The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-04-09

church militant for the operation Of com.
munities Of families having property in
common
We fear that the Editor would not allow
the space necessary for an elaborate answer
70 these questions. We will therefore en-
deavor to be very brief.
l. A socialist would say that the only
motive for association is . desire 10 better
our worldly condition; that, therefore. ~
sociation is secommsndabls only % far as
it facilitates Increased production, through
economy, equitable distribution, and great
er security; and that IL is only by convinc-
Ing men Of these tangible advantages that
they will be induced to give up individual,
ism for combinism. So their phalansteries
and familisteries are nothing but oontriv-
ances to save and gain time, labor, and
money for the benefit of the company, end
in nvaly with, and exclusive OF, every
other company and the remainder Of man
kind. 1t is only the old principle Of self
interest, covetouspess. greed Of gain, love
of money, exercised by partnerships or
corporations instead of <single persons.
Thus, some of these companies will get
very rich, while others, thopgh burning
with covetousness and discontsnt, will fall
into great poverty. But besides selfish
motives moving men, there are others
more powerful and certainly more Chris
tian. For instance, a Cathode commu.
nifty Of goods would rest on directly the
opposite Of selfinterest, and be induced by
charity countencting the excess Of egotism.
True, ~ in the other case, association
would be only means, and also guaran-
tee Of safety, economy, and increase; bat,
how different the ulterior object! The
final causes of Catholic " reduction to
of goods would be: ID to
live apart from the evil example Of the
world; o. 10 sustain and encourage one
another in the faith and its practices; (s.)
to secure the rearing Of children in the
practice Of religion ~ to be able tn
hear Mass oftener, and indulge more fire.
quently and expansively in prayer and
other sweet and consolipg devotions (5.)
to save and increase wealth indeed.
though not for self, nor for the company
and its members beyond the absolute ne
cessities Of life, bat for external charity
among the poor heighbors, or
the establishment of similar companies (6)
the 4" reductionists' I'VE venture to general
ise the name they had in Paraguay
would work in a spirit Of self-sacri6ce to
please God; e.. they would offer up their
voluntary privations rs acts Of love, pen
ance,, and prayer (S.) they would be
actuated by aspirations to merit grace and
attain perfection (9.) be moved by do
sire to display faith before the world, and
to concentrate its light 90 that it might
radiate far and wide and finally (1O.l,
they would cherish the thought that their
zeal might be efficient in Strengthening the
facilitating the operations, and
increasing the glory Of the church. What
an immense difference between reduction
ism and socialism!
2. The essential conditions of such an
association would be the vows Of poverty
and obedience, under such sanctions and
guarantees. and inspired by such hopes as
only the Catholic Church can give; and.
since the society would admit persons hv-
ing in marriage, and since the church
teaches the indissolubility Of the marriage
tie, the unity Of the consent Of husband
ond wife to the acceptance Of these vows
previous to admission. The vow of pow
erty would be a sine qua mon, since with
out it the society would not have the
mark, the trait. the essential quality that
disinterested reductionism
from richesand d-comfort-seeking socialism.
The vow of obedience to a superior author
lty, such as clerical director or bishop,
is also indispensable. Those who have bad
of observing the interior ope-
ration Of . socialist or Protestant sssocis-
lion must be fully sensible Of the impor-
tance Of this condition. They are dis
sracted BY divided counsels, counsels, in
Of purpose, obstinacy and
pride Of opinions, rival ambitions, and the
like. The end is generally ruin. They
only succeed in proportion to such nodt-
cun of humility and obedience as they
have contrived 10 incorporate in their rules
and intention. Sometimes it is only the
superiority and energy Of
character Of founder or leader that pre-
serves the organization. As soon as. this
dies, bis creature goes also into
dissolution. Hence, we say the vital con-
disions Of . reduction" are ~, Chris
han fsrvor; (2) Christian humility; (S)
Christian marriage; (4) Christian pow
erty, and (5) Catholic obedience.
fro mn C0NTTNuED