The boy-savers' guide; society work for lads in their teens

Section I Why The Writer Has Written^

It has been with the aim of furthering religion in those whose loyalty to the holy cause will do most toward stemming the rising tide of unbelief, anarchy, and immorality; for assuredly spiritual advancement is of its very highest efficacy in the directions just named when secured in our boys, destined to be heads of families and leaders in all departments of life.

And yet these arbiters of the future carry the seed of pretty much all the evil that Is to be. Bless their innocent sisters, who stand so little In need of preservative care I Indeed, in godliness of life, the gentler half of our race could easily hold Its own if only the sterner partner would cease playing the role of tempter. Take care of the boys, then, and the girls will take care of themselves. Nay, more ; could but half of the obstreperous scampllngs be made Into anything like perfect men, feminine virtue, thereby obtaining fuller play, would almost repair the primeval lapse and restore the world to a paradise anew.

For all that, however, the weaker sex, when evilly led by the stronger, must in turn lose sight of God and His holy laws. Hence, If Catholicity (the only force able to cope with scepticism or with social and moral disorder) Is to possess the energy

^This volume revises and completes what the author has presented on his subject in the booklets entitled, "The Boy- Savers' Series."

vi Introduction

needful for coming battles, It must be preserved and strengthened In the hearts of American male youth. Here, finally, Is a consideration calling loudly for action In favor of our boys, who, as a class, are exposed to the dally outgivings of unbelief and anarchy and can not reach early maturity without familiarity with the spectacle of vice enthroned.

Whatever pseudo-confidence may be opposed to this urgent call Is no more than the feeble negative consolation of knowing that In our land faith and, consequently, social and moral order are less menaced than under certain other flags. To be sure throughout the United States we have not reached the plight of some foreign communities, where Catholic male adults are scarcely seen in church, save for their own or others' funerals; nevertheless, the forerunner of this deplorable status, the Catholic man utterly neglectful and indifferent regarding religious matters, is so common with us as to be met at every turn. Is this familiar spiritual monstrosity to multiply, or is he to become less in evidence on our soil?

We have here a momentous question; for accordingly as It will be answered, chaos for the present life and the next, or safety for the present life and that to come is In store. Obviously, the query could be given a more cheering response were each and every one of our parishes permanently provided with a thoroughgoing boys' organization; and It is in the hope of contributing to the creation of that reassuring answer — In the hope, therefore, of helping at least some parishes to maintain a saving juvenile movement — that the writer has assumed the present task.

Expedients to Choose From vil

Section II — Expedients To Choose From

However, warm Interest in youth does not burden these pages with a dictatorial tone. They are written for the purpose of simply suggesting divers measures, all of them tested during years of personal experience, which it is hoped may be found helpful to practical friends of city boys.

And while a special form of first communion preparation, operative apart from fraternities, is presented at the close of this volume, the expedients to be offered are mainly in favor of societies ; they, consequently, are proposed for use on our young friends as on an evasive, rather disorderly, and more or less wayward element to be gathered into organizations and, through the organizations, to be controlled and improved.

Indeed, as regards the first of the three foregoing departments of endeavor, it should be carefully noted that the rather numerous attractions of future chapters will be presented, not for simultaneous use, but for selections suited to circumstances. This limitation is emphasized by the fact that, while the author has some time or other plied every one of his drawing features, he has never dreamed of such a thing as employing them all conjointly. And still there is excellent reason for publishing in full the expedients that have proved of practical value; an excellent reason again for asking other organizers to do likewise.

Sadly enough, our apostolate, though of acknowledged importance, is commonly regarded askance, as if hedged round about with difficulties insuperable to all save such as are specially fitted vlii Introduction

for the task by rare personal gifts. Here, truly, is a deplorable misconception, to be removed if possible; but the same were best removed if those who have actually rallied boys could only be induced to make common property of the plain, businesslike methods through which they have achieved success. Such action would enforce the contention that rescue work is dependent mainly on systematic endeavor; and this while greatly encouraging new leaders by affording them a wider choice of ways and means.

Neither will those already in harness fail to profit by the consideration of the methods of others. In the present important affair, we must all remain painstaking inquirers and learners; for boys are like other high explosives: treated with care, they make ready to move the world; awkwardly handled, they wreck the workshop.

