The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-11-01

MOST IMPORTANT MISSIONARY
MEETING CLOSED AFTER A Sue
cEssFUL EssIoN ARCH
BISHOP QUIGLEY ADVOCATED
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A ST.
PREME BUREAU TO DIRECT THE
WoRk-BISHoP CANEVIN PRO-
POSED A SINGLE SOCIETY TO
LOOK AFTER THE MISSIONARY
WORK OF THE CHURCH IN
AMERICA.
When we went to press last week
the Second Missionary Congress held
in Boston under the auspices of the
Church Extension Society had not yet
passed into history. Like it's predeces-
sor held in Chicago five~years ago, it
marked an epoch in the history of
missionary endeavor in the United
States. It's primary purpose was to
discuss the ways and means best cal
culated to promote and direct the mis-
sionary zeal of American Catholics SO
as to produce the best results at home
and abroad The missionary needs OF
the Church had been placed before
the delegates at the Chicago meeting
At the Boston meeting it was hoped
that some definite plan would be out
lined by which the various organiza-
lions called into being to procure
funds to carry on the missionary
work of the Church would be organ
lied and brought into harmony with
one another in such way as not to
| interfere with their autonomy.
Whether or not this .hoped-for result
will materialize it is impossible to say
at the present writing.
The most valuable suggestion made
along these lines was contained IN
| the address of the Most Reverend
Archbishop Quigley of Chicago, Chan
cellor of the Church Extension So
ciety, who outlined plan by which
exact and concrete knowledge could
be impaired to Catholics of all nation
alities in regard to the missionary
work which the Church is carry
ing on in foreign lands, among
the colored people in the South,
among the Mexicans in the southeast,
among the Catholic settlers and
pioneers in the West and Northwest,
and among the hundreds of thousands
of immigrants flowing into our large
cities. He would have some capable
student of the missionary situation
compile a text book giving accurate
and detailed information in regard to
| the work. 1t should contain charts
describing the various mission fields,
their population, the number of Cath
olics, the various stations, the mis-
sionaries in charge, the history OF
each individual mission field, its
vicissitudes, and the prospects for the
future. In order to carry this sugges-
ton into practical operation he would
organize and incorporate Supreme
Bureau to superintendent the work.
Supreme Bureau.
This Supreme Bureau could take
over in time the publication and cir
culation of our missionary literature
of every kind, periodicals, magazines,
pamphlets, reports through a central
printing house.
"This supreme bureau could be com
posed of representative of the differ
ent missionary societies now in exist
ence, a few bishops and priests and a
number of jealous laymen from diff
ferent States. It's business would be
to concentrate in one place and under
one authority and management al
such work as is common to all OF
them, or of common utility to all OF
them. What would be the result?
First, a supreme bureau of Catho
lie missions under its direction.
Second, missionary publication
and literary department.
Third, missionary lecture and in
formation department.
Fourth, a central home and Office
building for all missionary societies
home and foreign.
"This supreme bureau would not in
any way interfere with the autonomy
of the various societies in the mission
AOlu dI pI05CAI-
AS far as we have been able tt
CLEAN from the reports of proceeding:
sent out from Boston this is the mos
practical suggestion that was made
during the Congress, but it will re
quire time and thought to develop the
idea and make it fit into the presen
scheme of missionary work in ordel
to produce the desired results.
This suggestion was made by Arch
bishop Quigley at the first business
session of the Congress which wa'
held in Symphony Hall on October 20
| under the craftsmanship of Hill
Eminence Cardinal O'Connell wht
opened the meeting with brief ad
dress and then introduced the Papa
Delegate who, in the name of the Hol!
Father whom he represented, blessed
the delegates to the Congress and it
, deliberations.
The Spirit of the Congress.
The first business session wal
brought to a close with an address
by the Right Reverend Bishop
Schrembs of Toledo who declared tina
the spirit of the present Congress wal
"the coordination of all missionar.
forces and the harmonious co-opera
ton OF all missionary agencies
towards the one great end, the sue