The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-11-11

countcnonce which tdsf failure in life's struggle
"a struggle, however, which has not Obliterated the
signs of the souls longing for cleaner and better
things.
When the instruction is over, an invitation is
extended to come and take the pledge for six
months Each Wednesday generally sees a small
contingent brave enough to do this publicly 1t
often happens that many others make it privately
to the priest All who desire it are then invested i'll
the brown scapular.
Penitents Become Club Members
When these ceremonies are completed, and tho
performers at the concert politely dismissed,
portable confessional is erected and the priest Will
hear the confession of all who come. He is often
occupied until midnight. Here many soul which
has been estranged from its God for years finds
peace and reconciliation and strength begin lifes
battle afresh. 1t cannot be said that all who go to
confession join the mission club yet fair percent
age of the penitentS become MEMBERS
The club membership at the present time num-
bers 1875. On last Easter Sunday morning ninety
members of the club received holy communion in
body in st. Mary's church. Special seats were re-
served for them by the kindness of the Paulist Fa
theirs, and they gave great edifcation.
Mr. Collins, the head and animating spirit of
the mission always provides breakfast at the
mission on the first Sunday of the month for those
who have that. morning received holy communion.
He has often told the writer of this sketch that
the Saturday evening previous 10 the conlmun-
ion Sunday he had not dollar with which to pro-
vide the breakfast on the morrow, and yet he has
never disappointed his men, He has undoubting
confidence in the power Of Our Lady of Victory and
he declares he has never yet been disappointed.
On last Christmas day dinner was served at
the mission for 100lFctf}le and some twenty bas-
kets of food were distributed to the poor living in
the immediate vicinity Of the mission.
The audience at the Wednesday night concert
the mission known and of bringing the men III on
Wednesday nights is undertaken by Mr. Collins
himself He takes number of dodgers, announc
ing the evening programme and free lecture by
priest, to many of the roominghouses and distrib-
utes them between and o'clock. The result is
that by s o'clock the mission chapel is generally
filled to the doors.
All kneel at Rosary.
The concert is preceded by the recitation of the
Rosary, in which somewhat unique method Is fol-
lowed. In the first place, the manager of the mis-
sion insists that all shall kneel strangers well
club members. The men are well-behaved and do
Gle. Were it not so pathetic, it would be amusing
to witness the surprise of many seedy tramp on
finding himself suddenly upon his knees, position
he has not been in the habit of assuming for, per-
haps, many long year, In the recitation of the
decades, each member of the club in turn says the
first part of the Hail Mary and is answered by the
doubtless to the surprise of many who long ago
gave up this practice
good effect is produced by the recitation of
the Rosary. 1t puts the most careless in the humor
to listen later to the words of the priest. The
cert, which is often varied and always enjoyable,
further assists the men towards receptive frame
of mind, for men of this class, ordinarily scorned
and repudiated and driven from pillar to post,
douby appreciative of anything which they per-
ceive is done for their benefit. After the Rosary
follows a popular hymn, and the rest of the order
of the evening IS as above described.
The new mission chapel of Our Lady of Victory
at 457 South Clark street is coy, comfortable
place. The walls are of dark, soft green color.
AT the rear of the long room stands large crucifx
with statute of the the Blessed Virgin one side
and that of the Sacred Heart on the other. Backed
against the side wall on the low platform is rent
ed cottage piano. There is plenty of light in the
room and an air of comfort, and to many the first
visit to the place is turning-pont in their life.
Mass is never celebrated at the mission, but the
sacrament of penance is often administered there,
making it by that fact alone infinitely superior to
the Baptist Salvation Army slum chapel nearby,
where emotion takes the place of sacramental grace
and finding religion" does duty for repentance and
firm purpose of amendment
Hobo Has Place to Go to.
The mission chapel is open all day on Sundays,
and is well frequented that day. The fact OF
having place to go to- and which men may call
their own, is much appreciated. Taken all in all,
the men who come to the mission more weak
than vicious. The divine in human nature is con-
stantly struggling for expression. The drink habit
and the wandering shiftIessness are some of the
causes ofla debilitated WILL making for weakness
rather than viciousness. To effect their redeeming,
these men have to be handled with tact and care
III order that they be not scandaized.
1t is the desire of Mr.. Collins and his associates
to establish employment bureau. Many of the
men who, from one cause or another, have descend
ed to the underworld are good mechanics. Others
are there through the temporary misfortune of be-
ing unable to find employment There is no denying
the fact that the slum district of Chicago, in the
midst of which the Catholic slum mission is located,
has bad reputation among the business men of