The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-03-10

and the good of the people. The peo-
pie responded to the appeal with a
courage and confidence that could only
,ome front God. This is why men
who, apparently are Indifferent to re-
ligiOn and who are not conscious OF
being influenced by Christian senti-
ment feel themselves suddenly
moved to action when some dar-
tardly crime is committed or when
public officials outrage public decency.
These awakenings Of the people are
the expressions Of the Christian teach
ings of our ancestors and Of the vir.
tues that underl;e our national char.
acter. All these blessings We have re.
ceived; all these blessings we possess.
all these blessings we enjoy. The
are the result OF our Christian civil
zation. they will be our security il, tho
day Of peril. Shall we hold them. al l
develop them, and cherish them US
our most precious heritage, and traEs-
init them in all their integrity to pos.
terity? We certainly shall do so as far
as we are able; this is q grand mis-
sion. 81 splendid undertaking for the
National Alumni Association. WHO
have Il better right than we, to worl.
for SO noble an object. We possess
in common, with our fellow citizens,
the inestimablc blessings of peace,
prosperity and liberty; therefore We
should show our gratitude to kind
Providence by endeavoring as far as
we are able to impress on the minds
of our children that these blessings are
the gifts of God and that they have
come to US through the teachings of
Christianity whose principles are the
wisest and the best for the highest In
tcrests of society: that they arc no:
the principles Of dead issues. but that
they are living and undying: they are
upright and patriotic; they are the ex-
preston of truth and duty; they lead
to perfection Of the family and society
here and to happiness hereafter.
To succeed in this great work we
should use our best influence in our
respective Spheres. to impress these
truths OF society. We should discuss
them in our homes. and VIC should
make them the spirit and life of our
schools. The home is naturally the
first and proper place to do this, but
when we look at the state Of society
as we find it today. it is difficult to
do it thoroughly in the home, and az
the matter is Of the most vital import
ancc the school should supplement the
ono in tho formation Of character on
Christian principles. The school is
indeed today, the most important and,
at the same time, the most effective
agency Tor the formation Of true Chris
tians. and consequently Of good, and
patriotic citizens.
Our beloved country to reach it's
highest ideals requires that it's citi-
zens be intelligent. God-fearing Chris
tian men. The founders Of the republic
by the inspired pen Of Thomas Jeffer-
for the Government Of the Northwest
territory that Religion, morality and
knowledge being necessary to good
government and the happiness Of man
kind. schools and the means of edu-
cation should forever be encouraged
The essential thing for us, is TO do
all the good we can, and to do it for
the pure love OF God. We cannot
do good to other people. against thcil
will. nor can we expect that they will
give up their convictions for ours, how
ever satisfied we may be, that ours are
right. But we can aid them by our
good example.
Let us help to make our schools
converts, colleges and our Catholic
university centers of intelligence. vir.
tue and purity Of life. centers of in
dustry. hard study. and close applic:l.
! ton to duty. Let our pupils be mod
els of honesty, uprightness and obe.
dience: let our boys and girls be noted
for politcness. respect for authority
prudence. temperance and piety. II
their respective positions and in al
the relations o. life let them live with.
In their income and show by thcil
lives that they understand Christian
economy. II our schools turn out stu.
dents of this class, then will our you'll
be Christians in deed as well as ii
name: then will young men be loyal
faithful. intelligent, patriotic. worth,
Of support and encouragement; tine,
will our young women be modest, ac
complished and pure, and then will ou
fellow citizens find out that we TAX
the wisest and best means to bring VI
good men and noble women and thu
will they realize that thorough Chris
tian education is the best guarantee
OF true patriotism.
But how can the National Alumni
cooperate in SO glorious work q
, this?
The gentlemen Of the National Alum
nj Association know by a happy ex