St. Paul daily globe., 1893-09-05
CATHOLIC CONGRESS.
Largest Gathering Of Any De-
nomination Ever Held.
FIVE THOUSAND WE'RE PRESENT.
Cardinal Gibbons Delivers an
Eloquent Opening Address.
He EUL0GLZES GLADSTONE.
FIVE THOUSAND WE'RE PRESENT.
HE EVL0GLZES GLADSTONE.
Able Papers Read by Judge
Morris and Edgar Cans.
cHURcH'S MISSIONARY WORK.

cHURcH'S MISSIONARY WORK.
CHICAGO, Sept. 4. - Standing room
was at premium today in the great
hall of Columbus in the art palace on
lhe lake front. The occasion was the
Initial session of the Catholic congress,
The first national gathering Of the lay
men of that faith since the appointment
Df a papal delegate to the United States.
Interest was on tiptoe as audience
and delegates numbering far up in the
thousands crowded in. filling nearly
every inch of space. Sensational de-
VelOpments regarding the school ques-
ton and the alleged opposition to Dele
gate Satoll's mission were eagerly
awaited, and little attention given to
the papal yellow and white streamers,
the papal colors, mingling over the
stars and stripes, or to the DrOuZe
busts of Cardinals Newman and Man
ming on either side. The feeling of
suppressed excitement was particularly
noticeable when, in the preliminary ad-
dresses Archbishop Feehan, who is
warm personal friend of Archbishop
COrrlgan, gave warning against the
ntteraDce of word in the congress to
wound or offend the Catholic conscience,
Rs he put it. A similar manifestation
was noticeable when Cardinal Gibbons,
whose friendship for Archbishop Ire
land is widely known, put forth SOL
emn caution to the delegates to avoid
personalities and be restrained by char
ity.
1t was brilliant scene when Cardinal
Gibbons, attired in his scarlet robes.
entered with Secretary 0nahan, and
followed by Archbish0ps Feehan. of
Chicago, and Ryan. of Philadelphia,
in full purple. just back of them, in
plain civilian attire, was
ARCHBISHOP IRELAND,
his strong features easily noticeable i'm
a group of oIher distinguished prelates,
each OF whom, however, except him
wore some mark of ecclesiastical dig
nifty.
After addresses of welcome by Arch
bishop Feehan, President Bonney, of
the @wOrld'S congress auxiliary, and
Hon. Thomas B. Bryan. who was the
special envoy of the United States gov
ernment and worlds fair, in behalf of
the exposition, TO Pope Leo, Cardinal
Gibbons made the opening address to
the congress. Cardinal Gibbons said:
What an inspiring spectacle is this.
Whether consider the magnitude of
your numbers or your representative
character--fOr you represent almost
every state and diocese and city of the
Union-Or whether | contemplate the
intelligence that beams on your faces, |
cannot but eXclaim: This is sight
well calculated TO bring JOY aud glad
hess to the heart of American Catho-
lies.
During the past four months millions
OF visitors have come from all parts of
the United States. nay, from every
quarter of the giOhe. TO contemplate on
tie exposition grounds the wonderful
works of man. They knew not which
to admire mOst-the colossal dimen-
SiOnS of the buildings or their architec-
which they contain. The caskets and
gems were we'll worthy of the nine
teenth century, worthy of the nations
that brought them, worthy of the in
uomltable spirit of Chicago. No longer
the Windy City. no longer POrkopolis:
let us christen her with another name
ThaumatopOlis, the City of Wonders,
the City of Miracles.
But while other visitors have come to
contemplate with admiration the
WONDERFUL WORKS
of man, with the image of man stamped d
upon them you have come here to con-
template man himSelf-the most Won
dertul work OF God, with the image of
God stamped upon him. Others are
studying what man has accomplished in
the material world. You are to consider
what man can accomplish in the almost
boundleSS possibilities of his spiritual
and intellectual nature. You will take
counsel together to consider the best
means Tor promoting the religious aud
moral. the social and economic well be-
ing of your fellow citizens. 1t is true,
indeed that your deliberations will not
be stamped with the authority of legis-
lative enactments like the proceedings
of congress and the DEGREES of a national
council. Nevertheless they will go far
towards enlightening public opinion,
and moulding and shaping public
thought on the great religious, moral
and social questions of the day.
When | look into your earnest and
intelligent faces, L am almost deferred
from imparing to you any words of ad-
monition. But ] may be pardoned for
giving you word of advice. In all
your discussions be ever mindful of the
golden saying of st. Vincent Lerins,
"ln neceSsariiS unitaS, in dubiis liber-
tas, in omnibus caritas," Ill essentials
unity, in doubtful things liberty, in all
things charity.
Happily for you, children of the
church, You have nothing 70 discuss in
the matters of faith, for your faith is
fixed and determined by the divine
legislator, and you cannot improve
upon the creed of Him who is 1.-The
way, the truth and the life.''
But between the calm region of
faith and the dark, chaotic region of
error there lives a vast region for dis
cussion. l should be very sorry that
any member OF this congress should at
tempt to circumscribe
THIS FREE SPACE
by erecting his little fence of ipse dixit.
saying to all others, II am Sir Oracle:
thus far you shall come and no farther.'
The cardinal, continuing, urged that
all the proceedings be marked by cour-
tesy and charity, and by a spirit of
Christian forbearance toward each
other, never descending to personalities.
He added: The editice of social
improvement which you ann to build
can never De erected on the ruins of
charity. Perhaps the best model of
cCurtly dignity and courtesy that
could set before you is Hon. William E.
Gladstone, the Grand Old Man."
The reference 10 Gladstone evoked
tumultuous applause. In conclusion,
Cardinal Gibbons said:
God graft that our fondest anticipa-
tions of your labors may be realized.
and that the invocation today of the di-
vine blessing, which is so full of hope.
nav be nrnlNnHd at The end of rnir cos