This is eminently true in the pastoral work. The priest gathers around him the army of the faithful; he unites their various energies, and organizes them in such wise that one supports the other, while all move toward the same end, with a common purpose in view. That purpose is the defense of the interests of Christ, the perpetuation and growth of truth and virtue.
In an Encyclical addressed to the Italian Bishops, Leo XIII writes as follows: Do you, therefore, Venerable Brethren, by your example and authority train your people to fulfil [sic] with consistency and courage the duties of an active Christian life. And in order to develop and maintain this activity, it will be necessary to promote the growth, multiplication, mutual harmony and fruitful activity of societies the principal object of which should be to stimulate each other to zeal for the increase of Christian faith and of virtue. Such are separate associations of young men, of the laboring classes, of organizations meeting at stated times for the promotion of charity to the poor, the sanctification of holidays, [482] for the propagation and teaching of Christian doctrine, and other unions like these. (Litt. Encycl. Feb. 15, 1882.)
Exactly ten years before Pius IX, in a Brief in which he points out the methods of warfare to be adopted by the clergy in union with their people against anarchy and infidelity, speaks as follows: We also recommend, as pleasing to God, those most effective unions which, selecting for themselves, each some special province for defending the interests of the Church, stand together in well-organized array to fight the battles of the Lord, to repel and overturn by their noble works the malicious attempts of those impious men who, being slaves of the devil, carry on their opposition in the dark. (Breve, 23 Feb. 1872.)
Every zealous pastor of souls will realize the truth of the above words.
But the formation of societies in a parish has even a more definite purpose than the general, albeit organized, warfare against error and sin. The bridge that leads from the temporal to the eternal is in part of earthly material; otherwise we should never attempt to cross it. This part we are to furnish from our resources of mind and body. Hence follows the necessity and duty of the individual to aid in the material upbuilding of the Church on earth. This duty of the individual is facilitated by mutual co-operation, and its fruitful accomplishment becomes one of the leading aims of parish societies according to their special field of operation.
In brief, therefore, the work of a parish society consists in the interchange of sentiment and mutual encouragement, for the double purpose,
a. Of keeping alive in the parish an active spirit of faith,
b. Of assisting in parochial works of charity, which, whatever their peculiar nature, are the sustaining elements of that faith.
The Motive Power.
The clergy of the parish are the guardians of faith and of that charity which enlivens it. The priest must, accordingly, become the motive power which animates the various [483] organs of parish activity, and he must so direct that activity as to accomplish, without friction and waste, the building up of the kingdom of Christ. It follows as an essential requisite to the proper organization and successful maintenance of a parish society, that
(1) The priest be personally interested in the work; that he form the central figure of all enterprises and movements which aim at the promotion of the interests of the Church and parish as such.
(2) That no element be tolerated, whatever its secondary advantages, which does not harmoniously co-operate with the fundamental aim of the society in the spirit of Christian charity. Anything which threatens to create dissension of a more or less persevering or permanent character is sure to paralyze in the long run every effort for good.
As to the first point, I would suggest that every priest who is about to organize a church society consult some brother priest who has actual and practical experience. There are some things which cannot be learnt from books; they require personal intercourse with those who have gained them at cost and who alone can impress us with the conviction of their truth. Other things cannot even be thus acquired, they must be learnt in the midst of those difficulties which create a certain instinct and tact in him who strives to avoid or overcome them.
One thing is quite certain, as confirmed by the experience of those who attain the best results from parish societies, and that is, that a society intended to promote the interests of the parish will surely prove a failure if not a positive obstacle to good, unless the priest is the ever-present and active soul of the organization. I am not speaking here of benevolent societies, or such others as have personal or private interests for their specific aim, although they may be composed wholly of Catholics. There is a difference between a Catholic Society and a Society of Catholics. The latter may be excellent, and it is well to let them manage their own affairs of profit and amusement, so long as they do not trespass upon sacred ground. If they make use of the Catholic [484] name, they should, however, be made to honor it by their practice; for every respectable corporation has the right to discard members from its rank who disgrace its name. This is eminently true of the Church of Christ.
