Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

ITHE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA Meuse and the Farm, wherever the fighting was hardest. They have served continuously in all forms of military service and hazard. Not only their line officers and their rank and file, but their chaplains, Father M. J. O’Connor, of the Mass achusetts Ninth, and Father Francis P. Duffy, of the New York Sixty-ninth, have won military dis tinction as well as the gratitude and affection of the men. Father Thomas J. Dunne, of New York, a chaplain of the 306th Infantry, has received the Distinguished Service Cross. Several other chap lains of Irish blood have been cited for bravery, among them Father William J. Farrell, of Newton, Massachusetts. The “fighting marines” won deathless glory in the Great War. One of the most dramatic scenes in history occurred at Chateau-Thierry where the American marines opened ranks to permit the French to retire, then closing their lines once more, went forward singing: “Hail! Hail! The Gang’s All Here. It was the invincible courage, the uncon querable grit, the impetuosity and indomitable per sistence of the marines and the other American sol diers that caused the Americans to hold every posi tion under every conceivable difficulty, to fight through the Argonne forest, from one shell-hole to another, from one machine gun nest to the succeed ing one, and to attack, batter through, consolidate, hold, advance again and repeat tirelessly, again and again, and at last break the German morale so that the final debacle occurred and Germany’s hopes of world domination collapsed in humiliating surrender. The chaplain of the marines was Father John J.' Brady, of New York City. Catholic Officers. To set forth even a partial list of American Cath olic officers would make the reading like that of a catalogue. Therefore, a few are chosen which are (Continued on page 13) THE CONVENTION OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CATHO LIC WOMEN C. - by MRS. E. H. HOWKINS. Delegate for the C. L. A. of Georgia. The first Convention of the National Council of Catholic Women, was held at the Willard Hotel, Washington, D. C„ from October 12th to 14th, and a most inspiring, enthusiastic gathering of rep resentative Catholic women from all over this great country of ours—these United States—was in at tendance. The Convention started with Mass, His Excel lency, the Most Rev. John Bonzano, D. D., Apos tolic Delegate, being celebrant, and Rt. Rev. Ed mund F. Gibbons, D. D., Bishop of Albany, preached a most eloquent sermon in the spacious, beautiful church, St. Matthews, so how could our convention fail to be one of peace, inspiration and great promise? Immediately after Mass, we were received by the first lady of the land, Mrs. Warren G. Harding, at the White House. She is possessed of a most gra cious, charming personality, and is far more at tractive than represented in the movies! The business sessions were quickly and capably conducted. While we regretted exceedingly the ab sence of our President, Mrs. Michael Gavin of New York, who was detained by the desperate illness of her mother. Our little, vivacious, capable Vice- President, Mrs. W. T. Donovan of St. Louis, pre sided in an able and parliamentary manner. In summing up the Convention, one is impressed by the earnest, purposeful gathering of women—of one faith, for God and for country—eager to learn and to do, and we were enthused by the fine ad dresses made by many members of the Hierarchy. The keynote of this first National Council of Catholic Women was undoubtedly the importance of the National Catholic Service School, which is to be the_ special work of the Catholic Women of the United States. The plans were incorporated in a message from our President, Mrs. Gavin, and they were laid before the 500 delegates by Miss Agnes Reagan, Executive Secretary of the organization. The Need For The School. “The need for the school,” Mrs. Gavin’s message stated, “has been emphasized by the experiences of the past, the exigencies of the present and the pro babilities of the future. The curriculum will in clude economics and social legislation, household economics and institutional management; sociology, social case work, clinical, problems of childood and ethics.” Following the message of Mrs. Gavin, Very Rev. John Burke, C. S. P., general secretary of the Na- tronal Catholic Welfare Council, and head of the school s adminstrative board, delivered a short talk on the objects of the school. it win carry out the best traditions of the race ” he said, “by training the strongest to serve the weakest and by teaching sacrifice of self for the benefit of the helpless. “Its objects will be to create instruments to go out into the world equipped in the modern way for what tasks may confront them—instruments of charity, also teachers of practical and the most use ful charity.” Five hundred thousand dollars was set as the sum providing Tor the purchase and three-year main- tenance of the National Catholic Service School for Women, at 2400 18th Street, Washington, D. C. The school has already been purchased, at a price m the neighborhood of $350,000, and the expense of ooo enance for the first three years is set at $50,- Liberal Contributions. Immediately following Father Burke’s talk, con tributions were called for. Such was the enthusi- asm that m less than a half hour $50,000 was pledged! It was suggested that a plate be passed, as many would gladly contribute a dollar or so, but could not afford to give hundreds, and $13,000 was collected in a few minutes, so great is the belief that social welfare work is the great need of today. It is the great need, because it is designed for the rebuilding of human society. It is confined to no particular class or race or group. There should be no question of the need of the trained social worker. Social service is today a profession. The Catholic training school must as a school be equal to the best training 1 school in the country. Your representative was asked by the Archdiocease of Baltimore to give for the Diocese of Savannah the sum of $500. toward a $5,000 memorial in honor of Cardinal Gibbons, in the form of the National Catholic Service School for Women. It is needless to say the amount was willingly pledged, and now an appeal is made to the Catholic Women of Georgia to raise this sum—$500—by the 1st of January. The work can not be successful without your help. The National Catholic Service School must be maintained and we wish it God-speed.