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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
IfflFESSES PRIEST
PRESIDENT WILL MEET
ARCHBISHOP ON LINKS
IS VICTIM OF PLOT
Sante Fe Priest Arrested for
Arson Another Admits He
Was Paid to Commit.
Santa Fe, N. M.,—A Sensational
turn lias been given to the efforts
to fasten the burning of a public
high school at Roy, N. M., on a
Catholic priest, the Rev. Felix
Vachon, O. M. I.
According to advices from Roy,
.Toe Ribblctt, who lias been held in
jail since December 10, following
the burning of the school for which
Father Vachon was arrested, has
confessed to the crime and declares
that he was offered one thousand
dollars to commit the deed by a
prominent mail in Roy, who was
one of the most vehement accusers
of Father Vachon.
The allegations of Ribblctt, if
they arc true, give an entirely new
complexion to the case, which lias
attracted considerable attention
throughout the state, and add to the
conviction that the entire episode is
part of a plot against Father
Vachon, hatched by anti Catholics,
many of whom were recently im
ported from Texas.
Father Vachon was arrested De
cember 10, dragged through the
streets and subjected to the vilest
insults at the hands of sworn of
ficers of the law. He was released
on bonds of $5,000 after having been
accused of having part in the burn
ing of the new high school at Roy.
The charges against Father Vac
hon were dismissed at the instance
of the Assistant District Attorney of
the Eighth Judicial District, who
admitted to E. I 1 . Davies, attorney
for Father Vachon, that there was
no evidenc negainst the priest, hut
that he had been arrested and plac
ed under a bond of $5,000 to pro
tect him from htc lawless clement
of Roy.
FREE HIGH SCHOOL
And Other Projects Planned
by Baltimore Catholics.
Baltimore—Establishment of a
free Catholic high school in Balti
more, and the erection of a home
for aged women were urged by
Archbishop Michael ,T. Curley as
special works for the Maryland
Chapter of the International Fed
eration of Catholic Alumnae, which
met here in Hotel Belvedere. A leg
acy of $11,000 left to the late Car
dinal Gibbons for Hie erection of a
home for aged women recently
came to light and each of the 2,500
members oi. the Federation was urg
ed to contribute toward a fund of
$100,000 for the work.
Concerted action by Catholic wo
men “to crush th hydra-headed
monster, birth conrol’’-was urged in
a resolution adopted at the con
vention.
A warning against immoral mov
ing picture exhibits and plays was
sounded by Mrs. Hiram L. Spicer,
vice governor in charge of the de
partment of literature, who declared
“the way to fight this evil is to
refrain from attending such exhi
bitions.”
Mrs. Harry Benzingcr, governor
of the Maryland Chapter, presided
at the meeting, which in addition to
Archbishop Curicy, was addressed
by the lit. Rev. Monsignor Edward
A. Pace of the Catholic University.
COSTA-CAMARATA
Athena, Ga.—Miss Anita Costa,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph
Costa, and James Anthony Camar-
ata, were united in marriage at St.
Joseph’s Church in this city Janu
ary 2-1, Rev. H. F. Clark, the pas
tor, officiating. The Athens News,
commenting on the wedding, term
ed it one of the “most beautiful and
dignified in many a day” in the
university city!
Little Miss Zena Costa was ring-
bearer, and the Misses Mary Grace
and Margaret Costa flower girls.
Miss Loretta Gentille, of Louisville,
Ky., was bridesmaid, Miss Annie
May Cinciolo, of Gainesville, main
of honor, and Mrs. Lawrence Costa,
inatron-of-honor. Miss Johcphine
Ingram and Mrs. H. I). Hcywood
Were soloists during the nuptial
! Mass.
Mr. and Mrs. Camarata will live
iln Athens following a wedding
flip.
PRESIDENT ASKS ARCHBISHOP
CURLEY TO PLAY GOLF
MATCH
Washington, D. C.—President
Warren G. Harding and Arch
bishop Michael ,1. Curley of Bal
timore are expected soon to
meet on the golf links for a
test of skill at the game of
which botli are devotees. The,
engagement to play was made
in the first formal visit of the
Archbishop to the White House
last week.
The Archbishop was accom
panied by the Most Rev. John
Bonzano, Apostolic Delegate. He
came, he said, “as an American
citizen to pay my respects to my
president.”
It was President Harding who
introduced the subject of golf.
The Archbishop admitted that
he played the game occasionlly.
“I would like to have a round
with you some time,” rejoined
the President.”
“Then I challenge you,” de
clared Archbishop Curley.
“Good,” responded the Presi
dent. “I have always been am
bitious to defeat one of the
clergy.”
The date of the match lias not
yet been set, hut Washington is
looking forward to the event.
lETUiTFllS.
IBB TO ME
Father General of Society of
Jesus Secures Rossi' Collec
tion for Sternal City.
Rome—Thanks to the efforts of
His Holiness Benedict XV, Rome has
again come into possession of a
valuable collection of codes and
bookes assembled almost a hundred
years ago by the* Roman patrician
Ginn Francesco de ■ Rossi.
