“Nor, perchance did the fact which We now recall take place without some design of divine Providence. Precisely at the epoch when the American colonies, having, with Catholic aid, achieved liberty and independence, coalesced into a constitutional Republic the ecclesiastical hierarchy was happily established amongst you; and at the very time when the popular suffrage placed the great Washington at the helm of the Republic, the first bishop was set by apostolic authority over the American Church. The well-known friendship and familiar intercourse which subsisted between these two men seems to be an evidence that the United States ought to be conjoined in concord and amity with the Catholic Church. And not without cause; for without morality the State cannot endure-a truth which that illustrious citizen of yours, whom We have just mentioned, with a keenness of insight worthy of his genius and statesmanship perceived and proclaimed. But the best and strongest support of morality is religion.”
Pope Leo XIII, LONGINQUA, January 6, 1895
The idiotic anti-Catholic celebration of Guy Fawkes Day , observed each November fifth, was effectively ended two hundred and forty-three years ago in America during the Revolution, in large part due to George Washington. Here is his order on November 5, 1775:
As the Commander in Chief has been apprized of a design form’d for the observance of that ridiculous and childish custom of burning the Effigy of the pope–He cannot help expressing his surprise that there should be Officers and Soldiers in this army so void of common sense, as not to see the impropriety of such a step at this Juncture; at a Time when we are solliciting, and have really obtain’d, the friendship and alliance of the people of Canada, whom we ought to consider as Brethren embarked in the same Cause. The defence of the general Liberty of America: At such a juncture, and in such Circumstances, to be insulting their Religion, is so monstrous, as not to be suffered or excused; indeed instead of offering the most remote insult, it is our duty to address public thanks to these our Brethren, as to them we are so much indebted for every late happy Success over the common Enemy in Canada.
Catholics always had a friend in the Father of Our Country.
In Scotland, the Fifth of November commemorated not only the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605, but the landing of Prince William of Orange (King Billy) at Brixham Harbour in Devon, to deliver the Three Kingdoms from “wooden shoes and brass money.” (not to mention popery, slaver, &c)
The effigy or “guy” burned represents Guy Fawkes. Children wheel it around in an old perambulator and ask for contributions (“Penny for the Guy”) I saw some once in Queen Street in Glasgow in the middle of October. “You’re a bit early, aren’t you?” said I. ” Go round the corner to Buchanan Street,” retorted one of them, “They’re giving it Jingle Bells round there!”
2017 – The ugliness of anti-popery surfaced during the Charlie Gard scandal in England. Instead of burning a Guy Fawkes effigy, the life of Charlie was snuffed out.