Cj+h,Okin Us. a. (r.0 A f c P ? 3 1 5 Episcopal Approvals . : T5he American Federatioiv 9/ Catholic Societies. founders ot Federation: Rt. Rev. J. A. McFaul, D. D;, Trinton, N. J, Rt. Rev. S. G. Messmer, D. D., Green Bav< Wis. March 1905. National Officers. PRESIDENT, T . B. M I N A H A N j ESQ., COLUMBUS, O. 1. VICE-PRES'T, L. J i -KAUFMANN, ESQ., NEW YORK. 2. VICE-PRES'T, F.Vl. K1ERCE, ESQ., SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. 8. VICE-PRES'T, D A N I E L DUFFY, POTTSViLLE, PA. TREASURER, H E N R Y J. FRIES, ERIE, PA. SECRETARY, A N T H O N Y MAT RE, CINCINNATI, O. MARSHAL, C H R I S T O P H E R O ' B R I E N , CHICAGO, ILL. Executive Board. M. P. M O O N E Y , ESQ., CHAIRMAN, CLEVELAND, O. N I C H O L A S G O N N E R , ESQ., DUBUQUE, lA. E. D. R E A R D O N , ESQ., ANDERSON, IND. T . H. C A N N O N , ESQ., CHICAGOylLL. J, V^, ;FO.WLER, M . D „ LOUISVILLE, KY. F . w , IMMEKUS, PITTBURGH, PA. JOHN G A L V I N , BRATTLEBORO, VT. Advisory Board. Archbishop F. X. Katzer. Milwaukee. Archbishop Wm. H'. Elder, Cincinnati. Bishop J. A. McFaul, Trenton, N. J. Bishop S. G. Messmer, Green Bay, Wis. Bishop J. J. O'Connor, Newark, N. J. Bishop J. Michaud, Burlington, Vt. Bishop L. M. Fink, Leavenworth, Eas. Bishop J. H. Blenk, Porto Rico. Bishop P. Verdaguer, Laredo, Tex; Bishop M. J. Hoban, Scranton, Pa. Bishop W. H. JO'Connell, Portland, Me. Bishop B. J. Keiley, Savannah, Ga. Bishop H. Gabriels, Ogdensburg. Bishop A. J. Glorieux, Boise City, Bishop I. Horstman, Cleveland, O. Bishop C. P. Maes, Covington, Ky. JOS. BERNING PRTG. CO., 431 MAIN, CIN., O. From His Holiness Pope Led XIII. To Archbishop W. H. Elder: "His Holiness tnost lovingly grants his Apostolic Benediction to the American Feder- ation of Catholic Societies." M. CARDINAL RAMPOLLA. Words from Pope Leo's Encyclical. " There exists between Bishops and clergy a union which is fruitful in numberless works of zeal and charity. It exists likewise between the clergy and the laity who, more closely knit together and more completely freed from human respect than ever before, are awaken- ing to a new life, and organizing with a gen- erous emulation in defense of the sacred cause of religion. It is this union which we have so often recommended, and which we recom- mend again; which we bless, that it may de- velop still more, and may rise like an impreg- nable wall against the fierce violence of the • enemies of God. " m Bi Frtim the Papal Delegate. Apostolic Delegation, United States of Amer- ica, Washington, D. C., Dec. It,- 1902. Mr. Anthony Matre, National Secretary- American Federation Catholic Societies. Dear Sir:-— I havè received your kind letter of Decem- ber 1st, with the enclosed documents. I thank you sincerely for the kind words you send me on behalf òf the Federation which you repre- sent. I hope that, in the performance of my duties in this country, I shall have the co- operation and the prayers of the members of the Federation. In return I shall offer my own prayers for the success of the organiza- tion, that it may accomplish its good purpose and be ever directed in the path of true use- fulness to the Church. With sentiments of sincere esteem, I am, Most faithfully yours in Christ, f D. FALCON 10, Archbishop, Apostolic Delegate. tteacldifled From Cardinal Gibbons. , The Cardinal desires me to say that the Federation of all our Catholic Societies would accomplish mtich good. Such a union would tend to bring in touch the leading Catholics of the country, and would give encouragement to struggling organizations in sections of the country which are decidedly non-Catholic. t Cardinal JAMES GIBBONS, Per Rev. W. T. Russéll, Secretary. [Previously received.] From Cardinal Martinelli. Washington, D. C., July 8, 1900. Dear Sir:— Believing, as I naturally and sincerely do, that Catholic interests are well worth protect- ing and promoting for the welfare both of religion and of the civil society, and knowing the value of united effort for the protection of any interest, I do not fail to appreciate the importance and' desirability of such a move- ment. . . . No aphorism is truer than that " in union is- strength, " and it would certainly appear that, ttnder the direction of the Bishops and- Clergy of this country, a united action of all the Catholic Societies which exist here would have to" be almost irresistible. Most faithfully yours in Christ, f Cardinal SEBASTIAN MARTINELLI , Apostolic Delegate. From Archbishop IV. H. Elder. Cincinnati, Jan. 8, 1900. Dear Sir:-£- J':1'