A CATHOLIC JOURNAL DEVOTED TO RELIGION, EDUCATION, GENERAL LITERATURE, SCIENCE No. 10.] &c., &c. [By Episcopal Authority, and under the Invocation of St. Vincent de Paul.] SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1852. ORGANIZATION. [PRICE ONE PENNY and clergy adopted the holy work-and then The necessity of organization among success became inevitable-then no enemy Catholics has ever been to us as plain and could retard it. Yes, the Priests rescued apparent as the simplest axiom in Euclid. Ireland in her political and social peril. We believe every man of common sense They will rescue her again in the dangers who chooses to look around him and note that now not only threaten but impend. We the advantage which our disunion gives to have faith in this truth. We announce with the common enemy, judges as we do. We delight that the work is already commenced. further believe that few, if any, above the We see it in The Young Men's Association, unhappy standard of confirmed idiocy would established in Limerick. We read it in the dispute the proposition, and yet, how have address of the Rev. Dr. O'Brien, which we we, as a body, hitherto acted? Let the con- have extracted from the Tablet, and which tinual triumphs of our active opponents we give below. We most earnestly direct and our own humiliations and wrongs the attention of our readers to this most furnish the reply. It were painful to enu- eloquent appeal. It is the production of a merate the many public blunders we have warm Catholic heart, and, a richly stored committed, the opportunities we have flung and highly cultivated intellect. It is the away, or the miserable motives that led to noble effusion of one of the most eloquent such disastrous consequences. It would and devoted of living men. It is, in fact, serve no practical or charitable end to select the gushing spirit of Catholicity pouring even one striking case and demonstrate how from the lips of the anointed priest, whose our petty jealousies, our self-seeking, our mission is love, whose province it is not national and local prejudices, have weakened only to sustain virtue, but to make war the general cause, by withholding support, upon vice; and the new world as well as decrying the wisdom, or impugning the the old will maintain our fixed opinion, that motives of leaders capable in every sense to no better advocate may be found than the promote the great cause of Catholicity. So gifted and zealous Dr. O'Brien, of Limerick. many disasters, disappointments, failures, We have spoken thus freely of the Reverend have our apathy and want of union occa- Gentleman, because we know what he is, and sioned, that did our hope rest with-did it because we cannot be charged with aduladepend upon mere secular union and energy, tion, as he knows us not. we might well despair. But we never Again, we solicit our readers to give their despaired-we felt that for "a time and best attention to the following exposition; times" our prospects might be blasted, our in it, they may be assured of discovering best expectations withered, and the energies the true spirit of organization, its legitimate of the working members of our body para- end and aim; the power that can bless its lysed; yet, we know that the Divine powers exertions, and the simple, but most efficaentrusted to the Church of all ages and of cious machinery already in being for directall nations, would, in due time, be brought ing its operations. The Young Men's Society into happy operation, and, we believe, the is destined to produce incalculable good. dawn of that auspicious day already breaks Would that we had branches of it in every upon us. We need not tell our readers that city, town, and hamlet of Great Britain. mere secular agitation, unsanctioned or un- Would that our confraternities should insanctified by the Church, has ever failed in terest themselves in its propagation, as we producing the effects, no matter how desira- doubt not they shortly will, and then should ble-no matter how apparently easy of we have an imperial organization which (as accomplishment-Need we repeat that, even it must remain under the guidance of our O'Connell, the Great Prophet of Ireland, prelates and clergy) could meet any emer failed in all his endeavours to rescue his gency, and in every possible phase of delunative land from bondage till the Church sion baffle the great enemy "The Devi vouchsafed her blessing-till her prelates and Sin." On these all-important topics, at a great succeed, and will be intensified just in proportion to meeting of the "Young Men's Society," on the extent of our association, but of course it will last Sunday evening, the Rev. Dr. O'Brien grow and reign, by God's favour, in any locality rose amid cheers, and delivered an eloquent shall exist. where a young men's society, true to its principles, address, from which we quote the most important passages as follows: "And why not make a public opinion in favour of practical religion? Half the work had been found "I had intended to address you this evening on the done in men's convictions-there should not be any missions to show you the fructifying operation of insuperable difficulty to add the actions. Men have those labours which are sanctioned and sanctified by run the whole round of the Evil One's transformations the authority of the Church, and the utter folly and and worshipped him in each of them under the form failure of those agencies which the powers of dark-of fashion. Why not render God's way the fashion at ness send forth to contend with truth and deform the last? gospel of Christ. I have been induced to change my "We think our designs far more high, holy, and purpose in consequence of the number of applica- important than any that can engage literary, political, tions for information on the nature and objects of