The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-04-26

York, one OF whom, a catholic priest
the most reverend archbish
lop Of New York. an appeal to hav,
some religious ceremonies Of thanksgiv.
ling TO Almighty God in connection will
the centennial OF the Inauguration ol
George Washington as first president o
the United States, which takes place on
the 3oth OF April. We enter very hearti.
~ into what IL proposed. II IL always
fitting thing TO return thanks TO God
the apostle reminding us that our peti.
|tions should be thanks always. In this
case there are most special reasons. Az
ter the struggle for independence pre-
|sented 10 the throne Of grace with offer
Iings OF Great Britain, in which catholic
and protestant alike took part; ia
which catholic troops were shoulder to
with the puritan on the battle
field against the common foe; in which
the Jesuit father, John Carroll, later the
first archbishop Of Baltimore, labored a.
an associate Of Benjamin Franklin, to
bring about, through diplomacy, the
success Of the cause; In which a hitherto
prejudiced people saw the soldiers aud
sailors of q catholic king assist with all
the circumstance Of military pomp, at
the holy sacrifice Of the mass, and 90
thence under tho command Of catholic
leaders to fight for the freedom Of Our
country, the legislators Of the people
met to draw up Q constitution. The
sight aud the remembrance of all this
had softened their dispositions, and, In
spite Of the fact that ~. the influence OF
their education had been against the
federation Of catholics, they threw aside
the shsckles Of the past, and, initiating
the tolerant spirit OF the catholic colony
of Mary land, which long before had en-
acted constitutional law Of federation
Of ali protesting Christians, of whatever
they introduced this same
spirit into the constitution Of the Ameri-
can people, proclaiming and solemnly
ratifying the article, which is the first in
the additions to and amendments Of the
"Congress shall make no
law respecting an establishment Of re-.
ligion, or prohibiting the free exercise
We were given, In this way
Ia fundamental law, which made Il pos
sible for the church to take on the de.
|veIopment she has attained to and the
proportions she has acquired here. To
ICHTTy Oul iuul
raised up that remarkable man, who had
Isafely led the country through it's strug.
l0les for independence, George Washing
lton. His fidelity to his trust, and biz
noble words and example, gave {
strength and force to the constitution
and government, the solidity Of which
century Of existence, with its vicissi
tudes Of foreign wars and gigantic civil
strife. has proven. The result has beer
10 so firmly attach tho catholic popula
ltinn ~ The institutions OF the country
that no body of, men is their superior II
loyalty, and none equals them in the
~aIulary influence OF respect Tor suthori.
lty and law, and of sound principles ol
social life which weld together the eIe.
|menis OF our national existence and rem.
|der II permanent. When we add 10 this
the fact that the providential wisdom ol
the founders Of the government has Civ
len us the most compact and nicely bal.
|anced system Of free institutions the
world has ever seen. where the equality
|oi the individual before the law Il like
to that equality which the church teaches
with reference to the individual before
God, surely, dearly beloved brethren, we
have the very greatest and weightiest
reason for returning thanks to the Most
High, humbly petitioning that He may
bless this land Of ours, enable US to guard
against every danger that may threaten
it's well being and the permanency Of its
and government. For this
reason we order that wherever pracfi-
cable, q high mass OF Thanksgiving be Of
fered M on the 30th Of April, next. and
the reverend pastor In charge address
the people on the duties OF citizen to-
ward the government. Cardinal Palla-
vic,ni, Hist council OF Trent, says !:
THE citizen is what his education makes
him." This is most true, and the words
OF their priests will foster in our people
that love Of country, that obedience To-
law, that respect for persons Ia authori.
ty. which are part Of their religion,
teaching them that all power is from
God from. xiii, 81 and that honor is to
be paid to whom honor is due. (Ib. ".
~
For the rest, while loving with Chris.
tian charity our common country, dol
not lose sight Of the fact that II is after all
only our residence for q time, and that
our real country is heaven. In thel
words OF the apostle: "vos estis Gives
ct domestici Dei-you arel
OF the saints Of the house,
hold OF God" So live as to be worthy
,f your heritsge. Then will you be not
,nIy good and true citizens Of your
sarlhly country. but you will prepare
for your citizenship in the
Jersusalem, where there is no
So A II, - ooo buf tho Inv NJ nrno.
nee OF our heavenly Father, the light Of
he glorified humanity Of Jesus Christ
ind the unspcakable consolation Of the
loly ghost.
May this DO your portion, is the bleas.
ng invoke upon you, through the aid
II her who Is the help ofChristians.
francis SrLAs,
Bishop OF V;ncennes.
indianapolis, April 2, 1889.