The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-03-11
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70 onicago during 1893 is yet months in
tue iuture. the programme for the meet
ing has been arranged.
ms congress will in many resuects
De the most important that has been
heid In the United States. The policy
OF holding these meetings of lay church
men Is an old one in Europe, more espe-
ciaiiy IN France and Belgium, but it is
a. yet new TO Roman Catholics of Amer
lea They were brought about largely
through the influence Of Cardinal Glib
pons
The first congress was held in Balti-
more in 1889 and was in every way a
notable gathering. More than seventy
aTchhishops and bishops were present, in
addition TO Cardinal Gibbons and Msr
Satoili. the papal ALLOCATE. Every state
and territory in the United States was
represented in the congress, and the then
prime minister of Quebec, Hon. Honori
Mercier. was among the delegates. The
success OF the congress was great, and
the idea OF making these meetings per-
manent feature in this country met with
immediate favor
Three of the most distinguished mem
pers of the congress of 1889 are now
dead. These are Daniel Dougherty, the
famous orator; United States Senator
Francis ID. Herman. OF New York, and
John Culinary Shea, the eminent his
iorian. But despite the loss of these
men the coming congress will unques-
tionably he most brilliant one.
The essential feature of these con-
crosses is that, unlike the recent council
OF archbishops in New York and other
Catholic church councils. they are domi-
mated by laymen. The clergy partici-
pate. but they do not control. The dele
gates to the congress are nominally
named by the bishops of the various do
ceses that they represent, but in reality
are selected by leading laymen. Nor
nave the church officials anything to do
with arranging the programme of the
meetings. However. it is the custom of
the leaders prior to holding congress
to lay their plans before the ruling
church officials for their approval. In
this way the Chicago programme WAS
rs formal matter of respect laid before
the archbishops of the church at their
late meeting i'll New York city and was
oy them approved.
The Chicago congress Will he u big
affair in point of numbers. for there
may he present from 500 to 1900 dele
gates aside from church officials and
invited guests. Under the rules that
will govern the congress ten delegates
may attend from each diocese or arch
diocese or vicariate apostolic. with five
additional for every %. 900 of the Cath
olic population in each diocese As this
plan will give the great city OF New
\ York, with its immense Catholic popula-
ton. over 80 delegates, and Boston,
Philadelphia. st, Louis, Chicago and
other cities almost as many. and as every
Catholic university. college and semi
nary may also send delegates, it Will be
seen at once that it will require a large
nall to hold them all
AZ for the programme Of the congress,
It ia simple enough. 1t Will in no man
uer savor of politics or sectionahsm, the
sole aim being 10 advance the interests
Of the Catholic church along all legiti-
mate lines. The school question in all
its phases will be a prominent subject
for discussion, as Will socialism In the
tight of Pope Leo's most recent pronunci-
amento on that question in rebuke OF the
modern enthusiastically inclined school
OF socialists.
But the main feature of the congress
will be patriotism and Americanisn. 9th
er subjects will be secondary. Coincident
as the congress will be. and in the same
city with the Columbian celebration, II
mas been decided by the committee that
mas the matter of arrangements that il
will be but fitting that the congress: