Catholic Problems in Western Canada
G >> George Thomas Daly >> Catholic Problems in Western CanadaFrom these serene heights of Philosophy, Catholic Truth flows into the
political, social and economic fields of human life. Our principles on
Authority and Liberty, on Capital and Labor, on Family and State, on
Marriage and Education are as solid as the rock, and are recognized as
such, even by leaders who have a different religious persuasion.
Yes, religious, philosophical, social, political, economic truth we do
possess. But of what use to the world, to the laborer, to the patriot,
to the inquirer, is this truth and the solutions to problems it offers,
if they are not known? If we have the light we cannot hide it under the
bushel. We must place it where it can be seen, where its beneficial rays
can light up the way for those who are "sitting in darkness, in the
shadow of death."
No Catholic is a Catholic for himself only. Christian Charity imposes
upon us the duty to help our brother. The spreading of Catholic Truth is
one of the great works of Mercy and is as binding as alms-giving for the
relief of temporal want. The love of God and of our neighbour is the
foundation of this obligation. This consciousness of Christian
solidarity whereby the rich come to the rescue of the poor, the learned
help the ignorant, is the driving force behind the Catholic Truth Society.
With the vision of the Truth and the conscientious impulse to spread it,
the Society is bound to grow in a genuine Catholic soil. We say it
frankly, there is something wanting in a parish where the Catholic Truth
Society meets with no response, creates no interest. The sense of real
Catholicism and the consciousness of the duties it implies are
conspicuous by their absence. There, Christianity does not run deep
enough. This also stands true where the Catholic Church Extension or
other organization of its kind, has no hold. The same principle is at
stake; in both cases deficiency reveals a negative, rather than a
militant Christianity.
_Policy._
The world nowadays, like Pilate, asks the Church: "What is Truth?" But
like Pilate also, proud of its power, its wealth, and success, it will
not wait for the answer. Yet the Church's mission is to give to the
world that truth after which humanity thirsts. Her mode of dispensation
will vary from age to age. New times, new duties. Her policy is often
suggested by the change of front in the line of the enemy.
As the "printed word" is now the great vehicle of propaganda, the great
message of Catholic Truth will be given more by print than by speech.
This new apostleship has opened the doors to Catholic lay activity. The
Catholic Truth Society is one of its many forms and should, to be
faithful to its origin, remain a specifically Catholic laymen's movement.
The policy of the Catholic Truth Society is very broad and embraces a
great variety of activities which all tend to the propagation and defense
of Catholic Truth.
_Pamphlets_.--The printing and diffusion of pamphlets are characteristic
features of the Society. These winged booklets have come to be most
fruitful transmitters of Catholic Truth. Silent Messengers of truth,
they steal their way into homes and circles where the priest, and even at
times the catholic layman cannot penetrate. Eloquent Preachers, their
voice is heard to the extremities of the earth. Perpetual Missionaries,
they continue the work when the apostle has passed to another field.
They keep the light of faith burning bright in many a lonely
homesteader's cabin on the Prairies of our Great West. How often have we
not seen farmers coming into the Regina Cathedral to fill their pockets
with pamphlets from the book-rack before they returned to their farms
often situated at thirty or forty miles from a Church! Silent
Controversionalists, they give Catholic information and drive the
argument home without offence to the pride of the reader, for, the
personal element of the controversy is eliminated. Their unobtrusiveness
is what the inquirer appreciates in matters of religious research
particularly.
The _Circulation of Catholic Papers_ and their _remailing_ to those who
live far from large centres and are out of touch with the Church are
other forms of the Apostolate of the Catholic Truth Society. By these
means Catholic printed matter is capital, bearing compound interest and
more.
Free distribution of leaflets; the Mass register in the hotels and public
places; the information bureau; the bill-board; information about
Catholic Faith given by a Correspondence Guild; circulating libraries;
reading and study circles; reference library; the introduction of
Catholic literature into Public Libraries by creating the demand for
it, . . . these are some of the means through which the Society pursues
its policy. To every wind, we may say, it sows the good seed of truth.
