The Washington herald., 1911-05-15
A SENSATION
Representative Hamill Ad.
dresses Holy Name Societies.
Denies Charge that Catholic Church
Opposes Education-Repres
Murray, of Boston, Lauda Religion
and Representative Graham Dis
proves Charges Brought Against
Cult-Father Meagher Presides.

That there is much profanity in
public places, that the oath is fire.
quently violated in judicial proceed
ings, and that great deal of per-
jury is committed in the courts
were charges made by Representa-
tive James A. Hammill, of New
Jersey, in his address at the mass
meeting of the Holy Name Societies
of the District at the Belasco The
ater last night, at which were pres
ent men prominent in the affairs of
the nation, in business and in the
church, and whose members crowd
ed this spacious playhouse to the
doors.
FATHER MEAGHER PRESIDES.
The meeting was opened by the very
Rev. J. R. Meagher. spiritual director
of the District Union. who presided.
and members Of Congress and officers Of
the society occupied seats on the stage.
Music was furnished by the chancel choir
of st. Poul's Church. under the direction
Of Prof. Winchester.
The remarks of Representative Ham,
mill. severely criticising the prevalence
Of perjury in the courts. created a SEN
sation. The New Jersey Representative
said. in part:
We are here tonight to make public
demonstration to the principles of our
holy church; We are here because we
love our faith and because We love our
country.
Gatherings Of this character mean a
rebuke against the prevailing use OF
blasphemy. and TO protect from profana-
ton the holy name of our Lord. We
find that the practice Of profanity in
our public thoroughfares, and even with
in the sacred precincts of our homes, is
only too frequent The Holy Name is
abused at the slightest provocation. The
oath, which Is supposed to be sacred and
binding in our judicial proceedings, is
violated. great deal of perjury is prac-
ticed in our courts. There is a great
deal of false swearing committed and
there is no attention paid to it.
Fault of Officials.
oftentimes this is the fault of the
court officials. who administer the oath
in a haphazard. unimpressive way. with
the witness merely repeating, without
thinking the words requested from him.
Courts Of justice will maintain their
power and influence just so long as the
holy name of God is respected and pro-
tected in the community. and the Holy
Name Society is organized for bringing
about this purpose. Fidelity to public
Office is solemnly eacted by means Of the
oath and the use of the name of God.
The President swears before all the peo-
PIE that he will be faithful to the trust
reposed in him, and so do the governors
and the lawmakers and the judges, and
h yevery one Of them the Deity is in
voked as a witness and to assist them"
Representative Hammill. in emphatic
language, denied the charge recently
brought against the Catholic Church as
being opposed to education, and showed
by history that 1t was this church which
preserved the learning and wisdom Of the
ancients to the world Of to-day. "She is
the friend and patron Of art and science
and the promoter of education and en-
lightenment, and to prove this II need
merely be said that every Catholic
church has her schoolhouse, which is her
contribution to public education. The
Catholic has always been the defender
of his country; he has always carried
the flag of his country beside the cross
of his Saviour
Mother Ever True.
Very Rev. DR.. Meagher spoke Of the
90 cd tta
worn-out forces of the North in the civil
war were cheered by the name of Sheri-
dan when defeat stared them in the face.
The speaker said that there is no sweeter
name than that of Mother" He said.