A National Birthday
608 THE COMMONWEAL October z8, I925 A NATIONAL BIRTHDAY T HE fact that Philadelphia has completed the rais- ing of the funds for the Sesquicentennial Interna- tional Exposition, which is to...
...Vari-ous other national Catholic societies have decided to hold their annual conventions in Philadelphia next year, and at the same time join in with the city in the celebration of the sesquicentennial of American liberty...
...The world's fair which was held then, was conducted on a portion of the area which is now Fairmount Park, and was one of the innovations of the fair...
...The dedicatory services were opened by President Byrne of the Total Abstinence Union, who was fol-lowed by John H. Campbell, speaking for the Phila- delphia branch of the organization of which he was president...
...The most important speaker at those exercises was John Lee Carroll, governor of Mary-land, and great grandson of Charles Carroll of Car- rollton of Revolutionary fame...
...It was he who turned on the water of the fountain for the first time, assisted by Charles S. Keyser of Philadelphia...
...The publicity writer gives the fol- lowing interesting account of at least some of the rea- sons why American Catholics should, as no doubt they will, take this special interest in the celebration...
...Louis, Detroit, New Orleans, St...
...Archbishop Wood was represented by the Reverend Joseph O'Reilly, who also addressed the throng...
...It would seem entirely fitting that the national Catholic historical societies, of which one of the oldest and most notable bodies is native to Philadelphia, should play an especially prominent part in the Catho- lic participation in the exposition next year...
...Hardly any other factor contributes so vitally to the healthy progress of a people as does the ap- preciation and knowledge of national history...
...The weather was intensely warm and the sun beat down upon the marchers as they filed along the wide avenue...
...The fountain which still stands today was the gift of the Catholic citizens through the medium of the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of America...
...There are many persons still alive who remember that day and who marched in that parade which left the church and pro- ceeded to the exposition grounds...
...Its [the exposition's] interest to Catholic citizens lies in the fact that it is also the fiftieth anniversary of the dedication of the Catholic fountain in Phila- delphia, which was a portion of the centennial exposi- tion in I876...
...608 THE COMMONWEAL October z8, I925 A NATIONAL BIRTHDAY T HE fact that Philadelphia has completed the rais- ing of the funds for the Sesquicentennial Interna- tional Exposition, which is to take place in that city from June to December of I926, in commenoration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the adoption and signing of the Declaration of Inde-pendence, is a piece of first class news that will be welcomed from one end of the country to the other...
...Heightened consciousness of the value of historical research and of the extension of true historical knowledge, can only lead to a proper increase of the appreciation which all Americans should share of the part played by Catho- lics in the founding and the progress of the nation...
...At that time the annual convention of the Total Abstinence Union took place in Philadelphia, and the sessions were interrupted for the dedication of the fountain...
...The statue was dedicated on July 4, I876, imme- diately following the reading of the original Declara- tion of Independence by Richard Henry Lee of Vir- ginia, at Independence Hall, and the attendant ceremonies...
...It is composed of immense pieces of white rock, and graven statues of Moses, the law-giver...
...Commodore John Barry, first commander of the United States navy...
...Philadelphia is one of the many cities of the country, such as St...
...At the last convention of the organization it was voted to hold the next one in Philadelphia in I926 in order to participate in the sesquicentennial celebration...
...The Catho...
...Archbishop Carroll of Maryland, the first Catholic prelate in America...
...When Catholics themselves realize how vital and fundamental a part representatives of their faith, and principles issuing from that faith, have played in the upbuilding of the American nation, it seems a safe prophecy that they will devise proper means to spread the knowledge of these facts, first among themselves and then among the public in general...
...and the Reverend Timothy Mathew, leader of the temperance movement...
...Charles Carroll of Carrollton, signer of the Declaration of Independence and brother of the Arch- bishop...
...M. O'Hara, leader in the movement for a fountain and who turned the first spadeful of earth when work on it was begun...
...The people of Philadelphia have an opportunity compar-able in importance to the event which they will cele- brate next year in bringing home to the nation and to the world the marvelous story of the nation's growth as only an exposition, adequately planned and carried through, can do...
...Philadelphia is to be congratulated--so, too, is the nation...
...An address was also made by Dr...
...Augustine in Florida, San Francisco in California, and in particular, Baltimore, Maryland, which are centres of the diverse yet unify- ing influences emanating from the Catholic explorers, missionaries and settlers, which have now been ab-sorbed and made part of the spiritual values and moral and physical strength of the republic...
...lic laity of Philadelphia have been notable in their activities, particularly in such movements as the Mal- vern Retreat House, and the Catholic Business Men's Forum...
...It is more than likely that the society will prepare exercises which will be held on July 4 at the fountain, similar to those of fifty years ago...
...It is interesting to observe that those responsible for issuing the publicity matter in connection with the sesquicentennial have called attention to the special interest which members of the Catholic faith possess in the celebration...
...The Catholics formed in a parade and marched to the cathedral, Eighteenth and Race Streets, where they attended a solemn pontifical Mass cele-brated by Archbishop James F. Wood...
Vol. 2 • October 1925 • No. 25
