Evening journal., 1891-05-25
A BRILLIANT DEDICATION
OPENING or THE eRoWNsoN
LIBRARY ASSOCIATION HALL.

Charles j. Bonaparte of Baltimore De
livers an Eloquent Address on the
American Catholic Layman of To day.
The building Blessed BY Bishop Curtis
aud Several of the Clergy.
The dedication Of Brownson Library
Hall at Fourth ana jackson streets, yes
terday afternoon, was attended with
more than ordinary show Of eclat.
About 5000 persons, clad in holiday
dress, followed the procession aud 600
took up their position wherever they
could around the platform which had
been erected along the eastern end OF the
new building
Bishop Curtis, attended BY Vicar
General Lyons and Fathers Fallon.
Dollard, Birmingham DeRuyter and
Mealey, went through the building from
room 10 room and pronounced the Epis
sopal benedction. A choir OF sixteen
little boys, clad Ia white and crimson,
and confirmation class Of 80 children.
the boys in pretty costumes, and the
girls in white robes with white veils
we're present A choir Of fifty voices
under the direction Of Edward Curren.
rendered the music Visitors flled the
building and looked down on the happy
crowd which thronged the streets below
There we're present on tho platform
beside the clergy, United States Senator
George Gray, Hon Charles J. Bonaparte,
Hon. John p Donshoe, Mayor Austin
Harrington, City Solicitor William T.
Lyman. President OF City Council John
@. Farra, Henry o. Turner, Esq, John
Il, Diokey, q. A. Messick, Spottswood.
Garland. Esq Dennis J. Mention. Dr..
John 9. Fahey, J8hn r. Callahan.
Colonel Francis McCioakey, Richard 4
Mention, Oven J. Hesaien, the members
of the choirs and representatives OF the
press. One OF the pictures which hung
on the walls was painting of Napoleon
|, belonging TO Henry G Turner, Esq
Nineteen Catholic societies took part
IN the parade When the bishop aud
priests returned 20 the platform after
the blessing had been pronounced, the
First Regiment Band struck up "rhe
Star spangled Banner.
Bishop Curtis in fellcitous speech
introduced the orator Of the day. Charles
]. Bonaparte who spoke as follows.
SAT the Catholic Congress held ia
Baltimore eighteen months ago, an ia
teresting paper WIS presented BY the son
of the eminent man Ia whose honor his
building Is named, on the provinces Of
laymen in the church's work / propose,
however, to deal not with the work, but
with the workman, TO consider not what
the Catholic layman does Ia the general
scheme Of the church mission, but what
he is, intellectually and morally In the
United States 30 day. | choose this sub
ject because he Is IN some measure mis-
understood. both by his own clergy and
by the citizens of other faiths and
propose to point out certain traits OF
character, idiosyncrasies Of thought and
feeling, distinctive, believe of Catholic
laymen in America not unfrequently
overlooked
In the first place Catholics appear |, SIS
restless than members of other religious
communions over the constantly widen
ing discrepancies between tine Scrip
tural cosmogonY and the Chris
tian doctrine Of Gods personal
government, Of the physical universe,
and those theories as to evolution and
the general efficiency Of secondary causes.
which are now accepted. at least as
working hypotheses and the basis Of
future research, by all men OF science
entitled TO speak with authority
"A seem to myself to detect ia thought
full and religious minds, without the
church. a smothered uneasir ess as to
this, feeling Of secret apprehension,
strenHously disavowed. lest their pro
tessed beliefs may be really held profes
sionally only and subject to early aud
great notifications and with this a
endeney toward hsziness and exuberant
metaphor Ia the expression Of doctrinal
views. Indeed feature Of the age IA
rel gious literature is the disposition TO
dwell in metaphor 50 as to leave the
exact meaning in doubt, and this always
marks an insensible change in faith, the
gradual dying out OF an old creed
Among American Catholics this feel
Ing Is less visible OF does not exist
at all This Is because these theories
have not filtered down 80 far
into the system Of Catholic educa
tion as rhev have without the
church. but it's difference Is temporary
and Of secondary Importance.
MANY years ago when conversing on
the possibility OF q special creation,
was asked whether the discovery of
fossil sharks bones on mountain top
did not prove to me that the mountain
must once have been covered by an
ocean Not necessarily | replied, our
Almighty Creator could have called
those bones into being there as readily as
earth and stones are made 20 Gil another
portion Of space To my interlocutcr
this suggestion seemed grotesque and
even Tepulsive What purpose. he
asked, can YOU ascribe to the Deity for
his apparently seeking TO deceive his
CreatorY Nor was he satisfied when
rejoined that it was not for me to specu
ate about the purposes OF an infinite
wisdom.
THE anecdote explains that Il Is natural
and reasonable TO accept as true. in
matter OF theology, something did not
understand but to my friend IL seemed
impossible chat could do sO In good
faith He viewed the matter ia
protestant light, | in Catholic.
Catholic clergymen and Christian
protestants fail to appreciate the extreme
dlstaste Of a Catholic lRyman for merely
doctrinal disputes or accusations Of any
kind on religious questions. Priests and
protestsnts alike, the former by reason
of their vocation, the latter BY the
spirit Of their faith, are obliged 70 think
much, and learn to think with interest
and pleasure on such questions while !
Catholic laymah Is reluctant 20 use his
mind on the subject because he believes
the church as his mother, Just as a boy
believes the sarth is round because his
father told him so. and bis father never
told lie What is the advantage, they
would ask or bow am / more fortunate
than my protestant neighbor If l must
vex my mind with endless queries about
things, which do as | may, | cannot see