Letters from the Bishops
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From the Presiding Bishop
New York City, New York, April 25, 1927.
Thank you very much indeed for your gracious favor of the 22nd instant, and your cordial invitation to be present at the meeting of the Catholic Congress in Albany on October 25, 26, and 27 next.
While I have very important engagements, one in Boston on Tuesday, the 25th, and the other in Philadelphia on Friday, the 28th of October, I am able to arrange to be with you for Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th of that month.
With appreciation, and a prayer for you in everything, I am
Affectionately yours,
JOHN G. MURRAY.

From the Bishop of Western Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts, May 26, 1927.
Thank you very much for the kind invitation to the Catholic Congress at Albany on October 26, 27, and 28. I may possibly be able to come to the last day of the Conference, but it so happens that I am now President of the Province of New England whose Synod will be held in Boston on October 25 and 26.
Praying God's blessing upon you and your Order, and with warm regard, believe me,
Sincerely yours,
THOMAS F. DAVIES.

From the Bishop of Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut, May 26, 1927.
I beg to acknowledge your letter of May 14. It came in the midst of my preparation for my Convention, and since the sessions I have been on a series of visitations. Thus I am taking my earliest opportunity to thank you for your kind thought in writing, in addition to the formal invitation of the Congress Committee. The courtesy of your invitation, thus personally conveyed, I do not fail to appreciate. It would be a privilege to accept it.
It so happens that an imperatively pressing engagement already made in this Diocese for those days will prevent my being in Albany. I beg you to accept and express to the Committee my regret that I am not able to be present.
I beg you to accept my thanks with the assurance of my earnest desire for God's abundant blessing upon the Congress, and to believe me,
Faithfully yours,
CHAUNCEY B. BREWSTER.

From the Suffragan Bishop of South Dakota
Sioux Falls, South Dakota, June 1, 1927.
Thank you very much for your kind invitation to attend the Catholic Congress in Albany in October. I do not believe I shall be able to attend, as I am busy during that month attending our fall Deanery meetings, and I question if it will be possible for me to go East at that time.
With every best wish and kindest personal regards, I am,
Yours sincerely,
W. BLAIR ROBERTS.

From the Bishop Coadjutor of Colorado
Salide, Colorado, May 19, 1927.
Be sure of my appreciation of your kind letter of May 14th. It is quite too soon to make a promise for October, but I have noted the dates of the Congress in my book in the hope that I may be able to accept your gracious invitation.
God bless you now and always,
Faithfully,
FRED INGLEY.

From the Bishop Coadjutor of Western New York
Rochester, New York, May 18, 1927.
Thank you sincerely for your letter of May 14th conveying a special invitation to the Catholic Congress the last week in October. It comes just at a time when we in this Diocese have planned an intensive Campaign to carry the Bishops' Crusade into the Southern tier of the Diocese. The roads were blocked with snow this spring when the Crusade was held in Buffalo and Rochester, and we were obliged to promise them at that time to carry the Crusade through those Counties during October and November. For that reason it is very doubtful if I can arrange to be at the meeting in Albany.
Thank you sincerely for your notice regarding it.
Cordially yours,
DAVID LINCOLN FERRIS.

From the Bishop Coadjutor of Mississippi
Meridian, Mississippi, May 20, 1927.
I shall not be able to attend the Catholic Congress on October 26, 27, 28.
May your deliberations be to the glory of God and the advancement of His Kingdom.
Faithfully yours,
WM. MERCER GREEN.

From the Bishop of Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky, June 13, 1927.
Let me thank you for your kind invitation to attend the Catholic Congress to be held in Albany, N. Y. I regret that I shall not be able to be present.
The Bishop of Albany is an old and dear friend and I should like to be with him when the Congress meets.
With best wishes for a successful Congress, surpassing even that of last year, I am,
Sincerely yours,
CHARLES E. WOODCOCK.

From Bishop Rhinelander
Gloucester, Massachusetts, May 23, 1927.
I can't tell so long ahead. Much depends on how the summer goes. I should greatly enjoy coming.
Certainly you have my prayer that the Congress may be guided to its full usefulness in preserving, expounding and commending the Faith. It has a very great and pressing opportunity.
Faithfully yours,
PHILIP M. RHINELANDER.

From the Bishop of North Dakota
Fargo, North Dakota, May 24, 1927.
Thank you most heartily for the invitation to attend the meeting of the Catholic Congress to be held in Albany in October. I should love indeed to be present and feel that I would gain great benefit from attendance upon the sessions of the Congress. I feel, however, it will not be possible for me to avail myself of this pleasure and profit.
With all good wishes, I am,
Faithfully yours,
J. POYNTZ TYLER.

