Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-04-08

y n = III
some respects.
The floor OF
the dining Mes =
hall, for in Mn III nI"''"
stance. has become so rickety
that the monks no longer dare
let the hungry men march IN.
The floor might collapse.
For another thing, they have
no storage space for food.
The Capuchin monks are
more like Elijah than anybody
I can think OF. They believe
that the Lord will provide. and
the Lord always does. But they
don't believe In putting any UNI
necessary burden on Providence.
90 IL somebody offers them an
extra side Of beef or a trucllOad
Of potatoes. they take II, know
ing that a fun larder today Is
good insurance for tomorrow.
Storing the food Is n problem.
Recently the monks have even
dug pits in the ground and
buried vegetables because they
had NO other way of keeping
them for n few days.
Take last Sundays menu 10
get an idea of how big a thing
il is. On Easter Sunday 1.SOO
men ate there because they had
no other place TO go.
They ate IA bushels OF pota-
toes, 1900 pounds of ham. 1880
eggs, 10 bushels OF carrots and
beets, 100 pounds of coffee and
the same amount of jelly, 450
loaves of bread. $50 stalks OF
celery. 20 gallons of cream. 10
Of milk, and 80 pounds OF sugar.
There's n story connected with
that 1900 pounds Of meat.
Years ago there was n ragamuf-
fin of a Mid In New York. Both
his parents were dead, and at
the age of 10 or 12 he was living
by his wits on the streets.
The Capuchins took him In.
Now he's i'm Detroit, one of the
city's big commission merchants.
He gets meat at wholesale for
the Capuchins. FORGETTING all
profit. Naturally this amounts
90 n considerable sum year
after year.
OF the 200 or so members OF
the Capuchin Charity Guild
linen who devote their spare
time 10 helping the monks)
there are no more than three. i
am told, who know the identity
OF the man.
His story is almost the exact
opposite Of a second which must
be told without names. Another
Detroiter established a fair
sized fortune and as he grew
older, turned all his property
over TO his two sons whom he
Adored.
Then misfortune tore his life
10 shredS. His wife died. one
son caught pneumonia and died
in three days. Only a week
later the second son was killed
in an automobile accident.
Then came the GROWING
blow. The wives of the two sons
inherited the property. The old
father was pushed out with
nothing. Today he's getting his
three meals day at the mon
astery, while his daughterS-in-
law keep the property tf1at used
10 be his.
That's n bare outline Of what
lies back Of the Capuchin monks.
Anyway, they are currently try
ing 10 raise $4,000 10 build
new floor for the dining room,
and n storage cellar (which can
serve rs an air raid shelter II
necessary.
Raising $4,000 these days IS
ponderous undertaking. but,
as one OF the Charity Guild
members commented, IF we
can't keep things like this going,
even If We are fighting a war.
what's the use Of winning the
war;"
A number ~ groups have vol
uuteered TO give parties to raise
money, and the Charity Guild is
collecting Individual cOntribu-
lions when they are offered.
The principal aim 81 this col
umn ~ TO call attention TO the
benefit parties, and recommend
that you go 10 one II you can.
But anybody who feels that
he'd like tn have a part In get
ting the new floor aud cellar for
the monastery can contribute
directly, whether it's n nickel or
n thousand dollars.
A special bank account has
been opened by the Capuchin
Charity Guild at tho National
Bank of Detroit. and Contribu-
flaHS can b. sent there oF 10 the
monastery. In the latter ease.