Catholic Problems in Western Canada
G >> George Thomas Daly >> Catholic Problems in Western CanadaThere is a great moral tide now running in the world, said President
Wilson in his toast to the King of England . . . and that tide is the
great opportunity for Catholic social principles to take the high sea
of public life. Let us therefore, like the skilful mariner, count with
this set of the tide and catch it at its crest. "There is a tide in
the affairs of nations like that of men, which when taken at the flood
leads on to glory. If we do not direct the ideas that are awork in the
seething mind of the world, they will spend their energies in
retributive destruction," wrote the Philosopher President of the United
States.
"The thrilling opportunities of the time, we will say with Father
Garesche, S.J., should stir us to the depths of our souls' capacity
with enthusiasm, energy and sacrifice. . . . Our realization of the
needs and chances of the Church and the world, should stir us to the
utmost of personal effort."
* * * * * *
_Exempla Trahunt_.--The great benefits that have ensued from a general
consultation or meeting of the _body Catholic in various countries_
form the best standing proof of their value. In England the annual
conference of the Catholic Truth Society and other federated Societies,
is the leading event of Catholic life. It has developed among the
English Catholic laity, a militant, virile Catholicism, most remarkable
for its aggressive policy and wonderful for its array of social
organizations, as one may readily learn from the "Hand-book of Catholic
Charitable and Social work" published by the C. T. Society of London.
Who does not know the wonderful results of the yearly Catholic
Congresses of Germany before the war? We would refer the reader to the
wonderful book of Father Plater, S.J., "Catholic Social Work in
Germany." To the same source may be traced the great social activities
of Catholics in France and Belgium. In 1919 the Catholics of Holland
met at Utrecht, and in a national general convention, discussed the
Catholic view-point of burning questions--political, social and
spiritual. The results of their united efforts are already tangible.
Legislation favourable to Catholic Schools has been enacted; a Catholic
University is being founded; the Catholic press is a power; sane social
legislation has been adopted.
An example that may strike home better, is one that comes from our
brethren in the United States. Federation has already accomplished
wonders among our American Catholics and is welding into one great unit
the various societies of the Church in that immense country. This
federation is only in its infancy and already its action has created a
mental attitude which makes united action, in various spheres, a
reality. The annual meetings of the Catholic Education Association, of
the Catholic Hospitals, of Catholic Charities, of Catholic Press make
good our statement. These gatherings have broadened the outlook and
sympathies of the American Catholics in general, and created the
vision, the sterling Catholicism, the fearless energy and the fervent
enthusiasm that characterize leaders. Has not the general meeting of
the American Catholic Hierarchy opened a new era for the Church in the
United States? Five Boards have been formed: Education, Social Work,
Press and Literature, Lay Societies, Home and Foreign Missions.
Through these channels the American Episcopacy will know the doings,
the needs and the possibilities of the Church as a whole, and be able
at any time, to throw, on a given point, on a new issue, the full
weight of united forces.
"The Welfare Council begins its second year of life and activity. It
has already, in a remarkable and effective way, shown the wonderful
wealth of Catholic activity, and Catholic Service throughout the
country; it has unified our Catholic organizations, leaving to all
their autonomy; it has made Catholic faith a greater factor in American
life; and under its leaders it will, without doubt, be a further source
of strength, of help and co-operation to the entire Catholic body of
the Country. It is the Catholic body expressing itself with one voice
and one heart in the work and in the interests common to us all as
Catholics."--The N.C.W.C. Bulletin, Oct., 1920.
_Fas est ab hoste doceri_. . . . Powerful is the example of a brother,
but often, stronger and more pungent is the example that comes from an
enemy. There are times indeed, when shame and honour are stronger than
love. This brings us to speak of the tremendous activities of our
separated brethren. Never have their efforts in view of organizing
their social service departments been so persistent and so manifest,
particularly in the mission field. Doctrinal lines are being lowered
and various denominations absorbed gradually into a "Church-union"
scheme from coast to coast. A "_social service programme_" is the only
binding element which is giving to them a fictitious unity. Fabulous
sums are placed at the disposal of these bodies for home and foreign
mission work. The Methodist Conference of Canada (1918--Hamilton) has
pledged itself to levy $8,000,000 in the next four years for mission
work. In our own country, in our Western Provinces, the field
secretaries are most active among our Catholic foreigners. On the
landing stage of our docks they are found to welcome the immigrants to
our shores. And what could we not say of their "press activities!"
