The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-09-19
The Campaign Of Charity.

AS the fall grows older, preparations ar,
being made on all sides for the winter
campaign of charity. Amusements ant
entertainments of various kinds will pre-
sent their attractions to the people, while
inviting them to remember the unfortu
nate. Fairs, lectures, dramatic representa-
tions, concerts, ETC., will probably appear
in stronger force, and with higher claims
than ever heretofore. The city is growing
rapidly in population, and, as is always the
case under such circumstances, poverty
grows with its growth.
Destitution from without comes-iR hopes
of better fortune; crime comes to hide
it's shame in the crowd and leaves its
wrecks in the prison, the workhouse and
on the public ways disease and death
overtake the improvident, and their fami-
lies are left with nothing. Sometimes
special causes increase the misery of the
poorer classes, as no doubt will be the case
with us this fall, owing to the overflow
caused by the recent hurricane. The rear
of the city has been covered with the
brackish water of the lake, and its sub
| sidence must leave prolific source OF
chill and fever throughout that whole re-
gion. 10y
But if restitution is naturally increased
in our midst, SO is the means of alleviating
| it. The coming business season bids fair
to be very prosperous one, notwithstand-
ing the gloomy predictions of croakers,
| who see financial ruin in the gradual dis
appearance of labor.
Labor or no labor, the world demands
cotton, and will have it and Reputation
or no repndiatioD, cotton will bring gold
or its equivalent. Civil war is the only
contingency that might nationally be ex-
pected to check the productiyepess and
prosperity of the South, and the prudence
of its people to prevent such calamity
can be relied on with much more certainty
now than two or three years ago, when the
exciting causes were more aggravated and
the popular temper far more infammable
But while prosperityis shewering its
flowers upon our people, We must hope
that they will not become intoxicated by
their perfume. Men are naturally nothing
but grown-up children, and are apt to for
get the trials of yesterday in the triumphs
of to-day, but it is the part of Christianity
to correct this levity. The good Catholic
knows how TO Cook beyond the tide of a
temporal success; it does not render him
delirious, for he knows its treachery and
insufficiency; he does not forget the past
with its hardships any more than he is con-
ident of the future with it's periIs.
A Catholic, therefore, ought never to
have his heart hardened by prosperity and
if Is atToiaRggG fe Belonged to another snbere
Many indeed have always been above the
lard necessities of want, their paths SO far
AVE been surrounded with luxury and
'lenty, they know nothing by experience
II material suffering, but SO much the more
merit for them if they take the time to nm
erstand what misfortune is, and to reol-
re the condition of the unfortunate.
Oh, that all men had been unfortunate,
t all that are now prosperous could really
now what poverty means, if they could 1
ecall the pressure of debt, the pangs of
unger the pinching of cold, the terrors of
lsease without medicine or physician. then I
le call of poverty would strike upon much {
S$tASs w y SHOULD then have =
lore OF practical Christianity. There is
ow good deal of theoretical piety. the
rlnclples of religion are recognized ms q
cry beautiful, aud all Catholics firmly I'M
md to reduce them to practice in their e
YES, yet how little of this is done What s
c want is Christianity in operation. feed S
6 the poor, clothing the naked, visiting t
e prisoner and the sick. Sentiment and 7
'FTet prayer books might then be dis I
nsed withsto some extent if necessary. p
is absurd for any man to call himself n p
.ristian when he has dollar in his pocket ft
d another human being within lis reach e.
suffering with want. Il
we don't understand practical Catholic ''
20 is not a practical Christian, and we u
MY expect to see all who aspire to the " u
ter title make such efforts this winter in ., .,
aTTEaa -.