From the Suffragan Bishop of Central New York
Utica, New York, May 20, 1927.
Your personal invitation to attend the Catholic Congress in Albany next October is much appreciated.
I doubt very much that I can be present, but shall pray that the result of your deliberations may be to confirm and strengthen belief in "the Faith once delivered to the saints," and in the Holy Catholic Church which has preserved and propagated it.
With warm personal regards, Faithfully and cordially yours,
EDWARD HUNTINGTON COLEY.

From the Bishop of Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 18, 1927.
I hope very much to be at the next Catholic Congress on October 26, 27 and 28, in Albany. Bishop Nelson and I are very close friends, as we were in college and in the seminary together, and I am so glad that you are going to have it there. I will certainly remember the Congress at my Mass.
I sent out a notice, which you probably have seen, to the members of the Federation of Catholic Priests, asking them to say some Masses for the Catholic Congress, and to say Mass every day, if possible, during the Congress itself.
Yours affectionately,
WILLIAM WALTER WEBB.

From the Bishop Coadjutor of Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa, May 18, 1927.
Your kind invitation to attend the Catholic Congress has been received. I hope that matters may so turn that I can be with you, but at this early date it is impossible to say what I will be able to do.
Trusting you will be successful in securing a large attendance and with all good wishes for the undertaking, I am,
Faithfully yours,
HARRY S. LONGLEY.

From the Suffragan. Bishop of North Tokyo
Ikebukuro, Tokyo, June 16, 1927.
While greatly appreciating the Congress Committee's cordial invitation to be present at the meeting of the Catholic Congress to be held at Albany, New York, October twenty-fifth—twenty-seventh, nineteen twenty-seven, inability to return to the United States before the autumn of nineteen twenty-eight makes my absence unavoidable.
May the Presence of God the Holy Spirit be with you all to "direct you in all your doings and further you with His continual help."
Yours very faithfully,
C. S. REIFSNIDER.

From the Bishop of Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio, May 17, 1927.
Thank you very much for your cordial note of the 14th of May regarding the Catholic Congress at Albany.
Unfortunately it comes at a time when I am engaged in lectures at Gambier before the Divinity School, two lectures a day. So I do not really see how it is possible for me to break in on my calendar and be at the Congress, much as I should enjoy it. Otherwise it would have given me very great pleasure to have participated in the discussions and services.
Sincerely yours,
WILLIAM A. LEONARD.

From the Bishop of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, May 17, 1927.
I am unable to say just now whether I can attend the Catholic Congress in Albany next October. October is my busiest month in all the year. Ordinarily the work of two or three months is compressed into October, as it is practically impossible to get meetings and quorums and working committees during the summer months. However, I shall try to plan things so that I can be present.
Yours very sincerely,
C. P. ANDERSON.

From the Suffragan Bishop of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, May 17, 1927.
Thank you very much for your kind letter of May fourteenth.
I had already received the formal notice and invitation for the Catholic Congress which will be held in Albany at the end of October. I appreciate, however, your own personal letter; and I reply at once to say that I have made a note of the dates, and that it is my purpose to be present on that occasion.
I am especially pleased that the Congress is to be held in Albany in the Diocese to which I belonged for the greater part of my life, and where I shall have the opportunity of renewing my association with many familiar places and some very warm friends.
With every good wish, I am,
Always, faithfully,
S. M. GRISWOLD.

From the Bishop of Western New York
Buffalo, New York, May 17, 1927.
I appreciate very much your invitation to the Catholic Congress. I have one difficulty which is the only one that stands in my way, and that is that I am pledged for a continuation of the Bishops' Crusade in Olean the week beginning October 23rd. However, if I can rearrange this, which I possibly can, it will give me great pleasure to be at the Congress.
Yours very faithfully,
CHARLES H. BRENT.

From the Bishop of Dallas
Dallas, Texas, May 18, 1927.
I have before me your letter of the 14th, which contains your generous invitation to the Catholic Congress next October.
I hope that I may be able to be present, but at the present time I cannot make any definite engagement. In the first place, October is the busiest month I have, and in the next place, Albany is a long way from Texas, and this means that the expense would be considerable. However I shall be very happy to be there if it is at all possible for me to do so.
With all good wishes for you personally, and for the Congress, believe me,
Faithfully yours,
HARRY T. MOORE.

From the Bishop of Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia, May 17, 1927.
Thank you for your letter of invitation to the Catholic Congress. It will not be possible for me to attend as its sessions conflict with the meeting of our Provincial Synod, which meets in my Diocese and so I must be present.
But I wish the Congress every success and pray God's blessing on its sessions.
Very faithfully yours,
H. J. MIKELL.

