The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-05-30

III front OIL Ito lrlsn Brignuc ana gave
each member present absolution, the
men kneellng and receiving tho bono
diOtion.
A SUBLIME SCENE.
Chaplain Corby stood In front OF the
brigade OH n large rock and explained
what no was about 10 do for tho sol.
diers, saying that each one could re-.
coivo tho benefit Of tho absolution by
making a sincere act OF contrition and
firmly resolving TO embrace tho first op.
portunity Of conicssing his sins, urg.
ing them to do their duty well and re.
minding them OF tho high and sacred
nature OF their trust as soldiers and the
noble object for which thuy fought,
ending by saying tho Catholic church
refuses Christian bnrial TO tho soldier
who turns his back upon the foe and
deserts his country's flag.
AS no closed his address every man
fell upon his knces with hond bowed
down. Then lifting his right hand,
Father Corby pronounced the solemn
words OF dissolution. The ecene was
more than impressive, II was awc.in-
spring. Near by stood Hancock sur
rounded by q brilliant throng OF officers,
who had gathered TO witness this uii-
usual spectacle. While in tho second
corps was silence, bursting shells
screamed through tho air, tho roar of
baltic rosc and .swelled through the
woods, making. music more sublime
than ever rcsounded through cathedral
aisle.
General Mulholland, a witncss to the
sublime scene, says: III do not think
there was 4 MAJ in the brigade who did
not offer up n heartfelt prayer. For
some 1t was their last; they knult there
in their grave clothes: in less than half
an hour many Of them wcro numbered
with the dead, Who can doubt that
thoir prayers were yood2 That heart
would, 10 incorrigible indeed that the
scream Of a Whit%orth bolt, added to
Father Corby's touching appeal, would
not move to conSition." ''.
: No braverI soldiers could be. found
amongst the thonsands who fought and
died in defense OF their country than
were those whose hearts were deeply
linb'icd with religious sentiments; and
no nor gallant leaders clasped the
sword Of command than these Christian
officers who openly avowed their faith
in God and His Christ and conscien.
tiously reduced to practice their rclig-
ious convictions. | dare assert that, in
tho eventiul annals OF that long and
desperate struggle, there is no page
which recounts an instance OF more
sublime he.oism than that which re-
cords the charge OF Meagher and his
Irish brigade on the bloody plains OF
the Rappahannock. Scan the names OF
tho officers, who, for ~gallantry, rose
step by step TO tho highest military
honors, and you find Il galaxy OF illus.
trions heroes who ever gloried in their
Christian iaith. In that category Of
distinguished leaders the Catholic is
proud 10 find 40 many OF his own faith;
n Of these. General Phil Sheridan, is
unregistered witt, Grant and Sherman
among the three greatest commanders
OF the war, Ii ever
THE LOYALTY OF ROMAN CATHOLICS
to this land OF their nativity or of their
adoption is called into question, an all.
sufficient answer to tho reckless dcfamer
is written in the blood Of the church's
children on every battle field from Get
tysburg to Florida. Among tho friends
and admirers OF our glorious republic
and its institutions, ever ready to prove
their loyal attachment even at the sac.
riiico OF their hearts blood, none arc
more staunch than Roman Catholics,
and none more DESTROYS and determined
to p%erpetuate the blessings which
American citizens enjoy. In Cardinal
Gibbons article contributed 10 the
April number OF the North american Re
rLw, certain means for the preservation
OF Il political institutions with the
blessings they ensure, are pointed out.
| call your attention especially to his
fifth sucgestion-so apropos OF your
annual cclebration-namely, "a moro
hearty celebration of our national holi.
days" "On those days." his Eminence
APPLY remarks, when the usual occu-
pations OF life are suspended, every citi.
zen has leisure to study and admire the
political institutions OF his country, and
to thank God for the bonedictions
that lie has poured ont on us rs a PEG.
pie. In contemplating these blessings
we may well repeat with the royal
prophet: lilo hath not done in this
manner to every nation, and His judg-
mcnts lie hath not nude manifest 10
them.'" Continuing, he says: AT hol-
ldays are useful to those that IRE to the
manor born, they are still more impor-
atively demanded for the foreign popu-
latIon constantly flowing into this coln-
try, and which consists OF persons who
are strangers TO our civil institutions.
The annually recurring holidays will
create and develop in their minds n
knowledge OF our history and admira-
ton for our system Of government. 1t
will help also to mould our people into
unity OF political faith. BY the young
especially arc holidays welcomed with
keen delight; and as there il a natural,
though unconscious, association in tho
mind between the civic festivity and
the cause that gave it birth, their attach
mcnt to the day will extend to the
patriotic event, or to tho man whose
anniversary is celebrated"
Memorial Day, with its attendant
ceremonies OF decorating soldiers
graves, is we'll fitted to keep alive the
memory OF those unnumbcred sacri-
fees SO checrfuily made for tho prcscr-
walton OF the American Union, and to
thus idelibly impress on all American
citizens the priceless value OF thor
political institutions. Perhaps it may
indeed DO asked, "Docs ii no: also
keep alive the memory OF all the hor.
rors Of that dreadful, fratricidal strife,
and thus tend to pcrpetuatc the bitter
animositios which that civil war en-
gcndGrcd?' That untold horrors fol.
lowed in the wake OF that, as they do in
the wake OF every great war, | do not