The Irish standard., 1903-12-12
THB CHURCH AND THE POOR.


The difference between the intlu-
encc of the Catholic Church and
Protestant churches as to methods of
work among the common people is
we'll stated by a correspondent of the
New York Sun as follows:
ION Third avenue there is Il build
ing bearing Il sign upon its outer wall
informing passers-by that it is the
house" of a fashionable church stu
ated upon il fashionable thOrOughfare.
Going in and coming out are to be
seen men and women whose air of
uncertainty plainly tells of their
doubts as to their right to be there.
Too many of them bear the stamp of
the whining class that lays claim to
responsibility because, while receiving
all gifts offered they ask for nothing,
principally because they find broad
hints quite as effective as importuni-
ties. Down OH side street not far
away is Il Catholic church. Men and
women do not hasten shameflcedly
from the door. They loiter in the
street without and seem proud and
happy and perfectly at home. Fine,
tall youths, with clear and honest
eyes. and sweet, modest girls gather
ut the doors during the week to at
tend meetings of church societies.
NV ls1, tn I'm
there, for they have been made to
feel that their nickels and pennies
help to support the church. No
priest has ever told them nickel or
even Il penny is dirty They have
not been made to feel that the roof
over their place of worship was paid
for by men and women in another
and finer church. where nicllels and
pennies are dispised. With these two
structures almost side by side as an
illustration need l ask, Why do
young men and women shun the door
of Il church ''hOuSe" while delighting
in freuuenting another building of
similar brick and stone called II
"cEurch"? 1t is plain that they look
upon the church house" as Il charity
I'm ugly, prctcntious charity that
will more quickly sap the self-respect
of it's victims than the misguided
philanthropy of individuals which is
SO much talked of. The very name of
such Il place proclaims it Il charity.
And the bearing of the workers"
within spells charity" palmer than
printed letters. They are superior and
aloOf. When their hours of duty are
ended they 80 away and live their
lives in some other part of the city.
When they invade Il home they are
patloniziny and are givcrs of gifts.
They have Il great many old garments
to give away. and it plcnSrS them to
see the gratitude of the observing
poor. The priest at the Catholic
church lives among his people. If
he gives away old garments, he must
lO it very quietly. for his people have
the air of giverS. not receivers The
quest Of the poor with cast-olf gar
mentS is Il QuiNotc effort. Receivers
can be found for all gifts. but the Ro-
man heart of the populnce cannot he
| bought that way. These givers of
gifts, professional and merely dilet-
tantc, do not understand this. They
are SO used to dealing with mendic
ants that they look upon all the poor
| as begg;Mdly. In leaflets distributed
are often to be found appeals for old
garments for deserving persons at the
church ''hOuse." There are also fire.
quent references to "slum workers
in other cities who are laboring ut the
house" These paragraphs leave the
impression that the 'house" is i'll some
truth it is situated in part of the
city inhabited by self-respecting and
self-supporting citizens. who would
drive the house" workers from their
doors if ever they should see the
leaflets handed out in the big church
that has sent it's missionaries among
them. The use of the word house
shows delic;lcy of feeling, that is, if
we remember that it might have been
charity house. poorhouse, almshouse
and a great many other things very