Year: 1875

Where the cancer Oh Opposition, mallBnhnt emmy
and personal distrust is fostered. Vanish forever
all such damaging and fearfully distressing In.
nusnees wherever they shall make an appearance
of their hideous form to desecrate the object we
have in view. We must therefore invoke the as
sistanee Of God TO inspire our hearts with that
fiery love and Jealous admiration TO devote our
selves to the observance Of his command and the
precepts of the holy Catholic Church, to the end
that our duty shall be well and faithfully per-
formed.


Sir Knights, religious societies Of the fathers
of the Church in the early ages patronized the
name Of this great doctor and saint by establish
ing and dcdicating to


THE SERVICE OF GOD,


humanity and intelligence, institutions entitled
his name; schools, monasteres, and other institu-
tions Of o religious character bore his name. And
1t becomes our imperative duty to emulate those
examples. We owe It to ourselves and to pos
terity to perpetuate these precedents as near as
we can in the interest ofour intellectual advance
ment and the diffusion OF higher degree Of CIV
ilization among the most unfortunate and de-
graded of mankind. This end cannot be accom-
plished by confning our influence and pswer
within the narrow limits Of this hall, or, indeed,
to this city. We must SO conduct the affairs Of
the cOmmandery and its personal ought to be OF
such a character as will attract the attention and
admiration Of those who are not associated with
US as we'll as those who are, so that when
our noble end sood works shall be known It will
not fail to EuTround US with that infaIl!ble ia
luencc-'the Church" And that whenever it
shall become necessary for US 70 speak as in one
voice for the cause of justice, humanity, law and
religion, we will be heard and that influence felt
throughout the entire world.


Let us thank the Almighty God, the Father OF
of all, for the many and bountituI gifts that He
has bcen pleased to have US favored with in these
United States. The complete and fullness Of our
manhood is now recognized by


THE LAW OF THE LAND,


and in all this the will OF Him who holds the DEF
tiny Of nations in the hollow Of his hand is too
plainly visible to admit of any possible doubt.


More has been accomplished for and by this
race than has been for any other in such brief
period, and It now remains for US, with the assist
ance, encouragement and willing support OF the
more advanced class, to exert best energies to
compete with all classes in the various industrial
and commercial enterprises. The Church, not
withstanding the nefarious and brutal outrages of
that iron-hearted Bismarck, with his infamous,
tyrannicsl course and attacks upon His Holiness
Plus TX, triumphantIy marches on in the good
work of getting the stray sheep into its fold, and
all the enemies combined throughout the world,
care not who, cannot destroy the power of the
Church. God Almighty has so promised, and In
Him we place all our trust-against whose Will
Bismarck and the gates of hell cannot prevail.


No jealous, selfish. and egotistIcal monarch can
succeed when he dare raise his hand against the
will of the Almighty Ruler of the heavens and
the earth. And insulting the millions Of Gath
olics Of the world-that,


IN FREE AMERICA,


thank Gcd, where religious differences exist the
free and untrammeled exercise Of which are se-
cured TO all, and their discussion tolerated by law
and COMMON consent, and no attempt made to
abridge that right to any denomination; there
fore Bismarck need not expect sympathy from any
respectable number Of Christians this side the
waters OF the Atlantic


In conclusion, let us congratulate with all Cath
olics of the United States upon the occasion OF the
appointment of Bishop McClOsky. of New York,
as Cardinal. By this appointment the American
Catholics receive that for which they have long
prayed voice in the councils of his Holiness
and it should be CdiTying to US all that the pro-
gress Of the Church in this country has entitled It
to this marked and distinguished recognition.


Let US resolve that in the future, as we have
endeaVored in the past, By being true to the
Church we must be true to God and being thus
true, we will and must be good citizens obeying
the laws of our country and being faithful and
useful citizens to the community. This having
been done, our course will be free and clear, and
our duty will have been well performed and in





BILE considerations Of all


PROPER THINKING PEOPLE.


For the Information in regard 20 your finances,
by referring to the accounts and report of
our financial scribe, you will be furnished a
complete statement, covering the period Of one
year, and we all know what we have had to en-
counter, and in the midst of all opposition of va
rious kinds We stand upon a firm and solid hnan-
cIal basis.


Thanking you again for your very cordial and
voluntary compliment and renewed assurances
by re-electing me your commander, conscious
Of the magnitude Of the responsibility imposed
upon me in the performance Of the duties deVoly-
ing upon the occupant Of this chair, with the
earnest, united and cheerful assistance Of the
commsndery in the maintenance Of order and
the enforcement Of its laws, and with the pleasure
of the commandery, will now take the chair