The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-06-03
THE GERMAN vOLKsVERE|N
FOUNDED IN 1880 BY THE GREAT
GERMAN CATHOLIC LEADER,
WINDTHORST.
Organized to Further Social Progress
BY the Dissemination of Catholic
Truth, The Unification of Catholic
Forces and the Instruction of
Catholic Children. Ii Opposes
the Forces of Socialism. An
Cbiect-Lesson for. Catho-
lies Everywhere.

IIcS Everywhere.
Munchen- Gladbach is busy indus
trial city Of $4,000 people, five-sixths
of whom are Catholics. 1t is situated,
writes correspondent of the Monitor,
San Francisco, almost directly north
of Aachen, and northwest of Cologne,
about an hours ride by train from
either city. There is nothing striking
in it's location, neither is there any
thing peculiar in the character of it's
industries. 1t has fine university
built over an ancient crypt, which was
part of an original church consecrated
some seven hundred years ago, by the
teacher of st. Thomas Aquinas, AL
bert the Great, then Bishop of Regens-
burg. The record of that consecra-
tion, with the seal attached, may still
be seen in the treasury of the church.
But the Catholic in these days who
visits Munchen-Gladbach will find it
interesting not for it's ancient relics,
but for it's modern activities Here is
located the "Zentralstelle des Volks-
vereins fur Das Katholische Deutsch-
land"
This wonderful Vol1zsverein really
owes it's origin to that heroic leader
of German Catholics, Windthorst. It's
small beginnings go back to 1880
Windthorst wanted united German
Catholic people to stand behind his
valiant Centre Party. After an anx-
ious and almost despairing search for
suitable president for the new Or
ganization he finally offered the posi-
tion to the proprietor of large cotton
mill in Munchen-Gladbach, Herr Franz
Brandts, who very reluctantly ac-
cepted it. This gentleman, now
seventy-six years of age, is still the
president of the Volksverein.
Religion and Social Betterment.
The Volksverein defines it's general
purpose as being "the promotion Of
Christian order in society" On the
negative side it is engaged in
strenuous warfare against the de-
structive forces of Radical Socialism,
while on the positive side it is
equally strenuous in furthering Chris
tian social progress in the Fatherland.
Such laws as have already been en-.
acted for social reform it strives to
enforce. Realizing the necessity of
concerted action in these matters, the
Verein. does all 1t can to bring about
the union of German Catholics in pub
| lie life. 1t sees only too plainly the
lamentable results Of the lack of that
union in France, and Italy and Spain.
Finally, side by side with the war
fare which it is waging in the in
terests of social betterment, the
Volksverein is carrying on a vigor-
Gus campaign in the defense of
religion and Catholic betterment.
Catholic Germany, which fought so
spIendidly for it's faith during the per-
secution of the Kultur-Kampf must
now be directed and encouraged to
| fight against the subtler attacks of in
difference, scepticism and unbelief,
which lurk in newspapers, pamphlets
and books or are openly delivered
from the lecture platforms or even
In addition to giving numerous
courses of lectures on subjects of
practical interest and value, the men,
bers of the special staff of the organi-
zation write, edit and publish litera-
ture of sociological and apologetic
character.
| Publications of the Central Bureau.
The Central Bureau has its own
printing establishment, which occupies
large two-story building and employs
ffty-five men. The literary produc-
tion of the staff is almost incredible.
One hundred million copies of leaflets
have been printed and distributed
gratis through the promoters. Some
of them have dealt with ephemeral
subjects and the publishing of them
has been discontinued; others have,
| from time to time, been revised, en-
larged and republished At present
the Volksverein circulates forty-five
socio-political, five apologetic and
sixty general leaflets. Since 1906
there have been published, in ad-
dition, ten volumes of 16-page pamph-
lets on social questions, thirty on apol-
ogetic and six IN questions of general
utility comprising in all more than
half million copies.
The staff also edits and publishes a
half dozen newspapers; a monthly
journal for professional men-priests,
lawyers, physicians, teachers, ETC.;
paper for students (eight times
Continued on Page ~