The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-04-28

| WV SssSSA u0SS VI ouC Op0 " cuGOTC0 ltS nc
ceptance without such authority, is Ger
tainly calculated to excite suspicion.
Ceremony Of Laying the Cornerstone of the Asylun
OF the Little Sisters Of the Poor.
! Sometime ago we endeavored to enlist tn,
sympathy and assistance of the charitably
| inclined towards the Little Sisters of the Poo
| and their institution. We also mentioned the
daily increase of infirm persons soliciting com
! fort, sustenance and lodging at their hands
This necessitated the building of a more ex.
tensive and commodious establishment. Ac.
eordingly the site fixed upon for the new asy-
ium was the corner of johnson and Laharpe
streets, and last Sunday was set aside for the
laying of the corner-stone.
The rain, which had fallen during q great
portion of the evening, did not prevent the
people from assembling in vast numbers. The
Wow was pleasing in the extreme. That part
Of the brick work already completed was taste
fully and elegantly decorated. Previous to
the ceremonies proper, the Archbishop, who
was accompanied by many of the Rev. clergy,
addressed the assemb1age in terms laudatory
of the object and the holy women, who, in the
unpretentious garb of the Little Sisters of the
Poor, besought aid toenable them to give food,
shelter and attendance to the aged and de-
crepid of both sexes.
Following His Grace was the Hon. T. J.
Semmes, who spoke as follows:
The occasion of our assemSlage here to-day
naturally suggests the theme of my Discourse
Christian Charity. On looking throughout the
glance to the earliest Christian era, we observe
in every direction and at every epoch nun,er-
Gus institutions for the accomplishments of
charitable objects, and for the relief of human
snaering; but raise your head to q sufficient
height, so as 70 extend the horizon across the
boundary marked by the blood Of our Saviour
and observ o the condition Of Pagan civilization.
superstition, but no care of thu helpless or un-
fortunate is manifested, by the appearance of
any place Of refuge for them.- The boundary
between the Pagan and Christian world is
Christian love, tho foundation of the Chris
tian religion, like Christian faith, is super
natural. Under the old law, the Israelites
were commanded to love their friends, but the
new law of love extends further and COM
mands us to love our enemies and to pray for
them.
useful to society. hence infanticide was COM
mon and old age neglected. The philosophy
of the ancients did not rise above the popular
idea, that utility alone was the test Of the
both advocated the destruction of persons use
less to the State.
Christ taught love for all, regardless of
earthly considerations, not, however, barren
but an active or productive love, of
which our Saviour was the model, for he is
described IN the simple language of scripture,
as one who went about doing good"
He attested His divinity, not so much by
the manifestations of His power, as by mirs- |
cles which healed or consoled. The only act
Of His life can now remember, which cannot
slassed as an act of charity is the assault
the temple. That was an act of offended law
and indignant justice.
The Church has Incorporated individual
secure solidity and durability, as
does faith secure unity. The property of these |
of charity she has secured, by de-
guilty of the homicide of the poor.
These institutions of the Church, however |
are very different from modern associations,
which represent philanthropy, which is NO.
thing but the false coin of charity.
These modern societies are but an agglomera-
ton of interests, not dominated by the prin-
ciple of Christian Charity, or controlled by |
those actuated by Christian love. Hence these |
modern associ atlons, formed, OF introduced, as !
p remedy for the evils of society must fail |
The immense activity Of modern civilization,
and consequent increased production resulting
from material development, is producing the |
frightful result Of intensified concentration of |
wealth in the hands of the few at the expense
Of the many, king the rich richer and the
poor poorer. This tendency is attempted to
be cOunteracted by the formation of societies,
with revolutionary and agrarian ideas, such as
those constituting the basis of the Commune
in Paris and of the International society. It |
Is, therefore, plain that the social conflict be-
tween labor and capital, unless arrested by
some ageney, other than that afforded by the
material philosophy of the age, must result in
IN angry storm of revolution, uprooting So
,iety. The only agency which can be sug-
yested to avert this fearful storm, is the
principle of Christian charity, developed in
she organization, on a large scale, Of institu-
.ctuated by no motive of personal interest,
and controlled only by Christian love.
But the remedy, as we'll as the agency, is re-
Dudiated by the philosophy of the nineteenth
century, as was the Christian religion repudi-
1ted and prosecuted in the early days CT the
Roman Empire
The same result will follow; the storm of
revolution destroyed the Roman Empire, the
storm of revolution will destroy the modern
social fabric. Roman civilization was crushed |
under the iron heel of the barbarian, the