But in all distinctly parochial organizations such as shall be specified in general hereafter, the presence of the priest is absolutely necessary. This means attendance at every meeting; it means earnest interest in the work of the society; it means real labor, and plenty of it. Be slow, therefore, in attempting too much. Measure time. Let only such be organized as can be cared for. Societies cannot be dealt with lightly. It is a great mistake to think that all that is required is organization; that thereafter they will run themselves, or that a Sister or Prefect can manage them.
The societies required for a parish that would provide for all its members are: Organizations for the married men and women, the young men and women, the youths and misses, the boys and girls. These four general divisions should, if possible, be maintained. Societies for boys and girls should comprise children from the age of eight until after first Communion. The youths and misses should be cared for from their first Communion until they have completed their sixteenth year. From that age until marriage, or settlement in life, they come under the third classification. The fourth would include all married people. In these divisions the sexes should be separated, thus giving eight societies to a parish. This work would be too much for any one priest to carry on successfully, but it can very easily be accomplished where there are two or more priests.
Where all the societies mentioned cannot be established, let the priest elect such as he thinks he can best sustain. Having formulated his plan, let him begin with the
Altar Society.
It is the most easily organized and managed. It is usually made up of the married women of the parish. The proposed organization should be talked about some weeks beforehand. Having settled upon establishing it, the time [485] for a meeting should be announced at least twice at Sunday services. While it is well to invite all without distinction, the first move should be entirely voluntary on the part of members who propose to join; let there be no urging. In the meantime the purpose and efforts of the society should be kept before the public. Talk the society whenever an opportunity offers. Have others talk it. Have the local papers notice it. In other words, seek to create enthusiasm.
The state of the Sanctuary, or the Vestments, or the Altar will afford you ample matter. Start out with the idea that it must be a success. Impress this, if you can, upon those with whom you come in contact. It is probably best to have the first meeting on a week-day, toward the end of the week. Friday is a good day, as the heavy work of the household is, as a rule, over by that time. The hour must be convenient, hence do not choose the morning. Select a time when no thought of some waiting duty will embarrass you or your members. It is very important that a priest meet his people pleasantly, particularly when, as on occasions like this, he would persuade them to some good work. This is another reason why the meeting should take place when he himself has sufficient leisure to devote his whole mind to it. You cannot easily be kind and agreeable when you are all fagged out. The Ordinary will readily give permission to terminate your society meeting, on week days, with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, if this privilege be asked. The meeting should always open with a short prayer. It is also a good practice to have the members sing some hymn. It may be but one verse of some old tune; it may not be fine music, but it will be devotional. You will be astonished to realize how older people like to sing. The priest then addresses the members on the objects and aims of the society. No priest need be told what to say when he pleads the cause of the presence of the Eucharistic God, and the care and homage that should be given Him. If the church be poor in vestments, exhibit the poorest. Ask them how they would fancy wearing garments of such age and state of cleanliness to a party of friends. Picture the shame Catholics [486] should have in permitting anything but the best to be used in God's service. Explain the benefit of the association; the prayers and masses in which all will become participators.
The next step is to take the names of all desiring to become members. Circulate slips of paper and pencils, and have the proposed members write their names and addresses. Mention that if any have forgotten their glasses, they can come to you after the meeting.
Elect your officers. Then, in a few words, thank them for their attendance, and encourage them for the future. Point out the certainty of God's blessing to them, and give it, if feasible, in the Church, with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. At the first meeting it is well to abstain from collecting dues; instead, have some of the members take up a collection and place it to the credit of the society. Announce the time of the next meeting, which should be on a fixed day, say the second Friday of each month. Request them to tell their neighbors, who are not there, to come to the next meeting. The dues for the Altar Society should not exceed ten cents a month. Encourage those who are able and desire to pay more, but receive it only as a donation. Be very particular about the due cards with the Altar Society.
