The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-06-14
A MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENT
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IChurch has great work of social edr
cation and social welfare lying befor
1t. Here, again, the Hierarchy mus
take the lead
Hardly anything in recent years ha
reflected greater glory on the Churcl
than the care of the moral welfare O
our soldiers and sailors during tn
War-a work begun by the Knights O
Columbus and perfected by the Hier
archy through it's Committee of tn,
National Catholic War Council. Build
lngs with their equipment are to b.
found in nearly all our government
forts and stations here and abroad
NO one, | presume, would think We
should abandon this field of apostolic
work. After the record we have
made, it would be impossible for us to
say to our men in the service: we
leave you now to the care of the Y
M. c. A, the Jewish Welfare Board
and the Salvation Army. That these
organizations propose to keep up the
work begun during the war, there can
be no doubt. Naturally, too, the
Knights of Columbus do not wish TIC
give up the work or to abandon the
valuable property erected in govern
ment stations and forts. This work
can be best done by the Knights with
the support of the Hierarchy, as a
truly Catholic work. For the sake of
our men in the service, for the spirit,
ual welfare of the Knights of Column
bus, and for the honor of the Church
itself, this work then should continue
to be under the direction of the HER
archy.
The time will soon come, too, when
we shall have to consider the best
means of utilizing the zeal and good
will of other Catholic societies, both
OF men and women, and Of the laity
in general. Our people long to be
helpful and only need to have the way
shown to them.
S. Catholic University.
The great war has revealed to the
world the all-penetrating influence of
the highly trained intellect. The uni
versal unrest of the day seems a
prelude to very troubled times. Evil
doctrines, propounded by clever
minds, will have more and more in
tluence. Great need, then, will the
Church have of leaders with sure
knowledge and we'll trained and we'll
balanced minds. Our greatest single
hope is in the Catholic University,
which in it's short existence has al
ready been of greatest service in
many ways that even the Catholic
public, perhaps, is not aware of.
After it's many vicissitudes, it stands
today upon solid foundation. We
have reason to be proud of it and it's
achievements. 1t is the child of the
Hierarchy and depends for it's sup
port on the Hierarchy. Continually
in the past it's development has been
stunted for lack of funds. If it is to
obtain and hold it's place among the
leading universities of the United
States, a greater interest in it's well
fare and success must be aroused
among our Catholic people. 1t ought
not to be difficult to double or treble,
at least, the annual contribution. Our
committee should consider ways and
means of effecting this.
A report on higher education among
Catholics, relatively to the intellectual
life of the country, is a great desidera-
tum. 1t would reveal the need of
greater efforts to raise our intellectual
standards.
6. Catholic Education.
Capitalization in education is the
trend Of the day and seems due to
the needs of the situation. What will
be the outcome? How will Catholic
interests be affected? There is no
question at present on which light is
more earnestly desired 1t is, indeed
the most pressing of problems, the
one on which we can least afford to
delay. I beg you to have a careful
treatment of this subject prepared
and submitted to the judgment of the
most expert.
A less pressing but even more i'm
portant matter is the systematization
of our own educational forces. There
is great waste through lack of co-or
dinatiOn. Do we not need more OF
system? Will not the very trend OF
our national life force us to study and
overhaul our own educational struc
ture?
7. Catholic Literature.
We are not a literary Church, fol-
our busy ministry has left little leis
ure for literary pursuits. Neverthe
less our ministry would be greatly ia
cilitated by the production and spread
of good books and pamphlets. AS g
matter of fact, it is greatly hampered
now by lack of literature on the most
common topics of the day, which
would enlighten inquirers OF
strengthen the faith and deepen the
piety of our own people. 1t has beer
suggested that a literary bureau, I'm
der the patronage of the Hierarchy
could easily secure writer's to give us
what is lacking. Is this feasiblet
Certainly there is a great deal of lit
erary talent among us which little
stimulation would rouse to very use
full activity.
The various Catholic Truth Socie
ties Of the country might cooperate
with greater effect, and be stirred tt