Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1913-04-12
Interesting Account of Circum-
stances That Led Up to Its
Organization.
Will He Observed by Louisville
Conferences on Sunday,
April 27.
HOW The NAME WAS SELECTED

In view of the approaching cen
tenary of the birth of Antoine
Frederic Ozanam on April 23 next,
which will be observed by the Louis
Vile conferences of the st. Vincent
de Paul Society by a general COM
munion and meeting on Sunday,
April 81, the following account Of
the circumstances leading up to the
founding of the st. Vincent de Paul
Society, taken from the London
Universe, will at this time prove Of
permanent interest:
We know that the foundations of
the society were laid in May, 1888.
But for some years prior to that
date there already existed in Paris
benevolent society, La Congrega-
tion, one of whose activities was the
distribution of relief among the
poor. A famous nun, Sister Rosalie
Rendu, had charge of this work for
the Mouffetard district, and the idea
was soon forced upon her that the
only effective way of succoring the
truly needy was not to distribute the
relief from a center to which any
one, deserving or not, could come
and claim it, but to do so only after
friendly visits made at their very
homes, whereby through personal
contact the necessary knowledge of
the home circumstances and re-
quirements would be gained. She
accordingly gathered round her a
devoted band of helpers, among
whom were the parents of the late
Father Bailly.
In 1888 this priests father, who
was founder, proprietor and editor
Of La Tribune Catholique, now the
Univers, was President of a re-
markable debating club, composed
of the elite of the Catholic young men
studying at the University of Paris
One of the leading spirits among
these young men was 0zanam, then
only twenty years old They met
periodically for debate on historical,
literary and philosophical subjects
at the house of NJ. Bailly, whom, as
many years their esnior, they looked
up to as their guide, philosopher and
friend. These meetings they des-
ignated conferences. Attention is
called to this word, as 1t will be
seen lower down how It came to be
employed to designate a local group
Of the Society of ST. Vincent de
Paul, now about to be founded. On
that eventful day of May, 1898,
seven choice spirits met at the office
of the Tribune Catholique under the
Presidency of NJ. Bailly, and the
great society came into being which
was one day to spread its ramifica-
tions over the whole world.
The young men were full of fiery
zeal. energy and good will, and
Ozanam, the originator of the idea,
may truly be said to have been the
founder of the new society; but 1t
required the mature experience and
calm and clear judgment of an
older man like NJ. Bailly in his posi-
tion as President to steer II clear
of inevitable initial difficulties into
smooth water, and to direct the
activities of his young associates and
help them to draw up a programme
and code of rules for future guild
ance. The meetings were held
weekly on Sundays at NJ. Bailly's
house, and a notable fact connected
Herewith is worthy of record. The
object of the society being relief
OF the poor, an extremely simple and
frugal meal, such as would be found
on a poor mans table, was an essen
tial part of the programme of the
meetings, and the members imme-
diately after dispersed on their
several errands OF mercy.
One or the first questions that
presented itself was to find a name
for the new organization. The men,
bers were all of them also members
OF the Societe de Bonnes Etudes.
This embraced the three depart
ments of history. literature and phil
osophy. Why should II not include
also fourth-that is charity? Here,
then, was a solution ready to hand.
The meetings would be conferences
In the new department. When later
on branches OF the society were
opened at other places in France
the various branches, including the
parent one in Paris, became con-
ferences Of the conjoint body
which, now a separate organization
4 had nothing TO do with debates on
/ history, literature or philosophy
But the conjoint body, the society
must be given a distinguishing
name.
Now IL so happened that the
Bailly family had for two genera.
tions special devotion TO st. Win.
cent de Paul. NJ. Bailly's first born
the recently deceased monk-journal.
list, had only a few months before
the foundation of the society been
given in baptism the full name OF
the saint. His father had at the
outbreak OF the French Revolution
been entrusted with the safe custody
OF the saints manuscripts. Ther
again on the final restoration OF
the monarchy the saints body
which for fear OF desecration during
the Revolution had been removed e
Ameins. was piously brought back e
Paris by his mother and his uncle
the Able Baiily. What wonder theI
that NJ Bailly should without hesi
'tation suggest that the great apostle