New-York tribune., 1919-09-25
Catholic Church Heads of
Entire u. S. in Most Mo-
mcntous Ecclesiastical
Gathering in 35 Years
New Policies Are Planned
Cure for Social Unrest and
a Fight on Hampering
LEGISLATION Are Proposed
Staff Correspondence.

Staff Correspondence
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24-For the
st time in thirty FIVE years the Cath
ic hierarchy was convoked to- day.
.ot since the Third Plenary Council OF
sltimore, in 1854, Of which Cardinal
,ibbons is the sole survivor, have all
ne Archbishops and Bishops been sum
loned.
BY Protestants, as we'll as Catholics,
he meeting in Divinity Hall of the
athoic University is regarded as the
iost momentous ecclesiastical gather
g OF a generation.
The council was called on a sugges-
N Of Archbishop Cerretti. who was
'ecial delegate from the Vatican at
10 Jubilee Of Cardinal Gibbons sew
al months ago. The actual call was
>Jed by Cardinal Gibbons and after
ard given the full sanction of the
'ntif in a letter to the members Of
American hierarchy.
ne sessions to-day began at 10:3o 4.
The most closely guarded secrecy
ended the convocation. This was in
anced by the fact that Archbishop
yes OF New York, who came accom-
,rTed by his secretary, Father Dineen.
md himself compelled to go into the
neil room unattended. Cardinal Glib
presided
~
tn him was Cardinal O'Conncll.
Boston. second ranking prelate of
American hierarchy. Soon after
80 Cardinal Mercier came to bring
message from the Church in Bel
nj TO the Church in America'
4 was seen that the convocation
Id follow the proposals of Cardinal
5ons. These were made to the ad-
Strative committee Of the Nationa Al
tholic War Council in a letter from
rdinal Gibbons. a copy of which was
AIMED by The Tribune
81 this letter Cardinal Gibbons said :
.'e all recognize the Importance Of
act now being accomplished in pur-
nmce Of the suggestion of the special
ID esate of the Holy Father, Arch
hop Cerretti." This referred t( the
'cDarations for the meeting Of the
rarchv). Cardinal Gibbons added:
! iis suggestion | regard as a divine
'N to summon. our best thought and
aNlmum energy in order to organize
r. direct them for the kindling of re-
,'on in the hearts Of the American
aople.'
Administrative Committee
ibr Cardinal then organized the ad-
'tStrative committee of the National
~ Council into general committee
fne convocation which began to-day.
members of that committee are
top 7. j. Muldoon. Of Rockford. H.;
shop Joseph Schrembs, of Toledo;
'shor Joseph +. Glass, of Salt Lake,
I'D Bishop W. 7. Russell, Of Charles
He directed this committee to act as
clearing house for the general in
rest of the Church" He suggested
heir procedure, stating that it was
.aes," and named eleven heads under
'rst was "the Holy See" and in the
der gwen came the following: "Home
ssous.' "Foreign Missions" Social
al Charitable Work." "the Catholic
Hiversity," "Catholic Education in
9neral," Catholic Literature" Cath
&c Press" "Legislation," "the Catho-
C Bureau" and Finance"
Under these groupings some marked
anges in Catholic practice Will be
commended and organization of the
''ces Of the Roman Catholic Church
~ meeting the present-day conditions
/ social and industrial unrest will be
ioposed. An authoritative announce
tent of the Church's attitude toward
ne pressing problems, supplementing
I'D most probably indorsing complete
the platform OF social reconstruction
some months go. will be
lade. This was regarded as one Of the
aost radical utterances of the modern
.hurch on the matter of social condi-
IONS, and many of its presentments
we're embodied later in a report Of 8
Methodist committee.
The cardinal has urged that the
hierarchy try to dc more than merely
reap the harvest sown in the war"
snich he says is the aim OF every
'lshop. He asks the following ques-
ions; "ls it not possible for us to
make larger plans? Cannot the mind
y the American public be more efec-
Weiy reached? Cannot the press
pread Catholic truth, if the work be
nergetically undertaken under the d.
'ecsion Of the hierarchy %
ihe cardinal urged a vigorous pol
cy on the subject of home missions,
'u' insisted that the American Church
must not overlook it's duty in the for
''gh held, and discussed that question
rankly.
me me Cardinal demanded of the HE
lfcny that the bishops extend the
YORK OF the Catholic charities, saying
!. more general impulse must be given
70 put our social principle ard meth
'us INTO operation" He urged the
,ohtinuance of the work for the men
n the military and naval service as
,14nlducted by the Knights Of Columbus,
'aolng: 1T would be impossible for us
~ say to our men in the service. we
vs@se You now TO the care Of the
!. Hi {. A, the Jewish Welfare Board
'nT q, the Salvation Army"
me press committee will be called
--pon for a vigorous programme. Tha
aaIulAal said the Catholic Church was
~. a literary church. because its busy
ministry had little leisure for liter
~ pursuits; and he urged the spread
Il good books and pamphlets. There
,so proposition for Catholic press,
sltsahlng the development, under the
tteseion rmt':e OF the hierarchy. of media OF
pray proilc'ty One proposal is that the
part magazines and weekly news
Iapers be extended. Another proposal
acquired.
.,J Jne tning seems certain at this time,
rns M mat is the establishment of a per-
Isc;',Ht bureau in Washington to watch
svs,s'stion 49, that may have direct or
C.sh an indirect bearing upon the
nssa senoiie Church. The hierarchy is pre-