The Irish standard., 1906-09-08

Every year the Central Bureau ar
ranges two vacation courses of lee
lures on political economy, apologet-
les and Catholic organizatit The one
for priests and educated laymen lasts
two weeks. Prominent professors give
daily three lectures, which are followed
by a general discussion The other
course continues ten weeks and is
given for the benefit of talented work
ingmen, who receive thorough and
practical course in sociology. These
men then take Il prominent and some-
times a leading part at home in train
ing the Catholic worlsingmcn to meet
the attacks of Socialism.
The Central Bureau urges the man.
ayers and promoters to ;neet in fire.
| quent conferences to discuss the best
means to spread the good work, to ex-
change ideas, to communicate expert
ences and to foster enthusiasm. In
these conferences plans are laid for
public meetings.
BY means of frequent public meet
ings the Volksverein becomes better
known. About two thousand of these
meetings are held annually. It is of
the utmost Importance that these meet
ings be made as impressive SIS possible
Good speakers are therefore needed,
| 1f1G1 1,uc, 1.,fr,
for every part of the empire. Copies
of these lists are kept by the respective
city and county managers. 1t is the
duty of the promoters to insure a large
and appreciative audience for the lee
tures..
| In order to interest not only the
father but every member OF the FAM
lily in the progress of the league, So
called family evenings are arranged
in many places. For that purpose a
suitable hall is secured; all the men,
bers of Catholic families are invited,
and the representatives of the Volks-
veren furnish entertainment in the
form of humorous declamat:ons. music
songs. etc. When the occasion presents
| itself. a few words are said on the
aim, usefulness and necessity of the
Volksverein. These family gatherings
have become quite popular through
out the cOuntry.A
AT the last general eleclpns-An Ger
many Q905), 2,O25,OoO votes were cast
in favor of socialism, The increase in
the socialistic vote during the period
of the last ten years was $500 The
phenomenal success of the socialists is
owing chiefly to their incessant propa- :
ganda. Every thorough going socialist
becomes Jealous apostle Of his creed
Millions of pamphlets and papers are
spread broadcast over all the states of
the empire. 4n thousands of public
meetings the existing conditions of So
ciety are denounced as unjust and OPP
pressive. The ideal conditions which
will prevail in the socialistic state of
the future are described in glowing
colors. From the large cities the epi-
demic of socialism has spread into the
country districts and has infected
many, especially of the younger gen.
Grafton. In the Protestant provinces
the socialists found field well pre-
pared for the reception OF their per-
nicious seed Gross religious indif-
ferentism, infidelity and immortality
had there cleared the way for them
| Within recent years the socialists be-
gan to invade also the Catholic prov
inces. But they themselves admit that
their advances there are very slew, In
the Volksverein they hav. met their
match. 1t is, moreover. a wcii-known
fact that in several cities tn. socialists
have lost ground since the establish
ment of the Volksverein. The cause of
this success is to be sought in the fact
that the members of the Volksverein
are we'll instructed and chat for this
reason are not easily carried away by
the sophistical arguments OF social agi-
tators.
! True enlightenment of the people is
the best weapon against socialism, and
to furnish this weapon is the chief aim
OF the Folksverein. The leaders of the
movement know that we'll instructed
Catholic will never fall q prey to So
cialism. For that reason the motto
Education of the People" is written in
golden letters on the banner of the
Volksverein. 1t means education by
means of an up-to-date, truly pro-
gressive Catholic press, bv daily pa
pers anG periodicals, by pamphlets and
books, education by lectures and
speeches, by courses in sociology and
apologetics. education by practical
training. The education which is based
on the principles Of the only true re-
ligion will save mankind. II these prin-
ciples were interpreted correctly and
applied in the every day lie of the in
dividual and of the community, the
world would not need to worry over
social question, and government.
would not now tremble before the
legions Of dissatisfied workingmen.
Article I. The purpose of this asso.
citation is to combat erroneous and rev.
olutionary tendencies in social life anc