The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-11-24

giving Mass and it bid fair to ere
long take rank In significance and
popular interest with the presidents
annual New Years reception at the
White House and other similar fix
lures. Even at the outset this event
v1es with any Of the other gatherings
as a spectacle. The presence of high
church dignitaries in their most gor-
geous robes Of state and the participa-
ton Of the diplomats from all the
LAt1n-American countries in their
court dress, with uniforms adorned in
many instances with jeweled decora-
tons, contributes to a panorama OF
pomp and glitter.
1t Is rather difficult to trace the ex-
act origin and development of the
d for this unique new international
Thanksgiving service, but Mgr. Will
lam 7. Russell, pastor Of st. Pat
r1ck's church at Washington, is gen.
orally given credit for the evolution
OF the plan in it's present form. st.
Patrtck's has always been one of the
court churches" at the American seat
OF government and is well known by
reputation to almost all newspaper
readers as the scene of many memo
rial and commemorative services in
honor Of deceased foreign rulers
whose American representatives have
been affiliated with this church.
However, many influences long at
work have combined to make this
service what 1t is. 1t has been more
readily practicable, of course, from
the circumstance that practically all
OF the diplomats stationed in the
United States In the service of the
various republics Of Central and
South America are Of one religious
faith-the Roman Catholic. Moreover,
the highest dignitaries of the Catholic
church in this country, while respect
Ing the American sentiment for a
strict separation Of church and state,
are, naturally, disposed to encourage
close social and religious relations
with the aliens temporarily resident in
the United States as the accredited
agents Of governments which by Off
cial action or in effect recognize the
Catholic as the state church.
This new Thanksgiving service las
yet another significance as one of sew
eral distinctly important factors
which have lately made their appear
ance, all looking to the cementing of
closer social, trade and political rela-
tons between the various independent
nations Of this continent. In this re-
spect it may be said to be making
common cause with the periodical
Pan-American congresses, the extern
sion of the activities of the Pan
American bureau at Washington, our
W governments specialization on
the subject as expressed in the new
division Of Latin-American affairs at
the state department, and finally. the
latest project of all-that for the or
ganizatiOn of a Pan-American society
Of the United States with h%eadquar-
ters In New York and branches in all
the large cities, the projected new
organization being one which will
hold relationship to Latin America
similar to that which the Pilgrims
society has with Great Britain and the
Japan society has with reference to
the FloWeTy
The Pan-American THANKSGIVING
service depends, it Is needless to say,
Tor significance, upon the occasion
and the personnel of the cosmopolitan
congregation that occupies the re-
serve seats in the church rather than
ON the service itself as of course there
are no innovations in the latter. The
routine is that of the solemn high
mass and save for the fact that the
church is decorated with flags and fes-
ICONS OF bunting showing the inter
tw1ned colOrs of the Pan-American
nations, and that there is a special
sermon Of thanks for the continuation
Of amicable relations among the re-
publics OF the New World, there ia
little In the program or appointments
to bear witness of the meaning of the
gathering. That the church. how
ever, desired to invest this special
service with all the solemnity that
may be infused is indicated by the
TACT ths% the conduct Of the service ie
largely In the hands OF Cardinal Glib
bons, the head Of the Roman Catholic
church In America. and Archbishop
FAconio, the apostolic delegate to the
United States-that is the pope's per
sonal representative in this country.
While the Thanksgiving a is in.
tended specially for Uncle Sans ON.
cial guests from south Of the Rio
0rande. attendance is by no 9 re-
stricted to the Latin-American '
their secretaries and attaches and the
ladies Of the households. Az on all