Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-06-16
catholic Benovelent Union.

Union rcasscmblcd at St. Mary's HAIL. at 9
o'clock this morning.
In the absence Of the President. on motion
Of Mr. Leonard, the Vice, PRESIDENT Mr..
G]eunan. took the chair and called the Con
vcntlOn to order.
Upon a call Of the roll fourteen members re-
spondcd to their names. :.
Thc minutes Of the proceedings Of tho pre-
vions sessions were read. slightly amended aud
accepted.
Mr. Moore, in the absence of JUDI &C Lowe.
o,nscntcd thc following letter from that gentle
man: 4, ~
ALEXANDRIA. Va. May 9Th, 1871.
To me President Of the Catholic RcncGcin7
Union ofMe State Of Virginia.,
Sir. Tie report Of the proceedings OF the
Union. published in the Alexandris. Gazette OF
this instant attributes TO me the declaration
THAT was unwilling to ieopardize the benefits
that believed / was comforting upon my fellow
men. By submitting to the judgment Of the
Bishop. am not conscious Of having utter
ed such declaration. | opposed the resolu-
ton mainly because thought its adoption I'M
necessary The resolution; as explained b. IL
author. was intended to invoke the iud gment
Of the Bishop upon the proposition whether
orr membership in Catholic Beneficial Socie-
tics, was compatible with our obligations as
members Of the Catholic church. deemed
the adoption of this resolution unnecessary. hr-
cause believed that this proEoddldr9 tito ,o h" Il
reasons for so believing were, lSt: because there
was nothing wrong orantagonlstlc to any dogma
If Catholic faith in the constitutions or practl,
ccs Of such societies. 2nd. because many OF
such societies have been founded by Catholic
clcrovmcu. and ali Of them within tins State
have received their earnest support, anu en-
courorcmert. I'd. hccarSc such societies have
existed in this State for mere than two years.
and haze not received FROM our Bishop the
slightest expression Of disapprobatlon. lth, he
c,Isr having postponed my connection with
thc Nlcxandria Catholic Beneficial Society I'M
I'll satisfied that that society WAS sanctioned by
tbc church. | was not willing to vote Tor
resolution the necessity for which could only
arise from doubts, which J. do not and can not
entertain. | was opposed to the resolution;
I am 50 still. But while opposed 70 i. there
| i action both in regard to our Pope and our
Bishop. which L strongly favor: and which /
beg leave to submit Tor the consideration 81
our Executive Committee. [ respectfully sng-
rest that the Executive Cnmmltt"e submit TO
the Union resolutions expressive OF our SYM
pathy for orr Holy Father Plus the N!nih, cur
devotion to his, person. orr congratulations up
on his having attained the :!lth year ol ms Poh-
tiicate, and our sincere and ardent desire lof
an early restoration Of his lcmpo1iV power
also suggest that the Executive !omm'ttee
submit to the Union an address to the III.
Rev the Bishop Of this DIOCESE. eongr''u-
lating him UPON his safe visit 10 and return
from Rome on the occasion OF the late Ecu
mcncal Council, and upon his long. and vaIu-
| R,-I. of -
assuring him Of our prayers that many years OF
usefulness NAV vet be before him. and tender
ing to him the earnest cooperation ni this
| Union in his Efforts to promote tho advance
ment of Catholicism. also suggest that Il
printed copy Of the proceedings Of the l. mon
| be forwarded to our Holy Father the Bishop Of
this Diocese a. soon after the Adjournment Of
this Onion a. practicable, and that he ';e Invl-
! red 70 attend all future conventions 81 the
! Union wherever held.
II was nv intention Mr. President /" have
| submitted TO the Executive Committee sketch
Of the resolutions and address, which thought
they should recommend. But thc pressure OF
official duty renders this Impossible. may
not be able to meet with the t lIlon again II
not please permit my place 10 be iliietl ny the
| delegation from my society: but whether L
NAV be permitted to mingle with you again Or
not, shall cherish in grateful memory the
privileges have enjoyed and the acquaintance:
have formed, and shall increasingly pray Tor
the success Of onr Union
On motion Of Mr. Moore, the resolution sub
r,itted by him on Wednesday night. was with
drawn. and the letter OF Judge Lowe substituted
in It's stead, received, and referred to the E1-
ecurive Committee.
Mir. NJ. i. Harlow vas substituted - dele
gate in place Of judge Lowe, absent 81 official
business.
Mr.. NJ. Z. Harlow submitted Il communica-
ton from Mr. &. G. CalIan, Of Washington.
enclosing call for National Convention, to
be held in Washington on Assumption day,
the 18th Of August, at Il o'clock. and urging
its approval By this Union: which was received;
Mr. Griffin suggested the preparation OF
travelling cards and forms Of charters
Mr.. McDonYugh explained that he dl1 moi
mean in the debate on Wednesday night, t.
say that there was no society in Richmond;
hut merely to say that if such society existed
it was not on a thorough Catholic basis
On motion Of Mr.. . Rour Ike; the communl-
cation ofC. c. Callan was referred 10 4 COM
mttee Of one from each So1-1y 10 report at
this session.
The Chair appointed l. tho c2mlnttee. the
| following. VI. u. IlariOW. H. A. nIi!iii: -.
O. Rourke. S. {. Phillips, and c. +. Gale.
Mr. Griffin moved that the Executive Com
mttce be requested to adopt and have pre-
pared travelling card: which was adopted.
Mr. @ Rourke moved to amend the CnnStltu-
ton by allowing the societies 10 adopt num-
berS for the designation Of each society. ,
Mr.. Hughes expressed his objections and
gave his reasons therefore. when, after a short
explanation by the mover the resolution was
adopted.
Mr. Phillips moved 10 til The blank in the
Constitution, in reference 10 the salary Of the
Secretary with $50 per annaln.
Mr kiIgour for financial reasons, objected
to the rcsoint"u.
Mr.. OGonn"r, Secretary, took Il similar
view to that expressed by ilr. KiIgour, where
upon the resolution WAS withdrawn.
Mr.. Ki|gour suggested the question Of rep
resentation in the General Convention. which
meets in Louisville in October next
Dr. Griffith thought that this Union was c!:-
titled to enc delegate for every one hundred