The Washington herald., 1909-06-10

Bounding the field OF the tireless Cath
Ole neither by degrees Of longitude nor
by those Of latitude. the fourth annual
congress Of the Catholic Missionary Union
opened last night in Mcmahon Hall. Of
the Catholic University.
Priests from every portion OF the conti-
nent are in attendance. as eager cam
paigners as the Jesuits who pushed the
frontier out into the Ontario wilderness
centuries ago. The present era OF prose-
lyting is intensive among the crowded
populations Of the big cities. and the
fifty missionaries attending the confer
ence are enthusiastic over their labors.
Tonight the conference viii be graced
by the presence Of President Taft, who
viii deliver a brief address. Priests and
laymen await his words with the great
est anticipation. His broad and liberal
religious Views are well known. and his
address to Catholic workers will be
weighed carefully.
Cardinal Is President.
Organization was accomplished last
night. His eminence Cardinal Gibbons
was elected honorary president Of the
conference Rev. A. P. Doyle, as rector
Of the Apostolic Mission House, presided
and made the opening address
The watchword Of this congress is
cooperation" he said. The same deep
purpose fills the hearts Of all Of US. we
live In the hope OF seeing some day the
broad name of Catholicity writ large
across the spiritual activities OF the
blessed land Of America. We are strik-
ing with all the devotion OF priestly
hearts to advance IN every way the IN
terests OF God and holy church.
ITO attain these ends the spirit OF CO.
operation ought to dominate the coun-
els OF this congress. Each one has some
thing Of value to contribute TO our COM
mon purposes, and each one has some
thing to learn from the wisdom and
experience Of the other. No one has any
fads 10 exploit. nor has any one any
schemes 10 foist on the attention OF
oJhe-s. We are here to stimulate mis-
sionary activities all over the country
and so 10 rouse up the energies Of every
worker that he may get the very best
results from the opportunities at his
command
But beyond the realization OF our civic
ideals. We firmly believe the old mother
church Of the ages viii give 70 this peo-
pie the very best means and In a most
abundant measure, whereby they may
personally attain that union of the soul
with God. which, after all, is the ultimate
end Of all religion.
TT is a great task we have set our
with no end Of difficulties The doubter
smiles dublously. and the cynic utters his
cui bono, and the critic measures the
hugeness Of the task and the apparent
insuflciency Of the means The task that
IS before US Of the twentieth century is
not by any means as difficult as the one
that presented itself 10 St Paul in the
areopagus or 20 St. Peter as he lay IN
the Mamartine prison.
The Banner Year.
The era, and particularly in this. the
banner Of missionary achievement, could
be advanced 10 perfect victory, without
the full cooperation. heart and soul
Of the bishops and their priests. the
diocesan clergy. and the religious orders
This is the particular glory Of this
convention-the cooperation OF all the
dynamic forces Of the church united TO
accomplish the greatest of purposes We
can but hope and pray that during these
days we are brought together there will
be an outpouring Of the PentecOstal
spirit that win I'll our minds with that
supernatural wisdom TO know the ways
that are best suited TO resolve the
problems that present themselves here
and now"
Organization was accomplished by the
adoption Of rules Of procedure and the
appointment Of a committee on order.
comprising Rev. c. A. Shyne. S. J.. Mil
waukee; Rev. Luke J. Evers. New York.
and Rev. J. T. Busch. Excelsior. MINI.
Many religious orders Of the Catholic
Church are represented. including the Re-
demptionists. Norbertines, Passionists,
Paulists. JesuIts. Marits. Dominicans,
Benedictines. and Fathers Of the Holy
Spirit.
A letter indorslng the spirit OF the con-
gress from Cardinal Gibbons was read by
the chairman amid vigorous applause.
His eminence says:
The importance OF the work Is well
pointed out in the apostolic letter ad-
dressed 20 me by his holiness Pope Plus
y on the 5th OF September OF last year;
~and I recall with pleasure the interest
shown by the holy father while I was re-
ferring TO him the grand work done by
the missionaries. I could bat notice the
enthusiasm he showed at the grand re-
suits Of our missions for non-Catholics.
and during his conversation with me on
this subject his voice was frequently
charged with emotion. May God continue
10 bless your work with abundant re-
suits"
Letters OF the same optimistic tone were
read from Archbishop Keane. Of Du-
buque; Archbishop Glennon. Bishop Al
len. Of Mobile; Bishop Grace. Of Sacra-
Continued on PaEe 4, Column =.