This movement for co-operation has, since the end of the war, taken
tremendous proportions. Here is a fact which speaks volumes. . . .
"The fight between Protestants and Catholics," said a German Protestant
minister, "will forthwith subside in the domain of dogma, but it will
rise in the domain of social problems. No doubt truth in the social
order will prevail as it has prevailed in the field of religious dogma.
But we have to change our strategy, study new tactics, and in our plan
of campaign turn from the defensive to the offensive." Never should
the Catholics of Canada present a more united front. To sneer and snap
our fingers at the energies and organizing powers of others is often
but a poor excuse for our own inertia. It is certainly no argument.
_Fas est ab hoste doceri_. The lesson has often a sting, but it is a
lesson. . . . We need organization! . . . The Congress is the great
medium of organization. What are we going to do? Changing a little
the wording of one of Cicero's famous sentences, in his orations
against Catiline, the arch-enemy of Rome, we shall say: "_The enemy is
at our doors! . . . and we are not even deliberating_!"
* * * * * *
Before giving a suggestive programme for a Congress may we answer some
objections.
"The need for co-operation and co-ordination is indeed _admitted on all
hands_; it is its _feasibility_ that is doubted by so many good
Catholics. It is admitted to be an ideal; the question that is raised
is whether the difficulties are not too great to be surmounted
otherwise than by a very slow and lengthy process of evolution. That
such a gradual evolution would be in accordance with both nature and
history we should be the first to admit. But, after all, there is such
a thing as retarding or assisting the process of evolution. The
valuable maxim that 'things are what they are and their consequences
will be what they will be,' is after all but half the truth. No
Catholic believes that we are carried helpless along a stream of
circumstances. He believes that man is man, a free being whose free
action can within limits mould circumstance; and he believes that God
is God, the one free Being Who can and does overrule circumstance, and
Who, when and where He pleases, gives efficacy to the endeavour of His
free creatures to do the same." (Universe, Aug. 15th, 1919.)
Some may say that by coming together we shall awaken susceptibilities,
our motives will be suspected . . . and the final result will be more
prejudice, more bigotry. . . .
There is no reason why a Congress should be of an unfriendly
aggressiveness. We have ideas to advocate, they stand on their own
merit. They are in our belief, the only key of salvation; let us then
get together and bring them by organization and team work, into the
domain of realities. Moreover, our enemies are not so very particular
in dealing with us and with our principles. The best policy is to meet
in the open, as our Catholics are doing in England and stand on the
value of our doctrine and our works--"_Ex fructibus cognescetis illos_."
"What about the autonomy of parish and diocesan units? Are they not
supreme? Will not what we advocate interfere with these organizations?
Will it not destroy the work of our parochial societies, etc., etc.?"
"Organization which would attempt to meddle with local autonomy would
not only defeat its purpose, but would be chiselling its own epitaph."
. . . The parish and diocesan units are and must ever remain supreme,
each in its own sphere. We could never get a better working basis;
more genuine Christian charity and self sacrifice could not be met with
outside of our acting brotherhoods and charitable organizations. . . .
But, what we need more is _co-operation_ between these various units in
view of solving the complex social problems, especially in our cities.
This suppresses neglect and over-lapping, gives efficiency with the
least waste of energies. "Blend organization and co-ordination with
the greatest amount of local autonomy and individual initiative": this
is the sole aim a Congress has in view. There, and there alone, lies
the solution of our problems.
* * * * * *
_Tentative Programme of Congress_.
I--_Preparation_.
The remote preparation for such a great and important undertaking,
would consist in what we would term "an educational campaign." The
initial difficulty, the greatest obstacle would be to overcome the
general apathy, the want of interest, _vis inertiae_. This could be
done by the Catholic press, lectures, sermons, etc. It may take time
to wake up our people from their slumber, but the faith is there with
its latent energies, and we can count on them. The forces are there;
they only need an occasion to call them into play.
* * * * * *
The _immediate preparation_ would consist in the appointment of a
_small but strong organizing committee_. Agitation without
organization is useless. On the choice and activities of this
committee depends the entire success of the congress.
