‘Worker my Brother‘

Extract

Some years have already passed since the Abbé Godin in his book France, pays de mission,’ gave us a rather sad summing up of enquiries made into the increasing paganism in French towns. The book was followed by others revealing a similar state of affairs in the country and showing clearly where effort must be made at the present time. It is comforting, therefore, to realise what steps have already been taken to meet the situation; and even if it is only a start we can hope for its success when the seed will grow and ripen.

The name of Père Loew may he familiar to some who have read the short account of his work in En mission proletarienne. Père Loew had previously written a lesser-known book, Les dockers de Marseilles; ou, comment se crée le proletariat; and he also delivered some lectures on the work he has been doing. These lectures were the most striking evidence of the sincerity of his mission; delivered without sentiment or pathos but with the simplicity of truth built on real experience they conveyed a feeling of unspeakable sorrow for the workers.