The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-10-31
CONVENTION OF GERMAN CATHOLICS.

/
convention ever held by the Catholic
Union of Germany has just completed
it's work in the historically Catholic
city of Cologne" says the Independent.
1T was the fiftieth convention of the
united organizations that represent the
strength Of the Catholic Church in tine
land of luther. A special building
with a seating capacity of 5000 had
been erected on the banks of the
Rhine, and at each of the eight gen.
eral meetings held this immense audi
torium was crowded to the last seat,
and overflow meetings, often to the
number of half dozen, were held
elsewhere. Special meetings also took
place of the various societies that to-
gether constitute the body, such as the
Bonifacius Verein, which labors chiefly
in predominantly Protestant neighbor-
hoods; the Society of Catholic Rectors
and Secondary School Teachers, the
Mission Societies, etc. For the first
time in the history of these conven-
tons, which extend their influence
over the political as well as the purely
ecclesiastical field, cardinals We're
present in the persons of Ferrari, of
Milan, and Fischer, of Metz A special
periodical, with almost hourly reports,
| appeared. making a total of % issues,
covering 176 pages. A procession of
Catholic laboring men and artisans,
held during the first day, consisted
of more than twenty thousand men.
In the front of the big auditorium it
dissolved into eight parts, each going
to separate convention. The work
of the general convention was divided
into four parts, each managed by a
special committee to which the leading
churchmen of Germany belonged; one
dealing with the Pope, the Roman
Question, Missions and Affiliated So
cieties; the second with Social Ques-
tons; the third with the Christian
Charities and the charity work of the
Church: the fourth with Science, the
schools, the press, and Christian Art.
Quite naturally, this convention. like
all of it's predecessors since 1871, pro.
tested against the deed of September
10th, 1870, the convention, however,
declaring that it did not hate Italy,
but that the genuine peace and pros
perity of that land are dependent on
the righting of this great wrong. 1t
declared the guarantee law farce
Again the demand was made that the
German government rcadmit the
jcsuits, who have been excluded NOW
for thirty years. The convention sent
also Il telegram of the sincerest de-
votlon to the German Emperor. asking
for the earnest cooperation of State
and Church i'll the highest interests of
societies. Cardinal Fischer. evidently
lavorlte of the late Pope and OF
the German Emperor, brought the
papal blessing from Rome. Not in the
history of Catholic Germany has there
ever been such Il representative gather
ing of it's best men as was seen in
Cologne. Cardinal Ferrari in his ell
tluslasm asked his fellow Cardinal
to give him the fraterlml kiss in view
OF the assembled host, and he closed
his address with the words: Ger
mania docet! Gcrmania docet!' The
presidents closing address re-echoed
the aggressive words: Nee terremus,'
nee tlmemus'-We neither brighten
nor fear-and the convention closed
with a grand TIE Deuni" by the as
sembled thousands"