Newspaper Page Text
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
9
EDITORIALS
THE BULLETIN.
This is the first and tentative issue of The Bulletin.
It is several weeks late because delay has been un
avoidable. Its purpose is to keep the Catholics in
close touch with the work of the Association and to
keep them informed of the trend of Catholic lay
activities in the country at large. The idea we put
into practicality three years ago has borne such good
fruit that even those who* know its value best are
surprised. But what has been done is just a faint
portrayal of our possibilities. That our mutual en*
deavor shall not lag is the aim of The Bulletin.
We hope you’ll like it, but whether or not, please
let us know your opinion and send in suggestions for
improvement. Your own individual idea may be
worth more than the combined thoughts of the whole
publicity committee. Candidly we are not as satisfied
with The Bulletin as we had hoped when we con
ceived the idea. It has been prepared piecemeal, be
tween more pressing labors and activities and, there
fore, it bears the mark of its fragmentary nature.
But such as it is we submit it to the Catholics of
Georgia.
CATHOLIC READING.
Each member of the Laymen’s Association, inter
ested in its success can give further help by making
himself, or herself, a committee of one to increase the
reading of Catholic literature. Certainly every Cath
olic home should see that among the periodicals com
ing into the family circle the majority should be of
a strong Catholic tone. There are today publications
for Catholics in this country that are a credit to
Catholicity and should be read. It is not a question
of supporting the Catholic Press. That is a secondary
consideration. Our main duty lies in keeping our
selves abreast of the best Catholic thought and pre
venting our reading, and especially that of our chil
dren, from drifting too far afield. On every reading
table in the Catholic home one should find publica
tions like America, Truth, Preuss’s Fortnightly Review,
The Extension Magazine, The Missionary, The Ave
Maria, The Sacred Heart Review, and at least one
Catholic newspaper. One of the crying needs of the
American Catholic laymen today is a well-edited daily
newspaper that will keep the world informed of the
trend of Catholic thought as well as news events of
interest to Catholics. Only one familiar with the
secular press must realize that a tendency of its
editors is to minimize the importance of Catholic
news items. Despite the fact that there are twenty
millions interested in the doings and affairs of Cath
olic organizations at home and abroad, we find the
daily newspapers dismissing them with a scant para
graph and a bold-face heading no larger than the
ordinary body type of the paper.
We do not believe in flaunting our religion in the
face of any, but we do believe in a firm, consistent
maintenance of recognition of principles. It is our
duty not to cringe and accept as favors those
things we have a right to. A sturdy independence
is the best aggressiveness. We cannot expect the
non-Catholics to do our work for us. We must help
ourselves.
THE LATE VICAR-GENERAL.
In the death of Very Reverend P. H. McMahon,
D. D., Pastor of St. Patrick’s, Augusta, and Vicar-
General of the Diocese, the Laymen’s Association has
lost a very good friend; the Diocese one of its leading
Pastors, the State a good citizen and earth a good
man. In the early days of the Association when it
was feeling its way, his guidance and counsel were of
the greatest benefit, and at all times his strong ad
vocacy of the layman’s work has been a help and an
inspiration. Practically his last public work was
assistance in the Augusta Campaign.
Father McMahon’s was one of those blessed natures
that made friends for Catholics of all with whom he
came in contact. He was loved and respected by
those of high and low degree, without respect to creed
or race. He passed away in his sleep without a
struggle, or, as one of his friends expressed it, “He
went to sleep on earth and awoke in Heaven.” He
is the kind of priest we can ill spare. May God rest
his soul.
NOT TOO MANY PAMPHLETS.
The various booklets issued by the Association have
been prepared for specific purposes. They have been
printed according to conditions in the State, and
treat of subjects in a way not covered by any other
publication known to the publicity committee. But
there is a limit to the scope of this kind of publica
tion. It is not expedient to duplicate nor to trespass
upon the field of the prayer book.
Recently a prominent and earnest Catholic wrote
advising issuance of a booklet explaining the mass,
using illustrations. The idea has merit, but it is
only necessary to think a moment for Catholics to
realize that there are many editions of prayer books
containing this feature. They are to be found in
the pew of every church, and, when missing, can be
obtained from any Catholic supply house in simple
form costing a few cents up to special editions in rare
bindings.
It would be a waste of money for the Association
to print any such booklets as well as an impropriety.