The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-11-09
@ornIng Star and Catholic Messenger.
S~->>~~~~>~~~~-~~~--~-~~~~~
If You Wish tho Young to b Catholic, not on the
Sunday Only, but Always. You Must Take tho
Proper Means to that End

Extract from the Catholic woridl
Our meaning 10 this Catholicity must
not be confined to the churches only. Half
An hours Mass weekly is undoubtedly a
great deal when rightly heard but It is,
after rail-, only o portion of the spiritual
t 1000 necessary ce y to carry carry . man safely
mosphere of utter worldliness that our
young people breathe can only be counter
acted by an antagonistic Catholic atmos-
Phere and this can only be created by
having catholic centres of attraction under
church auspices, where Catholics may meet
occasionally to converse, to read, to hear q
lecture, or to amuse themselves in health
full manner.
IL Is not long since, at the "commence-
n 1s"ns season." We were listening to the
Su1ng oLatols OF the graduating classes of
KIND eyes looked on as they poured forth
their eloquent ten minutes of benson on
the heads of the comrades they were leav-
ing behind them. 1t was pleasant to hear
soundest morality fall from their lips. But
tne listeners, the admiring parents or
friends, felt, nevertheless, that their bows
were speaking comparatively from" the
eefe side of the hedge" and that it remain
tTso be seen how far the good thoughts to
VII zen they gave utterance on leaving the
cole sc would guide them and rule them in
the re. VI battle of life that was only then
about tor begin.
What MAS become of the thousands of
young men who have gone out and con-
time to 60 out, year after year, from our |
colleges For the, most part, they are
lost to the eyes Of those who trained their |
boyhood. They may continue to hold fast |
by the principles they imbibed at school,
or they may not. In oul' large cities and
our Catholic college graduates, most of
whom are unknown to each other, or rare
~ meet. How different would it be had
they places in which to assemble !! Some
thing has been done to meet this very
attached to them this or that young mems
association, devoted generally to literary
pursuits but for the most part, these excel
lent associations have not effected much
not because they have not the right spirit
and energy, but purely from lack of or
ganization, for not knowing exactly what to
do or what not to do, from not being united
with fellow, associations, and generally from
Lack of funds.
In New York, for instance, where Cath
olics boast of half million of their creed;
where they have SO many magnificent
churches, some of them with very wealthy
congregations with SO many wealthy Ca
tholic residents, professional men, and
large business firms; with half dozen
young menf Where is our Catholic hall,
club, reading-room, library7 Nowhere. !
there are, in one shape or ,
form, numbers of associations of Catholic ,
youth scattered through. the city, and Z
greater numbers of Catholic youth still who s
do not and will not join them, because
they do not fndin them attraction enough. :
Now, this is q thing worthy Of being 6
Investigated closely, and rem edied speedily.
We Catholics ought to be ashamed of our r
selves to see what the Protestants have done =
in the organization known as the Young
Mems Christian Association, with its SPLEEN I
did reading and meeting-rooms, gymns-
stun, and lecture-hall, where the ablest =
lecturers of the world hold forth and draw '
the crowds of the city to hear them. Nor /
does this association stop here. 1t has 6
multiplied itself, not only throughout the
city, but throughout the country. Branch i
houses are covering the whole land and,
whatever may be its present or it's future, !
1t 10 certainly admirable in conception and
organization. Its honor and reputation I
rest in it's own hands.