The means of keeping up the interest in this society may be summed up as follows: Interest on the part of the pastor in all that the society undertakes. Encouraging words for it from the pulpit. Frequent social gatherings. Practical addresses. Showing the society at its meeting whatever new objects for church service it has purchased, explaining the merits of the articles. Explain the different pieces, such as albs, corporals, etc., made of linen for the sanctuary service, and encourage those who have the time to give some of their own handiwork to the service of the Altar. It is not good policy to have the sanctuary cared for by members of the Altar Society, where Religious can be had. The washing of the church linen may be a means of interest, provided it is permitted to each member of the society; otherwise, it would be better to pay for it from the Altar Society fund. There should be a low mass offered once a [487] month for all the living members and their families. A Requiem Mass should be chanted for deceased members. The Altar Society should not be required to receive Holy Communion in a body, except at the Requiem Mass for deceased members, which should be a month's-mind Mass, on a week-day morning.
To an experienced priest no word of explanation in regard to this is required. The various household duties, which a good wife and mother should attend to, must naturally prevent such general Communions from being successful. Explain to them, if you will, that this is not required out of consideration for the home duties. Show the members every attention. Give them every facility for approaching Holy Communion on week-days. Of all places in the world a mother is needed at home Sunday mornings, hence, in her regard, be exacting in nothing else but attendance at mass on that day.
The Men.
The better all-around society for men is the Holy Name Society. The object is a taking one, the duties light, the spiritual privileges very great, and no set dues are required. Apply to your nearest Dominican convent, or send to Noonan & Co., of Boston, for a manual of the Holy Name Society. Its object is to prevent cursing and the use of improper language. Its members are supposed to receive the Sacraments in a body six times a year. On becoming members they are affiliated with the great Dominican Order. The Holy Rosary becomes familiar to them. There should be a plate offering at each meeting. Mass should be said for the living members at least six times a year, and at least once a year for the deceased members. You can have a Dominican Friar establish this society for you, on the payment of his traveling expenses and a small sum for charter, etc. This sum can easily be collected at the meeting for organization. The way the society should be introduced into the parish is as follows:
Have your date fixed with the Friar. Advertise and announce [488], so as to give it the widest circulation possible, the notice of the sermon or lecture on an important topic by a Dominican Friar, who will preach in the picturesque garb of that ancient Order of the Church. Gather as large a crowd as you can for his discourse, which ought, if possible, to be Sunday evening. Have all your parishioners come, if the church will hold them; if not, let it be for men only. Say nothing about organization. Get your parish ready to listen to the eloquent discourse on the important matter. The Friar will do the rest. To keep up interest, have the meeting purely devotional. The best time for such is undoubtedly after the mass at which the members receive Holy Communion. The meeting should be in the church. Let the priest do all the talking, with the exception of roll call, which should be done by the secretary. The instruction should be short and to the point; no scolding and not a word about money. The wearing of the button which forms the badge of the Holy Name Society should be encouraged. Such can be procured from Feely & Co., Providence, R. I., at about ten cents each. In these days of buttons, charms and pins, this device has great attraction and accomplishes much good. From the funds of the society, i. e., the offering, which should be collected and cared for by the treasurer, an additional supply of buttons may be purchased to give to non-Catholics who will wear them and pledge themselves not to swear. Have members circulate "No Swearing Allowed Here" cards. The society should attend the funerals of deceased members in a body; they should afford such comforts as they can to sick members. Don't exact too much. If we remember that it is the laboring men who carry the burdens of the parish in more ways than one, we shall do our utmost to make them feel that the society is a help, not a burden to them. They need rest on Sunday; let us ask as little as we can of them, and that in God's name. We should never impose on this society, as a society, the duty of helping at fairs, festivals, etc. Let the members feel that its whole object is to better them spiritually, and you will have a prominent body of organized men of which [489] you may well be proud. I might speak of other societies, sodalities, etc., but I have not found an equal to the Holy Name Society for beneficial results.
