The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-01-17
G,1siEEsS,

Cne future, ULlG p3O,l dii1il1C lCI LiiO iiiSoo-
ing has been arranged.
This congress viii in many respects
be the most important that has been
held in the United States The policy
of holding these meetings OF lay church
men is an old one in Europe, more espe-
cially in France and Belgium. but it is
as yet new to Roman Catholics OF Amer
lea. They were brought about largely
through the influence of Cardinal Glib
bons
The first congress was, held in Balti-
more in 1889 and was in every way a
notable gathering More than seventy
chbishops and bishops were present, in
addition to Cardinal Gibbons and Mgr.
Satolli the papal ablegate. Every state
and territory in the United States was
represented in the congress, and the then
prime minister of Quebec, Hon Honori
MERCER 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 1899 are now
dead. These are Daniel Dougherty, the
famous orator; United States Senator
Francis d. Herman, of New York, and
John Culinary Shea. the eminent his
tol1an But despite the loss OF these
men the coming congress will unques-
tionably be Il most brilliant one.
The essential feature of these con-
crosses Is that, unlike the recent council
OF archblshopsi New York and other
Catholic church councils, they are domi-
mated by lsymen The clergy partici-
pate, but they DO not control. The dele
gates to the congress are nolninally
named by the bishops OF the various do
ceses that they represent, but in reality
are selected by leading laymen. Nor
have the church officials anything to do
with arranging the programme of the
meetings However it is the custom OF
the leaders prior to holding a congress
to lay their plans before the ruling
church officials for their approval In
this way the Chicago programme was
as formal matter of respect laid before
the archblshops of the church at their
late meeting in New York city and was
by them approved.
The Chicago congress will be d big
affair in point Of numbers, for there
may be present from 1000 to 1000 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 $4,000 of the Cath
Ollie population in each diocese. AS this
plan will give the great city OF New
| York, with it's immense Catholic popula-
ton. over $50 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 large
hall to hold them all.
AS for the programme of the congress,
it is simple enough. 1t will in no man.
ner SAVIOR OF politics or sectionalism. the
sole aim being to advance the interests
OF the Catholic church along all legltl-
mate lines. The school question in all
it's phases will be prominent subject
for discussion, as will socialism in the
light of Pope Leos most recent pronuncl-
amento on that question in rebuke OF the
modern anarchistically inclined school
of socialists.
But the main feature of the congress
will be patriotism and Americanism. 9th
er subjects will be secondary. Coincident
as the congress will be. and in the same
| CITY with the Columbian celebration. IT
has been decided by the committee that
| mas the matter OF arrangements that 1T
will be but fitting that the congress