From the Bishop of Tennessee
Sewanee, Tennessee, August 23, 1927.
I did not reply to your kind letter about the Catholic Congress, because I saw in the paper that you had gone to England. I now write to thank you for your thought of me and to say, that, if no important engagement in the Diocese prevents, I hope to attend one session of the Congress in Albany, anyhow on October 26th, and I am,
Very sincerely yours,
THOMAS F. GAILOR.

From the Bishop of Fond du Lac
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, May 16, 1927.
Thank you for your kind letter of the 14th inst.
I am gladly putting the Catholic Congress on my list of appointments for October 26th, 27th and 28th. With my blessing,
Affectionately yours,
REGINALD H. WELLER.

From the Bishop of Springfield
Springfield, Illinois, May 17, 1927.
Thank you very much for your letter of May 14th with special invitation to attend the Catholic Congress in October next. I will put it down on my calendar and hope that I may be able to be there.
Wishing you great success in the work, I am, with my kindest regards,
Faithfully yours,
JOHN C. WHITE.

From the Bishop of New York
New York, June 23, 1927.
Your letter should have been answered before this, but you know, I am sure, how hard pressed I have been getting ready for my trip to England.
I am hoping to be able to get to the meeting of the Catholic Congress in Albany on one of the days.
Faithfully yours in our Lord,
WILLIAM T. MANNING.

From the Bishop of Oregon
Portland, Oregon, May 23, 1927.
Thank you for your letter of May 14th. I wish I could be at the Conference, but it will be impossible, as I shall be unable to be out of the Diocese at that time. I shall remember it at the Altar, however.
Faithfully yours,
WALTER T. SUMNER.

From the Bishop of Algoma
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, October 26, 1927.
Many thanks for your letter, which arrived while I was away on tour in the Diocese.
I very much hoped that it would be possible for me to attend the American Catholic Congress this year; but owing to my absence in England during the past summer, when I attended the Anglo-Catholic Congress, I find it will be impossible for me to spare time to get to Albany.
Will you be so good as to tell the Committee that I will remember them in my prayers, and very much regret that I shall not be able to be present.
Yours very sincerely,
ROCKSBOROUGH R. ALGOMA.

From the Bishop Coadjutor of Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 25, 1927.
It is a real disappointment to me that I am unable to be present at Albany for the Congress this week. I do hope that the Congress has been a very great success and that God will richly bless the endeavors of the Committee.
With all good wishes,
Faithfully yours,
BENJ. F. P. IVINS.

From the Bishop of Long Island
Brooklyn, New York, May 19, 1927.
This is to acknowledge your kind letter of May 24th. Before its receipt I had already written to the Secretary of the Congress in Philadelphia, explaining my inability to attend the Congress in October, as I shall be engaged in that very week with an intensive campaign, the object of which is to raise a million dollars for the completion of our St. John's Hospital. You may remember that I told you of how much I should be engaged with this enterprise in the last week of October.
Praying God's blessing upon you and upon all of your service rendered to Him, I am,
Ever faithfully yours,
ERNEST M. STIRES.

From the Bishop of New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey, May 20, 1927.
It is very nice of you to write me in regard to the meeting of the Catholic Congress in Albany next October.
So far as I can see now, it will be possible for me to be at the session of the Congress at that time, or at least for part of the time. I will make a note of the date and endeavor to arrange accordingly.
Faithfully yours,
PAUL MATTHEWS.

From the Bishop of Salina
Salina, Kansas, May 17, 1927.
I wish to make acknowledgment of your kind invitation to the Catholic Congress to be held at Albany in October.
I am sympathetic with the principles for which the Congress stands, but at this early date I am not able to send an acceptance.
Sincerely,
R. H. MIZE.

From the Bishop of Bethlehem
Bethlehem, Pa., May 19, 1927.
I beg to apologize to you for not answering more promptly the invitation which you were good enough to send me to the Catholic Congress in Albany at All Saints' Cathedral on October 26th, 27th, and 28th.
You may depend on me to be there unless something occurs which I do not at present anticipate to prevent my coming.
I note what you say about the Solemn High Mass at which the Bishop of Albany will pontificate, on Wednesday morning, October 26th.
Very faithfully yours,
ETHELBERT TALBOT.

From the Bishop of Liberia
Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa, June 29, 1927.
Only yesterday I was happy to receive your invitation to attend the Congress to meet in Albany next October.
It is a matter of deep regret that I shall be detained in Africa during that time; but I hope that you and the other members of the Congress will realize that you have my prayers and blessing. I shall try to offer the Holy Sacrifice for special intention of the Congress in my chapel on one of the days of the session.
Faithfully yours in Christo,
ROBERT LIBERIA.

