The Washington herald., 1908-07-05

New York. July 4-The American Fed
Grafton Of Catholic Societies, which will
meet in national convention in Boston in
August has been approved by Leo XIII.
by Plus Y. by two successive papal dele
gates in this country. and by almost the
entire American hierarchy in the United
States.
1t numbers something over 100000 men,
bers. and expects eventually 10 include
every Catholic society in the United
States. On this point Archbishop O'Con-
nell, Of Boston. has said: "Inasmuch as
the federation takes nothing away from
| the autonomy Of the individual societies,
but adds greatly 70 the strength Of them
| all BY unity in aim and purpose. il isa
difficult to understand why any Catholic.
society should stand apart from so bene-
/ fetal a movement" The federation's
I plan Of work and organization are also
being largely copied in several European
countries and in the Philippines and Porto
Rico.
Purposes of Societies.
Although the federation is stu engaged
in the work Of enrolling societies upon its
roster. it has yet done important work
along the following lines. frequently in
union with others seeking the same ends.
/ viz: Forming Catholic public opinion on
the great problems Of our times and call
/ ing attention 10 the views OF Catholics
| thereon; securing the betterment Of con-
ditons in the Philippines and in Porto
Rico; securing the repeal Of the marriages
law In Cuba: the restoration by the gov
ernment Of rations 10 the Catholic In
| dian scholars; assisting in the defeat OF
the Bard amendment affecting the rights
/ Of Catholic Indians: the final acceptance
/ Of the Marquette statue; the appointment
/ Of Catholic army chaplains and OF Cath
\ Ole Indian commissioners; consideration
shown our Catholic Filipino students: per-
/ mission granted for the celebration of
! mass in the navy yards and public insti-
/ tutions, Including prisons and reform
/ schools; Introduction OF Catholic books
I IN public libraries; revision Of histories
and books Of reference prejUdicial 10 tho
| church; removal Of indecent theatrical
posters; shedding light on the real situ-
! alton in the Congo; restoring the motto
/ In God We Trust % our national coin.
and excluding from the mails infamous
| papers from Europe
| among the great works for which tho
/ federation VIII labor henceforth are tho
/ unihcation Of Catholic nationaIities in the
/ United states as brothers IN faith and In
! civil allegiance. the destruction OF di-
I vorce. and the banishment OF socialism
| substituting for the latter true Christian
] democracy as outlined by Leo XIII and
Plus X.
Catholics Work with Negroes.
The annual collection in CatboIla
( churches throughout the United States
tor the propagation OF the faith fixes
/ cur attention once more on our negro
missions We are told that Plus Y re-
Gently referred 10 the work OF the aposto-
late TO the coiored people as worthy os
being encouraged and applauded beyond
/ any other undertaking Of Christian civ
1 illzation.' We now have in this country
/ a Catholic board for work among thu
| colored people, Of which Rev John Z.
Burke has been appointed the director
/ general One of his first acts has been
TO establish the Priests league for the
| colored missions of the United States. Sc
/ curinS Mgr. FalcOniO and the bishops as
/ It's first members He is also forming a
/ lay association 20 cooperate in work for
/ colored missions.
! II Is an ascertained fact that not mora
/ than one-half Of the nine million OF our
I colored people receive any form OF ban
I tiSm. united effort IS now TO he r,--r
iorth by the Catholic bishops. priests.
and laity Of this country 10 evangelize
/ and improve the condition OF these Door
! neglected people.
Roosevelt Her Kin.
President Roosevelt has. among his
many distinctions. the right 20 claim re-
4 lationship by ties Of consanguinitv with
! Mother Elizabeth Seton. whose probab1e
| canonization Is exciting interest in Cath
| Ole circles The late Archbishop Bay
! ley, Of Baltimore. was her nephew This
! prelate was connected with the New York
/ family OF Roosevelt. which gave US our
! President Of to-day.
/ Mother Seton established the order OF
Sisters of Charity in the United States.
at Emmitsburg, Nd I'm 1909, and the Sis
/ terS are about TO celebrate their cente-
nary. At present their establishments in
4 the United States. number over $50. with
! over 5000 members. In their hospitals
and asylums the Sisters care for llO5l
orphans. 1900 insane, and 5000 sick pe--
sons, and 25,e00 infants are IN their
! founding asylums.
POPe's Gifts NOt Large.
! Occasionally the story is circulated OF
/ some magnificent donation being made %
! Plus X 10 defray expenses Of his house,
/ hold and 20 help TO spread the faith. AT
! this time, when Peters pence is being
! collected for the holy fathers jubilee. &c
4 is well to remember that these tales have
! no foundation in fact. In commentinp
! upon recent account Of how a million
crowns were sent by the Emperor OF
Austria 10 Plus " the editor OF Rome
/ remarks we have taken the trouble
! to secure information on the matter.
! and this Is what we have learned from
/ the very highest authority: During the
/ four years and a half OF the present
/ ponuhcate, neither the Emperor Francis
/ Joseph. nor the ex-Empress Eugenie. nor
| the King Of Spain. nor any other likely
/ or unlikely King or Queen In the whole
world has made an Offering OF as much
/ as a single centcsimo, which is perhaps
/ the smallest coin in existence 20 the holy
/ father. The absolute accuracy OF this
1 remarkable fact may be relied upon, and
/ the moral Of il is that the support Of the
| holy see is dependent upon the Offering
/ of the faithful
"BOstOn's stump.
From the Springfield Republican.