The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-13
WORDS OF WISDOM
Vice Chancellor Bird Makes
an Eloquent Address at
the Trenton Catholic
Club.
THE INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS DUTY
Fourth Anniversary of the Club
Appropriately Celebrated
A Large Audience.
THE INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS DUTY
Special to the jersey City Nssus.

80 -
ing, the pretty home of the Catholic Club
participate in the observance OF the clubs
fourth anniversary. And those who were
present were well repaid.
There vas a brilliant grafton by ex-
vice-chancellor John T. Bird, good sing
ing and plenty Of Instrumental music.
The clubhouse was bright and CHEEKY.
The people were there to b. entertained,
and they a~pplauded literally.
Professor D. J. Wallace was chairman
OF the evening. In calling the assemblage
to order, he made a few appropriate re-
marks addressed to the young men.
V-ice-Chancellor Bird was then intro
duced.
First permit me-" began the learned
Judge Bird, ito express the obligation
which | I'm under to you for thinking me
this occasion
I'm the next place, permit me to say
that I should be very sorry indeed if any
thing that I shall say will In anywise OBJ
scure in your minds the very interesting
remarks which have been made by your
presiding officer. They were fundamenta
IN their character and should be cherished
by every member of this club, and in
deed by every member of this community.
"One thought which he expressed was
entirely in harmony with the sentiment
which I desire to impress upon this au-
dience tonight:-The duty and obligations
which rest upon every individual in So
ciety whether he be a member of a club
organization or not.
THE principle which I win present
flows from this question:: Whether cfviii-
cation is more indebted to society at large
han to the individual member thereof?
We are all to some extent Socialists. 1t
seems to be part and parcel of our nature
to stand by Zach other and solicit enjoy
ment and refreshment from our fellows.
This, I say, is a natural condition Of So
ciety. And it is eminently well, as all will
admit, that such is the fact.
1T is an historical fact that the great
aggregation of individuals does not ac-
complish that which is really done and
accomplished by individual effort. The
great aggregation of individuals in cities.
manifestly to every thoughtful man, has
ats drawbacks. If / were to cite a few
instances you all would agree that the
statement is undoubtedly true. Where
is Nineyah, Babylon. Athens. Carthage?
They are only historical facts. Mighty
as they INC were, controlling all the
regions around about, enabled to amass
armies almost -innumerable, going where
so'er they chose from one end of their
own dominions to the furthest extremi-
ties of the earth; yet at length they were
subdued. oyerthrown; and today birds
find a nest IN their ruins.
This leads to the inquiry. What is 1t
tAAwn 46aH VIC rnrrra< ~ 1-a-nrn2 ~
whence Is the Influence that blilds up and
advances and establishes permanently the
theory that makes Christianity What 1t
is, and civilization a subject of our admir-
opinion of individuals.
And what proof is there of this? We all
admire individual effort. The strongest
appeal is made by the Individual for aid
to the accomplishment of some great
rpo The masses of the community
do not see the object that he has in view
or if they do the are loath to render
any assistance; but, nevertheless, the in
dividual gives thought; he extends his eff
forts, his mental power, his money, his
time, for the accomplishment of some
achieved. He goes on from step to step
and as he continues he sees other fields
in which to work, and at length it APP
pears to him that there is an eternity of
investigation. His labors are made proita-
BILE and the community at large are enjoy
ing the benefits thereof"
After naming numerous Inventors of
various useful products, Judge Bird con-
tinued. Some will say, All These men
are the creatures OF circumstances. Were
they, indeed? We're there not hundreds
and thousands of others circumstanced as
they? And now, If there be a spark OF
industry in FOUR minds, employ it to the
utmost of your capacity to do something
for your country, something for your
open, that the field is large, and all that
Is necessary is to take advantage of
present conditions. Employ your condi-
lions and your labors will be crowned
with glory.
The same circumstances that were
open to General Grant when he was ait
VickSburg and when he was at Fort JEFF
erals in the North. And when he was
called to take charge of the great army
of the West; why We're other great gem
were extended to them. They could not,
we cannot, we dare not say Grant was
the creature of circumstances. No. There
was the largest field ever presented to
an American If he wanted to accomplish
greatness in a military career. And
Grant was faithful to his charge, faithful
to every incentive of duty. Not destiny.
devoted action upon his part that won
for him from the nation at large as wen
as from the rulers that degree of emf
so much. Was Sherman. that great mill
tary entertain, a creature of circum-
stances? There were circumstances OF
course, which enabled him to develop his
energies. But there were also others to
hi the same field was open, and 1t IL
therefore futile to say that Sherman be-
came glorious in American history be-
cause he was simply a creature of circum-
stances. 1t was the application of indi-
vidual energy, the application of that
ability with which he had been endowed,
that enabled him to march to the sea
with so much success and which enables
us to crown his grave and to honor him
with laurels.
Passing on there is a moral phase
which I wish to present to you. Look at
your church. Look at any great church
mean to say that the church is beneath
and entirely subject to certain minds and
individuals; I do not mean to say that in
any church q single individual has made
it what 1t is. But / do mean to say that
IN almost every church. and / think en-
phatically In many churches, and / might
say especially in the Catholic Church.. the
few great leaders are the ones to whom
society is Indebted for its permanency,
It's solidtty. its advancement, its progress.
its achievement and its benefits to man
kind
tam I not right? Who dares deny a
proposition so unquestforably true In
every sense. 0 II you please at any
leader In your church in this community.
Why are they here? For the Advancement
of thought. the advancement OF morality,
the advancement of religion For the
mutable basis all Of the principles that
Aend to make men happy In this life. Has
this club any other purpose?
Ef4Hd whence came this zani9 ~ "a mo