Young Women.
The Sodality is the society best suited for eliciting the helpful activity of the young women in the parish. It may be organized in a manner similar to that suggested for establishing the Altar Society. A proper diploma and other pertinent directions can be easily obtained through the Jesuit Fathers, which should never be neglected. It depends on the locality whether you can have the meeting on a week-day. If you can, do so. In many places this is not possible, as the young people are obliged to work on week-days. They are tired enough at night, without attending protracted meetings. Under such circumstances, the better time for the young women's meeting is probably Sunday afternoon at about four o'clock. The society should be organized at the end of a three days' retreat given by some member of the Jesuit Order, the first to organize Sodalities of the Blessed Virgin such as we have them now. The expense will be met by the Sodalists. If you cannot have a Jesuit Father, get a neighboring priest to organize your Young Ladies' Sodality. Here, too, it is important to arouse as much enthusiasm in the undertaking as is possible. The entrance fee should be made sufficiently large to pay for a manual, ribbon and medal. These can be bought at wholesale for about fifty cents, and should be given to members at their profession. It is well to oblige all members to wear ribbon and medal at meetings, and when receiving Holy Communion. Follow the rules of the manual as far as you can. There are certain requirements laid down in the manual which cannot be fulfilled in every parish. Dispense with all regulations which cannot properly and conveniently be complied with, and outline a brief rule in the spirit of the Sodality Manual Rule, which, once made, should be followed as strictly as possible. Being strict, while kind, is one of the best means of prolonging the life of a Young Ladies' Sodality. Impress [490] on the members the necessity of doing something special, in token of gratitude for the glorious title of "A Child of Mary." Public dances and round dancing should be prohibited, as well as all amusements that are discountenanced by the Church. The short "Office of the Bl. Virgin Mary" should be recited in public at least once a month by the entire body. In some places both Sodalities, young men's and young women's, meet together in the church to recite the Office. This is an excellent way. The Director should always be present. It might be well to have the Little Office, and a few hymns, printed on a four-page pamphlet, on heavy paper, to distribute for Office meetings, thus doing away with the excuse, "I have forgotten my manual." The order for Office meetings, which should be in a chapel, or the church, may be:
1. Veni Creator. 2. Hymn in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 3. Office said alternately by the Prefect and the entire body of the Sodality, or by the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Sodalities forming opposite choirs. 4. Announcement of the monthly patron, with the virtue to practice and the vice to overcome, to which may be joined such other announcements as are necessary. 5. Litany of the Blessed Virgin. 6. Closing hymn.
The Consultors and Officers should have a meeting immediately after these devotional exercises, but in some place where they can talk freely of the condition of the Sodality, and of the means of bettering it. It is preferable that the Director should not attend this meeting, as his presence hinders free expression of thought. In all cases it is wise to lend a patient ear to the result of such meetings. Give a fair trial to any means suggested, if it can be adopted. The Director makes no address at the meeting in which the Office is recited.
