Australian Catholic Federation

New Zealand Tablet, 2 January 1913, Page 45

Australian Catholic Federation

The first annual meeting of the Catholic Federation was held at the Cathedral Hall, Melbourne, on Sunday afternoon, December 15. The president, Mr. T. C. Brennan, LL.B., presiding. There was a very large attendance, and the greatest interest and enthusiasm were displayed throughout the proceedings. Mr. H. J. Savage (hon. secretary of the Federation in South Australia) was in attendance, and delegates were present from various country districts throughout Victoria. The president read the following cablegram, which had been forwarded to his Holiness the Pope on behalf of the Federation: ‘ The Australian Catholic Federation at its first annual meeting oners , homage to the Sovereign Pontiff, and begs his blessing on its operations ’; to which the following reply had. been received from his Eminence Cardinal Merry del Val: ‘ The Holy Father is deeply grateful to the Australian Catholic Federation for its expression of filial homage, and affectionately gives it his blessing.’ The general secretary (Mr. T. J. O’Brien) read the annual report, setting forth the work which had been undertaken by . the Federation during •; the first year of its existence. An audited balance sheet was submitted by the treasurer, Mr. R. A. Warming, showing a balance in hand of £341. In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, the president stated that the result of the first - year’s operations had far exceeded their most sanguine expectations. The membership of the Federation was estimated at 30,000, and with the proposed reduction in the annual subscription to Is, and in view of the fact that they had now nearly 400 active branches in existence throughout the State, it was anticipated that the membership would be at least doubled during the coming year. Mr. R. A. Warming (president of the Catholic Young Men’s Society) submitted a. resolution for the amendment of the constitution, authorising the appointment of an annual conference, consisting of two representatives of each parish council throughout the State. This conference would be held on the following evening at the Cathedral Hall, and would deal with all matters affecting the constitution. The resolution was seconded by Mr. F. E. O’Connell, and carried unanimously. Mr. Savage stated that he had been specially delegated by the Council of the Federation in South Australia to convey the heartiest fraternal greetings to the sister organisation in Victoria. They had been delighted to see tha magnificent progress which had been made by the movement in Victoria, and were also pleased to hear of its inauguration in New Zealand. He expressed a hope that, before many months had passed, the Federation would be established throughout the whole of Australasia. In South Australia they had 40 branches in existence, and the movement was making good progress. Speeches were delivered by Dr. A. L. Kenny, Cr. P. Finegan (Sale), Messrs. A. W. Grainger. (Colac)' and W. L. Bowditch, M.A.