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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
19
So from these four causes sprang the three oldest
Catholic parishes in Georgia—Savannah, Augusta and
Locust Grove. As we trace the story of the old
Savannah parish, we can see even at this late day the
love and devotion these early pioneers had for their
faith and the spirit of self-sacrifice that made them
persevere in spite of hardship and disaster until the
Catholic Church was firmly established as an integral
part of Savannah here to remain as long as the city
lasts.
THE CHURCH AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS.
(Continued from Page 8.)
their energies and their treasuries, too, to Catholic
educational work, as this is one of the best community
works they could do.
In their zeal for world improvement, they could
find no nobler task than this especially in Georgia
where such work is so badly needed.
We want our organizations to be known as those
of workers united for community betterment. There
is no community betterment which is more impor
tant than the spreading of the gospel, for “what doth
it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his
own soul?” Miss Hynes’ suggestion that there be
united effort among Catholics and non-Catholics in
such work should not be ignored by our deep-think
ing people. Since there seem to be no millionaire
philanthropists willing to endow Catholic works of
this kind, it should be the duty of every Catholic
organization to let this be their aim and object.
Catholic women have gone out into the business
and professional world, too, and need protection of
community centers for mutual intercourse and
amusement and the Catholic organizations should in
clude this in their programs of civic betterment.
The Catholic Church has never been opposed to
women’s rights as long as they are rights. Women’s
wrongs she has opposed so long as they were wrongs.
But some people have different views on the def
inition of those two words rights and wrongs.
The Church does not go into politics. Her job is
far too big and important to take up time discussing
worldly affairs when she has eternal Heaven to pre
pare us for.
Though often accused of desiring union of Church
and State, the Church leaders have declared that the
Church does not want such union.
Our politics are, therefore, no concern of our Holy
Mother Church, unless we place our souls or those
of others in jeopardy by what we advocate.
The Church does not tell us how many inches from
the ground should our skirts reach, or how low
should our waists be cut, but we are commanded by
this great guide to Heaven to clothe our bodies in
decency and modesty as becomes Christian women,
and when we disobey a command of the Church we
sin.
Knowing that the world, in her ignorance of God’s
Church, will blame and censure His Holy organiza
tion, Catholics should be careful as to their mistakes
in questions of public welfare, and should live in
such a manner that no criticism is due to them, or
to the Church wherein they worship God.
CARDINAL GIBBONS ON THE
CONSTITUTION.
(Continued from Page 1 1 )
and temporary, and are universally regarded as un-
American in his religious belief, as it protects him in
great wrongs which men have suffered elsewhere in
this respect of religion are here unthinkable.
“Moreover, because the question of religion had
ever been the burning question with the masses who
looked eagerly towards America, and were in time
destined to come to our shores, the Constitution held
out to them the hope that here on this blessed soil
opportunity would be given them of worshipping God
after the dictates of their own conscience. While the
founders of the American Republic could not have
foreseen the coming flood of European immigration,
they exhibited nevertheless in respect of religion the
greatest prudence and closed with practical sagacity
the only source of mutual discord and injustice that
the Republic had then to fear.
“I was quoted in the newspapers a few weeks ago
as saying of certain foreign elements in this country
that if they did not like our laws, let them return
to their own country; and if they did not return they
should be made to do so.
“Directed as these words are against those who
would abuse the liberty of worship and other liberties
here offered and who would strive to overthrow the
very instrument of their freedom, I offer no apology
for these words. In this all-important matter of re
ligious liberty, time has proved the wisdom of our
founders, and we would be recreant to the trust com
mitted to us if we failed to teach and uphold the prin
ciples upon which our government rests.’’
“OF THE PEOPLE.”
(Continued from Page 5)
wards. It is a difficult matter to convert an indi
vidual so thoroughly that he will not be influenced by
his former habits and notions; but it is far more dif
ficult to convert a whole people to such an extent,
and so they will change their laws, their customs
and their manners, rewrite their literature and let
their traditions die. And yet that is exactly what it
means for a pagan people having a large civilization
of their own, to be reorganized throughout so as to
place all their institutions upon a democratic basis.
America was born Christian. There is no need to
dwell on this fact; our laws and observances extend
ing over three hundred years make it clear. In the
beginning all our institutions were Christian through
and through. We had no pagan traditions, no habits,
no literature that belonged to pagan civilization. We
were free, unsoiled, like an innocent, untaught child.
Here was the place for democracy to be born. The
providence of God seems to have destined that the
true Christian idea of civil government should be
realized in this virginal land of ours and by us be
transmitted to the world. It is a noble destiny, a
great heritage, a wonderful message we have. What
an awful thing it would be if we did not play our
part nobly and well! If we ceased to be Christian
and no longer a fit vessel to hold the seed of democ
racy; if we commenced to be selfish and sought to
withhold ourselves from the service of mankind; if
we forget that God is the God of nations or that man,
made to His image, is born free.