OATHOLIO 165 OATHOLIO
btireau proceeds to examine the particular tract regularly. These colonies amply demonstrate that of land in question, as to its agricultural merits, i^ystematic Catholic colonization work, carried on Special attention is given to climatic and sanitary along practical lines, is a factor of the utmost im- conditions, quality and productiveness of the soil, portance for the religious and temporal good of the its adaptability for special cultivation (fruit, grain, settler himself, and in a larger sense for the good vegetable, daiiying, cattle raising, etc.), facilities of of the Nation and of the Catholic Church in the transportation, marketing, supply of wood, lumber, United States. Julius E. deVob,
fuel, driiJdng water, etc. Only when the afore- Pbtbb J. Cichozki.
mentioned examination of the land is thoroughly
satisfactory, and when other matters intended for Catholic Evidence Guild, The, is a part- the welfare of the settler have been properly ar- time voluntary organization of the laity for the ranged, will the Catholic Colonization SocieW issue purpose of teaching their religion to non-Catho- a formal recommendation of the project and bring fics. Its (active) members are ordinary lay-folk, men it before the public here and in Europe. Such a and women, who devote part of their leisure time to recommendation will be given only when the soci- the work; it thus differs radically from the mis- ety is fully satisfied as to the adaptability of the sionaiy orders,^ although, in spirit and outlook, it project for the Catholic settler. While it is clearly seeks to copy them. In method it is largely impossible to give an absolute guarantee in under* original, partly on account of the new presently takings of this Kind, which depend largely on human setting of the problem of preaching the Gospel, conduct, yet once the Catholic Colonization Society and partly on account of the peculiarities of struc- has recommended land, the settler may rest as- ture rendered possible, or necessary, by the char- sured that every precaution which may be reason- acter of its membership. Together with its main ably demanded, has been used in the mvestigation object, i. e., that of preaching the Church as the of such a project. Naturally, so far as the futiire Message of God, are bound up as subsidiary ob- is concerned, it will rest entirely with the colonist jects those of preaching the utilitv and beatity of to make his land bear fruit and profit. Here, as various doctrines and practices of the Church, taken elsewhere, labor is the source of wealth. The shift- separately, of supporting whatever remains of Chris- less, and careless settler, who may eventually come tianity outside of the Church, and of confirming to grief on land recommended by the society, must the faith of Catholics in the crowd, blame himself, not the Catholic Colonization Soci- The methods adopted are those of studsdng the ety. In order to protect the religious interests of topics in the Catholic system upon which non- tbe settlers, it is the fixed policy of the Catholic Catholic interest is livelist, and of using them as. Colonization Society not to recommend any land at least, jumping off spots for discourse. All sub- project unless a church with regular divine services jects are treated positively, i. e., by means of ex- is established on the spot to care for the religious planatory. description. The aim is to build roads needs of the incoming settlers. into the wilderness, from the City on the Hill, so
Reports which describe the actual merits and that men may not only see the City but also, limitations of any colony project and which tell close to hand, the highway leading to it. Hence how the land should be handled in any particular negative and sterile argumentation is avoided; and place, are made by expert agriculturists, working also abstract disquisitions and matter suitable only especially for the Catholic Uolonization Society, for Catholic audiences. The actual state of mind Thus the society puts at the disposal of every of the crowd addressed is throughout, uppermost in man of small means the service of land experts, the speakers' thoughts. The common material of which up to the present time could be secured only Catholicism is accordingly variously shaped to meet by the man of wealth or the rich institution. The the varying needs of different audiences. A popular smaU land-seeker was without such expert and style of oratory is aimed at, e.g., talks are preferred practical guidance until the society found means to set speeches or formal lectures, and ways to distribute the benefits of this expen- As regards the Catholic community, the Guild sive talent and experience without cost to the aims at increasing whatever degree of apostolic inquirer. By bringing a great number of settlers spirit the laity may already possess; at the mass into the land in a short time, the danger of isolation production of speakers; and at the wise employ- which so often discourages the incuvidual settler ment of the forces thereby brought into action, and causes him to fail is overcome. Archbishop Its organization is planned to subserve these ends; Sebastian Messmer, of Milwaukee, is at present there are outdoor training, propaganda and finance Director General of the Catholic Colonization Soci- departments. The outdoor work is the root of the ety. Rev. Julius E. de Vos of Chicago, President, matter; everything else is subordinate to success and Rev. Peter J. Cichozki, Secretary. Its head- out-of-doors. The outdoor organization is in quarters are at Chicago. Projects recommended by "Squads" of speakers and literature sellers (usually tne Catholic Colonization Society are made known about ten to twelve in all), in charge of the meet- to the public by a wide and efficiently planned ings held usually at three Pitches." The squad ^3rstem of publicity and advertising. The happy leaders form the Outdoor Committee (chairman, result has been a number of prosperous and steadily the master of the Guild), in general charge of the increasing Catholic commumties located in various work. The training system is built up from the states of the Union. Among these may be men- practical experience gained in the outdoor work tioned three Catholic colonies in the Itiviera dis- and, so far as reffaros its more rougL-and-ready trict of Texas on the Gulf of Mexico, the colony side is in the hands of the (mainly lay) Practical at Fruitland in Northwestern New Mexico, the Training Committee, composed of the leading suit- flourishing colony at Ladysmith in upper Wiscon- able speakers of the guild. More advanced work sin, and a number of other Catholic settlements is under the personal control of the Director of which have been built up in recent years. A Studies. The Propaganda Committee advertises the great summer colony at Victory Heights in the work among CatnoTics and recuits new members. North Woods of Wisconsin was opened recently Finally, the financial needs, general amenities, and to the Catholic population of the cities, where they administration of the Guild, headquarters, etc., are may spend their summer outdoors, in clean healthy in the hands of a special Finance, etc.. Committee, amusement, and attend Mass and divine services The governing body is the Council, which decides
