C *fr uih So (L. 

T H E 

Catholic ^RDTH SOCIETY 
OF1 A M E R I C A . 

A&ao^09 

The Voice of the Hierarchy-

is Heard on the 

Subject* 

<-Earnest getters of (Approval and 

Encouragement from Cardinal, 

(Archbishops, and §ishops of 

the <@nited States. 

ITS MEMBERS STYLED 

KN I8HTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 



f 

T H E 

aiholic truth Society 
OK AMERICA. 

^HE following letters of approbation, from many 
distinguished prelates, are so gratifying to the 

officers of the Society, that they have, in their pardon-
able pride, thought it well to place the contents before 
the interested membership at large, at the earliest mo-
ment, without waiting for complete returns from the 
busy, or absent, members of the hierarchy. 

The different sections of our broad land give similar 
testimony as to the utility of a work such as has been 
undertaken. Co-operation alone, under God, is needed 
to make the Society's work effectual. 

In point of time the original letter o f the Most Rev. 
John Ireland stands first, having been given the Society 
at an early date in May, 1890. 

SPECIAL LETTER OP APPROBATION FROM THE ARCHBISHOP OF 

ST. PAUL. 

M. W. Cole, President of The Catholic Truth Society. 
D E A R SIR : I give my warmest support to the work of The 

Catholic Truth Society, as outlined in your prospectus. 
I am sure that every priest will be delighted to co-operate with 

you to the best of his ability. " Lay action" is the motto of the 
hour, and in no manner can this action be utilized with so much 

Desdfcl 



3 

power and effect as in spreading abroad, by pen and paper, a 
knowledge of the teachings add history of God's church. 

Sincerely, &c.; • 
tJoHN IRELAND, 

Archbishop of St. Paul. 

To the above may be added an extract from Archbishop 
'Ireland's address on the occasion of the first annual 
meeting of the Society at St. Paul, March 10th, 1891. 

. "Prom my heart I bless this work. I bespeak for it a great success. 
I sincerely wish that it may grow in St. Paul, in Minneapolis, in 
every parish and city of the State of Minnesota. I do wish that 
every priest, and every Catholic man, and every Catholic woman 
would take the warmest interest in it. I do pray that it may spread 
far and wide, so that all Catholics throughout America shall be 
true soldiers of the Church. And let us say to our fellow-citizens.. 
"Yes, we mean to do our best to make America Catholic; and we 
mean to succeed by the best possible arms, by appealing to your 
own judgment, by appealing to your own intelligence, and if we 
conquer you by those arms we deserve to conquer." 

The following earnest letter from Archbishop Grace, 
together with the donation it contained, was received at 
an early date, in the history of the society. 

„ „ , ST. THOMAS SEMINART. 
Dear Mr. Cole: 

I enclose cheque for $50, which please place to the credit of the 
Catholic Truth Society. I send you also by this mail a copy of the 
London Tablet, you will find in it a series of papers that were read 
at the Catholic Truth conference in Birmingham, England. These 
papers have special reference to the work in which your society is 
engaged and contain many valuable suggestions that are equally 
applicable in this country. You will find the proceedings of the con-
ference on page seven, and the papers that were read, in the suppli-
ment, page thirty-three et aeg. The evidences of God's blessing 
upon this work, both in England, and so far as it has been under-
taken by you and your associates in this country, are extremely 
encouraging. With the assurance of my prayers for the contin-
uance of these blessings, I remain, faithfully yours in Christ, 

t THOMAS L . GBACE, 

Archbishop. 

His Eminence, the Cardinal Archbishop of Baltimore, 
wrote: 



* 

4 

FBEDBICK, MD., Sept. 2 2 , 1891. 
Mr. M. W. Cole, President of The Catholie Truth Society, St. Paul, 
<• Minn. 

DEAR SIR : I t is with pleasure that we have learned of the 
praise-worthy efforts you are making to advance and to extend the 
work of the Catholie Truth Society of America. For when we call 
to mind the good wbich The Catholic Truth Society has done in 
England during the past few years, by giving easy access to so 
many valuable works, we feel that there is nothing we co~uld have 
more at heart than to see the same work as wide-spread and as far-
Teaching as possible, here in America. The church is not afraid of 
the light; she wishes to be known; for to see her and know her as 
she is is to admire her and love her. A sad thing it is for our 
English literature, and for our English theology, both ascetic 
and dogmatic, that, during the golden age of English literature in 
English-speaking countries, to be a Catholic was looked upon 
as a crime. One reason why, in those early days of English per-
secution, the church was so much hated was Because she was 
not known. Some of her devoted sons are now endeavoring in a 
special manner to make her better known in the English-speaking 
world, and to supply a want which has long been sorely felt by 
English-speaking Catholics, and we know of no better means for 
carrying on this good work here in our midst than The Catholic 
Truth Society of America. 

May God's blessing be upon you in your endeavors is our earnest 
-wish. Yours faithfully in Christ, 

t J. CARDINAL GIBBONS. 

The Most Rev. John J. Williams, D. D., Archbishop 
of Boston, wrote: 

BOSTON, O c t . 23 , 1 8 9 1 . 

