The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-11-24
WARNS AGAINST
MEDDL|NG WITH
CONSTITUTION
Brooklyn Priest at Pan-Ameri-
can Mass Sees Rights of
Citizenship curbed.

| A warning to American statesman
and lawmakers to stop interfering with
inalienable rights of American citizens
by muddling with the Constitution was
given today by the Rev. DIR. William
F. McGinnis. of Brooklyn, New York.
who preached the sermon at the Thir.
| teenth annual Pan-American Mass,
held in st. Patrick's Church.
IF to tighten taxes no other plan
| be available but to take from Con.
gress the power to provide and MAIN
tain a navy then the eighth section
Of the Constitution (the section which
gives Congress Its power) must stand
and we will cheerfully pay the taxes"
declared Father McGinnls. u
The Brooklyn priest further declared
! that the fourth secrion Of the Consti.
tuition, designed to protect the Amer
lean home from unreasonable searches
and seizures, should stand even IL II
was necessary to repeal the Eighteenth
tprohibition) Amendment.
I'm the enactment and enforcement
Of new legislation a deadly blow may
be given to the inalienable rights and
| constitutional guarantees OF our citi-
zens." he said.
Conformity Necessary.
"our national prosperity depends
upon our civil and religious liber-
ties" he continued. Education,
bereft of religion and. consequently.
Iof morality, is incapable OF bringing
happiness to the individual and unity
and peace to the nations.
Unless the laws enacted are in
harmony with the ethical teachings
of Christ: they are unjust ami can
not last"
Father McGinnis told the noted
gathering nation does not profit
il it's morality is not of a high stand
ard, He declared that a rich nation,
with it's people highly educated, is
not profited II murder stalks through.
out its land.
"This is day of thanksgiving,
not of Qualification. he said, "It
ie day of personal and national
examination of conscience, of sor-
row for our sins and those OF our
people; not a day for criticising,
faultfindinE and condemning other
lands"
Father McGinnis, in speaking Of
peace. declared II IL not necessary to
impugn the motives OF the men
who wrote the Constitution in order
to gain the friendship Of Great
Britain.
The mass began at 10 O'Clock this
morning and was attended by more
than 1000 persons.
Distinguished Gathering.
Representatives OF Chile, Argen-
tina, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, EcuH-
dor, Honduras, Uruguay, Costa
Rica, Guatemala, Haiti. Dominican
Republic, Nicaragua, Panama, CO.
lombia and and OF Congress-, among
them, Senators Walsh and Ashurst
and Congressman johnson, CNen.
tucky), and Cochran attended. Sec
rotary Of Interior Fall and Attorney
General Daugherty were also pres
emit.
The church was beautifully deco.
rated. The flags OF the South Amcri.
can nations were hung from the gal
leries.
The solemn high mass was sung by
RI Rev. owen r. Corrigan, acting
head of the archdiocese of Baltimore,
assisted by Revs. Clarence e. Wheeler,
James j. O'Connor, and J. G. Moore.
Rt. Rev. John Bonzano, apostolic
delegate to the United States. presided
In the sanctuary.
The mixed choir, directed by Miss
Jennie Glennan. sung Hummers Mass
in d., and the sanctuary choir, direct.
ed by G. A. Benson, sung alternate
parts of the mass.