Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-26
Catholic Organization for Pro-
motion of Charity.
BUSINESS MEETING TODAY
More Than 300 Delegates Assemble
at Mcmahon Hall.
REPORTS FROM THE STATES
Organization to Represent ALI Be-
nevolent Societies Of Church
in United States.

| With the presentation and discussion of
reports on the condition of charitable
| work in cities. dioceses and states. the
first annual conference of Catholic char
tiles today launched movement of mercy
which is destined to be nationwide in it's
scope. More than 300 delegates were as
sembled in Mcmahon Hall at the Catho-
lie University this morning at $50
O'Clock, when Mgr. Shahan. president OF
the conference, opened the proceedings.
Priests of the Dominican order, Fran
ciscan monks. Jesuits, Marists, secular
priests, Christian brothers, nuns Of the
order Of Mercy. Sisters Of Charity and
representatives of other religious bodies
were present, and informally discussed
| with the lay delegates the need of an or
ganized Catholic charity society.
AS announced by Rev DIR. William J.
Kerby. secretary, the first meeting WIS
for the purpose of taking stock. as it
were, of the organizations in the United
States. affiliated with the church, which
have for their object relief work among
the poor Without a single exception
each state delegate who submitted a re-
port urged cooperation to make organ
lied Catholic charities worthy Of the
name
In most cases the state and municipal
charity associations were praised for
their fairness, and Judge DeLacys COM
mendation Of the Associated Charities Of
the District. for its justice to Catholics.
won applause.
Response to Questions.
Each representative to report answered
hx, ha TOM
porary officers Of the organization, and
these dealt with the practicability of
forming a permanent institution to cover
ports such an organization will be In
corporated before the conference ad-
tourns Wednesday.
Following the opening address by Mgr
Shahan. In which he said the attendance
was greater than had been expected,
chairman and he called for the reports
of the delegates.
Edmond ]. Butler of New York. the first
to speak. urged the formation Of the as
work in his state. pointing out the ad-
vantages to be gained by cooperation.
Rev. Father Boyle of Texarkana, Ark.
said the state board Of charities in his
state was a political body. But any
Catholic who takes of his coat and
hustles can get on the board.' he said
However. the federal authorities are fair
and priests are allowed to visit the penal
and charitable institutions. We do not
have to visit the penitentiaries to say
mass because there are no Catholics con-
fined in them. The church in Arkansas
supports an asylum that will accommo-
date 400 children and IS old people.
So far we have been able to find only
seventy-one children in the orphanage
who need the care Of the nuns. and there
are only eight old persons to take advan-
take of the home Of the aged"
Conditions in Other States.
Richard c. Cannon of Chicago. repre-
senting Illinois. reported flourishing condi-
tions among Catholic charity bodies, and
A. B. Reed. for Pennsylvania. gave an
optimistic review of philanthropic work
in his section. Davis F. Tilley of Boston
lauded the system of charity work in
Massachusetts. Rev. Francis Foy COM
mended the efforts Of the Catholics Of
New Jersey to alleviate suffering in that
state. and c. A. Winger of West Virginia,
while admitting that much opportunity
awaited the national conference there
praised the success that has attended the
early efforts of the religious orders.
Rev. Father Brophy Of New Hamp-
shire declared that some Of the indi-
vidual state officers were bigoted. thus
Catholic charities. He said children
taken from Catholic parents who have
been unable to care for them properly
have been in many cases turned over
to non-Catholic institutions for their
education.
Others to submit reports were P. ].
McEvoy, Maryland; Richard Crane.
Cincinnati. Ohio; ]. MCGOWAN. Provi-
dence, r. l.: Rev. James Donoghue.
Minnesota Rev. Father Rusier. Omaha.
Neb; Rev. NJ. F. McAvoy. Wisconsin:
r. j. Rapier. New Orleans. La; Rev.
Charles De Courcey. Boston.
Reports Sent by Mail.
Some reports were transmitted by mail
and were read to the convention by
Judge De Lacy. 0hese were from In
diana, Michigan, Virginia, Georgia and
Vermont.
Recess was taken for luncheon at noon.
and at o'clock the reports submitted in
the morning were discussed and many
suggestions offered to aid in the perma-
nent organization. At the same hour sec
tional meetings were held. Heads of in
dustrtal schools conferred and discussed
plans for forming an organization to be
affiliated with the national body.
This evening at o'clock number OF
papers will be read.
To consider the question of protection
of young girls in large fities the woman
delegates will meet this evening at Trim
ity College, and after listening to the
report on the international association
for the protection Of girls, to be read by
Rev P Mueller-Simoni OF 'Strassburg,
will hear from committees.
Tomorrow morning THE Dependent
Family will be the topic under discus
sion in Mcmahon Hall, and papers will