The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-06-20
LETTER FROM THE tARrsH OF ST: yasivs
ST. JAMES ON THE HiirtaH RoA 3 D11fso s6S,
PERFECTION.

The social fabric has been defined by nm ars
nent Catholic writer to be: The union Of IN.
ing power, for the common good,n-the com.
mon good keeping inhexibly in view the nral
seryation and perfection of Society. CIV.
1t is evident that neither n union of ma
viduals, nor tho preservation of orpan;ya5
society can be secured without binding forsa-
capable of subjeeting at once the intelleot MI
the will, and of influencing the -conscienosIh
And it is beyond dispute, that in view nj ~,
diversity of human affections, and the con6;ets
of human interests, no bond of union, save
Religion, can effect this Indispensable conS;
ton of social existence. Yes Religionoouorro%a,
teal Religion-by which alone the stubborn
human will can be bent, and the human 40
tivities directed, is the grand, efficient conser.
vator of Society-the shortest, because fbas
only safe road to social perfection.
very slight elaboration of this selfevident
theorem will readily develop the eo-ordinats,
stability, (and hence the true greatness Of ma.
tionalitiesD rest on the same basis But onr
object now is not to examine this question at
length; this exordium, therefore, NAV wind M
with the initial and titulary affirmation of orr
50 correspondence"-an affirmation suggested
Qet us remark, en- pdssd1't,) by rejecting on the
contrast observable between the desperate, bnt
vain, efforts now made tOreconstruct American
Society on u sandy foundation, and the inmbrL-
tai Truths herein emunciated 81. james is ON
the high road TO social and GIRL perfection
How, then
Irrel gion is manifestly individualism--eoo-s
tism, whose separate interests are always in
opposition to those of the common veal. Re-
ligiou-tTue relgion--the emanation of the
Divinity, by bringing together the constituent
elements of Society i'll a communion of fraternal
charity ut the foot of the Cross, and in subiec-
ton to one common Authority, is as manifestly
the true ideal, as it is, in fact, the fountain
source of social organization. Whence ensue
simultaneously, the righteousness and the veri-
ication of our proposition in reference to the
parish of st. James, whose people with few
eXceptions) seeking first - the kingdom of God
and His JUSTICE" obtain, in the laudable search
the stable principles of human grandeur, and
the most solid base work of the social eilitice
A brief detail of events, as they have recent
~ trauspired, will demonstrate that We have
i'll naught exaggerated.
1t will be remembered, doubtless, that in a
communication some short time ago, we gave
the particulars of magnificent literary ex-
hibition at Sc Mary Jefferson College, on the
occasion of the celebration of the feast of tho
Patronage of st. Joseph. That celebration
succeeded (as is we'll known) the grand festival
of Easter, and itself succeeded, in this
| parish, by the First Communion of the Junior
| pupils of the College and those of the Convent
/ of the Sacred Heart, i'll close proximity.
Intervening between those celebrations and
/ the present writing, came the grand festive
! seasons of the Ascension, Whitsuntide, Trinity
| Sunday, and Corpus Christi-all observed with
| the most edifying devotedness spy the hGbdas
/ with the exceptions above alluded toy of every
rank and grade, (for there are grades" Hea!
vens first lawn spite of all we hear) and of
/ every hue. And now, within the last few
| days, have been effected, the First Communion
| of the children OF the parish, at the Parish
| Church; their Confirmation. and that of the
| College and Convent children, by the Bishop
| of NatcheZ, and the Inauguration of the Jubi-
lee at which the Rev. Father Dulphy, (who
| lately achieved no small fame, by his Lenten
/ Sermons, preached III your Cathedral,) was the
! principal predicdteaf.
The ercepttOus.-These the cavilers to
! whom referred in our former communities
/ ton. Whether moved by the goGdings of con-
science, coerced by the genuine piety of the
genter and better portion of their families, or
attracted by the fear that something might
tTansplrs, aoSetse 70 Tney have con
trived to place under the cloven foot of their
infdelty, certain it is that, every Sunday they
are impeled churchman's with wonderful
punctuality. This fragment of our population
circulate round the outskirts of the Church !;
put on airs of superior acumeu and higher Id
erdtism, and deem themselves happy in running
counter to the behcsts~ of the Church, and IN
crticizing the ministratiOns of her anointed
Priests! Fortunately, they known and
valued for what they are-not for what they
pretend to be and their knowledge has drawn
the sting from their goddess efforts to dis
parage institutions and observauces held most
dear by the best men the world ever saw.
Enough for the present, of this cayilfng ffac-
ton. ReqUiescGt IN pace, if they can!
! From the details and specifications here
given, it is obvious that the people of st. James,
know the right, and knowing, dare maintain
it" i'll the face of all obstacles; that they are
| III possession of the true secret of individual
and social advancement; that in shsft-with
| two emmett educational institutions, con-
Quoted on the highest moral principles; with
their determinations adhere
port and -esed- report, to Tire" Rock OF Ages
in collision with which the nefarious schemes
of pseudo philanthropists, preSressivists," ct
id genus Omte and the hostile efforts of thrones
and dyhasties, have been reduced to nothing
ness st. James is a highly favored locality;
and that, if there's peace to be found Ton
this continent q heart that is humble may
hope for it here" -..
+ About month ago this parish was subjected