M. W. Cole, Pres. C. T. S. of A., 218 E. Third St., St. Paul, Minn. 
DEAR SIR : In answer to yours of the twentieth instant, I readily 

give my hearty approval and support to the .objects and methods of 
The Catholic Truth Society of America, and trust that the results 
of the Society's work will soon be manifest in New England. 

Tours sincerely, 
t JNO. J . WILLIAMS, 

Archbishop of Boston. 

The Most Rev. F. Janssens,' D. D., Archbishop of 
New Orleans, wrote: 

N E W OBLEANS, L A . , O c t . 23 , 1891. 

I add my approbation of The Catholic Truth Society most wil-



5 

lingly to that oí His Eminence the Cardinal, and of Most Rev. Arch-
bishop of St. Paul. 

F F . JANSSENS, 

Archbishop of New Orleans. 

The Right Rev. John J. Kain, D. D., Bishop of Wheel-
ing, West Virginia, wrote: 

M. W. Cole, Pres. Catholic Truth Society, St. Paul, Minn. 
D E A R SIR : I heartily endorse and commend your admirable 

Society. I t is truly an Apostolic work—the diffusion of thq sacred 
teachings of our holy faith. Whilst its object is so praiseworthy, 
the means for the accomplishment of that object are simple and 
practical. Will they prove efficacious ? Yes, if Catholics display 
as much zeal in the cause of truth, as the enemies of the church do 
in the cause of error. 

I shall do my best to have a Conference established in our city. 
Yours very truly in Christ, 

t JOHN J . KAIN, , 
Bishop of Wheeling. 

The Rt. Rev. N. C. Matz, D. D., Bishop of Denver, 
Colorado, wrote: 

DENVER, COLORADO, O c t . 23 , 1891. 

M. W. Gole, President of The Catholic Truth Society. 
D E A R SIR : I thank you for giving me an opportunity to express 

my hearty-approval of The Catholic Truth Society, the spirit and 
aim of which must commend it to every intelligent Catholic. 

We are too apt to tamely bear outrageous calumnies against our 
holy mother, the Church, from a belief that she depends not upon 
us for her existence and perpetuity, and from a confidence that she 
will continue to overcome the combined forces of earth and hell. 
Nevertheless, the Church depsnds upon our active agency for her 
growth and advancement in her spiritual empire over souls. In 
her militant life she demands of us to champion her cause in sea-
son apd out of season, as becomes true soldiers of Jesus Christ: 
When she is attacked who is there that should not. be set on fire f 
The world opposes the Church, for they know not what they do. 
Satan, the father of lies, never ceases to scatter broadcast, through 
his innumerable agents,xvile calumnies and gross misrepresenta-
tions; hence should every son of the Church commend the practi-
cal wisdom revealed in the plan and scope of your excellent Society. 
I t has, therefore, my fullest approbation. I remain, 

Yours respectfully, 
, t N . C . MATZ, 

Bishop of Denver. 



6 

The Rt. Rev. J. L. Spalding D. D., Bishop of Peoria, 
111., wrote: 

PEORIA, O c t . 25 , 1891. 

Mr. M. W. Cole. 
DEAR S I R : Tour "Catholic Truth Society" deserves the ap-

proval and assistance of all good men. You will doubtless be able 
to induce our best writers to help you in bringing divine truth to 
the knowledge of multitudes who, but for the efforts of yourself 
and,your associates, would never be able to rid themselves of blind-
ing prejudice. I pray God to bless the work. 

Very sincerely yours, 
t J . L . SPALDING, 

Bishop of Peoria. 

The Rt. Rev. A. A. Curtis D. D., Bishop of Wilming-
ton, Del., wrote: 

WILMINGTON, D E L , O c t . 2 2 , 1 8 9 1 . 

To Mr. M. W. Gole, Pres. Catholic Truth Society of America. 
MY DEAR SIR : I am sure no one could go further than I am 

willing to go, in commendation of any organization having as its 
aim the propagation of Catholic truth. With much consideration, 
and begging your prayers; I am, respectfully, your servant in 
Christ. 

t A . A . CDRTIS, 
Bishop of Wilmington. 

The Rt. Rev. C. P. Maes D. D., Bishop of Covington, 
Ky., wrote: 

COVINGTON, KY., October 29, 1891. 
MY DEAR S I R : I fully appreciate the great work which "The 

Catholic Truth Society" is doing and I sincerely hope that its 
opportunities and influence will be extended to every parish of my 
Diocese. May God bless its charitable endeavors and render them 
fruitful unto everlasting life. 

t CAMILLUS P . MAES, 
Bishop of Covington. 

The Rt. Rev. M. Marty D. D., Bishop of Sioux Falls, 
S. D., wrote: 

SIOUX FALLS, S . D . , O c t . 26 , 1891. 

Messrs. Cole and Markoe, St. Paul. 
GENTLEMEN: I have witnessed myself in several instances the 

beneficial effects of your society, and I only wish we were suffl-



7 

ciently advanced in Dakota to take an active part in tiie important 
and laborious work of disseminating God's truth by the press. 

Hoping that this time will soon come, I shall assist you with my 
prayers, and ever remain, 

Your fervent well wisher, 
t M . MARTY, O . 8 . B . , 

Bishop of Sioux Falls. 

The Rt. Rev. Otto Zardetti, D. D., Bishop of St. Cloud, 
Minn., wrote to Secretary Markoe: 

ST. CLOUD, MINN. , O c t . 24 , 1891. 

