St Mary of the Assumption High School - Assumpta Yearbook (Brookline, MA)

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accompanied the red warrior to the chase, and learned his arts of Woodcraft, and the Indian upon coming to the settlement found a friendly reception and an honest market. If belated, the Indian would wrap himself up in his mantle of skins and lie down to sleep by the white man's fireside, unsuspecting and unsuspected. In 1649 the Maryland Assembly passed the noble act of religious toleration that placed, Maryland so far above her sister colonies and which placed the mantle of charity over all. Maryland had truly be- come the Land of Sanctuary, extending to all those who believe in Christ, shelter, protection, and repose. Never was any government more indulgent to persons of all religious persuasions than that of Maryland, while the Roman Catholic, Lord Baltimore controlled it. Irving Spencer writes, I doubt whether there be older Presbyterian blood in Amer- ica than flows through my veins at this moment, but let us do justice. The govern- ment of Maryland was one of the first or- ganized in Christendom, that made reli- gious toleration a cornerstone. Maryland was intended from the beginning to be the Land of Sanctuary for the oppressed of every creed. The principles of the Land of Sanctuary were to be extended through the sister colonies. The Continental Congress real- ized the need for Maryland's aid. Her rich- est and chief citizen was a Catholic, Charles Carroll of Carrollton. He was in control of Maryland's public opinion and was probably the most urbane man in North America, his signature being added to the Declaration of Independence. Later, Maryland's custom became our first amend- ment, Congress shall make no laws re- specting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Charles Carroll's cousin John was conse- crated the first Bishop in America in a chapel dedicated to Our Lady and the day 49 was the feast of the Assumption. Upon the seal of his diocese was pictured Our Lady surrounded by stars. Under her were the keys of St. Peter. Bishop Carroll's dying words were, I have always been attached to the practice of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, I have established this devo- tion among my people and I have placed my diocese under her care. Because of Maryland, Our Lady was able to give to America her particular treasure, the Catholic Priesthood. Davis, an Episco- palian, writes of the Catholic Priests of Maryland, Their pathway was through the desert and their first chapel the wig- wam of an Indian. Two of them were here at the dawn of American History, assisted by pious rites in laying the cornerstone of a State, they kindled the torch of civilization in the wilderness, they gave consolation to the grief-stricken pilgrims, they taught the religion of Christ to the simple sons of the Maryland forest. It was a spontaneous act in 1846 when the Sixth Provincial Council of the Church met at Baltimore to tighten the bond be- tween the Church in our country and the Mother of God. Rome then allowed Amer- ica to elect Mary as our patroness under the title of the Immaculate Conception. Our Lady has a direct connection with the annals of Maryland. She stands upon the pinnacle of American History, like a cross upon a Church that scintillates and sparkles. As she looks down, Mary beholds no hills and valleys, rich and mysterious with the holy legends of Europe. She looks upon her children, the poor, the oppressed and rich, free from the tyranny that might harm their religion, she affirms the teach- ing of Christ, while we who need some- thing of heaven, rely on her to act as our queen beautiful and beautifying-to make as she once made colonial Maryland, her Dower and Sanctuary. YVONNE C. MCGARRY our country at one stroke heavenly, just Q

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Maryland OUR LADY'S DOWER AND SANCTUARY Oration delivered for Diacemn Omtoricdl Conte.rtJ.' .remijimzlr at Malden Sacred Heart High .Yclmalj finals at Mount St. jorepla Amdengy. What is the significance of Maryland as Our Lady's Dower and the Land of Sanctu- ary? When the first English came to these shores, sailing under the Italian Cabots, England was, in her own conception, Our Lady's special realm, Our Lady's Dower. When an Englishman in fifteen hundred made his written testament, he began it true to English custom, First, I bequeath my soul to God Almighty and to Our Holy Lady Saint Mary, and to all the fair com- pany of heaven. But before English had come to these shores, really to settle these shores, all this had changed. No longer did England touch the skies where Our Lady ruled. Yet this change seemed destined to make the English Colonies on the other side of the Atlantic, Our Lady's Dower, by transporting here all those who wished to belong to Our Lady. The landing of the pilgrims of New Eng- land has been the theme of many a story. The very rock on which their feet were first planted is consecrated in the estima- tion of their descendants, and its relics are enshrined as objects of holy regard. They were free men in search of freedom, they found it, and transmitted it to their poster- ity. Yet, Whilst we would avoid all con- trasts, and forget the stern spirit of the Puritan, we can turn with exultation, to the pilgrims of Maryland as the founders of religious liberty in the new world. They erected the first altar to it on this contin- ent and the fires first kindled on it as- cended to heaven amid the blessings of the savage Should the memory of such a 48 people pass away from their descendants, as an idle dream? There was established a Marial Colony, Maryland, by Lord Baltimore and his sons. The first land we came to, we called St. Clement's Island, says Father White. It was here that the pilgrims of Maryland first landed. Father White continues, On the day of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, in the year 1634, we celebrated Mass for the first time on the island. This had never been done before in this part of the world. After we had com- pleted the sacrifice, we took on our shoul- ders a great cross, which we had hewn out of a tree. We then erected a trophy to Christ the Saviour, humbly reciting on our bended knee, the litanies of the Holy Cross. Then, the Ark and the Dove had arrived in Chesapeake Bay, which the Spaniards had dedicated to the Mother of God, a hundred years before. It was then that the colony was given a name, it was Maryland, Our Lady's American Dower. Officially the name was to have been a compliment to Henrietta Maria, Queen of England. Thus, says Bancroft, the Catholics took possession of the little place and re- ligious liberty obtained a home in the little village which bore the name, Saint Mary's. While the colonist of New England plowed his field with his musket on his back, or was aroused from his slumber by the hideous war whoop to find his dwell- ing in flames, the settler of Saint Mary's

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LeagueTeam representatives glean argu- ments. . .remembrances of an all-Junior team in 1940. . .recruits from the 1941Jun- ior class .... 50 Boys' Debating Public speaking has always had a prom- inent place in the lives of the 1941 gradu- ates. As we go back over the years we re- member how the annual oratorical of 1937 found promising speakers in Vincent Quealy, James Moloney, Gerard Donovan, and Brendan Coffey. All these boys parti- cipated in the symposium on The jemit Martyr! of North America. Vincent Quealy foreshadowed the future forensic ability of the class by receiving the second prize. Vincent Quealy, Gerard Donovan, James Moloney, and Brendan Coffey were our representatives in the Annual Prize Debate. The general subject selected for the ora- torical contest during our Sophomore year was The Christian Home. Tryouts gave places to Patrick Kelley, Brendan Coffey, Vincent Quealy and James Madden. Later at the Freshman-Sophomore Contestjames Moloney was judged best orator. The Class of 1941 was not, then, content to rest on the laurels of the Freshman year. The group was to forge the way ahead, in de- bating activity as well. St. Mary's won the division debate championship with the right to compete in the diocesan finals that same year. Coming next to Malden Catholic High we captured the silver medals in second diocesan rank, at a lively debate held at Boston College. Among these successful debaters had been Brendan Coffey, Vincent Quealy and James Moloney. Gerard Donovan and James Madden were also active debaters by this time. When the Annual Prize Debate was con- ducted two representatives of 1941 were eligible. Brendan Coffey won the Cardinal O'Connell Gold Medal. This practical ex- perience was not to go unrewarded. Rev. William McCarthy assigned The Earb History of the Catholic Church as the oratorical subject for 1939. In this annual symposium were james Madden, Maurice