The bulletin (Augusta, Ga.) 1920-1957, July 01, 1920, Image 2

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2 THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA is eagerly taken as true by thousands of Georgians. That is the kind of thing we Catholics are brought into disrepute by here in Georgia. In addition to this Oath there was a direct attack on Catholics in Wilkes County, but it was not viru lent and was the kind of assault that is to be ex pected. It was not mean and was open and above board. A minister, through the columns of the paper in Washington, sought to show that the Church was the enemy of the country and stood for those things most opposed by Protestantism and, therefore, most un-American. The editor of the paper was fair and even liberal, inasmuch as he printed our replies which were of necessity, we thought, longer than the articles answered. As Wilkes had been one of the points in Georgia where least antagonism to Catholics had shown itself, the bureau devoted much time and at tention to this incident, and is even yet sending lit erature explanatory of Catholic position and teach ing into the county, where, it is pleasing to note, it has been well received. The Bishop’s Oath. Then, our old protagonist, the Guardian of Liberty leader in Macon, rushed into print with an octavo volume of some 400 pages rehashing correspondence had with the bureau more than two years ago and denouncing as false practically everything we had told him and making a great to do about the Church being opposed to the spirit of American institutions. The book, which we think is made to sell--—a monetary proposition—it retails at a dollar in paper cover was advertised in The Telegraph as being published by “The Patriotic Societies of Macon.” A high- sounding title of the kind that may be labelled “im portant if true.” At any rate, the ladies at the head of two branches of the U. D. C., of the D. of C. and the Colonial Dames, published a card in both Macon papers saying they were in no way connected with the attack on the Catholic Church. The Guardians thereupon published a card saying the Daughters and the Dames were not patriotic, but only memorial societies. The feature of the book is the Oath taken by a Bishop at his consecration. The author seems to see the handwriting on the wall about the K. of C. Oath, and now claims to find new cause for alarm on the part of patriots because the Bishops swear to obey the Pope. Of course, you know, and every sensible man knows the Bishop and Pope are dealing with spiritual matters, but the Guardians are terribly upset about the matter and see all sorts of dangers to the American constitution in the Oath. This has also meant much work for the publicity department. As a matter of fact, these rabid out breaks do more good than harm ultimately, but for the time being they disturb programs and cause altera tion of plans. The Macon book is a current topic and no report on its effect can yet be made. Beyond Georgia. Outside the State a representative of the publicity committee has explained the Georgia publicity cam paign in various parts of Michigan, in Illinois, Mis sissippi, Ohio, Louisiana, and has addressed meetings upon the subject in Detroit, Battle Creek, St. Louis, Chicago, Biloxi, Louisville, New Orleans and Brook lyn. Below may be found a detailed report by days of the pieces of literature distributed for the quarter, a total of about an eighth of a million pieces, or an average of nearly 1,700 pieces for each working day. This is a record and represents the bureau at the height of its activity. Inquiries have increased until replying to them is alone a heavy task. There are now about 1,700 cor respondents upon our active list, and though it would seem we had run the gamut of questions to be asked, we are constantly receiving new ones or new phases of old ones demanding new treatment, so that the “man higher up,” upon whom the bulk of this labor falls, is kept pretty busy day in and day out, while the indexing and filing of replies and data keep one clerk occupied most of each day. The office force, in addition to the manager, consists of five ladies, regularly, and extra girls and boys from time to time who address wrappers and envelopes and fold circulars, while a force of volunteers from the Au gusta Council of the Knights spends part of five evenings each week addressing. The bureau is in deed a busy place. Printed matter received in the three months to talled 188,000 pieces, of which 25,000 were from the national office of the Knights of Columbus. Monthly Distribution. In April there were sent out 39,331 pieces of lit erature, the smallest amount being 69 on April 5th, and the largest 7,200 on the 14th. In May, 39,332 was the total, the smallest being 29 on May 29th, and the largest day, 10,240 on the 26th. In June 45,180 was the total, the largest on any one day being 14,856, and the smallest 29. Grand total for three months, 126,098. CATHOLIC FUNERALS AND PARISH CHURCHES. The creation of new parishes nearly always brings up the question of the right or privilege members of the new congregation have to be buried from the church where they formerly worshipped. Therefore, it is not strange that recently the question was asked the Bureau: Does a Catholic have to be buried from his or her parish church?” The answer is that a Catholic adult may be buried from the church he chooses, but only under certain conditions. The new code states that this matter is left to the individual and not to the family of the deceased. It is required that the request for burial from other than the parish church be made in writing by the one who will later be so buried, or that it be made in the presence of two witnesses who are likely to be living at the time of the funeral.