The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-11
CATHOLIC SOCIETIES
A NATIONAL FEDERATION IS ESTABLISHED.
Many Eminent Divines are in Atten- dance Upon the Convention, Which is in Session in
 Cincinnati.

Cincinnati. Dec 10-The American Feo- eration of Catholic Societies IS now per manently established. In his discourse III tbe morning at St. Peters Cathedral, pr. M. J. LavelIe, rector of St. Patricks Cathedral in New York, eloouently souho- ed the keynote in favor of the federation. He was followed by Archbishop Elder
 who discussed the need of unity or az, tion as we'll as of purpose and predicted
 great results in the future py the uihoi
 of Catholic organizations.
 Professor Anthony Matre, President or
 the Cincinnati, Federation; Governor
 Nash, Mayor Fleischman, T. B. Minahan,
 President of the Ohio Federation; Presi-
 dent Fries, Vice President Fitzgerald ana
 others were all enthusiastic in ther
 speeches at the opening of the convention
 in the Auditorium, predicting gooo re-
 suits for the society and the country
 the add. ess of Governor Nash being re-
 peatedly cheered as he referred to the
 good work of the church for law and or
 der and for the suppression of anarchy.
 Addresses were then made by Bishop
 Macs of Covington. Ky; Bishop Horst
 mann of Cleveland, Bishop McFaul o1
 Trenton, N. J., and Bishop Mesmer or
 Green Bay, Wis. Bishops Horstmann ana
 McFaul spoke at length the latter 10 show that the federation proposed to ad- vance benevolent, social and Chrlsuah work and especially to assist the Catn- olic press and disseminate Catholic ht- erature The address of Bishop Mctau was regarded as an official statement from the clergy and that of T. B. Nina han as an official statement from the laity President Minahan demonstrated that the Federation was one for Chris tians and not one for politicians. The committees are in session tonight and hereafter night sessions of the conven- tions will be held.
 The first convention of the American
 Federation of Catholic Societies conven, ed here today with about five hundred delegates present, representing an esti-
 mated aggregate of about 6oO,oeo as the membership of the cooperating socletleS: The officers of the Federation and of inc different societies continued their
 conferences today over the construction
 of a constitution that would be accept
 able to all of the societies.
 At a. m. the parade. consisting of the local societies, acting as an escort of the delegates and visiting prelates, proceed ed from the headquarters of the Fedora
 tion at the Grand Hotel to the cathedral,
 where Father Quatman was master or ceremonies and Bishop Horstman or Cleveland celebrated mass, the opening
 sermon being delivered by pr: Layalle, | pastor of the cathedral in New York. Archbishop Elder presided on the throne with the visiting bishops in the sanctu- ary. The music of the large choir was | a feature of the ceremonies at the cathe- | dral.
 The delegates proceeded direct from the
 cathedral to the auditorium, where An | thony Matre, President of the Cincinna- | ti Federation, introduced those making 1 the welcoming addresses as follows: Gov
 ernor Nash, on the part of Ohio; Mayor | Fleischmann, on the part of Cincinnati
 and President T. B. Menahan of Colum-
 bus. on the part of the Ohio Federation. President Freis and Judge Thomas w.. | Fitzgerald of New York. Vice-President
 of the Federation, responded to the ad-
 dresses Of welcome. after which the con- vention proceeded with its business in | executive session.
 | At the afternoon session committees were appointed and went to work tonight. | Just before adjournment motion was | adopted directing the Secretary to cable | expressions of good will to the Pope and | request his blessing for the Federation and to send telegram to President Roosevelt pledging him the loyal support | of Catholic citizens.