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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
13
A PROTESTANT CLERGYMAN ON RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
A recent issue of The Toledo Times contains this
interesting and very sensible article:
“The idea of many parents that the religious edu
cation of their children is of little concern and that
in matters religious the child should be left alone
until the time when he can work these things out for
himself, is scorned by Rev. Henry A. Arnold, pastor
of the Washington Street Congregational Church:
“We do not dream of letting our children decide
whether they shall have polite manners or not, whether
they shall be ignoramuses or not, and yet too often
we do not take every means to see to it that they
are guided into a helpful religious experience,** he
said.
“It is infinitely more reasonable that we put in our
best energy in seeking to train our children in right
habits and moods and impulses, the sources of char
acter, than to let them grow up like weeds and then
seek by extravagant methods to convert them from
the error of their ways.
“I bow in humble admiration before the absolutely
thorough system of religious education of our sister
churches, the Roman Catholic and the Jewish. It is
because they have understood the sound pedagogic
value of our text, ‘Train up a child in the way he
should go, and even when he is old he will not de
part from it,’ that they are so marvelously successful
in maintaining their hold upon their young.
“There is more genuine sanity and prudence, to say
nothing of humanity, in seeking to save and uplift the
child-life upon which our entire future depends, than
in all our efforts in behalf of other civic and patriotic
projects.”
COMMENTS ON THE BULLETIN
Several score members wrote us about The Bulletin.
Many excellent suggestions were made and much help
given the editors who are striving to make it as good
as possible. Some of the letters follow, being reprinted
so that all readers may get the viewpoint of all. Again
we seriously request criticism. If you like this num
ber, which we candidly say is, in our opinion, an
improvement over Number One, tell us just what in
it meets your approval. If you dislike anything in it,
or believe it should contain something that has been
omitted, tell us so. It is your paper and the more
each contributes to it the better it will be. Multi
plicity of ideas co-ordinated is the secret of success
in a venture of this kind. Write now.
The letters follow:
Received the first copy of The Bulletin. I hasten
to offer best wishes for the success of the little paper.
I am pleased with it. In time, I am sure, it will be
come the great “Vehicle of Truth” for Georgia. You
don’t know what you have started. From small acorns
great oaks will grow ad multos annos. (Rev.) F.
Bernard.
If there is anything the matter with The Bulletin
I failed to see it. Frankly, I liked it very much and
enjoyed reading (in our paper) the clipping from
The Christian Index I sent you. Believe you made
an enviable success with the first copy of the paper.
■—J. E. Morgan.
Albany, Ga., March 3, 1920. The writer received
a copy of The Bulletin and wishes to congratulate
you and your associates for the excellent manner in
which the first number of The Bulletin was issued.
There are some very interesting and eye-opening facts
stated in this first issue, and we think that you should
feel justly proud of it. If all the forthcoming issues
will be as well gotten up and contain as much real
facts of interest as the initial one, then your Bulletin,
in the writer’s estimation, will be the strongest piece
of literature that you publish.—R. E. McCormack.
I will greatly appreciate it if you can send me a
few copies of The Bulletin which I received some days
ago, and a few of the best pamphlets you have. I
am sure that I can use them to advantage. I feel
very sure that good will come from the work of the
Association, and that God will bless all who lend a
hand to this great cause. Miss Mamie Ford.
The initial number of The Bulletin is very good,
and I know the future numbers of The Bulletin will
be a source of pleasure. The article of most interest
in The Bulletin to me is “Cremation, Baptism and Ex
clusiveness,” as we “Catholics” need this reading mat
ter ourselves at times.—P. M. Lynch.
I was so impressed with The Bulletin that I re
mailed my copy to one of the representatives from
Bibb County so he could see what the Catholics of
Georgia are doing. I can not see any reason for you
to feel any disappointment in your first issue. To
use an old saying, “Rome was not built in a day,”
The Catholic Laymen’s paper is nearly perfect in
its first appearance in public. Trusting that the Cath
olic Laymen’s paper will grow and prosper. Annie
McKervey.
The Bulletin is fine and suits, as it was intended,
for the Laymen! I hope it will be so confined. The
C. L. A. is close to my heart, and I am anxious that
every success attend our efforts. H. M. Sours.