ESTEEMED SIR : 

In reply to your kind message of October 20th, I beg leave to say 
that it is a great pleasure to me to comply with your request, to 
bless and encourage you in your important work and to add my 
name, no matter how insignificant it may be, to the list of illustri-
ous names of your protectors. Your coat-of-arms shows the dove, 
the emblem of the divine spirit of truth, aiid my Episcopal seal 
shows forth tiie same dove brooding over the sky-blue waters of 
Minnesota. What, then, could we be but friends 1 With your re-
quest you have also anticipated some wishes on my part, which had 
found expression by writing to you this coming winter. The work 
I had to do these first two years was too extensive to permit 
of my paying attention to matters of not primary importance. 
Yet my intention was and is yet to start here in the city of St Cloud 
some kind of a Catholic Local Club, and to have its members -join 
The Catholic Truth Society. I, therefore, also anticipate your 
kind co-operation whenever I should find it timely to call for it. 
You will greatly oblige me, meanwhile, by forwarding to me your 
papers. 

The most noble of royal orders in the Royal Catholic France of 
old, was the Order of the Knights of the Holy Spirit. This order, 
it seems, in a spiritual sense, is revived in our glorious republic, 
and I trust and pray, that you all will turn out not only knights but 
.victorious champions of truth divine. 

Very respectfully yours, 
t OTTO ZARDETTI, 

Bishop of St. Cloud. 

The Rt. Rev. iEgidius Junger D. D., Bishop of Nes-
qually, Vancouver, Wash., wrote: 

VANCOUVER, W A S H . , O c t . 24 , 1891. 

Mr. William F. Markoe, Minneapolis, Minn. 
DEAR S I R : This morning a letter of "The Catholic Truth 



8 

Society of America" was received by me. It is with great joy and 
willingness that I endorse the worthy object of the society. I hope 
it will go on increasing until it embraces all the dioceses and vicar-
iates of the United States and that every, city and town in the 
United States will have a branch society of the most laudable 
institution. Accept my best wishes and respects, I remain, 

Tour devoted servant 
t JEOIDICS JUNGER, 

Bishop of Nesqually. 

The Rt. Rev. John J. Keane D. D., Rector of the 
Catholic University of America, wrote: 

WASHINGTON, D . C . , O c t . 24 , 1891 

M. W. Cole, Esq., President of the Catholic Truth-Society of America, 
St. Paul, Minn. 

M Y DEAR M R . COLE : I have watched with profoundest interest 
the growth of the work of your Catholic Truth Society. Such 
societies ought to exist in every part of our country, and I am glad 
that a pioneer society like this should have been established in the 
city which is sure to continue to be what it now is, the heart and 
center of Catholic influence in the great Northwest.. 

It gladdens our hearts to see that the people of the archdiocese 
of St. Paul share in the spirit of zeal which animates their great 
Archbishop. Do what you can to spread Catholic truth among 
your fellow-citizens in your own locality, and by every means in 
your power pour similar zeal into the hearts of Catholics in other 
parts of the country, that your good example may everywhere be 
imitated. With sincerest best wishes for the prosperity of your 
society, 

I am, truly yours in Christ, 
JOHN J . K E A N E , 

Rector. 

The Rt. Rev. Leo Haid, D. D., Vicar Apostolic of 
North Carolina, wrote: 

BELMONT, N . O . , O c t . 26 , 1891. 

Mr. M. W. Cole, Pres. Catholic Truth Society, St. Paul, Minn. 
D E A R S I R . The efiorts of the Catholic Truth Society to spread 

the knowledge of Catholicity merit the highest praise from all who 
appreciate the benefits which the Catholic Church only can confer 
on America. In our State, Catholics are few in number and scat-
tered so that the priests in very many places can visit them only 
once a month, or not even that often. Dense ignorance of what 
the Catholic religion really is and teaches prevails only too gener-



9 

ally. Non-Catholics, as a rule, are very anxious to learn what we 
have to say for ourselves, but occasional sermons and lectures are 
not sufficient to lift the doubts of ignorance and.prejudice. Hence 
the great profit, spiritually, which plainly written statements of 

i our teachings are calculated to bring. If the aid of your Society is 
necessary anywhere, surely we need it sadly, and will be most glad 
to welcome you as co-laborers for God and Truth. 
. Wishing you every blessing and success, 

I am, sincerely yours in Christ, 
t-LEO HAID, O . 8 . B . 

The Rt. Rev. S. Y. Ryan, D. D., Bishop of Buffalo, 
N. Y., wrote: 

BUFFALO, NOV. 5, 1891. 

M. W. Cole, Esq., Pres. of The Catholic Truth Society of America. 
• ESTEEMED SIR :—I most cheerfully add my name to those of His 
Eminence, Cardinal Gibbons, and your illustrious Archbishops, Ire-
land and Grace, in approval of The Catholic Truth Society. Your 
work is in itself most commendable, worthy of the best efforts of 
earnest, educated Catholic laymen, and we are pleased to find that 
the names of the gentlemen immediately connected with it are a 
sufficient guaranty that it will be conducted on Catholic lines and 
for the best interests of Catholic faith. We wish you every success, 
and if I can be of any service to you, command me. 

