The Catholic Central Verein of America is the oldest Catholic organization in the United States devoted primarily, if not exclusively, to the study and solution of moral and social problems. Its official organ, Central Blatt and Social Justice was the first Catholic journal in this country to undertake the cause of Catholic reconstruction. This splendidly edited periodical has just passed its eighteenth milestone and seems to have gathered strength and vigor with the passing years. Since its inception Central Blatt and Social Justice has consistently given the Catholic interpretation on all the vexed questions arising out of the modern industrial developments.

The origin of the Catholic Central Verein of North America (Deutscher römisch-katholischer Centralverein von Nordamerika) dates from 1854 when the presidents of three German Catholic benevolent societies of Buffalo, New York, issued a call to various German Catholic societies for the purpose of forming a central body. The movement was approved by the then Bishop of Buffalo, Dr. Timon. Seventeen societies responded to the call, and on April 15, 1855, the Central Verein was organized in St. Alphonsus Hall, Baltimore, Maryland. The chief aim of the organization was to defend the menaced rights of Catholics in the United States and also "to promote a vigorous religious activity in the united societies according to the spirit of the Church and mutually to aid and benefit one another."

In 1901 to meet changed conditions in the matter of representation, "Staatsverbände" succeeded the affiliation of local societies. This plan proved a success. The work of the Verein received at an early date the approbation of the Holy See to which it has ever manifested the greatest loyalty and dutiful relationship. With the passing years the sphere of usefulness of the organization was enlarged, one of its activities being centered in the establishment in New York of the Leo House for the care of Catholic immigrants. Its ambitus embraced later the furtherance of the cause of education, and the Teachers' Seminary at St. Francis, Wisconsin, was founded mainly by contributions from the Verein.

Addressing the delegates assembled at Dubuque, Iowa, in 1907, His Excellency, the Apostolic Delegate (Archbishop Falconic), said: "What your society has done in the interest of Christian education is truly admirable and an example worthy of imitation for all Catholics." The attitude of the Verein towards the Holy See and its occupants is best expressed in the following editorial (Central Blatt) June, 1926:

The Holy Father's pleas were largely left unheeded by war-maddened and hate-blinded diplomats and warriors. After the armistice he sought to exert his influence in the interest of an enduring peace, urging above all the removal of hatred and prejudice as impediments to peace. So solicitious was he for the great cause of international conciliation that he did not confine his appeals to the Catholic world at large, nor on the other hand to the framers of international policies, but confided his hopes and the desire of his heart to groups of his children. And so it came about that, after addressing himself to the Bishops of Germany in 1919 he, in July of the same year, entrusted to the Central Verein the two-fold mis

sion of relieving suffering among the victims of the war in the European countries and of laboring for a just peace. Primarily he desired that the endeavors be directed towards the combating of hatred and ill-will, the bringing about of better mutual understanding and conciliation, and the resumption of economic relations between the one-time warring nations, in the hope that these relations would result in the cultivation of friendliness.

This sacred trust, confided primarily to the Catholics of German descent in the United States, and through them to all American Catholics, yea to the whole of the American people as co-workers in this holy cause, was communicated to the Central Verein at its Chicago convention, held in August, 1919, by Archbishop, now Cardinal Mundelein. The appeal is so unequivocal and the mission so honorable that the salient parts of the letter of the Papal Secretary of State, Cardinal Gasparri, in which it was conveyed, may fittingly be repeated here:

The world cannot possibly enjoy the blessed fruits of peace for any length of time unless that hatred be entirely blotted out and all the nations be brought together again in the sweet bonds of Christian brotherhood.

To bring this about the Catholics in a more particular manner must lend themselves, since they are already closely united in the mystical body of Jesus Christ, and should therefore constantly give others an example of Christian charity. And in accomplishing this result the work of the German Catholics in the United States, who, being united by the closest ties to both lately warring races, ought to be particularly successful.

