The age-herald., 1901-12-10
CATHOLICS WILL
 CONVENE TODAY Central Combination of All Catholic Societies Proposed APPROVED BY CHURCHMEN Not Proposed to Interfere With the Autonomy of the Hibernians
 or Other Prominent
 Societies.
APPROVED BY CHURCHMEN

Cincinnati, December 9.-Much interest was taken here today among the of ficers and such delegates as have arrived for the convention tomorrow of the Amer Ican Federation of Catholic Societies. The permanent organization of central com l bination of all the Catholic Societies is re- garded as one of the most important steps that has ever been taken for the Cath olic Church in America.
 Although the Federation has the ap- proval of distinguished prelates, it was thought there would be strong opposi- tion to such an organization, but so far | the indications are to the contrary. The leaders say it is not proposed to interfere with the autonomy of the Hibernians, the Knights of St. John, the American Cath ollie Union, the German Catholic Yerein, the Catholic Knights of America, or any other Catholic societies. but to form Federation in which they will all be repre- sented for a common purpose without changing the old organization in any man nel. Tie promoters of this movement l are giving their best efforts in advance of the convention to the rtvision of their | fundamental law, so that the Federation will not interfere with the rights, or even the individuality of the organizations that are to be represented in it.
 Bishop McFaui's Plans.
 Bishop McFaul of Trenton, N. J., has been working on plans for the combina- ton for some time, and now he is joined by the officers and leading delegates in perfecting the organization. At Long Branch last August the following initial organization was made:
 President. Henry J. Fries, Erie, Pa; secretary, John J. ORourke, Philadel- phia.
 ! Executive Board-John J. Coyle, Phil adelphia; John c. Mcclure, Brooklyn; L. J. kaufmann, New York; E. D. Reardon, Anderson, Ind, and P. J. Flatle, Bos- I ton.
 Soon after the meeting at Long Branch last August officers issued the formal l call to all Catholic societies to join in | the convention here this week. This call was approved by Bishop Messmer of Green Bay, Wis, and Bishop McFaul of Trenton, N. J. Later a circular letter was sent by the officers of the federation | | tions in all the states enclosing creden- tial blanks for delegates, stating the basis of representation and that the fee 1 for the membership of any society was | s5 These circulars gave a copy of the proceedings of the meeting at Long | Branch and also stated that the objects of the federation are
 s"The- -cementiDg of the bonds of frater nal union among the Catholic laity and 1 Catholic societies of the United States; | the fostering of Catholic interests and the charity the study of conditions in social life the dissemination of the truth and the encouragement of the spread or Catholic literature and the circulating of the Catholic press"
 To Be Large Attendance.
 The national officers are in Philadelphia where Secretary ORourke resides. and he reports that there will be a large at- tendance of delegates. especially from the Eastern States Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois 1 and Indiana.
 In addition to the prelates and prom irent officers of the different societies, Secretary O'Rourke expects some of the most prominent speakers in the country here as represent atives of the Laity. There were important conferences today but they were mostly devoted to the pre-