The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-10-29

work for mems souls unless we work
for their bodies also. 1t we are not
actively seeking to relieve the ma
terial sores of humanity, we cannot
have much concern for spiritual sores.
| Catholic social action is poles asun.
der from mere philanthropy. 1t is lit
up by motive which raises it to su-
pernatural dignity. We must not keep
our Catholicity and our social action
in water-tight compartments. The for
mer must express itself through the
latter. The two must be intimately
blended. Our religion should urge us
to strenuous and enlightened efforts
on behalf Of the poor and suffering. 1t
should lead us to avail ourselves of
the very best and most effective meth
DDS, and it should prevent our being
content with that slip-shod and in
discriminate charity which in these
days may do more harm than good. Ii
we really love the poor for Christ's
sake. we shall take pains to relieve
them effectively; and to relieve them
effectively involves careful study.
Easy But Futile.
1t is easy to toss half crowns to the
poor, supposing we have the half
crowns. 1t is easy, but it is futile. If
our charity takes no other form, sew
eral very terrible things will happen.
In the first place, we shall find that
our poor are being drawn away from
us, and lost TO the faith. For we with
our half-croWns cannot compete
against the growing organizations
which are attempting to deal with the
problem of destitution and unemploy-
ment on wider lines. This movement
is inevitable, and instead of opposing
it we should take our part in it and
give it Catholic color. In the sec
ond place mere indolent philanthropy
will but increase the appalling number
of our own destitute. Anyone who
4 knows the legions Of submerged
Catholics must feel that the problem
cannot be solved by indiscriminate
almsgiving We have got to build
these people up, and to do so we must
begin by Il concerted study of their
conditions. At present we are half
strangled by the dead weight of our
disorganzed poor. The spectacle Of
their misery should stir us to business
! like action, based on careful study.
That may do something to stop the
leakage which is due largely to eco
nomic pressure. Our charity will be
none the less meritOriOus for being en-
lightened. Our faith provides us with
Sound Principles of Social Reform.
II provides us, too, with the highest
of motives, and with supernatural
helps of which other social reformers
feel the lack. But il does not provide
us with ready-made methods Of giving
effect to our charity. This demands
ourselves with the very best scientific
knowledge and to attack the problem
at it's very roots.
Let it again be repeated that this is
a matter for us all to take to heart.
Both in social study and in social ac-
tion, we have, each of us, our work to
do We want Catholic workmen to
watch the labor movements from in
side, to keep the Catholic body in
formed of their tendencies. We want
Catholic priests to make available
their enormous experience of the lives
of the poor We want Catholic women
to realize their social mission, to study
conditions, and to give us constructive
suggestions like those of the Women's s
industrial Council We want Catholic
on the various aspects Of the social
question; we want Catholic business
men to help to introduce business
methods into our social activity; we
want Catholics of leisure to give us
their assistance in organizing; Catho-
lie writer's to give us their aid in prop.
aganda. Again, there is work for all,
once the call to it is realized. There
is work for any willing helpers who
can give the smallest amount of time
to the cause. Let us not be backward
in following the noble example of our
Pelgian and German brethren who
have reduced social work to thor
oughly scientific basis, and by earnest
complished marvels in restoring all
things in Christ"
} :. Purely Catholic Term.