The sun., 1916-08-27

70 bring into communication the
various distinct Catholic alumne
easociations. for the purpose Of uphold
ing ideals Of Catholic womanhood and to
formulate plans for the extension Of
Catholio education. Catholic literature
and Catholic social work."
I IND this statement - Article II.
A the constitutions Of the international
Federation Of Catholic Alunna. adopted
ct the convention in Chicago, November
~. 1915. It u the outcome Of much
careful consideration on the part Of
Catholic women throughout the couaity,
and II expresses the aims which seem
20 them most worthy OF endeavor. About
. year had elapsed since the meeting
In Nov York, vhsrs the project Of fed.
Grafton took deapitA shape = and during
'0at time the, movement had attracted
Uuch Widespread Interest that $50 a.
scciAtions Of cathpltc Alumni we're rep
yeeented by thAlr dslegates. in the con-
vsntion at, Chitag9s'.T The vaeious pur-
poees which might cali for cooperative
effort With pryniss Of success we're
thoroughly discussed. and the objects
Of the federation. q set forth In the
article cited above we're unanimously
adopted.
The significance Of this organization
through . survey Of the situation out
OF which the movement developed. 1t
=. In . certain sense. . special phase
Of the larger movement which in re-
cent years has led to the establishment
Of various associations for the further.
ance Of Catholic interests. The need
Of uniting energies and efforts which
lApnnAs,sS -A.> .AAU~.l l..-A .--A-a
70 the SAM common aim. has made It,
self felt n has become more urgent as
new fields Of activity were opened up.
In addition to specifically religious pur.
poses Il was realized that education,
charity n social work called for or.
ganixed e%ndeavor: and this has been
secured BY different associations each
Of which extends to every State Of the
Union. In all OF these women have
taken an active part. and It was quite
natural that they should ask whether
that part might not be given a more
distinct character; In particular. whether
women who had been graduated from
Catholic institutions might not be able.
or even In duty obliged. to cooperate in
special lines for which their education
had equipped them.
Year by year our Catholic high schools
colleges e n out . considerable
humber Of graduates These young
women have been educated by earnest
teachers In the knowledge OF the Catho-
lie faith and the practices OF their re.
ugion. They have heard what the
church has accomplished for the good
Of humanity. the spread Of civilization.
the cultivation Of the arts. the diffusion
Of knowledge-what leaders she has
raised up for the relief Of distress and
for social reform ; what zeal and devotion
she has fostered. what organizations she
has brought together In each age to sup.
ply hs new needs. and what the results
have been. All this has been impressed on
the girl in her student days through
her lessons in history. literature and
science. h has been taught TO look
on the church not only a. the spiritual
Kingdom established by Christ but also
a. . powerful agency that reaches (
every department Of human life aRd has
work to do wherever the real welfare
Of man u concerned.
From her schooling the Catholic
has learned to revere the great
ones Of her own sex the heroines Of
70 GOD when they were doing for the
poorest Of His creatures. She has
learned. too. that In the past women
have had their share In such works a.
the founding Of colleges. the holding OF
university chairs, the ai3ancing of
science. the settling Of public affairs
N the ruling Of great nations-with
the blessing and support Of the church.
She has learned. In brief, that there
was a true feminism. with countless OPP
portunities. in the ages Of faith that
found beauty In balance and power in
virtue. without much shouting to pro-
claim or exaggeration to enforce the
rights that God had given.
MOI are these p~rerogatives Of her sex
merely historical. They are exercised,
she knows. by thousands Of women, for
the most part unnoticed by the busy
world. n quite neglected by the world
Of noise and rush. She has lived in
daily contact with them. has taken pat
tern Of their deeds. has found them SYM
pathetic with her plans n aspirations
for the better things She has not
felt-the gratitude ! have In mind-that
her calling was for the religious state,
but she has indeed resolved to do her
true womanly share In spheres beyond
the college walls. She has caught the
Inspiration TO unselhsh effort and she
Knows that this u the essential thing
- we'll In the home a. IN the c~loister,
IN social service no less than In the work
o. personal sanctiication.
In the thought of such q graduate, the
question must at once arise: What 10
this education to mean for the rest of
my life? It II not simply the question
that occurs TO every educated person
~ to how her talent can most wisely b
bestowed but rather this: what speci-
ncally Catholic elements have bean In
dudsd IN my training and 70 what puS-