The Irish standard., 1914-10-03
(The Weekly Press Service)
Unity in Social Action.
BY A. w. Kliefoth. A, B,

energy in bringing about the extir-
patton of some great evil. But truly
the social question is far to great to
be grasped by one mind. Its prob
lens are so many and difficult that
no one individual or no one organiza-
tion can correct the evils and remedy
the abuses that may be grouped un-
der the social problem. Our faith
demands wider view of these prob
lens than we seem to take, and our
God demands that these duties be
not neglected. Our faith is not local,
it is universal, 1t is united not only
here, but everywhere. Therefore,
let us realize the Importance of
unity in its related actions, and act
accordingly, and from this time for
ward, let social problems and social
service be intertwined. It is impos-
sible to exaggerate the Importance of
cooperation, and nothing is more ak
iomatic than in unity there is
strength except that in disunion
there is failure. AS long as we do
not unite our activities our adversa-
ries have no reason to fear us. They
have learned this lesson from the
warriors of the world, particularly
from Napoleon, whose strategic
power lay in his ability to keep the
enemy separated-divided among
themselves. Again the great savior
of this country-the great Abraham
Lincoln emphasized this point when
he said "a house divided against it.
self cannot stand"
And unquestionably we are divid-
ed; we are not as yet disunited. We
are separated because of our apathy,
because of petty and often selfish
reasons. But, oh, the shame of it.
the Sinking of this duty.
How we'll need we draw valuable
lesson from our brothers outside of
the Catholic fold, who in national
movements are accomplishing almost
impossible things. The social express
sion of religion can and must be
found in national movements. And
at no time in our history has there
been so much agitation for social bet
terment, never so many plans de-
vised to relieve misery and ineffi-
ciecy. Not all of this agitation is
wise, not all of the plans helpful
much Of it is indeed chimerical and
many of the plans subversive of hu-
man rights. But the greatest for
ward movements in religion have al
ways taken place under the call of
the great historical situations. The
social awakening is an epoch in the
history of the Catholic Church, and
it need not move with the slow tread
of the great historic events.
We Catholics are Just beginning
to take our rightful place in the
country's forces. We are not seek
Ing power and influence for mere
selfish and predatory ends. The OBJ
1ect OF our organization is the secur-
Ing OF justice. The day has passed
when Catholics can afford to be as
a mere heap of uncementing sand.
Surely the time has arrived when all
can see the necessity of discarding
the old methods, and falling into line
with modern necessities. Time and
time again it has been proved that
what is simply impossible by indi-
vidual effort becomes certain by
common action.
1t is equally true that the apathetic
Catholic is hampering the work of
our cooperative federation activities,
and by his apathy is assisting to
bring about economic systems con-
trary to Catholic teaching.
Today we of the United States are
facing the same evils that the Cath
olics of Europe and elsewhere have
faced. Their reaction came after the
elimination of evils, when the times
were such that to some it seemed
as If "the gates of He'll would prevail
against them" But need we wait
so long, can we not understand the
threatening signs of the time? Can
we not understand the warning given
US by the present era of scavenger
publications, of atheistic and ma
terial tendencies that are wedged
into our daily lives?
But there are hundreds of men
today who cannot discern the signs
of the time, whose ears catch no
meaning in the dull murmur of the
restless masses, whose eyes see no
sense in the economic movements of
the day.
The same world, the same sun
shine, the same rain, the same tolls.
and the same joys-and yet these
phenomena have no significance to
one set of men, while to another set
l