The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-07-04
Our Washington Letter,

Washington, d. G. The Association
of the Holy Childhood for the redemp-
tom of the children of infidels of
Paris, has contributed $4,000 to the
Society of Catholic Indian Missions.
The check for this amount has just
been turned over by the Rev. John
Willms. G. S. Sp., of Pittsburg, the
central director of the Holy Childhood
Association in the United States. The
funds of the Paris association are used
only for the children in heather coun-
tries, but Father Willms, who has al
ways taken deep interest in the
preservation Of the faith among the
Indians, succeeded in persuading the
French society to contribute toward
this worthy object, and the prospects
are that the contribution will be made
annually. The wonderful work done
by this society deserves more than a
passing notice. 1t was founded in
1S43 by the Right Rev. Charles de
Forbin-Jansen, bishop of Nancy in
France. Its object is to rally around
the infant Jesus our little Christian
children from their tender years, so
that with their increasing years and
strength. and in imitation of Jesus
their Master, they may practice true
Christian charity, in view of their
own perfection. and also, that by the
practice of charity and enduring liber-
ality, those same little Christian chill
dren may cooperate in saving the
thousands and thousands of children
that in pagan countries are cast away
and neglected by their parents and die
unbaptized. The success of this asso-
ciation can be better estimated by a
glance ut it's work during the fifty
years of it's existence. Its income in
1S43, the year of its institution, was
only $4,000 francs. but rose to $780,
600 francs in 1891. The total receipts
from 1913 to 1891 amounted to SS,OGO.-
600 francs. In one year alone QS91),
throughout the 160 missions which the
association supports, $4,000 children
received instruction. 100000 We're bap-
tized, GG1 orphan asylums and 3,41S
schools were supported. some new ones
constructed; i'm like manner 297 indus
trial homes, 1OS farms, and 800 drug
stores We're maintained Since 1913,
through the eXertions of the associa-
ton. about 12OO0,O00 children were
baptized. Many of these now grown
up, are laboring as missionaries for
the salvation of their countrymen.
For years the various Protestant de-
nominations have maintained missions
in Catholic countries. For years their
missionaries have sent home glowing
accounts of the great opportunities
open to them. of the eagerness of the
people Of these priest-ridden countries
to throw off the yoke of Rome and en-
brace the Protestant faith; of the
glorious work they were doing, ETC.
For years they have thus been ham,
mering at the Catholic Church, but
have failed so far to make even dent.
This craving for converting Catholics
is something of a mania with them,
and failures piled upon failures noun
tain-high seem only to incite them to
increased efforts. Millions have been
spent in this fruitless enterprise, and
many millions more will. 10 doubt,
follow. The Rev. d. r. H. Mosely, the
superintendent of the Baptist Home
missions in Cuba. is now in Washing
ton. He seems to be the right kind
of man for missionary, and to he
imbued with the proper missionary
spirit. In an address delivered here
few days ago he paved his respects
to "the Roman Church" and made the
usual sanguine report MS to "pros-
pects." He said in part: "The pros
pect Of evangelizing Cuba was never
brighter: God had prepared for the