Section III — Lads In Their Teens To Be Cared

FOR. NO SPECIAL FORM OF SOCIETY

RECOMMENDED

The devotion of the present undertaking solely to subjects in their teens appears in the undertaking's very title. On the one hand a conspicuous presentment of this limitation seems called for as emphasizing the writer's earnest objection to the admission of youngsters (apparently) twelve years of age or younger.

There is, furthermore, a second and still more important reason for making the limitation unmistakably clear; it is that in discussions on our subject the word "boys" is very frequently used to sig-

Lads in Their Teens to he Cared For ix

nify juveniles and adolescents of all ages, Including even persons who have passed their majority. Now this ambiguous and hopelessly confusing acceptance of an all-important term is justly obviated by the permanent declaration that the "boys" of the present pages are really such, and are to be provided for according to the demands and facilities of their special time of life.

For, considered as material for pious societies, young fellows between thirteen and eighteen form a well-defined category of their own. In, for instance, the vital matters of susceptibility to available attractions and acceptance of the director's leadership, they by no means call for classification with young men, but are practically on the same footing with girls and can be organized along lines that would prove utterly Impracticable with older youths.

Meanwhile I suggest no particular kind of society; only measures which It Is hoped will be found applicable here and there to religious bodies In general. In fact, any Idea of securing absolute unity of formation In juvenile associations must be replaced with a welcome to diversity of formation when we note that secondary but Important aims should vary with local circumstances; and that even fraternities the same in name and general purpose ought to show differences resulting from the fact that each worker wisely manages by ways and means chosen to suit his own Individual disposition and taste.

It is to be admitted, Indeed, that the organizer is himself the very best constitution for his society and should boldly inscribe on its escutcheon the

X Introduction

autocratic motto, I'etat, c'est moi. The feasibility of his so doing Is made all the clearer by the abiding and openly displayed confidence of the young people concerned. These invariably ignore the title and special features of their society to name themselves after its director. People may call the members ''sodallsts," "Catholic cadets," or "total abstainers"; but the members, as persistently selfdescribed, are simply "Father Such-a-one*s boys," and to the end of the chapter their creed seems to be almost the Mohammedanlike declaration, "There is one God and Father Such-a-one is His Prophet."

Clearly, however, the diversities, in matters of detail, here anticipated do not by any means mar the unity of our societies In making for the one supreme object before them. In this apostolate it is literally true that all roads lead Romeward, . since every variety of Catholic juvenile associations necessarily forms loving and zealous sons of Mother Church.

SECTION IV PRIESTLY ENDEAVOR TO BE INDE- PENDENT OF boys' clubs

As a matter of course my treatise on the care of parish boys is directed primarily to brother priests, and this with profound appreciation for the marvelously superior facilities given them by the grace and authority of their sacred calling, and by the implicit confidence of the faithful, whether old or young. Meanwhile, as will be kindly noted, clerical workers are asked to consider methods prescinding wholly from the permanent amusement center or club, the management of which under normal

Priestly Endeavor Independent of Clubs xi

circumstances they are strongly dissuaded from undertaking.

It is really most unfortunate that most sacerdotal would-be organizers accept as indispensable this institution which they rarely need and the direction of which offers special difficulty for themselves in particular. Indeed, in its present connection with priestly activity, the boys' club is something of a dog in the manger; itself can not well materialize, neither will it permit other forms of endeavor to appear. Further on, to be sure, attention is given to the ever-open rendezvous, but the pages so filled are addressed preferably to lay workers.

As is seen in the last- remark, appreciation of the superlatively excellent opportunities afforded directors In Holy Orders does not at all blind one to the splendid results others have been accomplishing In the past and can multiply hereafter. Successful boy gatherers, acting under the direction of pastors, or at least harmoniously with them, are brothers of Religious communities, members of the St. Vincent de Paul Conferences, or zealous laymen laboring by themselves; and the author, after treatting every nook and cranny of his subject. Is confidently hopeful that all of these good workers as well as their more numerous hoped-for successors can be aided by what has been written.

Contents

Introduction MATTERS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE

PAGE

Section L— Why the Writer Has Written . . . y Section II. — Expedients to Choose from . . . vii Section III. — Lads in Their Teens to be Cared for.

Chapter I AN EFFECTIVE AGENCY

Section I. — What Our Schools Can Not Do . . I Section II. — What Young Men's Societies Can Not

Do 3

Section III. — Sterile and Fertile Soils Contrasted . . 4 Section IV.— Can Societies for Male Adults Ambition

Future Better Standing? .7

Chapter III WHY NOT BEGIN?

