Year: 1868

sons of the Apostles, the victory of divine


trutn and revealed law over sin became


confirmed also, and instituting them and
+ tnelr sacerdotal successors as the hierarchy


u uie Cnurch to preach the one and uni


Iorm gospel to all the world. The reverend


orator Then proceeded to the special theme
Defore him, the duties of the German Cath
! nc central Union and how to fulfill them.


He referred to the fact that their Union


numbers now above twenty thousand mem
/ Ders, and among them the best hearts,
b hands and heads of the, German Catholic


population in the country. Such BODY


OF such men ought to make itself felt. They


should not care for little or insignificant
matters. Inc local societies and the indi-


vidual members of them are to be con-


sidered fully competent to take care of


these minor things. The great central


organization-a body of power and


of influence = should look to higher


objects and seek to achieve higher aims


Indeed. they ought to do what it is worth


lne wnlie Oh twenty thousand men to un-
dertake, and not fritter away their strength
on trifles. The world of sin and heresy


that surrounds them should be made to


tremble at the rising of this Catholic pow


er-Catholic because supported and nour-


ished by the Church and by the catholicity
of the globe. Butthey should also remem-


Der that what they are they have grown to
be only through the Church and its aid.


With the Church they will grow stronger


and be still greater; without it they will
sink back into Obscurity and nothiugness


The Church has made you,p the reverend


speaker, exclaimed, "and not you the


Church. The Church is not your property.


but you belong to the Church. You are
the tools in the hands of the Great Master


in heaven, who directs your employment


the employment of His tools-through His


instituted servant and visible representa-


tive, the Church." The Church, the orator


continued, wishes to work out the earthly


good and eternal salvation of mankind by


the use of every means placed in her hands


by Him who infallibly guides her councils


And the Church will employ this Central
Union Tor the same great end-the earthly


and eternal benefit of all, so long as the


Union continues to submit to the protection


and guidance of the Church. The reverend


gentleman then spoke of the fact that moth


ing worthy of special comment has vet


Deen achieved by the organization. AS one


of the greatest objects for their considera-


tion, he would advise. them to look over


the condition of the world and the situation


OF the Holy Father at Rome, who is being


despoiled OF nearly the whole of the patri-


mony OF the Holy See, the property of the
entire Catholic world. They should send


soldiers to the Pope or money to purchase


equipments for an army, or do something
else OF equal effect. He would leave the de-
cision upon this great and momentous
question to themselves, for they had many


clear-sighted, well informed and wise


heads among them, able to devise the prop
er measures to aid the Holy See. Then


there was the question of Catholic Schools


Much has already been done by German
priests throughout the interior of the


country, but much more is vet left to be
done. The Central Union ought to take
this matter in hand and signalize its effec-
tiveness and power by providing for the
establishment and endowment of Catholic
schools. But the school should go hand in
hand with the Church. Religious training,
the confirmation of the youthful heart in
the true faith, should be simultaneous with
the instruction of the mind in science and
art. Seminaries for the education of prop
erly qualified teachers might also be insti-
tuted and fostered by this powerful organ
ization. The periodical press is another
great object to which he would direct their
attention. Proper papers and books for
the use of Catholics should be provided,
calculated to strengthen them in the faith
and to enlighten their understanding as to
passing events around them and as to the
progress and advancement of the practical
knowledge of the age. In this grave and
important matter the Central Union at its
present meeting ought also to take the in
itiative. They should and must do some-
thing in the direction Indicated by him to
show to the world that their organization
is not idle parade, but a substance and
reality, and then they would satisfy
the expectations entertained by all
OF their professions and aims. In
his eloquent peroration Rev. Father Way
rich remarked that the essential Influence
of the Holy Ghost in the church was to-
wards unity. Though the apostles were IL
literate men, yet after being inspired by
the Holy Ghost on the ever memorable day


Of Nl,nr, i -
into the world in all directions, and each
taught and preached the same gospel, the
same law divine, the same doctrines of the
same church. The spirit of unity pervaded
them all, and he exhorted the Central Union
to cherish the same spirit of unity and fra
ternity implanted by the Holy Ghost in
the hearts of the Apostles. After this SER
mon, which was listened to throughout its
length with profound attention, the service
OF high mass was continued to its conclus-
ion and the. congregation dismissed with
the Ite. Missa Est precisely at half past two
O'Clock p. M.


THE HEADQUARTERS AT GERMANIA ASSEMBLY
ROOMS.


The meeting room of the Central Union
is the large hall at this establishment, situ-
ated in the second story, fronting on the |
Bowery, above Houston street. 1t has been
handsomely decorated tor this purpose. The |
platform is erected along the north wall,
to the rear of which is hung a large repre-
sentation of the seal of the Union, it be- |
ing ring containing the following letters: |
d. R. X. G. ", (Deutcher Romisch- Kat1aol-
tscher Central Verin), German Roman Cath
olic Central Union-with the year OF its |
first organization, 1856. In the opening is |
a chalice with a cross and an anchor, de- |
noting Hope, Faith and Charity, placed |
across it. Under the whole is the inscrip-
tion in Latin. Benedict Qlti uenient in non,ine
Donetni-Blessed who will come in the |
name of the Lord. Along the walls are
hung, each on separate banner, the coats
OF arms of the thirty-eigh States of the
Union, and from the eagles beak in the
center of the ceiling depended, fasten-
ed against the cornices of the side walls,
festoons and garlands of evergreens,
flowers and national bunting. The
orchestra balcony is also profusely decor
ated with flowers and draped in the colors
of the North German Confederation (black,
white and red). Seats have been.provided
for about two hundred and fifty delegates.
Some twenty-seven new societies have been
formed in various places in the course of
the year, and their delegates are present
and will apply for admission to the Union.
As Some delegates represent more than one
society, it is calculated that about four
hundred societies, numbering over twenty
members, will in all be represent
ed in this hall. 1t may be interesting to
many to know that in the large dining
rooms and in the meeting room of the Arion
Society. which has its headquarters here.
there have been put up one hundred and
siXty-seven temporary beds, and that all
are occupied by delegates or visitors to the