The Washington herald., 1911-06-07


adorned the platform. The national and
State colors were In evidence at every
turn. Entwined with the American flags
about tho pillars which supported the
galleries were the colors Of Maryland,
with here and there pennant bearing
the date 1911
The base Of the stage was decorated
with long strips OF cardinal red bunting.
FestooDed here and there were the
Stars and Stripes, while between each
national flag were either the State nag
Of Maryland or the Maryland coat of
arms.
The long cardinal pennants were edged
at one end with gold in commernoration
of Cardinal Gibbons fiftieth anniversary
as a priest OF the church. 1t was just
below this edge of gold that the arms Of
the preiate were seen. IT was brilliant
picture OF varied colors all set on by
! the large satin upholstered chair OF car
dinal red located in the middle Of the
front os the platform in which sat the
cardinal
Governor First Speaker.
Gov. Crothers who presided presented
to the church the congratulations of the
people OF Maryland. who. he said, took
pride in being residents OF the State in
which religious liberty was first pro-
claimed. He then introduced the Pres
ident, who was greeted with cheers upon
cheers. He made brief speech
Col. Roosevelt received an ovation when
he was presented. and it was some time
before he could proceed. He said:
I'VE meet this afternoon to honor IN
the name of all the American people, in
the name of the American nation. to
you, because while the American people
may differ among themselves on ques-
tions of dogma, they are a unit IN
recognizing what accounts in civic affairs
for so much more than dogma-conduct
in the churchman as in the statesman.
Friends, we read now and then prophecies
OF woe about the churches in the future,
complaints as to congregations growing
smaller, complaints as to lack Of belief
among the congregations. There will be
no trouble about the future of any
American church II that church makes
as its cardinal principal the rendering Of
service to the people.
mo church in the United States will
ever have to defend itself as long as
those standing highest IN the church, as
Well as those under them, serve the peo-
rle, devote their lives to the services Of
the men and women round them, as you,
Cardinal Gibbons. have devoted your life
tn the service of your fellow-countrymen
and countrymen. What we care for,
what we Americans wish to see in the
church is service, what we wish TO Judge
the man by is his conduct and character.
And IL the church renders good service
and II the man rings true when we ap-
ply the touchstones Of principle to his
conduct and his character, then the
American people will be well content
with both church and man.
United ON Great Issues.
And though, my feIlow-countrymen
II, In spite of all the little things that
divide us, think how blessed we are be-
cause we are united on all the great fun
damental issues and we can come togeth-
er on an occasion like this without re-
gard to past history 3nd antecedents,
without regard to differences OF religious
or political belief. to honor a good man
who in and through his church and as
a citizen of this country has lived the
life that good man should.
1T was my good fortune the other
day to attend meeting composed
chiefly OF protestant preachers, who 1
was introduced to by q Catholic priest,
and where we were led in the Apostles
prayer by a Jewish rabbi and now we
come together, Catholic and Protestant,
Jew and Gentle. as the President has
said, TO render honor to the man who is
our fellow-citizen and in whom we all
claim a certain proprietary right"
The addresses of the other distinguished
speakers were brief and in a congratu-
iatory vein. The exercises lasted three
hours, after which the President return
ed to Washington, while Col. Roosevelt
was entertained at dinner by Judge Rose,
of the United States Court
Mayor Preston entertained ali Of the
other distinguished visitors at his home,
where Cardinal Gibbons was the guest
of honor.