From the Bishop of Shanghai
Shanghai, China, June 6, 1927.
I thank you for the invitation to attend the meeting of the Catholic Congress at Albany.
My job is here at present and is sufficiently engrossing. Wishing the Congress a successful meeting, I am,
Yours sincerely,
F. R. GRAVES.

From the Metropolitan of the Greek Orthodox Church in America
New York, October 12, 1927.
I am very grateful for the kind invitation, but to my sincere regret, by main force of circumstances, I cannot avail myself of it.
Very truly yours,
METROPOLITAN PLATON.

From the Bishop Coadjutor of South Florida
Winter Park, Florida, May 18, 1927.
I have your letter of May 14th extending to me a personal invitation to be present at the Third Annual Session of the Catholic Congress, to be held in All Saints' Cathedral, Albany, New York, October 26th to 28th.
It would certainly be a very great privilege to me to be present. The difficulty, of course, is the long distance separating this part of the world from the place where the Congress is to meet and the expense in connection with the journey. Also, it comes just at the time of the year when we are trying to get things going in South Florida, after the quietness of the long summer.
I cannot say this long in advance whether it will be possible for me to be there, but I can and do assure you that I will make a real effort; also, that I shall offer my prayers for God's guidance upon those of you who are preparing for the Congress.
Yours very sincerely,
JOHN D. WING.

From the Bishop of Maine
Portland, Maine, August 19, 1927.
I do not like to send the enclosed declination, without explaining that the Synod of the Province of New England is to meet in Boston on October 25th and I believe the meeting will extend over at least a part of the next day. It is possible that I may be able to run over to Albany for the evening of the 26th and for the discussion then and on October 27th. I shall do this if I can.
With my sincere prayer for the Congress, I am,
Faithfully yours,
BENJAMIN BREWSTER.

From the Bishop of Porto Rico
En route to New York, May 28, 1927.
Thank you very much for your letter of May 14th inviting me to attend the third annual Catholic Congress at Albany on October 26, 27, and 28.
It would give me great pleasure to be present if it were possible, but I don't think I will be able to be in the U. S. at that time.
With best wishes and asking your prayers and praying God's blessing upon you, I am,
Very sincerely and affectionately,
CHARLES B. COLMORE.

From the Bishop of the Philippines
Manila, July 19, 1927.
Your letter of May 14th regarding the Catholic Congress has been received, and I do not write to say that I shall be unable to attend, for of course you will know that without my saying it; but I do want to write to say that I am glad you are having this Congress, I am glad that year by year they are being as successful as they are, and I am particularly glad that the Presiding Bishop attended last year and will attend this year; and I assure you of my prayers that God will guide you in preparing for the Congress, and that He will direct the meetings of the Congress itself. We shall remember you at the altar in the Cathedral.
With every best wish, believe me,
Faithfully yours,
GOUVERNEUR FRANK MOSHER.

From the Russian Orthodox Bishop of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, October 5, 1927.
I received the kind invitation of your Committee to attend a meeting of the Congress and most sincerely I thank you for the same.
I regret very much that I will not be able to attend the Congress owing to a previous engagement, but my earnest desire to know that the Congress was blessed success and to this all my wishes.
Very sincerely yours,
THEOPHILUS N. PASHKOVSKY.

From the Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in America
New York, September 28, 1927.
I have received your letter of the 20th instant in which you kindly invited me to take part in the meeting of the Catholic Congress to be held on October 25th to 27th at Albany, N. Y.
Thanking you for the honor extended to me and my clergymen I am sorry to inform you that it will be impossible for me to attend the meeting personally on account of some previous engagements.
I have instructed Rev. Father Sahak Der-Bedrosian, the Pastor of the Armenian Apostolic Church at Troy, N. Y., to be present at the meeting as my representative.
With Divine love and blessing, I remain,
Yours truly,
ARCHBISHOP TIRAYRE.

NOTE: Fr. Der-Bedrosian died before the Congress met. His place was taken by Fr. Bedros Hagopian.

Telegrams

From the Bishop of New York
New York, October 26, 1927.
May God's blessing and guidance be with the Congress. Regret duties here prevent me from being present.
WILLIAM T. MANNING.

From the Virginia Liberal Evangelicals
Richmond, Virginia, October 25, 1927.
Greetings from Virginia Liberal Evangelicals meeting here. We wish you God's blessing in your Congress and may we both draw nearer to the Master.
WILLIAM H. LAIRD, Secretary.

From the Anglo-Catholic Congress Committee, London
London, England, October 26, 1927.
President and Council of the Anglo-Catholic Congress send warmest greetings.