The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-06-12
CATHOLIC PRIEST HEADS
NATIONAL CHARITIES

National Conference OF Charities and
Corrections has elected a Catholic
priest as its president. At its recent
gathering in Baltimore Rev. Francis
H. Gavisk, pastor of st. Johns Church.
Indianapolis, and chancellor Of the
diocese Of which that city is the see,
was chosen for that Office by the con-
ference. That the honor was we'll
deserved in this case is we'll known
to those who have been associated
with Father Gavisk in his charitable
work. As pastor of large parish To-
Gated in central portion of the city,
comprising within its confines many
members of the poorer working class
es, he has had much work of this ma.
ture to demand his attention and
energies and has labored to accom-
plish it in quiet way, which, how
ever, has been so efficient as to re-
ceive undesired notice and publicity.
His zeal has not allowed him to
merely confine his endeavors to the
necessities of his parish. He is re-
sponsible for the introduction of the
st. Vincent de Paul Society in the city
where he is stationed, and in 1907
Governor Hanley of Indiana appointed
him as member Of the State Board Of
Charities and Corrections, which is
recognized as the most efficient in its
work in the United States. On this
board, charged with the visitation and
supervision Of private charitable in
stitutions as we'll as the direction of
the charitable establishments of the
state, Father Gavisk has made a
splendid reputation. He has also for
many years been active in the meet
ings of the National Conferences of
Charities and Corrections, having
served on several occasions as chair
man of one of its various departments.
It addition he has devoted much time
and thought to the effort to better or.
ganize the Catholic charitable agencies
in his city, so as to enable them to
carry on their undertakings in: more
satisfactory manner.
During the now famous strikes o1
the teamsters and street car men in
Indianapolis, Father Gavisk was called
upon to play an important role. AS g
member of the citizens committee
which investigated the grievances Of
the teamsters, he did excellent serv
ice in showing to the public that the
strikers were justified in their de
mands. He also, in his public addresses
to the strikers, at several times per
formed noteworthy task in counsel
| ing them to moderation and GOODNESS
while showing his sympathy for them
and their cause in the irritating crisis
His stand on these occasions has
won him the love and appreciation Of
the working classes of the Indiana
capital.
1t is a noteworthy fact in connec
tion with Father Gavisk's election that
the state of Indiana, which is now &C
knowledged to be the leading state II
social work, having produced sucf
we'll known social workers as Ernes
Bicknell, of the Red Cross; Alexander
Johnson, the authority on feeble
mindedness, Amos w. Butler, ant
many others, was first represented a
the meetings of the National Confer
ence by the Very Rev. August Bes
sonies, Father Gavisk's predecessor
known in his time for his charitable
endeavors. These two priests will
long be remembered for their zeal an,
ceaseless energies in their work TO
their fellow men.