The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-11-23

II a
A6.l8F ial functions at the
OI capital OF the nation.
O This new event on
Uncle Sans calendar Of spectacles Is
known as the Pan-American Thanks.
giving Mass and II 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
vies 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 jeweed decora.
tons. contributes to a panorama OF
pomp and glitter.
II 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 7. 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 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 II 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 dignltares 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 as
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-
tions between the various independent
nations of this continent In this re
spect II may be said to be making
common cause with the periodical
Pan-American congresses. the exten-
sion of the activities OF the Pan
American bureau at Washington. our
own 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.
ganizaton of a Pan.American society
of the United States with headquar-
ters in New York and branches In all
the large cities the projected new
organization being one which will
hold relationship to Latin America
uf to fhaf ugh -
society has with Great Britain and the
Japan society has with reference to
the Flowery Kingdom,
The Pan-American Thanksgiving
service depends, II is needless 10 say,
for significance, upon the occasion
and the personnel OF the cosmopolitan
congregation that occupies the re-
served 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
toons OF bunting showing the inter.
twined colors of the Pan-American
nations, and that there is special
sermon of thanks for the continuation
Of amicable relations among the re
publics of the New World. there Il
little in the program or appointments
to bear witness of the meaning of the
gathering That the church. how
ever, desired to invest this specia
service with all the solemnity tha
may be infused is indicated by tht