The Irish standard., 1897-11-06

In the history of the church in these
United States. If not little more so.
While we are united in faith and wor-
ship we are woefully divided on other
points. A unit at the altar. outside the
church we ignore the ties of spiritual
kinship. There it is each one for him
self and the devil takes the hindmost.
This curious state of things represents
an element of weakness in Catholic So
cial organization. If the spirit of BROTH
erhood which distinguishes membership
in Christ's church on essential particu-
lars of belief and practice were carried
out In the subordinate matter Of social
fellowship, the Catholic body would be
SO closely and solidly wedged together
that Its influence for good on the rest
OF the community must be immeasurably
greater than it is while its self-protec-
ton and vindication Of rights and lib
critics would prove well nigh invincible.
Evidences of this want of sociability
manifest themselves in endless ways.
There are scarcely any Catholics of ma
ture years who have not been made to
feel its unfortunate effects. Congrega.
lions, particularly in towns and cities,
gather Sunday after Sunday, year in and
year out. for the purpose of public
worship, and dispense as often without
broadening or developing the bond of
sympathy which ordinarily exists among
people who meet frequently in pursuit
OF common object. 1t Is remarkable
popularity when viewed In the light of
experience in other forms of human
mingling. In no other assemblage are
individuals brought closer by vital ties
of fellowship, but strangely enough, by
common consent the natural tendency
of such close communion in obedience to
the highest impulses of our intellectual
and spiritual being is thwarted and de-
feated. The sentiments begotten of pious
adhesion to the gentle gospel of love and
charity appear to be religiously stiaed
in the majority of cases, when they
would assume practical shape conform
ably with the divine injunction regard
ing our duty to our neighbor. We pro-
TESS to revere the law, but fail to obey
it.
There are charitable societies connect
ed with the Catholic church that do a
vast amount of good, such as the soci-
ETY. Of st. Vincent de Paul. The
members of that association seek cut
the INDECENT who are unable to provide
for themselves and relieve their dis
tress. That undoubtedly is work of
great charity which will bring reward
in Heaven. 1t is an excellent thing to
feed the hungry and clothe the naked,
but why Is there not society estab-
lished among Catholics to help the
stranger in their midst who is seeking
employment and is unable to find it?
He does not ask for charity, but only
a helping hand to enable him to make
an Independent living. Who should he
expect to aid him if not the men of his
own faith? What do they do for him?
Absolutely nothing. They look askance
at man who is a stranger and with
scowl, and perhaps harsh word say
they cannot do anything for him. If
they were in his position and were
away from home, how would they like
to be treated so?
1t is a lamentable fact that among all
the societies in the Catholic church in
the great cities of the United States not
one can be found to aid the shipwreck-
ed. the unemployed brethren of the
faith. Irish-American societies are or
ganized to help the Irish people at
home; why not organize societies TO
help them when they come to America,
poor and friendless, strangers in al
strange land? The loss to the Catholic
church resulting from cold indifference
on the part of Catholics to the men,
bers of their. own faith is more than any
one imagines We know whereof we
speak from personal experience. Some
times the good Samaritan appears in
the person Of a Protestant who renders
assistance after the Catholic has passed
by and left his wounded brother by the
wayside. And then Catholics are sur
prised when men born in the faith re-
main away from church and neglect
their religious duties The man in dis
tress who is ignored and neglected by
wealthy Catholics, and sometimes by
the priests themselves, cannot under
stand why they are solicitous about his
soul when thew do not care q contin
entail about his body. This is lay SER
mon which deserves the attention of
every sincere Catholic who has the well
fare of his holy religion at heart.
The Irish Standard has received note