Section L— "I Have No Personal Magnetism and Therefore Should Not Try" 24

Section II. — "Of Course Any Generous Donor Mechanically Gathers a Transient Crowd of Urchins; but only the Magnetic Man Can Retain Them for Organization Purposes" .26

Section III. — "The Proper Management of a Boys' Society, Like that of a Large Sunday-School, Will Occupy Pretty Much All of One's Time and Should be Undertaken only by Those Who Practically Have Nothing Else to Do" ...... 28

Section IV. — "At Least the Chances Are That, Owing to a Lack of Leisure, Money, or Required Qualifications, I Would Not Succeed in This Business. Are There Not Already Enough Failures?" ... 31

Section V. — "After a Little My Present Residence Will Change, and. Since Active Interest in Boys Is Somewhat Rare, Anything I May Establish Will Then Fail for Want of a Successor. Why Begin What Must Shortly Collapse?" . . . . . .32

Chapter IV PHILANTHROPY OUTDONE

Section I.— Humanitarianism Good: Religion Better 35 Section II. — Stooping to Conquer .... 36 Section III. — Stooping with Dignity .... 38

Section IV. — Favoritism -39

Section V. — In Deep Water 40

Section VI.— An Objection : "Religious Features Endangered" .43

Section V.- Section VL

ful .

-Pastimes in the Shadow of the Church . -A Blessing for City Boys Especially -Keep Organized Juveniles Before the

-A Greater Advantage ....

-A Standard Catholic Argument Applied . -Newspapers and Show Windows Help-

47 48

Chapter XIII THE BOYS' CLUB

Section I. — Rarely for Immediate Pastoral Direction Section II. — Inviting to Zealous Laymen . Section III. — With the Club's Opponents . Section IV. — Evening's Shades Brightened . Section V. — Where Sunlight is Darkness . Section VI. — Evil-Doers Considered

126 128 130 132 133 135

Chapter XIV CLUB HINTS

Section I.— The Place and Its Chief Manager . . 136 Section II. — The Reading Room . . . .137 Section III. — The Gymnasium and the Musical Department 138

Section IV. — Amusements of Injured Reputation . 140

Section V. — Concerning Card Play at the Club . . 141

Section VI. — The Other Offenders: Billiards and Pool 143

Section VII.-— Filling the Exchequer . . . . i45

Chapter XVIII THE ROUGHER ELEMENT

Section I. — Should Juvenile 'Toughs" Be Enrolled? 179

Section II.— All That's Gold Does not Glitter . . 181 Section III. — A Most Sacred Attraction for Young

"Toughs" 182

Section IV. — Membership of Bad Boys not Seriously

Detrimental to Good Ones 184

Section I.— Simple, Well-Meant Attendance an Uplift 211

Section IL— How Often Should Meetings Be Held? 213 Section III. — Juvenile Megalomania Turned to Account 214

Section IV. — "Compel Them to Come in, That My

House May be Filled" 216

Section V. — Meetings Tactfully Adjusted . . 217 Section VI.— Boyish Taste Suited . . . .218

Section VII.— At What Hour? . . . . . 219

Section VIII. — Where? 220

Section IX. — Groundless Fears 222

XX Contents

Chapter XXIII THE RELIGIOUS MEETING : LOCATING BOTH THE BOYS AND THEIR DIRECTOR

Section I. — A Measure of the First Importance : Each

Member to Keep an Assigned Place . . 224

Section XL— Strict Fidelity to This Rule Easily Obtained . . . 226

Chapter XXIV THE RELIGIOUS MEETING: MAKE IT CHEERFUL

Section I.— The Early Bird Should Get Its Worm 231 Section II. — At the Church Door .... 232 Section III. — Mischief to be not Merely Suppressed,

but Forestalled 234

Section IV. — Short Meetings the Best .... 237 Section V. — An Order of Exercises . . . .238

Chapter XXVI THE MEETING ADDRESSED Section I. — Miscellaneous Remarks .... 250

Section II.— The Best of Attention Secured . . 252

Section III. — The Formal Instruction .... 253 Section IV. — Some Disregard Due Simplicity; Others

Fail to Acquire It 256

Contents xxi

Chapter XXVIII THE STORY INSTRUCTION CONSIDERED UNDER A SPECIAL FORM

Section I. — A Selection That Boys Will Follow . 271 Section II. — Rejected and Accepted .... 275 Section III. — Under Treatment ..... 276 Section IV. — Religious Teachings Are Presented Becomingly When They Seem so to the Boys . . 278 Section V. — A "Reductio ad Absurdum" That Fails . 279

