CATHOLIC
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CATHOLIC
organization, and to unite the members more inti-
mately in social intercourse. The club was formally
opened 13 March, 1871, with a membership of about
150, and Joseph Thoron was elected its first presi-
dent, on 28 March of the same year. In 1872 Arch-
bishop McCloskey took the club under his formal pro-
tection, and the organization has ever since enjoyed
the active patronage of the archbishops of New York,
and has co-operated with them in promoting Catholic
interests. On 1 January, 1888, the name was changed
from the Xavier Union to the Catholic Club of the
City of New York. Its growth was soon such that a
building was erected for it on a site purchased at No.
120 Central Park South, for SI 15,000. Here a build-
ing, 75 by 200 feet, was erected at a cost of $225,000,
of which formal possession was taken in 1892. From
this period the club grew with great rapidity until the
normal resident membership numbers about 1000,
the non-resident over 500, and, in addition, there is a
considerable army and navy membership consisting
of officers of these arms of the service. The club is
governed by a board of officers and managers, and has
a spiritual director appointed by the Archbishop. A
Committee on Catholic Interests has special charge
of all matters within the scope indicated in which
Catholic lay activity or co-operation with the arch-
bishop may seem necessary. The library contains
over 35,000 volumes. Many lectures are given during
the season, and the club co-operates with leading
educational and charitable Catholic enterprises.
John Jerome Rooney. Catholic Committee. See England, Roman Catholic Relief Bill.
Catholic Educational Association. See Educa- tional Association, Catholic.
Catholic Emancipation. See England, Roman Catholic Relief Bill.
Catholic Epistle, the name given to the Epistle of St. James, to that of St. Jude, to two Epistles of St. Peter and the first three of St. John, because, unlike the Epistles of St. Paul, they were addressed not to any particular person or church, but to the faithful
fenerally after the manner of an Encyclical letter, 'hough addressed to particular persons the other two Epistles of St. John are also styled Catholic, be- cause they have always been grouped with the epis- tles bearing that name. See James, St.; John, St.; Jude, St.; Peter, St.
Catholic Knights of America. — A fraternal life- insurance company chartered under the laws of the State of Kentucky, U. S. A. It was founded in Nashville, Tennessee, by James J. McLoughlin, D. N. Burke, John Broderick, and John McDonald. The first meeting was held, 23 April, 1877, at Emmett Hall, Nash- ville, with James J. McLough- lin as temporary chairman. At the second meeting, 1 May, 1S77, the first permanent branch was organized with .). J. McLoughlin, president, and John McDonald, secre-
Aiioi'""" ° F ,:ir >'- The name selected for the new organization was the Order of United Catholics, which w:ls subse- quently changed, on the recommendation of Bish- op P. A. Feehan, of Nashville, to Catholic Knights of America. The bishop gave his cordial approval
new society, and accepted the office of spiritual director. In June, 1877, plans were drawn up for the establishment of a supreme council form of government , and branches were organized in Grafton, West Virginia; Louisville, Kentucky; New Albany, Indiana; and Gabon, Ohio.
The first session of the supreme council was held
in Louisville, Kentucky, 9 July, 1878. Sixteen
branches were represented; a supreme constitution
was adopted, the Hon. W. C. Smith of Louisville
was elected first Supreme President, and Bishop
Feehan was chosen Supreme Spiritual Director. At
the second annual session, held in Indianapolis,
S July, 1879, seventy-two branches were represented.
It was then decided to hold biennial sessions. Like
most of the fraternal societies that were founded at
this period, the Catholic Knights had to learn by
experience that their rates were inadequate, and the
association was among the first of these bodies to
change the rate system. Although the organization
sustained a loss of several thousands, the wisdom of
the change of rates was early recognized by the loyal
members, and the loss was soon made good by the
influx of nearly 5000 young members in a period
of a little over two years. Financially it is one of
the strongest organizations of its kind in the United
States. It has a membership of 20,000, divided
among 560 branches, located in forty-two States of
the Union. Since its inception to 1 August, 1907,
it has paid to the heirs of over S500 deceased mem-
bers nearly fifteen million dollars. The total re-
sources of the order on 1 August, 1907. were .3828,000.
The head-quarters are located at St. Louis, Missouri.
Anthony Matre.
Catholic Missionary Union, the corporate name of a society whose directors are chosen from among the bishops of the United States, the seminaries, the parishes and the missionary organizations of that country, its purpose being to engage priests and lay- men as missionaries to non-Catholics in the United States, to provide for their maintenance, to distribute Catholic literature, and in every way to assist the bishops in establishing and carrying on home missions in their various jurisdictions. It was formed by the Paulist Fathers in carrying out the vocation of their founder, Isaac Thomas Hecker, i. e. the conversion of non-Catholics in America.
This movement recognizes ami helps to meet the responsibility of clergy ami people for the spiritual welfare of Catholics, of baptized non-Catholics, as being even sacramentally part of Christ's fold; and of all others, as called by God to be saved and brought to the knowledge of the truth by the Church's minis- trations. Thus, instead of ignoring the religious condition of their non-Catholic countrymen, all classes of Catholics will be aided by this society in zealously striving to convert them. Among the practical ef- forts ofthis movement is the forming in each diocese of bands of missionaries composed of diocesan priests acting under their bishops. These assemble non- Catholics wherever possible and explain to them the doctrines of the Catholic Church. The mode of ex- planation is more expository than controversial. Through a "quest ion box "queries are invited concern- ing the Church's teaching, and through carefully prepared lectures and the widespread dissemination of literature misunderstandings are dispelled and an attractive presentation of the Catholic teaching pro- vided.
The Catholic Missionary Union owns the Apostolic Mission House, the training school for the missiona- ries, located at the Catholic University, Washington, D. C, and dedicated in April. 1904. It provides a normal course of instruction for priests who are desirous of devoting themselves to tin' conversion of non-Catholics in the diocesan mission bands, or even in the parochial ministry. The following dioceses are now provided with these a] the mission-
ary bands are called: Providence, Hartford, Burling- ton, New York, Pittsburg, Cleveland, Wheeling, Covington, Peoria. St. Paul, Dubuque, St. Louis. Sioux Falls, Fort Wayne, Richmond, North Carolina,
