Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-02-07
HUNDREDS ARE FED
DAILY BY MONKS
BROTHERS AT MONASTERY SERVE
SOUP AND BREAD TO THE
WORTHY POOR.
NO QUESTIONS ARE ASKED.
On Friday $50 Were Given Food Three
Times-Merchants Help in
Work.
LARGE CHARITY WORK CONDUCTED

MILWAUKEE, Wis, Feb. I, 1905
Labor conditions in Milwaukee this
winter are not such that it has been
found necessary TO establish free soup
houses, managed by the city, as is the
case in Chicago, or by private charitable
institutions; but since the beginning of
November between POO and 800 of the
hungry unemployed have been given
daily sustenance at the Capuchin mon
astcry, Fourth and Harmon streets. The
Capuchins III past winters have fed the
hungry, yet never before in such large
numbers and in 50 formal style. Former
ly it was the custom to hand the hun
cry ones bowl of soup in the entrance
room to the monastery, but this winter
the large reception room set aside Tor
bishops and visiting priests, has been
converted into a dining room and Ca
puchin monks wait upon the tables.
Dine at Long Tables.
There are two large tables covered
with oil cloth that is kept spotlessly
clean. Those who apply at the monastery
for food are shown into this room with
out questions as to their faith, nationali-
ty or family. White or colored. all are
treated alike. The only ones not taken
in are men who bear evidence of drunk
enneSS, as the CapuchinS believe in do
ing charity only for the worthy poor and
hungry.
Friday $50 were fed OF the three
meals of the day. On one of the cold
days OF the week more than 500 applied
and 10 one was turned away. For
breakfast the hungry men are given
large cup of coffee and all the bread
they can eat. For dinner and supper
soup and crackers are served, a large
bowl to each one hot, thick and well
seasoned. All the food in the monastery
is prepared by the brothers.
Merchants Help Monks.
The charity of the Capuchins has not
only spread over the city among the
poor and unemployed but has become
known to the merchants of the parish.
The bakers of the neighborhood have
been especially kind in donating bread
and butchers also have been generous in
their assistance The Capuchins have
made no direct appeal for assistance, yet
are grateful for any donations received
to assist in feeding the many hungry
who apply daily at their door.
For years this parish has made it a
practice to send baskets of food out to
the poor of their congregation.
This week st. Vincent de Paul socie
ty was organized in the St Francis
parish-as the Capuchin church is
known-the first of the kind in Milwau-
l1ee. The purpose Of this society is to
hunt UP the poor and needy in the par
ish. families too proud to beg and yet
in dire circumstances, and to extend as
sistance The members will solicit dOna-
lions from large firms and in many 9TH
er ways extend charity in times of need.
Rev. Father Ignatius is pastor of st.
Francis church. With the exception of
four years he has been stationed there
for nearly sixteen years and he is known
to every member of the large parish
He is a kindly featured, soft-voiced
monk whose charitable acts have eX-
tended beyond the confines of his own
congregation and who is reverenced by
the members of his congregation.
Can Not Turn Them Away.
1T is a hard thing to turn hungry
person away from the door, especially
at this season of the year and in these
times" said Father Ignatius this morn
ing. The men that come here for food
are healthy and able bodied, willing to
work but can't find anything to do.
They must live and if they are not fed
they are not lazy vagabOnds | need but
say that a dozen men offered to clean
the walks around our church this morn
ing, and when | offered one of them a
coin who had worked particularly hard
shoveling the snow, he said he would
be a mean man to accept money from
someone who had treated him so kindly
whenever he had applied for assistance.
| expect to keep on feeding the hungry
until work again becomes more plenty
in the spring.