The Marshall republican., 1912-12-06
Why I Am a Catholic

the Anti Cath olic literature gong
out over the country at this tine,
! desire to present to you the fol-
lowing tributes to the Catho'ie
church by dist 'nguiihe1 p:o.e1-
tants. Please read them see l.:
they do not contain historical
facts some of us have overlooked.
The Hon. Claude A. Swaenson,
Governor Of virg MIA in an address
of welcome before the st. Vincent
de Paul Soc.ety, Sunday night May
3 1908 paid this magnif cent tribute
TO the Catholic church. The Gov
ernor spoke as follows;
~ esteem Il a great pleasure to
be permitted to extend TO the So
ciety of st. Vincent de Paul n well
come upon this occasion. I assure
you that the people not only OF
this CITY but OF the entire State
appreciate your preseIcl rere. and
wish me. as Governor OF this Com
monwcalth, to extend to you a
cordial welcome.
ave have n most profound es-
TEEN and aImirat on FOR your So
ciety which has been product We OF
so much good. not only In the Unit
ed States but In all parts Of the
world. From It's formal on in 1913
to this day, no society has been
more generous in it9 beneficti m
20 the poor and needy. none nor
active in its efforts to relieve hu-
mainly, and none moro eff cient n
accomplishing good AMI lofty pu.-
poses. From Paris IL has radiltci
TO all parts o. the globe carrying
untold blessings AMI benefit T.. To
day II possesses more thin SIX
thousand branche1 scattered In all
parts % the word, giving TO hui
manity an unselfish service end
evidences of generous Christi n
charity. II constitutes an army ~
more than one hundred thousand
active, earnest and devoted work
ers. An army composed OF such
co~nsecrated workers cannot fail to
be productive Of immeasurable
good. and to daily and cont nuous-
ly start splendid influences which
must continue through countless
centuries.
"one telturc OF this society par
ticularly deserving OF commenaa-
ton IL that none OF Its members
are allowed to receive any COM
pensation for the labor or service
performed; all Of their work IL In
loving u~nself.sh devotion. No re-
wards are received, except from
the consciousness derived from ser
vice and sacrifice for the better
ment OF others. Thus II illustrates
strongly and s~trikingly the chief
principles OF the Christian religion,
suffering and sacrifice to r.
Others. Those engaged In such
grand work cannot fail to have
their souls enob,ed, mind and spir I
elevated. This is why virginia, ap
preciat'ng your high purposes and
splendid services in the past, com
missions me TO express TO you her
great qualification at having you
assemble within her borders.
"You come to a State whose peo-
pie still adhere TO the simp'e Chris
tan faith Of their fathers; a State
uyhAaA "a ~ htaNA.xr f.a.n ALa
early settlement at Jamestown are
illumined by eminent men who
have cheerfuily given their lives
to the service OF state, country and
humanity;a State where the truths
OF the Bible are stlll believed and
touch alike public and private at
fairs, where religion and past ira
ditlons still gild with glory prac-
teal life and furnish the source OF
strength for the perpiexing pro-
blems OF the future (; a State whose
eminent men from Washington to
Lee were possessed OF that genius
and fame which number them for
ever among the immortal, yet
who had a faith as simple and as
humble as that OF a child, and who
gloried in practic.ng the simple
virtues OF Christian life.
ave hope your stay among us
will be pleasant, and we assure you
that our homes and hearts are OPP
en- to receive you-a portion of
the words best and mos. benef'c-
ent workers.
1--WE also welcome you as a por-
ton of the Great Catholic Church,
whose blessings and benef T. hive
been given in every cline and to