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


bleeding from its wounds was born
its invincible life and subsequent
glories.
Father Stanton followed Father
Fink and had a word 70 say on the
I'D vantsges the Academy girls bad 70
learn In their early school days the
patriotism which should distinguish
all real Americans, | too, he said,
participated ia ny school boy days
In 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 ia defence of il,
but your conversation on the origin
of Americas banner las in ten
minutes awakened within me more
appreciation OF its worth than any
thing | ever heard 10 all my early
school career. Father Stanton next
remarked that IL 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 a mOnstrosity, or as
some thing pernicious any system
Of education that left out q 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, aud
he rsbuked his soldiars 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 hose help
the colonies would never have
achieved independence or the pur-
suance OF that life. and liberty they
signed the Declaration OF Independ-
ence to enjoy. Washington the pa
triO:, par excellence. nourished his
love OF country by pEayeS when amid
horrors worse even than those of
Valley Forge he petitioned heaven
for sustaining courage and persever-
ance in desperate struggle. Turu-
ing TO a beautiful American flag that
hung in drapery over a 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 valor. But alas its folds
are being steadily soiled by the scan
da lous decisions of some American
divorce courts. A million divorces
in twenty years, and under our flag!
What does that!presage? Only the
ruin OF the Republic following in the
wake OF the ruin of American family
life and honor.
By voice and pen check this uu-
utterable evil; use all your influence
to abolish it in the land of Washing
ton. The flag in his day knew it
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 and maintaining unimpared
the three elements which must pre-
vail il our county is to endure.
These elements are respect for
authority, Education that insti's
morality based upon religion, aud
the defence OF the indissolubility Of
the marriage bond.
There is, and there has been a
conspiracy of silence in many quar-
ters, in many school books and his
tories in regard to the part taken ny
the church. and notably the Catholic
church in the formation and growth
OF our country and it's national great
ness. On Washington birthday
then it behooves US Americans to
give that church its measure of our
gratitude as he did; to address to it
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 S favorite son among the
signers of the Declaration OF indie
pendence. Among other things the
first OF our Presidents says; Il pre-
sumo that our fellow citizens will
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 a nation in which the Roman
Catholic faith is professed.