The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-06-03
Continued from page ,
THE GERMAN VOLKSVEREIN.


year,; monthly illustrated paper for
children; bi-weekly papers for boys and
for girls; and finally Der Volksver.
ein," which is sent six times a year
to the 100000 members of the Verein
Most valuable among the publlca-
lions of the Central Bureau are what
are called Correspondence Sheets. .
There are two of these.
They are issued weekly and are
sent free of charge to the 400 Catho'
lie newspapers of Germany by whom
their contents may be republished
either wholly or in part. THE
Socio-political Correspondence con
tains six or eight short articles, besides
briefer notices on matters of general
interest and utility. The articles are
carefully written with the design OF
enlightening people on work which has
already been accomplished POLITICALLY
or otherwise), of presenting new mat
tiers, and of enlisting their Intelligent
cooperation in work still to be under.
taken.
The other sheet, called the "Apolo-
getic Correspondence" usually con-
tains three or four articles dealing
with the latest attacks on Christianity
and the Church.
Through the agency of these cor
respondence sheets the Volksverein is
able to address millions of readers. 1t
is easy to understand the effect which
can be produced upon the Catholic peo-
pie and others
BY the simultaneous appearance all
over Germany of these carefully pre-
pared and well-written articles the
staff thus really become associate
editors of all the Catholic papers of
Germany.
For the special service of the edi-
tors of these correspondence sheets a
clipping bureau, under a competent
staff, has been established at the Gen.
trail Office, where 600 of the most in
huential German papers are received.
Their leading articles are cut out and
| filed under some 1000 headings.
| Source or Income.
The main source of income for the
support of the Central Bureau is de-
rived from the members of the Volks-
verein. Each one of the 100000
members pays one mark GA cents) a
year. This amounts to $4,000. Life
membership costs 100 marks ($24). In
addition, considerable revenue is de-
rived from the sale of literature. The
bureau has also received some endow.
ments. 1t is the hope of the leaders
of the Verein to increase these so as
ultimately to place the work on an in
dependent basis.
The Bureau and the Center Party.
Closely associated with the bureau
is the Center Party in the Reichstag.
The staff at Munchen-G ladbach does
not directly deal with practical party
politics; but it does deal, in a scientific
way, with the principles and the his
tory of the various questions under
discussion, and it is able to supply the
leaders of the Center with all the
literature which bears upon them. It
is obviously of enormous advantage
to the Catholic representation at Der.
lin to have behind it so competent a
body of men as that at Munchen-
Gladbach. Indeed, in touch with the
Center Party, in touch with parish
labor unions Numbering 100000
/ ~ sN witty oil %I,o
branches of the Volksverein, the
central staff is the brains and heart
of all Catholic organization in Ger
many.
Supported by the German Clergy.
A word ought, perhaps, to be said
in conclusion about the priests OF
Germany in their relation to the
work OF the Volksverein. Almost
without exception they are in thor
ough sympathy with it. Last year
the members Of the staff gave six
weeks course of conferences at Fulda
to all the missionary priests Of South
ern Germany. So the work goes on
even from the pulpit. But perhaps the
most important and commendable (if
indirectly support which the priests are
everywhere giving to the work of the
Volksverein is the care and thorough
ness with which they instruct the chill
dren in their catechism.
In most sections of Germany pro-
vision is made for religious instruction
OF the children in the public schools
That instruction is given i'm every
parish by the pastor and his assist
ants, each of whom devotes from ten
to sixteen hours week to it, Some.
times they receive small remunera-
ton from the government, often they
do not. In many places the children
are obliged to 90 to mass two morn
ings i'm the week. 1t is sight to see
them file to the parish church at a
quarter past seven, their books i'm
knapsacks on their backs, ready to be-
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