The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-20

AZ 81 NOSt SllulCh'
St Rose church avs almost filled
when the church bell ceased tolling it's
muurnful knell and the strains broke
out of the mass that was about to
be sung in observance of the nations
mournful day.
Rev. George Dixon was the Cclc-
brant of the high mass and the church
choir was present to assist in the sol
emn and impressive services.
The unusual spectacle of Catholic
altar surrounded with drapngs of the
American dag was presented. The ma
tiOnal colors ran in circie on the
walsl surrounding the altor, with sym
buls of mourning attached. The altars
of the 81. Joseph and the Blessed Nr-
gin Mary were likewise draped with
black
Nt the conclusion of the mass.
Father Dixon preached a forcible ser
mon. devoting nearly all of his time
to eXcOriatng the evil of anarchism,
showing how delusive was the system
and what a grave offense it was to rise
w against the government or deride
it's authority. which was from God.
The sermon was based on the lesson
contained i'm verses | to : of the thir-
ternth chapter of the Epistle of st.
Paul to the Romans.
Referring to the occasion, Father
Dixon said 1t was a most solemn one:
a moment when a nation, a country is
pouring out its heart and soul in grief
| over the loss of it's sovereign. when
SympathieS are coming to those bereft
Of a noble president, when messages
of sympathy are coming from every
nation in the world to soothe us in our
sorrow and grief and to express re-
gretS that the head of the nation
should fall by the hand of an assassin:
coming TO dcplOre such an act. a crime
against man and God. In this moment
of sorrow, there comes the mesSag ges
of peace to console the SOrrowng and
| the prayer that God may comfort all
| in the sorrow of the afiiiCtion. Well
might we grieVe. first because one of
natures noblemcn, the representative
of our people has been cut down in
| death. and one of the nations best
| representatives of manhood and of
| StateSmanShip has fallen before the
bullet of an assassin: and well may we
| grove because of his noble character
! and again because might rises against
| right and strikes against all power
| all authority.
| "'fhere is no power except that which
| comes from God and is ordained of
| God. Such is the law of nature and
| the law of God; there must be ruler
and there must be authority. We see
| this eXemplitied by the laws of nature.
| Where there is life there must be "A
| leader. The cattle that we see herded
| together, the birds that fly across the
| horizon, have their leader; the most
savage tribe i'm darkest Africa has it's
| chief. In whatever condition we find
| man, we see the necessity of leader,
! and as we advance in civilization we
see this condition in its perfection. The
| theory that strikes at a system of law
and order strikes at man and God. be-
| cause even i'm heaven order is the first
| law.
! I'm this glorious republic. what "A
! grand privilege ii is for MS to place one
! from our midst i'm authority over us;
we cannot rule ourselves. but by our
| fire." choice "" place one i'm authority
over Us. Tn" authority recognized in
| tn" president is our own, ana We have
| given to him what God has given to
us. by this act We pledge to serve and
obey his laws, ANA that authority
comes from fod. Just as we are sub
! ioct to God, 50 We are subject to the
| head of our nation. not i'm wrath but i'm
conscience.
40 ROOM FOR ANARCHY.
"Thcrc is no room for anarchy in this
land of ours, and he who would uphold
ii would Strik" at God himself II is a
delusiNc system that would teach that
human nature is so perfect that every
on" could live according to his con-
science"
Father Dixon here defined the differ
ent forms of anarchy and pointed out
what terrible chaos would follow the
attempt To overthrow authority and
government.
There is no authority" he said
again, by way of emphasis, but from
God, and consequently we should pay
those i'm authority all respect and
honor, because of their station: fraI
because Of punishment. and love be-
cause they rule us in the name of God
our Heavenly Father
orr NOBLE PRESIDENT.
"Our president was noble as a states.
man, noble in his home, the first place
he had authority and the first element
in government; there he acquired tho
first virtues that We're afterward per-
fected in the presidency. What love
and what devotion To his helpmatC
We're his years with her i'm her illness
AN invalid, you might say. There he
showed his love, his fidelity, his true
Christian virtues; virtues that cannot
be despsed but admired; virtues by
which every one may profit.
III Is our task to labor and spread
the light, To take from the minds ot
those who would have them these ia Is,
principles; To teach them by example
by love for country and authority that