The Irish standard., 1905-08-12
WHY THEY DIE.

WHY THEY DIE.
The Real Reason For Apathy in the
Average Church Society.
The chronic complaint of most
church societies is the Indifference of
their members, says the New Century.
This, unless it is skillfully met, is al
| ways upon the increase, and it finally
brings about the ultimate collapse.
make the meetings more attrac-
tive" is the easy advice of many per-
sons in view of this circumstance. But
that "panacea" has been tried. Those
with the welfare of the association at
heart have done what they fancied
best to induce the old members to re-
main. They have resorted to every
expedient, but whether because the
medicine came too late or because the
nature of the organization was op-
posed to that method of treatment,
the ultimate dissolution was not pre-
vented. The real reason for the preva-
lent apathy undermining the average
ject. The association is without defin-
ite practical purposes, such as enlist
the cooperation of every member. No
temperance society ever dies out until
it has ceased to be an effective tenn
perance force. No young mems So
ciety languishes until it is no further
use morally or Intellectually to it's
members. No benevolent organiza-
tion sinks into obscurity until it has
no work to do.
The mistake in this respect is gen.
orally made at the outset. The pro-
posed objects of the society are mere
distractions never reduced to prac-
| tical methods. The young mems So
ciety never gets down to concrete
work. 1t does not begin to elevate it's
| members. Their after apathy arises
from disgust at not experiencing any
| of these desired benefits. The temper
! ance society begins with men who
! have already pledged themselves
against using intoxicating liquors, but
it never goes beyond it's beginning;
it does not seem to carry it's members
further on in the good work they have
begun. This is the true source of the
apathy that ensues or of the spirit of
factional animosity that is generated
| by the consequent idleness and want
of diversion. Not only is practical aim
necessary, but the activity and inter-
est of each individual member must
be drawn to it. Work must be provid-
ed for everybody, so that all may feel
that they are equally concerned in the
desired end, and so that they may take
a personal pride in the progress of
the cause. This has been the secret
| Of the triumph of many great move
ment, although years of persistence
have been required to overcome the
Obstacles and discouragements of the
work. A young mems society that is
started for practical ends can always
be of great service in Catholic con-
gregations. There must, however, be
the tact and discernment which ap-
! propriates the talent and earnestness
of every member A mere aggregation
| of individuals count for nothing. But
where the members are filled with the
| sense that they are co-workers to-
wards common ends the society has at
once vitality and life of its own.
The secret Of an efficient and live So
ciety is therefore to get respectable
number interested and engaged in a
common object. When this is done
the society exists even if it has never
| come together, or if it remains un-
organized. The support and increase
of parish library is such an object,
and the work it entails, the benefits
which accrue and which are shared
by those reading it's books creates
about it, as an object, a society that
has the elements of vitality.
There are educational influences
which should exist in every parish,
more especially among our city con-
gregations. Our young men, instead
of finding amusement in cheap thea
ters and in conferences on pugilism,
should be led to the more instructive
entertainment which an energetic
church society might provide Courses
OF lectures, night instructions and
places of profitable recourse ought to
give reason for existence to any
society.
The provision, for instance, of a
course of instructive lectures during
the year would make a young mems
society force for good in the congre-
cation. The work incident to this OBJ
ject might engage the attention of a
large number of members and provoke
a degree of enthusiasm which would
make live society. So, too, with
other aims highly proper to Catholic
societies. Unless there can be a cause
for their organization, they are soul
less and spiritless.
Fully Explained.
"You say, madam" said lawyer to
a woman in the witness box, "that the
defendant is sort of relation of
yOurs. Will Won please exnlain what