The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-06-05

fectual way.
Our modern civilization, although
originally inspired by Christianity, is
now infected with un-Christian ele-
ments. The grinding of the poor, the
"sweated" labor of women and chill
dren, the denial of real religious eiu-
cation to the young, the degrading
conditions of slum life, the callous
selfishness of many capitalists, the
abuse Of riches In mere pleasure-seek-
ing, the unfair division of what should
be common burdens, the tax which UNI
just rents lay upon the thrift and in
dustry of tenants, the curse Of chronic
unemployment, the encouragement of
the vice of intemperance and gambling,
the social evil" Of our streets, the
falsehood and immortality that degrade
the press-all these and other forms
Of hardship and injustice and lawless-
ness, which form the constant argu-
ment of socialist denunciation, call for
a still sterner condemnation from
those who profess the faith of a
Christian.
1t is our business, or rather our
privilege, to bring society to those
Christian principles of justice and
charity which alone can heal its
wounds. Ardent reformers, full of a
just indignation against injustice and
oppression, abuse of privilege and idle
luxury, are loudly advocating their
various panaceas. Socialism holds up
materialistic utopias to captivate the
imaginations of the poor and wretch
ed. 1t is our duty to lead them back
to the Divine Physician who promises
to refresh them and give them peace.
The remedy of Christianity, once so
effective to sweeten the lot of the
toiler and the afflicted, has never real
ly been applied to modern social con-
ditions as whole. 1t is for Chris
tians to apply it, on the lines of this
short Catechism, compiled chiefly by
the English Catholic Social Guild.
I. The Patient.
What do you mean by the social
problem?
mean that society is very ill and
must be cured.
But what do you mean by society?
l mean all the men, women and
children of country united under one
government and meant to work on to.
gether and help each other to lead full
and happy human lives.
So by society you do not mean the
fashionable society" or smart set
that we read about in the newspa-
pers?
No, l mean everybody. We are all
citizens or members of society and
have all an interest in the common
welfare.
But you say society is very ill, are
we all very Ill?
No, we are not all very i'll, but the
society to which we belong is very i'll.
But is society like a person in that
1t can be ill?
Yes, society is like a person. 1t
consists Of many parts or organs
working together.
What are these parts or organs of
society?
There are different classes of So
ciety--rich and poor, employers and
workers, rulers and subjects.
Why then is society i'll?
Because these different classes do
not work together for the common
good. When one part of our body
does not work we'll with the rest, we
say that we are i'll.
But thought all men were equal !;
if they differ, as the parts of our body
differ, they are not all equal. Can you
explain this?
When we say that all men are equal,
we mean that all men are Gods chill.
dren and were created for the same
end. But they differ from each other
in SO far as they have different gifts
and do different, work.
How do we know that men differ in
gifts?
Because we see it. Some men are
strong and can work we'll with their
arms, others are good at organizing,
others at inventing. We are not all fit
for the same kind of work.
Is it good thing that men differ
like this?
Yes, otherwise society could not get
on. Society needs what is called the
division of labor"
Did God mean any of US to be idle?
No. we all have our work to do in
society, for we are all members of
society. Just as all our limbs are of
some use to us, so all members of so.
ciety arc intended to be a help to
society and not a hindrance.
But what about the idle rich?
Not all rich men are idle; neither
are all poor men Industrious.
But some rich men are idle.
Yes, they are neglecting their duty
and offending God, who has given
them their riches not merely for