The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-09-24
THE PRIEsTEN VEREIN.
In Secret se.,lon-Tho Adoption of q Plat

THE PRIESTEN VEtElN.
In Secret sesslon-Tho Adoption of q Plat
form.
BUFFALO, n. Y, sept 2S.-Accepting
at full value the information afforded to-
day from within the guarded portals OF
the "Priesten verein," the two hundred
German-American ecclesiastics present
were occupied solely with details such
as to the methods of electing their off
cers and similar subjects usually dealt
with in an organization by laws.
The chief proceedingwa was the adoption
of a platform setting forth the attitude
OF German.American Catholics on pub
lie questions.
Tonight ended all connection Of lay
men with the fifth congress Of German
American Catholics. The anal meeting
OF the congress taking place tomorrow,
exclusively for priests, and to be held
in private, will, 1t is thought, be the
most important OF the eseries, as tho one
at which the question will be settled
whetherthe widelycommentedon "cleri-
cal union" will continue under the
leaders that have given 1t fame, or will
elect new chieftains. The eprincipal act in
which the laymen participated was in
voting unanimously approval OF the
platform Of the congress.
Letters OF regret for absence from the
congress were read tonight from long
list Of names, among them being Arch,
bishops Corrigan, OF New York, and
Ryan, of Philadelphia.
CARDINAL GIBBoNs's.
Almost breathless attention was given
by the congress and spectators to Car
dinal Gibbons's. lie wrote: aWhile
prevented by important engagements
from being present, ! beg to assure you
OF my deep interest in your proceed
ings. regard the German element as
most important factor in the develop.
ment Of our country. AS citizens and
as Catholics, they have gained an en-
yiable reputation. / have no doubt
that your deliberations will be marked
BY allegiance to the Holy Father, and
by that sense of moderation for which
your countrymen are noted"
The platform as presented tonight
by Father Faeber, OF St Louis, like all
prior portions OF the proceedings, was
in German.
Following are the most important ex-
tracts from it:
TIE PLATFORM.
We, Catholic Germans from all parts
Of the United States, assembled in the
fifth Catholic congress in Buffalo, hasten
to first offer our affection to the
supreme head-of our holy church. We
express our gratitude for the Holy
Fathers blessing and promise anew
and for all times, in our name and in
the name OF the congregations and
societies represented by us, our tilial
devotion and unfailing fealty. With
delight the German Catholic Congress
embraces also in this year the oppor-
tunity OF pointing out publicly and dis
tinctIy its position on the so-called
Roman question, namely, the temporal
power OF the Pope.
As free American citizens We will not
tolerate any interference with the free
expression OF our views on this extreme
ly important church matter. The OBJ
lection or false supposition that it is in
deed inopportune to discuss openly the
Roman question in our country call only
be explained by tracing it to pitiable
deception, or to the want OF courage, in
showing fearlessly our truly catholic
convictions.
Rome, as the natural seat Of the pa
pacy, as the centrum OF the church, as
the metropolis Of the Catholic world,
belongs to the Popes Qeo Nil to Car.
dinal Rampolla) who moreover urged
the rights OF sovereignty acquired in
Justice and sealed by solemn contracts
for the welfare Of Italy and Europe and
the whole world as true benefactors OF
mankind. With confidence, we leave
it to Divine Providence by what means
the restoration of papal Independence
will be brought about by secular
power.
IN FAVOR OF TIE CONGRESS.
In the meantime we will never cease
to courageously sustain the Holy Faith
er, and in accordance with his inten-
tions, every one in his own sphere and
according to his ability, thatright Of the
head Of the Catholic church, and to
strive with all legal and legitimate
means to regain the freedom OF the sue
cessor Of st. Peter. In this respect we
greet with the utmost pleasure the idea
suggested at the recent Catholic con-
gress held in Germany to call an inter-
national Catholic Congress for the pur-
pose OF urging the restoration Of tempo
raj power OF the Pope as IN independ-
ent sovereign.
We believe that no country in the
world is better adapted for holding
such congress than the United States,
and that no time more opportune than
the occasion OF the Worlds Fair at
Chicago in 1898.
We offer the Holy Father our most
respectful and sincerest thanks for the
excellent encyclical on the labor ques-
ton. We protest against every inter
ference with our parochical schools,
and especially We condemn the so
called Poughkeepsie plan, in which re-
ligion has been made q side show and
hence can have little or no religious in
fiuonce In education. We demand the
full right and liberty to retain without
interference from any one our German
mother tongue, together with the
language OF the country.
Earthqunke in California.
u,,,nsp,.pa Car. Sent. pa very