Evening journal., 1893-12-18
STARVING IN BROOKLYN.
Rev. Father Mahoney breaches
a Startling Sermon.
A VIVID PICTURE OF POVERTY.

The Priest Tells of Personal visits to
Homes Whore There Il No Bread and
Denounecs The Mon Who Have Caused
the Closing Of Factories and Mills.
BRooRLyE. Dec 1s.-The Rev Father
Mahoney, pastor of the Church of Our Lady
Of Good Counsel, caused a decided sensa-
tion at all the masses by his startling ref
erence to the actual cases of starvation at
present existing In this city. In COM
puny with bis assistant priests he has
duung the last week made q house to
house canvass OF his parish. He personally
inspected more than half the tonements.
and the result of his investigation was
given to the congregation. Ascending the
altar steps during every mass, he graph
| ically pictured cnsos OF hunger and desti-
tuition of which he had been an eyewitness.
Viewer In all my experience he said,
'hds Brooklyn been in such q condition as
40 present. Hundreds of families are starv-
/ ing, and unless relief comes, and that
speedily the results viii be appalling to
contemplate, / have seen strong men,
steady and industrious, actually begging
for bread TO feed their starving children.
For months they have been out of employ
mont There Is no work for them TO do,
nor are there any indications that the Sit
uation will improve for two or three
months at least.
Picture of Poverty.
"lhis Is the first time ln my career as a
Catholic priest that have been obliged to
use such language. have invariably held
that actual want and poverty are caused by
the people themselves, and that they are
shiltless, spendthrifts or drunkards. This
/ I'D Iut
are feeling IT,
"Ihe little they managed TO save In
times past has disappeared, and as a result
in many homes this morning there Is not
as much as a loaf of bread. Woe to the
men who have brought this about. A
blight seems To- have fallen upon the
country and for no apparent reason. There
Is no panic-at least there should be none.
no disease Is spreading among as. The
prospects of good crops were never fairer,
ana everything points to a much better
spring than we have had in 20 years. Now.
however we are, and for at least two
months more we will be, face TO face with
actual starvation. Money is not i'm circu-
lation. The building trades here are at
standstill, and the men who have the
money bags viii not loosen the strings.
'What has caused this condition? The
tricks Of the bloodhounds who call them
selves men. ia order 20 crush the unfor-
tunnte toilor they have closed up factories
and mills. Industries have been crushed
aud production curtailed so that prices
may be forced up. No one feels this moro
than the workman. lie is made 10 feel il,
so chat next year be will be glad to take
whatever wages the bloodhounds are will
ing 60 offer him.
A Strong Appeal.
'Evory dollar we bad, % continued Father
Mahoney feclingly, EVERY cent we collect
ed day after day during the past week has
{ been spent 20 relieve the actual wants OF
the moment. The women attached to the
} church-the Sewing society and the St.
/ Vincent dc Paul members-have done all
that they could, but the tide of poverty is
so great that they cannot fight it back.
Neither do the charity commissioners seem
able TO deal with the distress
II want You to give every cent you can,
he said, ito prevent hundreds dying from
& starvation. l do not appeal to the rich. ]
( am afraid IL would be useless / want
{ those who need an they have for them.
selves, bat who also know what it is &c
- want, to spare a little and show the world
how the poor cen help the poor IN the hour
of adversely. ] use the words they used
TO me, For the love OF God help us; we ar,
starving
81 have only TO repeat that you civ,
what you can willingly and give it quick
@ | ly, or it may be too late.n
The Rev Father Mahoney has the repu
D tation of being one Of the most conserya
tive priests in Brooklyn. For that reasor
? his language created considerable excite
q ment, and alterward the congregation
gathered In groups outside the church e
e discuss 10.