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2 THE BULLETIN- OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA DEATH OF MR. FARRELL Mr. James J. Farrell, founder and editor of The Bulletin and Director of the Publicity Bureau of the Catholic Laymen’s Association, died suddenly at his home in Augusta on the morning of December 1 5th. Mr. Farrell was probably the' best-known member of the Association. In connection with his publicity work, his name had become almost a symbol of the Catholic Laymen’s activities in Georgia and the nation. He was from the beginning the Director of the Publicity Bureau, and, in truth, the mainspring of all our work. He was prominent also in other Catholic activities; a member of the Knights of Columbus, of which he was Past Grand Knight, of the Ancient Order of Hiber nians, of which he was one time president, of the Emmet Club, and of other Church societies. He was born in Augusta and had been an exemplary member of St. Patrick’s Church all his life. Mr. Farrell began business life in the newspaper field, in which he became head of the news depart ments of The Chronicle and The Herald. When the Catholic Laymen’s Association was formed in 1916, he organized the Publicity Bureau which has since become known throughout Georgia and many other States, and has even attracted attention in foreign countries. His idea was to bring about a better feel ing among people of all religious denominations. When he started, there was a number of papers in Georgia which made a practice of attacking the Cath olic Church. Now, there is perhaps not more than one. Mr. Farrell’s work was unique in its way, and after its progress he was called on by Catholics in different parts of the country to come and show them the way. During the past summer he visited practically -every State east of the Mississippi at the invitation of mem bers of the Hierarchy, and addressed large audiences in Chicago, New York, Brooklyn, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and New Orleans. Only the week before his death, he returned from a trip to Mississippi where he had been invited by Bishop Gunn to inaugurate a Catholic Laymen’s Association in that State. During the Michigan School Amendment contest last fall, he was called to Detroit to organize the fight against the bill, which, largely through his plans, was decisively defeated in the November election. No one in Georgia had a wider general acquaintance, and none was more sincerely respected and loved. At the funeral in St. Patrick s Church, Augusta, December 18th, the Knights of Columbus, Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Friends of Irish Freedom, the Emmet Club and the Spanish-American War Vet erans, of which Mr. Farrell had been an honored member, had delegations present, and the large con course of representative citizens present attested the esteem in which he was held by all. Solemn Mass of Requiem was sung by Father Schonhardt, of Augusta, with Father Haas, U. S. B., of Savannah, Deacon; Father Murphy, of Spartanburg, Sub-Deacon, and Father Ryan, S. J., of Augusta, Master of Ceremonies. In the sanctuary were: Father Joseph D. Mitchell, V. G.; Rev. James A. Kane, Rev. A. Laube, L. A. M.; Rev. Father Hesse, L. A. M.; Rev. Rene-McCready’ S. J.; Rev. G. M. Shadwell. Right Rev. Bishop Russell was represented by the Rev. N. A. Murphy, of Spar- tanburg, S. C. The honorary pall-bearers were: J. J. Haverty, Atlanta; Thomas F. Walsh, Savannah; A. J. Long, Macon; O. K. Fletcher. P. H. Rice, W. A. Mulherin, E. J. O’Connor, M. H. H. Duvall, Louis J. Schaul, D. M. Silver. Letter From Bishop Keiley. The following letter from Bishop B. J, Keiley was read by the Very Reverend Joseph D. Mitchell, who represented the Bishop at the Mass: “On last Tuesday I received a letter from Mr. Farrell ask ing me to write a New Year’s greeting for The Bulletin. I wrote it Wednesday morning and one of the Priests had just finished reading it over to me when I was summoned to the telephone, and the jiresident of the Laymen’s Association gave the sad news of the sudden death of Mr. Farrell. “Prevented from coming in person, to pay the last tribute of respect to his memory, I deem it my duty, as Bishop of the Diocese, to send a word to be read at his funeral. “Nearly all here knew Mr. Farrell a much longer time than I did. I believe that none knew his character and life better. First of all, and beyond all else, he was a fervent, devoted and practical Catholic. He found what was his real work in life late in his day, but in a very brief time he accomplished the work for many days. I have in a long life, measuring nearly fifty years in the Holy Priesthood, never met a layman so well informed on all matters connected with the teaching and practices of the Catholic Church. He Avas the moving and guiding spirit of our Catholic Laymen’s Association, and he brought to the performance of his duties not merely a mind avcII stored Avith Catholic principles, but a gracefulness and facility of expression in stating them, and a never-failing courtesy and fairness. Though misrepresented, he never re torted in the manner of his adversaries, but calmly and quietly presented a clear statement of the truth. And yet the success which marked his conduct of the affairs of the Laymen’s Asso ciation was not due to these qualities alone, but largely, if not entirely, to his enthusiastic loyalty to the Catholic Church from an intimate conviction of its Divine character and origin and its necessity for the Avorld. Who that ever heard him at our meeting can .ever forget his ringing voice, his con tagions enthusiasm, the manifest sincerity of the man, the intense happiness he felt - that good Avas being done, that there was less of rancor and bitterness, and a friendly feeling growing between Catholics and Protestants. At our meeting simple justice demanded that I should tell what he had done, and yet he would come to me and while thanking me for Avhat I had said he would insist that he was merely doing Avhat the officers planned, and they should be praised and not he. Planning Greater Things. “And now, as he Avas planning greater things for the work, it has pleased God to take him away. Though a layman, James Farrell had the spirit of a true missionary. So great is the harvest here and so feAV the laborers. May God help us. And yet I firmly believe that could his cold dead lips frame a message to me today it would be this: ‘Bishop, the Avork is God’s work, and it must go on. All have done their duty. I was but one of many who did all they could.’ “His body goes from the Church to its last resting place until the Archangel’s trumpet sumpions all to rise. In time I suppose a modest shaft Avill record his days on earth. But, please God, aa^g Avho are left to carry on the work as best Ave may Avithout him, will erect a magnificent memorial to James Farrell. It will be a greater Laymen’s Association Avhich will count as active members every Catholic in Georgia. It will do great work for God and God’s Church. Through its activities and labors there will come a day when men will rec ognize the falsity of the charges brought against the Church and realize that Catholics are as good citizens of the Republic and as firm supporters of its principles as their Protestant friends; nay, more, the day will come Avhen all Avijl admit that the safety and perpetuity of the Republic depend on the adop tion of the principles which the Catholic Church has always held and yet maintains. When that day comes Ave will ha-ve builded to the memory and honor of James Farrell a monu ment more enduring than marble or bronze, for neither cor roding nature nor changing time can best destroy it, and men who ask the story pf its birth Avill hear praise of the Catholic Layman, James Farrell.,.. '. “Yet God forbid that, Avhile telling somewhat of the story of James Farrell, I should fail to remember that he was a devoted son of Mother Church, and that Church Avhom Ave call our Holy Mother, justifies the title by her interest in all her children, living and dead. To us she comes with hand filled with blessings and graces and when sorrow copies, to her Ave go. Her prayers and her sacrifices go up before the very throne of God in behalf of those Avho have merely gone before and are yet her dear children. And now as Calvary’s Victim has been offered for the repose of the soul of Janies Farrell Ave Avho are left behind, taking the words from her liturgy,* say, ‘May the Lord grant him eternal rest and may perpetuai light shine upon the soul of James Farrell.’ ’’ Resolutions. In the death of Mr. J. J. Farrell, the Catholic Laymen’s Association of Georgia has sustained an overwhelming loss for we know of no man who can fill his place. The origin, the organization, and the progress of the Cath- (Continued on Page Nine)