The Washington times., 1919-09-24

OF CATHOLICS
OPENS TODAY
Cardinal MERCER Addresses
Conference Before Leaving
For Brief Virginia Visit.

in this country. IL marks the hrst
meeting OF the complete Hierarchy Of
the Catholic Church Of the United
States since 1854.
At the call OF Cardinal Gibbons.
ninety-two cardinals, bishops and
aFchbishops. out Of an entire mem
bsrship OF 10, assembled On Cald-
well Hall, at the Catholic University,
this morning for. q conference to
consider national organization This
number was sWelled 20 several hun
dred BY the attendance Of other
church officials, representing every
section Of the United States. Only
those Of the hierarchy who were In
capacitated were absent The four
teen archbishops Of the country
were present.
Cardinal Mercler arrived at Cald-
we'll Hall at noon and addressed the
conference.
Dlseus1 CatholIe AIms.
National organization OF the Cath
Ollie Church OF a wide scope was dis
cussed BY the prelates. The field Of
activities viii be eoucation. recon
structiOn, charities and the press. One
OF the flrst steps toward such organi-
zation probably win be the e8tabli8h-
ment OF national bureaus and commit
tees for co-ordinated worked.
The conference, opened this morn
ing, win continue the remainder Of
the week, and subjects Of great inn
portancs VIII be acted upon. Cardinal
Gibbons and Cardinal Y Connell, OF
Boston, ara presiding.
Thirty-fiVe years ago the last con-
ference OF all the bishops Of the
Catholic Church On this country was
held On Baltimore Cardinal Gibbons
is the only surviving member of the
hisraFehV Gu attendance az that time.
The present conference inaugnrates
the custom Of an annual meeting OF
the bishops representing 20.0Oo.Ooo
Catholics Of the United tSates.
MOtioa Pictures 81 WoEk
This evening, in Mcmahon Hall, the
committee on special war activities 0l
the National Catholic War Council, IN
conjunction with the knights Of Co
lumbus, viii present for the first time
a motion picture review Of the Ameri-
can Catholics in the war and recon
struction.
The picture was prepared BY the
motion picture committee Of the war
council. with the cooperation OF the
K. Of G. committee on war activities.
Il epitomizss the patriotic services Of
the hierarchy, the clergy, the war
council, and the K. OF c.
The showing OF this picture before
the assembled cardinals, arehbishops
and bishops, and invited guests, viii
signalize the opening OF q national
campaign for the promotion OF pa
triotism, good citizenship, and voca-
tioual advfsement
Leaves Capital TOday.
Cardinal Mercier leaves washing
ton this afternoon for Oak Ridge, Va,
where he will be the guest for several
days OF Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Ryan.
In his party on the trip to Vir-
ginia will be Cardinal Gibbons. the
Rt. Rev. d. J. O'COnneIl, bishop Of
Richmond; Baron de Cartier, the Bel
gian ambassador: Mgr. de Wachter,
auxiliary bishop OF Mal.nes, Belgium,
and secretary to the cardinal; the
Rev. Pierce de Strycker, Judge Nor
gan J. O'BFien and John Quinn. all
OF New York; and DR.. Alderman
president OF the University OF Vir-
gInia.
The cardinal will return to Wash
ington sometime next week, and ma Ike
an official call upon President Will
son.
The Cardinals reception at the Bel
gian embassy yesterday afternoon was
notable Between 400 and 500 per-
sons, including members Of the Cabi-
net, Diplomatic Corps and Congress
paid their respects. Cardinal MercieI
was deeply moved by the reception
given him. He expressed joy over
meeting old friends. Many OF the
diplomats were acquainted with him
before the war.
Envoy Heads Line.
The Belgian ambassador, Baron de
Cartier de Marchienne. and the Bar
oness de Cartier headed the receiving
line. Next to them stood Nine. Jus
serand and the French ambassador.
The members OF the Belgian ambas-
sadorial stan and the Belgian mis-
sion assisted.
Before this reception Cardinal
Mercier visited the national head
quarters OF the American Red Cross
and expressed his gratitude for the
part this organization played in al
leviatinE the suffering Of the people
Of Belgium.
In the party accompanying the
cardinal we're Prince de Croy. Lieut..
Philip Barber and Albert Sergysel,
OF the Belgian embassy; Prof Maurice
de Wulf. OF LOuvain University, now
at Harvard; Francis DessaiRs and
Lieut. S. II. Scott, a patient at Walter
Reed Hospital, who was the guest Of
Lieutenant Barber.
Meets Red Cross Heads.
Arriving at the building, the car
dinal was met by WillOughby Wall
ing, vice chairman Of the central Red
Cross committee. Mr.. WallIng es-
corted the party to the assembly
room, where F. c. Munroe, the gen
eral manager; Miss Mabel Boardman
and the various heads Of the depart
ments were presented to Cardinal
Mercier. Admiral r. n Kennedy and
Lieut.. ]. c. Gill, representing the
navy, were also among those with
whom the cardinal shook hands. To
all Cardinal Mercier spoke words Of
thanks for their activity during the
war.
The brief reception over the Car