“Organization which would attempt to meddle with local autonomy would not only defeat its purpose, but would be chiselling its own epitaph.” . . .  The parish and diocesan units are and must ever remain supreme, each in its own sphere.  We could never get a better working basis; more genuine Christian charity and self sacrifice could not be met with outside of our acting brotherhoods and charitable organizations. . . .  But, what we need more is co-operation between these various units in view of solving the complex social problems, especially in our cities.  This suppresses neglect and over-lapping, gives efficiency with the least waste of energies.  “Blend organization and co-ordination with the greatest amount of local autonomy and individual initiative”:  this is the sole aim a Congress has in view.  There, and there alone, lies the solution of our problems.

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Tentative Programme of Congress.

I—­Preparation.

The remote preparation for such a great and important undertaking, would consist in what we would term “an educational campaign.”  The initial difficulty, the greatest obstacle would be to overcome the general apathy, the want of interest, vis inertiae.  This could be done by the Catholic press, lectures, sermons, etc.  It may take time to wake up our people from their slumber, but the faith is there with its latent energies, and we can count on them.  The forces are there; they only need an occasion to call them into play.

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The immediate preparation would consist in the appointment of a small but strong organizing committee.  Agitation without organization is useless.  On the choice and activities of this committee depends the entire success of the congress.

The various activities of this committee would be: 

1. Decide on Name.—­Congress, . . .  Conference, . . .  Catholic Social Service Meeting, etc. . . .  This seems of no importance; but, in fact, it often goes a long way in interesting the public and warding off prejudice.

2. Decide on Place.—­Winnipeg—­
;Regina—­Edmonton—­Calgary—­Saskatoon—­Vancouver.

3. Decide on Delegates.—­Mode of selection,—­clerical,—­lay.  It is very essential that a meeting of that kind should be thoroughly popular and representative.

4. Decide on Speakers, Language.—­(One or several sections.)

5. Decide on Programme.—­This is really the essential work of the organizing committee.  In drawing the agenda, emphasis is to be laid upon problems of immediate necessity: 

Defence and construction; defence against the enemies’ activities; strong constructive policy with a wide scope for all energies:  these are the two poles on which revolve a good programme.