The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-22

| President Mckinley. Mr.. Tayier was
| to have responded to the toast ply
mouth Rock" Business engagements
compelled him at the eleventh hour to
send his egrets.
| Colonel Van Wormer had for his
| theme New England He treated II
| In an eloquent and scholarly way, and
proved himself one OF the best OF the
many excellent speakers which the
New England society has been always
so fortunate to secure for its annual
dinners.
The progress of America and the
part New England influence has played
in It was the burden of his remarks.
The Pilgrim, he said, had his faults.
He was only human. But he had
great virtues. Fixedness of purpose,
lofty ideal and q determination to ac-
complish it were among his chief
characteristics. He had his own way,
to be sure, in going about the accom-
plishing of his purpose-the subjuga-
ton of the Indians for instance--but
he got there.
THE UNITED STATES.
The next speaker was John Birkin-
bine, of Philadelphia, president of the
Franklin institute. He was assigned
to the toast. "The United States" and
In beginning his remarks he said 1t was
% subject broad enough and long en-
ough to consume the entire etenng.
He devoted himself almost exclusive
to a citation of the wonderful indus
trial development of this country with
in the past 100 years and to Il general
outline OF the great natural advant-
ages possessed by America.
In Introducing Rt. Rev. Bishop NJ.
j. Hoban, of this city, Toastmaster
Greene said he was glad to welcome
to a New England society dinner a
prelate of the catholic church.
Bishop Hoban was down on the
toast list to respond to the toast,
Friends of New England" but he eX-
planned that as he had not had time
to prepare anything he would take
Chairman Wilcox. of the speakers
committee, at his word and speak
around the subject.
After telling two very good stories,
he referred to what he termed 1.-The
latent distrust' against Catholics
which he had noted in his travels, and
said that never had he been able to
understand why one person should
hate another on account OF his re-
ligion. He himself had the greatest
respect for the consistent Mohamme-
dan and the devoted follower of Con-
fucius.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Referring to the presidents state
ment that the New England fathers
brought the free public school system
to this country, he said. God bless
the Pilgrim Fathers for having done
so. / say. for III a republic it is the
duty of every citizen to see that his
children are educated" He stated that
the Pilgrim Fathers got their idea of
public schools from the Catholic duchy
OF LuXeburg in Holland, where he re-
"a system of public schools
was established in the Seventeeth
century by the pope and the .]es,iits"
He said that in the schools of early
New England. the children were not
only taught TO read and write. but
were taught the clements of morals
and religion. He thought that the,
Catholic parochial schools were there
fore the logical successors of these
early New England schools, because in
them the religious education is given
in addition to the secular.
Il think that the Pilgrim Fathers
are to be commended" said he in con-
clusion. FOR their doctrine of no
classes and no masses. The early set
tiers. in Virginia and Maryland NAV
have been more liberal in matters of
religion, but they We're illiberal in
that the rich We're allied against the |
Door, distinction which did not exist |
IN New England. May God prospar
this glorious doctrine and may the day |
never come when we shall see tha !!
classes and masses arrayed one |
against the other, in this fair land"