Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-03-04

10 lufinctUtc HE duu huusequ6nf
glories.
Father Stanton followed Father
Fink and had a word TO say on the
advantages the Academy girls had to
learnin their early school days the
patriotism which should distinguish
ell real Americans. too, be said,
participated in my school boy days
10 the celebration OF Washington s
birthday In the public schools OF
Boston: but ! never was so imbued
with the love Of our flag and country
as you are here. The blood of many
of my kin was shed In defence OF It,
but your conversation on the origin
OF Americas banner has In ten
minutes awakened within me more
appreciation OF It's worth than any.
thing ! ever heard In. all my early
school career Father Stanton next
remarked that II Washington. were
standing on the Academy stage to-
day be would applaud the method
or system OF education employed by
the Sisters. George Washington
regarded as q monstrosity, or as
some thing pernicious any system
of education that left out training
in morality and religion. He be-
lieved religion was essential to edu-
cation; be believed in equal civil
rights for. all Americans; that Catho-
lies should encounter no civil disa-
bilities because of their faith, and
he rebuked his soldiers for saying
and doing things offensive to Cath
olics. because such conduct was
against justice and the gratitude
that America owed to the Catholic
nation OF France with out whose help
the colonies would never have
achieved independence or the pur-
suance OF that life. and liberty they
signed the Declaration OF Independ-
enoe to enjoy. Washington the pa
triot, par excellence, nourighed his
love Of country by prayes when amid
horrors worse even than those Of
Valley Forge he petitioned heaven
for sustaining courage and persever-
ance 10 q desperate struggle. Turn
ing to beautiful American flag that
hung Ia drapery over @ picture Of
Martha Washington Father Stanton
exclaimed; American women are
safe under the folds Of this flag as
long as it continues to stand for re-
ligion justice purity, home life I'M
ndfiled and val0r. But alasl It's folds
are being steadily soiled by the scan
da lpus decisions Of some American
divorce courts. A million divorces
In twenty years, and under our flagl
What does thatIpresageP Only the
ruin OF the Republic following Ia the
wake Of the ruin OF American family
life and honor.
BY voice and pen check this I'M
utterable evil; use ell your influence
to abolish IL Ia the land Of Washing
ton. The flag In his day knew 1t
not. Father Kelly brought the exer-
cises to close BY again commenting
on the work Of the church In help.
ing on the construction OF our Re-
public aud maintaining unimpared
the three elements which must pre-
vail II our county Is to endure.
These elements are respect for
authority, Education that insti's
morality based upon religion, and
the defence OF the indIssolubility Of
the marriage bond.
There is. and there has been
conspiracy OF silence 10 many quar-
ters, In many school books and his
tories 10 regard to the part taken by
the church. aud notably the Catholic
church Ia the formation and growth
Of our country and it's national great
ness On WashinRton's birthday
then II behooves us Americans to
give that church It's measure OF our
gratitude as he did; to address TO II
the words used by our Washington
when replying TO letter sent to him
after his election to the presidency
Of the United States by such Catho-
lies and lovers of American liberty
and Independence, as John Carroll,
the first Archbishop Of Baltimore,
and Charles Carroll Of Carrollton,
Maryland g favorite son among the
signers Of the Declaration OF INDIE
pendence. Among other things the
frstof our Presidents says; II pre-
sumo that our fellow citizens viii
not forget the patriotic part which
you took In the accomplishment OF
their revolution and In the accom-
plishment of their government or the
important assistance they received
from nation In which the Roman
Catholic faith Is professed."