The business meeting should be held once a month. The order usually observed is—
1. Prayer and hymn.[491]
2. Roll call and payment of dues.
3. Proposing new members.
4. Special business.The names of candidates should always be referred to the Consultors.
5. Question box.
6. Director's instructions.
7. Litany of the Blessed Virgin, and adjournment.
The meetings should not be drawn out too long. If possible, have the treasurer collect dues during roll call. Absentees should be noted. A slight fine—not more than five cents—might be imposed for absence when not excused. The dues should not exceed five cents a month. It is the treasurer's business to take care of all sodality money. The address made by the priest at the meeting should be well prepared; indeed, I venture to assert that, if he bestow on this work less time and care than he gives to the preparation of his Sunday sermon, he would do better to say nothing. Carefully thought out and fixed in the mind, it should be short, and treat mainly such topics as are of interest to the young ladies. The evils of mixed marriages, and the necessity of asking God to point out a distinct vocation, are themes of supreme importance in the lives of these young women, and should, therefore, be frequently touched upon. There is no association existing that can afford more real consolation to a pastor than a good Young Ladies' Sodality. None that can give more annoyance and pain than the same society, if the devil enters into it. Take great care of the young women. On them depends in the main the future of your parish. Encourage them in their endeavors toward betterment. It is a mistake to think that because they are docile, they may be slighted. They require your best attention.
Encourage any gathering where they can all come together. Make their meeting places as pleasant as possible. Plan literary gatherings and festivals—encourage anything of a social character that is permissible. Reading circle work, studies, Bible class, sewing for the poor, entertainments, properly managed card parties—anything to keep them busy, amused, and away from evil influences.
Make a great deal of the marriage of a Sodalist. Have the [492] sanctuary furniture, such as chairs, prie-dieus, and a mat of a special kind and of the richest quality, to be used exclusively on the occasion of the marriage of a Sodalist. No other marriage should have anything like it. The same solemnity, in the way of decorations, etc., should be observed at the funerals of deceased members of the Sodality. Have special altar ornaments, special pall, special candlesticks for the catafalque. All these things are of weight in helping to keep up interest in the work of the Sodality.
The Young Men.
The priest who can build up successfully a Young Men's Sodality, or Society, is gifted above the ordinary. Let him cultivate the great gift by all means. How can we reach our young men? Few priests, comparatively, have been able to solve the problem. The fault may exist on both sides. Anyway, it exists. There is, it seems, a natural timidity on the part of the youth as he grows into manhood to meet a priest; with many there is a shyness which makes them feel reluctant to be seen in the company of a priest. On the other hand, the priest, especially if he be young himself, feels this restraint, this shyness which causes the young men to avoid him, most keenly. He finds it difficult to attract them, and meeting in his first efforts with failure is apt to be discouraged and to leave the young men to themselves. This is an error. They can be gained. Let the priest visit personally every young man in the parish, invite them one after another to come to the meeting. Be plain with them. Explain to each his duty, as a Catholic man, of doing what he can to oppose error, and to do it systematically. Establish a sodality, if possible, after the manner of the Young Ladies' Sodality. Make the members feel that you know them and want to help them. In many cases pastors may have to confess that the majority of their young men are not known to them. Let this not be said of you. Get acquainted. Make them feel that you are made of the same material that they are. Greet them cordially. Make them feel at home. Talk baseball, billiards, and even prize [493] fighting if necessary. Keep yourself posted for their benefit—but rarely, if ever, join their sports. By so doing you lessen your influence.
Make few rules, but be sure to observe those that you have made. Nothing disgusts young men quicker than to see the rules, which they were taught to respect, disregarded with impunity and by the quasi-sanction of their superiors. Have them receive the Sacraments at least four times a year. Make it your business to go after them if they miss their Communion Sunday. They require great attention. A Young Men's Sodality properly maintained requires all the extra time of one priest. No matter how zealous he may be, he will find room for all his energy in this one organization. Let him provide for dramatic entertainments, courses of lectures, literary unions, debates, anything to keep the members interested in their efforts to promote union and co-operation in fostering solidly Catholic life. They should also have a gymnasium, or guild-hall annex, if possible. Encourage athletic exercises, never forgetting, however, when with them, the lofty dignity of a priest. They must respect you if they are to profit by your advice and experience.
The young men can thus be made to feel that your only ambition is to see them prosper. Nearly all the means of encouragement that have been mentioned for the Young Ladies' Sodality may be used for the young men. Encourage sociability among Catholic young people. Doing this prevents in large measure the temptation to contract mixed marriages. Praise publicly what you find good in the young men. Condemn, privately, their faults. It is much better not to have a Young Men's Sodality than to have one which, through want of care and interest on the part of the clergy, runs the risk of becoming a failure.