. Yours truly, 
t S . V. RYAN, 

Bishop <5f Buffalo. 

The Rt. Rev. T. Heslin, D. D., Bishop of Natchez, 
Miss., wrote: 

NATCHEZ, MISS., N o v . 5, 1891. 

Mr. Wn. F. Markoe, Cor. Secretary Catholic Truth Society. 
DEAR SIR : — I cannot but highly approve of your Society, whose 

object is to sever the bonds of error in which so many, otherwise 
well disposed minds, lie enchained, and let them spring up into the 
light and liberty of the children of God. " He that doth truth 
cometh to the light."—John 3: 21. "And you thall know the truth 
and the truth shall make you free."—John 8: 32. Could we only 
induce our non-Catholic brethren to lay aside prejudice and bigotry 
and calmly and impartially study our holy religion, and earnestly 
pray for light and strength to know and embrace the truth, I feel con-
fident thousands of them would flock into the true fold. The work 
of conversion would be more than half done, were the thick wall of 

^falsehood knocked down, whieh their ministers are interested in 



10 

keeping around them. I hope your worthy Society will continue 
battering it until not a vestage of it remains, when those benighted 
souls will see the Catholic Church as she is, and submit to her sav-
ing authority. 

I therefore heartily bless your undertaking, and wish particularly 
its influence would extend throughout my jurisdiction in Mississip-
pi, where the great majority are alienated from the one true church, 
with but slight prospect of their ever entering i t . 

Yours respectfully, 
T T . HESLIN, 

Bishop of Natchez. 

We close the remarkable list with a telling letter from 
that energetic young prelate, the Rt. Rev. Thomas 
Francis Brennan, D. D., Bishop of Dallas, Texas. 

MY DEAR SIB—With no ordinary feelings of pleasure, I tender 
you thanks for your letter with its enclosed documents, conveying 
information so useful and so gratifying, exhibiting results so cheer-
ing and so comforting, demonstrating purposes so exalted and so 
Catholic and offering guarantees for achievements, conquests and 
triumphs of which neither you nor I can form any just conception. 

Your motto, watchword and battle cry, "The Truth will make 
you free,", addresses itself with peculiar force to every Catholic 
heart in this liberty-blessed land of America, where our holy relig-
ion has such noblu opportunities for expansion and consolidation, if 
sustained in her efforts to emancipate the masses from the shackles 
that ignorance, prejudice and passion would fain place on their in-
tellectual advancement and moral improvement, and as a necessary 
consequence, their material welfare and prosperity. Your excellent 
society, 1 look on, Sir, as one of the valued auxiliaries of the Church 
in her unremitting combat with the serried legions of dark false-
hood's gloomy realm. Truth secures freedom, but falsehood in-
sures servitude. On the side of t ruth must, then, every earnest 
Christian be enlisted or he is no true friend of freedom. Our coun-
try aswell as our church calls out to us, who possess and enjoy the 
fullness of truth, that Catholic t ruth, which civilized and disen-
thralled the nations of Kutope and has secured for America in four 
hundred years a greater and more solid advancement than the Old 
World has in fourteen centuries achieved. This Catholic truth of 
ours it is, Sir, which gave the world the mighty characters of old, 
its Augustines and its Ambroses, its Gregories and its Innocents, its 
matchless monarchs, the Alfreds, the Edwards, the Lion-hearted 
Richards, Philip Augustus and St Louis of France, Ferdinand, Isa-
bella and Phillip II., of Spain, the .saintly Henry and Charles V . ,^ 



11 

of Germany, the valorous chiefs and thè resistless soldiers of feudal 
times, the men of learning and renown, in great schools which 
illumined and illustrated the ages of faith, the statesmen and legis-
lators, the jurists and the orators who laid the foundations of the 
•civil and constitutional systems of to-day—securing for us the in-
estimable blessing of the political liberty, that is now ours, making 
<us at one and the same time, the envy and admiration of older 
peoples and more ancient governments. 

When I read of the assaults prompted by ignorance and formu- : 

lated by prejudices against our Holy Faith, as the enemy of freedom, 
enlightenment and progress, I cannot restrain the indignation 
which inspired the great Bishop Doyle's words, this splendid pro-
testation only to be forgotten when our language ceases to be 
spoken: 

"You well know that the charter of British freedom, and the 
•common law of England, have their origin and source in Catholic 
times. Who framed the constitutions of the Spanish Goths? Who 
•preserved science and literature, during the long middle ages 1 
Who imported literature from Constantinople, and opened for her 
•an asylum at Rome, Florence, Padua, Paris and Oxford ? Who 
ipolished Europe by art, and refined her by legislation ? Who dis-
covered the new world, and opened the passage to another ? Who 
were the masters of architecture, of painting, and of musicî Who 
invented the compass, and the art of printing ? Who -iVere the 
poets, the historians, the jurists, the men of deep research, and pro-
found literature 1 Who have exalted human nature, and made man 
appear again a little less than the angels ? Were they not almost 
exclusively the professors of our' creed ? Were they who created 
and possessed freedom under every shape unfit for her enjoyment ? 
Were men, deemed even now the lights of the world and the bene-
factors of the human race, the deluded victims of a slavish super-
stition 1 " 

