The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-21
Bishop Allen Issues Appeal.

The Rt. Rev. Edward z. Allen, Bishop
of the Catholic diocese Of Mobile has
Mobile, Ala, Dec. Ii. 1909
The annual collection for the support
of our orphans will be taken UP in all
the parishes of the diocese of Mobile at
Christmas time. Pastors are requested
to announce the collection at Mass on the
Sunday before and at the same time
urge their people to be generous.
The object of the collection appeals very
these helpless little ones are deprived of
their natural guardians, and are almost
entirely dependent upon our charity for
every need of soul and body. In provid-
ing for them and training them to become
good citizens and useful member OF socie-
ty. we are doing a work which should
command the support Of every right
minded citizen, regardless OF creed.
How often 1t happens that children who
might, by proper training, become the
ornaments of society, or. at least pro-
ductive members of it. are, throEgh neg
lect and evil associations. allowed to drift
into infamy and vice. They then be-
come scourges of society. They repay
society for it's cold neglect by swelling the
amount of moral and physical evil which
gnaws at the very vitals of the social life
of a community.
Viewed merely from a material stand
point. is it not wiser and better to tax
ourselves for the support of the orphans
than to abandon these fatherless and
motherless little ones to the schooling of
want and hunger, infamy and crime?
All will readily admit the force of this
argument; from But our hss sharfy otv soae
love of God himself, to whose image and
likeness these little ones were made Ac-
cording to the teaching of our Blessed
Lord. to relieve the needy and helpless
is one of the highest acts of religion and
one of the most meritorius deeds OF re-
deemed and regenerated humanity.
In doing works of mercy you make
yourselves lowly with the lowly. weak
with the weak; you share by sympathy
in their sorrows and wants. You feel for
them in their privations and Affections, as
you would wish them to feel for you.
The poor" says the Son OF God, you
have always with YOU. They are with
us no doubt, to remind us of our duty
and to give lis ample opportunity to full
fill it. If the obligation of giving In
charity be disregarded what can repair
the neglect? If you suffer to rust in
idleness that portion of Gods gifts which
He destined you to employ in those bles-
sed works of mercy, what can save you
from Gods judgments?
The duty of giving aims to the poor
falls upon all alike but the amount which
one should give, ought to bear some pro-
portion to the wealth and standing OF
each one. Whatever is given should be
given willingly and cheerfully. for the
Lord loveth the cheerful giver.'
By giving generously to this worthy
cause. your charity will gain for You the
blessing of God. the heartfelt thanks and
prayers of the little ones and the graft
tude of the sisters and brothers who
give more to the orphans than you can
ever give. They spend their whole lives
in the service of their young charges.
They sacrifice themselves to instill into
their minds and hearts true principles OF
virtue.
Praying God to grant you and your
flock the choicest gifts of His grace at
this season, l am,
Faithfully yours in Christ,
Edward p. Allen,
John w. Shaw, Bishop of Mobile.
Secretary.