The various activities of this committee would be:
1. _Decide on Name_.--Congress, . . . Conference, . . . Catholic
Social Service Meeting, etc. . . . This seems of no importance; but,
in fact, it often goes a long way in interesting the public and warding
off prejudice.
2. _Decide on
Place_.--Winnipeg--Regina--Edmonton--Calgary--Saskatoon--Vancouver.
3. _Decide on Delegates_.--Mode of selection,--clerical,--lay. It is
very essential that a meeting of that kind should be thoroughly
_popular_ and _representative_.
4. _Decide on Speakers, Language_.--(One or several sections.)
5. _Decide on Programme_.--This is really the essential work of the
organizing committee. In drawing the agenda, emphasis is to be laid
upon problems of immediate necessity:
_Defence_ and _construction_; defence against the enemies' activities;
_strong constructive policy_ with a wide scope for all energies: these
are the two poles on which revolve a good programme.
Racial--Language--Political issues are to be absolutely barred from the
programme.
6. _Decide on Committees_.--Their _number_ and _matters to be trusted
to them_.
7. _Sub-committees_ can be appointed for _publicity_, _information_,
_reception_ (ceremonies), _invitations_, _billeting_.
8. _Appointment_ of Permanent Secretary. . . .
N.B.--In a work of this nature it is the quiet, silent,
well-thought-out preparatory work that counts. The distribution of the
work (papers--speakers--leaders) is the secret of genuine success.
Therefore, to make a Congress a success, we need:
1. _Clearly defined programme_.--(What do we want to do?)
2. Compact and efficient organization.--(How is it going to be done?)
3. _Competent and reliable leaders_.--(Who is going to do it?)
_Foresight_, _energy_, _decision_--should mark out the leaders;
_Foresight_ will give the _vision_.
_Energy_ will give the _will_.
_Decision_ will push to _action_.
II--_Suggestive Programme_.
1. Committee on "Education":
1. _Our Primary Schools_.--Their legal status--their efficiency?
Our teaching staff? Bureau for Catholic teachers.
2. _Higher Education_.--Catholic Colleges: their standing--Catholic
University--Affiliation to State Universities?
3. _Sunday School_.--Teaching of Catechism--in our separate
schools--in sparsely settled countries? Lay Cathechists?
2. Committee on "Catholic Missions."
1. _Home Missions_.--Church Extension.--What co-operation are we
giving? Needs of the West: Men and money.
2. _Foreign Missions_.--Propagation of Faith.--Holy Childhood.
3. _What are we doing for non-Catholics_?
4. _The Missions_ (parochial).
5. _Priestly and religious vocations_.
3. Committee on "Press and Catholic Literature."
1. _Catholic Newspapers_.--(Their policy.--Their circulation.)
_Vigour in policy_ and _extensiveness in circulation_: two
essential conditions for success.
2. _Work and establishment of Catholic Truth Society_.
3. _Catholic circulating libraries_ for cities, countries. (Example
of same, under care of Saskatchewan Government.)
4. Committee on "Public Morality."
1. _Divorce--Race-suicide_.
2. _Theatres--Moving pictures_.--(More severe censorship.)
3. _Eugenics_?
4. _Venereal diseases_?
5. Committee on "Social Action."
1. _Immigration--Reception and direction_ of Catholic Immigrants at
ports of St. John and Halifax and intermediate points. Care of
foreigners (leakage).
2. _Colonization_?
3. _Young Men's Association_--on Y.M.C.A. lines. Young Girls'
Association--on Y.W.C.A. lines--Girls' homes.
6. Committee on "Public Charities."
_Children's Aid--Orphanages--Free
Kindergartens--Day-nurseries--Juvenile Courts--Preventive and curative
work_.
7. Committee on "Labour Problem."
_Labour Unions--Living wage--Child labour--Care of girl-workers, etc_.
N.B.--The great point to elucidate in these matters is: _Must we, and
how far can we, co-operate with non-Catholic bodies_? This is a very
important point, far reaching in its consequences.
8. Committee on "Resolutions."
"The resolutions are to embody the fruit of the collective experience
and deliberations of the Congress. They will remain then as the
profession of Catholic conviction and go far to create public opinion
on the questions of the day." (Fr. Plater.)
