of Providence,
and their descendants would be very re-
miss not to emulate their religious faith.
But it certainly was the duty of those
who had this matter in charge to see that
the religious services on the occasion of
the centennial should as fully as possible
represent the religious sentiment of the
American people. Has this been done?
We publish on the first page of our
paper the leading editorial from the last
issue of the Interior, published in Chicago
which gives expression to feeling which
prevails in every section Of the country,
and no where more than here. What
was it that led to selection which placed
the religious services of great national
celebration in the hands of men who are
not representatives of the religious prin-
ciples which animated the American peo-
pie at the time of the revolution, nor of
the principles to which they are devoted
at the present time?
Was it necessary to select some one
from Virginia because the great event to
be commemorated occurred on her soil?
We do not think it was; but certainly if
such selection was thought proper it
ought to have fallen upon some one who
would most fairly represent her people.
Some regard should certainly be had to
historical truth and to the religious SEN
timents of her people.
1t would have been eminently proper
to have invited such man as the late
DR.. Jeter, or Bishop Johns, or Bishop
Doggett, or DR.. Plumer, had they been
alive. Either one would have been a
representative man for the occasion. We
do not care to discriminate among the
living, but there are, among the Protest
ant denominations of the State or of the
country, men who, not on personal
grounds, but as representatives ought to
have been chosen.
The tone of the Catholic papers, and
the action of their societies show that
5hty regard the religious services as
placed in their hands. We quote the fol-
lowing from the Catholic Visitor of this city
Of last week, to show the Interpretation
which is put upon the action of the COM
mittee of arrangements, and to show the
reasons why the Catholic societies pro-
pose to participate in the religious solem-
nities-reasons which at the same time
exclude others.
The Catholic societies of the city have heart
lily seconded the suggestion made by the McGill
Lyceum to take some measures for becoming
participation in the Yorktown Centennial. Last
week meeting of the delegates from nearly
every Catholic society of the city was held at
Cathedral Hall, and the subject was thoroughly
discussed in preliminary way.
The following preamble and resolutions, pre-
sented by Mr.. F. P. Burke, were unanimously
adopted.
Whereas His Grace Most Rev. James Glib
bons, Archbishop of Baltimore, and RI Rev. ].
j. Keane, Bishop of Richmond and Vicar -Apos-
tolic of North Carolina, have been requested by
the Yorktown Centennial Association to conduct
the religious exercises on the 18th day of Octo-
Der, at Yorktown, therefore be it
ResoLUed LIST, That we, the representatives of
the Catholic societies of Richmond in Conven.
ton assembled, do extend a cordial invitation
to our sister organizations throughout the United
States to be present and unite with US in the re-
lgous ceremonies to be held that day.
Resolved End, That the press Of the country
are hereby, and respectfully requested to give
publication to the foregoing preamble and reso
lutions.'"
We give them the benefit Of this notice
in accordance with the request in the
second resolution. It will be seen from the
"whereas" and the therefore in the pre-
amble what is the ground on which the
Catholic societies throughout the United
States are invited to be present and to
unite in the religious ceremonies" 1t is
because His Grace Most Rev. James Glib
bons, Archbishop of Baltimore, and Rt.
Rev. j. ]. X cane, Bishop of Richmond and
Vicar-Apostolic Of North Carolina have
been requested by the Yorktown Centen-
NAL Association to conduct the religious
exercises"
We have no objection personally to
either Of the dignitaries who are requested
to conduct the services, and we concede
to Catholics all the privileges of Protest