The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-11-23
Tho Irish World Letter.

In another column our readers will
ind the New Orleans letter, signed "Felix,' {
he publication ofwhich In the Irish World Z
# New York, gave o6ense In this commu-
,ity. The sentence which appears to be
,hiefly Questionable il the following:
Our Rev. Clergy seem to be content to let
;hings run smoothly in the old grooves, and
we have few Of tho grand missions which 20
stix the heart of your people North and are
productive Of 90 much good.
We fear that "Felix" has fallen into
superficial way of looking at things.
" Grand old missions" arc certainly
good things, but we must look to their
results to know their value, and not judge |
altogether by the amount of stirring mp |
that they do. If, for instance, they just
" stirred up" and nothing else, they would
be nothing but Methodist camp meetings
without the shouting. In other words they
are only weapons, and we cannot judge OF
the victory by merely seeing the weapon.
There are certain substantial fruits OF
true devotion that ought to remain after
the excitement and fervor of a Mission"
If it has produced any effect more valuable
than q momentary enthusiasm. Let us
look at some of the tests that ought to best
indicate solid piety, and see if New Or.
leans is so far behind New York as "Felix'
would seem to think.
We hardly know of better test than the
| condition Of the Society of st. Vincent de
Paul. In New Orleans we have about 800
active members of that Society to a Catho-
lie population of about 10000. In New
York, to a Catholic population of 100000,
they have but 1000 members. That is, they
have four times our population and but
little over three times our membership.
Then, as to church buildings. We have
in New Orleans thirty-one churches, inclu-
ding Carrollton; in New York they have
forty-one. That is, they have but four
churches to our three, while they have four
Catholics to our one.
Probably the best test of a peoples de-
votion is their Reorganization of the Sacra-
ments. OF the contrast in this respect We
have no personal knowledge, 80 far as con
/ Germs the New York side of the picture
but from friends of ours who claim to b
witnesses, we learn that our churches com
pare very favorably in this respect, espe
= cially as regards men.
+ In regard to the great crowds seen il
D New York churches, two facts must be con
l. sidered: First, the population there
Q much more dense on given space thai
u with us, and secondly, they have three time
as many people to one church as we have
"a Let us be understood. We do NO
l. claim superior piety or faith for our peopl
n as compared with any other population
II We adduce the figures above given, merel
"a
1t be put in conclusions drawn from popols
ID excitements. 1t does not necessarily fo
10 low because of vast concourses and gran
o. missions, that the people are just thu
a much better than in q moro quiet place.
=. Now, although things may be allowed b
It. our clergy "to run smoothly in the o.
IN grooves" it does not follow that they ru
les less efficiently or faithfully. In fact, Il
ie- depth and volume Of flowing water q
rs. generally said to be indicated by 1
he smoothness, while shallowness makes
To- great deal of fuss and foam.
es If. however, it should be that in son
20 instances piety fails and good works perii
~ in New Orleans, we think that it won
still be unjust to attribute it to Il
.r- &" apathy Of the clergy. The Hibernia
re- may be less punctual in attendance TIL
to formerly, and the Catholic Militant Uni'
III may be in a somewhat apathetic mood 4
90 the moment. but we do not believe tn
40 Catholic Societies, az general thin
We flourish anywhere in the U. s. more vigo
mt ously than here. They are very numeror
of very much diversified and embrace va
IN. number of members. Indeed it is to t
in existence and vitality of these Societi'
in that, in our opinion, is to be attributed t
on frequent use of the Sacramento, 30 notice
ese Bile in New Orleans, among men. A
ne this vitality is certainly due to the zeal
- our clergy.
80" We fear that Felix has judged somewf
ed, hastily on this occasion, and we cam
lille doubt that more mature reflection
me change his opinions. The great exaggel
pts tion in stating the debt of st. John