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Show German Catholics of California. j In point of attendance, enthusiasm of the delegates dele-gates and eloquence of the discourses, the fourth annual, convention of the German Staats Ver-band Ver-band far exceeded the previous gatherings, says .the Monitor of San Francisco. The convention was inaugurated with solemn high mass in St. JDonitace s church last Sunday morning. The sermon, an eloquent and interesting one, was preached by Archbishop Montgomery. ' Touching upon the. desire of the German parents par-ents to have their children taught the German language, Bishop Montgomery said: "There has been in "some parts of the United , States, a great deal of talk about the German people peo-ple wanting their children to' learn the German language. Now, in one word, the language question ques-tion in this eountry will settle itself if people will only let it alone! There are some things in which the more haste one makes the less success the less speed you make; that is one of them. The language question is under the control of natural laws, and it will take its course if -the people will iust let it alone. I assure you, my 'dear brethren, I cannot conceive of parents who would not want their child to learn the language that they themselves them-selves knew. I must confess, I would not have much respect for the person that'"did not waut his child to know the language of father and mother. Wc live in a country that is bound to be English-speaking. English-speaking. English is to be the language of this country, and no power on earth can prevent it. Therefore, it is to-the advantage of your children to learn the English lartgnage. They must not be at a disadvantage with any man on account of their inability to' speak-the Euglish language, which they should learn well; they will do that! even if you do not pay any attention, to them. I will" give you an example of it. right here. I doubt if there are many hero, who arc not Germans, Ger-mans, and who do not understand -what I am saying; say-ing; many of you ne,ver went to an English school. - Where have ou learned the language? Therefore, I say, people should let the matter of language alone let things take their natural course; they should not force things, but theres should be a natural growth. It is perfectly natural na-tural that you should want your children to speak the German language. while they are at home, and I don't find fault with it. : There are no more prominent names in history than some of the German Ger-man skeptics, who have done great harm by their pernicious teachings. I would lum- yTT7 learn the German language if .nv f,,r j!,; '"'"' i that -they may read and underbill'! ji,,.' n'.iK": tion of these doctrines in the line t,,It! ri',!,,iit-language ri',!,,iit-language question is a bugbear. I). .n't about it. It will take care of itself." K"r |
