Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1906-12-22
WOMAN'S MISSION |
What She Can DO Towards
Solving the VpxatiOus Social
Problem.
GentlenPss, Pity, Patience And
Love are Thugs Positive
Iy Needed.
Uplifting of the Poor Discussed
by Mis- Katherine F.
Mullanpy.
AN INTERESTING PAPER TO READ

Katherine F. Mullaney intelligent
ly discusses Woman's Mission in
recent article in the Boston Pilot.
She calls attention to the fact that
this is the age of Socialism; the
leveling of social barriers either by
pulling down the rich and powerful
or the uplifting of the poor and
weak. 1t is with the latter subject
the writer deals, for she truly con-
tends that woman was chosen by Di-
vine Providence for every mission
where gentleness, pity, patience and
love must be the influences to
achieve success.
Miss Mullaney calls attention to
the fact the the vast majority of the
emigrants now coming to this coun-
try, aside from the Hebrews, are
Catholics. The problem, therefore,
of looking after them devolves up
on Catholics. When the church
takes up a problem it never gives it
up unsolved, and it is now turning
it's attention to modern social work
in a manner that bespeaks such ac-
tivity as will render Protestant eff
fort for Catholics people futile.
They cannot hold their own peo-
ple-and their illusions regarding
success with ours are fast disappear
ing in this same direction. Social
benefit, even in some large church
mission house, are no longer dis
pensed only as the reward for a be-
trayal of conscience. The tactics
now are less aggressive and the re-
suit is negative success. They must
needs be content now with the
knowledge that their Catholic bene-
ficiaries have become, like them
selves, a non-churchgoing contin-
gent, and this brings us to the great
question: What are we Catholics 60
ing to do about this great fact that
is staring us in the face? While it
is magnificently true that our church
es are filled to overlooking at every
mass of the five and six masses on
every Sunday in every parish, it is
also true-too true-that the slum
districts are stagnant moral pools,
where tens OF thousands of our Cath
olics are living without God, without
religion, without moral activity of
any kind. Social settlements with
their reading rooms, their entertain
ments, their innumerable material
benefits, have appealed to the selfish
part of mankind-not in vain. HUI
man nature is apt to like what con-
duces to its pleasure and comfort,
and to prefer the sourse whence these
good things flow. While nothing is
said now to antagonize Catholic in
stincts, inuendo is not lacking.
"Why does not your Church (Which
is so richD do as much for you as
we do?" is a very common remark.
To the ignorant Catholic it is very
troublesome question.
The Church in America has at
last emerged from the pioneer state
and is now mighty force in the
land. New churches and schools
and institutions are built and well
nigh paid for, therefore she is ready
to grasp this new work, so called,
and concentrate her attention upon
1t. In devoting her energies to So
cial work she is but reverting to the
custom Of happier times, when the
world under her beneficent sway,
was taught that every man should
give of his abundance to his poorer
brethren, and every lady's aduca-
ton instructed her in the sweet arts
of almsgiving, and the welfare of the
poor was a matter OF conscience.
The Church recognizes that Vo-
cation alone may solve the slum
problem, for it is question Of eter-
nal interests at stake. No mere
hireling, however philanthropic, can
deal with immortal souls. The day
will come when religious orders will
take up this modern idea, devoting
themselves absolutely to its perpet-
uation and perfection. Then will
the problem be solved effectually.
In every age there have been moral
needs to tax and test the resources
OF the Church, but ever and always
the need has been supplied by he
roic apostles, whose souls respond
ed to the call of Christ in His suf-
fering ones, and whose lives and
abilities were given generously for
the souls dear to Him. AS it has
been, so it will be. The vineyard of
the Lord, in time, will have its con-
secrated workers and the wilderness
OF the slums will blossom as gar
den, under their care.
Miss Mullaney discusses the sub
ject at great length and very enter
tainingly. OF course her discourse
applies mostly tobig cities, but there
is a field for the work she speaks
of right here in Louisville.
pr,lcc nc WopTH