The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-08-14
Central Verein h01G
National C0nventi01f[f}( #

The National Convention of the
Central Verein opened in st. Paul last
Sunday with the celebration of Pom
ti1cal High Mass in the Cathedral.
The sermon was preached by Arch
bishop Messmer, of Milwaukee,; Mass
being celebrated by Archbishop Bon
zano, Apostolic delegate to the United
States. Among those in attendance
were: Archbishop Giovanni Bonzano,
the pope's representative in America,
who celebrated the Pontif1cal Mass;
the Revs. Francis Schafer, Peter Jung,
Anthony Ogulin, G. Gruben, ]. Tha-
bert; Archbishop Ireland, Auxiliary
Bishop Lawler, Archbishop Sebastian
Messmer, Archbishop Keane, Bishop
James Trobec, Bishops Joseph Burch,
Vincent Wehrle, Joseph M. Koedelka
and Patrick Heffern; Abbot Pete En-
gel and Mons. ]. Heer. In addition to
these there were about 100 Capuchins,
Franciscans and Jesuit fathers.
At 2:30 P. M. the representatives of
the various Catholic Fraternal organ
izations in the Twin Cities and
throughout the state, gathered at the
old capitol where a monster parade
formed, headed for the auditorium,
passed the review stand erected at
the entrance Of the Assumption
Church. It is estimated that ten thou
sand members of Catholic fraternal
societies took part in the parade which
was one of the best parades Of any
kind that has been witnessed in the
Twin Cities in many years. The A.
o. H. and the G. O. F. were present
in great numbers. AS each society
approached the reviewing stand with
their banners unfurled, and marching
to the music of the band which led
each division the applause Of the Wis
itors who occupied the review stand
and stood on the side lines eager to
catch glimpse of the parade, was un-
stinted. This was particularly no.
ticeable when the banners of the Irish
societies appeared. and the procession
came into sight, led by Hon. Daniel
w. Lawler, of st. Paul, and James ].
Regan, Past National President of the
A. o. H. Minneapolis and st. Paul
Hibernians mingled together by the
hundreds until indeed it looked like
a convention of the A. o. H. instead
Of the Central Verein. At any rate,
the Ancient Order of Hibernians made
public display Of their interest in the
affairs of their German Catholic neigh
bors and invoked public compliment
for themselves, by their loyal spirit
of Catholic hospitality and goodwill
which was everywhere in evidence.
The German Catholic members of fra
ternal societies from out of town were
well represented in the parade, and
like their brothers in the Twin Cities,
each organization was headed by a
band playing lively music to exhilarate
those who would otherwise have felt
the oppressive heat of the afternoon,
and gave public zest to the whole
affair. In addition to the Church dig.
nitaries in the reviewing stand, was
Governor Hammond. He was called
away to attend meeting at Mime
haha Falls, and owing to the delay in
starting the parade was not able tc
return in time to welcome the dele
gates at the auditorium. At the close
of the review, the Church Prelates
who had been reviewing the parade
adjourned to the auditorium to mee1
those who participated in the parade
as we'll as the visitors who were in
terested in hearing the various ad
dresses that were made during th'
afternoon. The Chairman, Hon. Geo
M. Gerlach, welcomed the Centra
Verein, and introduced the various
speakers, among whom were Docto
Schumacher of the Catholic Univel
sity of Washington, D. c., who spok
in German, taking for his subject
Back to Christ" His Grace Arcf
bishop Ireland was the next speake
and in very happy manner compl
mented the Germans upon their pro-
perity in Minnesota, and declared ths
the Catholics in Minnesota would b
poor indeed, were the entire body {
German Catholics to be remove,
Continuing, the Archbishop said:
do not know the German Catholic
from other states, but if they are 6
good as those in my diocese I kno
that today they are most loyal Cat
olics and Americans. We are gettir
along we'll together, we Catholics
America. There are about 100000
of us here and we intend to stay her
We love America, we love it's flag, b
greater than all we love the freedo
of the Star-Spangled banner viii,
puts the power of monarchy in Il
hands of every citizen at least on
year when he goes to the pol
We want nothing more than freedom
we ask no special privileges. II Il