Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-10

lean Federation Of Catholic Societie
opened in this city early today. Their
were fully 5000 people in attendance
at the religious services. Right Rev
Mgr. A. J. feeling of Lynn was thu
| celebrant of the mass and Rev. j. J
Mccarthy and Rev. j. j. Crane OF th'
cathedral were the deacon and sub
deacon.
| The sermon was delivered by thu
archbishop of the diocese, The Mos
Rev. William H. O'Connell, d. d., ant
seated in the sanctuary were BishoI
James A. McFaul of Trenton, N. j.;
and Bishop Regis Canovin of Pitts
burg, Pa. besides several monsignor
| and some so visiting priests from al
parts of the country.
Passing the day in excursions about
| the harbor and to the historic spots
in the suburbs the delegates gathered
| again tonight at Symphony hall In
mass meeting to receive the of1clal
welcome to the state and city. Judge
NJ. J. Murray of Boston, presided. The
address of welcome was delivered by
Lieut.. Gov. Eben S. Draper for the
state, and by Mayor George A. HID
bard for the city, while Archbishop
O'Connell spoke for the church. The
response was made by Edward Feeney
of Brooklyn, n. Y. national president
of the Federation Society. Archbishop
O'Conncll spoke in part as follows
at the evening service:
After giving expression to cordial
welcome in behalf Of the clergy and
the people of the diocese, Archbishop
O'Connell said in part:
THAT there are moral ills which
threaten the national life. who will be
bold enough to deny. To remedy these
ills before they assume more alarm
ing proportions is the duty of every
true patriot. And the first step in
procuring that remedy is to know
them as they are.
IN the -glorified way of human
wisdom, other assemblies, more pro-
tentious than we are striving to de-
tect the threatening shoals of modern
society upon which the ship of state
might founder. But that little CLEAN
pales into insignificance when the
great searchlight of Christian revela-
ton has been turned upon the i'm
pending danger. From the great
lighthouse of centuries, which is the
church. CLEANS the pure white rays
of that truth which scrutinizes alike
the conscience of the individual and
the conscience of, the nation.
ITO arouse that conscience to a
recognition of duty must be the work
of this conference. To awaken from
sleep the citizens who are dozina upon
a precipice and to lead them back to
CT iUht nf nlIhlip 6I1tV--
That is your subject in coming here.
Who ever in this country, by it's con-
stitution is raised to civil hOnors is
bound to answer for them. But the
Catholic in public life is bound a
hundred fold to show by his public
actions, the highest type of public
service and here we must allow no
compromise. The Catholic man who
seeks for civil honors and then be-
trays the public confidence is doubly
guilty. guilty of his own crime against
the state and it's interests; and, guilty
of an awful crime against that church
to which inevitably his treachery will
be imputed. Such men must be
branded as double traitors, for If they
truduce the honor of city common
wealth they just so much put back
the march of every honorable Cath
Ole citizen toward that public hon
or and respect to which they are
justly entitled
when federation has done this it
has already accomplished great
work and brought out a tremendous
force of good Unles we do this our
efforts in other directions will avail
ha of
that, whoever sincerely follows the
teachings of the Holy Mother church,
must inevitably become and prove
himself the very noblest and highest
type Of citizen-And there are millions
such-it becomes our duty to the glory
of our Christian name to compel by
sentiment and our action the best
public service from our own if they
expect us to stand for them and with
them"
The principal address of the even
ing was delivered by Prof. Thomas
Dwight. Md, LID, dean of the Har-
ward Medical School, whose subject
was "The Church and Science"
On Monday and Tuesday there will
be two business sessions of the ma
tional convention and Tuesday a sec
ond evening mass meeting at Sym
phony hall at which Bishop McFaul
of Trenton. N. j., will be principal
speaker Other speakers will be
Thomas Cannon of Chicago and F.
w Heckenham, Jr., of Quincy. Ills
During the convention. many impor-
tant matters will be brought up for
discussion, chief among which will be
consideration of divorce laws, social
ism, church extension work, and
national organization for Catholic
men.
Two conspicuous figures in attend
ance upon the convention are two full
blooded Indians, Chief Joe Horn
Cloud and Chief Joe Red Willow.
The convention is expected to come
to a close on Wednesday fternon as
far as the business sessions are con-
cerned.