To fully understand the principles and forward with energy and
perseverance the policy of the Catholic Truth Society, demands an
enthusiastic love of the Church and an abiding confidence in the
conquering power of Truth and in its ultimate triumph. Only a zealous
and aggressive Catholic can grasp this vision and walk in its light. But
the example of the enemy's activities alone should be sufficient to give
us that zeal and aggressiveness. The Dominion is flooded with the
literature of the Methodist Social Service, of the Bible Society, of the
Christian Science, of the Rationalistic Press Association. Their
activities should act on our apathetic Catholics as the gust of wind that
scatters the ashes and fans the smouldering embers to a flame.
Generous are the hopes founded on the future of the Catholic Truth
Society of Canada. With its far-flung line, from coast to coast, great
are the services it can render to the Church. But there is no field with
greater possibilities for this apostolate of the "printed word" than our
Western Provinces. There the pastors are yet few and the flock very
scattered. The little pamphlet, the Catholic paper will keep the watch
around the lonely settler's faith until the living contact with the
Church's authority and sacraments be renewed. And in the great battle
against religious indifference and profound materialism which are rapidly
spreading over our West, the Catholic Truth Society will make us realize
the saving power of Christianity. . . . "_And you shall see Truth and
Truth shall make you free_."
[1] This Chapter was published in pamphlet form by the Catholic Truth
Society of Canada.
[2] Cardinal Vaughan and Lady Herbert are the real Founders of the C.T.S.
But Mr. Britten carried out the idea.--It was to be essentially a
lay-movement.
[3] Australian Catholic Truth Society.--At the annual meeting of the
Australian Catholic Truth Society the report stated that during the year
1919 152,309 pamphlets had been put into circulation, while the total
number published since the foundation of the Society was 1,837,947. The
executive had decided to publish in future 36 penny pamphlets each year,
instead of 24, and trusted that their enterprise would be rewarded with a
substantial increase in the number of subscribers.
[4] The headquarters of the C.T.S. of India are in Trichinopoly. They
have already their own publications.
[5] Although the Halifax branch of the C.T.S. does not form a unit of the
C.T.S. of Canada yet it is one of the most active branches in our Country.
CHAPTER XV.
A SUGGESTION[1]
_Importance of the Catholic Press--Requisites for its Success in the
West._
Nowadays the Press is assuredly the greatest factor of the public mind.
For, if public opinion is "King" and "Master" of the modern world, the
"Press" is his "Prime Minister." Between these two great forces there
is a continuous action and reaction; the Press is at the same time the
moulder and mirror of public opinion.
We all know how the world has turned this mighty weapon against the
Catholic Church. To create an anti-Catholic opinion, to surround the
Church--its authority, its practices--with an atmosphere of prejudice
and antagonism has always been the aim of the non-Catholic press. Of
late this campaign has become so universal and so violent "that were
St. Paul to live among us, he would become a journalist," said
Archbishop Ireland. Repeatedly the Pontiffs of Rome have urged the
faithful to contribute to the support of the Catholic Press. "In vain
you will build churches," said Pius X, "give missions, found schools;
all your works, all your efforts will be destroyed if you are not able
to wield the defensive and offensive weapon of a loyal and sincere
Catholic Press."
The Catholics of Western Canada should have these words of the beloved
Pontiff continually before their minds. There is no place in Canada
where this vital factor, the Catholic Press, is of such an absolute
necessity. In our sparsely settled Provinces the Catholic paper is the
greatest help of the priest. It prepares, keeps, and perfects his work
and very often is the only silent messenger of the Church's teachings
on the lonely prairie. Isolation from all Catholic life, from its
teachings, its authority, its sacraments, has created through Western
Canada a tremendous leakage in the Church. This leakage can be stopped
to a certain extent by the active service of a good Press. The
Catholic paper, indeed, reacts as an antitoxin against the virus of
unbelief and indifferentism which a non-Catholic atmosphere is bound to
spread. In its columns we find the answers to the misrepresentations
and slanders which bigotry is ever throwing at the Church. But above
all it is through the medium of the Catholic paper that the lonely
Western settler enters into what we would call the larger life of the
Church. We are too prone to think of and judge the Church by what we
see of Her in our own nearest surroundings. We lose sight of Her
Catholicity and forget that greater life which is ever pulsating
throughout the world. The reading of the Catholic paper breaks down
the narrow walls of parochialism, provincialism and nationalism, and
introduces its readers into the more serene and more spacious regions
of Catholic life. This is, in our opinion, the greatest benefit one
can derive from the assiduous and intelligent reading of a good,
active, Catholic paper.
