The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-04-29
BISHOP HEALY's ADDRESS
To Maine Catholics on the centen-
nlaI OF Washlngton's Inauguration.

Right Reverend j.. A. Healy, Bishop Of
Portland, has issued an important address to
the Catholics Of Maine. on the occasion Of
the centennial Of the Inauguration of Wash
ington. In the address the Bishop says:
The Inauguration Of the first federal gov
| ernment took place In the city Of New York
| at noon OF April 30th, 1889, an event 50
| fraught with blessings to the nation that all
| should thank God for itand pray the voyage
| thus eonspicu0usly commenced may continue
| for ages to come.
A backward view brings US face to
face with that great monumental character,
the first President; the first captain OF the
Ship OF State, and a man so remarkable IN
public and private virtues that all our presi-
dents since have been echoes Of his wisdom
and patriotism. Would that his wise coun-
sells could have been written in letters OF
gold ON every American heart. But two err
rors which have become prevalent Washing
First error against the sanctity Of an
oath.
Second error. morality possible without re-
ligion.
But there are ether considerations that
render the name, the character and the ut
terances Of Washington dear to us as Catho-
lie citizens. 1t has been the policy Of GER
tain class in the United States to ignore the
services and sacrifices Of Catholics In the
wal, Of the Revolution, as well as in the late
Republic; to attempt to deprive them Of
their rights as citizens, and especially to at
tack the sacred rights Of conscience and the
authority Of parents In the education Of
their children. 1t has come TO be an annual
fable to attribute the idea and establishment
Of freedom Of conscience to the Purltans Of
New England or to the cavaliers Of Virginia,
or at least to the Quakers OF Penn
sylvania.s Whereas the plain and incon-
troyertible fact is that Maryland, when
Catholics had control Of the government,
was the sole and only colony Of the United
States in which freedom Of conscience and
liberty were established. The asylum Of
Catholics" says the historian Bancroft,
was the spot where in remote corner OF
the world, on the banks of rivers, which as
yet had hardly been explored. the mild for
bearance Of proprietary adopted religious
freedom as the basis Of the State"
The fact Is beyond question, and 1t Is time
that Catholics should know their just claims
In this matter and assert them. What II
public speakers or mendaci0us school books
have falsifed this noble record? Shall we
renounce our birthright? What II we are
told that we are not devoted TO our country;
that no Catholic can be loyal2 Shall we for
get the names on record? Do our fellow
citizens forget that the most conspicu-
Gus name, to which the largest fortune was
attached In signing the Declaration Of Inde-
pendence, was Charles Carroll, Of Carrollton.
~aA"A AohAf ehS AAos odA VI bAot oAOAAoAo
company?
In his letter Of acceptance, Washington
wrote: Il accept with singular pleasure
the ensign Of so worthy a fraternity as that
of the Sons of st. Patrick. A society dis
tinguished for the firm adherence ofits men,
bers to the glorious cause in which we are
embarked" His name appears as a sub
scriber Of $50 for the church Of st. Angus
tine, In Philadelphia; church burned, pc 1t
known, by nti-Catholic rioters In 1874. John
Adams, installed on this day as the first
Vice President under Washington, also ap-
pears as subscriber OF 500 to the first
Catholic church in Boston.
Thus 1t appears, my Catholic brethren,
that the ceremony which took place one hun
dred years ago was an event full Of import
anee to us. The constitution then launched
proclaimed that religious liberty from which
up TO that date. Catholics had been debarred
Maryland, founded by Catholics. they had
been subsequently ostracised by a bigoted
majority. Nevertheless, the Catholics of
those days were Of the most devoted In their
patriotism. Scarcely allowed, yet they were
among the foremost In enlisting in the ranks,
among the most generous In their contribu-
ti0ns, and lavish Of their blood.
Let us then not be discouraged by abuse OF
prejudlced men, nor by the mlsrepresenta
tions Of those with whom this Is necessary
stock in trade.
We have nothing to conceal; we have no
conspiracy; we cannot be members Of the
Catholic church and members Of an
oath-bound secret society While
respecting the rights, the duties.
the opinions and even the reasona-
BILE prejudices Of all our brethren in citizen
ship, we claim the same consideration for
ourselves. Avowing without shame or con-
cealment that our freedom OF conscience.
our attachment to God and to our religion Is
our first and highest privilege and duty; we
recognize 1t as the light that shows US how to
render unto God and to our country, what Is
due to them.
And therefore on this anniversary, while
we render devout thanks to God for the
blessings Of a century, and humbIy pray for
their continuance, we, as Catholics, will as-
sumo the concluding words Of the Declara-
tion of Independence; for the prosperity Of
our country and the maintenance Of the con-
stitution, I'VE pledge our lives, our fortunes.
and our sacred hOnOrs"