The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-07-08
OBSERVATIONS ON
CHARITY WORK

UHAhlll WUhk
Necessity of Lay Activity-MoraI and
Material Assistance.-FruitfuI
Form of Charity Work.
During the last few years there has
been a marked increase in soul-saving
activity on the part of lay people, We
have now in every large city men and
women who deserve to be called lay
missionaries. The information CLEAN
ed during friendly visits to the homes
of the recipients of charity has con-
WINGED the thoughtful that there is
much to be done besides furnishing
the necessaries of life to the INDECENT.
All experienced and practical friends
of the poor strive to better their con-
dition in a moral as well as a ma
terial way. DESTROYS of doing the best
possible for the unfortunate the lead
ing lay students of the problems of
charity, such as Thomas Mulry, T. D.
Hurry, David F. Tilly, Mrs. John Mac
Mahon, Mrs. M. J. McFadden, Miss
Eveline A. Waldo and others, have
recognized the necessity of mission
airy endeavor on the part of exemplary
lay men and women who, while liberal
with money, are more generous in Civ
ing of their time to lift many of the
poor out of the rut into which they
| have fallen.
| Some may think that it is during the
winter months we can prove ourselves
the most helpful friends of our needy
fellow beings. It is true that this
season of cold and of scant employ
ment affords the best opportunity for
service along bread-and-clothing lines,
but throughout the warm summer
months we can labor for the dependent
in moral way with best results.
T The summer season with its bust
ness activity provides work for all and
it's warmth lessons the cost of living
The head of family, partly dependent
on charity during the winter, now
finds it easy to provide food, clothing
and shelter for wife and children. The
common laborer may succeed SO well
in this regard that he feels at times
entitled to congratulate himself on his
achievement; and when he is the pos
SCISSOR of few dollars he wants his
fellow men to recognize in him those
traits of character that entities him to
be called good fellow" Unfor-
tunately some of our laboring men
cannot stand prosperity Having a
few dollars over and above the cost of
present-day living acts as disturber
of the peace of the improvident head
of the home. This is soon found out
by the slothful and Incorporate who
cleverly get inside the charmed circle
of his particular friends. These para
sites need food and drink. They long
ago learned how to live on others and
have not the least qualms of con-
science about inducing the father of a
family to spend on them what should
be spent on wife and children.
Why men in days of prosperity, or
during few months of steady en-
ployment, will throw away the few
dollars they are able to earn in ex-
cess of the cost of living is not an un-
solvable problem. It may at times be
difficult to ascertain the reason, but
charity workers should make it their
business to know the why of such
foolish conduct. After we have be-
come acquainted with individuals,
their responsibilities and the condi-
lions surrounding them we should by
united effort put the integral family
beyond the need of eating the bread
of charity. We may all learn the lead.
! ing and the contributory causes OF
, poverty. When we have agreed, that
the causes are removable Gas they are
, in most instances) we shall likely con.
conclude that it is our duty to strive
for the betterment of the family even
though we are not paying grocery bills
or rent.
When the moral uplift of the erring
| is left entirely to priests the desired
results are not often attained. Some
| of our unfortunate co-religionists new.
, er 90 to the Church to hear instruc-
tons and they pay little or no heed
, to the exhortations given them at
home. There is need of monitors be
sides the clergy who strongly disap.
prove OF their manner OF living. The
culpable poor meet so many who exist
i'm the same manner as they do and
/ are 30 rarely found fault with that II
, is difficult to get them i'm the proper