Section II. — Small Classes by All Means Preferable 335

Section III. — Teaching by Way of Friendly Chat . 337 Section IV. — Suiting Length and Language to the

Boys 339

Section V. — Apostolicity a Central Feature . . 341 Section VI. — The Writer Submits a "First Communion Chat" Formed on the Above Ideas . . 344 Section VII. — Doctrinal Matter to Sometimes Undergo

Further Reduction 345

Contents

XXIU

Appendix A FIRST COMMUNION CHAT

Section I. — The Sign of the Cross .... 349

Section II.— God the Father 350

Section X.— Confirmation 367

Section XI. — The Sacraments as Outward Signs . 368 Section XII. — (A) Concerning the Commandments of

God 370

(B) Concerning the Commandments of the Church 371

Section XIII.— Indulgences 373

Section XIV.— Prayers 373

Information for Badge Purchasers . . . (Insert)

A Wooden Rack for Tin Torches . . . .375

A Few Sports Found Helpful to "Indoor Fun" . . 376

A "Home- Made" Diploma .... (Insert)

THE BOY-SAVERS' GUIDE

Section I What Our Schools Can Not Do

"How shall we care for our boys?" Is by many, and doubtless with perfect justice, called "the burning question of the hour" ; nevertheless, I submit that, while it burns and burns, there is comparatively little light. For proof, witness the fact that the warmest and most intelligent friends of the rising generation usually seek cure-alls exclusively in the Catholic school and the young men's society. These two agencies, thus permitted to assume a well-meant practical monopoly of parochial endeavor In favor of youth, operate with much cost at the start and finish of the juvenile course, while between them multitudes of boys fall Into the bottomless pit.

Interested persons often ask If religious education Is not safeguard enough for American boys. One would almost Imagine that such Inquirers had just arrived from some Christian Utopia, penetrated by no knowledge of our matter-of-fact status in these United States. For the present, at least, how can sufficient saving efficacy be attributed to even the above rich source ? As matters now stand, the majority of our Catholic lads never attend parochial schools at all. To Christian education we must offer the due meed of honor, together with active support and earnest wishes for its magnificent

2 An Effective Agency

further development; but let it meanwhile be remembered that in spiritual as in temporal life, juveniles who hunger can not be sustained by the food given those whose needs are supplied.

Moreover, Catholic schools, even were they in universal and perfect operation, could never forestall religious organizations. Such bodies will always be in demand for the task of safeguarding the school's former pupils, now become working boys and transferred from the peaceful, prayerful atmosphere of the class-room into the midst of industrial turmoil and moral trials. To be sure, early Christian training inspires in souls a warm piety that protects from the contagion of sin; this early training, however, is very far from making immunes. Too often, then, the well-disposed working lad, with money jingling in his pocket and passion burning in his heart, suffers spiritual ruin from lack of the encouragement and guidance which preserved him in school days and which, if at hand, would preserve him still.

We must, besides, bear in mind that, counteracted by a strong social drift toward materialism and immorality, early Catholic education on American soil accomplishes in multitudes of its beneficiaries practically nothing beyond the very important, but necessarily limited work of strengthening faith and of thus facilitating a full return to God in maturity, old age, or the hour of death. The above result, precious as it is, leaves ample field for the activity of societies having for their aim the formation of genuine Catholic manhood, by insuring to the still adolescent heart a warmth of religious spirit. Indeed, persons of experience

What Young Men's Societies Can Not Do 3

probably share the writer's belief that among even such of our unmarried men as have been trained In Catholic schools, alarming numbers are of doubtful regularity In attending Mass; must be coaxed for the Easter duty If they make It at all; profess little If any Interest In parochial affairs, and are more or less disinclined to meet the priest.

If, then, our boys are to be succored universally and adequately In the heat of conflicts now waged against piety, morals, and faith It must be by Christian societies that follow youth beyond the class-room; It must be through the Instrumentality of organizations that exert over the products of both parochial and public schools a saving, pious Influence gratefully familiar to the former, and experienced far "better late than never" by lads of the less favored category.

Section Ii- Notdo

It may be safely asserted that of every one hundred generous souls moved to aid actively our tolling lads, seventy-five or more, in getting down to real work, miss their first object so badly as to labor chiefly, or even exclusively, for young men. Hence the scorching question, "how shall we help our boys?" is too often settled by a chilly conclusion not to help them at all.