And indeed, public discussion awakens new thoughts, gives various views
of a topic, suggests practical conclusions, expedient measures. It is
the crystallizing process of all the activities of the Congress.
III--_After the Congress_.
The good results of a Congress are made permanent by the establishment
of:
1. _A permanent Committee of Clergy and laity_--who meet occasionally
to stimulate or check activities of the body at large.
2. _A Vigilance Committee_:
(a) _On legislation_.--To watch and initiate legislation--for different
Provinces.
(b) _On press_.
(c) _On social work_.
3. _Bureau_.--Clearing house--where "expert knowledge and effective
presentation" are to be found. To this bureau should be attached a
priest who would specialize in social work. He could be helped by an
efficient secretary. His would be the energy that would carry to the
various organizations life and power. The "Volksverein" in Catholic
Germany was a model in this line of work.
* * * * * *
"_Praesentia tangens . . . futura prospiciens_" is a motto which
translates well the lofty ideal Catholics should have before their eyes
at this turning point of history. Although we stand amid the ruins
accumulated during four long years of war and are confronted by
distressing after-war problems in every order of human activity, still
we raise our heads in hope and look beyond the crude realities of the
present to a brighter day breaking on the horizon of time, a day tinted
with the rising sun of Christian doctrine. . . .
_Instaurare omnia in Christo_ . . . to re-establish all things in
Christ, is the only reconstruction that will last.
CHAPTER XVIII.
ULTIMA VERBA
The Canadian West offers to one who has never gone beyond the Great
Lakes but a misty vision of boundless prairies that stretch over three
immense Provinces and lose themselves in the foothills of the
snow-capped Rockies. Conflicting are the impressions that assail the
traveller's mind, various the feelings that crowd around his heart when
leaving behind him the East, he faces, for the first time, the "great
lone land" of the West. From the immensities of the fertile prairie
comes to him an invigorating air of optimism which fires him with
enthusiasm and confidence in the possibilities of the country and gives
him the assurance of its future. From the vast horizon that melts away
into the distant blue skies "he seems to hear the footsteps of Freedom
treading towards him." This mysterious attractiveness of the boundless
desert that the plough has just turned into restful and fertile meadows
has at all times a peculiar fascination. But it is at harvest season
that our glorious West it at its best. Then under the deep blue
firmament, in the glorious sunlight and exhilarating atmosphere of the
rolling prairie one can hear, as it were, "the song of the land." With
the hum of the binder, it comes to him froth the long rows of golden
sheaves, it rises from the fields where yet waves the ripening harvest.
Nature indeed is then most beautiful in the West. But for the
Christian soul to whom Faith "is the evidence of things unseen and the
substances of things we hope for," the visible harvest leads to the
thought of that spiritual harvest to which the Master so often points
in the Gospel. Under all the feverish activities which characterize
our Western communities lie deep in the consciences of men those unseen
realities, those spiritual values and eternal issues which constitute
the religious world. In the mysterious furrows of the human heart is
ripening the harvest of eternity.
The Church of God ever stands as Christ by the mysterious well of
Jacob, at the intersection of the highways of History. Now, as in the
days of the Saviour, winter has set in; a cold blast of indifference
and unbelief sweeps over the land. Yet with the Master's vision and
boundless confidence, the Church, pointing to the Western plains,
repeats to us all the divine challenge. "Do not you say there are yet
four months and then the harvest cometh? Behold I say to you lift up
your eyes and see the countries for they are white already to the
harvest." (Jo. iv, 35.)
Before parting with you, kind reader, may we make ours this pressing
invitation of the Master. Yes, the immense West is "white already to
the harvest." There stand as immense fields of ripening wheat, the
Catholic youth of Eastern Canada, the sturdy and thrifty Catholic
settlers of the British Isles and continental Europe. There the rising
generation of Catholic children, like the tender green blades of the
future harvest, is springing into manhood. Staring us in the face,
their eyes in our eyes, the children of foreign parentage wonder what
account we will make of their faith, what protection we will offer it.
They are the new Canadians, the nation of to-morrow.
To focus the Catholic mind of the nation on the great problems which
the West with its scattered population has forced upon our attention,
has been the object we have consistently pursued through the pages of
this book. _For it is a fact of every day experience that problems are
only solved by those who know them, who understand their full meaning,
and grasp their vital importance_.
