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  April 30.--In the afternoon Lucy and I attended the laying
of the corner-stone of the large new Catholic church--the St.
Joseph's Church. We were much interested in the ceremonies.
Bishop Gilmore delivered a strong and interesting address on the
topic, "The public has a right to know what doctrines will be
taught in the building whose corner-stone we have just laid." It
was liberal and fair. For the most part it would have been ap-
proved by Christians generally. He said among other things that
our institutions were founded by earnest Christian people; espe-
cially was this the case in New England and Maryland. Al-
though freedom of conscience as to forms and sects is secured
in our Constitution, yet the Christian religion is at the founda-
tion. New England was fairly dealt with. He stated squarely
the difference between Catholics and others on, first, the author-
ity of the church, second, on religious school education.