Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-13

distinguishing characteristics. The cha
| racteristic of business and the cha
| facteristic of pleasure. To HiDernian
| conventions there is third-the cha
racteristic Of religion.
II is but meet that we, who claim and
truly TO be the greatest Catholic or
eanizatiOn in our country, should show
in some way. other than BY mere as
sertion, our loyalty to our religion. There
| fore it was that before entering upon
the duties ana business of the conven-
ton the delegates assembled in the Ca
! thredal and assisted at the solemn high
| mass The mass was sung by our ma
tional chaplain. Bishop Foley. At its
| close he preached a powerful and eloquent
sermon to the delegates.
The convention was formally opened
by prayer by Bishop Foley. 1t was held
in the hall of the Catholic Club, which
was tastefully decorated. The seats Of
the various delegations were indicated
by printed cards. The report Of the
Committee on Credentials. of which /
had the honor 70 be a member. showed
that there were 34G delegates present at
the first session, and that from ten to
twenty more would arrive next day
PERSONNEL OF THE BODY.
Let me pause here to describe the per-
sonnet of the convention: 1t was Pc
culiarly representative All Of the East
ern States were represented. and most
of the Western. including Utah. Wyo-
ming, and Montana. Louisiana was
represented by Mr. Thomas Fitzpatrick.
who was widely known as Mayor Of
New Orleans. The largest delegations
were from Pennsylvania, Illinois New
York, and Massachusetts Ii was said
In Detroit that the delegates were one
of the best-looking bodies of men who
had ever assembled in the city. This IS
a trite phrase. and is possibly used in
connection with all delegations TO large
conventions However, as | looked over
the body with critical eye. day after day.
/ felt proud Of the representatives, of
our common race. May 1 sum up what
! might elaborate by saying that the con-
vention was composed of Irish-Ameri-
can gentlemen Apart from this. and
equally important. they were men of high
intelligence During the four days the
convention was in session did not hear
a dull speech. There were many that
might have been improved on but in
almost every instance the speaker fully
understood and grasped his subject, and
threw new light on the discussion. 1t
was a body that could hold It's own any
where.
THE LADIES' AUXILIARY.
Possibly, It would be as well TO state
here that, in addition to the large num-
Der of delegates, there were almost as
many representatives, OF the Ladies'
Auxiliary. They had come to Detroit
for the purpose of getting national re-
cogntion and being a part and parcel
Of the order. They did not get all they
asked. but they got good deal. A con-
stitution was framed for them by the
Board OF Directors, and the national
president Of our order was declared 10
be the national head Of the Ladies'
Auxiliary. To us In Virginia, where
there are no ladies' auXilarics, and where
IL Is possible none were ever con-
templatcd. the progress OF the Ladies'
Auxiliary I'm other States must be aston
ishing Originating two years ago. they
have grown and spread like a banyan.
tree. with great rapidly. 1t might be
well for us in our State 10 contemplate
and endeavor 10 organize such auxiia-
ries. They serve two excellent purposes:
First. the members are created an or
ganlzation which Is OF material assist
nee. paying sick and death benefits; Sc
cond. these auxiliaries are admirable
aids in building up the order and spread
ing its light. There are many of US
who In such matters Will not follow