Catholic Problems In Western Canada - free ebook by George Thomas Daly

TORONTO: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY OF CANADA, LTD., AT ST. MARTIN'S HOUSE

Permissu Superiorum ARTHUR T. COUGHLAN, C.SS.R., Provincial. Imprimatur EDWARD ALFRED LEBLANC, Bishop of St. John, N.B. St. John, N.B., December 8th, 1920. Copyright, Canada, 1921...

13 minute read

Read Chapter

INTRODUCTION PART 1.—RELIGIOUS PROBLEMS

A Call from the West—The Call of the Catholic Church in the West—The Response of the East—The Specific Object of the Catholic Church Extension Society....

10 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 2.—BRIDGING THE CHASM

The Catholic Church Extension Society in Canada—Its Principles and Policy....

4 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 3.—PRO ARIS ET FOCIS

The Ruthenian Problem—A Religious and National Problem—Its Phases—Its Solution....

4 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 4.—WHY? WHAT? WHO?

The necessity of a Field Secretary for the Organization of our Missionary Activities....

6 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 5.—PLOUGHING THE SANDS

The Church Union Movement; its Causes and Various Manifestations—The Protestant and Catholic View-point....

5 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 6.—"THEM ALSO I MUST BRING" (Jo, v, 16)

The Apostolate to non-Catholics; its Obligation—What have we Done?—What Can we Do?...

6 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 7.—PROS AND CONS

Obstacles that Impede. . . . Circumstances that Help the Work of the Church in Western Canada....

6 minute read

Read Chapter

PART 2.—EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS

A Moral Reason—A Social Reason—A Political Reason—A National Reason—A British Reason—A Religious Reason . . . for our "Separate Schools." A Crusade for Better Schools in Saskatchewan: Its History—Its Lessons—An Invitation and a Warning. Principle on which should be Based the Division of Company-taxes between Public and Separate Schools. Higher Education in Western Canada—Duty of the Hour—University Training, Condition of Genuine leadership—For Catholics Higher Education means Higher Catholic Edu

31 minute read

Read Chapter

PART 3—SOCIAL PROBLEMS

After-war Problems from a Catholic view-point—Reconstruction—The Duty of the Hour. Public Opinion and the Catholic Church—What is Public Opinion—Its Power—How it is Formed—The Catholic Church in its Relation to Public Opinion—Our Duties to Public Opinion. Facts—Principles—Policy of the Catholic Truth Society—Its Value for the Church in Western Canada. Importance of the Catholic Press—Requisites for its Success in the West. Immigration—Are we Ready for it?—Outline of a Plan of Action. A Catholic

40 minute read

Read Chapter

APPENDIX

A Thought-compelling and Illuminating Article, by L. P. Edwards, in "New York Times," on Problems that Confront Canada also. By Glenn Frank in the "Century," June, 1920. By Rev. D. P. Tighe, "Detroit News," Aug. 24, 1919. Letter of the Most Reverend O. E. Mathieu, Archbishop of Regina, to the Author REVEREND G. DALY, C.SS.R., St. John, N.B. Dear Father,— Quebec Province claims you as her son. There you lived for many years; there you learned to admire the peaceful life and to appreciate the

4 minute read

Read Chapter

ARCHBISHOP'S HOUSE,

REGINA, November 21st, 1920....

1 minute read

Read Chapter

INTRODUCTION

Praesentia tangens. . . . . Futura prospiciens. Problems characterize every age, sum up the complex life of nations and give them their distinctive features. They form that moral atmosphere which makes one period of history responsible and tributary to another. And indeed, in every human problem there is an ethical element. This imponderable factor, which often baffles our calculations, always remains the true, permanent driving force. For in the last analysis of human things, morality is what

11 minute read

Read Chapter

PART I

"It is surprising how at the bottom of every political problem we always find some theology involved." —(Proudhom)...

