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Directors of the Catholic Missionary Union
MOST REV. J. M. FARLEY. D. D.
ARCHBISHOP OF NEW YORK, PRESIDENT
RT. REV. MATTHEW HARKINS
BISHOP OF PROVIDENCE, R. I.
MOST REV. PATRICK J. RYAN, D, D.
ARCHBISHOP OF PHILADELPHIA
REV. MATTHEW A. TAYLOR
VERY REV. A. P. DOYLE, SECRETARY-TREASURER
VERY REV. E. R. DYER, S. S.
PRESIDENT ST. MARY'S SEMINARY, BALTIMORE
REV. WALTER ELLIOTT, C. S. P.

REPRESENTED BY
The Missionary

The Catholic Missionary Unio
Incorporated under the Laws of the State of New York

UNDER ITS AUSPICES
The Apostolic Mission House

(Printed) Washington, Brookland Station, D. C., Dec 25 1906 (printed) 190....

Reverend and Dear Father,
At the recent Missionary Conference in June last the
following resolution was adopted: '' That a special committeee be formed
of Missionary bands, with power, to add unto itself others, to
to consider how some closer union or affilation may be brought about
among all the Missionaries. '' The question of affiliation was brought
before the Directors of the Catholic Missionary Union at the recent
meet ing and I was ask to lay before you for your consideration
the following communication.

The object in view, closer affiliation and more compact
organization, is a most laudable one, and ideed is quite necessary, if
the responsibility resting on the Holy Church in our country shall
be fairly met.

And certainly none could be better qualified to advance the union
of our efforts and the fruitfulness of our apostolate, than the men
actually engaged in giving missions to non-Catholics.

We have many reasons to thank God for the success already
achieved, and the prospects of converting our country to the True
Faith of Christ are bright. But to accomplish a work that is national
in its scope, and whose success depends on many Missionaries
distributed everywhere we need a strong central organization. The
activity of many merely diocesan units will not suffice. There must be
some powerful element of cohesion binding all together, inspiring
them with the spirit of their common vocation.

Everywhere we find Bishops, priests and people full of hope.
Converts, and those of the best intelligence are becoming numorous;
enquiry about Catholic truth and holiness is now well nigh universal ;
zeal is spreading among all classes of the faithful, and in many
dioceses real progress is plainly evident.

And now there is danger of these efforts , so plainly born of
the grace of God, being seriously impeded by the lack of coherence in
our organiation. The strong places are unmindful of the weaker ones.
Powerful Missionary hands are, so it appears to us, entirely oblivious
to the needs of struggling brethern in more necessitous sections. The
superfluities of zeal, money, men, are all allowed to go to waste. The
benefits of brotherly intercourse and of concerted action are lost ,
and, indeed are in some instances not so much as recognized or
thought of. Local needs seem to claim all effort; while restricted
views, views purely self-centered, seem to prevail. Organizations that
depend for the success of their local efforts on the inspiration of
the general movement, now seem unconscious that there is such a thing
as a general movement for the conversion of America.

In a cause so great, one might easily expect a constant exchange
of views and suggestions among different bodies of Catholic wirkers;
the comparing of methods for attaining the sacred ends common to all,
the securing of that wide-spread publicity so needful for our divine
acostolate; the mutual stimulation of holy zeal among brother