The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-23
CONVENT COURSE.
John J. Delaney's Lecture
Drew a Big Crowd.

With each successive lecture for the
benefit of Notre Dame convent fund,
the success of the course increases.
The third Of the course was given in
st. Johns school hall on Winter street
last evening, the lecturer being Law
yer John j. Delaney of New York city.
1t was Mr.. Delaney's first appear
ance in Worcester, but he fully sus-
tanned the reputation that had proceed
ed him, and the memory of his able
talk will linger long in the minds of
his auditors
His subject was 1.-THE Catholic Amer
lean" Mr. Delaney is not only sound
logician, but one Of the most fluent
speakers on the American lecture
"A stage. His lecture showed a depth of
research too seldom found in pub
a lie speaker.
The church choir aided much to the
success of the entertainment. Its theme
s. was patriotism Miss Teresa Larkin
n opened with The star spangled ban
ner," which she sang finely, the choir
81 repeating the chorus. The choir sang
To thee, Q country, and a male
n chorus consisting of John j. Flaherty,
Handlin, John F. Mccartney, Albert
Handlin, D. ]. Padula, William Farmer
and George Dow sang the Soldiers
farewell and sang ii well.
The audience was greater than any
previous attendance Of the course Mr..
Delaney is state deputy of the Knights
of Columbus for New York holding
the second highest office in the order
in america. Out Of compliment to him
Alhambra council attended in a body,
completely filling one side of the hall.
Iney gave him warm greeting, for
he had to repeatedly bow his acknoWl-
pigments when he arose to speak
In opening, Mr.. Delaney said: st has
been frequently called to my attention
that the subject of this lecture is a
Strange one to discuss before an Aineri-
can audience. There is a feeling that no
B lecturer has any business discussing re-
Y lglon with citizenship. 1t might be well
they could be separated but that is
impossible. A Catholic is a citizen, is
an American, but he is a Catholic all
The time. There is a spirit of tolerance
abroad now; men are so anxious to ap-
pear tolerant that they say it does not
make any difference What a mans re-
hglon is; that it don't make any differ
sence if he has no religion at ALL
But there can be no question of more
Vital Importance than that question.
ually lives of men? If religion directs
ne daily life of man it is a question of
lstNltal Importance to the community
what that religion teaches. It has been
Fashionable of late years for persons
who thought themselves high minded
90 organize societies against Catholics.
e If those people are honest | honor
them for their opposition, but | pity
thelr ignorance. Give them time and
they Will recognize that this religion is
one of the safeguards of the republic.
we need have no fear before the Amer
lean public that any band of people can
organize to injure any religion. The re-
ration OF religion to society is absolute
ny necessary because morality is neces-
sary to society and there can be no
morality nor code of laws unless sus-
tanned by religion"
M Mr. Delaney drew vivid picture of
the terrible results which followed the
teachings of Voltaire and his followers.
He related the scenes of violence and
the fearful deeds which caused the
streets of Paris to run rivers of blood.
IL vas society without a Cod" said
& the lecturer with an impressiveness
winch made silence unusually elo-
quent. 1t was a condition where the
common people were carrying out to
the bitter end the logic of Voltaire. If
man has no religion in him, beware.
Tor we know not what his moral prin-
clples may be. If you tell a man there
IS no God, if you teach him there is no
future life, how do you expect him to
curb the passions which swell in the
# Dosoms of men?"
mo standing army, nor police force
can hold back the people. The Cath
Ole church is the strongest upholder
q OF lawful government. Long before
any legislature was organized before
any constitution was drafted, the prin-
clples of right and justice have been
Impressed on the Catholic mind. Just
as soon as person reaches the age of
reason he is taught to uphold those
who govern. Instead of any body of
nen trying to Illustrate the efforts of
the church, they should do all in their
power to assist"
The lecturer suggested that Catholics
can point to long list of claims to
Justly any demands they may have in
this country The Catholic colony OF
maryland was the first in the world to
declare in favor of religious tolerance
catholics might make claim by the
Fight of discovery, the first person to
reach these shores being a Catholic who
had a two-fold object-to spread the
Religion to the natives and to secure
money with which to purchase the
restlng place of the Savior from the
earacens. He spoke of the early eX-
plorations of Catholic priests, of the
Paft Catholics had in the early fortunes
of the republic and mentioned Jack
Starry, father of the American navy, as
one of the Catholics of the early days
Eharles Carroll Of Carrollton was an.
other. He spoke of the assistance
8lVen the fighting colonies by Catholic
France, and the Polish patriots.
\ The lecturer then treated at length
me uplifting influence of the Catholic
cnurch and the advance in civilization
que that influence. He cited facts o
history to show that 1t was the inhu
ence of the church which abolished
slavery, raised woman to her prope
sphere in life, turned men from strif
and bloodshed, developed the arts
some of which had been almost lost
preserved them through the dark age
al Tor the glory of God, but also for tn
benefit of man. He cited instances in
Vulnerable where the needs of tn
church have compelled rulers of king
doms to give the people greater libertie
and the church is doing the same to
gay, although in different lines. 1t wa
leaning men upward and onward
WORKING for the glory and honor c
SOD and also for the welfare of tn
PEOPLE
DRESS REHEARSAL.