Australia and New Zealand have understood the imperative necessity, the
paramount importance of a Catholic Press. "The Freeman's Journal,"
"The Southern Cross," "The Catholic Press," "The New Zealand Tablet,"
are widely circulated weekly papers that keep Catholic life so intense
in those distant colonies. What the Catholics of Australia have done,
why can we not, in Western Canada, do likewise?
One cannot, indeed, over-estimate the value of a Catholic paper,
especially in a sparsely settled country where the Church has yet but
missions, where the visits of the priest and the teachings of the
Gospel are intermittent, where the Catholics are lost among people of
different faith and often of hostile feeling. But, if we wish our
Catholic Press to fulfil its noble mission, it must be received as an
expected and welcomed friend, and not, as often is the case, as an
intruder, a sickly visitor who imposes himself more or less on our
faith and generous nature.
What then are the conditions of genuine success for a Catholic paper?
_Vigour in policy, extensiveness in circulation_: these are the two
essential conditions of success. The Catholic paper in a community
must be a live-wire of high voltage, carrying light, heat, and power,
and not a mere telegraphic-cable repeating what others have already
said, or serving as a safety valve for the overflow of local gossip.
The news and issues of general interest should be so combined with
local topics as to awaken and keep the attention of the reader.
Circulation is also fundamental in journalism as well as in the human
system. It carries life into the whole organism and is the warrant of
success. The moment circulation becomes stagnant and loses hold of the
people, the paper is but a ghost. Poor circulation is what gives to so
many Catholic papers such languid existence.
How can we create these conditions of success for the Catholic Press in
Western Canada, where its need is so deeply felt? There is the crux of
the present situation. Our scattered and comparatively small
population, even in our cities, the extreme difficulty of securing and
keeping managers and editors suited for this work, the indifference and
spirit of commercialism which characterize Western Canada: all these
factors tend to render precarious the life of a Catholic paper. And
still the crying need is there; how are we to meet it?
This leads us to make a suggestion which would help to solve the
problem of the Catholic Press in the West. The beautiful work of the
Catholic Press in France has prompted it.
The society of "La Bonne Presse" issues a weekly paper, "La Croix."
This paper has different issues for the different parts of France. At
the central office, in Paris, exists a well organized "boiler-plate"
service for general Catholic news and opinions. These "boiler-plates"
are shipped to all the sub-stations, where, during the week are
composed the pages of local news, editorials, advertisements, etc.
This is the most economical and most efficient modern method of
publishing several papers or different issues of the one paper.
Our circulation in Western Canada would not perhaps yet warrant such an
organization. But working along the same lines, could we not have _one
paper_, with _different issues_ for the different Prairie Provinces?
This would necessitate a chief editor for the editorials of general
character, common to all--and a sub-editor in each Province who could
also act as manager in his section of the country. To write editorials
adapted to the ever-changing needs of his Province, answer those who
attack the Church in our local papers, guide our Catholics in the
various issues which are discussed in the Province, and control the
correspondence for the different news centres, would be the duties of
this sub-editor.
One central printing plant would be sufficient. Being a weekly paper,
the printing and mailing do not matter much, provided the plant were
not too far from the extreme points of circulation. With the exception
of the composition of the specific pages of each issue, according to
Provinces, the general overhead expenses of printing and remailing
would be the same, and yet we would have a _local Catholic paper_.
This plan of unification would allow us, without heavy expenses, to
answer efficiently the local needs of each diocese and each Province.
We have the "Northwest Review." It possesses a splendid equipment and
could easily duplicate its actual out-put. Why could we not take that
paper, and have a Manitoba, a Saskatchewan, and an Alberta edition?
