The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-12-16
BISHOP scANLAN's WARNING.

The Intermountain Catholic publishes
a letter from Right Reverend Bishop
Seaman, of the Diocese of Salt Lake
City, which should be heeded by the
Catholics Of the diocese and will be
of interest both to priests and people
outside of the Diocese of Salt Lake
City.
Bishop Seaman calls attention to
what is undoubtedly an abuse, viz. the
collection of money for alleged religious
purposep without the consent of the
Bishop Of the diocese. Not only should
those who ask the faithful for contri-
buttons obtain the permission, in writ
ing, from the Bishop of the diocese, but
courtesy requires that the same ex-
pressed permission be obtained from the
pastor Of the parish in which collections
are made
il Catholic people are careful to see
that the conditions laid down in Bishop
Scanlans letter are fulfilled, the re-
ligious tramps and frauds that are
flooding the country will soon lind that
their occupation is profitless. That
there are such tramps and frauds is,
hA4ApA NAAAclANtNs AbO lllGs anu lI6Ie Is
not a parish in the intermountain coun-
try which these impostors have failed
To visit AS we have pointed out be-
fore. any cloak will do to serve the
devil in. The religious one is soft and
sleek No one cares to raise its folds
to see what it covers. There is, there
fore, none more successful.
Now if is a, T2rOthar. ont IN, an or
rand of mercy. His bowels of COM
passion are moved for the poor or
phans; or he sells a penny picture for
dollar: or he gathers money for pic
ture frames to be supplied by his ac-
complete, who fails to come for the
pictures. He moves quickly from place
to place.
Then it is a sham priest who trades
on the credulity of his dupes. Their pi-
ETY. is excited by his troubles and mis-
cries. His tale Of personal distress is
heartrending. They do not know that
deserving priests are not sent adrift to
beg the cold charity of strangers. Some
times he is a real priest, but is col
lecting without the permission of the
Bishop of the diocese, and has failed
to give courtesy to the local pastor,
whom he ignores. 1t matters not how
worthy the object may be, priest who
collects funds for religious purposes,
without first having obtained the requi-
site permission, stands ex quo with the
fraud of the imposter.
Now it is a wanderer from the far
east, in strange garb, unable to sneak
the language of the country, but whose
interpreter has a doleful story to re-
late Of prosecutions and poverty. This
last character is well supplied with
documents and recommendations. in
deed. so richly is he furnished with
these that their very abundance
startles and deters the doubling exam |
iner. Means Of verifying the papers or
detecting the forgeries are not within /
the reach of all. AS bad as the worst |
is the imposter who robs the living and !
the dead. He requests intentions for |
Masses which he cannot offer UP. and |
thus, taking the money of the living.
he holds back from the dead the suf- |
frages Of their friends These agents
OF the devil find nothing too sacred |
They trade on the simple faith Of the |
people and abuse confidence begotten
OF piety and love Of religion.
Next comes the scheming female |
beggar, ROBBED in the modest dress of
the nun. All suspicion is cast aside as
the gentle mendicant, in pious phrase.
appeals to your purse through the ten
der love you bear these angels of
mercy. whose lives are devoted to the
care OF the helpless and the afflicted. /
Who can refuse the good Sister? You
feel you would be brute to turn her
away; and SO, much or little, you give |
her something for sweet charity's sake.
You even ask her prayers, feeling that
the prayers Of sweet angels must reach
10 Heaven. Alas, your patience gives
away when it comes to your knowledge
that your sympathy, along with your
money, is wasted.
is there no protection against these
tramps who rove around in the livery
Of Heaven? Yes, to be sure there IS