The task of organizing a Young Men's Sodality should not be committed to a priest advanced in years. Men over forty rarely possess that elasticity and power of attraction which is essential to inspire active interest in such work among the youth. We lose with age much of that sympathy that binds the young to their kind.
[494] The Children of Mary.
A separate society should be formed, where possible, for girls between the ages of twelve and sixteen. For them no better organizations can be introduced than that of the Children of Mary, as prescribed in the excellent little book called the Children of Mary's Manual,[1] with modifications to suit the locality. It is the best book we know of for girls, and we might say for every woman, although we should advocate an edition in better form and larger type. Place it in the hands of every girl when she makes her First Communion. A suitable time to organize this society is the Sunday after First Communion. Model it after the Young Ladies' Sodality. The dues may be even less. The question box is an important item and has a peculiar attraction for children. We have had it for nearly twelve years, and it still maintains its popularity. One of the reasons of this may be that the society is continually changing, members not remaining longer than their sixteenth year. The strain, therefore, in this society, is not as great as in the sodalities. If we prepare our discourses for four years, and keep them, we have all the addresses that are required. Speak plainly to children. Tell them their faults. Make them understand you. Always have a story with a moral for them. Keep them engaged in some special work for the church.
During vacation, have them make fancy work for a sale to take place later on in the season. We may have such in connection with Halloweve, or the Thanksgiving festival. In this way will our real workers of the future be trained. Encourage them in having a good time, making them mindful that a good time must never exist with sin. After the Altar Society, comes this society as the easiest to manage. The pastor will find great consolation, and less trouble with it, than with others. It must, however, have encouragement and attention.
The Boys.
A society, corresponding to the Children of Mary, for boys, [495] should be established wherever possible. Boys should enter it at First Communion time and remain members until their sixteenth year. Let it be a total abstinence society. Members should be pledged against the use of tobacco as well. It may prove an advantage to have it affiliated with the Temperance Union of America. The bulletins, etc., from that society encourage them, while the term "Cadet" has for boys a certain fascination. They will be proud of their pins or badges.[2] Boys are fond of show. These things are not expensive and are easily procured. Get the boys in line whenever you can. Have them march around a square on Communion Sunday. They must have a banner. They should wear white gloves. Arouse enthusiasm, and the parents of the lads will furnish the funds. If you have an old soldier in the parish who will interest himself, form them into a military company on a small scale. Get wooden guns. Have a drum corps. Permit them to take part in public parades. Let them have military plays, dramas, etc. It is surprising how much enthusiasm a company of boys can work up in a parish. Back of all this display is the object—Monthly Communion. Meetings should be held where the priest can get down to boy level, and caution boys against boys' sins. Here, too, may be the moulding-room for Young Men's sodalities. It is easy to keep the boys in line, because a set goes out and a set comes in each year. Make the boys take charge of their business meetings. Have them learn parliamentary usages, which will be of great service to them in the future. This can easily be done by having them repeat motions, etc., after you. A few lessons will give them a start. After that the only trouble will be, not to have them all want to make motions at the same time.
Next, you must outline some plan of work for them. You have a poor old lady in the parish; get your boys to her house for a "wood-splitting bee," or a "carrying-in-coal bee," or any work of that description. They will enjoy it, [496] and without their being conscious of it, you will have planted the seeds of charity. An active working boys' society makes earnest working men. Let them have the question box, debates, or anything else that you can tolerate at their meetings. If you have the Cadets, get up a monthly contest—a picture, or some trifle as a prize to the one who will give the military salute the greatest number of times. Let them tell of their efforts to help others. Have an outing with them once or twice a year. Be all to all with them. You will have to cure them by patiently listening to their discussions of the sports of the day, or their snatches of low songs, or their slang; correct all plainly and gently. Boys like plain talk.
