The Irish standard., 1901-02-16
Address by John j. Mccarthy at the Recent Banquet Given
in Honor Of Archbishop Keane.
His Grace the Guest of the Knights of Columbus Of
the Hawkeye State in Dubuque.
The Members Of the Noble Order in Minnesota Find
the Speech Worthy of Psrusal.

At the banquet recently given by the
knights Of Columbus, Dubuque, Iowa,
in honor of his grace, the Most Rev.
Archbishop Keanc, the following clo-
qucnt address on "rhe Catholic Lay
man" was delivered by Attorney John
i. Mccarthy, of that city:
am asked to talk on the subject,
''rhc Catholic Layman." 1t is not my
purpose to recount his faults: they are
too numerous to mention. Nor do |
rXpcct to rccitc all his virtues; this
would occupy too much time. 1t is al,
ways easier. and more agreeable, too,
to dwell upon ones virtues than upon
his vices. 1t was said by one of the
worlds greatest writer's, that a friend
ly eye can never see Il fault, and that
Il fattCrcr would not said it was
not my purpose to dwell upon the
faults of the layman. This might have
Il disturbing influence upon the meet
ing. A story is told OF a negro slave
owner, who resided in Missouri before
the war. He said to one of his slaves
one day: "Pompcy, understand you
are a great preacher "Ycs," said
Pompcy, "dc Lawd do help me wonder
full bctmcs." Then the master said:
"Pompcy, don't you believe that the
nggcrs steal things off of the planta-
ton?" ''I'sc berry much afraid lry
does, nassah." '"Thcn ponpcy, want
you to preach a sermon TO the niggcrs
against stealing" Say, NASSAU, dat
would ncbcr do; ii might break up de
mectin'."
Words of welcome have been spoken
to our honorcd guest The objects ana
purposes of the knights of Columbus
have been Advcrtcd to. But what shall
we say of the Catholic layman? Our
guest, while but Il few months in our
midst, is known in every household.
His name and fame preceded his com
ing. AS an advanced educator, as II
Jealous priest and n conspicuous citi-
zen of the republic, he has been known
for years by every reader Of the best
literature. Among Catholic lnymcl
here in the northwest he will find no
lack OF loyalty to the cause which III
so ably represents. Here in the grcn'
state of Iowa, he may not find the cul
ture, refinement and wealth of the
eastern capitals, but he will find no
bic people, imbucd with state and ma
tlonal pride, G0d-fcaring, loyal and
patriotic Loyal to God, to the church.
to their bishop and to their priests.
No more prolific field for the progress,
growth and development of the church
can be found anywhere. With no de-
parture or deviation from dogma, but
rightly and intclligcntly administered
by cultured, exemplary, pious and
Jealous priesthood, with the proper CO.
operation Of the Catholic laymcn, the
church will multiply and grow strong
and bring forth fruit that tire imagina-
tion of the poet or the pen Of the novel
list cannot picture. We live in an age
Of great mental activity, where every
thing that is said and done is subject
to the electric glare Of public scrutiny.
With free speech, free thought, and a
very often too free press, having the
guarantee OF the written constitution
behind them, conditions arise that must
be met in the spirit of the enlightened
age in which we live. Tho Catholic
lAyman believes that the church should
be as distnctivcly modern in character
as she is ancient and venerable. It's
dogmas are as solid ana as lasting as
eternity itself. The layman believes
that it lies with the hierarchy and the
the affairs of the ancient church as to
challenge the confidence, respect and
admiration Of every riglt-thnklnS
man. New religions are not necessary.
| New theories are not expected, but the
! Catholic layman believes, while he may
be slow to publicly express it, that the
affairs Of the great church could and
4 should be administered in the spirit ana
| light of the advancement, progress and
improvement which characterized the
closing years of the greatest century
since time began. No institution can
live and prosper upon the slorics of the
past alone. TO live. and grow, and
prosper in America, these who admins
ter it's affairs should catch the spirit
that imbued thousands of Catholic lay