or agricultural improvers, and that they therefore the Young Men's Society, as well as from a considera- should command as much solitude, thoughtfulness, tion of the number of probationers who have recently earnestness, and labour. Nay, we really believe that been placed on our rolls. (Cheers.) we shall reach all the other things' by God's way much sooner than those who, as an American philosopher says, 'vote God out of the state,' for, be it remembered, we are following God's word. "The junior brothers must always keep in mind that we are banded together for the simple purpose of making, individually and collectively, an assault upon vice and error-upon false principles and unsound morals-upon 'the devil, the world, and the flesh,' by every means that religion and reason sanction, until we render this country a holy and acceptable people' in the sight of the Lord. "This, we conceive, is not the business exclusively of any individual or of any class. It may be the particular province of the ministry of God's Church, but it is not theirs particularly. They may be destined to nothing else; but they alone are not destined to it. They are constituted in those things which are of God' to defend the people, but this is no reason why the people should not take up arms and defend themselves. And we have taken up the sword, and, please God, we shall wield it with vigour until we shall have fulfilled our destiny. "We tremble at the idea of an invasion-we would combine against an armed invader-we would combine against robbers, pilferers, and pickpockets-we would make meetings and societies against bad laws, bad governments, and bad magistrates; here is an invader, a cheat, and a destroyer, blasting God's growing blessings, and arming His most powerful vengeance. Why not combine like men of common reason, organise and array ourselves against him?—that is the devil and sin. "We work, however, not only against vice, but for virtue. We endeavour not only to snatch men from the mire, but to wash them and adorn them, and render them worthy of their Christian name. "We believe in the word, that to seek first the kingdom of God' is much better wisdom than to seek 'first the kingdom of this world,' when we cannot find it unless to our perdition. Our guilds believe that even for this world men had better look somewhat to the God who made it, or they should in consistency efface their creed. "This 'public opinion' in sustainment of true religious feeling will have an extensive operation, and in almost every department of society. Individual Catholics and large classes, committees, juries, and boards, corporations, and legislatures, the whole state, social, political, commercial, and literary, must feel the influence of our ever-working, never-sleeping spirit of Catholic truth and feeling, which will have the right and the power to be reflected in every movement of the state. "If some unhappily constituted minds seem rather to be patrons than professors of Christ; if they assume to themselves the right of judging when they are ignorant, of censuring when they are absurd, and of differing when they are ignorant, absurd, and heretical; if there be a spurious respectability, pursued at the sacrifice of heaven, and earth, and common decency; if a heretical hue of soul, conversation, reading, and opinion, be weakly deemed by them intelligent, philosophical, and progressive, it is not very frequently because they are malicious or infidel, but only because they are superficial, and therefore victims to their own shallowness; easily impressible, and wrought upon by their associations. Before the tide of a noble Catholic opinion, all these lighter bodies that occasionally produce much inconvenience would be rapidly swept away; and, indeed, from their very lightness, would more effectively exhibit the direction and power of the current. "A sound Catholic opinion-preaching Catholic principle, and inculcating and pursuing sound Catholic practice-would write the history of the Church in our hearts. We would glory in her great names, reverence her ministrations, study her privileges and her interests, and watch over her healthy vigour with jealous care. Knowing her mission of love and hope, and appreciating its importance to the present and future interests of society, we would vigilantly guard against every assault upon her liberty, and open every home and heart to her approach. Believing her to be the power of God, the mercy of God, the love of God, the will of God, God embodied, we would view and estimate all deeds, difficulties, observances, and neglects, policy, diplomacy, and law, just as they affected her; approve as they sustained, and discountenance as they opposed her reign, until we should have placed her in a position which relevation proclaimed and history witnesses as her own; the position of the ever-living and ever-suffering Saviour of the world. "In rendering the nation good Christians, how. ever, and associating them by the power of their common Catholicity into one great fraternity, we cannot be unconscious that great future results can be legitimately expected. An aggregation to our guilds is a guarantee for perseverance. Every brother has the eye of hundreds pursuing him, besides the particular vigilance of his own body. The wardens of each guild are bound to make monthly returns of the moral and material condition of those of whom they have charge-their attendance at confession, the oratory, &c., and thus every brother has a continual stimulant to edifying perseverance in grace. Men are by these means fenced round with a sacred guar- "At this time, particularly, we seemed called upon dianship, invigorated by constant missions of virtue, to explore all our resources, and to array all our and placed in a position between which and the strength. I feel persuaded