The plant is there, and why could not all Catholics take full advantage
of it, at a price with which no local or provincial Catholic paper
could compete, at least in the present circumstances. It would require
"a subeditor-manager" in each Province to direct the provincial policy
of his specific edition and manage its circulation in every Catholic
community. This plan would be workable until the time when success
would warrant in each Province a local printing plant, having at its
service a "boiler plate" supply from the main office.
The possibilities and opportunities for the Catholic Press have never
been greater than they are now. Never and nowhere has its need been
more commanding than it is now in Western Canada. In this period of
social reconstruction, efficient organization and combination of all
energies are necessary. Organization implies leadership, and able
leadership needs the support of publicity to create sane opinions, to
spread and defend them.
[1] This Chapter was published as an article in the "North West
Review," Winnipeg, June 1st, 1918, under the following caption--"Timely
Suggestions on needs of Catholic Press in West--Constructive attempt to
solve problem which has engaged attention for many years."
The following editorial remarks accompanied its publication. "We are
indebted to Rev. Father Daly, C.SS.R., of Regina, for a thoughtful
contribution on the needs of the Catholic Press in Western Canada.
This subject is by no means new. Most people have had a fling at it
one time or another, and those have been most insistent as a rule who
have known least about it. The article under consideration, however,
which may be found upon another page, besides pointing out the
difficulties which must be encountered and overcome, outlines a
constructive policy which should engage the earnest attention of the
Catholic public. A scheme of development is there in broad outline and
it is with particular pleasure that we call our readers' attention to
it. We would ask them to study it--particularly those who have had
some practical experience in newspaper work--and to give us the benefit
of their thought and experience. A special invitation is extended to
our staff of faithful correspondents and contributors who have stuck to
their posts through fair weather and foul at considerable expense and
inconvenience to themselves. They are in a position to realize in a
very special manner the difficulties of the situation and their
suggestions should prove invaluable. If everyone interested would
expend a fraction of the energy wasted in destructive criticism in
working out a scheme of practical operation along constructive lines
much good would result therefrom. Suggestions need not necessarily be
for publication. Any communication marked "not for publication" shall
be, needless to state, regarded as private and confidential. But let
all help. An old newspaper maxim is to the effect that the printer's
devil has ideas that the editor or business manager would pay good
money for."
CHAPTER XVI.
THE NEW CANADIAN
_Immigration!--Are We ready for It?_
Demobilization is over. Canada has settled down to the work of
"Reconstruction." Already the eyes of every serious minded Canadian
scan the horizon, wondering if these transatlantic liners now bound for
our ports carry in their dark hulls hosts of new settlers. Immigration
is the topic of the hour. Confronted as we are by a fabulous national
debt, GREATER PRODUCTION is the only solution. This intense and
extensive development of agriculture and industry necessarily involves
immigration.--Immigration is therefore an economic necessity.
War-wearied nations of Europe are just waking up to the realities of
conditions. The dark cloud has lifted only to show everywhere silent
industries and desolate fields. Thousands and hundreds of thousands
are turning their eyes to the "New World"--as to the "_Land of
Opportunity_." They need Canada to break away from a gloomy past, just
as Canada needs them to build a bright and prosperous future.
Opinions may vary as to the time when immigration will be once more at
its height, but all seem to agree on the certainty of the fact.[1]
Probably the British Isles will open the march in the onward rush to
Canada; Continental Europe will follow in their wake. Already the
various philanthropic and religious organizations are preparing to
welcome the new-comer to our Shores.
