The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-07-27
THE CHURCH IN MEXICO

conditions of the Indians, the indus
trial workers and the peasants. The
deliberations and decisions of the con-
crosses carefully recorded and pub
lished-show that the problems at is
sue were conscientiously studied.
Steps were taken to put the resolu-
tions into execution. Good results
had begun to be apparent.
Even prior to these conventions, but
more especially after, and on the ini-
tiative of the clergy, workingmen's So
cieties under the name of Circulos
Obreros were organized. Their pur-
pose was to provide the members
with mutual aid, instruction and inno-
cent recreation. They were estab-
lished in most of the principal cities.
In the city of Guadalajara alone the
membership reached $4,000 men and
10000 women. In many other towns
the result was excellent.
Workingmen's Societies.
Beside the important consideration
given the peon problem in the above
mentioned conventions, two organiza-
lions were started for the improve
ment of the peasant. The usefulness
of these was manifested from the very
Agricolas, or One Weeks Meetings
for the Promotion of Agricultural In
terests, which was planned by the
present Archbishop of Mexico. Lee
lures dealing with the problems or
the needs of the peasantry were reg
ularly delivered. The second was the
Workers of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
society dedicated solely to promote
the interests of the peasants. To
these two societies we owe the most
accurate and conscientious studies and
statistics about wages and about
the morals and the needs of the peas
ants that have been collected in Mex
leo.
The most remarkable work in Mexi-
CO is undoubtedly the one accom-
plished by the Conferences of Char
ity, which furnished means for the
wealthy to visit the poor and to pro-
vide them with medicine, garments
and food, regardless of any creed or
nationality. These conferences, which
do the work of lacking hospitals, are
spread throughout the country. French
statistics show that-next to France
Mexico is the country where the con-
ferences spend more money in char
liable works and where help is i'm
parted to the sick poor on the largest
scale.
The work of the Catholic Ladies was
similar. The members devoted them
selves to personally teaching working
women how to improve their condi-
ton.
Houses of the Good Shepherd we're
to be found in most principal cities.
Hospitals existed in big and even in
smaller towns, all under the manage
ment of the Catholic Church.
For lack of statistics we cannot give
just now the exact number of Catho-
lie schools, but it is a matter of evil
dence to every person in Mexico that
in the states most thickly peopled the
children attending Catholic schools
outnumbered those attending all 9TH
ers, including the public schools; that
Catholic colleges were preferred to all
others; that there was no great want
among the poor for which proper re-
lief could not be found either in pri-
vate charity or in benevolent insti-
tutions supported by the Church.
Finally, the Church used it's best
endeavors to provide a remedy for the
social needs of the Indians, of the in
dustrial workers and of the peasants,
always using peaceful and efficient
means.