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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
THE QUARTER’S WORK
October 1st is the beginning of the Association
year. It marks always the incoming of new officers
and the inauguration of new plans. This year it also
signified the beginning of bigger and better work.
The first task of the incumbent administration was
to form local branches in all the cities having suffi
cient numbers of Catholics and to provide the funds
for carrying out the enlarged program. Naturally
this took much effort and not a little time. The ex
ecutive officers have given of their services most zeal
ously and the Publicity Bureau has co-operated thor
oughly, though this labor interfered not a little with
its regular duties.
The entire time of the bureau manager has now
been secured and the clerical force enlarged to five.
The offices have been neatly, but inexpensively, fitted
up under direction of the president and complete
equipment installed. It is believed that a much
greater volume of satisfactory work will henceforth
be turned out.
The Bureau has about completed sending out the
pamphlet Catholicism and Politics, and has begun
work on a new brochure dealing' with the Pope, with
especial stress upon the difference between infalli
bility and impeccability, two phases that are greatly
misunderstood. Letters from non-Catholics indicate
widespread confusing of the terms. The little work
will also explain the allegiance owed by Catholics to
the Holy Father.
Several hundreds of letters about the Marriage
pamphlet have also been sent. Complaints from
several members of the Association that it was not en
tirely clear in parts brought such doubts into the
minds of the editors that they determined upon a
referendum to those it was written for. A letter wa3
sent to the non-Catholics who had inquired about
Marriage, and while it is too soon to announce th'
figures, it is not too early to state that the answer is
overwhelmnigly in favor of the pamphlet, i. e.: that
it has made clear to Protestants the attitude of the
Church upon marriage.
The first extra-state Association similar to Georgia’s
was formed in South Carolina in December, and is
now getting to work. The officers are rendering all
asked assistance to the new organization, and the
Bureau has begun assembling data and information
that will be useful to it.
The often-squelched fake “oath” of the Fourth
Degree of the Knights of Columbus has again made
its unavory appearance in the State, and is receiving
attention from the publicity department. The editor
of a denominational paper in Atlanta has reproduced
it, and a candidate for office in Fulton County has
apparently been diligently circulating it.
The pamphlets, “A Plea for Peace” and “Catholic
Belief,” have been reprinted in new editions of 12,500
each, and are being sent out. Pamphlets printed
number 53,450; leaflets 70,000.
In response to requests 67 copies of the New Testa
ment have been distributed.
Advertisements have been sent to papers in 45
counties.
The leaflet on the Public School question has been
in great demand and under heavy fire at times, re
sulting in some lengthy correspondence. About 30,000
have been sent out.
In the months of October, November and December
more new inquiries have been received than in the
first six months of last year, which will give an idea
of the growth of the Bureau’s actviities.
It has been the busiest quarter the Association has
experienced in its more than three years of existence.
SOME RECENTLY RECEIVED LETTERS
Statham, Ga. Your letter of November 12th re
ceived. I have not completed the literature you sent
me some time ago. I like it so, far, fine, and am
glad to know the feelings of Catholics toward Protes
tants are not what we oft-times are told they are.”
Denton, Texas.—“The Catholic Tribune, November
7th, gives much space to the Laymen’s League of
Georgia. Make your organization nationally known
through the Catholic press. Other States will imitate
you then. If the Catholic laymen were nationally or
ganized, your unfair assailants would soon be silent.
God bless the Catholics of Georgia, who have been
made to blush on account of lynching and burning of
negroes. No doubt your organization will heed this
disgrace and end it.”
Cincinnati, Ohio. “Since talking with you at Au
gusta I have placed your work before the Louisville,
Ky., Council, also before Mr. McCarty, of Chicago,
111., who will write you for instructions. 1 shall also
place it before the Elder Council of Cincinnati and
put them in touch with you. If you will kindly send
me at once some reading matter I shall be glad to
spread the mission work as I go over the States.”
Chauncy, Ga. Yours of the 3d with enclosure
noted. Some time last year you mailed to my ad
dress Catholics and Marriage,” and I read it with
pleasure and refreshed my memory by reading the
last one. I was impressed with the facts therein con
tained, and believe that if all the Protestant branches
of the Christian Church were more outspoken in the
sacred rights of marriage entered into by their com-