Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-01
FOR THE POPE.
The German Catholics Declare
for Temporal Power.
AMERICA FOR THE CONGRESS.
They Protest Against Interference With the
Mother Tongue.
A Platform Adopted at Buffalo Which Is
Plain and to the Point on Matters
of Catholic Policy and
Principle.
FOR THE POPE.
AMERICA FOR THE CONGRESS.

PRIESTEN vEREIS.
BUFFALO. n. Y, Sept. 23.-Accepting at
full value the information offered to-day
from within the portals of the 'sPriesten
Verein, - the 200 German-American ecclesi-
aSticS present were occupied solely with
details such as the method of electing their
officers and similar subjects usually dealt
with in an organizations bylaws. Although
the verein IS four years in existence, it
seems the members have heretofore nearly
or wholly dispensed with such formalities,
the proceedings, it is declared. being in the
nature of a free interchange of views tend
ing to promote their common interests, en-
couraging fraternal cooperative spirit
among themselves and requiring little if
anything in the way of documents or
records. To-day the session, after Father
Lewricher's chilling experience of yester-
day. was not invaded by any outsider and
the secrets of the conclave if any were held
) back from inquirers, remained safely con-
cealed. Intense curiosity prevails as to the
private deliberations of the priests. Inter-
est during the day conferred in the final
business session of the open congress late
this afternoon, free to lay members and
priests alike. The chief proceeding
was the adoption of plat
form setting forth the attitude
of German-American Catholics on public
questions before adjourning till tomorrow.
II is understood letter that was read in
the priests meeting from Arch
bishop Elder of Cincinnati afforded
much satisfaction to the men,
bers The communication dealt
with the language question and according
to one of the priests favored German to ill.,
culcate the first Christian cprinciples
where German is the common language of
the family, the idea being that these prir-
cirleS should be taught in the mother
tongue.
Prior to this business meeting, however,
came final session OF the GerInan-Ameri-
can Catholic young mems association. The
latter body, after much discussion. resolved
to receive into their organization. not only
societies composed of unmarried men eXclu-
sively, but also those having married
men as members. The association was re-
ported as having fifty-uhree branch :e,':o-
ties. located mainly in Missouri, illinois,
Wisconsin, Ohio and JSerY Jersey. with a
total merr berstip uf about five thousand.
A resolution to connect a saving institu-
tor with the young mems association was
rejected as impracticable for the present.
THE PLATFORM.
With delight the German-American con-
gress embraces also in this year the
opportunity of pointing out pub
licIy and distinctly its position
on the 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 extremely important
church matter. The objection, or false
supposition, that it is inopportune TO
discuss openly the Roman question in our
country, can only be explained by tracing
it to pitiable deception or to want of cour-
age in showing fearlessly our truly Catho-
lie convictions. The entirely free exercise
of the highest apostolic power according TO
Gods ordinance is intimately contested
as well with the welfare OF the entire
church as with the territorial independence
of the holy see, wiiled by divine provi-
dence. 1t is necessary means in our pres
ent political and social situation TO secure
and accord that freedom in its full
meaning of the word. We will never
cease to courageoSly sustain the
holy father and IN accordance with his in
tentions in his admonitions every one in his
own sphere and according to his ability for
that right of the head of the church, and to
strive with all legal and legitimate means to
regain the freedom due to the successor of
ST. Peter. In this respect we greet with
the Utmost pleasure the idea suggested at
the recent Catholic congress, held in Ger
many, to call an international Catholic
congress for the purpose of urging the re-
storation of the temporal power of the pope
as ami independent sovereign.
We believe that our beloved country is
the proper place for holding such congress,
since we are not hampered by political
prejudice and imperial intrigues.
AS Catholics of the United States. we
consider it an honored duty to adopt the
resolution of our brethren in Europe. We
believe the time has come when an interna-
tional congress can convene for the pur-
pose of aiding in the restoration Of the
pope's temporal power, and we consider no
time more opportune than the occasion of
the Worlds fair at Chicago in 1893.
We declare that education without q re-
ligious basis can but be productive of evil
results. We protest, therefore, against
every interference with our parochial
schools, and especially we condemn the So
called Poughkeepsie plan in which religion
has been made side-show, and hence can
have little or no religious influence in edu-
cation.
We demand the full right and liberty to
retain, without interference from anyone,
our German mother tongue, together with
the language of the country.
We protest against the attempts to en-
croach upon the rights of the Indian in the
selection and practice of their religion.
We protest in the name Of liberty and
justice against the attempts that are being
made to withdraw from the Indian schools
the support of the government under the
hypocritical plea of supporting public
schools, inasmuch as hereby there is openly
cation and especially against the Catholic
church.
The following officers were elected: Rev.
B. Hepl of Pittsburg, national president;
Philip Schindle of New York, vice-presi-
dent; Charles Och of Pittsburg. recording
secretary; Joseph Reiman of Pittsburg,
corresponding secretary; Joseph Matti Of
Buffalo, financial secretary; Henry Ress of
ST. Louis, treasurer.
Directors: H. Vandevel, Cleveland;
Henry c. Kroner, Fort Wayne: William
Knolte, Wheeling. W. Va; A. r. Rogeman,
Chicago; Louis Schell, Chicago.
Archbishop Katzer of Milwaukee was
chosen protector of the Central band Of the
Catholic young men of the United States.
The business session of congress this
afternoon was occupied much of the time
by Wilderman Of New York explaining the
modus operandi of the Carlbaromean so
siety Of Germany.
LOVE LAUGHS AT LocKSMlTHS.
II