A priest who has his boys swear by him (to use a common phrase) is a king. Do all you can to achieve this distinction. However, never forget you are a priest while with them. Boys are led, not driven. Have them agree at each meeting to practice some resolution that they will adopt—for instance, "keep from answering back," "perform some specified act of kindness each day for a month," etc. Never inquire how they have kept their resolutions; let that be a matter between God and themselves. The business meeting should not be more than once a month. Have it brief. The address should be your best.
Holy Angels' Society.
Little girls between the age of eight years and First Communion should have a society of their own. The Children of Mary's Manual outlines a society known as the Holy Angels' Society.
This is just the thing for little ones. Mould it after the Children of Mary's Sodality, so as to prepare them for that society when they are fitted for it. Have the dues but one or two cents a month. Have the meeting once a month. While a Sister may do all the work for this society, the priest must "look in" and tell a story at each meeting. Have them honor and love their Guardian Angel. For this reason encourage them to recite nine Glorias each day in honor of [497] the nine choirs of Angels. They should have songs at their meetings. Interest them in the lives of their patron saints. Encourage them to do something, according to their ability, for the Church. The spirit of self-sacrifice, and doing for the Church, must be instilled in their little hearts. Have the Sisters care for the money; that is, receive it from the treasurer after each meeting. Let the older ones be taught the duties of secretary, treasurer and prefect. Get medals for them. Let them have a banner. Children like fuss. Make them happy. They should have a feast at least once a year. There would be no use for a society, according to their notions, unless this feast was exclusive. Therefore, whatever is done in that way, let it be "just for ourselves."
Our Little Boys.
Our little boys are like their seniors, and require all the attention we can give them. Place them under the protection of some boy saint, Saint Pancratius, for instance. Let them pledge themselves for some special work, one of the following being suggested: "Never tell a lie," "Love their mother better than anyone else in the world," "Never give her pain," "Tell all they do to their father or mother," "Never to pass an old person without lifting their hat," etc. Encourage them to keep their pledge. Their dues should be but one cent a month. Let them organize at the beginning of the school year. Their meetings should be once a month. The order of exercises at each meeting should be somewhat similar to that of the Holy Angels Society. They will want badges and a banner—make them work for them. Instill into their minds that no debts should be contracted. Let them have some special object to work for after the banner and badges are paid for—something definite, and not too expensive, for example, a set of cruets for the altar, an altar bell, etc. They need praise, give it prudently. The priest should have a story for them at each meeting. Make them think themselves better than others of their own age who do not belong to the society. Such pride is commendable and not at all dangerous, for it is pride in their society or work, [498] not a personal thing. Care must, however, be taken that this sort of thing will not prevent others from joining. Let all the little boys of the parish know that they will be ever welcome to the meetings, and that they can join this society.
Have all meetings short. Children should not be kept longer than one-half hour, while for grown people the limit should be one hour. Always begin on time. The prayers at business meetings should be short, and one verse of a hymn is sufficient. Have the dues collected, if possible, while the secretary is calling the roll. Where the society is very large, ask members to enclose their dues in an envelope bearing their name, and place it on the collection plate. The treasurer can credit it afterward. This method cannot, of course, be used with the card system. Give plenty of opportunity at business meetings for the discussion of matters of interest to the whole society. No member should be allowed to speak longer than three minutes, or more than once on the same topic.
The minutes of each society must be written with great care. They should be read well. The secretary is the most important officer for the success of a society. Good secretaries are rare. Like poets, they are born, not made.
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Footnotes:
1. This manual may be obtained from P. J. Kenedy [sic], New York.
2. These can be obtained in silver form Feely & Co., at about twenty-five cents each.
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Source: Francis A. O'Brien, "Organization and Maintenance of Parish Societies," American Ecclesiastical Review 14 (June 1896): 481–498.
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