that we are in the shadow Divine blessing there is nothing to interpose. But of some great events, and I would not feel surprised we expect more we expect public opinion for truth if Anglican bigotry and Irish resistance made one of and virtue, an all-pervading sound indomitable them. Catholic spirit. "It is difficult to comprehend the policy of Eng"This will follow universally should we universally land or the English press. But unless they (the press) are speaking hyperboles to deceive our Holy | noiselessly to a bush, where some twigs Father into the apprehension that they will lash us, intervening between his shoulder and the and thus hope to obtain some concessions, we are line of aim, I fired through them, and again destined to some visitation from the land of civil and religious liberty, which will remind us of had the satisfaction of hearing the ball tell. the deeds of our dead Catholic fathers, and of The huge brute ran forwards up the wind, our duties. The Times newspaper, for example, fortunately not in our direction, and stood says that the whole 'Celtic race' in Ireland have made still again. No good screen being near, and up their minds to murder the 31st Regiment, a thing his nose facing our way, prudence bade us which the Times knows to be untrue. The same paper adds that the priests stimulated the murderers Wait patiently for a change in the state of at Fermoy, which the whole world knows to be untrue. affairs. Presently, he lay gently down, and And it openly asserts that the said town of Fermoy knowing that buffaloes are exceedingly vended its sympathy with common humanity, for the cunning, and will adopt this plan of escaping paltry hope of selling its bread and butter, the conclu- notice, and entrapping their persecutors, we sion being drawn from the Times' information and experience of the whole Irish people, all of which proves drew near with great caution. I again fired that England expects, very foolishly, some terms through his shoulder; and concluding from against us from our Sovereign Father Pius IX., or his not attempting to rise, that he was helpsome terms against us from the parliament recently less, we walked close up to him. Never elected, and that in either or each case depends upon can the scene which followed be erased from the Father of the Reformation for success. (Cheers.) But give me Young Men's Societies, and little I care. my memory. Turning his ponderous head (Great cheering.) We are learning to live by charity-round, his eye caught our figures; I fired we could easily learn to die by martyrdom. the second barrel of my rifle between his Therefore, my brothers, our work is to increase our horns, but the shot did not reach his brain. guilds and to call upon our country. Let us purify His wounds gave him some difficulty in ourselves-render ourselves the friends of Omnipotence. Let us seize vice and crush it everywhere, in getting up, which just afforded my friend every one. Let us make a 'public opinion' for the and myself time to ensconce ourselves 'Eternal Church'-let us organise Ireland, and then, behind the slender shrubs that grew around whatever may be the vicissitudes, or follies, or fate of the spot, while the Hottentot unwisely took nations, whatever may be the revolutions of to his heels. The buffalo saw him; and monarchies or republics, the 'Island of the Saints' will bear a band of holy brothers, prepared to share uttering a continued unearthly noise beany fate and to glory in it. tween a grunt and a bellow, advanced at a pace at which these unwieldy creatures are THE WOUNDED BUFFALO. rarely seen to run, unless stirred by revenge. Our Hottentot espied a small herd of Crashing through the low bushes as if they buffaloes in the thorns. Under his guid- were stuble, he passed me, but charged ance, my friend and I proceeded cautiously quite over my friend's lurking place, who to leeward, and found about twenty Buffaloes aimed at him as he came on, and lodged the lazily eating towards the water; their bodies ball in the rocky mass of horn above his were plastered over with the mud in which head. The buffalo was so near at the time they had been rolling-some looking half of firing, that the horns struck the gunred, others yellow, and others grey, accord-barrel at the next instant; but whether the ing to the different natures of the soil where noise and smoke confused the animal, or he their baths had been. We were within was partially stunned by the bullet, he eighty yards, but having little shelter, were missed my friend, and continued his pursuit obliged to wait for better ground. At last of the Hottentot. It is impossible to deswe fired a volley from the dry bed of a cribe what were our sensations at this time; periodical stream, and wounded our game; though all the incidents here related occubut they dived into some bushes. Accord-pied but a very little while, there was ing to a maxim well known to sportsmen sufficient time to reflect on, and realize, the here, "Never follow a wounded buffalo," we greatness of our danger. Our Hottentot left them, and pursued the main body from dodged the terrific and enraged-looking which they had separated. There were no brute round the bushes; but through these trees of such size that we could climb them, slight obstacles he dashed with ease, and excepting a few thorn trees, which tore our gained ground rapidly. Speechless, we clothes in shreds. Balanced on the low watched the chase; and in the awful moboughs of one of these, I struck another ment, regardless of concealment, we stood bull, that ran towards the report, his ears up, and saw the buffalo overtake his victim, outstretched, his eyes moving in all direc- and knock him down. At this crisis, my tions, and his nose carried in a right line friend fired his second barrel into the beast, with the head, evidently