The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-12-02
OUR SCHOOL OF SOCIAL
STUDIES.

As of the making Of books so of
the founding Of societies there seems
in these days to be no end. The
varieties and the extent of the ex-
preston of the society idea are max
ing themselves felt both here and
abroad. The notes of coordination
of activities and of simplifcation of
organizing processes are being
sounded. Men Of deep thought and
wide experience are discussing the
incident problems. always with the
view of safeguarding first, society
union and strength, and then eff
Gent fruitful action.
1t is good to find here minds in
tent Oh quality rather than on bulk
Of results. When they go into every
angle and detail of organization and
working methods of societies in their
discussions, there is a resultant light
speedily available by those who have
the great social cause at heart. A
study OF the reports of proceedings
at the numerous conventions of the
past summer brings out evidence
that our American Catholic social
action generally is growing, if not
amain, at least gratifyingly, Yet
there is a comparative mass of our
people holding aloof from near con-
tact and real interest-an aloofness
characteristic chiefly of such as have
not the habit Of Catholic reading OF
fare reached only in groups by moth
ing beyond the essential Sunday
church service.
The School of Social Studies.
Besides the ntembers of all regu-
larry organized societies in the dio.
cese, these sluggish outsiders ought
also gradually to be brought, to fee
the influence of the school Of social
studies, whose program, under ths
auspices Of the Archdiocesan Unior
| of Catholic Men, was announced il
The Catholic Bulletin last week
The educational feature of thi;
movement will be attractive to man,
for its splendid possibilities of latel
development. Far from detractins
from the activities of our societies
in the Twin Cities and outside. i
will both stimulate them and suppl,
a means Of directing them more in
telligently and efficiently to theil
end. It is interesting to find tha
the method by which this is to b,
brought about is in line with til,
ideas of a GREAT German leader ii
society work for over twenty-fy,
years, Mgr. G. Walterbach.
| In a recent number of the Municl
"Allgemeine Rundschau," he dis
cusses among other questions that O
cooperation. He says that in TIL
Immediate future the matter of eff
Gent helpers and co-operators vii
be of primary Importance. The co
Operation of the clergy is matte
of course and cannot be DISPENSE
with. But the laity must not thinl
that the clergy alone are to do tn
society work. That would be an in
tolerable burden and in the end
would do harm rather than good.
/ Lay Cooperation.
| The cooperation of lay member
lis becoming more and more urgent
| In this respect the German Catholi
| labor unions have in recent year
made good progress. They thirty
under clerical advice and LEADERSHIP
but the lay members must enter int
all society's activities. The bes
way to secure this result is by th
development of assistant lay instrue
tors in these study courses. Th
| clergy must lay the foundations 6
3 this preparation and development
Il There is no society activity MOI
fruitful than this. In no other fea:
ible way can they bring about q "a
reaching scope of social action
During the war this phase of eI
deayor had to be laid aside, and Il