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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.