Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-08
SOCIALISM, { DISCUSSED
PAPER READ TODAY BEFORE
CATHOLIC MISSIONARIES.
Work of Priests in Wide Field-Con-
ference IL Mission
House.

A score or more of priests of the Catholic
Church from every section of the country
where the mission w6rk dhong the people
outside of the church is going on have come
to Washington to participate in the mis-
sionary conference being held at the Cath
Ollie University. The conference will con-
tinue until next Wednesday, and on Thurs
day the handsome new mission house in the
Catholic University grounds will be formal
ly opened by Cardinal Gibbons and the
archbishops Of the church from every sec
ton of the country. The work of the mis-
sion priests, those who are endeavoring to
put before the people the true meaning and
aim of the church, is carried on under some
difficulties and requires a special training.
Within a very short time the Catholic Uni
versity has recognized this fact by estab-
fishing a mission course, which has been
placed in the hands of capable men, and
which has served to fit young men to take
up the work. The establishment of the
course led to the building of the mission
house which will be dedicated next week.
The men who are assembled here for the
conference this week are of high standing
in the church. There are few of them
ligious dogma and philosophy will not be
accepted by the most learned and exacting
as the highest that can be obtained, and
they are here to tell their associates and
listen of their work and the best means
they have found to accomplish results.
Their talks take the form of lectures in
which various subjects. are treated. The
purpose of the work to the church. it is
said. is first to give clear idea to the
great mass of people who subscribe to no
articles of faith the fundamental principles
of the Christian religion. When this has
been accomplished the work of obtaining
converts for the church is left to follow
The members of this mission conference are
not evangelists in the general sense of the
word. In the commercial world they would
be called the personal representatives Of
the firm. sent out to personally interview
the customers and advise with them as to
what is the best stock to lay in.
Session Regarded as Important.
The session this morning was regarded as
one of the most important of the week, so
far. There were three papers on the pro-
gram which were listened to with great at
tention by the assembled missionaries, one
of which, on socialism and anarchy, being
of special interest. This paper was pre-
pared by Rev. Father William Stevens
Kress of Cleveland. Ohio
In the course of his paper the speaker
said:
Few persons realize how far the influ-
ence of the socialist propaganda has reach
ed. The socialist party publishes more than
two hundred weekly newspapers in this
-.
There are publishing houses in many cities
that print cheap booklets and tracts for
distribution. A little army of organizers is
working all the time and iaboring with fan
attic zeal for the spread of their faith.
That their propaganda is dangerous to
both state and church cannot be doubted
1t creates unrest, sets one class of citizens
against another derides love of country
aims at the complete overthrow of our pres
ent political system, proposes to make the
will of the majority supreme and set it even
above Gods law, advocates the eonfscation
OF all land and active capital without one
cent of compensation" proposes to make
attendance upon atheiStieA schools compul-
sorry up to a certain age toIabolish religious
communities, to loosen the marriage bonds
to make every man, subject to a majority
in the matter of work, ETC.,
It's Evil, Tendency.
Few persons outside those who have
talked much with socialists or read their hit
eratrre are aware what a n evfl thing social
ism is. 1t Is unnecessary, perhaps, to re-
mark that many persons were drawn into
the socialist movement irnocently. That is
true of Catholics especially. When showns
in its real colors good Catholics very
promptly sever their connection with the
socialist party. .
''The policy OF standing passiyely by with
the expectation that socialism will wear IT.
self out seems unwise. Socialism is not
mere fad or passing craze. Its phenomenal
growth in Germany may be duplicated here.
If it could become power in a town like
Brockton Mass, where the condition OF
the workman is better, perhaps, than in
any other town on the globe, what may We
not expect in a season of distreSs?"
Papers were also read during the morn
ing session by Father Van Inglegen of Vir-
gnia on missions in country places and
Father Francis Clement Kelley of Michigan
on the priest on the lecture platform. This
afternoon Father Charles Alfred Martin of
Cleveland will read paper on the break
up of dogmatic religion, and Father Sulli-
van, Paulist, will read a paper on how to
reach the nationalist and agnostic A pop
ular entertainment will be given tonight
for the students of the university and the
public generally, when Mr.. Mckay of New
York will show and explain series of 500
pictures illustrating the life of Christ.
Session Yesterday.
The first business session of the confer
yesterday morning at 8 o'clock and several
papers of more than passing interest were
read. The meeting was in Mcmahon Hall
and was presided over by Ri. Rev. Bishop
Macs of Covington, KY.
Probably the paper of most interest at
the morning session was one prepared and
read by Father Charles B. Carroll of Bal
timore on the 'Evangelization of the Ne
gro" Father Carroll told of the work being
accomplished by the Society of st. Joseph,
which, he said, is an organization in the
Roman Catholic Church devoted exclusively
to work among the negroes.
There are three things to be overcome in
the work of evangelizing the negro-ignor-
ance. prejudice and poverty. Many of the
colored people, especially in the south, he
said. cannot read, and it is therefore neces-
sary to teach them by word of mouth But
with all this the work has been a success.
1t has been fruitful and very encouraging.
The results cannot be weighed by the ex-
penditures.
The first session of the conference was held
Wednesday night in Mcmahon Hall at
the university, with Bishop Macs Of Cow
ington presiding. Addresses outlining the
subjects to be covered. during the progress
of the conference The SPEAKERS were Faith
er a. P. Doyle. Father Walter Elliott and
Father Mccarthy Su5. sl6
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