The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-12
A CATHOLIC COMBINE
BIG FEDERATION PERMANENTLY
ESTABLISHED.
T. 3. MINAHAM PRESIDENT.
THE APOSTOLIC BENEDICTIoN RE-
CEIVED.

to Admit Women to Membership
After Long DiscussiOn-First
Regular Convention to Be Held in
Chicago July Is Next.
Cincinnati, Dec. 1.-THE American
Federation of Catholic Societies, tenn
porarily organized at Long Branch last
summer and permanently established
here this week, will hold it's first regu-
lar national convention in Chicago,
July Is, 1902.
In addition to a membership of over
half a milli3n of the laity repr.. sented
here this week, this federation has re-
ceived the Endorsement of the Pope.
the American cardinal, the archbishop
of this province, and of a half-dozen
bishops. who have been present, and
of very many in the priesthood. 1t Is,
however, an organization of the laity.
All the officials are laymen and it's OBJ
jects are for distinctive work from that
of the hierarchy.
The only question regarding MEM
bership was that of the admission of
women. The Committee on Constitu-
ton did not report in favor OF their
admission, but the convention took it
up and, after long and animated
discussion, decided to admit them.
The constitution which was
adopted to-day provides for
working centralized power without
interfering with the autonomy of any
societies that affiliate with it. The ba.-
sis of representation is two delegates
from each local society and the same
ratio carried on up from parish to
county, and from county to state, and
from state to national organization
In state conventions there will be one
delegate for each one thousand MEM
bers, and one for each fraction of 500
or more. While the local federatione Of
the larger cities retain their autonomy
as well as independent societies, the
new constitution provides a plan of or
ganization under county federations
directly and indirectly under state and
national declarations.
Provision is made for ample re-
sources by an initiation fee for socie-
ties and a per capita tax. No state Is
to have the presidency for more than
two successive years.
The Following sections are given in
full
THE objects of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Catholic Societies are the
cenenting OF the bonds of fraternaI
union among the Catholic laity and
Catholic societies of the United States:
the fostering and protecting of Catho-
lie interests and works of religion,
piety, education and charity; the study
Of conditions in our social life and
the dissemination of the truth"
Partisan politics shall not be dis
cussed in any meetings of this fedora
ton or of its subordinate bodies; nor
shall this body or any of its subordi-
nate bodies endorse any candidate for
office"
At the night session ex-senator ].
j. Coyle, chairman of the Committee
on Resolutions, made report, in part
as follows:
Resolved. That this organization
has for its object the spread of fra
ternal relations amongst the various
Catholic societies throughout the
United States, in the hope that through
the larger experience and knowledge
acquired from mutual contact, each
and all may increase in membership.
Improve in organization and methods
Of administration, and be made more
effective as instruments for the in
and morality, with the consequent
sound citizenship-thus doing bet
ter work than ever before for God,
for country and for TRUTH
The second resolution pledged filial
devotion and loyalty to the Catholic
Church and to its spiritual head. the
Pope. recognizing in his encylicals
teachings tending to the uplifting OF
mankind.
Mckinley and Roosevelt.
The report continues:
Resolved, That we also pledge to
our country that devotion and patriot
ism which is incumbent upon good
citizens. AS faithful Catholics, re-
specting lawfully established author
ity, we desire to give expression in an
especial manner to our condemnation
of the dastardly act by which the life
Of the chief executive of the nation,
President William Mckinley, was
brought to so sudden and untimely an
end. On this occasion, we earnestly
wish success. happiness and prosperity
to his successor, President Theodore
Roosevelt, and his administration.
Resolved. That we pledge ourselves
to endorse those who are laboring in
the interest of a sound Catholic press.
literature and education, and that we
urge our members to cordially sup
port and protect the same"
His Holiness Benedfction.
During the evening session a Latin
version of the following cablegram was
read by Bishop McFaul and received
with cheers followed by continuous
demonstrations:
Rome, Dec. Ito the Most Rev.
Elder Archbishop of Cincinnati His
Holiness most lovingly grants his apos-
tollc benediction to the American Fed
GRAFTON of Catholic Societies, assem-
bled in national convention in Cincln-
natl. M. Cardinal Rampolla.'
The conventions hereafter are to be
held on the third Tuesday I'm Juiy..
Chicago was selected for the conven-
ton.
The Committee on Nominations at a
late hour tonight. reported the fol-
lowing nominations:
President. T. B. Minahan, Ohio: vice
presidents. l.. ]. Kaufman, New Jer-
sey; G. II. Cannon, Illinois; T. w.
Fitzgerald, New York: secretary, Nich-
olas Conner, Dubuque, Ia; treasurer,
II. ]. Fries. Pennsylvania marshal.
j. j. O'Rourke, Pennsylvania.
Shortly after midnight Mr. Minahan
was elected president over T. W. Fitz-
yerald of Brooklyn. by a vote Of 14s to
~.
The convention then adjourned until
tomorrow, when the other officers will
be elected.