The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-09-28

CARDINAL GIBBONS ARCHBISHOP IRELAND.
mon in Europe. Congresses have been al
ready held this year in Austria, France, Bel
GUM, Italy, Spain and Portugal with much
success, and across the Atlantic, where the
relations between church and state seem al
ways so delicate, these meetings have been
the subject Of much discussion. Here in the
United States, where there is no quarrel be-
tween church and state, and, in fact, but
little friction between the various denomina-
tions, the meeting of Catholic congress will
not have the same sort Of significance as in
Europe For many reasons, however, the
gathering is certain to be both important and
interesting.
Despite his advanced years and fast in
creasing weakness Pope Leo XIII is said to
take lively interest in the coming confer
ence He has always favored the holding Of
similar congresses in Europe, and has never
failed to give each meeting some direct assur-
ance of his favor. In this respect he takes
the same ground as Cardinal Manning, OF
England, who advocates the holding Of .
congress Of all English speaking Catholics at
some early day. It is the opinion Of these
dignitaries that new zeal and interest is
aroused by these meetings, as it gives TO the
layman the feeling that he is factor in the
government of the church. 1t is going some
what in the direction Of Protestant bodies
that give laymen direct voice in the man
agement of church affairs by allowing them
to sit as delegates, with vote in church con-
ferences. OF course it is not going SO far.
Catholic laymen can have nothing to do with
matters of church doctrine or discipline.
Still, these congresses are notable step to-
ward church democracy.
As the programme stands the celebration
proper of the centennial Of the establishment
will begin on Sunday, Nov. 10, and the bust
ness sessions of the congress will be held on
the two following days.
Nov. 10 was fixed as the opening day OF the
big celebration for the reason that on Nov.
10, 1880, few months after the Inauguration
Of George Washington as first president
of the United States, his friend and CO
patriot, John Carroll of Carrollton, was
named us first bishop Of Baltimore, the first
episcopal diocese created in the United States
by the Catholic church. The propriety Of
opening the celebration as arranged is, there
fore, manifest. Nov. 10 being Sunday, there
will be none but religious exercises.
The high mass that will be celebrated in the
Baltimore cathedral on that day, with Car
dinal Gibbons as the celebrant will furnish
an imposing pageant. Pope Leo XIII will
be represented by papal delegate, who is to
come from Rome for that purpose in COM
pany with Mgr. O'Connell, who is now rector
Of the American chapel at Rome, position
which he won by his work as secretary of the
last plenary council at Rome Then besides
the host Of priests who will be present sixty
American bishops will assist In the mass and
Cardinal Taschereau, of Quebec, Is coming to
take part In the ceremonies. The sermon on
this occasion will be by Archbishop Ryan, of
Philadelphia, considered the first Catholic
pulpit orator in the United States. There is
no possibility that the cathedral can hold the
people who will throng to it on this day. The
big New York cathedral itself would be hard
put, too, to do 1t.
On Monday, Nov. II, the business Of the
congress will begin. William J. Onahan, OF
Chicago, who is chairman of the committee
on organization Of the congress- will call the
meeting TO order at 10 O'Clock, and, after
prayer, Ex-Governor John Lee Carroll, OF
Maryland, who comes of the CAROLS of Car
rollton, of whom Bishop John Carroll was
one, Will be named temporary pTeslueut
After his address the other temporary officers
will be named Committees on credentials
rules, resolutions, permanent organization
and future congresses will be appointed. Two
special committees will be named. One viii
wait on Cardinal Gibbons, The other viii
wait on President Harrison, the desire being
to carry the respects to the chief executive a.
we'll as the head of the Catholic church in the
United States AT the afternoon session the
reports of the committees on rules, credential.
and permanent organization will be heard
The selection and installment Of permanen,
officers will come next, and the rest Of ths
session will be given up 10 the reading Of pa
pers and To discussion of them.
Cardinal Gibbons will open the second
DAVIS session with an address, aud then the
reading OF papers, discussion, and the re-
ports Of minor committees will follow. In
the afternoon the committee on resolution.
and the committee appointed To wait upon
President Harrison will make their reports.
Tber, there will he further discussion OF mat
ters general, when the congress will adjourn
10 60 over TO Washington to assist In the