The movement you have inaugurated, stamped with the approval 
and strengthened by the blessing of your eminent archbishop, 
whose name, though a household word of honor throughout the 
northwest, is the common property of this free and truth-loving 
America of ours, the citizenship of which he honors by his virtues 
and the fame of which he enhances by his talents and achievements; 
this movement of yours, Sir, commended by reason, virtue, piety 
and patriotism appeals to every instinct of our Catholic faith and 
Catholic feeling, to every principle of our Catholic loyalty and 
Catholic fidelity, for sustainment, encouragement, endorsation and 
solidification. Your invitation for co-operation should not go un-
heeded. The appeal is too sacred, the cause too valuable, the con-
sequences too momentous for apathy, neglect or indifference. You 



12 

address us in the name of t ruth, and addressed in that name and by 
that title which is Christ's own name and tille, his sweetest 
appellation, Ego sum via, Veritas et vita; I am the way, the truth and: 
the life-, we cannot remain silent and supine. 

On a recent memorable and historic occasion, in the city of 
Dubuque, your illustrious archbishop speaking of the Church'» 
mission in this free, undivided, indivisible and invincible republic 
of ours, employed this form of speech, so consonant with his 
apostolic zeal, his outspoken sincerity and his metropolitan dignityr 

"She is free, and what does God's church need but the right to 
put forth without opposition from any one the life that is in her. 
She needs not that her ministers be paid by the state. She need» 
not that monarchs or kings appoint soldiers to carry out her orders. 
She speaks to the consciences of men, and where to-day except in 
America, has she all the liberty which her divine mission demands?' 

It is true many millions of Americans are not Catholics to-day. 
I t is true that they do not know the beauty of the Church, but of 
the American people I say their hearts are as generous as the soil 
of their country, and their minds are as broad as her almighty 
expanse. If they do not soon see the beauty of the Church and 
know the truths which God has entrusted to her keeping, blame 
yourselves. For they are willing to learn; they are willing to hear, 
and if you reason with them and show them where they are wrong. 
Americans are not wedded to prejudice. Americans in their heart» 
desire truth, and we have to do for them what Paul did for the 
Atheneans, "show them where the unknown god whom they 
worship is." They are Catholics by instinct, let us make them 
Catholics in-fact." 

Neither you, nor I, can marvel or do marvel that such a splen-
did and yet unexaggerated picture of the Church's position and 
promise drew down the plaudits of the influential auditory to 
whom it was presented. You of the Catholic Truth Society are 
doing your pari to make those who are Catholics by instinct, 
Catholics in name and in fact. To use the words of that distin-
guished Paulist, Fathei Walter Elliott: "How glad that we can so 
easily pay a debt of gratitude we owe this great and free nation 
for taking us in and loving and cherishing us? We were not 
brought to these shores for mercenary motives. No, the wide-
stretched, welcoming arms of Ameiica were extended for all who-
sought refuge from oppression and bondage. We were taken in 
free and reared in loving brotherhood. 

This, then, is our task, and an easy one it is. What religion is 
better than ours, which always upholds the dignity of man? Man 
is not a degraded wretch. When Calvin and Luther said, Man is 



13 

depraved, the Pope and Bishops of our Church said, 'Anathema 
to that. Man is not depraved, he is naturally good.' " 

In an address to the Grand Council of the Young Men's Institute, 
at Watsonville, Cal., some few weeks ago, the far-seeing, learned 
and accomplished archbishop of San Francisco spoke of the power 
of organization: 

"His Grace said, according to newspaper reports, that the society, 
as he understands it, is for mutual benefit, benevolence and im-
provement of its members. Those within the ranks of the organ-
ization were banded together by two watchwords—"Pro Dm, Pro 
Patria. For God, For Country." He dwelt at length and with 
eloquence on this motto. The watchword, he held, was fraught 
with deep meaning, its intelligent interpretation was patent to all, 
and no one had any right to walk under the symbol of the order 
unless he interpreted the motto literally and lived according to its 
teachings. The motto, " In union, there is strength," flnds its 
application in all departments of life; the old story of the bundle 
of sticks is carried into actual practice; therefore all over this 
country we And trusts, combinations, syndicates to be the order of 
the day; hence there is a need of counter organizations for the 
protection of those not members of other organizations. Capital 
and railroads form combinations and trusts, and so it is that labor-
ing men are forced into organization, for their lives otherwise 
would be lives of slavery. Organizations are mighty agents for 
good or for evil, just as they are directed to the public good or to 
selfish ends. Why then should not Christian young men organize? 
Is not the Church these young men belong to the greatest organ-
ization thi3 world has ever known? 

If evil men unite for evil why should they not unite for good? 
If a society is established to promote the consumption of liquor 
why not a society to advocate temperance? As organizations are 
on every hand it becomes absolutely necessary that if good is to be 
Accomplished we must look for its accomplishment not singly but 
unitedly." 

The power of organization yoa clearly understand and have 
before your eyes. You are believers in that charity of which the-
poet has sung: 

I hold that Christian grace abounds 
Where charity is seen: that when 

We climb to heaven, 'tis on the rounds 
Of love to men. 

