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

philanthropic and reformatory movements.
The obligation to help the needy and to in
struct the ignorant, is not limited to the needy
and ignorant of our communion, but we are
concerned, both as Catholics and as Americans,
in the reformation of all the criminals and the
support OF all the poor in the country. By
mingling more in such works of national virtue
as our nOn-Catholic citizens are engaged in
and taking our proper share in the manage
ment of prisons and hospitals, we might exert
Catholic influence outside of our own body
make ourselves better known, and infuse into
those good works something of supernatural
charity, at the same time we are solacing the
unfortunate and reforming the erriug; and we
should be able to insist on Catholic inmates
being freely ministered to by their own clergy.
We must assert and secure the right of con-
science of Catholics in all institutions under
public control There are many Christian
issues in which Catholics could come together
with non-C Catholics and shape civil legislation
for the public veal. In spite of rebuff and in
justice and overlooking zealotry, we should
seek alliance with non-Catholics for proper
Sunday observance. Without going over to
the Judaic Sabbath, we can bring the masses
over to the moderation of the Christian Sun
day. To effect this we must set our faces
sternly against the sale OF
INTOXICATING BEVERAGES
on Sunday. The corrupting influence Of sa-
looms in politics, the CRIME and pauperism re-
suIting from excessive drinking require Iegis-
lative restrictions, which we can aid in procur-
ing by joining our influence with that of the
other enemies of intemperance. Let US re-
solve that drunkenness shall be made odious,
and give practical announcements and support
to Catholic temperance societies. We favor
the passage and enforcement Of laws rigidly
closing saloons on Sunday, and forbidding the
sale of liquors to minors and intoxicated per-
SONS.
Efforts should be made to promote Catholic
reading. 1t is our duty to support literally
good Catholic Journals and books and acquaint
ourselves with Catholic doctrine and opinion
on the important questions constantly coming
to the front and demanding right answers and
just practical solutions. There are compara-
lively few Catholics who cannot afford the cost
of a Catholic journal, or who do notspend more
for a story paper or novel than the price Of one.
AS fast as practicable we hope for the intro
duction of proper church music In all our
churches where other music is now heard. The
music should help devotion at the divine service
and not be such as tends to divert the mind from
heavenly thoughts Efforts should be made to
Catholic custom formerly, but practised in only
few churches nowadays. We cannot con-
clude without recording our solemn conviction
that
ABSOLUTE FREEDOM
Of the Holy See is equally indispensable to the
peace of the Church and the welfare of man
kind.
We demand in the name of humanity and
JuSLlco GnaL InlS I6ouOm Do scEupuIOuSiy
respected by all secular Governments. We
protest against the assumption by any such
Government of right to affect the interests or
control the action of our Holy Father, by any
form of legislation or other public act to
which his full appreciation has not been pre-
viously given, and we pledge to Leo XIII, the
worthy Pontiff to whose hands Almighty God
has committed the helm Of Peters Bark amid
the tempests of this stormy age, the loyal
sympathy and unstinted aid of all his spiritual
children in vindicating that perfect liberty
which he Justly claims as his sacred and inalien-
able right.
Hon. Honore Mercier, Prime Minister, of
Quebec, made an address which was re-
ceived with the greatest enthusiasm. Mon
signor Gadd, of England. the special repre-
sentative of Cardinal Manning, briefly con-
graduated the congress on its success. and
following him came long paper on 'Phil-
anthrOpy," by Peter l.. Foy, of st. Louis.
james d. Campbell, of Philadelphia, read
q paper on Temperance" Herman Allen.
of Chicago, on Church Music" and
Richard L. Clarke, LII. D., of New York,
on "What Catholics Have Done in the Last
100 Years"