The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-16

From an occasional correspondent, Dublin freeman
While everyone in Paris, native and
foreign, is at this moment occupied with
the Exposition, criticising or praising it
from their different points of view, but
anxious, If possible, to see in it the revival
of renewed life, deeper and more remark
able, which seem to pass quite unnoticed.
Last Sunday, amongst other such occasions,
afforded a striking instance of this lack of
observation. 1t is, indeed, bard for q
foreigner to obtain information of any thing
going on in France outside the beaten
track, for the newspapers are limited in
their notices, and the French speak of lit
tie but general politics. or what may hap
pen to interest their own narrow private
circle. II was by mere accident, therefore,
that, while standing in the Champs Elysees,
watching the gay equipages driving past to
the races in the B pie, and pedestrians hur-
rying in thousands to the Exhibition, a
French friend accosted me, and, Offering
me a ticket, insisted on tearing me away
from this worldly eceDe to another in every
respect it's opposite. "For," said he, ait is
far better you should see the annual gath
ering to-day in Notre Dame, of the Cercl es
Catalogues, fixed to take place on this the
third Sunday after Easter, the Patronage
of st. Joseph aud, whilst we shall thus
celebrate the least here, 2,C00 provincial
branches of the same society will N meet in
other parts of France in their different
churches, for the same purpose and at the
same hour" 1t was with surprise 1 then
learned the following particulars, which
may also interest your readers:
THE "CERcLEs cATHoLIoUEs."
dnqIice Catholic Clubs, founded in October,
1871, have sprung from the ashes of the
commune, and have hitherto been crowned
with marvellous success. Overwhelmed by
the then recent disasters, and appalled, by
the atheism of the working classes, several
gentlemen interested in older societies for
assisting workmen and apprentices met in
that month at Nevers, under the presidency
of the Bishop, to consider if it were
not possible to check this fearful evil by Q
development Of some better system. Re-
ligion they knew to be the only basis of
durable reform, but in order to gain the
symPathies of these classes, their material
needs should also be attended to. To make
such reforms, moreover, possible, union
and joint exertion were absolutely essen
tiAl. No movement coald have been more
propitious, for the giddy had been forced
to become serious, and the most frivolous
to reflect. The fret object of the society
should be to persuade the lower classes
that they had souls to save next, that the
rich neither disliked nor despised them.
To populariEe this principle, and to give
ie effect, required self eacrifice on the one
part and q talent for organization on the
other. Both were at once found. The
blind bat gifted Bishop Cspitular of st.
Deny's, Mgr. De Segur-descendant of the
famous ambassador tempo Catharine IL
drew up the plans and Tules now in force,
while the laity, including the first families
in the FaubOurg st. German, and headed
by Count de Nun and his brother, came
forward Eealously to assist. Reading
rooms and halls were opened, where gem
tlemen, young and old, of the highest rank
spent, and still spend, the whole Of Sunday
and many evenings each week, minRling
with workmen, joining in their games, or
giving them lectures, thus skilfuIly keep.
ing them away from taverns, and inducing
them to abstain from work on Sundays,
giving them religious Instruction, catering
into all their views-in short, showing
interest in each and all. The undertaking
from the fret prospered. The late Holy
Father, Plus TX, early blessed and endowed
che society with indulgences, placing it
under the protection Of Sc. Joseph, and
fixing its annual feaat on the third Sunday