Newspaper Page Text
2
THE BULLETIN- OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
DEATH OF MR. FARRELL
Mr. James J. Farrell, founder and editor of The
Bulletin and Director of the Publicity Bureau of the
Catholic Laymen’s Association, died suddenly at his
home in Augusta on the morning of December 1 5th.
Mr. Farrell was probably the' best-known member of
the Association. In connection with his publicity work,
his name had become almost a symbol of the Catholic
Laymen’s activities in Georgia and the nation. He
was from the beginning the Director of the Publicity
Bureau, and, in truth, the mainspring of all our work.
He was prominent also in other Catholic activities; a
member of the Knights of Columbus, of which he was
Past Grand Knight, of the Ancient Order of Hiber
nians, of which he was one time president, of the
Emmet Club, and of other Church societies. He was
born in Augusta and had been an exemplary member
of St. Patrick’s Church all his life.
Mr. Farrell began business life in the newspaper
field, in which he became head of the news depart
ments of The Chronicle and The Herald. When the
Catholic Laymen’s Association was formed in 1916,
he organized the Publicity Bureau which has since
become known throughout Georgia and many other
States, and has even attracted attention in foreign
countries. His idea was to bring about a better feel
ing among people of all religious denominations.
When he started, there was a number of papers in
Georgia which made a practice of attacking the Cath
olic Church. Now, there is perhaps not more than
one.
Mr. Farrell’s work was unique in its way, and after
its progress he was called on by Catholics in different
parts of the country to come and show them the way.
During the past summer he visited practically -every
State east of the Mississippi at the invitation of mem
bers of the Hierarchy, and addressed large audiences
in Chicago, New York, Brooklyn, Detroit, Pittsburgh,
Cincinnati, and New Orleans. Only the week before
his death, he returned from a trip to Mississippi where
he had been invited by Bishop Gunn to inaugurate a
Catholic Laymen’s Association in that State. During
the Michigan School Amendment contest last fall, he
was called to Detroit to organize the fight against the
bill, which, largely through his plans, was decisively
defeated in the November election. No one in Georgia
had a wider general acquaintance, and none was more
sincerely respected and loved.
At the funeral in St. Patrick s Church, Augusta,
December 18th, the Knights of Columbus, Ancient
Order of Hibernians, the Friends of Irish Freedom,
the Emmet Club and the Spanish-American War Vet
erans, of which Mr. Farrell had been an honored
member, had delegations present, and the large con
course of representative citizens present attested the
esteem in which he was held by all. Solemn Mass of
Requiem was sung by Father Schonhardt, of Augusta,
with Father Haas, U. S. B., of Savannah, Deacon;
Father Murphy, of Spartanburg, Sub-Deacon, and
Father Ryan, S. J., of Augusta, Master of Ceremonies.
In the sanctuary were: Father Joseph D. Mitchell,
V. G.; Rev. James A. Kane, Rev. A. Laube, L. A. M.;
Rev. Father Hesse, L. A. M.; Rev. Rene-McCready’
S. J.; Rev. G. M. Shadwell. Right Rev. Bishop Russell
was represented by the Rev. N. A. Murphy, of Spar-
tanburg, S. C.
The honorary pall-bearers were: J. J. Haverty,
Atlanta; Thomas F. Walsh, Savannah; A. J. Long,
Macon; O. K. Fletcher. P. H. Rice, W. A. Mulherin,
E. J. O’Connor, M. H. H. Duvall, Louis J. Schaul,
D. M. Silver.
Letter From Bishop Keiley.
The following letter from Bishop B. J, Keiley was read by
the Very Reverend Joseph D. Mitchell, who represented the
Bishop at the Mass:
“On last Tuesday I received a letter from Mr. Farrell ask
ing me to write a New Year’s greeting for The Bulletin. I
wrote it Wednesday morning and one of the Priests had just
finished reading it over to me when I was summoned to the
telephone, and the jiresident of the Laymen’s Association
gave the sad news of the sudden death of Mr. Farrell.
