356 ANDREW J. SHIPMAN MEMORIAL 



So much for the proposed association from a negative stand- 

 point. Now for an outline of the positive work proposed. This 

 statement is not intended to be a declaration of principles or 

 a measurement of the boundary lines of our activities or in any 

 wise limiting what we hope to accomplish. Some of the things 

 set forth here may be abandoned later, on finding that they are 

 accomplished better through other channels and other activities. 

 Other things not even hinted at or even contemplated now may 

 i'ereafter be taken up by us, if deemed expedient or necessary. 

 Still larger activities may be presented to us in the future which 

 cannot now be even foreseen or imagined. Therefore what is 

 stated here may be regarded as only in a measure the duties 

 and activities of the proposed Catholic Association. 



A word or so of the origin or immediate starting point of 

 this proposed association may not be out of place. Last year 

 the so-called Law of Separation of Church and State was put 

 in operation in France. Its terms were so completely subver- 

 sive of the constitution of the Church, so bent on making the 

 Church in France little less than a civil corporation under the 

 administration of the State, that the bishops, clergy and Catho- 

 lic people of France could not and would not submit to its 

 drastic provisions, and preferred to lose their property rather 

 than surrender their liberty of worship. The American press, 

 and, in fact, the majority of American publicists, apparently 

 conceiving that separation in France meant what separation in 

 America means, took up the side of the French government, 

 and in the press and on the rostrum poured forth statements 

 and arguments to the effect that the Church, its priests and 

 people were in the wrong, and should be considered as engaged 

 in a movement little less than treasonable to the French Repub- 

 lic. This was reiterated from day to day and largely influenced 

 public opinion in America. These statements, however, were 

 not permitted to go unchallenged. A committee was organized, 

 on the initiative of the Archbishop, by which preparation was 

 made for a great popular meeting, in which a fair-minded re- 

 view of the events in France was presented and a statement 

 of the attitude and aims of the churchmen of France was set 

 forth, while the animus and acts of the French government 

 were contrasted with the real freedom guaranteed by our con- 

 stitution in this free land. The success of that great meeting 

 was almost instantaneous in changing American public opinion. 



