The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-07-25
c CHRISTIAN CHARITY

DR.. KERRY PLEADS THE CAUSE
OF THE POOR IN AN ADDRESS
AT THE DUBUQUE SUMMER
scHooL-PoLITIcAL, EcoNoM-
Ic, CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS
ASPECTS OF CHARITY WORK.
One of the most interesting and in
structive of the public lectures given
at the Dubuque Summer School for
Catholic teachers was delivered in the
spacious auditorium of Dubuque Col
lege on Thursday evening, July Is, by
the Reverend DR.. Kerby, Professor of
Sociology at the Catholic University,
Washington, d. G.
He pictured the sufferfngs and pri-
vations of the poor, who are not to
blame for their condition, and up
braided those who claim that the poor
are responsible for their misfortune,
and in strong language contrasted the
advantages and opportunities of the
two classes.
The four largest features of charity
work, he said, are the political, the
economic. the cultural and the relig-
ious He said in part:
To-day there is a keenness of suf-
fering as never before, and society is
everywhere asking what can be done
for the unhappy ones with no hope and
no opportunity. Life to them is daily
tragedy. They are cheated out of
health, wealth, opportunity and pleas
ure. | deny that the poverty of these
people is their fault. The drunkard
may be to blame, but the wife and
children are not responsible for their
condition. The ignorant woman sent
to the factory at the age of eight
never had a chance and is not to
blame for her condition. Why, then,
ask, do we blame the poor?
Political Duty.
"It is the business of the state to
define our fundamental rights, and
the state waits for us, unless in Grim
inal cases, to come to it. We have a
keen sense of right and justice and
we go to the state. How about the
poor when they are wronged? They
simply take it The wash woman
very often has hard time to get
$3.50 from a dandy. They are not
quick to call for help and so they re
ceive the least assistance from the
state. The wash woman has bill
against man, what can she do about
it? She is helpless. 1t is the bust
ness of charity to step in and teach
the poor their political rights; 1t is
the business of society to bring about
such laws as will give the poor pro
lection. The metal polisher who is
daily inhaling the dust that causes
| tuberculosis wants laws to protect
him, and it is the political business
| of society to see that he gets it. 1t is
the political business of society tc
see that the poor are educated to I'm
| derstand their rights of protection.
Economic Mission.
''It is the economic mission of char
| ity to start where distribution ends
and continue what we call supplement
tary distribution 1t is the mission
of charity to enable the poor to carr
living. When representative of 9
charity organization goes into home
and sees a girl of fourteen years, il
is his duty to take her SO that she
may make her living. First, good
clothing and shelter; second, employ
| ment, and thirdly, the business of get
ting to work on the problem to modify
the law as to bring adequate protec
ton to this class The rich are able
to fight for their own rights, the poor
are helpless.
| Cultural Side.
"The cultural side of charity is tt
bring to the poor the right under
standing of human life. The emotions
and feelings which elevate life are
mostly expressed in art, music ant
| literature. You and | need these
agencies in order to live normal lives
You will smile, I know, when | sa!
that the poor need them a Thousand
times more than we do. Look at thu
lives of the poor and then tell me
how can you expect refinement. VIII!
l ask, in Gods name, must all the ad
vantages be heaped on you and mi
and deny the poor everything? AS
believe in the justice of God beliey'
that there must be an equalizing some
day.
/ Religious Mission.
"The fourth mission of charity is tn
religious. How many of us believ'
in the brotherhood of man? How
many of us look on the dull and TN
interesting as brothers? Tt is tn,
doctrinal mission of charity to keel
, - 4.