The Irish standard., 1915-11-27
ence Cardinal Gibbons, and Monsignor

ence Cardinal Gibbons, and Monsignor
Russell.
Monsignor Russell introduced Car.
dinal Gibbons, whose remarks were re-
ceived with intense interest BY the
guests.
The last speaker, Mr.. John Barrett,
was given an ovation when he named
the Cardinal as 1.-THE very first to
give the Pan-American Union sub
stantial encouragement" and Monsig-
nor Russell as "a valued promoter,
wise in thought, and sincere of heart"
Every year solid silver medal is
given as souvenir of the Mass. This
year it is circular in form, while on
one side is inscribed:
"Pan-American Thanksgiving Cele-
bration, Rt. Rev. VIM. T. RUSSELL D. D.,
st. Patrick's Church, Washington,
D. c."
On the reverse side is the ship
Santa Maria" in which Columbus
made his famous voyage to the shores
of America. Above it is the date 1892
while below is 1915. Around the edge
of the medal is inscribed "Dia de Ora.
cias Panamericana" 1915.
The Pan-American Mass was in.
augurated seven years ago, and it's
interesting to know how it came
about.
One day in early November, 1909,
as Monsignor Russell sat before the
huge mission desk in his study in St.
Patrick's rectory reading the Presi.
dents annual Thanksgiving procla.
nation, the thought came to his mind
of what good thing it was for the
President of the United States to call
upon the people of the nation to pause
and thank God-and then suddenly
the world idea or at least, the hemi.
sphere idea, leaped into his mind.
Why not Thanksgiving celebra
! SAoAA ChoC oAol1 AAC1uu0 11OL Lu0 OulI0U
States alone, but all the Americas
North, South and Central, with their
twenty-one separate republics?
The more he thought of 1.-THE big
ger it seemed, and that afternoon John
} Barrett, director general of the Pan
American Union, had caller. 1t was
; Monsignor Russell, and when the plan
} was unfolded, Barrett's eyes bright
ened as he sensed the value and sig
nificance of the idea.
"See the President by all MEANS" he
advised, and when Monsignor Russell
went to the White House, he said tc
President Taft: "These American Re
publics are mostly Catholic. They nat
urally would wish to celebrate Thanks
giving in Catholic Church if they
celebrated it at all. Would you CO
operate in such celebrations" The
President gave Monsignor Russell his
assurance that if the representatives
of the Pan-American Republics would
agree to attend he would be very glad
indeed to lend his own presence.
Then the informal lunch was
planned where there should be free
dom to quip and jest, to fling down
the masks of diplomacy, and meet to
gether as men of common faith and
, blood and flesh on no basis save thai
of true fellowship.
The subject was preached to the
representatives of the three Americas
and the idea accepted instantly and
, with enthusiasm. That Thanksgiving
Day service in Saint Patrick's Church
| it is believed by many, will rank
| among the historic Thanksgiving Day
services held in America. The church
was a scene of beauty; flags were
everywhere, the flags of those Other
r republics. They made of the church
, ceiling a canopy of vari-colored bunt
, ing, and the Solemn Mass of Thanks
giving was especially prepared by Mon
signor Russell. Eminent churchmer
} were quick to catch the significance
, of the occasion. Cardinal Gibbons
, came from Baltimore to sit on throne
on the Gospel side of the altar, while
the papal delegate, Archbishop Fal
} COMO, occupied similar throne or
the Epistle side. The scene was {
, striking one as, with the combined
choirs singing the professional, the i'm
: posing train of church dignitaries
moved slowly up the aisle.
Monsignor Russell preached the
= Thanksgiving sermon, and appropri
ately enough, his subject was Peace.
In the audience, in addition to Presi
dent Taft, who was accompanied BY
| Mrs. Taft, and the Diplomatic repre-
sentatives of the Pan-American Re
publics, were six Cabinet Officers, Jus
tees Of the Supreme Court, eminen,
7 Senators and Representatives, and
many others prominent in the social
and religious life of Washington.
The luncheon, held Immediately
after at the rectory, was an equal sue
cess, and Secretary of State Knox sug
gested that the Thanksgiving service
and luncheon be repeated next year
and that all present attend. &.
Better wait till we are asked,