This divorce of practice from Its directive partner, theory. Involves a lamentable Indifference to the needs of the very period in male life when organized assistance can be of most service. It is during the teens, especially from fifteen to eighteen,

4 An Effective Agency

that all Is really settled. They mark a crisis in which passion awakes, habits form, true or false bearings are taken for life*s voyage, and the Church is accepted either as a ship for mere occasional passage at most, or as a permanent bark of safety.

The young men's society, enrolling only individuals of ways already determined by the above choice, exerts an influence that seems preservative, rather than curative or strengthening. Its chief function is the negative one of preventing youths already, as a matter of fact, devoted or faithful or vicious, from lapsing respectively into cold obedience, open misconduct, or total depravity ; but radical improvement and the resolute adoption of high aims will hardly result from an organization that deals with the subject only after wage-money, complete personal liberty, and developed passion have fixed his choice of some definite life place on the moral scale. If any careless son of Adam is to be taken hopefully into the net of earnest Christianity and supererogation he must be caught not much later than the period of enduring his last pair of short pants.

Section III — Sterile And Fertile Soils Contrasted

Since, then, young men's societies would not be of ideal benefit even if potent to gather in all male individuals of eighteen or above, what efficiency can be associated with their present inability to acquire extensive membership at all? No doubt many of these bodies make something of a showing; nevertheless the great majority of parishes dare not

Sterile and Fertile Soils Contrasted 5

undertake them, and when established they rarely, if ever, enlist as many as twenty per cent, of the intended members before passing from a feeble boom into premature decline. These facts certainly weaken hope that, under present methods anyway, such unions will ever influence a very considerable number of our youth.

And if one whose judgment is certainly not at fault through want of familiarity with the subject may pause to account for this failure, let me attribute It even less to the ever-conspicuous and much-accused financial neglect, restlessness, and clique rivalry of adolescence than to certain more radical causes lying somewhat beneath the surface. First of all, young men already attained to maturity with no prolonged early training In Church societies are, as a class, strongly prejudiced against membership In them. Their juvenile choice of spiritual ways and means has fallen so far short of the highest as to permit an almost Insurmountable repugnance to any departure that might seem pious.

To this must be added a fact that often escapes attention. Young men are, in reality, but feebly influenced by even very excellent arrays of natural attractions. Their indifference, of course, arises from no lack of appreciative regard for the sweets of life; it is due rather to the multiplicity of diversions which grown persons can always provide for themselves. What with private clubs and perennial politics, chumshlps and courtships, full control of earnings, etc., persons of the older class are amply self-sustaining in the matter of recreative occupation. To the dismay of inexperienced patrons they can easily afford to desert the well-equipped

6 An Elective Agency

parochial "rooms" or gymnasium, even after loud clamors for these advantages.

This Independence, hardly realized beforehand by adults themselves, grows enormously strong when stimulated by the above-mentioned antipathy to new church affiliations. Hence, strange as it may seem, multitudes of Catholic young men who would freely respond should certain amusements be provided elsewhere, will studiously shun similar attractions when placed in religious surroundings.

Forced by these considerations to admit that senior associations, as they now stand, can not reach the rank and file of our young people, let us rejoice at the refreshingly contrasted popularity of the associations here advocated. Juniors, almost to a boy, become easy, willing captives to the methodical organizer. It is a noon-day fact of universal experience, that the young fellows, as yet comparatively Innocent and nowise hostile to persons and things religious, crowd, with childlike simplicity and utter disregard for social or race distinctions, about attractions of trifling character.^ Nearly all the lads in town are enthusiastically yours, when once word has spread through workshop, school-room, and alley, that the cherished field of every-day romp Is the general rendezvous for a grand universal movement heavenwards.

*It is another blessed trait of boys in their teens that, at least for the doings of a popularly conducted society, they totally obliterate race lines. The writer, for example, is excusably proud of his own cosmopolitan and visibly Catholic family. Considered with reference to the parentage of its members, it is a composite of Americans, Irish, French, Germans, Poles, Italians, Hungarians, and Bohemians, all intermingling as peacefully and harmoniously as if the Tower of Babel had never been planned.

Can Societies Ambition Better Standing? 7

As the discerning reader has doubtless understood, this award of first honors to juvenile associations is not prompted by any lack of Interest in unions established for the benefit of seniors. On the contrary, my ultimate purpose — the formation of true Catholic men — needs no repetition; and, since boy culture is here advocated only as a means toward that all-important end, our subject is not deserted, but more fully developed by some consideration of this further question.