Misdirected and unsupervised immigration has been for the Church in the
past a great source of leakage. Here and there noble and zealous
efforts have been made to prevent these losses; but they were local and
spasmodic. It was only a few years previous to the outbreak of the war
that a Catholic Immigration Society for the Dominion was formed. The
Reverend Abbe Casgrain was its Founder and Director. Homes and
agencies were opened in every large city. Let us hope that this
Dominion-wide organization will once more soon become a reality. A
priest in full charge of its organization and responsible for its
efficiency is, we believe, the main condition of success. And indeed
immigration is in Canada one of those problems that over-lap the
boundaries of dioceses and provinces and call for the co-operation and
co-ordination of all forces. A leader, with the sanction and backing
of the Hierarchy, will be the binding link between the various helping
factors and will prevent immigration becoming "nobody's business" just
because "it is everybody's business." This method of an organized and
responsible unity will alone straighten out our line of defence from
Halifax to Vancouver, and pinch out the various salients of enemy
forces that are always and everywhere at work.
But who will carry out this leader's policy, once thought out and
approved of? As our Catholic Immigration Society is about to
reorganize its forces to meet new conditions, may we be allowed to
offer a suggestion? The Knights of Columbus have just finished the
great work of their "Army Huts." During the war and particularly
during the demobilization, they had trained secretaries, hotels,
recreation rooms, for the welfare of our soldiers. This work has
placed them in the field of "Social Service" and given them a standing
in the community at large. Now why could not that organization be
maintained and serve the purpose of Catholic Immigration?
The Knights of Columbus are indeed ready for the task. Their chain of
huts from coast to coast link together our main centres; their trained
secretaries who have enlisted the sympathetic co-operation of devoted
ladies; the very nature of the Order, Dominion-wide in its organization
and spreading beyond the boundaries of any particular Province,
everything seems now to invite them to turn their efforts to the great
Cause of Immigration. During the war they worked side-by-side with the
Red Triangle (Y.M.C.A.) and the Red Shield (S.A.). As these
organizations are now intensely taking up what they call
"Canadianization" work in its various aspects, is it befitting, would
you think, for our Knights to drop out of the field? Should they not,
on the contrary, prepare to "carry on"--as their brother Knights are
doing across the border? The example they are giving there to the
Catholic laity is simply wonderful. It is an object lesson that has
awakened the tremendous energies that lie dormant in the ranks of the
Catholic laymen and only want the spark of "leadership" to ignite them.
And indeed no work should appeal more to the Knights, for it places
them in their true sphere of action. It opens up long vistas of
"Social religious work," by giving them the consciousness of the
religious solidarity and the feeling of their social and national
responsibilities. With that vision, under that impulse, they walk from
their Council Chambers into the very life of the Church and of the
Nation. They assume in all reality their office of a _Loyal
Body-guard_. For, in this matter, our contention is that where the
Knights of Columbus' Order is not wedded to some definite programme of
action, in harmony with its aim and constitution, it ceases to be an
asset and will soon go to seed, or die of dry rot.
* * * * * *
The following would be a summary of activities to be undertaken in
connection with Immigration work. This is merely an outline that may
help in drawing up a more exhaustive plan of action.
1. _Permanent Secretaries_.--In our estimation, a permanent, trained
and well-paid secretary is the condition of genuine success. The time
has passed to have to depend on voluntary and untrained service. Times
have changed and methods also. The permanency of a secretary gives to
our work stability and promise of intense life. This has been the
secret of the success of other organizations that we could afford to
imitate.
Moreover this secretaryship can become the mother-cell of various
activities which eventually will branch off--_i.e._, Welfare Bureau,
Information Bureau, etc., etc. This therefore should be our first
preoccupation, for on it depend the life and prosperity of our
Immigration Work.
2. _Ladies' Auxiliary_.--Local Women's organization can be called upon
to bring their sympathetic support to the carrying out of this work of
Catholic Immigration. Generous and devoted women are always to be
found to whom this work will appeal. Their natural sympathy and their
great faith make them always the "Real Workers." The very same ladies
who helped so wonderfully in our patriotic work could continue to place
their kindness and devotedness at the Service of this great Catholic
Cause. We only need, we are sure, to call on them, and organize their
various forces. Why should not "The Catholic Women's League" have its
branch from coast to coast and take up everything of interest to the
Catholic Womanhood of Canada, and thereby, to the Church also?
This would have a great bearing on various issues and offer a great
medium for organized opinion and co-ordinated action. Has not the time
come when our women forces have to organize and unite into one great
Canadian Catholic Body?