The morning call., 1890-04-28
ST. VINCENT'S SONS.
Dem0nstrative Meeting at the
San Rafael Asylum.
Archbishop Riorden Presidss Over an Assem-
blaee of Prominent Catholic Laymen.
The Orphans Home.

VerQur6, nor QlQ the c0aTlLaDl6 SONS Oh St.
Vincent de Paul in this city ever feel better
pleased. compensated for their labors and
encouraged for future work among stray
orphan little ones than when they entered
the portals of that institution on the &C.
casion of a quarterly meeting shortly before
10 o'clock in the morning.
Rev. W. d. McKinnon, President of the
asylum, received the visitors, welcoming
them to the boys home, which he has made
so happy and comfortable during his brief
protectorate. The meeting was without ex-
ception the pleasanteSt one In the history
of the society.
AS early as s o'clock in the morning
nearly 800 prominent Catholics were aboard
the ferry steamer Tiburon on their way ia
the orphan home among the Marin hills,
whittier the large party was taken from
Tiburon in three special cars. Arriving al
the asylum at 10 o'clock they walked in
procession into the pretty church and
assisted at high mass.
The altar was beautifully decorated with
big clusters of Gala lilies and bouquets OF
exquisite white and red spring roses that
hlled the sanctuary with their odorOus in
cense; and there were many wax lights
burning softly around the tabernacle Rev.
Father Cottle of st. Bridget's Church cele-
brated the mass and was attended by three
bright acolytes OF the asylum. A choir o
boys sang the mass very creditably. putin Z
remarkable feeling and sweetness into some
of the devotional compositions At the
conclusion of the service his Grace, Arch
bishop RiOrdan, gave his blessing upon the
kneeling congregation.
THE ARCHBISHOP SPEAKS.
His grace read the gospel of the day from
the altar, after which he announced the pro-
gramme arranged for the guests pleasure.
The gathering was one to which he had
looked forward to for many months and he
was glad that so many prominent Catholics
had come together in St Vincenps Asylum
to discuss the wants of the poor. For in
his opinion beneyolence or charity is an at
mosphere in which the human race should
live; yet, viewed from a historical point,
men do not live il harmony with each
other Man has always been mans enemy.
man and all the poetry of the ancient world
but the spies OF hero cODquerorS.
In the time OF pagan Rome there was not
an asylum, home for the sick, the weary
or the destitute, and strange as it may
seem, IN the language that has been handed
down IN the church, there is no such word
as charity" no such word Synonymous in
Latin. To be happy in pagan times was to
be rich, great and respected for power.
Giving charity did not constitute an iota
toward happiness.
Strange. too. that no nation has ever
been able to conceive other conditions
suitable to man than Christian nations
The idea that there is God in heaven and
all men are his subjects, who should live in
unity on earth, Is only Christian. Looking
at human life as it is now, every monument
that was raised in the interest of humanity
to aid the distressed is Christian only. Not
one can be pointed out which is iniidel or
atheist. Every such monument in the
world to-day is the product of Christianity.
WHY CHRIST CAME.
The good brothers Of St Vincent de Paul
are banded together in the in tereSt of char
ity. Christ said that the poor man should
have the gospel preached to him. 1t was
for this reason he came down to aid the
great mass of people who were suffering.
be came to make men feel that they were
all brothers, with common inheritance,
made by God into his image and likeness,
destined to be with him in his own home
after their earthly life. This has been the
teaching OF the Christian religion for 1900
years.
Christ said: q was hungry and you
gave me to eat; was thirsty and you gave
me to drink. was naked and you clothed
me-"
And the multitudes cry out: "When, oh
Lord have We done all these things to you ?"
The answer was, Whenever you gave to
the least of my little ones .c-<r-,sdEe to me.
Come, then. intGrtiife -ks9sI0m prepared for
yon."
The Society of ST. Vincent de Paul is to
make men feel that they are brothers and
should have charity in their hearts for each
other. 1t is placed under the patronage of
a great Christian saint who much moro
than any one else Of modern times, stands
out prominent in gathering together all
classes of men in bonds Of Christian
charity.
The great charitable heart of the Ameri-
can people that always is OVERLOOKING with
sympathy for suffering is very encouraging.
For man does not love man naturally.
Why should one man give another char
ity-something without SO me Interior or
supernatural motive? There are many cir
cumstances against it. Human nature Is
selfish; it cannot elevate itself by itself.
CHARITY MUST BE INSPIRED.
Our charity must be inspired by a higher
motive than nature is able to give us; and
this motive is divine grace and love of God
Naturally men are impelled from one an
other, but through God they love one an-
other, for he has told men that they are like
to His own image We treat the beggar,
because we think of him who had no place
to lay his mead we go to the bedside of the
sick, because we think of him who was
man Of sorrow, and in this way our minis
tration OF charity comes easy for we are
doing 1t for him. In this spirit his Grace
exhorted the society to continue its good
work.
81 May this spirit of our divine Lord de-
scend upon you and be the awakening of
new and grander spirit in your hearts, that
when You come to die you will hear these
cOnsoling words: was hungry and you
gave Inc to eat, l was thirsty and you gave
me to drink, l was naked and you clothed
me, were the closing words Of the Arch
bishop.
The quarterly meeting of the Society of
ST. Vincent de Paul was then held in the
church, and the following reports OF work
done IN the last three months were read by
p. j. Thomas. the Secretary. The Arch
bishop presided, while beside him sat James
NJ. Burnett, President.
THREE MONTHS WORK.
ST. Joseph's Conference-Famiiies relieved SO.
persons In same 100, visits AZ, receipts S24I 35,
expenditures S163 Is, balance S73 20.
same q. visits 80. receipts S2lS 80, expendi-
lures S38 30, balance S216 80.
81. Roses-Families 10, persons in same "a,
visits 81, receipts S37, expenditures SAT 90,
balance SIG 55.
st. Bridgeps-Familes relieved IL, persons fn
same 40, visits 1853. receipts S257, expenditures
1928 30, balance S136 go.
Mission Doore<-Families Is, persons in
same At, visits 10, receipts S404 80, expeudi-
lures $50 20. balance S345 rs.
ST. Patrick's-Familles relieved 65. persons In
same 265, visits 1877, receipts S473 so expendl-
lures S492 %, balance S345 80.
ST. Peters SchOcl-house-FamiIies relieved &c
persons in same SO, visits 76. receipts S26S 20.
expenditures S123 80, balance 5000 &C.
ST. Mays CaIhedral-FamiIies relieved 25
persons In same 10. visits ITO, receipts
s1067 o5, expenditures S1o53 20, balance
SIS so.
st. Teresa's-FamiIies relieved 8, persons in
same g. visits &c, receipts SCI 20, expenditures
S3S, balance $50 20.
81. Francis'-Famllies relieved o. persons In
same So. visits "a. receipts S270 50, expendi-
tues S146, balance Sl38 81.
Sacred Heart-Families relieved 10. persons In
same "a visits IL, receipts 1927 3d. expendi-
lures, ST. rs. balance SlS6
ST. DOminie's-Famlies relieved $50, persons
in same S94. visits g. receipts 1854 o. expendl-
lures S167 Is, balance S218 %.
DISCUSSED BY HIS GRACE.
Before the meeting adjourned the Arch
bishop spoke about the reports submitted.
lie said he was glad to see that each confer
You Nee