bent upon revenge; which gave the Hottentot one or two blows he passed within thirty yards of me, and with his fore fect and pushing his nose was lost in the bush. On descending from under, endeavoured to toss him; but the our frail perch, the Hottentot again dis- Hottentot, aware of this, with much precovered the buffalo standing among some sence of mind, lay perfectly still. small thick bushes, which nearly hid him friend now shouted to me, "The buffalo is from view; his head was lowered, not a coming!" and in dating round a bush, I muscle of his body moved, and he was, stumbled on my rifle, cutting my knee very without doubt, listening intently. We crept badly. This alarm, however, proved to be My false, for directly after, the buffalo fell dead | high station should lend their influence to near the Hottentot, who then rose and recommend a newly-founded Brotherhood limped towards us. He was much hurt; a to public attention. The humblest beginpowder flask, which lay in his game bag, ings, as daily experience proves, have often was stamped flat. The buffalo was too weak proved the best. to use his full strength upon him, having The second consequence is, that estabprobably exhausted all his remaining energy lished societies should not apprehend a in the chase, otherwise the Hottentot would dangerous rivalship from the formation of a undoubtedly have been killed, since a man Conference. The Brotherhoods of St. Vinis safer even unde the paws of a wounded cent of Paul have shown the necessity of lion, than under the head of an infuriated new works, and have furthered the founda buffalo.-Methuen. Society of St. Vincent of Paul. "Give me one who fixes his affections on God alone. A soul, who, wrapped in divine contemplation, finds nothing amiable but God, and rests in him in an ecstacy of delight without troubling himself about his neighbour. Then give me one who loves God with all his heart, and who, for love of Him, loves also his neighbour, though rude, though coarse, though imperfect, and who employs himself in his service, and does all in his power to lead him to God. Which is to be preferred?-ST. VINCENT De Paul. INSTRUCTIONS TO BE FOLLOWED tion of many. Up to the present day, they have caused none to decline, nor diminished the prosperity of any. In the field of charity, there are always, unfortunately, too many ears to be gathered by the latest gleaners; and, without injuring charity boards, venerable sisterhoods, or parochial committees, everywhere some poor families, to the number of ten or twenty, may be adopted, and thus furnish sufficient exercise for the zeal of the members of the Conference. Thirdly, it is by no means necessary to be able to rely on fixed resources. A society that announces itself with pomp, and declares its intention to relieve a whole class of poor, must necessarily find means for insuring certain and adequate revenues, in order to expect success. But when a Brotherhood Deus qui inhabitaire facis unius moris in domo. is so small in number (as a Conference may (From the Manual of the Society,) with impunity be), it may live, as it were, People who have never borne an active part on its daily bread, following the advice of in the meetings of the Society of St. Vincent Tobias: If thou hast much, give much: if of Paul, frequently form a false idea concern-thou hast but little, bestow it with a cheerful ing the difficulties of founding a Conference. heart, To clear away all errors on such a point it Thus objections, that for a long time did, will be well to explain in a few words in what and still do, prevent the establishment of our society principally consists, and to state Conferences are done away with by a simple by what practical means Conferences have been hitherto founded. We shall perhaps furnish many with matter for reflection, and enable them seriously to examine whether it be in their power to endow the town they inhabit with such a useful institution. observation. If the chief object of the society had been duly appreciated, many towns would have had their Conference of St. Vincent of Paul long since, and the Catholic youth and the poor would be now enjoying the benefits of the institution. Let us enter upon the details of organization, and see if it be possible to make them thoroughly understood. As it has been often said, the Conferences of St. Vincent of Paul are not necessarily designed to relieve a vast number of poor. Such a result would doubtless be a source We have already said that a Brotherhood of happiness to them, but it is neither an need not be uumerous, particularly at its obligation, nor a necessary condition, for outset, but it is essential that all its memexistence. Their chief object is the sancti-bers should be animated with a proper spirit; fication of the members by the personal per- for which it is not only requisite that each formance of acts of charity, which may be member should act up to all the precepts accomplished as easily by the humblest of the Catholic religion, be a sincere and Conference, as by the most numerous and practical Catholic, but also that he should wealthy one. Whence spring several con- have carefully studied the customs, tradisequences which lead us immediately to our tions, and habits of our Conferences. If, subject. then, any one who wishes to undertake the establishment of one of our charitable colo The first is, that those who wish to found a Conference, should not be deterred by the paucity of the willing helpers they meet with. The Conference, out of which all others have sprung, viz., Paris, was founded by eight members, London, by thirteen, and Caen, by three, all of which are now in a flourishing state, and have produced several others. Nor is it necessary that people of apprentice girls. 