Such thoughts as these occupied her for the greater part of the day, and
before she was really aware of it, her father had come home for the
evening. She could not tell both at once; better to tell them in turn.
It would be more confidential and better to her liking. Once the secret
was common between them, it was easy to discuss it together, and so she
decided that she would put it off until the morrow. Then she would tell
mother, and let her mother talk it over with her father. Both then would
advise her.

"Next week is going to see the greatest event in the history of the
Church in America," Marjorie heard her father remark as he placed his
hat upon the rack behind the door.

"What is it now?" inquired her mother who chanced to be in the
sitting-room when he entered.

"The Congress is going to Mass."

"The Congress?" she exclaimed. "Praised be God!"

"What news, father?" asked Marjorie, hurrying into the room.

"The Congress, the President and the prominent men of the nation have
been invited to take part in the solemn Te Deum next Sunday. It is the
anniversary of the signing of the Declaration."

"Isn't that remarkable?"

"It is remarkable," he repeated. "The French Ambassador has issued the
invitations and all have signified their intentions of being present.
Here is one of them." Taking from his pocket a folded paper, he handed
it to Marjorie. She opened it at once and read aloud,

"Mr. Matthew Allison:--You are invited by the Minister Plenipotentiary
of France to attend the Te Deum, which will be chanted on Sunday, the
4th of this month, at noon, in the new Catholic Chapel, to celebrate the
anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America.

"Philadelphia, the Second of July. M. Gerard."

"The Congress going to Mass!" said his wife, apparently unable to
comprehend fully the meaning of it all.

"The more one thinks of it the more strange it becomes. They branded
Charles the First a Papist because he permitted his queen, who was born
and bred a Catholic, to attend Holy Mass. Now we have our newly-formed
government not alone countenancing Popery, but actually participating in
a supposedly pagan and idolatrous form of worship."

"This marks the end of religious prejudice in this country," observed
Marjorie. "At length all men are in all things equal, equal in the sight
of God and man. Don't you think our leaders must realize this and are
taking steps to prepare the minds of the pe