Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-10-13

tuary, choir: The Catholic Church"
Rt Rev. Louis s. Walsh. d. D., bishop
of Portland; grand final chorus, Holy
God" sanctuary choir and audience.
Gov. Williams T. Haines' address
follows
ITO the knights of Columbus,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Il consider il duty. a privilege and
a pleasure To be with YOU, today, and
join with you in eemmemoration of the
event of the discovery of the Western
Hemisphere, and to do honor TO the
great diseoverer of all nations, Chris
topher Columbus. The great respect
and esteem in which ! hold your bish-
op. If for no other reason, would have
compelled me to accept the invitation
to be present on this occasion. But
there are many other reasons why, as
Chief Executive of your State, / should
be present. The public observance of
any event in history should always be
recognized by the civil government OF
q state or nation. The Constitution Of
Maine starts in its preamble by an 'ae-
acknowledgement with grateful heart of
goodness of Sovereign Ruler of the
Universe" and a purpose to secure
the blessings of liberty for the then
people Of the state and their posterity.
And the third section of the Declara-
ton of Rights says that all men have
natural and unalienable right to
worship Almighty God according to the
dictates of their own conscienees and
no one shall be hurt, melested or re-
strained in his person. liberty or es-
tate for worshipng God in the man
ner ond season most agreeable To the
dictates of his own conscience nor Tor
his religious preferences of sentiments,
provided he does not disturb the pub
lie peasce nor obstruct others in their
religious worship. This declarat ton of
the Constitution also gives me the
pleasure and privilege of being with
van Catholics. today. and in doing hon
or to one of the bravest and most he +,
roic names IN history.
"rhe State recognizes every line OF
human activity. in intellect or mind,
in labor of physical energy. The state
reioiecs with YOU and with all other
scots and denominations in those
things which commemorate the deeds
of the true and the noble Of the past
and stands for those things winch
make for the true and the noble In the
future. Each day and generation brings
new problems to civil government. or,
perhaps. | should say, new forms Oh
the same problems, because there rs
worry little that is new i'll the world.
a2-..srbe discovery of America was new to
the court of Spain in 1882, but was not
n
North American Indian, and the archae-
ologist now finds evidence oil a very ap-
cient civilization on this continent ana
of a very high order OF development OF
the human mind. The social and eco
nomic problems that are disturbing us at
the present time all have their parallels
in history 1t is Inc handling of tnese
problems by each succeeding generation,
as time goes on. that determines the
place of each people in each period in /
the history Of the race.
..,rbe State is anxious that it so does
its part that its record shall become
bright and luminous page for future
generations to read and profit by, as we
now read and profit by the best efforts
Of the past. The church OF today, and
by church | mean to include all orders
sects and creeds that recognize d.
vine authority and stand for moral
normal and correct life, also reads ITS
past history and profits by its best ef-
forts Both State and church may proht
by past errors. Material things in all
lines and In all parts of the world seem
to have reached as high a standard at
this time as human achievement ever
before has accomplished. And yet, We
feel there is a constant and sometimes
an immediate danger of refrigeration ana
destruction. AS we look back we note
how sudden has been the downfall of the
highest civilization.
Human selfishness which always has
been, and always will be. the first law
of nature, is ever with us, and is ever TO
be held in restraint. The State is al
ways alert to this danger, never more
so than today. Over-reaching for wealth
and place and power is a human in
stinct IT is only the public conscience
as the result of the most enlightened
opinion, and all things done in the open
light and freedom of honest discussion
that masters this instinct. Civil govern
ment is based upon the principle of the
surrender of individual right sometimes
called natural rights-but more correct
~ natural wrongs-for the benefit of
all. to a civil or collective unit called "A
state--often expressed as the greatest
good for the greatest number. So the
church Is organized with a like spirit to
extend these principles of democracy.
1.-The greatest leader of democracy the
world has ever known was Christ and
the State as well as the church is based
upon the great underlying principles OF
human rights and justice which he so
much better expressed than any other
teacher or law giyer ever did. So while
We say church and state are separate
and SO they are and always should be,
IN their operations and freedom from in
reference one with the other-they are
in fact more united than ever in the
sane purpose for the Improvement and
benefit OF all mankind-both looking To
the future as well as the present-both
In body as in spirit or soul. and I may
ada that fully believe that a pure SOU
can only be found in a clean and pure
body
ssThe education Of the masses is the