THE CATHOLIC CENTENNIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2299, 11 December 1889, Page 2

THE CATHOLIC CENTENNIAL.

The centennial oolobratlou, hold In Baltimore for throe days, oommenolng Noverabor Hth, oommemoratiug tha establishment of tha hierarchy of the Roman CMholio Oburoh In the United States In 1789, attrny^i widespread atteDtloo ns bolcf? really a oougcess of the people of that f*ltb la America. Thore were 12,000 delegates. Every State and territory was repteiented, and the leading dignitaries of the Ohnrob, not only of the United Siates, but of CUcada tad Mexico were pre&ent. When the name of the. Pope was mentioned there wai great ohaßttog Rnd swinging of hats, by the delegates, and thla Incident being cabled to iiome, the Pontiff, through Cardinal BampolU, wired' his blosßlog to all ihe membora of the Congress. Daniel Dougherty of New York, a politician and ornate orator, made the opening address, m wh'ob he stated that the discovery of Amerioa, Its anbsequunt progress, and all that was good at,d great In the history of the Unitod States is due to the Catholicism. Withoat the Roman Catholic Ohmoh America today would be unknown His Bpeeoh was reoelvod with enthusiasm. A Committee waited on President Harrison with a reqaeßt that he should be present at the deliberations of the Congress. The President a »td ia reply that while ha appreciated the oompltment his offioial duties would prevent him being present, but he would attend the opening of the Catholic Unlvoratty m Baltimore on November 14th. Many resolutions were introduced looking to the strengthening aud liberalising o7 the system of the Roman Oathollo Church m America. Probably the most radioal among them all was one lifting the ban from eeoret societies exoaptlng tha Masonic Order, and a strong effort Is being made to ioslude this and bo rohko the privilege complete,