“Prevented from coming in person, to pay the last tribute
of respect to his memory, I deem it my duty, as Bishop of
the Diocese, to send a word to be read at his funeral.
“Nearly all here knew Mr. Farrell a much longer time than
I did. I believe that none knew his character and life better.
First of all, and beyond all else, he was a fervent, devoted and
practical Catholic. He found what was his real work in life
late in his day, but in a very brief time he accomplished the
work for many days. I have in a long life, measuring nearly
fifty years in the Holy Priesthood, never met a layman so
well informed on all matters connected with the teaching and
practices of the Catholic Church. He Avas the moving and
guiding spirit of our Catholic Laymen’s Association, and he
brought to the performance of his duties not merely a mind
avcII stored Avith Catholic principles, but a gracefulness and
facility of expression in stating them, and a never-failing
courtesy and fairness. Though misrepresented, he never re
torted in the manner of his adversaries, but calmly and quietly
presented a clear statement of the truth. And yet the success
which marked his conduct of the affairs of the Laymen’s Asso
ciation was not due to these qualities alone, but largely, if
not entirely, to his enthusiastic loyalty to the Catholic Church
from an intimate conviction of its Divine character and origin
and its necessity for the Avorld. Who that ever heard him
at our meeting can .ever forget his ringing voice, his con
tagions enthusiasm, the manifest sincerity of the man, the
intense happiness he felt - that good Avas being done, that
there was less of rancor and bitterness, and a friendly feeling
growing between Catholics and Protestants. At our meeting
simple justice demanded that I should tell what he had done,
and yet he would come to me and while thanking me for Avhat
I had said he would insist that he was merely doing Avhat the
officers planned, and they should be praised and not he.
Planning Greater Things.
“And now, as he Avas planning greater things for the work,
it has pleased God to take him away. Though a layman,
James Farrell had the spirit of a true missionary. So great is
the harvest here and so feAV the laborers. May God help us.
And yet I firmly believe that could his cold dead lips frame a
message to me today it would be this: ‘Bishop, the Avork is
God’s work, and it must go on. All have done their duty. I
was but one of many who did all they could.’
“His body goes from the Church to its last resting place
until the Archangel’s trumpet sumpions all to rise. In time I
suppose a modest shaft Avill record his days on earth. But,
please God, aa^g Avho are left to carry on the work as best Ave
may Avithout him, will erect a magnificent memorial to James
Farrell. It will be a greater Laymen’s Association Avhich
will count as active members every Catholic in Georgia. It
will do great work for God and God’s Church. Through its
activities and labors there will come a day when men will rec
ognize the falsity of the charges brought against the Church
and realize that Catholics are as good citizens of the Republic
and as firm supporters of its principles as their Protestant
friends; nay, more, the day will come Avhen all Avijl admit that
the safety and perpetuity of the Republic depend on the adop
tion of the principles which the Catholic Church has always
held and yet maintains. When that day comes Ave will ha-ve
builded to the memory and honor of James Farrell a monu
ment more enduring than marble or bronze, for neither cor
roding nature nor changing time can best destroy it, and men
who ask the story pf its birth Avill hear praise of the Catholic
Layman, James Farrell.,.. '.
“Yet God forbid that, Avhile telling somewhat of the story
of James Farrell, I should fail to remember that he was a
devoted son of Mother Church, and that Church Avhom Ave call
our Holy Mother, justifies the title by her interest in all her
children, living and dead. To us she comes with hand filled
with blessings and graces and when sorrow copies, to her Ave
go. Her prayers and her sacrifices go up before the very
throne of God in behalf of those Avho have merely gone before
and are yet her dear children. And now as Calvary’s Victim
has been offered for the repose of the soul of Janies Farrell
Ave Avho are left behind, taking the words from her liturgy,*
say, ‘May the Lord grant him eternal rest and may perpetuai
light shine upon the soul of James Farrell.’ ’’
Resolutions.
In the death of Mr. J. J. Farrell, the Catholic Laymen’s
Association of Georgia has sustained an overwhelming loss for
we know of no man who can fill his place.
The origin, the organization, and the progress of the Cath-
(Continued on Page Nine)