The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-07-21
CATHOLIC WORKMENS CLUBS IN
FRANCE.
London Register

as77-7s of the L1upre des Cereles Cdtho
Ziques d'OaUriers, or the French Association
OF Catholic Workmen's Clubs. The little
volume 10 q very interesting one. Found
ed by the Count de Nun six years ago. the
Association has accomplished an amount
of succeesfui work that makes us wish that
It could be initiated amongst our people in
England. In the six years in which it has
been in operation it has succeeded in es
Sablishing and maintaining no less than
325 clubs, with an aggregate of between
forty and fifty thousand enbers. A GEN.
tral conncil directs the work, assisted by
committees for special bran inches of it, and
for the study of economic questions as they
affect the working classes. This central
council also publishes a review treating of
such questions as are of interest to the
vorkmen. 1t keeps up q continual cor
Eespondence with the clubs, and further
unites them by it's members making tours
of inspection, and by holding congresses in
provincial cities. 1t has, moreover, begun
the organization of a committee of employ
ers who are willing to give their time and
knowledge to the development of practical
the working classes. AS yet this latter
organization is only begun, but the council
hopes to zee it assume position of real
Importance, and by bringing employers and
workmen to labor together for common
end in which the interests of both are con-
~ S6EDeu, III II nOG unE0dSOuADly expected
that q real step will be taken towards put
ting aA end to the suicidal sy stem of strikes,
or, as it is tho fashion to call iG, the strug
gle between capital and labor.
But the clubs are only q means to an end.
The Association does not exist to supply
working men with rooms where they can
read, study, converse, or engage in games
= of skill, in order to pass pleasant evening.
Again and again the Report insists on the
necessity of not mistaking the means for
the end, the outward form of the work for
its essence. This end is twofold. First,
TO withdraw the working men from the re-
evolutionary clubs, and from the influence
ofin4del and sooialistic leaders, by giving
them in the Catholic club all the advan-
tages they can obtain from the non-Catho-
lic associations, with the additional advan-
tage Of Catholic teaching; secondly, to
revive amongst men who have the advan-
cages OF birth, fortune, or education, the
feeling that they have duty to perform
to the working classes, to unite them with
these classes by the tie of Christian charity
and brotherhood, and to organize them in
. body to assist the working men in found
ing these Catholic clubs, and in studying
social questions from the Catholic stand
point Thus substituting the idea of
Catholic brotherhood for that of mere phil
sanShropy, the Association strives TO unite
the upper and lower classes in the diffusion
of Catholic ideas, in order that ii may th us
destroy the Revolution. It has no party
character. 1t does not necessarily attsc
itself to the idea of either a monarchy, an
empire, or republic. It's one ideal is that,
under whatever form OF government, the
rule of public policy and of social right
ahould be the doctrines of the Catholic
Church as defined and interpreted by its
Supreme bead. This, then, is the mission
of the Association of Catholic Working
Mems Clubs-a noble one, an ambitious
- vu,in ha t,,,,
We do not, for our part, think that it
aims too high, nor do We regard the work
it has already accomplished Rs of small
importance. 1t is true that among the
thirty milliors of France, 100000 men is not
q large number to belong to the Association
nor amongst the thousands of communes,
or, as we would cay, parishes, are 325 clu bs
more than a nucleus for future work. But
we believe that the progress at the outset
must necessarily be slow. The older work
ingmen OF the towns already in the hands
ofthe Revolutionary organizations naturally
hold aloof from the new Association, and
it has to recruit its ranks among the
country people and the younger men of
the towns. But the chief point is to work
solidly, DO matter how slowly, and to lay
q secure foundation for 80 great super
structure. This, we believe, is being done
Throughout the Report there is spirit
which augurs we'll for success. There is
no attempt to pat things only in favor
able light-difticulties, and even failures,
are frankly set forth. How to repair fail
ures, how to meet difficulties, are matters
which are discussed in a practical, busi-
ness-like way. In the various clubs, or
oercles, no fixed rule is followed as to the
form which each is to take. Every one is
adapted to the special wants of the district
in which it is placed, and in form they
vary from the town clab, with its oratOry
and it's rooms for study, amusement aud
social intercourse, down to the little viii
lage oercle meeting in some cottage, or in q
room at the presby ytery, aud having the
parish church for its oratory, and the Cure
for it's honorery president. The effect on
the members is said to be very good. They
feel kind of esprit de corps, they know
they are not isolated, that they belong to
large and powerful body, and they thus
gain courage to say boldly what they think
n defence of religion, to put down bad
Language among their companions in q
word boldly to profess themselves Catho-
lics, and to act publicly as such. AT the
animal pilCrimAue of their province they