The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-12-01

IL
ANh0,iSF ial functions at the
/ ~5s.Ss/ capital of the nation
-" This new event on
| Uncle Sans calendar of spectacles is
/ known as tho Pau-American Thanks
giving Mass and it bids 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
yies with any Of the other gatherings
as 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
Latin-American countries in their
court dress, with uniforms adorned in
many instances with ieweled decora-
tions, contributes to a panorama Of
pomp and glitter
It is rather difficult to trace the ex.
act origin and development of the
idea for this unique new international
Thanksgiving service, but Mgr. VIII
lam II. Russell pastor of st. Pat
rick's church at Washington, is gen
orally given credit for the evolution
OF the plan in its present form. st.
Patrick's has always been one of the
court churches" at tho 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 it 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
2ial action or in effect recognize the
Catholic as the state church
This new Thanksgiving service las
yet another significance as one of sew
sral distinctly important factors
which have lately made their appear
,nce, all looking to the cementing OF
loser social, trade and political rela-
ions between the various Independent
lations Of this continent. In this re-
pect 1t may be said to be making
omm0n cause with the periodical
congresses, the exten-
ion of the activities Of the Pan.
american bureau at Washington, our
wn governments specialization on |
be subject as expressed in the new
vision Of Latin-American affairs at
be state department, and finally, the
itest project of all-that for the or
anization of a Pan-American society
the United States with headquar-
eTs in New York and branches in all
ne large cities, the projected new
rganization being one which will
old relationship to Latin America :
milar TO that which the Pilgrims
lciety has with Great Britain and the
apan society has with reference to
le Flowery Kingdom.
The Pan-Amprican Tbanksgiving
arvice depends, it is needless to say, 6
II significance, upon the occasion Il
ld the personnel OF the cosmopolitan Y
aggregation that occupies the re- II
rived seats in the church rather thar p
J the service itself as of course there g
e no innovations in the latter. The n
utine is that of the solemn high ! +,
ass and save for the fact that the o.
lurch Is decorated with flags and fes- "
ons Of bunting showing the inter r,
'ined colors of the Pan-American r.,
ltiOus, and that there is a special
rmon Of thanks for the continuation M
amicable relations among the re- ii
lbics Of the New World, there is vi
tie in the program or appointments in
bear witness Of the meaning OF the b;
thering That the church, how So
er desired to invest this special al
rviCe with all the solemnity that W
ay be infused is indicated by the &c