The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-11-11
THE WHITE CROSS NURSES
AN ORGANIZATION THAT AIMS AT
DEVELOPING TRAINED
SOCIAL WORKERS.

Catholic organization and social
work is for the most part done out of
charity and good will, and because of
the necessity, oftentimes by unskilled
volunteer workers. 1t is just as i'm
portant that a social worker receive a
wage, and one that will afford her a
decent living, as it is for those who
enter other professions and callings.
The White Cross Nurses were or
ganized on the Feast of the Holy
Rosary, in October, 1915, by eight stu
dents of the American Academy of
Christian Democracy. Their object is
to furnish to Catholic associations,
leagues and declarations, properly
trained secretaries, field-agents, press
correspondents, lecturers, parish visi-
tors, social workers, practical nurses.
etc, etc. There is an increasing de-
mand for association workers, possess
| ing qualifications, co-extensive with
| the nature of the many and varied
| Catholic works.
The White Cross Nurses are not a
religious sisterhood, and do not pro-
pose to be, but religion is the prime
motive of their work. The mind and
heart of the religious is required, not
the outward appearance; it is a spe-
cial vocation to works, which for vari-
| GUS reasons, the religious Sisterhoods
are unable to undertake. 1t is not so
much within the plan of the White
| Cross Nurses to initiate new enter
/ prises, as to foster, under organized
auspices, existing good works, and to
extend if possible, their usefulness.
| They have the vocation to put them.
selves humbly at the disposition of the
Catholic cause of Womanhood, when
ever and wherever required.
A gift of IT'S acres of land near
Black Mountain, N. c., has just been
made to the Rev. Peter E. Dietz for
the development of this work. Black
| Mountain was destined to become a
/ great religious center. 1t is situated
at the foot of Mt Mitchell, the highest
| peak east Of the Rockies. The Epis
copalians, Presbyterians, Methodists
and Baptists, have developed great
| summer colonies here. The Y. M
C. A., Y. w. c. A. and the National
4 Students Association own thousand
acres of land, with splendid buildings
Here also, a great music auditorium is
being built. Into this development
there will come a Catholic feature
| through the American Academy Of
Christian Democracy. Black Noun
tain is on the main line of the South
ern Railway, Is miles from Asheville
N. c., and can be reached without
change of trains from Cincinnati, Ohio
or Washington, D. c.
A social service novitiate in these
surroundings, away from the distrac
tions of the city, is the very best
means of making social service not
merely technically efficient" but also
| supernatural in it's motive and ends
| The idea of a novitiate has an hon
ored place in all great Catholic organ
| lied work The soul of reform, is the
reform of the soul. He who would up
lift others, must first uplift himself.
Young ladies from twenty to thirty
/ five years of age, may upon applica
ton, be admitted to twelve weeks
course of social study, without any eX
pense, If they will sign a contract to
serve, upon satisfactory completion Of
the course, in whatever field is as
signed to them: (a) as volunteer
for six months, room, board and laun,
dry being provided, and (b) as a regu
lar White Cross Nurse at salary OF
| $4,000 per month for the period of one
year Students who do not wish to
sign contract may elect to pay the
regular academic fees.
| There is also in process of develop
ment, an insurance system for the
White Cross Nurses that will provide
against sickness and old age. A sys
tenn of this kind is intended to make
secure the future of White Gross
| Nurses who consecrate themselves to
| this work. Prospective White Gross
| Nurses may secure all information
about courses of study, by applying to
| Doy Dotnr u Diof7 HIT SnYsiupc NJ O.