Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-08-02

BY courtesy of the publishers of Dond-
hoes Magazine, THE AMERICAN is per-
mitted to republsh a most interesting
article from the August number on
Catholic Maine from the pen of Ellis
worth's gifted priest, Rev. Thomas F.
Butler. Many of our readers will recall
a charming article on 1.-THE Angelus, y
written for this paper by the same gen
tleman some months ago-an article re-
markable not only for its clearness in the
presentation of the topic treated, but also
for its delightful literary style.
Following is complete reproduction
Of the article, but it is wit hout the illus
trations that appear in the magazine,
among which are excellent pictures of
FIR. Butler, Edward +. Brady and Charles
II. Drummey, of Ellsworth, and of st.
Sylvia's church at Bar Harbor, which is
in FIR. Buffers parish.
Many readers of this magazine doubt
less have an imperfect notion of the State
which has adopted as its motto the proud
word, ''dirigo.a If they ever read the
motto at all, as used in connection with
our State ! am quite prepared to believe
that they read it with smile. They re-
may we'll be tolerated, since it does no
harm to those outside the State limits,
and vet may please the vanity of the
children who dwell within the shade of
its forests. For the common notion is
that Maine is i'll view when its favorite
child of song chants:
'This l. the forest primeval.
The murmurins pines and the hemlock"
There are some considerations, however,
that lead wise men to shake their heads
at the smiling patronage offered our good
State. These wise ones hold that Maine
is a nursery OF men; and that is the no.
blest product of a nation They claim
that every new State, and many of the
older ones, have been enriched by the
presence of sturdy sons of Maine.
In the field of politics, too, the in
fluence of Maine has ever been potent.
1.-The man from Maine" hiss long been n
name to conjure by. And where her
views have not held sway. they have, at
least, provoked discussion " hieh led to
good results.
Another cause for rejoicing is in the
scenic and climatic character of the State.
1t is at once a vast sanitarium and a stu
do " here nature has gathered Il choice
collection OF her nohlest work. Much of
the WorlG in "our glorious country ia
tigued by he artificial demands OF So
ciety and the mad rush of business else
where, has dicoverod that we POSSESS the
true CLINT pl ne. lltIt=lS ltulti II lIiE
of frugality, temperance, and content
ment. the result of which is, meHs sdnd
in corpora Sano. Through the woods
over the lakes, on hill and dale, pour
the hosts of our summer visitors
They seek health, they seek liberty
they seek joy, and each one finds in
Maine a fairy godmother who loves to
give of her abundance. Thus each year
she has grand reception, Il sort of pas
toral drama in real life. At the opening
of spring her scenery is all arranged to
delight the eye The earth has its carpet
newly laid. Then come the birds to give
the opening chorus. All is ready, and
the actors appear, each in his chosen
part. The play ends happily the
actors. But the audience, the native
host, longs for the ringing OF the curtain
up again. All who depart bear Wit h them
the blessing OF the angel guarding the
State, mems Sand in corpore Sano "a sound
mind in sound body.
This question of blessing brings me to
the most interesting part of my topic; the
religious aspect of our claim to ''dirigo.'
For of all the reasons | might advance to
prove the right of the State to that
motto, fancy none will prove more in
teresting to Catholic readers, if they are
New Englanders, than its historic record
considered from Catholic point of view
Here we are i'll the land where first the
cross was raised and adored ia all New
lives antedates the landing of the Pill
grims by eight years. Here We are in the
land where martyrs lived and died. The
shades of Rale, of du Thet, and of Bapst
arise to fancy rs | write, to support the
claim of precedence 10 all New England
Here we are in the State where the chill
dren OF the original poeses-ors of The land
still live, the Catholic Indians, whose
peaceful lives prove to all that the Catho-
lie policy is to preserve, not exterminate
Every Indian within the State, and they
are here in tribes, is atholic. Where are
the tribes of other New England states,
who early lived where Catholics had nc
foot hold? Vanished are the wigwam and
the campfire. Vanished are the brave
and the squaW. Vanished and despised
even, is the rude set of laws and customs
which was able to conquer, but could not
win the red man to live in peace with q
white brot her sin the land which the
Lord our God hath given" But the cross
was raised to win, to soothe, to protect.
Round its base in Maine to-day are found
the descendants of those White men who
raised it and OF those wild red men who
were subdued and won by il. Thus they
stand alone in ali New England. Hence
it is not without reason the motto stands,
proud though it be, "dirigo.'
Let us take cursory glance at the
Catholic history of our State; We cannot
go deeply into the matter, for space is
limited to US.
The territory of the State. as is we'll
known, was once within the dominion
over which France claimed jurisdiction
and held sway. And even to-day many
traces of this early Catholic occupation
may be easily observed in the names OF
rivers, districts, bays, towns and families.
w hen under French control. it WAS, 10Y
the larger part, within the section once
known as Acadia. For IN l6Ol, by patent
OF Henry ~ OF france, Nj. DE- Montl re-
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