CATHOLIC  SOCIALISTS.

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increased.  In  the  general  assembly,  which  took  place  on  the
9th  of  September,  1869,  it  was  decided  to  form  a  special
committee  for  the  purpose  of  founding  Christian  Social  clubs,
having  for  their  object  “  the  moral  and  economical  improvement ­
  of  the  working  classes.”  This  committee  was  composed
of  Herr  Gronheid,  a  vicar  of  Munster,  Professor  Schulze  of
Paderborn,  and  Baron  von  Schorlemer-Alst,  one  of  the  most
influential  leaders  of  “the  centre”—i.e.,  the  Ultramontane
party—in  the  German  Parliament.  In  the  first  manifesto  of
this  committee  it  placed  itself  under  the  patronage  of  the
Conference  of  the  Catholic  Bishops  of  Germany  which  was
held  at  Fulda,  in  this  very  month  of  September,  and  which
had  specially  occupied  itself  with  the  social  question.
The  report  presented  by  one  of  the  bishops  at  the  conference ­
  of  Fulda  defined  the  attitude  to  be  taken  by  the
clergy  on  this  question.  Doubtless,  it  said,  the  clergy  cannot
directly  and  officially  engage  in  the  foundation  of  working  men’s
associations  ;  but  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Church  to  awaken  the
sympathy  of  the  ecclesiastical  body  for  the  labouring  classes.
The  clergy  are  too  often  indifferent,  because  they  are  not
aware  of  the  imminence  and  gravity  of  the  danger  to  which
social  sufferings  give  rise.  They  do  not  appreciate  the  full
importance  of  the  social  question,  nor  do  they  see  clearly  the
remedies.  In  the  training  given  to  members  of  the  clergy,  in
philosophy,  and  in  matters  touching  their  pastoral  mission,  the
labour  question  must  no  longer  be  omitted.  It  is  highly
desirable  that  some  ecclesiastics  should  devote  themselves
specially  to  the  study  of  Political  Economy.  It  would  be  well
to  give  them  travelling  funds,  in  order  to  enable  them  to  study,
on  the  spot,  the  wants  of  foreign  labourers,  and  the  means
employed  to  provide  for  them.  They  ought,  above  all,  with
this  object  in  view,  to  visit  France,  where,  it  would  appear,  the
scope  of  the  religious  and  moral  “  moment  ”  is  better  understood ­
  than  elsewhere.  Certain  Economists  affirm  that  there  is
no  social  question  \  but  the  bishops  hold  other  language.
Most  assuredly  there  is  a  social  question,  they  say,  and  a  very
serious  one  ;  our  priests  must  study  it,  and  make  it  the  means
of  extending  the  influence  of  their  ministry.  Is  it  necessary