The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-06-22
A WORTHY WORK.

10 the work OF the CathollC orphanage
and its connection with the work of
the Juvenile Court. The general pub
lie little realizes the great advance
that has been made in the treatment
and care of Juvenile offenders. In the
large cities of the country, especially
New York and Chicago. Catholic in
stitutions are established and main
tanned for the sole object of receiV-
ing and caring for the youthful of
Tenders. These dolinauents are sent
directly to these institutions by the
courts. In a limited way, as far as
the means at its disposal justifies, the
Catholic orphanage of Minneapolis and
st. Paul is taking care of the chill
dren brought into The Juvenile Court
No question is asked as to the religion
of the child or of its parents
Judge Brooks of the District Court
paid a high tribute to the work of this
organization in a letter recently sent
ISOLATION, Minneapolis. The judge ex-
pressed the view that if all the
churches had institutions like the
Catholic orphanage and representa-
tives such as Father Donahoe to at
tend the sessions Of our Juvenile Court
and willing to receive any child and
ask for all those Of his faith. the diff
culties confronting the court would be
largely removed. Judge Brooks says
that there is no charity more COM
lnendable or more deserving Of sup
port than the institutions that under
take to receive and care for unfortu-
nate waits, who in the future either
contribute their share to the great
ness Of the country or the contrary.
according as they receive or do not
receive proper attention.
Judge Smith of the District Court
adds his testimony to that of Judge
Brooks and states that for the year
ending in June. 1907. there were COM
mitted to the Catholic orphan asylum
of Minneapolis IS dependent boys and
to the st. Paul Catholic orphan asylum
IL dependent girls. and to the ST.
Joseph German Catholic orphan asy-
lum 10 dependent boys and girls, while
during the same period of time there
We're committed II dependent children
to state institutions.
People not familiar with the work
done by the Catholic orphan asylum
cannot appreciate the value of the
work from the standpoint of the un-
fortunate children or from, that of the
state itself. The children that come
in contact with the Juvenile Court are
not criminals. They are brought into
the court because they lack proper
homes or because Of bad surroundings.
Properly cared for they become good
citizens; left to themselves or the d.
rection of Incompetent and unworthy
parents. they almost surely become
criminals. The work of the Catholic
orphan asylum reliaves the state from
the present care and education of
those children, but it does more than
that; it saves the state from a crop
of criminals with whose punishment
and care it would have to deal in the
near future.
The work in this community is linn
tied compared with the great institu-
tions that are maintained in great
Catholic centers like New York and
Chicago. The diocese of Chicago
maintains large home for dependents
and erring children. The home con-
sists of adequate buildings and large
tract of land situated on the Des
PLANES river. several miles out Of Chi
cago. To this institution the courts of
Chicago send the waits who are gath
cred in daily from the streets and
novels of the grea. city
This character OF work must appeal
to all right minded people irrespec-
tive of their religious views. 1t is
practical work whose value is ines
Unable from the standpoint of those
cared for and from that of the state
1t is done without any attempt tc
proselyte. Any child is accepted and
all children whose parents are, OF
ought to be, Catholics are earnestly
sought for by the institutions. The
money expended is obtained from col
lections from the Catholic churches OF
the diocese and also from collection.
made by representatives of the insti-
tuition from whatever sources it can
be collected A work of this sort COM
pared with the often futile and in
effective foreign missionary work OF
different churches must appeal to the
practical mind as especially commend
able. 1t seems inconsistent that great
treasures Of money should be sent