The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-08-11
LAYMEN TO THE FORE
A New Watchwsrd That Catholics
Need Adopt.

a NeW WatcnWerd Ihat CathOllcS
Need Adopt.
Says r. c. Cleaner in the Catholic Co.
lumban:
a well-printed pamphlet OF some thir-
ty odd pages. The Catholic Layman
in the American Republic" is SO full OF
meaty matter that one longs to quote
page after page.
1t is a lecture given by Rev. M. P.
Bowling, S. j.. President OF Creighton
| University. Omaha, to the young men
Of the Jesuit parish OF Milwaukee, 1t
is clarion cry to Catholic men, cspc-
cially young men, noble call to them
to interest themselves more in the well
fare OF the Church. and deserves to be
read by all those who have lately taken
an especial interest in the Federation OF
Catholic Societies, a federation destined
to do much good if properly conducted
and not allowed to grow dormant.
FIR. Bowling speaks with vim and
energy that is refreshing Here is a
truth that no one will object to:
Catholics, as body, arc difficult to
arouse; they are long suffering and pa
ticnt; they will put up with great deal"
Very true, we often sit down and with
folded hands act as il we wanted permits
sion to live and were satisfied with that
as American citizens"
Again FIR. Bowling says: ut would
be unfortunate if tho laity should ever
come to feel that all they were called
upon to do is to say their prayers, hear
Mass, be good, and contribute, and for
the rest have as little to say as posi-
bic" "Thc Church has Il
right to the learning. energy. good will
and zeal OF the laity." Here is good
paragraphs: "ln a popular form OF gov
crnmcnt especially, it is the duty OF cv-
cry citizen to give correct tone to pub
lie opinion, Christian direction to pub
lie enterprise and to spread safe princi-
pies. Where universal suffrage prevails,
he is bound to do his share towards pu-
rifying politics; doing away with bri-
berry, corruption and injustice and ca,s-
ing the moral law to dominate politics.
He should also take part. according
to his abilities, in the great philanthropy
ic and rcformatory movements OF the
day, and throw all possible light on So
cial problems" Father Bowling insists
that printers ink is a great and power
full factor i'll spreading the light, and
says it should not be left in the hands of
he clergy alone, and cites this example
which | quote from his lecture in full:
81 have before my mind now the case
Of a wholesale merchant OF large
Western city who became inccnscd at
the high prices charged by publishers OF
Catholic books. From his own expert
cncc i'll printing catalogues and price.
| currents in his business he felt conf
dent that many Catholic books could be
sold for onc-fourtl, the usual prices and
yet leave room for good margin OF
profit. AS an experiment he printed an
SAiAloIl vi oiS S\l tIlJtlSalI0 SoDlSS
OF a popular controversial work of 900
pages, and sold the books in lots of one
thousand at three and a half cents
apiece. Think Of it! A Catholic book
of 900 pages for 3H cents OF course
he made no profit on this transaction
but he proved clearly that the charges
| for similar Catholic books were cxor,
bitant, and he showed what az energetic
and Jealous layman can do Hc dis
posed of his entire 100000"
Touching upon misrepresentation in
the press, the lecturer thus brcczily
talks: Newspaper men arc peculiarly
amcnablc to discipline, especially if it
be backed and enforced by the threat OF
diminished subscribers or advertising
patronage. A bigottcd rndcrstrappcr
pours some antiCathoic slusf into the
columns OF a great daily. 1t escapes
the usually vigilant eye of the editor.
The mapagcr knows nothing about it
until Mr.. Prominent Catholic calls in to
inquire how that stuff got into the pa
per. Mr.. Indignant Catholic writes a
rcd-hot article to protest against the
SANDER The proprietor hears about it
and starts out on the war path deter
mined to have somebody's scalp The
subordinatcs are called up one after
another.
What are the Catholics making all
that fuss about" he asks "You would
think we were going to slaughter the
Pope Here is private letter l have
just received from Mr. Wcstsidc Catho-
lie. He is jumping all over the paper.
Here is another letter from Mr.. East
side Catholic, and he says that VIC are
all as ignorant as Hottcntots. What is
it all about anyhow"
Ooh! it is only fool article that
slipped in by mistake" says the editor.
"Wcll, I don't want any fool articles
in this paper, whether they arc directed
against Catholics, Mormons or Zulus.
You fellows have to be more careful in
future or some of you will be looking
for job. We can't afford to make en-
en,ies just to please some crank"
1t is easy to foresec that in case like
this, which actually occurred, the Of
tense will not soon be repeated by
Jealous light" on the staff.