DEAR DITOR,—Thanks for your article by John Farrel, " We're Out of Touch with the Workers."
To use a Lancashire saying, he bits the nail right on the head.
The whole of my youth was spent in the employ of Catholics. Later I had to seek further afield, and from industrial Lancashire I have journeyed to this district in pursuit of my trade.
My wife and 1 have attended this parish for three years, and we still feel like strangers. There are no Guilds, C.Y.M.S., Children of Mary, Knights, etc., but there are whist drives, garden parties, parish outings, all entailing more money than a married worker can afford.
My wife excused herself from attending one of these functions by pointing out that we had two young children and we did not care to leave them. She was told by the parish enthusiast that the children would never miss us, even if they awoke. Incidentally, in a fair-sized middle-class congregation here I believe children are not considered " the thing."
By all means give us the help of the educated and better class people, but please don't patronise us like when London society goes slumming.
When I ordered the CATHOLIC HERALD from the lady at the church door, she suggested I take another paper, as the " HERALD is a Laybah (Labour) paper, you know "!
WORKER.
A Derbyshire Parish.