The age-herald., 1901-12-12
Work of inc Day Was the Adoption of a New
 Constitution 4 BLESSING FROM POPE LEO Meeting Adopts Resolutions Declaring Loyalty of Catholics to Govern
 ment of United States.
 Condemns Anarchy.

Cincinnati, December 1.-The American
 Federation of Catholic Societies will hold
 it's first regular national convention in
 Chicago July 15 1902.
 The only question regarding member
 ship was that of the addition of women.
 The committee on constitution did not
 report in favor of their admission but
 the convention took it up and after a
 long and animated discussion deciGed
 to admit them. The convention con-
 cludes tomorrow.
 There was apparently more interest
 than ever at the second days session of
 the convention The agitation over the framing of the new constitution and by-
 laws to that the Federation will be ac-
 ceptable to all the old societies and
 also to the hierarchy is creating general
 attention. It is proposed to include all the nsular possessions in the Federation.
 Porto Rico is represented in the conven- ton.
 Letters and teisgrams were read today from the Chancellor of Cardinal Gib-
 bons. from Bishop Blenk, of San Juan. Porto Rico, and others wishing the Fed eration success.
 Asks Pope's Blessing. A Latin version of the following cable gram signed by the officers of the Fed eration was sent to Cardinal Rampoli at Rome:
 "rhe American Federation of Catholic
 societies in convention assembled at Cincinnati lovingly and humbly ask for | the Papal benediction."
 | At the afternoon session telegrams
 were read from most of the states in the | Union representing different Catholic so- cities wishing success to the new or- l ganization. Most of the Catholic papers
 sent telegrams endorsing the Federation, | including the Irish World and the Bos- | ton Pilot. A
 The work of the day was, the adoption of 8 new constitution. which provides
 more fully for a working centralized pow | CT without interfering with the autono- my of any societies that affiliate with it. l The basis of representation Is two dele. | gates from each local society and the | same ratio carried on up from parish to l county and from county to State and | from State to the national organization. l In State convention there will be one del- egate from each 1000 members and one | for each fraction of five hundred or more. 1 While the local federations of the larger
 cities retain their autonomy well as
 independent societies the new constitution provides a plan of organization under county federations directly and indirectly
 under State and national federations. Be- | fore any county or State federation can | act in a matter affecting even one county | only, 1t must have the endorsement of the executive council of the American | Federation.
 | Provision is made for ample resources | with an initiation fee of s for societies and a per capita tax.
 Resolutions Adopted. | At the night session the following reso- | lutions were adopted:
 Resolved, That this organization has | for its object the spread of fraternal rela- | tions among the various Catholic socie- | ties throughout the United States in the l hope that through the larger experience | and knowledge acquired from actual con- | tact, each and all may increase in mem bership improve in organization and | methods of administration and be made | more effective instruments for the in- culcation sound citizenship-thus doing better work than ever before for God for | country and for truth.
 Resolved. That we declare our filiaf | devotion and loyalty to our Holy Mother. | the church, and to the representative of her Divine founder the Pope: and that | we pledge to both our best and untiring ] efforts in the carrying out of their benefi- | cfent mission. We recognize In the sover- | eign pontiff Pope Leo XIII, the one who, 1 enlight ened by divine grace has in his | various encylicals extended to the work
 teachings which. if accepted and faith | fully observed, will uplift mankind to a l higher plane of scontentment and happi-
 ness. We, therefore, sincerely recom- mend to the faithful and those outside of the communion of our church, the
 study of the lucid explanations of Chris | tian teaching contained in the several | letters of the Holy Father. and to urge
 them to carry out the advice. which Is
 given us so loveably and forcibly therein. MckinIey's Assassination.
 Resolved That we also pledge to our
 country that devotion and patriotism
 which is incumbent upon good citizens. | As faithful Catholics. respecting lawfully
 established authority. 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 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 Roose- welt. and his administration. Resolved. That we pledge ourselves to
 indorse those who are laboring in the in- terest of sound Catholic press, litera- ture and education, and that we urge
 our members to cordially support and
 protect the same.
 During the evening session the Latin
 version of the following cablegram was | read by Bishop McFaul and received with three cheers. followed by continuous | demonstrations:
 Message From the Pope. Rome. December IT, | gro the Most Rev. Elder. Archbishop of of Cincinnati:
 His Holiness most lovingly grants his apostolic benediction to the American fed- eration of Catholic societies. assembled in national convention in Cincinnati. "M. CARDINAL RAMPOLLA'' A number of addresses followed, tho most prominent being by Father Mackey on socialism. He maintained by argu
 ments and citations that all anarchists were first socialists
 The next annual convention will be held on the third Tuesday in July at Chicago. -- iosntiausA sa.e esssnAs E.aze' .a
 l