The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-26
GIVING
is SOURCE OF EVIL

Continued from Page One.
quently interrupted by applause. and his
scath!ng arraiynment OF some phianthro-
pists of the day provoked a spontaneous
outburst that lasted several minutes.
Cardinal Gibbons Presides.
on the stage. which was decorated with
the papal flag Of yellow and white. with
the pontihcal coat OF arms, were fifty
delegates 10 the conference. Cardinal
Gibbons. in the robes Of his Office, pre-
sided. In his characteristic address Of
welcome his eminence referred 10 the
three divisions of poverty as God poor
the devils poor. and the poor devils" He
expressed hope for the successful at
tainment OF the object OF the conference,
the unifcation OF Catholic charities in this
/ country.
Right Rev. Mgr.T J. shahan called tbs
| meeting 10 order and introduced Cardi-
nal Gibbons 10 the delegates. The an
| nouncement was the occasion for an out
burst of applause from the delegates in
the auditorium and the church digni-
| taries on the stage. The cardinal said in
part:
| Charity is not only 70 be commended
for the sake OF charity alone. but also
for the welfare Of society al large. Il
| should be the aim OF every city official
TO try 70 eliminate the poverty In his
jurisdiction. 1t cannot be entirely Grad
icated. for has. not Christ said the poor
I l.
/ organization such as this that must by
its moral influence difruse among the
people the need for helping the poverty
stricken.
Find Most Poverty.
1T is queer that wherever you find the
most wealth. there you will also find the
most poverty. London. the richest city
in the world, has the most poverty
Many societies have been formed TO al
leviate the sufferings Of the poverty
stricken but the drawback has always
been that fully "a per cent OF the moneys
collected TO be distributed among the
poor have gone for clerical hire. The
only exception TO this is the st. Vincent
de Paul Society, whose members work
without pay,
There are three kinds Of poor-God's
poor. the devils poor. and poor devils.
The Church or Rome is the mother Of
charity. Christ. its founders, most shin
ing virtue was charity, II you can call
anything in Him who was so perfect a
virtue.
The purpose OF this conference IS TO
devise the best means OF lessening the
suRerings Of the poor and I trust that
your meeting will not be in vain"
Commissioner Cuno H Rudolph made
the address OF welcome in behalf Of the
Commissioners and the people of Wash
ington. He said IN part:
Address OF Welcome.
1T Is with more than ordinary pleasure
that I appear tonight before the mem
bers of the National Conference OF Cath
Ole Charities 10 extend 20 them a hearty
welcome on behalf Of the Commissioners
and the citizens Of the National Capital
I'VE of Washington feel highly honored
that you should have selected our city
In which TO hold your first annual con-
ference.
For over 1900 years. when our Saviour
first set His example OF love and sacri-
fee before us for all time men have
banded themselves together. as you are
banded. 10 work tremendously, 10 devise
ways and means best fitted TO ameliorate
the condition of the destitute the sick.
the unfortunate, and the criminal
Though a satisfactory solution has not
been found, we do see the beginning of
better things, which those who lived
before us looked in vain to see. and as
the years succeed each other, marvellous
advances IN the field Of charitable en-
deavor will be made. These advances
will be FASTENED by just such conferences
as yours, because they tend TO unity
and soldlfy the efforts OF the charity
worker
Overlooks Beautiful City,
1T is a privilege to meet amidst the
beautiful surroundings of that great uni
vsrsity overlooking the most beautiful
city in America-the National Capital
and to that city I bid you a hearty vel
come, hoping that every minute of your
stay viii be pleasant, and that your con-
ference may be remembered not for
/ what may be said during your sessions,
but for the results that will follow"
Mgr. Shahan. rector Of the Catholic Uni
versity. in his address told of the origin
of the organization. "A Christian brother
wrote to the university last February.
| asking that a society such as this be
formed" said Mgr. Shahan eve took
! the matter under consideration, and after
/ three days conference launched the
present society.
THE object OF this society is not only
; to aid poverty, but also to prevent il as
far as we are able. The coal fields of
: Pennsylvania are at present a fertile
field for our work. During the last year
1000 men have lost their lives, leaving
, 1000 widows and several thousand chill
: dren, because there has not been legisla-
: ton to compel the owners of these mines
to use safety devices. Legislation 10 this
effect should be enacted and the people
of Pennsylvania should see that the law
is carried out
This is but one instance OF where
: poverty could be averted. There are sew
eral others. each one peculiar to its own
locality
Charity often Misplaced.
Judge ODoherty CONCLUDED the pro-
: gramme with his stirring address on the
aims and ideals OF practical CathoHc
charity. He spoke at length on the