Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-09-27
ORPHANS HOME.
Rev. Father Raquin's Discourse Yesterday
on Practical Charity.

on Practical Charity.
Yesterday, after reading the chan
cellor's letter ordering the annual col
lection to be taken next Sunday in all
the Catholic churches of the diocese OF
Wheeling for the orphan homes,
Father Paquin made very appropriate
remarks relating thereto. He said, in
substance:
The letter l have read to you ap-
peals to your generosity for a most
noble cause. While living on earth,
our Lord frequently said: LET the lit
tie ones come unto me-" Now he says
to the Catholics Of this diocese through
the voice of their chief pastor: Let
the little ones go unto you" Who is
he amongst you that will refuse to
receive them?
The characteristic feature of the
Christian is charity. by this l shall
know you as my own, that you love
one another says the Savior. In this
saying Christ means business. He
means practical love, not in words
only, but in deeds. That is the way
he has loved us, giving his life for
our sake. That is the way he wishes
us to love one another, helping those
who are in need. And amongst those
in need, the little ones who are faith
erless and motherless have the first
place in his heart. They ought TO
have the first place in ours, too.
Practical charity is SO valuable to
the eyes of Christ that he makes 1t
the main standard on which ne Will
gauge our wortniness to be admitted
into heaven. 81 was hungry, and you
gave me food; l was thirsty, and you
gave me drink; I was naked, and you
gave me clothing"
I have heard sometimes an obJec-
ton: "Is not the Bruce fund there suf-
ficient to supply the needs OF our two
honest" To this l say: If the Bruce
fund were an agent Of destruction OF
the Christian charity in the hearts OF
the people around Wheeling, it would
be curse instead of being blessing.
But know very we'll it is not so with
you. You all understand that the law
of charity has been promulgated by
God, irrespective of the Bruce fund;
that the great law is anterior, above
and posterior to Mr.. Bruce's bequest,
and that it binds every individual for
individual deeds. When you appear
before God to be judged. should you
have the misfortune to hear him say
to you: 81 was hungry, and you did
not give me food" do you think you
would be welcome by replying: THAT
is true, o Lord, but John Bruce did it
for mel" Christ would surely say:
Bruce has nothing to do in this case.
He is judged and has received his re-
ward. 1t is you now that / have to
judge.
Another objection: The orphans
have better accommodations than our
own children have. To this | say:
You may build palace for the Or
phans and put millions at their dis
posal, but you will never restore to
them what they have lost and what
your children have: a home sweet
home" consisting of father and
mother, brothers and sisters, living
under the same roof. This home is
created by nature only and when lost
can never, never be replaced by an
artificial home, no matter how rich
it's surroundings. Your children enjoy
the blessing of a 'home, sweet home"
and are a thousand times happier I'M
der your humble cottage than the
orphans in their big house, because
they are really Eat home"
Therefore, do what you can to add
to the comfort of the orphans, being
sure that they will be always behind
your own children in happiness in this
world.