The bulletin (Augusta, Ga.) 1920-1957, January 01, 1920, Image 6

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6 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-