The matter is one of at least as much importance, and the general plan of the organization of these societies at least as simple and practical. Here are the broad outlines of the plan: “The task of education, rendered more than ever before difficult on account of the times in which we live, and the school question, now everywhere looming into such immense proportions, render the foundation of Catholic educational institutions imperative.” The Mayence Association of Teachers--pointing to the association already existing in Bavaria--suggests the following as the ground principles of the new associations: I. The Catholic educational associations recognize as their foundation, first and last, the faith of the Catholic Church. II. Excluding all party issues, their only object is the furtherance of the temporal and eternal welfare of youth. III. The Catholic educational associations desire that the youth of the age should profit by all that the world has of good, and that in their education all that it has of evil should be avoided. Therefore, they are ready to accept and to use all that there is of real worth in the educational systems of the age, all that can promote real progress. IV. These associations consider the proper education of youth in the family, the schools, and later in life, that is, after the youth have left the schools, as their exclusive object. Therefore is it that they accept as members, parents, teachers, the clergy, and all who, in any manner, are interested in the education of youth. V. They recommend to these associations, 1. The defence and propagation of Catholic principles in education by word, writing, and action. 2. The defence of the rights of parents to the Christian education and Christian instruction of their children. 3. The improvement of the family education of children, of schools, and the providing of means for the continuance of education after children leave schools. 4. The furtherance of the interests of teachers, to support them in their efforts in the direction of education, and particularly to help to elevate their material and social position; the collecting of funds to aid in the education of teachers, and in the support of their widows. 5. The encouragement of literature bearing on the interests of education. 6. Founding and caring for educational institutions of all kinds--schools for children, boys, girls, apprentices, etc. VI. The means for attaining the objects of these associations are, besides the means suggested by the very nature of our holy religion, 1. Periodicals; 2. Appropriate publications for teachers and for families; 3. The establishment of libraries and literary associations; 4. Co-operating with other associations--the pecuniary assistance needed in any case to be obtained by regular fees from the members, presents, etc.