The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-07-21
CATHOLIC VITALITY. IN PARIS


selves and attained influence beyond
the limit of the association. Amongst
employers this syndicate, created by
Catholics and true to the spirit i'm
parted to it, is today a power.
1t has a distinct place at the Ma
tional and International Congresses;
it is consulted at official enquiries; it
contributes to the drafting of social
legislation. Thus at political period
when religion was INSTRUCTED, men
aced, compelled to defend itself, the
Catholics showed with eclat their
power of expansion and asserted their
beneficent authority. The progress
achieved on social ground by the
syndicates of the employees is one of
the manifestations of Christian life
and influence in France in recent
years.
Losses From War.
Unfortunately the war has inflicted
cruel losses on this association. Six
thousand of it's members have been
called to the colors OF this number
six hundred have already lost their
lives. But the great sacrifice has en-
HANGED the value of the services rem
dered by these young men. Hundreds
OF citations in military dispatches, of
military medals and of crosses of
honor recorded in the syndicate's
Golden Book eloquently attest that
these simple employees have displayed
no less valor< in fighting than energy
in society action.
This social action, moreover, has
not decreased owing to the trial to
which it has been subjected by pa
triotism. It has not only maintained
its agencies, but also enlarged its ben
efactions; works carried out on behalf
of soldiers, of the wounded, of pris
oners, orphans and widows have
doubled the number of peace institu-
tions.
The ceremony which the syndicate
organized at Notre Dame bore wit
ness alike to it's vitality and fore
sight. At the same time that it in
vited the Catholic people to pray to-
gether for their dead it requested
them to engage unitedly in works for
the future by which it hopes to make
their sacrifice fruitful and to perpetu-
ate their memory.
Father Sertillanges, an eloquent
preacher, explained by what works
and in what distinctly and profound
ly Christian spirit the syndicate
wishes to cooperate in the reconstruc-
ton of France. Let me add that in
this demonstration at the Cathedral
the employees of commerce and indus
try were not alone. With them knelt
representatives of eight working
mems syndicates which the associa-
ton few years before the war es.
tablished on the same pattern and
which by it's aid are gradually under
going development.
A force still modest, at least in
| numbers, but the nucleus of a power
| which will one day present in opposi-
ton to the General Confederation of
| Labor a workers syndicalism solidly
Catholic
Whilst this function was taking
| place under the lofty arches of the
| Metropolitan Church another assembly
| filled the nave of the national basilica.
That too was gathering of the same
mature, animated by the same spirit.
The Catholic employees of the great
Paris shops were making their pill
| grimage to Montmartre. The associa-
| ton is a Christian and trade organiza-
ton which was founded some five
/ years ago amongst the stats of the
/ "Printemp,' the Louvre" and the
Bon Marche."
| From them it obtained a multitude
i of recruits, many of whom conduct a
real apostolate amidst their comrades
/ And let it not be supposed that it
owed the success of it's propaganda to
material advantages offered to its
members. Above all, it requires from
/ them an effort and proposes to inten
sify their devotion to religion. And
/! this is understood by thousands OF
souls.
I Notwithstanding the sad losses
caused by the war in the male mem
bership of the association-thisg group
appeals to the two sexes, with the eX
ception of the employees of commerce
and industry who consist only of men
the Basilica of the Sacred Heart
was not large enough to hold all the
pilgrims.
i 1t was with touching emotion the
nal-Archbishop of Paris thanked
them for their earnestness and fervor
In their presence in such numbers al
the foot of the altar erected by
France for France, he saw motive
of hope and a pledge of restoration
Had he not ground for this conf
dence?
| g Md V0rU Pow