The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-11-23
IFrom the New York Irish World Of Nov lst.I
LETTER FRON NEW 0ELKAMs.
APATHY IN CHURCH MATTERS AND FALL
INa OFF IN CATHOLIC AND IRIsH-ANRRI-
CAM ORGANIZATIONS.


Na OFF IN CATHOLIC AND 1RIsH-AMERI-
CAM ORGANIZATIONS.
lcorrespondent Of the Irish world.l
NEW ORLEANS, La, OcT. 10, 1873.
Editor Irish worla:
Chucrh affairs are not flourishing in
m aterial point Of view. We have now
building two magnificent churches, both
by Lazarists, one in St. Joseph's parish,
the other in st. Stephens. The first will
and will be one Of the largest in the Union.
The second, now nearly ready for occupa-
ton, has already cost over 600, 600. Ow-
ing to3 the hard times work has been sus-
pended temporarily In both buildings.
Father ]. Moynihan's Church Of st. John
is very heavily in debt, report says about
500. 600. The Rev. Father is in your neigh
borhood collecting, and hope that he will
reap q rich harvest, as our prosperous
countrymen north surely shouts give US
some help, considering inc ssr,o tbe oroeat t
twelve years. In a spiritual sense also,
| little progress is apparent. Our churches
are very seldom crowded, though as We
have twenty-five of the them to pop1ia-
ton of about 10000. Cath %a me , osaer
Protestants, ETC., it could hardly be ex-
| pected that at any of our services we
should see very large congregations. OUR
Rev. clergy seem to be content TO let t61ngs
run smoothly, in the ola g,ooves, , hnJ we
stir the heart of your people north, and
are productive of SO much good. That
priest of truly apostolical zeal, Rev: T. j:
kenny, has had a proper celeoIaNon OF
St. Theresa's feast at his Gnuron named as
priest, Father Abram J. Ryan, editor OF
the MoRNINa STAR, of New Orleans, but
who is stationed at Mobile, preached. Fa-
Their Ryan is undoubtedly the most beautl-
full speaker I have ever heard. ne mas
force that his slightest whisper is heard to
the far end of our largest church. His
> enumeration is simply perfect, and his
style and manner always classical and cor,
. magnetism which gives Father Burke com
Z mand of the multitude, but am certain
= very large class of persons would prefer
= him greatly to the eloquent Dominican:
Q Our associations are, with one exception,
in aourishing stsItea tine 1aars
ago under the auspices of the Archbishop,
9 has, be it said to our shame, almost fallen
d to pieces, for want of interest in it on tho
part of the clergy, and not having men OF
II influence and energy to take tnas inseTss s
h in it which is necessary to success. The
:, laymen at its head are universally ack-
u nowledeed as being good, pious men but
y it is almost impossible for it to succeed
ir unless it is supported, vivified and made
/. to bear fruit, by good works, energy zeal
and self sacrifice.
The Hibernians, who, at one time, num-
bered 300, now number but q little over
K 900. The falling off in this association IL
(. due to several causes. In the nrst place II
:" grew too fast, care not being taken 20 al
Is NIT only good men hence, after . time
y, the drones had to be cut of. Then another
d, reason for its loss of members IL to be
* found in the insurance feature OF its or
or paniatiou, which makes it very costly as
ISOLATION When man dues . Stery or o'f tS.
b. benefit Of the deceased members family
ne and, az o good many old men were In 1t
mt why the death rate was heavy. Ihls, Wlti
Id fines, dues, etc., usually runs the yearly
1ss payments mp to about Sso' not ha
!" also failed to receive encouragement IRON
lie, the heavy Irishmen of the city, because tn
an rich here, as elsewhere, have enough to d
lS- in taking care of their shekets; nor haV
le' they received much help from me clergy
g, ton, though forty nine fftieths of thei
r /; members are Catholics. The exception
so made above refers to the
~, 10 CATHOLIC TOTAL ABSTINENCE ASSOCIATIONS
IT. which are progressing we'll. Fighter
months ago the first was started by nv
lid young men now we have three assccla
ng lions for men and one for boys. The men
ia and the New Orleans, which latter, beini
he the parent association, has q branch 70
bis cadets. The two first are under the car
no respectively of Lazarists and RedemptoI
nv lists; while the latter is guided by Jesul
an Fathers, who first took up the r1ovemen
m here. Altogether they number 800 me
wn and 80 boys-pretty good progress for thi
he place, though in your village it would 9
The thought nothing of. Though the clerg
nd have not gone in heart and soul here
20
he Rev. Fathers Theobald Butler, McKinir
bic and Begley, Jesuits Abbott and Leydel
he Lazarists and Neithardt, Redemptoris
ISL Last Sunday, Father Matthew'S day We
y celebrated by. general Communion !
will st. Alphoneus' churcn, 2oo members g. -
nal tending, and by hearing a lecture in 81
Patrick's in the evening, Father Abbo
,ic- being the lecturer, and the large churc
of was crowded. A few influential men nav
.st, already Joined us-for instance, Willlal
HootaIl Notary oDa Of the mOpt DODuli