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w Iff u \w Iff w If i i w iff a; The Bulletin .. of the Catholic Laymen’s Association of Georgia .. /7) “To bring about a friendlier feeling among Georgians irrespective of Creed.” Number 4 Convention Number October 1920 THE FIFTH ANNUAL CONVENTION The annual meeting of the Catholic Laymen’s Association of Georgia was held in Savannah, Sunday, September 26th. In almost every way it was the most imposing gathering of lay Catholics yet held in Geor gia. The attendance was larger and most representa tive; the business transacted of great importance and of large volume when the brevity of the session is considered; the presence of notables from out of the State added a piquancy lacking in previous conven tions; while the always delightful hospitality of Sa vannah shone at its warmest. The report of the president, printed in full else where in this issue, showed an organization not only actively functioning, financed for years ahead, but spreading over the Union and bidding fair to be na tional in a few years. Its acceptance by the publicity department of the National Welfare Council, as a model for Laymen’s Publicity, has put the stamp of hierarchical approval upon it, and best of all, the people at home are backing it solidly and most en thusiastically. No greater tribute could be paid to the work than the attendance of nearly two hundred Georgians at great inconvenience and at their own expense. The re-election of all the old officers, except where circumstances prevented continuance, means that the Catholics of Georgia believe their affairs in the As sociation are well conducted. The day began fittingly with Solemn High Mass at the Cathedral where Rev. J. J. Wynne, the distin guished Jesuit, preached an appropriate and beneficial sermon. There were two business sessions, broken by a luncheon at the De Soto, where the Savannah As sociation acted host to the visitors. Everything went off with such smoothness that Father Wynne, who was among the closing speakres, facetiously remarked that no famed organization had anything to show Georgia. His talk was a delightful treat. Among the other visitors were the Reverend Father Maddern, provincial of the Society of Jesus; Messrs. Langley and O’Brien, active spirits in the laymen’s work in Carolina, and Messrs. Mauncey and Dunne, who are expected to be active in organizing Florida, and who represented Bishop Curley at the convention. The presence of our own Right Reverend Bishop Keiley and a number of the priests of the Diocese, was appreciated, and added greatly to the pleasure of the occasion. Elsewhere will be found the reports of officers which will tell just what the convention did and what are the plans for the year, as far as they can be outlined pending the meetings of the Publicity and Finance Committees, the former October 1 7th in Au gusta, and the other in Atlanta, October 24th. REPORT OF PRESIDENT P. H. RICE TO THE FIFTH ANNUAL CONVENTION To the Officers and Members of the Catholic Laymen’s Association of Georgia: While there is no law requiring your President to make a written report, I feel it incumbent to at least give in a brief way an account of some of the work accomplished, as well as to make for your considera tion some recommendations which will not be covered by other officers. Immediately upon adjournment of our last Conven tion in Augusta your Executive or Finance Committee decided that, instead of assessing each city and mission ln State according to Catholic population as here tofore, we would appeal to the Catholics of Georgia to subscribe an amount of money sufficient to carry on as well as extend the work of our Association. Following this decision 1 at once appointed a Speakers’ or Campaign Committee, consisting of Mr. James J. Farrell and Miss Mary Helen Hynes, of the Publicity Committee, who, with your President, and when possible our Right Reverend Bishop, who was with us in Atlanta, Savannah and Macon. We decided to make an appeal for $50,000.00, to be paid within two years. We opened our campaign in Atlanta, Sunday, October 19, 1919, and through the splendid efforts of our first vice-president, Mr. James J. Haverty, had the pleasure of addressing a great representative gath ering of Catholics of that city. Sunday, October 26th, under the auspices of Vice-