Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1913-09-13
Cardinal Farley Quits Vacation
to Preside at Evening
Service.
Social Question Is More Than
That of Hours and
Wages.
DUTY And DIGNITY OF LABOR

In striking contrast with the Sun
day Labor day observance in Louis
vile, noted in our last issue, was
that in New York City, and thus de-
scribed by the daily press:
At st. Patrick's Cathedral, New
York, Cardinal Farley, quitting his
vacation at West End, N. Y, pre-
sided at special evening service for
workingmen last Sunday, to which
came delegates of many Catholic So
cieties and 5000 representatives OF
labor unions. The Right Rev. Denis
]. Mcmahon, who has charge Of Cath
Ollie charities, delivered the sermon.
''The duty, dignity and conditions
of labor" said Mons. Mcmahon, ARE
shown from Scripture and history.
"The dignity is shown by the
Saviour's assumption of the work.
mans life until his thirtieth year. The
apostles and saints of the church, as
we'll as the religious orders who pro-
claims to labor is to pray, were often
of the laboring class.
1--WE in this country shed much
blood in a civil war to uphold the
honor of labor by making all men
free to engage therein.
Man, according to ST Paul, must
labor with his whole soul, that is with
intelligence, conscience and affec-
ton. Hence slovenly work is like
lie before God and man.
''The social question is more than
that of hours and wages. II means
besides these the upbuilding of char
acter so that selfishness, which is at
the root of most disagreements, shall
be eliminated.
''The chVrch's duty is to form char
acter on immutable principles and
indirectly to help in the betterment
of economic conditions so that good
character may be better sustained.
I'm the Middle Ages the church
directly and through the guilds made
man look to the common welfare in
his acts. The individualistic system
~as introduced by the Reformation.
Private Interpretation was first
adopted as the principle in religion
ard it soon spread into the Industrial
world and the laissez faire system be-
came universal. By this individualistic
labor policy and unrestricted competi-
ton were produced many of the evils
pictured overluridly by the Socialists.
THE reaction from this system has
resulted in Socialism on an insecure
natural basis and social reform on
the Christian basis.
''The church works from within
oltward. Socialism from without in
ward. The church looks to character
first. knowing that good environment
will follow; Socialism looks to en-
yironment first, hoping that good
character will come therefrom.
There is no prudence in holding
out to all the chance in rising to the
highest positions. The vast majority
must remain in the ranks Of work
men and for them should we frame
the practical ideals where all that
goes to form an honest, religious, do
nestle and economic life may be with
In reach.
LEO XIII explains the personal
and the necessary element in mans
labor, which gives II dignity. Man
must not be regarded as a machine.
neither is he the sole arbiter of the
way OF making his living.
"All work for the amelioration OF
conditions must be done in prudence
and patience Only inch by inch, as
nature works, will the end be gained
81 rely"