6 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER 1

A Call from the West Who has not heard the call of the West? Like the blast of the hunter's horn in the silent forest, its thrilling and inviting sound has awakened the echoes throughout the land. Springing from the granite heart of our mighty Rockies, that call comes through their valleys, is heard over the "Great Divide" and whispers its way to the foothills. Soft as the evening breeze, strong as the howling blizzard, we hear it across the prairie, gathering as it were, on its triumphal march

35 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER II.

Most touching in its divine simplicity, most sublime in its inspired lessons was the invitation of the Master to His Apostles: "Behold I say to you lift up your eyes and see the countries, for they are white, already to harvest," (John IV, 35)—As He stood by the well of Jacob, facing the slopes of the hills of Samaria, He pointed out to them the crowds that were hastening to listen to His Message and believe in His divine mission. The fields around lay desolate and lifeless, for it was then wint

18 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER III.

Militancy is the characteristic feature of God's Church on earth. New dangers, fresh struggles await Her at every turn of the road in Her onward march to eternity. Assailed from within by her own children, attacked from without by bitter enemies, she is ever working out through the frailties of human nature her sublime destiny. Not of this world, but passing through it, She has necessarily to suffer from the inherent weakness of her children. It is the human side of the divine Church. Those who

24 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER IV.

The Necessity of a Field-Secretary for the Organization of our Missionary Activities No one can read the Encyclical letter which His Holiness has recently addressed to the Catholic Church on the Propagation of the Faith throughout the world, without being deeply moved by the yearnings of the apostolic heart of our Common Father, and vividly impressed by the lessons that come from his inspired and timely message to each and every one of us. Without doubt our own dear country is witnessing that mo

18 minute read

Read Chapter

II.

The Protestant Inter-Church Movement is a fact; we know its causes, its various manifestations, its ultimate aim. To what extent this universal movement reflects the general, deep and conscientious convictions of the masses, it would be hard to say. The prevalent indifference and profound ignorance as regards the specific tenets of each denomination would lead us to believe that this movement does not spring from the very soul-depths of the masses. Yet the fact is there, and assuredly of importa

15 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER VI.

(Jo. X, 16) The Apostolate to Non-Catholics—Its Obligation. What have we done? What can we do? The spiritual influence of a Christian is commensurate with his appreciation of responsibility. The breadth and depth of vision give to this moral feeling its field of action. The circle of our influence ceases with the limits of our spiritual outlook. The boundless and clear visions of all the Great Apostles in the Church of God give us the key to the generosity and artfulness of their zeal. Just as t

21 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER VII.

Obstacles that impede. . . . Circumstances that help the work of the Church in Western Canada. The opening of the North West Territories to immigration, and their creation into distinct Provinces of the Dominion stand as land marks of portentous meaning in the History of Canada. The settlement and development of these immense fertile prairies of the West were bound to react on the economic powers and political outlook of our Country. By the sheer weight of their economic value these new Province

8 minute read

Read Chapter

PART II

"To-day's boy is to-morrow's man."...

2 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER VIII.

A Moral Reason—A Social Reason—A Political Reason—A National Reason—A British Reason—A Historical Reason—A Religious Reason—For "Separate Schools." The West is without a doubt the classical land of the "School problem in Canada." The Prairie Provinces will remember the struggles that have marked their birth in the Dominion. The words, " separate schools ," rang loud and angry over the cradle of these youngest partners in our Confederation. The conflict has not subsided with years. Although the r

30 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER IX.

A Crusade for Better Schools in Saskatchewan—Its Lessons: an Invitation and a Warning. "A Window in the West!"—This was the suggestive title given to a course of pedagogical studies instituted in a Folk High-School of Denmark. The object of this course was to promote the study of these English and American educational ideals which Denmark may assimilate with profit. They looked to the West for light! May we be allowed also to open here, in this Educational Conference. . . . "A Window in the West

8 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER X.

