The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-03-17

But, in his failure to illustrate the
spirit OF the society to which he be-
longs, Is this man alone. The ma
jority of Catholic men and women be-
long to religious or benevolent So
cieties. Are they as loyal to their
fellow members as non-Catholic So
cieties are to their members? If they
were. would there be such a burden
thrown on the shoulders of our pas
tors? Should we find the Salvation
Army caring for our children, and
our young men and women augment
ing >the membership Of societies
which. it not condemned, certainly
are not approved, by the Church?
Why will you walk q square out Of
your way to make your household
purchases when almost at your step
is a shop operated by one of your own
faith, who handles articles as good as
you will find elsewhere and sells
them at market price? Why will you
spend time and car fare to so down
town to buy hat, which every show
window duplicates, when in your own
neighborhood. struggling to get a start,
is an artistic milliner. member of
your own church and society, who could
give you better work?
I know there are among my read
ers some who will oppose these words,
Of mine, for they smack of sectarian
narrowness-of all the most hateful
to the, generous of soul, the high Of
mind. 1t is not the spirit of our
national life: it is not the propelling
power of the twentieth century thought
and Christianity? What you say is
true. my friends: but you must re-
member that you are in the advance
guard of the race while the great ma
jority is finding very real conditions
which, for you, no longer exist. One
of these conditions Enthusiastically is
that non Catholic, nom Christian and
Christian societies religiously full
fill their promise. to give moral and
material aid to members in need of
such; consequently it behooves Cath
olic societies to be equally loyal and
conscientious when no injury to another
is involved. -
AS givers of money, time and effort
to strictly charitable undertakings,
Catholics lead; but is this sort Of
charity the best there is? 1t is not
anywhere recorded in the Gospels
that Christ gave money to the many
cases. of need that came under His
eyes; Had this way of relieving human
misery been the best, He could have
easily provided Himself with the
means, as He did when it was required
Of Him to pay the tax. Invariably we
find Christ placing the halt and blind
beggars, the neglected invalids, in poyl-
tons 70 help themselves. We spend
days selling tickets, soliciting subscrip-
lions for charitable institution. while
under our eyes are ragged. hungry
children, made such because of the in
ability Of their parents to get good
paying work. Now, would it not be
infinitely better for us, in imitation of
Our Master to interest ourselves in
this poor man, speak to our friends of
him, AMI not cease until he was in a
position which would enable him to
care for his family properly? Is not
this the truest Christian charity, since
ut is the charity which Christ always
practiced? If we had acted thus, as
unit, would there be so many Or
phans In our asylun1s. SO many old
men and women in our homes for the
aged. so many charity patients in our
hospitals? Remember, that our best
citizens, our best church members, do
not come from charitable institutions.
The child that goes from an orphan
asylum to begin life is seriously ham
dicapped. Deep down in his soul, our
well meant charity burns like red hot
iron, and unless possessed of SUI
perior nature, or q philosophy not
often found in youth, it makes him
mad. Yes. my good friends, he feels
that our charity has disgraced him
(do we not hold the same view our.
selves) and he does not care what be-
comes Of himself. The thing for US
first to do, who love the fair name Of
our Church and our state, is to render
1t unnecessary for that child to be
sent to an asylum by easing the par
snts Of their burden. so that they
shall not fall under it. leaving their
offsprings poor and uncared for. Let
us preserve the home. and the in
mates of charitable institutions Of all
Kinds will rapidly decrease in num-
ber and Church and state will show
corresponding gain in that which
| goes to make them best and highest,
says the Rosary Magazine.
0vEp THEsNORTHVHBAT ,e.