Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-25
CATHOLICS CONGRESS.
An Important Church Conference
Called to Meet in Chicago
DURING TIE EXPOSITION OF 1898.
Education, the Social Question and lnde-
pendencs Of the rOps
AMONG TIE TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED

CHICAGO, Dec 24-The call for q con.
gress of the Catholics of the United States,
to be held in Chicago during the Worlds
Fair. was issued this evening. 1t is signed
by Archbishop Feehan, Chairman of the
Committee on Organization. Following is
part of the text:
The happy occasion of the Worlds Colum-
bian Exposition, to be held in the City of
Chicago IRON May to November 1895. is GER
tam to be an event of worldwide and per-
manent interest, In connection with the
Worlds Columbian Exposition, and equally
ander the recognition OF the Government
and OF the Directory of the Exposition, a Sc
ries of worlds congresses have been pro-
Iected. These congresses are designed to be
representative of and to include almost
every form ana phase of human activity
moral. social and industrial-and their aim,
rs declared in the programme, is to 'infiu-
Snee Tor good the prosperity, unity and hap
piness of the world"
The Columbian Catholic Congress of the
United States will be convened in Chicago,
Monday, September 4, 1898. at II O'Clock, A.
NJ, for the consideration of the subject and
question embraced in the official pro-
gramme. The congress will be under the
honorary presidency of His Eminence Car
dinal Gibbons, Archbishop Of Baltimore.
The Plan of Representation
The congress will be composed of dele
gates from the different dioceses and
vicariates OF the United States viz: For each
diocese and vicariate, ten delegates at large,
Rnd five additional delegates for every
$1,000 of the Catholic population in such
diocese and vicariate, as shown by the
Catholic Directory (Sadlier's) Ior 1898; and
proportionately FOR fractions of e50O0
These delegates shall be appointed by the
Bishop or acting ecclesiastical superior of
the diocese or vicariate, and the delegates
go chosen are TO be reported to the Commit
tee on Organizatlon on or before August i.
1898 In addition, every Catholic university,
college and seminary for young men shall
be entitled to send delegates at large and
one addiuonal delegate for every 100
students regularly enrolled in such institu-
tlon for the collegiate year lS92-ls93
The decision arrived at by the Committee
On Organization defines the scope of the
congress as follows: To the consideration of
the Social Question" as outlined by Leo
Kill in his encyclical on that subject; to
which shall be added the question of
Catholic Education" and ''The Indep pend
ence of the Holy See." Accordingly, the
papers to be prepared in advance to be read
at the congress will be devoted to the sub
jects under these limitati ons.
The Programme of Topics.
The following is suggested as the order
and subdivision of the subjects for the |
different papers:
Ffrst-The discovery of the New World.
Second-Columbus, his character and mis-
sion.
Third-The results and consequences to
religion and to civilization of the discovery.
Fourth-Ihe missionary work of the
church in the New World.
Fifth-The influence of the Catholic
Church on the political, civil and social in
stitutions OF the United States.
Si1tn-Isabella, the Catholic.
THE SOCIAL QUESTION.
First-The encyclical Of Pope Leo XIII. on
this question.
Second-The rights of labor; the duties o.
capital
Third-Pauperism and the remedy.
Fourth-Pubic and private charities
how to make them more effective and bene-
fetal.
Fifth-Workingmen's societies and soeie-
ties for young men.
sixth-Life insurance and pension funds
seventh-Trade combinations and strikes.
Eighth-Immigrati tion and colonization.
Nin5h-Intemperance.
Tenth-The condition and future of the
Indians in the United States.
Eleventh-The condition and future of the
negro race in the United States.
Twelfth-The work of women in religion
and in the world.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS.
First-CathoIic education in the United
States.
secOnd-The independence of the Holy
See.
Practical Results Are Expected.
The congress must be prepared to propose
practical reforms 1t will not suffice that 1t
shall have been the medium and opportu-
nifty for the delivery of clever ESSAYS and
eloquent addresses on the various themes.
The highest capacities of trained scholars
and thinkers, it is expected, will be en-
listed in the consideration and treatment of
the subjects proposed to the congress.
The call proceeds to say that all men feel
ana admit that the present relations of
labor aud capital are strained and unreason-
able; that civil and social order are SER
lously menaced, trade and business ham,
pered. An entente cordiale is to be sought
and is assuredly to be found somewhere.
Why not in and by the Catholic Church?
That Church is the friend OF the poor and
Of the oppressed; the infexible foe to in
Justice OF whatever kind, wherever found.
md ia recognized by all as the SYNONYM
or authority, the champion of law and
'rder: hence the public will watch with in
.erest the deliberations of this congress.
The utmost freedom of discussion is invited
In the sections.