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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
15
CATHOLICS IN GEORGIA
James T. Vocelle.
Among Georgia Catholics in this political year
perhaps none is more in the public eye than James T.
Vocelle, of St. Mary’s, Camden County. In the face
of a bitter anti-Catholic campaign, with his opponent
on the stump on the religious question and the news
paper advertising columns filled with the usual rot
about the Fourth Degree Oath of the Knights of
Columbus and the Pope being the enemy to the
American government, he not only won the race for
the legislature, but received the largest vote of any
county candidate.
In a section where Catholics are few and far be
tween he could receive no aid from his co-religionists,
and it was good politics (according to the up-to-date
Georgia standard) to appeal to bigotry and narrow
ness. But Mr. Vocelle fought on and with his Fourth
Degree button in lapel canvassed the entire county.
That he won is due to his own efforts, and shows
that it takes more than anti-Catholicity to put a man
into office.
Mr. Vocelle, who is but twenty-three, is a lawyer,
and is of a family that has helped make Camden
County history for 100 years. His father was once
sheriff, and his uncle ordinary there. He made this
race not as a Catholic, of course, but just as a citizen
of Georgia, whose constitution forbids proscription of
a man on account of his creed, but when the Catholic
issue was raised Vocelle met it fairly and squarely.
And as an officeholder we Catholics know that he
will represent men of all faiths alike, irrespective of
race, color or creed. Catholics do not deserve any
credit for his victory, for it was his own, but all Cath
olics are glad to know that he won, because he de
served to.
PAMPHLETS IN DEMAND.
A striking feature about the various pamphlets
issued by the Association is that they seem to strike
home to some vital spot. Take the booklet, “Cathol
icism and Politics,” for instance. Written to show
Georgians the kind of silly matter the anti-Catholic
editor will print without investigation and refuse to
retract when shown his error, it was thought 30,000
would be all we would ever need. But though a year
has passed since its appearance, it is still heavily in
demand, and whenever the “National Catholic Regis
ter” fake shows itself—as it does sporadically—-the
bureau is called upon for copies.
Only the other day the following telegram was
received:
“Chicago, 111., Oct. 7.
“Catholic Laymen’s Association, Augusta, Ga.
“National Catholic Register myth flooding Chicago.
Ship 50 copies your pamphlet. Ask permission to
reprint in. New World. (Signed)
“MANAGING EDITOR.”
Members of the Association should be glad that
they have been the cause of something that is useful
to Catholics in other parts of the country. And in
this connection it is worthy of note that not all the
calls are from the South, either.
TO BULLETIN READERS.
Every subscriber to the funds of the Laymen’s
Association should get a copy of The Bulletin. At
first in order to make sure that all Catholics in the
State got one we included many who have since been
cut off. We have to reduce the number because of
the growth of the mailing list and the constantly in
creasing printing costs. But every subscriber is en
titled to a copy of each issue. If you who read
this know of any who do not get it, please let us
know. Write the Publicity Bureau, Herald Building,
Augusta. A post-card will suffice, but be sure to give
name and full street address. Several have written
that more than one copy came to his or her house.
While this was due to the fact that there were several
subscribers at the same address, in the one family,
correction has been made this month. However,
any thus omitted can secure a copy by notifying the
office. The officers want every member to read The
Bulletin. It is so prepared as to contain matter of in
terest to all and to be helpful to all.
REMOVAL NOTICE.
October 1st the publicity department moved its
headquarters from 107 Ninth Street, to Rooms 407,
409 and 411 Herald Building, Augusta. All mail
should be sent to the new address. The new quarters
are open daily after 9 a. m., and every Association
member when in Augusta is asked to visit and inspect
them.
When the dancing masters named a new form of
ballroom capering “The Wesleyan Dance” they did
an evil thing. It was an insult to a great body of
people of deep religious convictions whose attitude
toward the dance is too well known to need com
ment upon. Catholics can well join the Methodists
in resenting this kind of thing.
Congratulations are in order at Athens. Vice-
President of the Association Ralph Hunter Johnson
has recently wedded Miss Eleanor Veronica Burns,
until of late of Pawling, N. Y. The wedding took
place in St. Joseph’s and Father Clark officiated.