Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-23
COLUMBUS CLUBMEN.
They Meet to Honor and Praise the
Father of His Country.
REV. FATHER SHEEDY'S ADDRESS.
Allegheny School Children Revel in
Patriotic Pleasure.
BRILLIANT BANQUETOF THE JR.o. U. A. M.


tons birthday by an enjoyable meeting last
night. A large number of invited guests
attended. The club rooms were bril-
liantly lighted and all present seemed
to reyel in the patriotism and en-
thusiasln of the occasion. During the
evening the Rev. Father Morgan M. Sheedy
delivered an interesting address on "Wash-
ington's Birthday" The speaker was fire.
quently interrupted by applause. Referring
to his own people, he said:
We. Catholic Americans, are modest
set. We do not care to parade either our
greatness or our patriotism. Were it not
that the whole world, this year and next,
will be talking and reading of Christopher
Columbus, there was some danger that even
those who might justly claim him as their
own would forget his existence and the still
more important fact, his discovery of this
Western Continent.
Claims of the Patriotic Dead.
After the short span of 400 years this club
has set the example to others of commemor-
ating for the first time the anniversary of
the great Genoese navigator. George Wash
ington was another benefactor of the race
and a friend of ours, him. too, we are COM
ing to recognize. Now, that the public is to
be thoroughly informed through the agency
of what is known as local branches of a Ma
tional organization whose object is to teach
American c1vics-a thing most commend
able and doubtless there is some need of
such school-we will undoubtedly be more
alive to the claims the patriotic dead have
upon us. Referring to this school of Ameri-
can civicS, l notice as further
proof either of our native modesty OF the
mild assumption of those who have set
themselves to instruct us. that there is not
single Catholic name on the local list of
this body that processes, rather loudly, to
be non-sectarian and non-partisan. Perhaps
they have made up their minds that we,
Catholic citizens, do not need this kind of
instruction-our intelligent patriotism be-
ing high water mark all the time. See
again how modest and retiring we area
Columbus celebration only once every 400
years-a Washington observance just when
the spirit of the great man moves us, COM
pared, say, with the friends of the Pilgrim
Fathers who keep hammering away year
after year on the bigness and hardness of
Plymouth Rock. One would think that the
continent would not have stayed discovered
round this New England stone.
do hope now, that we have satisfied our
selves and others that we are indeed emf
nenty modest pe9Pn tp we viii
other virtue that we do not already possess
if there be any.
But to take a more serious view of things
let me say that the spectacle of great COM
their multifarious pursuits to keep holiday
on this, the natal day of the
larn anew the lesson of his life and labors
is profoundly impressive and significant.
Tho Hand of Providence in History.
No one can read the life of Washington
and the history of the Republic without
a realizing sense of the presence OF Divine
Providence in guiding the destinies and
mission of the one and the other. The Amer
lean people love their religion and country,
and, on this eventful day, it is eminently
just and fitting that we make a national
declaration of that love. No people
on earth have received from the Giver
of every perfect gift richer blessings,
and the best OF them have come to us
through the channels of Christian princi-
pies. 1t is well, then, that on a holiday like
this we should rejoice in being able to con-
fess before the world the inestimable bene-
fits we have received from the religion
we profess. 1t was the sublime cour-
age OF heroic men that laid the foundations
of our liberties; but these men, and all who
have co-operated with them since, received
their best inspiration from the spirit of
Christianity. This was the belief of Wash
ington, Carroll and Lincoln and it is also
the belief OF the American people OF to-day.
1t was Christianity that first proclaimed
the doctrine of equality and fraternity of
men and the fatherhood of God; that taught
the necessity of faith and love. 1t is from
Christianity the lesson is learned that the
principles and practice which ennoble the
individual are the same that are necessary
to perfect and elevate the civil state
1t is the fashion of class of modern hui
political philosophers who have
some influence in this age and country to
praise classic antiquity, to exhibit its vir-
tues as proofs OF what unaided man can do
to practically ignore the civilization of
Christianity, and to hold forth the pagan
nations as models for the emuMtion of our
young Republic. God forbid that we
should ever adopt these models! II we
do our moral corruption will, like
theirs. increase with our material great
ness and a false civilization, with terrible
power for evil, Will, like the strong man of
SCRIPTURE soon twine its mighty arms
around the great pillars of the national edi- |
flee, shake them to their foundations and be
in the crumbling ruins Of the edi- |
fee itself.
Glowing Tribute to Washington.
When we consider the different views, in
terests, and schemes represented in the
Federal Convention, and the resolute, even
violent opposition to the Constitution, it is
a wonder that it was ever framed, and |
another wonder tina t it was ever adopted. |
We cannot find any other sufficient cause of |
this great event than the overruling Provi- |
dence of the Sovereign Ruler of the world. |
The more closely we study the history |
this country from England, and the great |
work which organized 1t into a |
republican empire, the more plainly does it |
appear that both were accomplished by the |
hand of God, working through events be- |
yond all human control, and through u |
small number of men who were very great |
in capacity and virtue and quick to take adj
vantage of the circumstances which gave |
them their opportunity. Greatest and chief |
Of these heroes-first in war, first in peace and |
first in the hearts of his country ymen-was |
the immortal Washington.
1t is no misuse OF language to call him the
greatest man. that ever appeared on this