Newspaper Page Text
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
21
DOMI M1L1TIAEQUE
(Note: Below will be found a number of laudatory
letters and newspaper comments about the Associa
tion and its work, recently received or clipped. They
are more numerous than previously and it is a re
markable fact that nearly every letter received now is
commendatory one of the other kind is printed just
to show how mean some people can be—and the
only way we have to let all our members know what
is being said about the Association is to print them.
Here in the office we are proud of them; we hope
every one of you will be, too:)
Pass Christian, Miss., May 2 7, 1920. To the Editor
of The Bulletin: Dear Mr. Editor 1 was present at
the State meeting of the Knights of Columbus in Mis
sissippi and had the pleasure of hearing of the work
done by the Catholic Laymen’s Association of Geor
gia in my old State of Georgia. The Georgia repre-
tentative gave a graphic description of the work done
by the laymen of the Diocese of Savannah. With the
knowledge that I have of Georgia conditions I think
the laymen worked little short of a modern miracle in
its publicity work. The fact that the Georgia papers
are practically silent and that bigotry rarely finds
press expression is no small triumph. We m Missis
sippi are not suffering from active bigotry just yet,
but if we could have a Catholic Laymen’s Association
of Mississippi to work in partnership with Georgia we
would be most fortunate. Here we are so scattered
that it is hard to get together, but the need will prob
ably force us to do what has been so ably done in
Georgia. The generosity of the 16,000 Catholics of
Georgia is an object lesson to the entire South. Per
sonally I was very proud of the work that is being
done and, of course, with my Atlanta leanings I saw
Atlanta at the front all along the line. With congrat
ulations to Georgia and to its splendid laymen, and
devoted Priests and Bishop, I am (Signed), John E.
Gunn, Bishop of Natchez.
St. Louis University, St. Louis, Mo., 4-20-20. Editor
The Bulletin: I have been following with keen in
terest the splendid work of the Catholic Laymen s As
sociation and I wish to congratulate you and every
one connected with this Lay Apostolate on the results
so far achieved. Only yesterday did 1 become aware
of the existence of The Bulletin when a copy of the
second issue fell into my hands. It has many fine
features, and I read it through with pleasure. For,
you must know that it gladdens the heart of the
Priest who has devoted his life to the spreading, of
Christ’s Kingdom on earth to see the laymen effec
tively co-operating with him in his work. And so I
consider it the duty of the clergy and my duty to com
mend you heartily. The feature that should be espe
cially commended in the paper is the article, Christ
and Peter,” by Bishop Keiley. Why not have a series
of articles giving a thorough and systematic treatment
of Catholic fundamental theology and showing how
the hierarchial church of today is of Divine origin
and not a human institution. Ignorance and denial
of this fundamental dogma the Divine origin of the
church—is at the root of all Protestant difficulties and
prejudices. Perhaps your pamphlets treat of this im
portant phase of Catholic teaching. I have not seen
all of them. Again, I commend The Bulletin and the
Association for its fine work. As a native Georgian,
I am proud of it, as one of the clergy I am proud of
it. May God’s blessing attend it always. If at any
time I can be of assistance to you I’ll be glad to have
you call on me. Yours with every good wish. (Signed)
J. B. Doonan, S. J.
Bath, S. C., May 3, 1920. Dear Sir: 1 received
the book, “Where We Got the Bible,” this morning,
and after a hasty glance through it I believe it is just
the book I want. Such service you and the organiza
tion you are affiliated with are giving is to be highly
commended. If I had known how much trouble I was
going to cause you 1 would not have made the re
quest I did. But I certainly do appreciate you get
ting his book for me, and I shall read it very care
fully, and take good care of it, of course. As you
say this book is out of print, 1 know 1 will want to
make copies of part of this book, so I trust you will
allow me to keep it a little longer than I would ordi
narily. Assuring you of my increasing respect for
the Catholic religion, and best wishes for the success
of the work you are doing, I am,
An Apostolate Worthy of Imitation.
(From The Franciscan Herald, June, 1920.)
The Catholic Laymen’s Association of Georgia has
undertaken a laudable enterprise in endeavoring to
bring about a friendlier feeling between the Catholics
and non-Catholics of that State. Through the publi
cation and pamphlets and its quarterly periodical, The
Bulletin, and by advertising in the secular press, the
Association is gradually enlightening those outside the
Church on the Church’s doctrines, customs, traditions
and position on topics of the day. Bishop Keiley was
quick to see the aid this activity of the laity would
give the clergy, and is bestowing on it his unstinted
co-operation. The movement is one that could well
be copied in other States. It is an effective answer
to the excuse so frequently heard among the laity
that they do not assist more in church work because
they do not know what to do. If the laymen of other
States would follow in the steps of these Georgia pio
neers, meeting their opponents in a spirit of friend
liness and patience, diligently explaining errors in
public prints and elsewhere, committed .for the most
part solely through ignorance, and battling valiantly
against evidently ill-intentioned attacks on the
Church, they would render the greatest service. The
Georgia Laymen have set their face in the right direc
tion; they have adopted wise policies. The Franciscan
Herald hopes they will achieve their expressed pur
pose “to bring about a friendlier feeling among Geor
gians irrespective of creed.”
New York City.—Your Catholic Laymen’s League
leaflets are wonderful, both as to contents and form.
I wish it were possible to reach every thinking mind
in America. For weeks past I have been hoping to
write to acknowledge same, but, as I am principal of
a public school of 3,000 pupils and eighty teachers,
my duties amount almost to infinitude. I pass your
leaflets around among those of the teachers who are
interested, but I always say, “Be sure to give it back
to me to file for future reference.” I hope you will
keep up the good work. (Miss) Katharine A. Condon.
Catholic Laymen’s Association of Missouri. St.
Louis,, Mo., May 24, 1920. Editor of The Bulletin:
On April 2 7th last an officer of the Catholic Lay
men’s Association of Georgia addressed our meeting
at St. Louis and detailed to us the history of the Geor
gia Association and the results that had been accom
plished in your State. The members of our organi
zation desire to express their admiration of the Geor
gia Catholics for their wonderful zeal and persever-