Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-07-18


sion at the university, was the fourth
speaker. He said that at the opening of
such an institution as the Columbian
Catholic summer school it seemed fit
that some representative of the uni
yersity should speak it's welcome for
its new sister. He spoke of the numer-
Gus institutions of learning that are
now disseminating intelligence. I'VE
hail you. then, as fellow workers in
the great work Of human culture" he
said. and it is with great plea sure
that | extend to you the welcome of the
university to this atmosphere Of cul-
ture and I wish you the fullest meas
IRE Of success"
The responses were opened by Bish-
op Messmer. He thanked the citizens.
the state officers, the presiding officers
and all other participants for their in
tereSt and cOurteSies. He said that
Madison is an ideal home for a school
Of this character I'VE feel that we
can do serious mental work in our
present surroundings" he said. land
it is for that purpose that we have
convened. We are not going into
politics though our lectures will have
considerable to say on stars and
comets, but they will not disturb any
Of the existing political cOnstella tons.
Secondly we shall not make a decla-
ration Of war aginst science and mod
ern theories. We shall not agree with
all that is termed modern science, per-
maps. but no one need fear the results
Of our work. Some science called
modern represents speculation rather
than the product of deep and intel
lectual investigation. Where there
is cOnfiictiOn between our religion and
modern science, we retain our re-
Hgion. Whatever is true we willingly
and gladly accept. The Catholic church
encourages its sons to enter the arena
of original investigation. We are not
here to stir up strife and animOsities.
but shall rather endeav0r to work for
return Of that old unity and har-
mOEy which once characterized
society. Although our lectures are
meant primarily for Catholics, vet a
cordial, a hearty, brotherly welcome
will be accorded those of other faiths
who may desire to learn what are
the faith and the mission of our
church. We are glad that the DAYS of
the inquisition are gone. I express
the sentiments Of the members of the
Columbian Catholic summer school
when | thank these gentlemen sur
= ON Il
interest and all citizens of Madison
who have done so much for the sue
cess of the school"
Mrs. Maude Orr-Nelson. pianist.
played a Polish waltz in a manner
that elected much applause.
Rev. DR.. E. G. Updike was then IN
trOduced. He said it was a very great
privilege to stand there as a repre-
sentative of the protestant churches
and extend q welcome to the school
and its attendants. 1t was a great
pleasure, too, because an unusual one.
This is an age of tolerance and hon
est conviction should be respected IS
it is now" said the speaker. Earn
est men of the past were intOlerant
and this fact accounts in a large
measure for the bigotry that existed |
The religious lines that separate men
today are for the most part ina ginary !
We differ not in the great essentials, |
but in the circumstantials. Truth is
able to take care of itself ultimately
and it has a tendency to prevail.
There is a common ground upon
which we can stand and place where
we can join hands and meet with I'M
broken lines the evils of the times"
He finished by wishing the school COM
plete success and that it may perma- |
nently be located in Madison.
Mr.. ". J. Onahan, of Chicago, re- |,
ceiyed a very fattering introduction |
from Senator Villas. Mr.. Onahan |
thought that. though the school were |
to go out of existence Immediately, /
the fraternal manifestations of the .
evening would be ample justification /
for its existence. He said that the !
splendid environments of the city of |
Madison and the hearty welcome &C !
corded the school augur well for and F.
will receive its full weight when final
location of the school is under con-
sideratiOn. He said he had made the
most eXtravagant promises himself
and had understood that Bishop Mess
mer had made even greater ones. ''He
promised young man for every
young lady who might attend the
school and | doubt not but what that
is the reason of the large attendance
of the clergy" said Mr.. Onahan with a
twinkle in his eye. 'And furthermore"
he continued, 81 warn the governor
that Chicago has a tendency for an
neXation and it may not be long be-
fore we have a suburb made Of Madi-
son. Our population the other day
was a million and a half and today |
dare not say what it is. Then, too,
the location of the school this year.
we We're 'MeSmerized' and received
some hard KNOX but after all your
inimitable libraries were a potent rea-
son for Madison's selection. Catholics
were mainly istrumental in the found
ing of the many universities men
toned here tonight" His remarks
provoked much mirth. Before clos
ing he again expressed his acknowl-
edgements for the royal welcome
rendered.
Tho p0na'S pIaSSiur