The Saint Paul globe., 1905-03-13
CATHOLICS PLAN TO .
CARE FOR STRANGERS
St. Vincent de Paul Society to
Create a Central "7
Office

The regular meeting of the particu-
lar council of the st. Vincent de Paul
society for the conferences in st. Paul
Minneapolis and saltwater was held
last evening in the Assumption parish
hall, West Exchange street The fact
that the evening, the evening of the
first Sunday in Lent, was being made
the cause for special services in many
of the Catholic churches worked
against an attendance that would
otherwise have been large, but, as it
was, those who came made up in en-
thusiasm what was lacking in num-
bers.
1t was expected that Archbishop
Ireland would be present and preside
over the meeting, but he was detained
away and President j. w. Willis of the
particular council, who did preside,
read letter from the archbishop, in
which the latter's greetings were ex-
tended to the members and in which
he expressed regret over his Inability
to be present.
After the regular reports of the diff
ferent conferences represented had
been received there was a general dis
cuSSfon of practical charity, in which
Rev. ]. NJ. Solnce of st. Agnes
church and Very Rev. j. ]. Lawler Of
the Cathedral led.
More Careful Canvass
hc HuSSllOil VI uOlliS the tGlOS& SOOQ
with the funds at hand has long been
one of discussion in the society, and
various conferences have held to va
rious channels of work. The Rev.
Solnce, in short address, advocated
more careful canvass by the men,
bers of each conference of the poor
Catholic families needing attention
and of a systematic scheme of attend
ing to these wants and helping the
needful ones back to a condition Of
self-reliance and self-support.
Rev. Lawler agreed TO the sugges-
tions of his associate priest and added
plea for the formation of more con-
ferences and the strengthening of
those conferences which are already in
existence. He foresaw the possibility
of much good work through thorough
ly organized and interested confer
ences in each parish, and admonished
the delegates present to exert every
effort towards that end.
Judge Willis, speaking as president
of the particular council, said that the
council had in mind and was already
projecting the establishment in st.
Paul of central office where Cath
olics strange to the city or in desti-
tute circumstances might apply for in
formation, advice, guidance and aid.
He said that he had become interested
In the movement to reclaim the many
IeSluSIlS WHO nave QeSefLeQ
their religion since coming to this
country. He said that the feeling seems
to have come over them when they ar
rived in this country that their re-
ligion was no longer necessary to them
and that they did not need to be good
any longer.
Have Central Office
-orgapiZat ton of a-ceptral- Office
TO which these strangers might come
when they arrived in the city, would,
he thought, largely do away with the
danger of their neglecting their re-
ligion. They might at once be con-
Quoted to their parish priest, be guided
to proper places to live and helped to
get new start in life.
This idea of central Office met with
the favor of many other speakers,
among whom were A. w. Gutridge,
secretary of the Associated Charities;
c. M. Mccarthy and w. A. Egan. Mr..
Gutridge in his remarks spoke of char
ity ofttimes misapplied, and warned
those present that in every instance
they should judge we'll of the circum-
stances Of applicants for charity to
Judge of the business of their claims,,
and that they should not content
themselves with ministering merely to
the applicants, but should seek out the
poor in their parishes that might be
suffering, yet too proud to directly
apply for assistance.