The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-12-24

ished by their heavenly patron.
But there is one other thing.
1t is this which we might call their noblest
work
Why cannot these young women, thousands
strong throughout the United States, set about
effecting a reform in the social life of Catholics?
SO often the complaint is made that there spirit
of friendliness lacking in the Catholic organiza-
tions. You will always hear the same answer to the
complaint "Catholies come to church to pray and
mediate rather than to and be rather than
to meet their friends and form new acquaintance"
But little of the universal love- spirit would
do no harm Mass or vespers would not of neces-
sity become merely meeting places; but for few
kindly words more than weary heart would go
back to the routine duties of the day strengthened
and better able to carry the great fight. 1t
need not be carried to extremes. Social dances
and card parties are not by any means the link
to bind members OF congregation together. Often
there are those who cannot afford to attend these
gatherings, whose domestic duties will not permit OF
their sparing the required time, or who will not
feel that they sufficiently attractive to grace
such functions There is always bound to be some
drawback to this sort of a plan. The idea Is to
have quiet spirit of friendliness permeate the
church. to be ready to give warm handclasp to the
stranger or the unfortunate parishoner who has
perhaps for years attended the church without
meeting friendly smile.
The idea of accomplishing this has, perhaps,
not yet occurred to the Queens Daughters. They
have had 50 many things to think of. But really,
is it not worthy of some consideration? Could not
social calls be made upon members of the parish
IL i l.
called to the attention of the visiting committee
They need not be OF the needy. They can be any
of those who come to church Sunday after Sun
day without seeing the countenance of friend, go
ing and returning with perhaps not even one Good
morning extended to them. If the Queens Daugh-
ters would make it feature of their philanthropc
work to spread the spirit Of love among the people
of the various parishes in which they scattered
they would soon find that they are a power for
good in the community. Philanthropy confined to
the looking after of material wants is often less
lasting than that which inspires a greater love of
mankind With love everything is easy. With
that perfect sympathy for everything and for every
body in prosperity and in adversely it is easy to
live and to make life worth the living.
Almost every day an example of where lack
of friendly feeling on the part of members of a
congregation toward stranger has brought about
pathetic results, comes to our notice. Just the
other day story was told of family the entire
period of whose residence in a western town was
darkened because the spirit of universal love had
not found its way into prosperous congregation.
Protestant gentleman married to a Catholic
woman, who, Sunday after Sunday, attended serv-
ice without receiving recognition. from a single
commitment of the church. When the family
began to look about for godmother for the little
child that had come to bless their home there was
noone to be found. The husband worked in an
establishment where Catholic man was employed |
who promised to act as godfather to the little one
and also promised to find Catholic woman willing /
to lend her services at the baptism. Days passed !
There was no one to be found. The Catholic man |
became decidedly worried but although he had lived
in the parish for many years he knew no women. /
Finally like burden, he carried the Protestant /
fathers request to the priests house. where he was
assured that someone would be found The day /
for the baptism came. The Protestant father, the
Catholic mother and the baby were there, and the
man who had promised to stand godfather was also
on hand. But there prospective godn1other. t
The priest in despair remarked Mrs. is
NOT mere To-Day as uSual making ner nOVeua. we
will send around the corner for Mrs '
And that was the way the little one was re-
eeved into the church of God, the church which
stands for all that is good and noble and that con-
tines its mission to seeking to make mankind better
for having learned its truths.
That is the spirit which the Queens Daugh-
iers" should aim to check. Let it be the ambition
If every young woman who is enrolled on the list
If membership, not only in the western cities but
throughout the country-for the society is known
far and wide-to spread the gospel of love and
promote a spirit of friendliness among those who
n the same manner worship the same Loving
Father.
1t is not only in western cities that the fault is
found. 1t rs perhaps more prevalent in the east
where the Clique" often creeps into church So
,iety, creating barrier between few elannish
and the great masses who come for
spiritual nourishment
In few instances is the parish priest to blame
de has his duties none too few, and he can hardly
iope to keep track of every new member of his
parish Often too, it is because the people fear to
'e thought obtrusive if they call the attention of
lie pastor to the fact that they are new acquisi-