Newspaper Page Text
w
Iff
u
\w
Iff
w
If
i
i
w
iff
a;
The Bulletin
.. of the Catholic Laymen’s Association of Georgia ..
/7)
“To bring about a friendlier feeling among Georgians irrespective
of Creed.”
Number 4
Convention Number
October 1920
THE FIFTH ANNUAL CONVENTION
The annual meeting of the Catholic Laymen’s
Association of Georgia was held in Savannah, Sunday,
September 26th. In almost every way it was the most
imposing gathering of lay Catholics yet held in Geor
gia. The attendance was larger and most representa
tive; the business transacted of great importance and
of large volume when the brevity of the session is
considered; the presence of notables from out of the
State added a piquancy lacking in previous conven
tions; while the always delightful hospitality of Sa
vannah shone at its warmest.
The report of the president, printed in full else
where in this issue, showed an organization not only
actively functioning, financed for years ahead, but
spreading over the Union and bidding fair to be na
tional in a few years. Its acceptance by the publicity
department of the National Welfare Council, as a
model for Laymen’s Publicity, has put the stamp of
hierarchical approval upon it, and best of all, the
people at home are backing it solidly and most en
thusiastically. No greater tribute could be paid to
the work than the attendance of nearly two hundred
Georgians at great inconvenience and at their own
expense.
The re-election of all the old officers, except where
circumstances prevented continuance, means that the
Catholics of Georgia believe their affairs in the As
sociation are well conducted.
The day began fittingly with Solemn High Mass at
the Cathedral where Rev. J. J. Wynne, the distin
guished Jesuit, preached an appropriate and beneficial
sermon. There were two business sessions, broken by
a luncheon at the De Soto, where the Savannah As
sociation acted host to the visitors. Everything went
off with such smoothness that Father Wynne, who
was among the closing speakres, facetiously remarked
that no famed organization had anything to show
Georgia. His talk was a delightful treat. Among
the other visitors were the Reverend Father Maddern,
provincial of the Society of Jesus; Messrs. Langley
and O’Brien, active spirits in the laymen’s work in
Carolina, and Messrs. Mauncey and Dunne, who are
expected to be active in organizing Florida, and who
represented Bishop Curley at the convention.
The presence of our own Right Reverend Bishop
Keiley and a number of the priests of the Diocese,
was appreciated, and added greatly to the pleasure of
the occasion.
Elsewhere will be found the reports of officers
which will tell just what the convention did and
what are the plans for the year, as far as they can
be outlined pending the meetings of the Publicity and
Finance Committees, the former October 1 7th in Au
gusta, and the other in Atlanta, October 24th.
REPORT OF PRESIDENT P. H. RICE TO THE
FIFTH ANNUAL CONVENTION
To the Officers and Members of the Catholic Laymen’s
Association of Georgia:
While there is no law requiring your President to
make a written report, I feel it incumbent to at least
give in a brief way an account of some of the work
accomplished, as well as to make for your considera
tion some recommendations which will not be covered
by other officers.
Immediately upon adjournment of our last Conven
tion in Augusta your Executive or Finance Committee
decided that, instead of assessing each city and mission
ln State according to Catholic population as here
tofore, we would appeal to the Catholics of Georgia
to subscribe an amount of money sufficient to carry
on as well as extend the work of our Association.
Following this decision 1 at once appointed a Speakers’
or Campaign Committee, consisting of Mr. James J.
Farrell and Miss Mary Helen Hynes, of the Publicity
Committee, who, with your President, and when
possible our Right Reverend Bishop, who was with us
in Atlanta, Savannah and Macon. We decided to
make an appeal for $50,000.00, to be paid within two
years. We opened our campaign in Atlanta, Sunday,
October 19, 1919, and through the splendid efforts
of our first vice-president, Mr. James J. Haverty, had
the pleasure of addressing a great representative gath
ering of Catholics of that city.
Sunday, October 26th, under the auspices of Vice-