The Irish standard., 1895-02-09
MINNEAPOLIS, MIMI. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1885,

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it's advantages are accepted.
i The various fraternal organizations
not only 80 in name but also in practice
exert an influence which cannot be esti
mated. To the uninitiated, thrown much
in the company Of such organizations it
is simply inexplicable. The rich and
the poor, the high and the tiller of the
soil-all ere equal. They all take an in.
terest in their meetings, as we'll as IN
each other. Lines of nationality are
never drawn, but all are working IN bar
fmony for the avowed purpose of making
+ the battle of life easier for each other.
The young man is special object OF
hheir solicitude, for they realize that upon
|fhis shoulders rests the future, and that
The must continue the noble work they
fhave begun. Verify the non Catholic
young man need not ask for opportu, j.
ties, they are open for him everywhere.
Now let us look at the Catholic young
mans chances in the same conditions
and circumstances. There is the magnif
fcent church, where he knows, albeit an
absolute stranger, he will find something
familiar. The services, he knows SO well ,
Eare the same, but the faces about Hmm
Fare all strange A feeling of home and
Emother fills his heart, and to conceal q
Itear, he buries his face in his hands. In
This utter lonliness the most tervent
Iprayer emanates from his heart. The
|Iservlces are finally over, and his eyes
meet those OF others, just for
lsa nod, a word, q greeting, but all in vain.
lINot friendly hand is extended him. not
lIa sympathizing smile Rreets him, not q
Iikind voice bids him welcome! He knows
not why, but somehow, he fingers at the
entrance of the church, as If he were to
meet somebody there. Finally, when all
fare gone, he awakes from his reverie and
more than ever does he feel that he is
Ealone. Next Sunday he goes again and
and if he has the money he. may have a
seat in the pew, but il he enters one
without the privilege having been grant
ed by the usher, frowning face may
greet him. True, the usher will not de-
mand of him to leave the pew, it he has
no money, but only those who have been
in the position know the bitterness of
the sting endured when the usher comes
for the dime and you do not possess it.
He may go there Sunday after Sunday
for whole year, and matters
will not change. He may know by
sight every face in that church, but the
warmth OF his young heart is frozen with
the coldness of those who worship at his
very side. He is sensitive, and do you
wonder that he seeks a more congenlal
atmosphere? Can you justly censure
him when he inds non Catholic for q
life companion, because be was compelled
to seek friendship whore it was offered
him? Do you wonder that our best
Catholic young ladies meet with deartk
ef "eligible Catholic young men?"
A social atmosphersIamong Catholics
does not exist. There are many intlu-
ences, all unreasonable, which initiate
against it. There is the irish Catholic,
the German Catholic, etc, classifica-
tion not calculated to foster a commun.
ion of interest among our people.
There are Catholic fraternal organiza-
tions aiming to take the place of or sup
IL. ~ o.o lono4tc xrh;oh ,,o,, Notholioo
enjoy from organizations after which
thsy are patterned. All that can be said
of them is that they are mutual insur.
ance companies, no more. will not
speak of the difference in cost, although
an item Of sufficient magnitude worthy
Of investigation. They lack the very
spirit perfect equality among members
which makes similar organizations
among non. Catholics 90 beneficial to
their members.
Truly, the chances of the Catholic
young man without friends, without in
huence and without money are not equal
to his non Catholic competitor. It is at
this period that we lose many young
man because he finds excuses for the
step he takes. This state Of affairs is
truly deplorable. It takes from our
ranks the brain and sinew of our young
men. Through somebody's negligence
our young men with native ability, with
education. with power, must be dormant
or else turn to non Catholic avenues
through which they may become active.
Yes, organize our young mon! Be kind
to them. Give them an opportunity.
Don't be forever running after men OF
standing and reputation. Clergy, in
duoe your men of influence to stand at
the.portals Of your churches to welcome
and interest themselves in our young
men. Speak kind words to them. En-
courage them in their oft arduous under
takings and noblest aspirations. i'm
plore every CATHOLIC man and woman to
r,;vo nnr Catholic vOun0 men a chance