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

| ment his rank permits.
Only by permission can this rule be devi-
ated from. In the case of Cardinal Tasch-
ereau full pontifcal attire was permitted,
with the exception of the ermine cape. Not
withstanding the absence of their rich vest
ments, the assembled prelates, attired in
purple, white and black, completed a CON-
bination of colors admirably arranged and
formed a picture perfect in every detail.
The celebration of the
PoNTIFICAL MASS
was at once proceeded with, the master of
ceremonies indicating by clapping his
hands every movement during the services.
Archbishop Williams, of Boston, was the
celebrant, Father Magnien, Of st. Mary's
Seminary, the deacon, and Fathers Bartlett,
of ST. AIMS Church, this CITY, and Duffy,
of Brooklyn, sub-dsacons It was the usual
service of the church, made more solemn by
the greatness of the occasion and the rank of
the distinguished celebrant
Only once did the Cardinals leave their
thrones. At the conservation of the Host
they were provided with two cushioned
stands, which were placed in the center of
the sanctuary, before the altar, add on which
they rested their heads as they knelt.
At the conclusion of the massfArchbishop
Ryan. vested in the purple, stepped before
the altar and offered a short prayer. Then
bowling to the two cardinals he stepped into
the pulpit and began his serman. He was
in excellent voice and spoke with force and
vigor. One of the strongest points in his
address, and one which evoked an APPROX
ing nod from Cardinal Gibbons, was his re-
ference to the unity of the Catholic church
and the prophecy that in the near future it
would leave its impress on the
nor TnTCAr
of this country. Taking as his text Eccle-
siasticus, chapter 30, verses 1, 2, and IA,
Archbishop Ryan spoke as follows:
Most Eminent Cardinals. Most Reverend Repre-
sentative Of the Supreme Pontif, Venerable
Brothers Of the EpiscoPate and the clergy, be-
loved brothers of the latty:
In this iftieth chaper of the Book of Ecclesi-
astlcus we read glowing eulOgy Of the High
Priest Simon, and magnificent description Of
the religious ceremonies which he performed
in the temple of God. surrounded by his priests.
The ceremonies of the temple foreshadowed
those of the Christian church and the descrip-
ton of this chapter seem like prophets vision
of poDtifcal or papal mass, and you behold
enacted to-day a scene like that glorious one
narrated in this chapter. Let US, dear fathers
and brethren, glance at the church in this
country during the past century ana endeavor
to understand its action and spirit. And by
the past we may judge of the
YET MORE GLORIOUS
future As the student of our national history,
in observing the rise of the young Republic
ITSELF naturally fixes his attention on the great
leader who has embodied in himself the princi-
pies and the spirit of that period, and from the
study of the character of George Washington
learns the genius of the time; so in our eccle-
siastical history we behold one man, the first
Catholic Bishop of these States at the time of
this great centennial celebration Of his ap-
pointment Like Simon, the High Priest, he
fortified the moral temple and enlarged the
city of God and the bishops that followed him
have walked in his slight and in the bright
ness of his rising"
On the 9th of November 17S9 John Carroll
was appointed first Bishop of Baltimore and
the head of the Catholic Church in the United
States. Bishop Carroll, by instinct, was broad
and liberal in his views. thoroughly American
in his sentiments. he understood how the
mission of the new Government would be like
the church's own mission, to combine catho-
licity with unity. He had personal experience
of this combination in his own priests. His
first diocesan synod was held in 1871, the year
after his conservation. 1t consisted of only 21
priests but they represented seven different
nationalities, not merely countries of birth,
which may be of comparatively little import
ance with peoples of the same race, but seven
different and somewhat antagonistic peoples
American, Irish, English, German. French,
Belgian and Holland-yet all acted in their
true character OF American priests under his
leadership. Bishop Carroll was
AN AMERICAN PATRIOT
as well as Christian Bishop. The new Bishop
thoroughly appreciated how important for the
church's progress. as well as for the stability of
the State, was the diffusion of the education.
One of his first projects was to foster the
Georgetown College. Of all the false charges
alleged against the Catholic Church, the most
senseless and unfounded is THAT She fears
science, and is the enemy Of education"
Her opponents. almost in the same breath
charge her with being the foe at once and the
monopoliZer of education. And the last man
in the world to fear intellectual progress,
whether popular or individual is the Catholic
He well knows that truth Is one, that God can
not contradict in the revelation of Scripture
what he exhibits in the revelation of science.
Hence mans fearlessness of such a science
will be IN proportion to the certainty of his
conviction of the truths of revelation.
After dwelling on the life of Bishop Car
roll, and the early church in America, Arch
bishop Ryan continued, addressing the laity:
And on this great historic occasion you must
not be mere Observers but we trust your
representatives will speak out freely and fear
lessly in the lay Congress which forms SO inter
esting feature in this centennial celebra-
tion. You know how false is the
CHARGE OF THE ENEMIES
of the church. that you are priest ridden. The
clergy did not tear the light of day. and if mis-
takes were made by Catholic editors regarding
their acts, it was not all an evil, for it clearly
showed the rightful independence of the Cath
olic journalist. 1t is now time that an active
educated laity should take and express interest
in the great questions of the day affecting the
church and socity. l find that the best
educated among them, and notably the con-
verts are sound on the great questions of the
day and loyal to the church.
By the united action of Bishops, priests and
laymen the results of progress in the last GEN.
tury are truly astonishing And what is
particularly remarkable is the fact that in
-. Of fho
ton to the church was most deep and
violent the progress was greatest. 1 allude to |
the New England States. Within the last go
wears New England had but one Bishop, two |
priests and two public places of worship. She |
has now one Archbishop, six Bishops, ,942 priests
and 6l9 churches, with private chapeis, colleges
schools and benevolent institutions. Those |
who do not desire the progress of the Catholic |
Church should never persecute her. The gen.
eral statistics Of the church during the century
are:
SOME STATISTICS,
When Bishop Carroll Nas consecrated in 1870
the entire population of the United States was
little less than 1000, 900; the Catholic popula-
now a Catholic population of 100000, 5000
priests, 10,500 churches and chapels, q semi
naries and $50 colleges and academies and over
8 900 parish schools. The remarkable statistics
quoted become marvellous when we consider |
the antagonism of the great majority of the
people to the Catholic Church.
AS in pagan times In the history of this coun-
try the Catholic Church's perfect organization
was feared as possibly dangerous to the State,
and a great and numerous party. afraid to act |
in omen day, entered into asecretsocietv against
a handful of their fellow citizens Few people |
realize how much indirect benefit this coWardly |
opposition was to the church during the brief |
existence of the party, prophetically named at |
its birth Know Nothing
Thoughtful men of the nation who opposed |
this party we're driven into the ranks of the |
church's defenders. They studied her history |
and doctrines. Important conversions and the |
clearing away OF much ignorance and prejudice |
were the results. The Civil War, which SO re- |
tarded the nation and all religious institutions,
into Northern and Southern |
liz tinns shnRad firth I hnua aIraadrr