The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-12-21
wisely invite to unity of action among


real meaning is the strength of united
purpose and endeavor; it's single OBJ
iect that we may the better work for
God, our country and truth.
Our first business is to formulate
methods to devise ways and means
whereby all our various societies may
be blended into one harmonious, prac-
teal and permanent unit. We are
convinced that to the societies them
selves rich harvest of most desirable
results awaits the planting of this seed
of unity of action.
Our own needs and best hopes ac-
complishd. what other lines of work
do we contemplate?
Problems whose solution will make
for greater happiness, for better citi-
zenship. for nobler manhood, these are
all about us. From the spread of
falsehood and dangerous principles,
from the insidious teachings Of infidel-
ity and agnosticism, from the spawn
Of anarchy, from the curse of intern
perance-from all these our country is
by no means free.
Why should not the united strength
Of Catholic citizenship rouse itself and
be at the forefront in the broad battle
field about us where the forces of light
and of darkness struggle for the mas
terry. In this regard, cannot think of
any better or more condensed express
sion of the aim and purpose than the
language of our most distinguished
leaders: 1--WE love liberty, we love
knowledge. we love truth, we love op-
portunity; and forgetting nationality,
forgetting separate specified interests.
forgetting all save Gods image in ev-
cry human being, we would upift men
by uplifting humanity"
This is the keynote Of the benefi-
cent and beautiful union we seek to
build up. to perfect and perpetuate
that it may assist in the work of all
other citizens in shedding brighter
and holier light upon the stars on the
flag.
He utterly and absolutely mistakes
who would construe this uniting of our
societies to mean the stirring up of
strife or the antagonizing of other citi-
zens who differ from lis in creed. The
work we contemplate knows no other
motto than charity and kindness.
mo one, more than we do, realizes
that "'rhe cdifice of moral and social
Improvement which we aim to build
can never he erected on the ruins of
charity" We believe that intelligence
education, patriotism, Christianity are
all sufficient to adjust in the best and
wisest possible way all our really I'M
necessary Misunderstanding
So much has been said of what the
belief and practices of Catholic citi-
zens are not, we specially aim to prac-
tically illustrate what they really are
SO far from antagonizing any class
of our fellow citizens we cannot bet
ter express our own sentiments than
by quoting and paraphrasing the his
tOrc utterance of Abraham Lincoln:
eve arc not enemies, but friends. We
must not be enemies" Though preju-
dice may Mt times have strained it
must not break the natural bonds of
affection that should bind all Ameri-
cans together. The mystic chords of
memory stretching from every battle
field and patriot grave to every living
heart and heartlistonc all over this
broad land will surely touch the better
angels of our nature
With malice towards none and with
charity for all, we hope to so COM
mend our actions to the respect and
the esteem of all our fellow-citizens
that the day will not be long delayed
until the white hand of broad and
true Amercanism will reach out and
pluck from beneath the fair rose of
our freedom the last withered thorn
of narrowmintlcd prejudice and ig-
norant bigotry."
During the celebration of pontificial
high mass by Bishop Hortsman, the
Most Rev. Archbishop Elder occupied
the throne and the following prelates
were in the sanctuary: The Rt Rev
S. G. Messmer, Bishop of Green Bay
Wis.,; Rt Rev. ]. McFaul, Bishop of
Trenton, N. j.; Rt. Rev. G. p. Macs
Bishop of Covington; Monsignor Muir.
ray, Vicar General Albrinck, Vicar
General Brossart, Rev. o. III. Moye
Rector of Wheeling cathedral, and Il
large number of local and visiting
| priests.
During the Tuesday evenings SEES
sion a Latin version of the follow.
ing cablegram was read by Bishop
McFaul and received with cheers, fol.
lowed by continuous demonstrations
"Romc. December Ito the Most
Rev. Elder, Archbishop Of Cincinnati:
His Holiness most lovingly grants his
apostolic bcnediction to the American
Federation of Catholic Societies, as
sembled in national convention in Gin
cinnati.
IN. Cardinal Rampolla."
]. J. Coyle, chairman of the CON-
mittee on resolutions, made a report
in part as follows: