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THE BULLETIN
OF THE
Catholic Laymen’s Association of Georgia
NUMBER ONE JANUARY. 1920
A FOREWORD
By Bishop Keiley
I am asked to say a word for the initial number of
The Bulletin, and I cannot persuade myself that 1 am
expected to write an article in praise of the Catholic
Laymen’s Association. 1 do not think the Associa
tion needs any praise. Its quite persistent and suc
cessful work and the results obtained are enough. It
has more than justified the expectation of its found
ers, and its wonderful success has far surpassed the
hopes of the most sanguine. It has shown the people
of Georgia that the strongest support of those funda
mental doctrines of the Christian religion, the Divinity
of Christ and redemption by His Blood, the Divine
inspiration of the Bible and an eternal Heaven and
Hell, is found in the Catholic Church. It has taught
our non-Catholic fellow-citizens that we do not be
lieve in the Divinity of Mary, though we do ask her
prayers as we ask the prayers of one another, and
that we do read the Bible, and treat it as God’s Holy
Word.
We tried to make them believe that there was noth
ing incompatible with loyalty to the Republic in our
recognition of the spiritual authority of the Pope, and
1 suspect that now since the war with the Huns, there
is not a man in Georgia who doubts our complete
loyalty and single-hearted devotion to our country.
There are grave and menacing questions now con
fronting us. What would have been the result if the
coal strike had not been called off? Riots, disorder
and destruction of property and loss of life are always
the accompaniment of strikes. I am merely stating
facts. I am not placing the blame on either side,
but every lover of this land will admit that there is
great need of some strong, conservative force in
America which will resolutely oppose all violence and
as resolutely support the constituted authorities in
defense of a lawful and orderly conduct of affairs.
May I suggest that there is a field for the activities
of the Catholic Laymen’s Association with the same
ardor with which they fought the prejudice and ignor
ance prevailing in Georgia. Let them proclaim that
this strong, conservative force is the Catholic Church.
Let them proclaim that she stands for law, for order,
and for the loyal support of the authorities, and
for the absolute and unquestioned supremacy of the
law of the land; that she brands as an enemy of God
any one who counsels or upholds resistance to author
ity, because authority comes from God; that she
teaches that when the mob takes charge and inflicts
death, it is simply murder; that she strongly insists
that the laborer must receive a '‘living wage,” and
must by law be protected from rapacious employers,
and yet he has no right to use violence; and that the
employer must in turn be protected against unwar
ranted and illegal interference; she demands of both
laborer and employer submission to law and the pres
ervation of order.
The anarchist, the Socialist and the 1. W. W. are
great enemies of our Republic. A very much greater
one is the American citizen who counsels or supports
resistance to law and order. There is no place for
any of these in this Republic. The Catholic Church
takes this stand. The Constitution and laws made in
pursuance thereof are and must be our guides. Down
with Anarchy, Bolshevism, Socialism and the I. W. W.
Law and order must and shall prevail.
Assuredly the Catholic Laymen’s Association, sure
of the support of these principles by every Catholic
in Georgia and throughout the country, can also be
sure that our Protestant friends in this State will aid
in the fight against the two great evils here—illiteracy
and mob law.
To my mind the victory is certain if we will only
unite our forces for the struggle.
The Laymen’s Association has met success in the
past, not by secret and underhand methods, but by
open defense and honest statements. Such a method
will once more meet with success. Ignorance causes
prejudice. Then let’s fight ignorance. Mob law causes
injustice and crime. Then fight it.