Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-12
LAYMEN In COUNCIL
Great Conclave of Roman Cath.
olics at Baltimore.
A CONGRESS OF THE CHURCH LAITY

This Country.
BALTIMORE, Md, Nov. IL The Roman
Catholic congress called for the double pur-
pose OF marking the centennial of Roman
Catholicism in the United States and to give
the laity Of the church an opportunity to be
heard upon the questions of polity that are
now current matters of debate in all quar-
tiers, held its first session yesterday in
Concordia hall, the delegates numbering
LOO having first attended mass, at which
Archbishop Corrigan was celebrant and
Archbishop Gross, o: Oregon, preacher. W.
>. onahan, of Chicago, called the congress
to order and introduced OF. Governor
Carroll, OF this state, for temporary
Chairman In his speech, Mr.. Onahan
mentioned the name of Pope
lie when there was enthusiastic out
burst OF applause Many of the prelates
were present on the PLATFORM among them
Archbishop ireland, OF St Paul. Upon TAX
ing the chair Mr. Carol made short speech,
In which he said he hoped this congress would
be the forerunner of others and that it met
with but two purposes at heart-the glory of
the Roman Catholic church and the prosper
ity OF the American people. A cablegram
from Rome was then read conveying the
blessing Of the pope, and then Hon. Daniel
Dougherty, of New York, the SILVER
tongued orator." was introduced.
An Eloquent Address.
Mr.. Dougherty's address was the speech of
the day. He said this event was an era in
American history, a move Of earth toward
heaven He went on TO complain that high
spirited as Roman Catholics were, they had
submitted IN this country silently to wrongs
and injustice in manifold shapes, and from
time immemoraL Said he: Away back
in colonial years Catholics suffered
the direst cruelties Talk of the slaves of
the south in ante-war times, why they were
treated like high bred guests when compared
with Catholics in colonial days 1t
is the damned spot that will not OUT The
only religious martyrs who ever stained our
fair land with life blood were
Roman Catholics Spurned with sus-
pcon, disfrsnohised, prosecuted for
opinions sake, hunted as criminals
and punished with death by infamous
laws We have from time to time been
sandered, villif1ed and malignsd in news
papers, pamphlets and books, in speech and
sermons, sectarian assembly, political con-
vention and even in congress of the United
States. We have been prescribed at the
ballot box. The highest honors Of the re-
public are denied US by prejudice that has
all the force OF a constitutional enactment
In integrity, intellect and Accomplishments
the equal of our fellows, yet the instances
are rare when Catholics are rendered exalted
distinctions.
The Time to Speak.
He exulted that II was not that way now
| From strength of $40, 900 the church now
numbered $4,000 0b0 in her ranks and the
time had come when Roman Catholics could
with propriety speak. He said that ave are
| pre-emine ntly Americans" that there would
| be no America IL 1t bad not been for the Ro-
man Catholic church; shat that liberty
which is the essence OF all liberty freedom
| 20 worship God-was first established in
| America by Roman Catholics and Roman
Catholics alone. 1t was priests, aye, Jesuit
missionaries, who first sought and explored
our land, penetrated into the wilderness,
tracked the streams, aud gave sainted names
TO localities, bays, lakes, and riuerS
! a Roman Catholic was among
the signers Of the Declaration OF Independ-
ence The name OF Archbishop Carroll is
forever linked with Benjamin Franklin in
the mission to Canada Catholics
have given heroes to the republic in every
war; and in every battle on field or food
catholics have sealed their devotion
with their lives And now the Roman Cath
Ole laity of the United States, for the frs,
time in congress assembled, are here to pro-
claim toa,i the world that their country is
tied TO every fiber OF their hearts, and no
| power can shake their loving slleg lance to
its constitution and its laws"
The Discovery of America
! Mr.. Dougherty closed his address as fol-
I lows: That tremendous evsnt-with rever-
sncs l may say-the second creation-the
/ finding OF a new world, and the vast results
| that have flowed to humanity, all can be
traced directly TO the Roman Catholic
church and the Roman Catholic church
alone. Professionalism was unknown when
America was discovered Let the students,
the scholars, poets, historians, search the
archives Of Spain, the libraries of Europa,
and the deeper the research the more the
| glory will adorn the brow OF Catholicity.
1t was a pious Catholic who con.
ceived the mighty thought 1t
| was when foot-sore ami down.
| hearted at the porch OF a monastery
hope dawned on him 1t was q monk who
first encouraged him II was n cardinal who
| first interceded with the sovsreigus Of Spain.
1t was Catholic queen who offered her
| jewels as pledge. Il WAS the Catholic Col
umbus, with Catholic crew, who sailed
away out for months upon an unknown sea,
WHARF shin had navar ss,I.d h.fo-a 7,
| N .nraad the Catholic f.i,b ,h., ,hr -
| lime risk Wa. RIM II Was che -, - ,ho
| bls..ad nothar III .hi.s e..
| t.in ard c-au ,lo..5 a. -.
Of the d,v and insn;rsa - - p ns
row. 1t the holy cross, the standard
oil Catholicity, that was borne from the
SHIPS 10 the shore and planted on the new
t.
iounu worid IL was tue holy sacrifice oil
tue mass 'n"t was nrs' ahu' Tor over loO
| years, the onIy onr"uah worship on the con-
tiheht Mhlch Catholic named
America why, the broad seal OF the Roman
| Shtuohc church IA stamped forever on the
Tour corners oil the continent"
Inc address winch was spiendidly dsliv-
ersd, "ss punctuAted all through with out
ouisls OF applause, ana the speaker received
an ovation whsn he sat down.
| Getting Down to the Work.
other addresses were made, and then
Cardinals Glboons and TaschereAu, IN their
scarlet robes, entered the hall and were
heartily cheered and formally introduced
Cardinal Gibbons made short address well
coming the delegates, the temporary organ
lzstion was was made permanent, commit