Such was the charity which inflamed hearts and inspirited the 
efforts of the apostles when they undertook the establishment of 
Christianity throughout the world. What they and their suc-
cessors did throughout the world we can do here in America. The 
same God, whose all-powerful arm operated wonders for them, is-



14 

ready to do equal if not greater wonders for us., His grace is all-
powerful, inexhaustible. 

"The establishment of the Christian religion among men is, says 
the learned, accomplished and amiable Fenelon, -the greatest of all 
miracles. In spite of all the power of Rome; in spite of all the 
passions, interests, and prejudices of so many nations; so many 
philosophers; so many different religions; twelve poor fisherman, 
without art, without eloquence, without power, publish and spread 
their doctrine throughout the world. In spite of a persecution for 
three centuries, which seemed every moment ready to extinguish 
it; in spite of continued and innumerable martyrdoms of persons 
of all conditions, sexes and countries; the truth in the end triumphs 
over error, pursuant to the predictions both of the old and new 
law. Let any one show some other religion, which has the same 
marks of a divine protection. 

A powerful conqueror may establish, by his arms, the belief of 
a religion, which flatters the sensuality of men; a wise legislator 
may gain himself attention and respect by the usefulness of his 
laws; a sect in credit, and supported by the civil power, may abuse 
the credulity of the people: all this is possible; but what could 
victorious, learned, and superstitious nations see, to induce them 
so readily to Jesus Christ, who promised them nothing in this 
world but persecutions and suffering; who proposed to them the 
practice of a molality, to which all darling passions must be sacri-
ficed. Is not the conversion of the world to such a religion, with-
out miracles, a greater and more credible one, than even the 
greatest of those which some refuse to believe?" 

What God did for a wicked, superstitious and inhuman Pagan 
world, He will more readily do at our instance, by our efforts, our 
labors, our prayers and our sacrifices for a nation by instinct Cath-
olic, a nation so free from the vices, the superstitions and the 
inhumanities that degrade, enslave and decimate so large a portion 
of the old World. You have confidence in the power of God's 
truth, and the invincibility of God's grace. Tour organization is 
democratic in the highest sense of that term, for your purpose is 
to work even by truth, and to rest not from your labors till all men 
have that boon. Truth, say you, to the enslaved by prejudice," the 
darkened by ignorance, the degraded by vice, the manacled by 
fanaticism, truth will make you free. Truth and truth alone will 
make you truly American, and to be democratic one must, in the 
words of your gifted Archbishop, recognize "that royal truth that 
every man is made to be a sovereign by the free exercise for the 
good of the country of the gifts God has accorded to him, and 
this democracy, what is it but the grand brotherhood of men which 
Christ taught to the world, and which the Catholic Church has 



15 

ever spread over the universe, for she it is that anathematizes from 
her every breath slavery and declares that every man shall be 
free, and when every man must be free the logical outcome of the 
doctrine is the democracy of America." 

For Catholic truth in this Empire State of Texas there are indeed 
great opportunities. First christianized and civilized by the Cath-
olic missionary, Texas ought assuredly be to-day a great Catholic 
commonwealth. But providence has permitted otherwise, and to 
the lovers of Catholic truth there is opened another field for labor 
and devotedness. The people of Texas are eagar to hear and to 
know the truth. Our fields are white with a harvest of incalculable 
value, but the laborers are few, very few indeed. Think of us in 
your prayers and good works. Think of the great work of the 
Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries of by-gone times whose blood 
and whose sweat and whose ashes have consecrated this imperial 
Texan domain to God and to truth, and pray with us that their 
unforgotten labors, their prayers and their sacrifices may even now 
propitiate the Divine Heart of Jesus, towards a land than which 
our republic posesses no better, brighter or more fruitful. Pray 
with us that the Catholic truth of which you are the worthy pro-
moters, nay the apostles, may shine upon, bless, redeem, regenerate 
and fructify this expansive and glorious commonwealth, pnce ours, 
in name and fact, ours still by history, by tradition, by self-sacrifice» 
and to be ours in future through the fidelity,'the piety and the 
Catholic loyalty of hundreds of thousands of professors and pro-i 
moters of Catholic Truth, the only shield and the only bulwark of 
society against the spirits of evil and of darkness ever seeking and 
striving for human degradation and human destruction. 

I heartily commend and approve your society. May its organ-
ization spread to every state and to every centre of thought in this, 
republicl May its enlightening, liberating and Christianizing 
influences be felt by every class and condition of American society!' 
May God out of the abundance of His goodness, grace and mercy-
bless it even an hundred-fold! To you individually, and to all 
American Catholics, let me, as Archbishop Riordan said to the 
Council of Catholic young men at .Watsonville, "Be always on the 
side of right; be just; be honorable; be all that your church 
and your country expect of you. Labor for the good cause, for 
truth, for temperance—it is all important—labor for purity of lii'e-
and freedom from all vice. It should be our end to work for the 
common good, It is a grand privilege to be permitted to plant 
the seeds of liberty^ religion and fraternity in a new nation. May 
God give us grace to fulfil thi3 mission. We are living at the very-
beginning of our history. The day is not very far distant when, 
our villages will be cities. When we have gone to our reward majt-



16 

it be your lot, as I pray it, may be mine, that this grand outgrowth 
may be the product of the deeds of faith, of charity, of religion 
and of liberty, which we in our day planted in this our Golden 
State." 

