Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-05-29
A MIGHTY FACTOR.
Church Lines Proposed for Cath
Ollie Immigrants
Without the knowledge of the Amer
lean Hierarchy.
Movement to Retain the Papal
Power in America.


Power in America.
| The Plan Would Preserve Language and
| Race Distinctions, and is, Therefore,
InimicaI to American Principles-Full
| Text of the Memorial Presented to the
Pope by Herr Cahensly, Its Chief Origi-
| natOT.
BERLIN, May 29.-It is learned iere
| that Herr Cahensly has been the princi-
pal mover in the efforts of the European
Catholic emigration societies to induce
the pope to follow distinct National lines
! in fostering the church work among
Catholic immigrants in America. Herr
Cahensly only recently returned from the
Eternal city, where he had gone to lay
before Leo XIII the memorial formulated
last December at Lucerne by the con-
| ference of representatives Of Catholic
emigration societies of different coun-
tries. 1t was Herr Cahensly who called
that conference, as he had previously
in September called similar conference
at Liege.
| Prussian diet, where he has long shown
special interest in the question Of Catho-
lie emigration. He is also the general
secretary and controlling spirit of the
Society of Saint Raphael.
The Lucerne conference, which was
made up of the presidents of the National
emigration societies. commissioned Herr
Cahensly to bear the memorial to the
Vatican.
Conducted Solely by Germans.
II is significant that this whole move
ment has been conducted so far without
the knowledge or advice of the Ameri-
can hierarchy. The campaign has been
directed solely by the committee in Ger
many, which, by its activity, has Sc
cured the support and appreciation of
other European countries. The Ameri-
can bishops have probably no informa-
ton about it except what they have
gained from the press dispatches. There
will be great curiosity to know their
view of the matter. The plan proposed
in the memorial would, if adopted, seem
to be PECULIARLY well adaptedfor the pres
ervation in America of the languages
and race distinctions of the immigrants.
The Memorial.
II has been impossible to secure list
of the signatures of the memorial. The |
document itself, which has never before
been published, and which was present |
ed to the pope, along with all the letters
and recommendations in its favor that |
Herr Cahensly could get, is given here
with in full, that it may be seen exactly |
what the petitioners ask for:
February, 1891.
Most Holy Father;
The presidents, general secretaries and |
delegates of the Archangel Raphael socie-
ties for the protection of emigrants, en-
couraged by the blessing which your holi- |
ness condescended to bestow upon them, |
met in international congress at Lucerne |
on the 9th of last December, in order to |
consider the best means of procuring the |
spiritual and temporal welfare of their |
Catholic fellow-countrymen, who are emf
grating to the Americas at the rate up
wards of 10000 year.
Humbly PROSTATE at the feet of your
holiness they most respectfully take the
liberty of representing to you that these
numerous emigrants could constitute a
great power and mighty factor in the de
velopment of Catholicity in the different
parts of America, thus contributing to the
moral greatness of their new country, and
moreover, by a reflex action which would
soon become apparent, giving life to the
religious spirit of old Europe.
The true church, of which your holiness
is the supreme head can alone bring about
these happy results, inasmuch as she is
the source of all progress and civilization.
But in order that European Catholics in
bo ponutrv of thpir a6option m u DraCarva
and may hand down to their offsprings the
faith and the benefits which it bestows,
the undersigned have honor to submit to
your holiness those conditions which, as is
shown by experience and the nature of
things, must essentially be established in
every country towards which emigration
is being directed. The losses which the
church has sustained in the United States
of North America amount to more than
$10000000
First of all it would be necessary to
form into separate parishes, congregations
or missions the different groups of immi-
grants of different nationalities in all cases
wherein their respective numbers and re
sources allow of so doing.
Secondly--The direction of these parishes
should be confided to priests of the same
nationality as the faithful. In this wise
the sweetest and most cherished recollec-
tions of the fatherland would be constant
ly brought back to the immigrants, who
would love the church all the more for pro
curing them these benefits
Thirdly-ln those parts of the country
where immigrants of different nationali-
ties have settled, but in too limited num-
bers to form themselves into separate
parishes according to nationality it is
highly desirable that the priest elected for
the direction of such groups should be con
versant with their respective languages
This priest should be strictly obliged to
teach the catechism and to give instruc-
tions to all such different groups of immi-
grants in the languages peculiar to each
Fourthly-Wherever there are no Chris
tian public schools parochial schools are to
be established, and rs far as possible
separate school should be provided for
every nationality. The list Of studies for
these schools shonld always comprise the
national language of the different races of
immigrants as well as the language and
history of their adopted country,
Fifthly-The priests who devote them
selves to the service of the immigrants
should he given all the rights privileges,
fayors and the like which are enjoyed by
the priests of the country. This equitable
provision would have the effect Of attract
ing to the immigrants priests of every
nationality, imbued with piety and zeal
and the desire of sanctifyiug souls.