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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC
Arc. Bit by bit, but steadily, we have so worked
that oqr Association has a standing wherever it i ;
known. In previous years we could cover in a report
of this length practically every event or work of in
terest in the entire year. Now, so numerous are the
important things that we can not even recall all of
them, but have to keep memoranda to prevent their
being crowded from recollection.
The Cost of It.
We beg to call especial attention to the fact that
though our output has more than quadrupled and,
though everything has increased in price, the ratio
of overhead expense to production is low. For in-
#stance, last year was $3,193.48, while for advertising,
mailing and printing we spent but $1,7 78.95, which
means that the overhead was $1.79 for each dollar
of output. This year the office cost $8,336.51, but
the total spent for advertising, printing and mailing
was $6,931.27, oi* a ratio of $1.20 of overhead to
each dollar of product. Put in another way this
means: Last year sixty per cent of the money spent
was in overhead. This year’s percentage is about
fifty-five. When considering these figures, remember
that last year there were four on the bureau payroll.
This year there are seven. Last year we distributed
150,000 pieces of literature; this year the amount is
nearly a half million. In three years and a half we
had accumulated a thousand correspondents, and this
year we doubled that, there being about twenty-one
hundred all told. We submit this for careful consid
eration.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
RESOLUTIONS AT THE ANNUAL
CONVENTION IN SAVANNAH.
The Committee recommends:
1st. That the establishment of a circulating library
for Georgia Catholics be indorsed, and that the de
tails be referred to the Publicity and Finance Com
mittees, with power to act.
2d. That such officers as the president may de
termine be required at an early date to visit the
various cities of the State, make a report of the year’s
work, and endeavor to effect greater co-ordination
between the local and State Associations.
3d. That The Bulletin be issued monthly, if the
details (expenses, etc.), are approved by the Finance
and Publicity Committees.
4th. That the Auxiliary Associations be urged to
effect a wide circulation of the Catholic Encyclopedia,
and that they arrange for copies to be placed in the
public libraries, colleges, and high schools of their re
spective districts.
5th. That the Association be incorporated under
the laws of the State of Georgia.
6th. That the Association be entered as a member
of the Laymen’s Council of the National Catholic Wel
fare Council, and that the president and publicity
LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
manager be delegated as representatives at the ap
proaching meeting in Washington, D. C.
7th. That we approve of the formation of Catholic
Boy Scout Troops in every parish, and that the mem
bers be urged to assist the Pastors in effecting this.
8th. That the great importance of higher educa
tion of Catholic children, especially the boys, be im
pressed upon the Catholics of the State, and that in
every city they be urged to the heartiest co-operation
in movements for the inauguration of high schools.
9th. That our heartiest thanks be conveyed to our
Right Reverend Bishop for his assistance in co-operat
ing with us, for without him we feel sure we would
not have succeeded so well. And that thanks be
also expressed to the Reverend Fathers of the Diocese,
who have so ably co-operated with us. Our appre
ciation of the wonderful work of our most efficient
publicity manager, Mr. J. J. Farrell, can not be fit
tingly worded; and the enthusiastic, untiring efforts
of our president, Mr. P. H. Rice, are all deserving of
our sincere thanks. We send greetings to our former
president, Mr. Jack J. Spalding, accompanied by our
prayers for his speedy recovery. To President
O’Byrne and other members of the Laymen’s Associa
tion of Savannah, the Convention hosts, we express
appreciation for delightful hospitality.
WHY CATHOLICS CALL THEIR PRIEST
“FATHER.”
Interesting reasons are given as to why Catholics
call their priests “Father,” a custom which does not
hold throughout the entire Catholic world.
The practice is one v/hich has been adopted espe
cially in English-speaking countries. The Germans
do not so call their priests, but by a word which is
akin to our “Reverend.” The French use the word
“Cure” or “Abbe.”
The priest is looked upon as in a way the author
of the spiritual life of the faithful. He infuses the
life of grace into the soul with the waters of baptism.
When a man loses his grace by mortal sin, the priest
revives it by absolution in the Sacrament of Penance.
Aside from the attitude of childlike reverence which
the faithful have for their clergyman, he takes a
fatherly interest in those who are under his care.
The parish is looked upon as a large family, and as
a father is the natural head of a family, it is but
natural that the spiritual head of the parish should
be called “Father,” says The Catholic Press of Aus
tralia.
Members of religious orders are accustomed to call
their founders by the title of “Pater,” Latin for “Fa
ther,” just as founders of orders for women were
called “Mother.”
Rev. Father Ambrose, O. 5. B., of the Benedictine
School, Savannah, has been presented a medal by the '
Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus, in
“recognition of patriotic, labors as chaplain during
the war.”