The New York herald., 1868-05-30
GERMAN CATHOLIC CENTRAL UNION.

Thirteenth Annual Meeting of Delegates To-
Morrow in this City-The History Of this
Organization, Its Objects and Designs.
Tomorrow the people Of this city will witness q
public demonstration the like Of which they prob
ably have never yet 1t is procession OF thous
ands OF delegates OF all the numerous German Cato-
lie socetlon throughout the United State, who
assemble here on the Sunday of Pentecost to meet
In a central union Congress. Should the weather
prove favorable, It IL expected by those In charge OF
the arrangements that the procession will not only
be the most numerously attended but also the most
solemn and impressive which ever paraded In public
through our streets. At any rate we are assured
that no means have been left unried to prove to the
people OF the metropolis the enormous advance Of
Catholcity In this country particularly among the
Germans, and to give them some conception Of its
increase OF power, OF which, in republic, o large
proportion is derived from mere numbers alone.
Fourteen years ago no such religious corporation
or confederation Of societies as this Central Union
was known. The German Catholics had their local
societies OF different kinds and with very different
purposes in nearly every large city on the continent
Some had united for the building Of churches or
orphan asylums others for the propagation Of their
faith, others again for educational purposes, and
Q few for purely religious and devotional
exercises. Another system OF associations
among the German population in this country, which
may be termed mutual benefit societies. where upon
the payment of an initiation fee and small monthly
or quarterly contributions each member, In case OF
sickness or disability to work. became entitled to
weekly stipend during the continuance Of such stck-
These associations assumed different names and
adopted different rituals, but the distinguishing
solemn oatSs 10 secrecy There were Masons ana
| Odd Fellows among them, as branches OF
| the old European orders OF the same name.
| There were Good Fellows and Druds and others
OF more recent origin, modelled after these,
such the Harugaris, the Redmen Hermann's Sons,
Freedoms Sons and Others and all had their secret
meeting rooms, called either ''odges groves"
their mysterious initiation ceremonial, their pass
words grips and other secret signs OF recognition
But the main attraction always remained that by the
periodical payment Of small sum considerable and
| welcome aid In time of need could be secured, and
q large number OF German Catholics, particularly OF
the aborng artisan class, Joined these secret as
sociations to secure for themselves and families the
| BENEFITS which they offered.
| The Catholic Church has professed, at all times
and in all countries to be irreconcilaby hostile to all
secret societies and It's Leading M Scn minds IN have lonS
| large numbers Of their nock Joining these secret
associations or "lodges.n They found that denun-
citation from the pulpit would not secure that end,
| and hence they resolved upon a less obnoxious
/ and far more eflcacious method. In the fall
| OF 1854, at the suggestion Of the Reverend
| Father Provincial Helmproecht o. s. =. r. fOrdnis
Soctefutts Sdncttssfrt RedeTnptorts, about half q
this State and issued circular calling for meet
ing Of delegates from the several German Catholic
societies in the country in the month Of April follow
Il
to the CALL but this meagre success at the beginning
not only did not discourage those who originated the
| movement, but inspired them TO persevere and
to hope for the ultimate accomplishment of all their
1 purposes. On the 10th day OF April, 1855, at ST.
founded amid imposing religious ceremonies, con-
stitution and bylaws adopted and the for the
| union established rs the German Roman Catholic
Family" The object OF the union is clearly ex-
pressed in the second article of It's consttu-
ton, which reads translated from the Ger
Il -
union Is giving aid aud support in case OF poverty
/ and sickness TO the members OF all German Ro-
| man Catholic benevolent societies In the United
states OF North America that have joined the Central
/ Union" To make the religious band which untes
all these societies into one common central organza
ton still stronger and less liable TO rupture, not only
were the privileges OF the clergy fully recognized and
embodied In the constitution, but the third clause OF
the seventh article, treating Of rights" specially
provides:--
The Central Union shall exclude, ipso Jarcto, all
those societies who prove themselves antiCatholic
and shall also exclude their delegates from the meet
nrs OF the Central Executive organization and shall
declare them TO have forfeited all their rights and
| claims against the Central Union. BY the sentence
sprove themselves antlCatholicv 10 understood that
when society adopts constitution, bylaw pr res0-
luton now or hereafter whereby the liberty and rights
which God has entrusted to the bishops and priests
OF his Church for the full execution Of their holy
| of1ces shall be encroached upon or infringed, and
also when society ofIends agangt It's spiritual sup6
ytosA "a aao when Y t0leratee anopd ~ msmbers