Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-21

our church In the way those of other ma.
tons have done The form of government
of the United States is preferable to Catho-
lies above other forms. 1t is more fay-
orable than others TO the practice OF those
virtues which are the necessary conditions
of the development of the religious life in
man.
THE two poles of the Paulist character
are personal perfection as laid down by re-
hgious writers, and zeal for souls. The
backbone of a religious community is the
desire for personal perfection. the desire
for personal perfection is the foundation
stone of a religious community: when this
falls 1t crumbles to pieces. Parish work Is
a part. an integral part, of the Paulist
work, but not its principal or chief work.
do not think that the principal character
istic of our life should Toe poverty. or
obedience. or any special and secondary
virtue, but zeal for apostolic works. Our
vocation is for the conversion of souls to
the faith. of sinners to repentance. giving
missions. defense of the Christian religion
by conferences, lectures sermons the pen.
the press, and like works
Popular Delusion.
There is said to be a popular delusiou
that Paulists are all converts-that tho
Paulist community was open to converts
alone and received none others. Scarcely
was the new society organized than IL
planned seasons campaign of missions,
Its members living where they could dur
ing the temporary pauses In their labors It
also began the task of forming a new par
lsh In New York. Its firm supporter, Arch
bishop Hughes, gave 1T "A location. quest
Tor FUNDS WAS made and the most generous
was George Hecker brother of the founder
ana himself also a convert. Another hand
some donation came from the rector Of
Georgetown College in this city. A payment
was made on some of the lots OF their pres
ent headquarters at 59th street and 9th ave.
nue., New York. which was then a suburban
wilderness. The house was completed and
blessed November "a 1859 and the Paulists
We're thus materially established.
Then their missionary career began In
earnest From Canada to the gulf went the
fathers delivering uncounted lectures and
special sermons and giving missions, and
making many converts
They Were interested in the reform of
church muse. and early introduced into
their church the Gregorian chant. ira ming
choirS of boys and men and Introducing
congregational singing Not content with
this, the Paulists have published books Of
hymns, masses, etc, for the spread of de-
votional music Temperance among mln-
kind has been especially emphas sled by
them, and they have carried on "A b tier
warfare against the universal American
custom of bar-room trt atIrg.
Father Hecker firm believer in the
efficacy of printers ink. He saw that where
a speaker could address thousands a writer
could lay bis argument before millions.
Collections of Paulist sermons were printed
in book form. magazine was .arted by
them, which exists to this day and is look
a
Catholic paper. The Catholic Publ cation
Society came through their IN ssion lry en-
terprise, and later founded a Catholic Illus
trated bi-weekly for the children. In 1871
they projected the establishments of II St
class Catholic daily newspaper. 1t is sad
that in 1871 a prominent journal in New
York, a member of the Associated Press.
could have been bought for $3.50 0Do Father
Hecker was eager for it's purchase. but his
health broke down when he and h s asso-
ciates had secured half the purchase price,
and the project was abandoned.
The Paulists in New York
The Paulists now have a church. a pas
toral residence, school and publishing house
in New York city. church and residence
in San Francisco, churches in Illinois. and
the house of studies at the Catholic Univer-
sity here, which co-operates with the Apos-
tolic Mission House on the university
grounds in dissemination of Catholic
doctrine.
Following Father Hecker who died in
July, 1897, was Very Rev A. +. Hewitt, the
son of a Congregational minister. who is
said to have come from Calvinism via Epis-
copalianism to the Catholic Church. He
was trained for religious life by the Re
demptorist order, and was one of those who
supported Father Hecker from the day he
set out for Rome on his momentous mission
until the congregation of st. Paul was
founded.
Rev. George Deshon was elected superior
in 1897. He was one of the immortal five
to found the order. Early in life his taste
tended toward a military career. and he
was given an appointment to the West
Point Military Academy. At this famous
institution he a classmate of Gen.
Grant and on the dedication of the Grant
memorial tomb in New York, several years
ago was one of the principal speakers.
Rev. George NJ. Searle is the present super
ior. A graduate of the class of IS of Har-
ward University, he attained considerable
renown as astronomer and mathema-
tician, and on the completion of his course
was made assistant astronomer of the uni
versty. During the civil war times Father
Searle was an instructor in mathematics
at the Naval Academy, and among his pu-
pills was such distinguished fighting men as
Rear Admiral Robley ID. Evans and Ad-
miral Sigsbee.