Principle on which should be Based the Division of Company-Taxes between Public and Separate Schools. When a point of law is ever before the courts it is an evident sign that the legislation governing that issue has been either defective in its basic principle or deficient in its proper application. Such has been the case of the "Company-School-taxes" in the Provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. Every court in the land has had to deal with this problem, and if legislation is not changed and pla

6 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER XI.

Higher Education in Western Canada—Duty of the Hour—University Training Condition of Genuine Leadership—For Catholics Higher Education means Higher Catholic Education—The Concerted Action of all Catholics in Western Canada can make a Western Catholic University a Reality. Never has the world manifested a keener and more general interest in higher education. The facilities which Governments offer to place within the reach of the mass of the people; the benefits of university education; the enormo

47 minute read

Read Chapter

PART III

"The political and economic struggles of society are in the last analysis religious struggles; their sole solution, the teaching of Jesus Christ."—(John Stuart Mill.)...

7 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER XII.

After-War Problems from a Catholic View-Point—Reconstruction, the Duty of the Hour. The heavy clouds of war and the bloody mist of battles are lifting; once more the sun of peace bursts forth triumphant over a sad and weary world. The storm has wasted its fury. The landscape is washed clear and bright, the atmosphere is glowing and transparent; destruction and ruins everywhere stand out in sharp and ghastly relief. On the distant horizon, beyond the Rhine, the dark clouds drag their tattered shr

16 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER XIII.

What is Public Opinion—Its Power—How is it Formed—Public Opinion and the Catholic Church—Our Duties to Public Opinion. Numerous and strong are the influences at play in human life. Acting and reacting on the free will of man they are ever at work moulding his character and shaping his destiny. Like the waves of an incoming tide they are beating the shores of our heart; their triumph is to carry away our liberty on their receding waters. Surrounding influences for good or for evil are indeed, to

28 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER XIV.

(Jo. VIII, 32) Facts—Principles—Policy of the Catholic Truth Society—Its value for the Church in Western Canada. Truth and liberty, error and license are inseparable partners. The measure of truth gives the measure of true liberty, just as the degree of error tells the degree of bondage. This is a logical necessity, a natural consequence. The Master emphasized it when He said: "And you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free." These pregnant words of Christ are the charter of Chri

14 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER XV.

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-Ca

8 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER XVI.

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 necessar

10 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER XVII.

A Catholic Congress of the Western Provinces, the Ultimate Solution of Their Problems—What is a Congress?—Its Utility—Its Necessity—A Tentative Programme. To know a problem, to probe its nature, and to analyze its various factors frequently lead to an easy and happy solution. But as Church problems are mostly of a complex nature and cover a wide range, they necessarily depend for their solution on the co-operation of the various component units. This explains why we would now appeal to the Churc

31 minute read

Read Chapter

CHAPTER XVIII.

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 invi

6 minute read

Read Chapter

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 blackguard

5 minute read

Read Chapter

II. THE FAD OF AMERICANIZATION

By Glenn Frank in the "Century Magazine," June, 1920 . We are a nation of confirmed uplifters. We are never happy except when we are reforming something or saving somebody. It doesn't matter greatly whom we are saving or what we are reforming; the game is the thing. This uplift urge expresses itself in the "movement" mania, the endemic home of which is United States. The American cannot live by bread alone; he must have committees, clubs, constitutions, by-laws, platforms, and resolutions. These

9 minute read

Read Chapter

III. AMERICANIZATION WORK MUST PROCEED SLOWLY

By Rev. D. P. Tighe, "Detroit News," Aug. 23, 1919 . There are two methods of Americanizing the immigrant, says Fr. D. P. Tighe in the August number of the Catholic Light. One of them is revolutionary , the other evolutionary . To Americanize means to take the immigrant and remake him. Teaching him to write and speak the language of the country is a mere detail of the process. One cannot be awake to the industrial and social needs of the country without co-operating in every movement calculated

3 minute read

Read Chapter