Consequently, the Holy Father, to whose heart there is nothing dearer than the real conciliation of the nations, and who has already addressed Himself on this subject to the Bishops of Germany, now appeals to you in order that you too may co-operate in such a noble mission. Moreover, knowing the dreadful conditions under which our brethren in Germany are now living, the Sovereign Pontiff implores you most fervently to lend them every assistance, material as well as moral, and in the quickest and most effective way, especially facilitating the early resumption of commerce and all these benefits that naturally follow in its wake. To this invitation the Holy Father feels certain that not only you will gladly respond, but all the children of your generous country without any distinctions whatsoever, for surely they will be mindful of the great services their fellow citizens of German birth and decent have rendered their country during this war. In this way they will become real benefactors of the human race and draw down upon their own nation Almighty God's choicest blessings.

The latter part of this mission has been fulfilled. Our members have given lavishly of their means for the relief of suffering and the promotion of various Catholic works in the stricken countries. But the first part of the task assigned has been little more than discussed among us. The keynote of the Allentown convention was "The Peace of Christ," the selection of the motto implying the desire of the Central Verein to labor for the coming of peace. Far more specific were the lectures and discussions heard at the Central Bureau Study Course held in conjunction with that gathering, on which occasion the Rev. Doctors Engelen, Bruehl and Muench lectured on: Causes of International Unrest; Development of International Law and Movements for World Peace; Christian Solidarism and World Peace; and Respublica Dei, the Christian International.

A sincerely intentioned, well motivated and potentially effective beginning. Under other circumstances the Allentown Study Course should have been the impetus to an intelligent, fruitful movement among Catholics towards better international understanding and conciliation. In purpose and scope the course was an attempt to execute that important part of the commission entrusted to us by Benedict XV., sanctioned by the repetition of the demand of his successor, His Holiness Pope Pius XI., for the Pax Christi. Now the Central Verein proposes to take the next step towards performing a duty imposed by one Pope and implied in the expressed wishes of his successor. The Conference on Ideals of Peace, to be held in Springfield, Ill., on Saturday, June 26th, is to be this step.

The Springfield Conference was one of the most important gatherings in the history of Catholic organizations in the United States. A fitting characterization of it is provided by the editor of the Wanderer:

"The first two days of the 70th General Convention of the Central Verein, being completely under the influence of the World Congress and constituting, in a measure, a continuation of it, offered such a wealth of highly significant and important features that this gathering will forever remain a brilliant event of the first order in the history of our organization. Demonstrations like the one at the tomb of Lincoln, the conference on World Conciliation-the first Catholic Peace Meeting on American soil-the tremendous meeting of Sunday afternoon, these are events which, although they followed so closely upon the Chicago World Congress, yet will leave a deep impression upon the participants and must re-echo throughout the country and beyond its borders."

To this we add the following from the editorial column of the Commonweal: This year's convention of the Central Verein, assembled in Springfield, Illinois, was honored both by the presence of the most important delegates to the Eucharistic Congress and by the adoption of an exceptionally timely resolution. Monsignor Seipel, renowned no less for his integrity as a man than for his acumen in rescuing Austria from financial catastrophe, urged the Verein to realize a heartfelt wish of Pope Benedict XV and begin a world-wide movement for universal peace. He said very frankly that aloofness from movements to establish amity between nations has been a grave mistake on the part of those whose active

religion is governed by the rule of charity. In adding as he did that the impetus to Catholic international action ought to come from the United States, Monsignor Seipel spoke as a man who realizes from practical experience how deeply rooted in circumstance is continental discord. His words were reinforced by a short and earnest tribute to the American spirit from Cardinal Faulhaber, whose appearance on the platform must have recalled the noble grandeur of his address at the last Munich "Catholic day," where he urged with words to which all of Germany listened the necessity for using the authority of Christ to render impossible the idea of a future European war catastrophe.

(Mention here does not preclude extended notice in later issues of the REVIEW).

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