The Irish standard., 1919-09-20
CONSTITUTION DAY
AT PR0-cATnEDRAL
Rev. f. e. Cullen Delivers an lllum.
mating Address on Our Great
Charter of Liberty.
Submission to Its Provisions and Reg.
ulations Is Required as a Moral
and Religious. Duty.
Fourth Degree, Knights Of Columbus,
Attend the Exercises.

At the Pro-Cathedral of st. Mary
Constitution Day, Wednesday, Sept.
II, was observed with a public mass
meeting, at which the Pastor, Rev. T.
E. Cullen delivered an impressive ad-
dress bearing upon the Constitution
and its relation to American citizen
ship. The exercises were held in the
main auditorium of the Church and
were attended by large audience.
The opening number was america"
which was sung by the assemblage.
At the close of Father Cullen's tad-
dress Benediction of the Blessed Sac
rament was sung by the priests of the
Cathedral, after which all arose
and sang ''The Star Spangled Banner"
A large delegation of the Nicollet
Assembly, Fourth Degree of the
knights of Columbus under command
of Supreme Navigator, John c. Shee-
han, and in full regalia attended the
celebration, assembling in the school
the Church.
Father Cullen's theme was: "The
Constitution and the Citizen" and his
discourse was marked with an earn
estness that left a deep impression
upon those in attendance.
The constitution is the best possible
form of government for this nation
and should be preserved in all it's life
and vigor was the statement made
by the Rev. Z. E.>Cullen, pastor of
the Pro-Cathedral of st. Mary, at
constitution day mass meeting last
night in the Pro-Cathedral. He spoke
on ''The Constitution and the Citi-
zen."
"The constitution is the charter of
political liberty" said Father Cullen.
ut places in the hands of the people
the government of the community.
The people make the laws and admin
lister the affairs of the nation. Political
liberty is the crowning gift of the Con-
stitution, guardian of all the other
blessings with which it enriches the
nation"
Father Cullen began by describing
the constitution that was adopted 1872
years ago, explaining it's three-fold
function-executive, legislative and
judicial.
"The constitution of the United
States proclaimed democracy" he said.
'The glory of America is her democ-
racy. Democracy is the sovereignty
of the people. 1t not only grants to
the people thereby inalienable right,
the primary custody of sovereign
power dedicated to civil society by AL
mighty God, but confides to the people
immediate exercise of that power"
The dignity of manhood is recog-
nized and consecrated by the constitu-
tion.
''In other forms of government, birth
or social position may confer civil and
political rights" he said, "but. in
America they are the dover of man
hood and of manhood alone. Univer-
sal suffrage is the fullest expression
of social rights, and universal suffrage
democracy bases on manhood. When
a citizen stands at the voting booth
nothing is demanded of him but his
manhood. He is an equal among
equals. He understands and feels the
dignity of his manhood.
Guarantees Equal Rights.
"The constitution guarantees equal
rights and opportunities. All men are
created equal, declares this authorita-
tive document of democracy. This does
not mean that physically men are
equally strong or that Intellectually
they are equally alert, but that before
the bar of nations laws they are guar
anteed equal rights and opportunities.
The highest position in the gift of the
nation is available to the son of the
poorest in the realm, If by the Gre
ator's gift and his own energy and
wisdom he deserve honored recogni-
ti0n of his fellows"
Father Cullen said that this coun-
trys constitution proclaimed civil lib
erty as we'll as political liberty.
''Civil liberty is ownership of ones
self, the right to dispose of ones self
and of ones powers of action as one
chooses and wills, save only inasmuch
as reason imposes restrictions in the
name of liberty itself. Limitations are
imposed on liberty in order to save
society from chaos. Liberty is
abridged only when it labors under re-
strictions that are not called for by
the needs of society, and when they
have for their purpose the advantage
of the few and not of the many. Re-
strictions such as these democracy
does not permit, for the constitution