Our sole endeavour has been to point out the controlling forces, the
spiritual issues that lurk behind these problems. In debatable matters
we always have tried to find that higher level which lies undisturbed
by the cross-currents of opinions. Naturally there are conclusions we
draw or forms of action we propose which may not find favour with
everyone. There are so many angles of vision from which moral problems
can be viewed. But we will say with Cardinal Newman "nothing would be
done at all if a man waited until he could do it so well that no one
could find fault with it." Were we, in our insistency on certain
topics and suggestions, accused of undue repetition, the importance of
the subject and our eager desire of immediate action would be our only
excuse and defence.
The Western spiritual harvest is indeed great and now ready for the
reapers. Never in our mind has a period in the history of the Church
in Canada been more fraught with greater problems than the present one
which the sudden increase of the West has created. The vastness of
their proportion and their far-reaching consequences involve to a great
extent the future of the Church in these new Provinces and,
consequently, in the Dominion at large. Moreover this immense harvest
is now white and calls for the reapers. To-morrow will be too late,
for, there comes a critical stage in the maturing harvest, when the
labours of past months and the most bright prospects melt away in an
hour. If therefore action is not immediate, irreparable, we contend,
will be the loss to the Church in the West. Only by a prompt and
united action will the stern and burning realities of the present be
converted into the bright visions that our Faith has a right to expect.
The harvesters are few. But were the Church at this critical hour able
to count on all the spiritual forces that lie dormant in the souls of
her children in Canada, the history of the future in the West would be
different from that of the past. As in times of emergency, the
conscription of Catholic forces is the supreme duty of the hour. It is
the duty of our leaders to affect by a definite policy the
"indeterminate masses," just as it is the duty of each individual of
the masses to shoulder his share of responsibility by an active
co-operation. _Without a definite workable policy of united action,
and the awakened consciousness of the Catholic masses at large,
throughout the Dominion, the Catholic problems in Western Canada will
not be solved_.
The Church in Canada, we maintain, stands at one of those critical
periods when the sweeping current of events give a decided bend to the
course of History. The hour is serious, for never was the future so
greatly involved in the present as it is now. All depends, to a very
large extent, on how, within the next decade or so, the Catholics will
consolidate their forces and extend their energies to meet the
religious issues of the West. Were we to fail at this momentous
period, our inactivity and want of co-operation will be charged against
us, and in the eyes of the Church we shall be marked as felons and
traitors to her great cause. The chapter of our times in the history
of the Church would then be fittingly headed with this accusing
caption: "_What should have been_!" For, we are the makers of History;
we prepare its verdicts.
One last word before parting with you, gentle reader. If you have
followed us through the various problems to which we have given our
attention in this book you will have remarked that there is one idea
which permeates, we would say, every page of it. It is the key-note of
our work. This idea is that of "_responsibility_," which a genuine and
active Catholicism necessarily implies. This thought of Catholic
solidarity has inspired our humble effort; in it we place the hopes of
the future. There lies in one word the burden of our message.
THE CHURCH OF THE WEST IS IN OUR HANDS--ITS FUTURE WILL BE WHAT WE
SHALL MAKE IT--THAT FUTURE, WHAT SHALL IT BE?--THE DIVINE MASTER, HIS
CHURCH, AND CATHOLIC POSTERITY, AWAIT OUR ANSWER.
APPENDIX
We thought it would be a benefit to our Canadian reader to republish
here three thought-compelling and illuminating articles that appeared,
the first in the "New York Times," the second in the "Century Magazine"
and the third in the "Detroit News." As they deal with a similar
problem that confronts Canada also, they will corroborate views we have
expressed here and there in our book. Let the reader substitute
"Canadianization" for "Americanization" and he will find that the
statements made can be well applied to existing conditions in our own
Country.
I. AMERICANIZATION
_By L. P. Edwards in N.Y. Times_.
The United States is suffering from one of its periodic attacks of Know
Nothingism. It is seriously maintained in the public prints that our
recent Eastern European, and particularly our Russian, immigration
contains enormous numbers of murderers, thieves, counterfeiters,
dynamiters, arsonists and other criminals of the most atrocious
character. It is alleged that the lives and property of all of us are
in imminent danger from these incredibly numerous blackguards, and that
the only salvation lies in what is called the Americanization of the
foreigner.