Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-13

Catholics are also patriotic Americans
Members of the Church are advised to CO.
operate with others in charitable work, to Sc
cure the proper observance of Sunday and
for other similar objects.
BALTIMORE, November 12.-To-night the
net result of the proceedings of the
First Con gress of the Catholic
Laymen Of the United States was
made manifest in platform adopted with
enthusiastic unanimity. The committee
having in charge the preparation of the plat
form was in nearly continuous session last
evening and through to-day until almost the
moment when the report was submitted to
the congress.
Judge Morgan O'Brien, of the New York
State Supreme Court, presented the docu-
ment before the assembled spectators and
delegates, as follows:
The m Getting of the first Congress of Catholic
Laymen in the United States to celebrate the
hundredth anniversary of the establishment of
| the American hierarchy is an event of the
| greatest Importance to our church and country
1t would seem eminently proper that we. the
| laymen OF the church, should meet and renew
our alleg1ance to the doctrine we profess, that
| we should show our fellow-countrymen that
true relation existing between the church that
| we obey and love and the Government of our
choice, that we should proclaim that
UNITY OF SENTIMENT
on all subjects presented to US, which has ever
| been the source OF Catholic strength, and that,
in spirit OF charity toward every denomina-
tion, we should freely exchange our views in
relation to all matters which are important to
us as members of the Catholic Church. In the
| first place then. we rejoice at the marvellous
| development OF our country and regard with
| just pride the part taken by Catholics in such
| development. In the words of the pastoral
| issued by the Archbishops and Bishops of the
| United States, assembled in the Third Plenary
Council of Baltimore, we claim to be acQuaint-
ed both with laws institutions and spirit of the
| Catholic Church and with the laws, institutions
and the spirit of our country, and we emphati-
cally declare that there is no antagOnism
between them.
We repudiate with equal earnestness the as
sertion that we need to lay aside any of our de-
| votedness to our church to be true Americans,
| and the insinuation that we need to abate any
of our love for country's principles and in
stitutions to be faithful Catholics Should they
ever, which God forbid be imperiled, our
Catholic citizens will be found to stand forward
as one man ready to pledge anew their lives,
their fortunes and their sacred honor.
We cannot, however, shut our eyes to the
many dangers that threaten the destruction of
that social fabric on which depends our peace,
our liberty and our free institutions. Although |
our wealth has increased and prosperity
abOunde, our cities nave mulGlpl1eQ and states |
increased, we find under the shadow of this
system lncipient pauperiSm, discontented men,
women and children, without the benefits Of
education, without the advantages Of religion,
deprived of any share in that abundance. or
participation in the blessings which through
our free institutions God Almighty has de-
signed for the people OF our land.
RELIGION AND EDUCATION,
Remembering the distinction between Pagan
and Christian civilization as to the heed to be
paid to the right of the individual we favor
those means, measures and systems by which
these are to be secured. Werecognize, next in
Importance to religion ITSELF education as one
of the chief factors in forming the character of
the individual, the virtue of the citizen and
promoting the advance of true civilization.
Therefore we are committed to sound pop
ular education, which demands not only physi-
cal and intellectual, but also the moral and re-
igious training of our youth.
As in the State schools, no provision Is made
for teaching religion. we must continue to sup
port our own schools. colleges and universities
already established, and multiply and perfect
others SO that the benefits of a Christian educa-
tion may be brought within the reach of every
Catholic child within these United States.
We likewise hold that it is not sufficient for
| individual Catholics to shun bad or dangerous
societies, but they ought to take part in good
| and useful ones The importance of Catholic
societies. the necessity of union and concert of
| action to accomplish aught, are manifest.
| These societies should be organized on q relig-
1OuS ana not on race OF n2ClOnAI Das1S. W must
| always remember that the Catholic Church
knows no North or South, no East or West, no
race, no color national societies, as such,
| have
! NO PLACE IN THE CHURCH
in this country, but like this Congress itself
! they should be Catholic and American. We
commend the plans and form Of the st. Vim
cent De Paul Society as a typical Catholic So
ciety AS our young men, however, are the
hope of the future we especially commend
them to the support and encouragement of
Catholics AS these were commended in a
special manner by the plenary council, we rec
ommend the establishment Of these societies
throughout the land and urge upon laity the
importance of supporting them by every means
within their power. We recommend the extern
sion of societies designed to assist widows
and children of deceased members, societies
for the relief of the poor and distressed not
forgetting measures tending to improve the
condition OF inmates of our penal institutions
Another danger which menaces our republic
is the constant conflict between capital and
labor. We therefore at all times must view
with feelings of regret and alarm any antagon-
ism existing between them, because thereby |
society itself is imperiled. With the church |
we condemn nihilism, socialism and commun- |
ism, and equally condemn the heartess |
greed of capital. The remedy must be sought |
in the mediation of the church, through her |
action on the individual conscience and thereby |
on society, teaching each It's respective duties, |
as well as rights; and in such civil enactments |
as have been rendered necessary by these |
altered conditions. AS stated by his Eminence, |
Cardinal Gibbons, labor has
ITS SACRED RIGHTS
as well as its dignity. Paramount among the |
rights of the labOrng classes is their privilege |
to organize or to form themselves into societies
for their mutual protection and benefit In |
honorIng and upholding labor the nation is |
strengthening its own hands as well as paying |
a tribute to worth. For contented and |
happy working class are the best safeguard to |
the republic We disapprove OF the employ |
ment OF very young minors whether male or /
female, in factories, as tending to retard the |
true development of the wage earners of the |
with the clergy in discussing and in solving |
those great economic, educational and social |
questions which affect the interests and we'll |
being of the church, the country and society at |
large. We respectfully protest against any /
matter of the education of the individual, by
which they will be deprived of Christian teach
ing.
The amelioration and promotion of the /
physical and moral culture of the negro race is |
q subject OF the utmost concern, and we pledge
ourselves to assist our clergy in all ways tend
ing to effect any improvement in their condi.
ton.
ANOTHER SUGGESTION.
We are in favor of Catholics taking greater
part than they have hitherto taken in general
nnRFRNg HnNAH