The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-06-12
MEETING Or SOCIETIES
German Catholics Assembled
in Convention.
ORGANIZATIONS IN LINE
A Morning Street Parade Followed by a
Public Meeting at Which Clergymen
Addresses the Members of the Several
Branches-Iu Business Session

Our borough was in gala attire to-day
in honor of the societies which came to
attend the second annual convention and
parade of the German Catholic societies
of Pennsylvania. Nearly all the promi-
nent buildings were gorgeously decorated
| with attractively dropping flags, which
reflected the hard labor of a number of
| professional decorators who were engaged
in the work for almost a week. Many of
| the citizens also contributed to the decor
ations and received the concentrations of
the visitors in the parade.
| The bright, clear spring weather was
| an incentive to the people of the neigh
| boring towns to come to town and wit
ness the parade and they arrived in droves
on all the railroad and electric lines. The
streets were thronged with strangers dur
ing the day and there were many re-
unions of friends in various parts of the
| town.
The members of the local society, st.
| Michaels, were out early this morning
making preparations to receive the
visitors and that they worked like beavers
was attested by the pleasure expressed by
the visitors over the reception accorded
| them.
The parade moved at about ten o'clock
and passed through the principal streets
of the town in the following order:
FIRST DIVISION.
Uniformed Police.
| Chief Burgess James Burns.
Chief Marshal-S. G. Acker.
Aids-Christian Weber, Minersville, and
Rev. A. Nertz, St Clair.
Citizens Band, Mahanoy City.
st. Joseph Society.
| st. Fedalius Society.
SECOND DIVISION.
Marshals
St. Clair Band, St. Clair.
St. Joseph Society st. Clair.
st. Anthony Society, Newtown.
St. Joseph Society, Minersville.
| THIRD DIVISION.
| Marshals
Third Brigade Band, Pottsville.
| st. Johns Society, Pottsville
St. Bernard's Society, Pottsville.
FOURTH DIVISION
Marshals
| Grant Band, Shenandoah.
| Representatives and delegates
ST. Michaels, Shenandoah.
St. Joseph's Society, Ashland.
Rev. Father Northey, mounted.
St. Maritus Drum Corps, Ashland.
| st. Maritus Society, Ashland.
Carriages containing clergymen and
officials of the Society
The St. Maritus Society of forty-fve
men presented striking appearance and
drilled along the route of parade in a
manner that won the appreciation of the
| spectators. The uniforms of this society
are very attractive.
After the parade the societies filed into
| Robbins opera house, which was beauti-
fully decorated with flags, banners, bunt-
ing and streamers of the American and
German colors, the former predominating.
The stage and proscenium arch were also
| elaborately decorated.
This meeting was simply a preliminary
one to hear addresses by the clergyman in
| attendance and it was evidently a very
satisfactory one rs during the hour it
| continued there were repeated outbursts
of hearty and prolonged applause.
Mr.. Christ, Schmidt, of Shenandoah,
the president of the Union, acted as
chairman and Mr.. Jacob Bender, also of
Shenandoah, made the address of well
come.
The orator of the occasion was Rev. F.
w. Longinus, pastor of st. John the
Baptist church of Pottsville. His address
was not long, but very effective and called
| forth frequent applause.
Among the other speakers were Rev. A.
I, Schuttlehofer, Shenandoah Rev.
Northey, Ashland and Rev. Nertz, St.
Clair. August Necht, past president of
| the Union and editor of the Pottsville Re
publikanischer, and John Becker, presi-
| dent of st. Johns society, Pottsville, also
occupied seats on the stage, but made no
| addresses.
All the addresses were in the German
language. The speakers directed most of
| their remarks TO refutation of the
! alleged charge that the German Catholics
! of this country are not American in spirit
and Rev. Northey, of Ashland, was
| especially vigorous in this connection.
The clergyman appealed to those present
to stand by the principles Of their society
and church. He said a good Catholic
would also make good American citizen
In closing his remarks he said referring
to the American sOcieties) They say, you
| dare to touch the American school sys-
TEN, or dare to touch the American flag
and we will burn the life out of you.'
We say, you dare to touch the constitu-
tion of the United States and we will
burn the life out Of YOU"
At noon the meeting adjourned 10 allow
| the delegates time for dinner and at 2
o'clock the convention was convened for
regular business. The convention will
| close tonight.
Died at the AlmshOuss.
Charles Fritz, a veteran of the rebellion
and who served in the 4Sth Regt, Pa
Vol. died at the almshOuse this morning