1 The Society of St. Vincent of Paul, which is exclusively composed of men, carefully avoids those works which concern the other sex, and leaves them entirely to female societies. But in order that there may be no gap left in the organization of charity it to found Sisterhoods for the patronage of orphan and has often contributed by its wishes and exhortations nies, has no practical knowledge of our way or station of life, that experience has fully of proceeeding, his first duty should be to proved that the closest intimacy, and most make himself thoroughly acquainted with heartfelt affection reign in those Conferences the publications in which the society has were the ages, position, and education of endeavoured to express its spirit, and describe the members vary most. It cannot come its way of proceeding. He should study our within our design to cite either any indivigeneral regulations, and especially their pre- dual or Conference but we can affirm it to amble, which is almost entirely taken from be within our knowledge, that in all the the writings of St. Vincent of Paul; then Conferences of Paris, the mixture of eleeach separate article of the regulations, ments, most opposite in a worldly sense, themselves too often ignored; then he but united in the spirit of charity, has been should read the circulars of the general attempted, practised, and continued, with presidents of the society, where the solution pleasure and success. of the most usual and practical difficulties It will be frequently found that timid and is given; and, lastly, the general reports, circumspect people will be afraid to make where examples are brought to illustrate an engagement that binds them down, and and confirm the precepts. Without such is liable to disturb their ordinary course of study, it is to be feared that, however well- business. Such objections cannot be overdisposed he may be, a person would fall ruled; but one means should not be left into the very difficulties which the first untried, since it has often succeeded in such brethren found it no easy thing to get out cases-it is to offer to admit them to the of; and it is also to be feared that under Conference on trial. If they have any zeal the name of Conferences of St. Vincent of in them, the hindrances and difficulties they Paul, societies would be formed with but a apprehend will soon vanish; their desire to nominal resemblance, and unable to meet return to the meetings of the brethren will the conditions attached to the indulgences. triumph over difficulties, and their worldly Such a preliminary study will not be a occupations will square with the duties of long task for a sincere Christian. As soon charity; thus the Conference will have as it is accomplished, he must look round acquired the co-operation of valuable memhim for persons likely to assist him in bers, who will contribute to its present and founding a Conference, and when he thinks future welfare. he has found them, he should submit the Thus it is, that acceptable members are rules to them, and enquire if they are willing found in the different ranks of society; and to enter into the spirit of it, and to adopt its political parties, uniting in the desire of principles. But he must on no account relieving the poor of our Blessed Lord, and apply to any but sincere Christians-Catho- of advancing on the road to Christian perlics who do not blush at performing all the fection. duties commanded by the Church. Sad A last step is necessary, before installing experience has proved the danger of not a Conference, and that is to obtain the strictly adhering to this advice, and of sanction and protection of local ecclesiasadmitting even charitably disposed people, tical authority. It must be always borne in however religious their feelings may be, if mind, that if the majority of our brethren they hesitate in performing all the precepts are laymen, and that if the duties of the of the Church. A contrary line of conduct priesthood do not allow many of its members has always sown the seed of dissension in to join in our works, we are, and intend to Conferences-perhaps of their dissolution. remain, obedient Christians and respectful Let us also add, that to combine those sons of the Church. elements of the Conference, which shall Some Conferences, particularly those in one day give it life and health, some other foreign parts, are wont to beg the ecclesiasprecautions ought to be observed. Even tical authority to appoint a priest to be their the sincere performance of the duties of spiritual director. Such a combination, Christianity is not sufficient for the founders which is the case in the Conferences in of a Conference. They should unite with England and Ireland, merits attention. It those duties, enlightened and thorough strengthens the tie that unites the Brotherpiety-a spirit of conciliation, peace, and hood to the Church, and in questions rehumility-ardent love for the poor and the lating to the moral and religious state of society-and a perseverance, undaunted by the poor, it ensures the authority of a pruthe difficulties inherent to all beginnings. dent and devoted guide. They must bear in mind that they are des- In some places, our brethren have been tined to be the elders of the Brotherhood, so fortunate as to prevail upon the venerable whom the younger brethern will look to for bishops of their dioceses, or the parish example and traditions; wherefore they priests, to accept the title of honorary preshould possess such qualities as will be sident; all which customs, though differing edifying at all times and in all places. Such in form, are the same in the end, for they all members are fortunately more easily found witness to our unanimous desire to rally than is generally supposed; and are, so far under our legitimate pastors, and the minisfrom being found in only a certain class ters of the Church, |