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Show Catbolic federation By Anthony Matre, National Secretary. Secre-tary. Mr. A. Matre, Dear Sir It gives me much pleasure to hear of the progress the American Federation of Catholic societies is making. The work you propose pro-pose to dp is as great as it is urgent, and should have the sympathy and aid of all sincere Catholics. Very truly yours, J. L. SPALDING. Bishop of Peoria. $r- "His eminence Cardinal Gibbons, directs di-rects me to say that" he read the proceedings pro-ceedings of the convention of the American Federation of Catholic Societies So-cieties with great interest, and is convinced con-vinced that this interest must be felt I by all bishops who peruse them." Rev. P. C. Gavan, Chancellor. We are happy to note that some of our county federations are inaugurating inaugurat-ing a crusade against the exhibition and sale of the caricatures of monks and religious sold at various stores We hope the crusade will become a general one. The Catholic Alumni Sodality of Charlestown. headed by Rev. J. W. McMahon, D.D., was instrumental in gaining permission to have holy mass celebrated for the Catholic sailors stationed sta-tioned at the Charlestown navy yard. The mass Is celebrated every Sunday at 9:20 a. m. on board the Wabash. A large meeting of Catholic societies was held at Peabody, Mass., on April 6. and the first county federation in the state of Massachusetts was perfected. Stirring addresses on the necessity of federation were delivered by Rev. A. J. Teeling of Lynn, Thomas B. Power of Danvers. and Rev. M. J. Masterson. The latter writes: "We won't cease till we have our 1.400 Catholics of Massachusetts Massa-chusetts a unit in the great and glorious glo-rious cause." The official organ of the American Federation of Catholic Societies Is the Catholic press of the United States. A project to publish a special organ has been submitted, but should be unanimously unani-mously defeated at the Chicago convention. con-vention. As long as the Catholic publications pub-lications of the various nationalities are In sympathy with this great move-j move-j rnent and are willing to publish articles in furtherance of the same, there will be no necessity for a special organ. "The American Federation of Cath- 1 olic Societies, recently organized, has my sincerest approval and my warmest ... II I. Ill 1.1 .11 IM.WMW.MJ' HIIIIIPIIIJ .III IUIIM1IMII HL wishes for its success. Prudently governed gov-erned and firmly acting, as we may ; trust it will do, the union cannot fail ; in its objeot of protecting where they ; exist, and of securing where they are ; ; still denied tne Catholic Interests and ; ' rights throughout the country. "H. GABRIELS. "Bishop of Ogdensburg, N. Y." ; The Western Catholic Union, composed com-posed of seventy-two organizations, of i which Mr. H. F. Jochem of Qulncy, HI., is supreme president, is greatly in sympathy sym-pathy with the federation, and will very likely join in a body. Mr. Anton Sehager. one of Its prominent members, ,5 requests all branches to "throw their ) combined forces Into this worthy and ! truly Catholic cause." On invitation of Father Mfchael. C. I P.. the federation of Pittsburg has ap- 1 pointed a committee of twenty-four to ' f. take charge of the arrangement of a ' : series of lectures to be isiven to non-Catholics non-Catholics at the Bijou theatre. RepresentatiTes from the different t Catholic societies of Stark county. O.. met in Bast's hall recently and formed " a branch of the Ohk Federation of Catholic pocieties. These societies ' have a combined membership of over 1 2.500 and the new organization will be ' i a strong one. The New York Staats-Verband, the ' Federation of the German Catholics of the State of New York, has issued the ! call for its annual convention, to take place at Danville. N. Y., on June 1 and 2. The call especially states: "As th" federation of all Catholic societies last i year, at the convention in Cincinnati, became an established fact, it Is noi j for us to assist and support the move- ment by fraternity and Christian char- ' ItV." The Staatfl-Verhanrt wa mnni. ' sented at the Cincinnati convention by ,' Rev. John F. Pfiuger and A. G. Koelble j and the German Central Verein by L. J. Kaufmann. J - ; Rev. C. W. Darrand. S. J., of Barba- does, made complaint to Rev. John J. t Wynne. S. J., that individual officers of ! the United States training ship Monon- ? gahela, which carries about 240 boys, force the Catholic boys to attend Pro- ; testant services conducted by Chaplain ' H. Jones, a Baptist, and denies them the privilege of attending fass when in . port. The matter was referred by Bishop McFaul to the Federation of Catholic societies, and great efforts are j being made by the law committee to j right the wrong. ' j President T. B. Minaban will ad- j dress the Catholic societies at Chicago and Indianapolis next month. In the in- j terest of federation. ' i Editor Peter Wallrath, of the Evans- i vllle "German Sternenbanner" (April j i 11) gives an interesting editorial on Federation, and refutes the critics who I are bringing to the fore the question ' of rationality. Mr. Wallrath attended j the Cincinnati convention, and helpet, frame the constitution. ' . j . j' 4 7 f . Vs |