The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-08-03
shall we Have Catholic Clubs I?

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Alison has remarked that with the
| French Revolution the battles of kinpt
ceased and the battles of principles began
However much one may be inclined to
look far beyond the reign Of terror for the
and evil, and however numerous the wars
which since the overthrow of the guiIlotine
have ravaged the world, at no time has
the conflict been carried on so continuously
and waged with such signal results as at
present. The worlds advancement since
tinctly marked by the grand events which
have from time to time occurred, and left
their names and characteristics forever
stamped on the years surrounding them.
At regular intervals the mind of man seems
to have reused itself to a mighty effort,
and the cycle embraced from the close of
the century which saw Christianity throned
in the city of the CAESARS, to the opening
of the seventh which saw Mahomet's flight,
seems to have been the mystic period which
measures out these manifestations of hu-
man Announcements. Perhaps all the years
preceding tire crusades were but as so
many influences to produce their grand
result, as. certainly much of the worlds
learning. of it's vice and of it's virtue can
be traced directly to the faith and valor
and intercommunication those stupendous
enterprises called forth. Through all these
times the battle of principles was being
contested, but the Church hedged about by
millions of frienas, received no blow in the
back till art again animated the stones,
and science began to. show forth mans
unsupported powers-nature's undreamt-of
resources. Then, as had to be, reason be-
gan her attacks on religion, and as the
mind grew to know its own power, day by
its supremacy to all and so farther and
farther it will wander off till its under
standing is convinced of a God and of a
voice OF God on EARTH. Under the mask
of reformation irreligion first raised her iron
mace against the Church, and
There arose
proud and most presumptuous confidence
In the transcendent wisd"m of the age,
whion in The light of false philosophy,
Spread like halo round a misty moon.
Widening its circle as the storms advance
Since then has the contest been thicker
apd hotter, never tagging till metamor-
phosed in the gore and blood of the Gull
lotine into license, and men sickened and
shrank away from the dreadful phantom
which had decoyed them. The Revolution
went down in slaughter, but the entry Of
the allied armies marks the beg inning of
a contest fought silently as yet, but one
which, come what may, will never cease
till the world is done.
The Jacobin clubs henceforth sought an.
other object Hbcrte, egalite, Jraternite as
sumed new meaning they stand as the
motto of the parties which to day divide
the world, but to one they are hallowed by |
Christian charity, to the other they are the
exponent of an urholy conjuration against
Christ and His Church. As in the years
which preceded the reign of terror, the ad-
herents assemble both in the palace and in
the wine shops the question is how to
direct them, for neither can be suppressed. |
Education does not end with the class
room it is perfected in the school of the
world beneath thousand influences. The
Press forever aims to bend it with its
mighty agency and it is inclined by COM
partnership, as it will stand till the harves-
ter gathers in the tares and the wheat.
Except the press, there is no more potent
influence at work than that which labors |
within the haze of the cigar and the wine
of the club-room. Clubs honey comb mod
ern society no man so poor but he has
one to which to resort as heaven, wherein
the cares of life are for the mouent for
gotten AID amusement and relaxation
wooed. Each to a certain extent is close
but much of the benefit incl
dental to club life arises from the demo-
cractic principles which seem necessarily
to inhere in our notions of pleasure. Only a I
certain class can be admitted to mem beTship,
but this is made up from all ranks in So !
ciety, and the student, the merchant, the
clerk, stands in perfect equality with bis
fellow members, each nnwittingly and I'M
felt influences the other and is turned from
the groove of his own occupations, into a
broader path and larger vista of the
beauties of other pursuits and his fellows
excellencies. He becomes more liberal in
his sentiments, more tolerant of others,
and little by little prejudices wear off and
he practices in the outer world the charity
he learned in the club. Weary with work,
and spiritiess from the dry pursuit of every
day life, the quiet good fellowship of the
club, the joke, the talk, the smoke drives
all away and leaves the man fresher and
and perhaps better. There are objections
to, as there are abuses. in clubs, but we
would be loath to deny praise to what has
doubtless contributed many pleasant
sOlace, and fills the memories of many of
our readers with sweet recollections.
Amidst the numerous organizations. by
which we are surrounded, We cannot fail
however to perceive the dearth of social
clubs in the Catholic community. The
need for them is apparent. On all sides
the world is organizing. Every opportunity
is seized to effect the Church's injury, and
!rsE cons lOok indignantly on but take 10