I beg respectfully to remain, 
tTHOMAS FKANCIS BRENNAN, 

Bishop of Dallas. 
Dallas, Texas, October 28, 1891. 

tN CONNECTION with the foregoing it may be well to state, lest there be lack of knowledge, or misapprehension, concern-the matter, that the .work of The Catholic Truth Society is 
being done by its officers, freely and gratuitously. 

The Society is not a money making enterprise ; being wholly de-
pendent upon contributed membership fees to bring out its series 
•of pamphlets. These are sold at nominal prices; and whenever the 
membership increases so that the fees exceed the cost of bringing' 
out the publications the prices will be still further reduced, until, 
it is to be hoped, the cost may be but little more than enough to cov-
er mailing or expressing, in good sized lots. 

At present, the oftentimes burdensome duties fall upon gentle-
men actively engaged in their own private pursuits; but they, as 
pioneers in the cause, are determined to persevere, trusting the 
movement may eventually become widespread, and sufficiently vig-
orous to demand, and afiord, the exclusive attention of a capable and 
zealous manager. 

Attempts were made, upon two or three occasions, to secure, 
from clergymen and others, lists of names of non-Catholics to whom 
pamphlets might be mailed. It was intended to make this a feature 
of the gratuitous work of the Society. Of blank postal cards sent 
out, for the returning of such ists, but five per cent were returned 
with names. 

We would like, from anyone reading these lines, a note, or postal 
card, giving five or more names and addresses of intelligent non-
Catholic men and women; indicating if possible, the title (by num-
ber), of pamphlets likely to be suited to each. 

Let it not be supposed that the promoters of this work imagine 
the pamphlets to be more than simple aids towards the removal of 
prejudice; leading, by way of suggestion, to further reading of ful-
ler books of instruction, like " The Faith of our Fathers" and 
" Catholic Belief;" which are too dear, cheap as they are, for wide-
spread gratuitous distribution. 



17 

Ours has been called " a pamphlet reading a g e w h e n men are 
too busy to read books. But the busy, indifferent or prejudiced 
«nan will usually read a pamphlet mailed directly to him. So, our 
method, to borrow a phrase of an earnest member, becomes that of 
the " sharpshooter who picks hi? man." 

Who can tell in how many cases our pamphlets truly become 
eye openers?" 
This phase of the work could be more effectively done by numer-

ous branch societies, or by individual members, where no such 
branch exists. 

We hope to see, ere long, the establishment of numerous branch 
Conferences throughout the country. 



P R O S P E C T U S 
O P T H E 

CATHOLIC TEUTH SOCIETY. 
The Catholic Truth Society of America, which is one of the fruits of the 

Catholic congress of Baltimore, w a s organized March 10th, 1890 a t St 
Paul, Minnesota, under the auspices of Archbishop Ireland. Itsmembers be-
lieve, with t h a t distinguished and patriotic prelate, t h a t the mission of the 
Catholic Church m this country is " t o make America Catholic," but t h a t 
her success m this glorious work must depend in no small degree upon the 
earnestness, energy and activity of the lai ty . They believe, also, t h a t Cath-
olicity, t o be loved and embraced, must be known and understood, and that 
there is a large field of labor open t o Catholic laymen in this direction. The 
Catholic Truth Society has, therefore, been organized t o enable Catholic l a v -
f e ^ t o T>e;T,form t h e i r share of the work in the dissemination of Catholic 
t r « t h and the encouragement of wholesome Catholic reading. 

h e - £ T i n c i p a I m e a n s u s e d f o r the attainment of these objects are-
, x- . , T h e publication of short timely articles in the secular press (to'be paid 
for if necessary) on the fundamental doctrines of Catholicity. 

Z. The prompt and systematic correction of mis-statements, slander» o r 
libels against Catholic truth. 
j % 'T^e Promulgation of reliable and edifying Catholic news, as church, 
dedications, opening of asylums and hospitals, the workings of Catholic 
charitable institutions, abstracts of sermons, and anything calculated t o 

" t h e knowledge of the vas t amount of good being accomplished bv t h e 
Catholic Church. * 

4. The publication of pamphlets, tracts and leaflets; the circulation o f 
books, pamphlets, tracts, leaflets and Catholic newspapers. 

5. Occasional public lectures on topics of Catholic interest 
6. Supplying jails and reformatories with good reading matter. 
The affairs of the society are managed b y a board of seven directors, w h o 

are elected annually and hold monthly meetings for the transaction of busi-
ness. General quarterly meetings are also held, t o hear reports, papers and 
addresses. Any Catholic, man, w o m a n or child, w h o desires t o aid in t h e 
good work according t o his ability and opportunit iesmay become a member 
by sending his name and address t o "The Catholic Truth Society of Amer-
, c t ' 2-1?. ^ a s t Third Street, St. Paul, Minnesota, together wi th the annual 
subscription of one dollar in advance. A limited number of priests can, i f 
they prefer t o do so, become members by offering an annual mass for the suc-
cess ot the society, instead of the annual subscription of one dollar. Mem-
0 e r ? are entitled t o a sample copy of each of the original publications of the 
society for the current year. They are also entitled t o a participation in the 
spiritual advantages of all the masses ajid prayers offered for the society. 
You are cordially invited t o join. 

