The Irish standard., 1908-10-03
links Members Should Exert Themselves
More and Urges the Establishment
of Libraries.
Would Have it so Arranged That Everybody
Could Attend the Exercises at
Frequent Intervals.

at frequent intervals, the more the
better. and invite everybody to be
present: Then appoint committees
to watch current events, and especi-
ally tho bills that may he introduced
III the legislature. lf aything OF inns
portancc is on foot, which would favor
I'r"trsttnts or certain institutions to
the drtrmcnt of Catholic interests,
the business of such committees would
be Immediately to report to the CHEZ
officers of their societies in the partic-
ular localities where ii may happen,
and the latter should then call for
meetings, inviting all, to have the
matter discussed. aud, il practicable,
adopt measures which would help.
either to defeat the project or To se-
cure equal advantages for Catholics.
Our motto should BE-: VIC want the
same f;vors, rights and privileges ali
tho Professionals. ~ these arc denied
MS, the Protcstants must likewise re:
along without them. Catholics, wl,os
are not members of societies, should
make 1t their duty always to atteni
such meetings and take active part in
tho proceedings. Resolutions adopted
or plans of action outlined, should bo
widely published. and the various
branches of the societies should foll
low tho matter up by having public
debates etc. Ii people find QUE thae
we arc not sleeping and see that some-
thing Is being done, many moro will :
take interest, new members will Join
the societies. and. not least OF all, our
Protestant ncighbors will take notice.
Having arrived at this stage OF the
game, they, too. of course, would stir
themselves, and il would give us "
chance to show our abilities. and per-
chance win them over to our wGy Of
looking at things.
Political Activity.
While our aim should be always to
keep away from politics. still we must
ask questions when certain projects
tircly proper to ascertain from our
representatives or senators in the stato
legislature their views on particular
bills introduced, and make known to
them what our ideas are. BY keeping
at our representatives and making
them feel that their movements are
being watched by keen eyes and wide
awake men. they will hesitate to vote
for any bill which will show favorit-
ism in it's effects.
The scheme herein outlined would
Of course necessitate more specific
working details to make it success;
without doubt these could readily be-
determined upon, and it would GER
tainly be an improvement over the
present state Of affairs.
Another step to take, that would
materially assist Catholic societies in
doing something, should be to pro-
vide themselves with libraries. There
is no good reason why each separate.
court. comnandery, or whatever may
be its name, should not have and
maintain a good library. In fact, 1t
ought to be made a duty to have one.
Not only the members could derive
benefits thcrcfron, but also other
Catholics. Organizations distinctly
identified with particular parishes
could, by establishing u few rcgula-
tions, let members Of such parishes
patronizc their libraries, and u small
charge might be made and used to
purchase additional books. 1t is hard.
~ necessary to point out the differ
ent advantages that thus would be
gained. In our day attacks are still
being made on the church, and great
things could be done to repel these
if every one of us would only study
up the principal facts relating to its
history and act as it teaches, not with
] reluctance ana Indifference. but. with