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2 THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA puchins in 1839. He was sent in 1846 to Patna, India, and the Vicar Apostolic made him his socius. In 1850 he went to Bombay and helped to found the Seminary and the Bombay Catholic Examiner. In 1853 he was sent to Rome and London on account of the schism of Goa. He was made Bishop March 8, 1854. In 1855 he was made Vicar Apostolic of Agra. During the mutiny his life was frequently en dangered. Ill health and anxiety compelled his re turn to Italy in 1860. In 1866 he was sent on a mission to the United States. He was nominated Bishop of Savannah March 20, 1870. His health failing he resigned in 1873. In 1874 he was sent as Apostolic Delegate to Canada, and in 187 7 was sent to settle the Malabar Schism. On March 26, 1879, he was made Bishop of Aquino. In 1887 he was sent to Ireland to investigate the relations of the Clergy with political movements, but Rome decided the question evidently against the views of Persico. He was made Vicar of the Vatican Chapter and on January 16, 1893, was created Cardinal. He died December 7, 1896. He bought the ground on which the Cathedral stands. Rev. William H. Gross, a de voted Redemptorist Missionary, was Bishop Persico’s successor. He built the Cathedral and left traces of his zeal and piety in every part of the Diocese. After Bishop Gross came Bishop Becker, who was acknowledged to be the most scholarly Prelate in the country. He was a convert from the Presbyte rian Church. He spoke fluently German, Italian, French, Spanish and Irish. It was a rather peculiar fact that every one thought he was a German, whereas ever since the days of the Cromwellian invasion of Ireland his ancestors had been sturdy Ulster Protes tants with a bitter hatred of Catholics. Bishop Becker’s parents came from Ireland and settled in or near Pittsburgh, Pa., where he was born. He be came a Catholic when quite a young man and was sent to Rome, where he was ordained in 1859. He was put in prison during the War Between the States for refusing to have public prayers said in church for Mr. Lincoln. He said that prayers of this de scription were only said by direction of the Bishop. He was confined in old Capital Prison, V^ashington, but Secretary Seward ordered his release and he was sent to Baltimore to Archbishop Kenrick, who sent him to teach at Mt. St. Mary s College, Emmittsburg. At the close of the war he returned to Richmond and was made Rector of the Cathedral. At the second Plenary Council of Baltimore the new Dio cese of Wilmington, Delaware, was created, and Pius IX appoitned Dr. Becker its first Bishop. He came to Savannah May 16, I 886. Bishop Becker built the spires of the Cathedral and the Bishop s House. The present Bishop of Savannah, who at the time of Bishop Becker's appointment to Savannah, was Rector of the Wilmington Cathedral, came to Georgia the following December and was appoitned Rector of the Immaculate Conception Church in Atlanta, whence on the death of Very Rev. Father Cafferty, Rector of the Cathedral in 1896, he was transferred to the Cathedral as Rector. d i i/- A MODEL CATHOLIC LAY ORGANIZATION. (From America.) When the Catholic Laymen’s Association of Geor- gia was first established an extended reference was made to it in these columns as an ideal organization, fostering the spirit of the lay apostolate and promis ing to accomplish great things for the cause of the Church and of the country. It has since developed consistently with the promise it then gave. Those interested in the nature of its work and the details of the organization can readily procure Bishop Keiley’s interesting pamphlet upon the subject “The Catholic Laymen s Association of Georgia.’’ He shows how after a careful examination of 3,500 editorials deal ing with Catholic subjects, that appeared in the va rious papers during the last year, there were not one hundred which were in any way offensive, while the files of the Publicity Bureau of the Laymen’s Associa tion are filled with letters of thanks for information on Catholic questions, and requests for further light. Yet five years ago there was not more than one single paper in the entire State that did not either attack the Church, or print attacks upon her, or copy reg ularly in its columns articles reflecting on her teach ing and practices. Out of 180 papers there are to day not more than three that attack the Catholic Church. Conversions, too, have been numerous. The pamphlets to which reference is made here, and which have been prepared to meet the special needs of the citizens of the State and to answer their particular difficulties are: “Catholics and Marriage,” “Catholics and the Bible,” “Catholics in American History, Catholics in Georgia, Catholics and the Public Schools,” “A Plea for Peace,” “The Pope and the V7ar, Catholics and Politics.” These indeed are subjects of interest to all non-Catholics every where. We can not too highly recommend the work of this apostolic organization. METHODISTS AND SHRINERS SHOW K. OF C. COURTESY. (From The Denver Catholic Register.) Two unusual evidences of good feeling from non- Catholics have just been offered the local K. of C. The Grant Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church on Friday evening is dedicating a new community cen ter, containing a gymnasium and club rooms, and de cided to make it a military event. The Denver K. of C. were asked to send an official representative, be cause of the war work of the order, and selected Lieut. Edward L. Gilbert. The Shriners of Denver recently decided to let out El Jebel Temple to nobody but Masonic organiza tions. But despite this ruling, they still recognized 1 a" old agreement with the K. of C„ and will turn the dining room over to them for their Communion breakfast Sunday. The place is being given without charge to the Knights.