S P E C I A L L E T T E R O P A P P R O B A T I O N P R O M T H E A R C H B I S H O P O P ST. P A U L . 

M. W. Cole, President of the Catholic Truth Society;— 
DEAR SIR: I give m y warmest support t o the work of the Catholic Truth 

society, as outlined in your prospectus. 
, 1 ^ n i l 1 i r e t h a t every priest will be delighted t o co-operate wi th you t o the' 
best ot his ability. " L a y action•? is the mot to of the hour, and in no man-
ner can this action be utilized with so much power and effect as in spreading 
a.broad, by pen and paper, a knowledge of theteachings and history of Gad's 
church. Sincerely, &c., 

T J O H N I R E L A N D , 
Archbishop of St. Paul. 

BOARD O P D I R E C T O R S P O R T H E SECOND Y E A R : 
J . W . CROSSON , S t . P a u l . M . A . S T A P L E T O N , S t . P a u l . 

H . C . M C N A I R , S t . P a u l . C . E . R O B E R T S O N , S t . P a u l . 
C . W . C O P L E Y , S t . P a u l . M . W . C O L E , S t . P a u l . 

W . F . M A R K O E , M i n n e a p o l i s . 

O F F I C E R S : 
M. W. COLE, 218 East Third Street, St. Paul President. 
C H A S . I* . L A R P E N T E I T R , M i n n e a p o l i s V i c e - P r e s i d e n t 
WUC. F . MARKOE, 509 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis Cor. Secretary! 
M. A. STAPLETON, 218 East Third Street, St. Paul Ree. Secretary. 
C. W. COPLEY, Bank of Minnesota, St. Paul Treasurer. 

Address all orders for pamphlets, leaflets, reports, constitution and by-
laws, or information for forming local conierences of the society, t o The 
Catholic Truth Society of America, 218 East Third Street, St, Paul, Min-
nesota. 



OF AMERICA 

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS. 
PAMPHLETS AT NOMINAL COST. 

P O S T P A I D 
-No. 1. Refutation of S o m « Calumnies—Rev. J. C. Byrne, per . .100. . .$1 .00 

2.—Vail-Burgess Debate—Roger Vail—O. F. Burgess, per.. 20. . . 1 . 0 0 
3.— Ho w Catholics come t o be Misunderstood—Rev. Thos. 

O'Gorman, D.D., per 100. . . 2 . 0 0 
4.—Who can Forgive Sins?—Rev. Patrick Danehy, per l 6 o . . . 2 . 0 0 
5.—Church or Bible—Rev. Arnold Damen, S. J., per... 100. . . 2 . 0 0 
6 ~ T i j e Catholic Church and the American Republic— 

Win. F . Markoe, per 100. . . 1 . 5 0 
7.—Sacrificial Worship Essential t o Religion—Rev. P . R. 

Heffron, D.D., per , .< 100. . . 1 . 5 0 
8.—The Catholic Pages of American History— 

J. L. Macdonald, per 100. . . 2 .50 
9.—Our Rights and Duties as Catholics and as Citizens— 

Wm. J. Onahan, per........\; : 100. . . 2 .00 
10.—Agnostic ism—Rt. Rev. J. L. Spalding, D.D. , Bishop of 

P e o n a , per 100. . . 2 .00 
11 .—On The Condit ion of Labor —.Encyclical Letter of 

Pope Leo XIII , per l p o . . . 3 . 0 0 
12.—Purgatory—Rev. Henry A. Brann, D.D., per....,, :... 100 . . . 1 . 5 0 
13.—Miracles—What are they, and w h a t is their use?— 

Rev. John Gmeiner, per 100. . . 1 . 5 0 
i*-—The Conservative P o w e r of Catholicity—Conde B. 

Pallen, per 100. . . 1 . 5 0 
Assorted L o t s of 100, same ratio. 

Leaflet .—Things Catholics do n o t Believe, per 1 0 0 0 . . . $ 2 . 0 0 
Leaflet .—Things Catholics do n o t Believe, per 500 . . . 1 . 0 0 

If larger quantit ies of the Pamphlets are desired, the same should 
i b y , e x press , up t o 6 0 0 copies; more t h a n 600, t o d i s tant points , 

•should g o b y freight. 

Please send funds w i t h orders for postpaid quantit ies . 
• O. B. quantities, t o be sent by express or freight, range from 20c. 
1 0 0 ) P e r 1 0 0 u n d e r P ° s t P a i d rates (No. 2 excepted, being $ 3 . 5 0 per 

Single copies by mail 5c.; any seven, a t a n y time, by mail 25c. 
Sample copies mailed free, t o the Rev. clergy, upon application. 

Address, 

CATHOLIC TRUTH. SOCIETY, 
2 1 8 East Third Street, ST. PAUL, MINN. 

^^ » . - R a t i o n a l Religion, by Rev. John Conway,—paper, 1 7 5 pages , 
special <_. T. S. edition, postpaid 30c; quantit ies of 1 0 or more, express 
•charges t o be paid by buyer, 25c. 

PAMPHLETS PREPARING. 
I N F A L L I B I L I T Y B Y A R C H B I S H O P I R E L A N D 
T H E P R I E S T H O O D B Y B I S H O P K E A N E 
T H E D I V I N I T Y O F C H R I S T b y R E V . W A L T E R E L L I O T T