The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-04-30
st. Joseph's Fair.

st. Joseph's Fair.
1t is with great pleasure that we an
nounce the brilliant success of the Fair
just ended, held for the benefit of St.
Joseph's new Church. So many thousands
of dollars contributed to the cause of religion
while 80 much financial distress prevails is
in the highest degree creditable to the zeal
of that congregation. 1t is true that they
have had unusual incentives to exertion.
The Rev. Father Smith, assisted by his as
sociate clergy, has labored with an energy
rarely equalled, and truly worthy of the
highest success. His every effort is devoted
to the completion of the magnificent pile
which is to grace Common street, as the
new st. Joseph's Church, and be the crown
ing glory Of this city in the way of archi-
lecture.
His efforts, and those of his Jealous CO.
laborers, have been handsomely seconded
by their ever-faithful parishioners. Money
flows in most literally from monthly col
lectiops, private donations and public en-
tertainments. Sooner, probably, than
could have been reasonably anticipated,
the worship of the faithful, and raise its
lofty spires, silent but glorious monitors of
the destination we ought all to keep in
view.
In contemplating this splendid result,
we can hardly avoid inquiring into it's
source. And it cannot be denied that this
is principally, if not entirely, to be found
in the piety and charity of the poor
and those in limited circumstances. In
olden times, in the ages called cages of
faith" piety was not confined to the poor /;
the highest and the noblest were not
ashamed to be recognized as devout Chris
tians Kings and princes were munifcent
founders of mighty cathedrals and vast
monasteries. Wealth sought no nobler
use in those days than conservation to the
service of God.
! But now Mammon rules the world.
Wealth is no longer the free gift of God,
but too often the conquest of Unsuitable
avarice OF of worldly ambition. He who
wastes his loftiest impulses and strongest
energies upon the heaping up of unneces-
sary possessions, who forgets the wants OF
his fellows, the necessities of the Church
and the duty of purifying his own character
while his eye is fixed singly and eagerly OF
the acquisition of wealth, is not the mar
to found churches or support orphans. NJ
doubt such men all intend to do these
things at some future day, but they put il
Off too long.
Therefore the Church has to rely for ait
on those who have never gil ven themselve
over to Mammon. The poor, who need no
be so poor; the Independent, who care no
for wealth, and those few among the ricl
who could have been much richer-thes
, are the faithful sons Of the Church VIII
shall build up her towers till they touc1
, the skies and bear her banners in trump
through all the battles of worldly scor
and folly. The bone and sinew of til
: land are nowadays the mnnifcent patron
! of religion instead of princes and mobiles
o and st. Joseph's Church will be splendi
monument to their ability and good will.
The Fair shows that the good spirit, 6
a far from tagging, is on the increase, an
we rejoice to see that Father Smith and b
=. Rev. colleagues are witnessing such abur
dant fruit to their labors.