The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-02-11
seeming Star and Catholic Messenger.
' oELr ANS, SUNDAY. FEBRUARY II. ls's
LETTER FROM ST. LOUIS.
ST. LOUIS, February 3, 1879

Sr. LOUIS, February 3, 1879.
Editor Morning Star
It NAV seem a little presumptrC us on the
part of a ST. Louisan to invade tn space OF
vour ever welcome weekly with i;Asns con-
cerrinc the "Mound City," for it has ever
heen one of the ideas, associated with the
neople of the Western States, that they are
Tet AZ green as their verdure-clad plains,
to the present day untouched by the pol
isbed plowshare; but the motive which
prompts these lines will no doubt excuse
NV bold presumption, and Southern civi'i-
y.t;on will lend a gracious ear to what we,
if not as leaders of civilization ae least as
Catholics. have to say.
We are proud of ourselves, and who
would not be. in view of the bright pros
pects which lie extended before US; pros
meets fit to tautalize the slothful devotee
IF indolepce, and stir him up to manly
action in the couse of progressf But
seem to hear the inquiry Oe that gray
haired patrician of the Crescent City as TO
the situation of our metropolis, which
Eastern geographers wish to cast INTO o.
liyion, by not presenting in bold relief on
their mans. To such I answer: Do not he
incredulous, there exists q mighty city in
the West, one which, a century ago, whilst
New Orleans, with her Turkish, ensign, was
monopolizipg the trade OF the south, was
but a small fur-trader's post. take your
map, and, placing your fiuGer or the broad
conrse Of the "Father of Waters" ascend
till, within twenty miles ct the mouti, OF
the Missouri river, you perceive rather
small black dot, with the om'nOns y" ot.
Louis" glaring you in the face. There lies
that metropolis, that young , g'ans 9th tn .
population of nearly three hundred and
forty thousand souls, a large number OF
whom are true sons of their loving Mother,
the Church. We are proud of our manu-
features, we are proud OF our commerce. we
n III M "a ali
Gre proud of our l guy. ,r',d ~
resources, but above all we are promo OF
our religion, that religion which admonishes
man of his manifold du.ies to his Creator
as we'll as to his fellow being. We can
poiut with satisfaction to our churches,
schools aud, especially to the contented
moor. whose daily wants are constantly
snnpl;ed by the hand of charity. We have
moor in our midst, but these are cheerful,
thanl.s TO the liberality Of those noble
Christians. whose faith prompts them to
such deeds of love. And that generosity,
do not hope to find 1t among tue milhon-
oires lthese indeed would sooner give
thonsand for sensual and worldly purposes
than one upneeded penny in the cause OF
SUFFERING humanity, but among those who
toll from morning to night TO earn Few
cents, which they are ready to share on the
following Sunday with IT,. the Needy neeaE poor ,pc
seeker of W orldly pleasures, the worsliperof
mammon, reclining on his velvet cushioned
new. to hear the tinkling OF "last nickel"
as that poor Irish woman drops it in the
collection box, whilst lie has nothing to
SPARE! A sermon indeed it is, but untor-
tRnatelv it ia addressed to a heart as cold
and unfeeling AS the glittering circlets
which fill the Golfers Of it's possessor.
have seen great deal Of church going
people, but never have l found 20 much
devotion and 80 many beautiful traits OF
Christian character as are to be seen among
IL Irio (TArmQn Catholic
elements of this city. From the smallest
child to the full grown person doyou per-
ceive that awful respect which ls enter
tanned for sacred things. Last year had
occasion to converse with an Italian priest
on this subject, and during the course of
opr conversation he expressed his admira-
ton of the manner in which he had been
saluted by German children, returning
home from school, " In the name of Jesus
/ salute you!" And these words indeed
revealed the hearts of the little cberubs,
aud spoke in unmistakablo terms of the
parents, who had trained their children to
such habits of external devotion. and I'M
bued them With such reverence and respect |
for the ministers of God.
Last Sunday IL collection was taken
in all the Catholic Churches lii aid of
the st. Vincent de Paul's Society. The
sum gathered was certainly large, con-
sidering that congregations are being
called upon, from day to day, to sub
scribe for some charitable work or other.
1t is truly gratifying to learn the amount of |,
good that is daily wrought by the confer
ences and would that the civil authorities
of this cityscould better appreciate the as
sistance, which is being rendered by these
devoted brethren, working during the
whole of winter to bring succor to the in
digent poor! Formerly the city was wont
to share in their expenses; but now they
must toll by themselves. But it is asked,
does not the city take care of the
poor' Certainly it does; though only
as much as lies in its power; to do the
work, in the satisfactory manner we see it
daily accomplished by these disinterested |
followers of st. Vincent, it cannot. Some
thing more than n few pounds of meat and |
a loaf of bread is needed by these sick and |
helpless persons, and that something hire
lings will not dispense. From authentic |
sources learn that at least fifty families,
in destitute circumstances, are provided for
by the conferences, each family receiving on
an average of two dollars a week. The
best wishes of the community accompany
them on their errands of mercy, love and
charity.