Section IV — Can Societies For Male Adults Ambition Future Better Standing?

If only some good angel were to furnish a process by which all workers would be endowed with abundant magnetism, the prospects of senior associations would, ipso facto, brighten immeasurably; for while the following chapters vehemently deny all need of personal drawing influence over boys, the writer cheerfully concedes that such influence IS perhaps the only permanently efiicacious and far-reaching attraction that can be offered to young men. However, the above inquiry concerning the future of organizations for the older class must be made with reference, not to Ideal leaders, but to the actual friends of youth taken just as they really are and, therefore, possessed of no unusual Innate charm.

With the question thus restricted, the answer is conditionally afl^rmative. The youthful adult masses can be fairly well gained to pious societies, provided a beginning be made with lads in their teens, while natural attractions are practically ir-

8 An Effective Agency

resistible and the momentous choice of a spiritual course is being made. The "young men question" of which we hear much is, therefore, merely a phase of the "boy question," of which we hear far less. Youngsters, easily gathered en masse, can be numerously molded into future life-subjects of senior associations; and the latter, thus fed from their natural reservoirs, will acquire a life and vigor not obtainable under present conditions.

It is by no means my intention, however, to present a roseate view of this matter. The young men^s society, to secure permanent numbers in this way, must gain them slowly. Owing to the drawbacks noted above, viz., ability to make shift without such material favors as we can offer, the disintegrating effects of factional strifes and sensitiveness to the worldly cry of "pious pose," most of the pioneer graduates of the juvenile body quickly make shipwreck of their vocation to that of more advanced or adult grade. Of the entire group of striplings trained in the boys' association till seventeen or eighteen, perhaps less than thirty per cent, will hold to the parochial adult fraternity till twenty-one.^ However, this better-disposed minority, if gathered steadily, year after year, from a large junior organization, will finally become a well-filled, influential, and lasting alliance of young men.

^This view is confined to the class (English-speaking) with which the writer has been chiefly in touch. While applying, of course, to the bulk of American young men, it does not hold regarding those {e.g., our German-American coreligionists), who enjoy special facilities for organization in religious societies.

Can Societies Ambition Better Standing? 9

Hence, If workers or successions of workers would have adults extensively marshaled under the aegis of religion, they must accept the condition sine qua non for success, and first attend to the boys. Adeo in teneris consuescere multum est. Young men are already too old to begin. Let us, of course, go on laboring for them generously and untiringly; but no longer exclusively nor even chiefly and, therefore, fruitlessly. Even economy demands reconsideration of the course now generally pursued. Discrimination In favor of the older grade Is paying an exorbitant price for comparatively trifling gains. It Is building club structures which, In their collective annual output, seem sufficient to furnish a well-developed diocese with churches. It Is Idly sinking sums of money that would Insure missionary triumphs In heathen nations. And all this while rejected juvenility, ready at ten times less cost to vivify the entire undertaking, loudly cries, ^^Adolescentulus sum ego et contemptus."

Is such blind endeavor to continue ? God grant that it may not! If the great work of adult organizations is to tower, it must be supported — like every other extensive moral or material structure — ^by solid foundations. Our very highest authority has vouchsafed to warnlngly confirm the common sense dictum, that they build unwisely who build on sand. To ignore boys and enroll young men is the same blunder that would be made In the educational field by abolishing primary schools and placing higher training as the sole object of time, money, and care.

lo An Efective Agency

Section V — What The Boys' Organizer Can Do

He can easily gather neighboring youngsters, stranded between the Catholic school (if they ever attended one) and the young men's society (should they ever join it) , to guide them amidst the temptations of city life and during the dangerous transit from boyhood to manhood. With this accomplished, if the worker is able to see his clients enrolled in a senior association, so much the better; but meanwhile he will have already rendered them precious assistance toward gaining the ^'unum necessariumJ'

Opportunities for thus reaching the junior faithful are exceptionally rich on American soil, where our coreligionists are mainly gathered in populous centers and consequently within easy call of organizers. Indeed, the urban facilities afforded in this respect help largely to compensate for the moral drawbacks our Catholic citizens suffer through an almost complete confinement to city life. Verily, then, in our own land especially, the youthful "white harvest" is not only abundant, but also temptingly concentrated. May it please "the Lord of the harvest" to send a plenty of stout reapers and speedily shall a prodigious fulness of "good grain" be gathered into apostolic barns.