The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-06-06

and we are proud this morning that
something has been done by us in
this great city to extol the dear old
church and make all who see this
building say: The Catholic church
lives and works and prays today as it
did 1900 years ago.
Religion is all things to us and
while we may enjoy the benefits of
religion under tent in the wilder
ness or in a lonely cottage. still we
know that we are helped in our devo-
ton and aspirations when all around
us speaks Of the beauty Of the skies
such as to take hold Of us and lift
us into the regions of the supernal
world. Our children growing up
cannot but be strengthened in their
faith as they pass by. the Pro-Ca-
thedral and forcibly must stop and
say: How grand and splendid And
those who are not of our faith must
say: It. is worthy Of the Catholics,
this great temple
"Yes, this is day of solemn
thought and deep emotion. We
might cast our glances at the past
and compare the past and the pres
ent. 1t is now two and quarter
centuries since the first Catholic put
foot in Minneapolis. In the year
1881 the pilgrim missionary. Father
Hennepin. gazed on the falls nearby
and christened them st. Anthony.
Apart from himself and two compan-
ions. no white man was then within
hundreds of miles Of this place.
Gould he without miraculous
revelation have even thought Of the
church as it now rises today in splen-
dor in this territory within hearing
of the falls?
And by some good fortune this
Pro-Cathedral now fronts on the ave-
nue. namedf after that first mission
airy. Travelling down further. not
long ago, we had the first frame
church built in what was then st.
Anthony and many remember when
the present Church of st. Anthony
then housed the Catholics of the
whole district. Many remember the
very temporary frame building which
first served as the church of the I'm
maculate Conception. Well. one
church has succeeded another unit
you- hnve - or 80 rar,vtes In Min
neapolis, schools for thousands o
children, asylums, hospitals, till to
day every street throbs with Catholi
life, crowned at this hour by tn,
great and beautiful Pro- Cathedral o
St. Mary. All of us will rememb 81
this first mass in the Pro-Cathedral.
This is terrible age. the playa,
of which is forgetfulness of God. for
getfulness of our souls. 1t is ,
mortal plague which destroys soul
for eternity and creates condition
where men and nations live only TO
passing things. They are as beast
that browse in the grass and live TO
nothing but living. They are dream
ing of transitory follies and forget
ting the eternal things on which thei
happiness for eternity depends.
1T is an age of religious indiffer
ence. Catholics must never be at
tracted by it," Their faith, ground
ed in the instruction of years in tn
truths of God should make it cas-
to remember God and the RESPONSE
bility on Catholics is thousan
times more serious than that o.
those who have not had the oppor
tunities to imbibe the faith. In thi
age of irreligion. let you Catholic
be known by your faith so stron
and so clearly professed that al
must know that there are thousand
who don't forget God and thousand
of others will be impelled to remem
Der mans duty towards Him.
Let the crowds be always goin
to this Pro-Cathedral and then tel
the stranger within your gates to fol
low the crowd"