The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-19
CATHOLIC CLERGY
HOLDS MEETING
The North Alabama Clergy
Holds Semi-Annual
Conference

The Catholic clergy of north Alabama
met yesterday afternoon in semi-annual
conference in st. 'Paul's rectory. The
Very Rev. Henry e. O'Grady, dean of
the district, presided.
After prayer the meeting was called to
order and the Rev. James A. Downs pas
tor emeritus of st. Francis Assist church,
Blocton, and presently chaplain of st.
Vincent's hospital, read a most interest
ing paper on dogmatic theology. His sub
ject was the Adorable Sacrifice of the
Mass" He explained clearly in what the
sacrifice consists, and his paper which,
considering the abstruse and metaphy-
sical nature of his subject, regarded by
those present as a marvel of clarity and
cleverly worked out logical reasoning, was
praised by the hearers and fully merited,
1t was said, the enconiuTns of the very
reverend dean.
The Moral Theology, paper was read
by the very reverend dean himself, who
took for his subject the great command
ment of the love of our neighbor. The
subject, needless to say was treated in
a most mastery manner, and was fol-
lowed with the closets attention by all
present The dean explained what the
SlIlS against our n6lEHDOI are. lie also
explained clearly in what the sin of scam
dal consists. He had copous quotations
from theologians and spiritual writer's,
ancient and modern
The Rev. Father Reilly read a brief
essay on canon law. He treated eccle-
siastical censures in an Illuminating man.
ner and divided and subdiVided the va
rious definitions and showed what causes
excuse from censure. He also showed how
If hn ipnnrrad a ahg01ufior from
the same may be obtained. He explained
who may absolve and what conditions are
required to obtain this absolution.
The Rev. Father McQuillen's paper was
on Scripture. The reverend father made
a special study of the subject during the
last few months and he proved beyond
the peradVenture of doubt, it was said,
that no doctrinal difference existed be-
tween the teaching of the great apostle
of the Genties and the other apostles.
After stressing that point he gave clear
cut analysis Of the epistle to the Romans.
And 1t was remarked that not trace of
higher criticism or modernism was
evident in Father McQuillen's paper.
After the papers had been read and
commented on an informal discussion took
place on various topics of interest. The
Rev. Father Turner had a matrimonial
case for solution. The Rev. Father Nc
Quillen discussed the means of reaching
most effectively the foreigners in the dis
trict and the Rev. Father Downs gave
from his past extensive experience use
full hints and points on church finance.
After prayer by the very reverend dean,
the conference adjourned to meet six
months from date.
The following were present at the con-
ference: The Very Rev Henry F..
O'Grady, pastor of ST. GATHERINGS church,
Pratt City, dean of north Alabama Rev.
Charles e. Reilly Our Lady Immacu-
late, Birmingham: the Rev. John B. Can
epa, San Marco, East Thomas; Rev. Pat
rick Turner. Blessed Sacrament church,
West End station, Birmingham; the Rev.
John O'Kelly, Our Lady of Sorrows, Bir-
mingham; the Rev. James Downs, st.
Vincents hospital, Birmingham; the Rev.
James e. Coyle. St. Pauls church. Bir-
mingham; the Rev. Robert ]. McQuil-
len, st. Anthony's church, Ensley; the
Rev. Paul Klisch, ST. Stanilaus mission,
Wylam; the Rev. Oswald Stahl, st.
James church, Gadsden; the Rev. Jerome
NJ. Shultz. st. Augustines church, North
Birmingham; the Rev. Andrew l.. Swee-
ney, st. John the Baptists church, Tus-
caloosa; the Rev. John A. Bratton, st.
Clements church. Woodlawn.