extraordinary expenses, by special levy with consent of local associations.

9. Meetings: If the general committee be small and its members not far distant from one another, it can easily arrange for annual or occasional meetings. Occasions such as conferences of the Association of Catholic Colleges, would furnish opportunity for general gatherings.

N. B. No. 7, above, though desirable, is not essential to federation, and its acceptance may be left to the option of each local association. To refuse to federate on account of this or any other minor or non-essential condition, is like the unwillingness of brothers to help one another against a common and mortal enemy on account of some trivial difference of opinion; it is remaining divided that we may fall, where united we could stand. If the warnings of the times do not show us the necessity of uniting now, persecution may drive us together after having suffered untold evils, or perhaps as in France, may make union too late or impossible.

DISCUSSION.

Father Murphy-The difficulty that presented itself to me is in a line with the difficulty raised by one of the laymen here the other day, in connection with the discussion of Catholic students going to non-Catholic colleges. An answer would be found, the gentleman said, by asking the laity. It seems to me in this matter, one consideration we ought not to overlook would be to ask the laymen, the members of these associations. I have heard this question brought up and discussed a great many times within the last 15 years, and at every discussion there seemed a wide diversity of opinion, and every time it has been brought up the alumni in joint meetings and at alumni banquets have fought shy of anything like a vote. Therefore I think it is advisable to know what the alumni themselves think about it. It is something in which we cannot have so much interest.

The alumni associations are different in different places. In some places they admit only those that have an A. B. degree, and the question arises frequently as to whether they should admit old students of the college or any who do not have more than the degree in science, B. S., etc. I have in mind some associations in which they stand out very strongly against the admission of any who do not have the A. B. degree; in other places they stand out strongly against the admission of those who have not graduated from the college at least

with some degree. Can it be expected they will federate in an association in which they will be in common membership with the alumni associations of other colleges that do not place quite so much emphasis on these matters? I very much fear one of the greatest obstacles will be found in the name itself-Alumni Associations. Since all are not the same, some will not consent to federate very closely with other associations of other Catholic colleges.

Third Annual Conference of Diocesan
Representatives of Catholic
Parish Schools.

Report of Proceedings.

TUESDAY, JULY 12, 1904.

In the absence of the president, Rt. Rev. T. J. Conaty, the school conference was called to order by the secretary at 11:30 a. m. in Library Hall, St. Louis University. He announced that he would entertain a motion to select a chairman. On motion, duly seconded, Rev. Louis S. Walsh, chairman of the committee on organization, was selected as chairman of the conference. A paper was read by Rev. Walter J. Shanley, on The Teaching of Catechism and Bible History."

After the discussion of the paper, the secretary was directed to read the report of the committee on organization.* A motion was made to appoint a committee of three on organization and empower them to meet with committees from the colleges and seminaries and formulate a plan of association; also to consider articles of organization for the school conference, and other matters pertaining to organization. The motion was amended to include the chairman of the conference as a member of the committee and duly carried. Revs. L. S. Walsh, F. W. Howard and T. A. Thornton were the committee selected. A committee on resolutions was appointed and requested to report before the close of the conference. The committee consisted of Rev. J. J. Toomey, chairman; Very Rev. B. J. Mulligan, Rev. W. J. Shanley, Rev. J. Wegmann and Very Rev. Joseph Glass, C. M. The conference authorized the employment of a stenographer. The treasurer, Rev. W. J. Shanley read his report which was accepted. The conference adjourned at 1 p. m.

See pages 23 and 24,

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13.

The session was opened at 11 a. m. The chairman announced that the treasurer would receive the assessment for expenses from those who were ready to pay. Copies of a plan of organization for the school department were distributed and the members were requested to read them, and be prepared to take action the next day. A paper was then read by Rev. L. W. Mulhane on the "Organization of a School." At the conclusion. of the discussion, the following letter from Bishop Spalding was read and received with applause:

St. Mary's Cathedral, Peoria, Ill., July 9, 1904.

Dear Father Howard: In reply to your note permit me to say that in my opinion the annual school conference, if intelligently directed, is destined to be of great service to the cause of Catholic education.

It should promote the work of diocesan supervision and examination of schools. The best system is probably that adopted in Philadelphia and elsewhere where a competent priest is assigned to this work. In this diocese the dean is at the head of the examiners for his district, and this system can be made efficient. There is little hope of having uniformly good schools, unless the pastors can be induced to assume daily personal supervision. The seminaries should carry out the decree of the Baltimore council and give their students a course of practical pedagogics.

There are no more zealous and willing teachers in the world than our sisters, and if they receive the enlightened assistance of pastors there will be little difficulty in raising the average excellence of the parochial schools high enough to compel recognition from all fair-minded observers. The conference will accomplish great and lasting good if there is some one to inspire its members with a sense of the vital importance of the work they have in hand. Very truly yours,

J. L. SPALDING,
Bishop of Peoria.

After announcements the meeting adjourned.

THURSDAY, JULY 14, 1904.

The meeting was called to order by the chairman, Rev. Louis S. Walsh. There was an extended discussion on "Text Books" led by Revs. Joseph F. Smith and T. A. Thornton. on "Language and Composition" was read by Brother Anthony.

A paper

At the end of the discussion of this paper, the chairman stated that there was a good deal of business to be transacted pertaining to the future welfare of the conference. He announced the order of topics. The committee on organization reported the constitution for the school department which was then read.*

The motion was made that the constitution for the school department just read, be provisionally adopted by this conference as a working basis for the ensuing year. The motion was seconded, and after consideration and discussion, unanimously carried.

The committee on organization next offered the report of the joint committee of the three departments, on the plan of association. The articles of organization recommended in this report were read and discussed. It was the general opinion that there ought to be some association of the three departments and that the articles of organization offered a good working plan. The affairs of the association could be conducted on this basis for the ensuing year and this would give all time to come to a common understanding and suitable amendments if suggested could be acted on.

A motion was then made that the report of the committee on organization just read, be accepted and that the recommendations set forth in that report be hereby adopted by the school department. The motion was carried.

The chairman stated that the next business was the election of officers of the school department. Rev. L. S. Walsh of Boston, was elected president; Rev. P. R. McDevitt of Philadelphia, vice president; Rev. F. W. Howard of Columbus, O., secretary; Rev. W. J. Shanley of Hartford, Conn., treasurer; Rev. J. J. Toomey of Dubuque and Rev. J. A. Wegmann of French Village, Ill., members of executive committee. The meeting adjourned at this point for one-half hour, to join with the other departments and form the association and elect the general officers.

When the members of the school department reconvened, Rev. T. A. Thornton was elected member of the executive board from the school department.

* Printed at end of volume. † See page 33. # Printed at end of volume.