The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-07-21

| hours for hours lost to labor, since
the Holy Writ declares that man will
have to answer vigorously for every
idle word. 1t is true that in the great
majority of cases the individual Is
controlled by the orders of the leader,
hut it is desirable that Christian men
be only committed to obedience to
Christian authority, and the leaders
themselves lead up to their Christian
principles. If this were the case, ar
at the beginning of disagreements be-
tween employer and employee rather
| than at the end. as it now invaribly
happens and waste of time and money
not to say discord and i'll will would
be avoided. Religion calls for arbitra
ton on the words of Holy Writ. which
says. If you have Il difference with
Your fellOwmen on the way, call in Il
third. and if settlement cannot be
reached, then appeal to the Church"
But how seldom is any minister of the
|
employer and workinglnen. and the
| fault is as much with the one as the
other OF the contestants. both SEEM
ingly afraid of the strictness of his
judgement. Whilst warning the rich
of the dangers of their riches. the
Church consoles the poor with the Sc
nit az ,ni,
who are ricf,' she says, and we'll may
she quote those sacred words. for rich
es harden the heart and bring to those
possessing them countless evil. So
that it is hard for a rich man to be
saved. But the Lord blessed poverty
and took as His own portion for being
rich as God of heaven and earth and
possessing all things, as man He made
himself poor for our sakes. Riches
are no immunity from sickness. sorrow
and death any more than poverty: in
fact they often bring more pain
through the cOrruptiOnS of dissipation
and shorter the years of life by the
u.
for all Il vale of tears. and man is
here to SOW in sorrow that hereafter
lie may reap in joy" But the poor
oftimes find their pangs and want and
poverty hard to hear-and God gives
the rich Il chance to merit heaven by
coming to their relief-for Christ said
III Il tn n f,e
these My bretheren. We did it unto
Me" God inclines to- the struggling.
and He reconciles them in their trials
with His sustaining grace. This is
Christian life for rich and poor-and
God would have this lige be general
among men. by the extension of His
kingdom. in the extension of the Cath
ollie Church and the spreading of her
t"achingS-for as the late Pontiff, Leo
Nil. said. If society is to be healed
it in II" other way can be healed save
by Il return to Christian life and Chris
tinn Institutions" He said. more
over. thai the Church desires that the
poor should rise above poverty and
wretchcdncss and better their condi-
ton in life For this she does in all
her power to help them through her
various institutions established chiefly
for their benefit. Hence her homes
and hospitals, her asylums and Or
phanages. and the countless numbar
of holy men and women attending
them To give relief and comfort to
those within their walls. She cheers
the poor and needy that it will only be
for the time and she holds out hope
Christian morality leads of itself
eventually to temporal prosperity, for
is the sourse of all blessings. 1t teach
es economy and frugal living which
are followed by abundance. and decryS
dissipation aud waste which leads to
want and misery. Truly the Church
is the worlinyman's best friend. and
he should hear the voice in preference
tn that of men who are not enlightened
or animated by religion. Nay. the
Christian. by his passive Audience to
the wishes of his Church and by the
practice of virtues which she incul
Gates. should be IL light to these in
many cases we'll meaning but mis-
guided men. that they may be led to
give up their false principles and err
roneous doctrines and embrace and
follow those of the Church. The
workingmans virtues will be his best
recommendation and gain the SYM
pathy of the public in any trials or
burdens that may weigh upon him.
While the Church befriends the tolers
and strives to better their condition
by insisting on the making and en-
forcement of laws for their convent
encc and comfort in their shops, the
sanitation of the buildings in which
they work and due regard for age and
sex. she rightly expects the safety of
her own communion who are among
the working classes to befriend and
elevate themselves as far as lies in
them through clean living and the
practice of temperance. The virtues
are the joy of those practicing them.
| They subdue the mind. delight the