The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-07-20

ton with parish or diocese when APP
peal Is made for special manifestation
of faith, for special personal effort in
| works Of religion and charity, and,
let me say 1t, since right here resides
a test of strong belief and of whole
souled devotion to religion and to
charity. the Knight of Columbus will
| be large-hearted and wide-handed,
when purses are hidden be loosened in
support of causes, which, however
much the inspiration springs from
Heaven, depend, in the ordering Of
divine providence, upon resources
drawn from earth.
The Loyalty of Catholic Citizens.
Were I to hearken to voices of un-
truth and ill-will, arms other than the
spiritual arms of truth and justice
should lie in the hands of soldiers
and of defenders of the Catholic
Church. Now and then we are
accused of dark Vaccinations through
intrigue and political plotting to
make captive the laws and institutions
of America, and bend their power
into servile service of Catholic in
terests. Insane the charge: merest
calumnies, the so-called arguments
made use of to wing it into circula-
ton.
Catholics know the laws and the
institutions of America: they are
| 70 in, ho
fibre of their hearts they are faithful
to them. Under those laws and in
stitutions Catholics make these de-
mands: rights to all, privileges to
none. What comes to all as the
inalienable heritage of American
citizenship they exact as theirs: what
belongs not to all, they scorn to have
as their peculiar possession. This
their determination as men and as
citizens-Are efforts made to dis
criminate against Catholics in mat
ters civil or political?-as men and
as citizens Catholics protest. Are
efforts made to endow them with
special privileges ?-as men and as
citizens Catholics should protest, and
ever will protest Catholics demand
that the 1utterings of the flag of free
dom be not the mere motion of the
wind, but the significant token of &C
tual freedom and equality to all
citizens of America, whoever those be,
whatever their ancestry, whatever
their color, whatever their religious
creed. Rights for Catholics, as for
all other American citizens-yes; a
hundred times yes. Favors and priv
leges for Catholics, or for other
special classes of citizens-no;
hundred times no. To covet or to
grasp favors or privileges, not al
lowed to all, were treason to the starry
banner-such treason will never find
lodgment in the hearts of it's Catholic
citizens: such treason America loaths
and condemns: such treason the Cath
Ollie Church loathes and condemns:
such treason the true American, the
true Catholic will never be guilty of.
Knights of Columbus, I have re-
hearsed the ideals and purposes of
your association. To those ideals and
purposes be you, each and every one,
loyal in profession and in fact. So
doing, you will bless and elevate your
selves; SO doing you will merit and
receive the applause of country and
of Church.
The erection of your new home is
an event in the Catholic history of st.
Paul. 1t betokens past prosperity: it
betokens yet greater prosperity in
years to come. With succeeding
years, let your zeal be the warmer,
your activity the more intense, your
harvest of good works the more
plentiful Be there within the walls
of this home life and energy. There
are in st. Paul other associations Of
Catholics. To each of those I bid
God-speed, as do to you: to each /
say, as say to you: work to be the
best. Be there among all our Catho-
lie associations a holy rivalry to do
the most good in the service of re-
ligion and of charity: then, well will
it be for religion and for charity:
then well will it be for country and
for Church.
The Church Must Lead.
| To all Catholic associations. how
ever, / give the counsel, without the
observance of which success will not
be the reward of effort. The counsel
is this: always work in harmony with,
in submission to, the principles and
the command Of the great association
which is the Church of God, of which
other associations among Catholics
are only the daughters and the
servants: else, you stray from the
pathways of the faith: you forswear
your title of Catholic. Always work
in harmony with those whom the Holy
Spirit has placed to rule the Church
avoiding perilous independence Of