The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-10-07
GERMAN CATHOLIC FEDERATION.
SIXTEENTH ANNUAL cONVEN-
TIoN AT ST. PETER, MINI.
Celebration Of "Catholic Day"-Meet-
Il ing of State Federation Of Ger
man Catholic Societies-Reso-
lutions Adopted-Prosper-
Gus Condition of the
German Catholic Aid
Association-Offi-
GERS Elected.

The fifteenth annual convention of
the State Federation of German Cath
olic Societies held at ST. Peter, Mimi,
during the last week of September,
was one of the most successful in the
history of that organization The
citizens of st. Peter, irrespective of
creed or nationality, joined hands to
give the delegates a fitting welcome
and afford them every facility for the
transaction of business. The city
was gaily decorated and Illuminated
In their honor; and the local Catholic
societies We'd with one another in
showing their visiting brethren every
courtesy Special trains from the
Twin Cities, Mankato, New Ulm, and
Sleepy Eye, brought large delegations
and much enthusiasm prevailed dur
ing the convention
Catholic Day.
1 Sunday, September "A, was set
apart as Catholic Day." and at ten
O'Clock the delegates and their friends
assembled in the Church of the I'M
maculate Conception, of which Rev.
F. H. Smalian is pastor, for the Sol
emn Pontif1cal Mass celebrated by
Bishop Trobec of St. Cloud, who was
assisted by the Rev. John Maier of
Winona as Arch-priest. The dea-
cons of honor were Rev. A. Spirig, S.
j., of Mankato, and Rev Ohio Jansen,
o. F. NJ, of Chaska Rev. Bernard
Viewer, o. F. NJ, of Jordan, was dea-
con, and Rev James Skluzacek, of
Nicsllet, was subdeacon of the Mass.
The sermon was preached by the
Rev. A. Hartmann, S. j., of Mankato.
In the afternoon at two o'clock a
grand parade was held in which, in
addition to the accredited delegates,
twenty local societies and others from
the neighboring towns participated.
The parade ended at the opera house
where public meeting was held at
which the delegates were welcomed
on behalf of the city by Senator Ben
son, and in the name of the Catholics
by Rev. F. H. Sma1ian The Right
Reverend Bishop Trobec addressed
the meeting on the subject of German
American Catholic Activity in Mime
sota Mr.. 10. Juenemann spoke on
the duties of Catholic citizens, en-
phasizing the part they ought to play
in the enforcement of law. Various
phases of the social question were dis
cussed by the Rev. A. de Asche-
berg, S. j., of Mankato. The working
of the Volksverein in Germany
through the Centralstelle in Munchen-
Gladbach was explained by Mr.. Of
fenbacher, secretary of the Central
stelle of the Central-Verein.
Meeting of State Federation.
The regular meeting of the State
Federation opened on the following
day with High Mass, celebrated by
the Rev. J. Maier of Winona, and a
sermon by the Rev. J. M. Manner of
Searles. When the delegates assem-
bled for the business session the roll
call showed the presence of two hun
dred and eighty-nine accredited dele
gates representing total member
ship of 10,888, in one hundred and
thirty federated societies. This rep
resents an increase of two hundred
and sixty-four members over last
years enrolment During the year
one hundred and twenty members
died; s34,237.S5 was paid out in insur-
ance; and $15,894.S6 in sick benefits.
The local societies have $12O,O00 in
cash on hand. The election Of officers
resulted in the retention of those of
last year, namely, President, Paul
Kemp, of Winona; Vice President,
Rev. A. Hartmann, 5. J., of Mankato;
Corresponding Secretary, w. Eibner.
of New Ulm; Treasurer, Martin Wal
SER of Mankato
The Resolution Committee, of which
Mr.. Joseph Matt, Editor of Der
Wanderer," ST. Paul, was chairman,
recommended the acceptance and en-
dorsement OF the resolutions passed
at the fifty-sixth general meeting Of
the Central-Verein. After pledging its
allegiance to the Holy See the Fed
Grafton impressed upon it's members
the duty of assisting the mission
work of the Church and especially the
Extension Movement for the spread
Of Catholicity in the United States;
condemned the divorce evil (which it
would restrict by means of legisla-
tion), the circulation Of obscene and
suggestive literature, and the presen-
tation of plays Of doubtful taste;
urged the federation of women socie-
ties with the Central-Verein, and the
establishment OF depot missions in all