The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-11-12
Catholic Lay Congress.

Catholic Lay Congress.
| BALTIMORE. Nov 1.-THE 1 200 delegates
to the first congress of the Catholic laymen
OF the United States was called to order
shortly before noon today by w. J. Ona-
han, of Chicago. Every seat in the hall
was filled and the galleries were crowded,
The first applause of the assembly was
ELECTED by the entrance of ex-
Governor John Lee Carroll, with Arch
bishop Ireland, of st. Paul aud Onahan.
Cardinal Gibbons delivered the address
| of welcome, IN the course of which he said
he for a long time had desired to see the
clergy and lay come more closely together.
Archbishop ireland briefly invoked
the divine blessing. In a few remarks
introducing Carroll as temporary
chairman, he mentioned the name
OF Pope Leo Instantly there was hand
clapping and cheers all over the hall, soon
growing into 8 tumult of enthusiasm. The
scene was notable one as the delegates
swung their hats and shouted greeting to
the Roman pOntiff. Carroll on taking the
chair said:
1t may be that the question will be asked
By what authority is this congress held and
under what law does it assemble:' In reply to
this we would suggest by the sanction OF his
eminence the cardinalarchbishop of Baltimore
and the distinguished prelates who now sur
round US, and by v1rture of the authority of the
constitution OF the United States. The congress
has but two great purposes at heart-the glory
and progress OF the Catholic church and the con-
tinued prosperity OF the American people.
The following cable from Rome was
read:
Cardinal Gibbons, Baltimore: Having made
known to the holy father the expressions of devo-
ton conveyed to him on the part of the Catholic
congress to be held in Baltimore, his holiness
graciously bids me say that he most affec
ri Il inc oil t1NDrc
Mariana Rampolla.
Daniel Dougherty, of New York, was in
vited by the chairman to address the con-
gress pending the appointment of commit
tees. The famous orator was in his best
form and voice. He was given perfect
ovation by Congress He said:
In colonial times the Catholics suffered the
direst OF cruelties in comparison with which the
slaves were high bred guests. The only re-
ligiou5 martyrs in America were Catholics.
They were spurned slandered, vilited. The
highest hCnOTs of the republic were denied them
by prejudice as strong as constitutional en-
actment. The consultations OF religion were de-
MED to the SICK and suffering Catholics in many
institutions OF charity and to criminals in prison.
They could call themselves pre- eminently Amel..
ican for without Catholicism America TODAY
would be unknown Liberty. which is free dom to
worship God. was eStab.iS e in America by he
Catholics alone. Though the growth of the
country has been marvellous. that of Catholic'Sm
had become q mighty power.
The Catholic church Is the protector Of learn
ing. 1t was she who SaTed classic literature
from the ruins OF the Roman empire. On the
eve of the celebration Of the four hundredth
anniversary Of tie discovery Of America il Is
proper to say that all the tremendous results
achieved therefrOm are due directly 20 The
Roman Catholic church lone Professionalism
was unknown when America was discovered. 1t
was the Catholic Columbus who conceived the
mighty thought; monk encouraged him; u
ii into F1fN1v
and the Catholic king and queen made his expe-
dition possible. 1t was TO spread the Catholic
faith that the risk was run and il was the stand
ard OF Catholicity which was first planted on
these shores and for over q hundred years the
only Christian worship on the continent WAS the
Catholic.
All through Dougherty's address there
were outburstS of cheers. and at its con
clusion the Gignitaries on the stage crowded
around him and shook him warmly by the
hand. Several other speeches were made
by prominent Catholics.
Cardinal Gibbons entered, accompanied
by Cardinal Taschereau, of Canada, aad
both were formally introduced to the Con
gress. Cardinal Gibbons addressed the
delegates, welcoming them in his own name
and the people of Baltimore, irrespective of
creed. The temporary organization was
made permanent and a short recess fol
lowed. On reassembling the committees
were announced. The regular work of the
congress was now begun by the reading of
the first paper, Catholic Congress- by
Historian John Shea, of New York.
The next paper was by Major Henry F.
Brounson, of Detroit, Lay Action in the
Church"
Charles j. Bonaparte eloquently discus
sed the independence of the holy see, the
necessity for which he enthusiastically up
held He gave vivid sketch of the chang
ing conditions from the time of Charlie
magne to the moment of the Italian gov
ernment's forcible deprivation of Plus TX
of all temporal authority and the enact
ment of the law of guarantees, whereby
the Italian parliament professed to guard
papal rights. He thought the more import
ant features of this guarantee should be
made the subject of treaty between all the
great powers, making it worldwide. In
the course of Bonaparte'S remarks great
cheering was elected by the declaration:
1.-The question is whether the Pope shall be
an exile or captive; subject he cannot
be.n
The most extraordinary scene this even
ing came at the conclusion of the reception,
when the prelates, headed by Cardinal
Gibbons, made circuit of the hall, shak-
ing hands with the people right and left in
the narrow passage. The display of en-
thusiastic devotion by the crowds was
probably never before equalled in this
country. Bishops and archbishops, especi-
ally those from west of St. Paul, Foley,
OF Detroit, and Riordan, of San Francisco,
were seized from every side. How
they got safely through the exuber-
ant demonstrations Of affection,
can never be accurately told.
A notable event was also in progress at
Loyole college, it was the formation of
national alumni association from all the
Jesuit colleges in the United States which
committee of the Congress of Laymen
approved late tonight to be submitted to
the convention tomorrow. 1t is under
stood to be strictly confined to topics per-
tinent to the announced objects of the
congress as follows: devotion of Catholics
to the constitution and laws of the United
States; necessity of the iEdependence of the
holy sex; Catholic education for Catholics:
Christian schools for Christian people;
the duty Of supporting Catholic journals
and encouraging in every way wider diff
fusion of Catholic literature; rights of
Catholics to liberty of conscience and free
dom of religious worship in the army and
navy, and in all publicinstitutiors wisdom
of encouraging the migration to the land
and the settlement of Catholics in proximity
to the church and school or to settle in suffi-
cient numbers together so as to provide for
one another; Importance Of Catholic soci-
cites being organized on a religious and not
on race or national basis; sympathy with
the cause of temperance and decent observ
ance of Sunday, and finally, rights Of labor
and duties OF capital
Adjourned until tomorrow.