The San Francisco call., 1908-12-06
Special Dispatch to This Call


NEW YORK. Dec. 5.-The Catholic
missionary congress held in Chicago in
November was unquestionably a his
tory making event in the life Of the
church in North America. The pro-
cession OF prelates and clergy from
Cathedral college to Holy Name cathe-
.dral. between two lines of 1000 Cath
olic Knights OF Columbus accoutered in
sword and baidrick. was an inspiring
sight. The banquet IN the afternoon
rendered by Archbishop Quigley in the
Auditorium hotel TO the visiting prel-
ates, was memorable, if only for the
assemblase of distinguished Catholic
leaders who participated.
Fourth Degree chapter, knights OF
Columbus. northern Illinois jurisdic-
tion. gave a banquet in the same hotel
10 The prelates and TO the Right
Hon. Sir Charles Fitzpatrick, x. c.
n G.. chief justice OF Canada. repre-
senting the Canadian extension society.
Sir Charles delivered his address on
this occasion. as his pressing public
duties did not permit of his remaining s
Tor the congress. But the Canadian So
cietv was ably represented at the con-
grcss itself by the president Rev. A
j.. Burke, ID. d.
Great preparations had been made
FOR the reception given BY the board
or governors Of the extension society,
Monday evening TO the prelates and
delegates. under the auspices of the
catholic Woman's league of Chicago,
believed % be the largest social or
ganiza ton of Catholic women in the
country. This reception was held in
She banquet hall of the Congress
Annex hotel. il was a brilliant affair,
worthy Of the great occasion which
called il forth.
Tuesday evening at general ses-
sion addresses on various phases OF
missionary work were delivered by
representatives. of each special work.
on this evening also took place the
reception rendered by the Polish Cath
oiics 70 the pspal delegate, Mgr Fal-
COMO. The Poles not only filled the
hail but overfiowed into the adjacent
streets, making = vast assem- blage that
gave rise 10 the suggestion that a
procession Of all the Catholics of Chi
eago would be Somewhat unmanage-
able if the Poles alone could occupy
SO many streets of the great city.
Then came the last day with fits
closing session. its afternoon assem-
blsge OF bishops and the board of
governors 10 plan e practical applica-
tion Of the work OF the congress. and
its great mass meeting Of delegates
and Catholic citizens in the evening
with the fine addresses Of Archbishop
Blenk OF New Orleans and the Hon,
Wm. BOurke Cochran Of New York
Probably the two subjects OF most
vital interest TO the country at large
discussed at the congress, were the
care Of orr immigrants and OF our
cOlored fellow citizens. The results OF
these two discussions bid fair to be
FAR reaching in their practical out
come.
The entire proceedings OF the con-
gres. including all papers read at its
sessions. viii be published Immediately
IN a volume containing about 400
pages.
While the civil year begins in Jan
nary the ecclesiastical year begins in
November. with the first Sunday OF
advent. which occurred last Sunday
The earliest trace of the observance
Of the season of advent seems to date
from 2 canon of the council of Sara
gossa in $50. But the present observ-
ance Of four weeks preceding Christ
mas as the season Of advent. or the
coming has existed for a thousand
years. at least in the Roman church
il was intended to be kept as a time
~ prayer and preparation for the com