Jn 1858 de Rossi married Princess
Carola Ludovica of Bourbon, daugh
ter of Louis, King of Etruria and
Duke of Parma. She was the widow
of Duke Maximilian of Saxony and
had been living in Rome for some
time. Knowing her husband’s pas
sion for collccling rare old hooks
and manuscripts, she helped him
with her own fortune to satisfy his
hobby. After his death in -854, the
Princess donated the entire library
of some 1,000 codes, 2,500 incuna
bula and 0,000 printed hooks to the
Society of Jesus, stipulating that the
library was to remain the property
of the Society, and that in case of
its suppression the library was to
become the property of the Emperor
of Austria. Likewise, if the* Soci
ety of Jesus should lie temporarily
disbanded, (lie Emperor of Austria
was to be the custodian of the li
brary.
The case foreseen in article G of
act of donation, that is to say the
temporary dispersion of the Society
of Jesus, was fulfilled in 1873, and
the Austrian Charge d’Affaircs in
Rome, at the direction of the Em
peror, took charge of the library
which was later sent to Vienna,
where it remained for almost fifty
years, in one of the houses of the
Society of Jesus.
The Society of Jesus was re-estab
lished in Rome, and as tile act of
donation stipulated that in such ease
the library should lie returned to
Rome, the Father General of the
Society took steps to that end.
In order that the valuable collec
tion of ancient books and manu
scripts might be available for re
search work and consultation by
scholars, the Father General conceiv
ed the idea of placing the collection
in the Vatican Library where facil
ities would be much greater than in
the smaller quarters of the House of
the Society.
SEMINARY FOR CINCINNATI
Cincinnati, O.—Plans for the new
Mt. St. Mary Theological Seminary
at Norwood, a fine section of Cin
cinnati have been completed and
the publication of the arhitect’s
drawing of the edifice has given
the Catholic people of the archdio
cese an opportunity to see how the
new institution is to look when
completed. The Seminary is to
cost about $900,000 and will repre
sent the fulfillment of Most Rev.
Archbishop Moeller’s wish for a
better provision for the training of
priests. . - _
SISTERS DEFEIDED
Charges Made Against New
Orleans Catholic Hospital
Retracted by Clergyman.
■ \
New Orleans—Cordial thanks for
the work of the Daughters of Char
ity of St. Vincent de Paul at the
Charity Hospital were voted in a
resolution unanimously adopted by
the board of administration last
week at the conclusion of nil inquiry
into charges made against them by
Dr. W. C. Childress iti an address
he .delivered before the Methodist
conference in Jackson, Miss., a
month ago.
Dr. Childress, on liis appearance,
as a witness before the board of ad
ministration, withdrew two of the
most serious allegations urged
against the Sisters in his speech. The
board’s finding was that none of his
charges was sustained. Against the
assertions of Dr. Childress was ar
rayed the positive testimony of
many of the leading New Orleans
physicians, Protestant and Catholic,
who practice at the hospital.
The charges in Dr. Childress’ ad
dress were at once made the subject
of an investigation, and he was re
quested to attend the hearings and
testify. He asserted before the Meth
odist conference that attempts were
made by the nuns to proselyte
Protesant patients; that Protestants
in some eases were given coarse
food, while Catholics received pre
ferential treatment; that women in
mates of the maternity wards were
compelled to do menial work; that
patients coming to the Memorial
Home for Young Women, of which
he is superintendent, were ill an un
sanitary condition and infested with
vermin.
Withdraws Charges
In his opening statement to the
board, Dr. Childress disclaimed any
design of injuring the reputation
or work of Charity Hospital, of
whose value, he said, he was well
aware.as any one else. His criti
cisms, he said, were intended to be
of a constructive nature, and not
construed as an attack on the Cath
olic Church. The charges that Prot
estants suffered discrimination in
the matter of food and that patients
in the maternity wards were forced
to menial work were then publicly
withdrawn by Dr. Childress, who
said that the young women upon
whose statements lie based these
allegations had refused to support
them with their testimony before
the board. *
The only two points upon which
Dr. Childress insisted were that
Protestants were subjected to un
due influences in the zeal of the
nuns to win them to the Catholic
faitli and that young women coining
to his instulition from Charity Hos
pital were in an unsanitary condi
tion. In corroboration of these
charges he quoted young women now
in llic Memorial Home, hut refused
to give their names or agree to their
appearance before the hoard, on the
ground that their “future” depend
ed on forgetfulness of the past. He
offered to let them be questioned
in private.
Protestant Workers Sustain Nuns
Other persons whom Dr. Childress
asked to be summoned to testify
in substantiation of his charges
could not be found. Dr. Childress
replied to a question by a member
of the hoard that lie had “some”
of tlie evidence of the witnesses lie
named when first lie made the charg
es against the Sisters.
Two social workers attached to
Charity Hospital, one a Presbyterian
and one a Methodist, said they were
always in the closest touch with the
patients, particularly in their pome
life and did not know a single in
stance of an attempt by the nuns
to influence the religious convic
tions of any one. Other witnesses
declared that the hospital was well
conducted and that no conditions
which Dr. Childress alleged could lie
general.
GOLF AT ST. BENEDICT’S.
Atchison, Kansas.—Golf has grip
ped the students of St. Benedict’s
College here and a nine-hole course,
which has been laid out on a fifty-
acre tract north of the college has
become extremely popular. Mem
bers of the faculty, ns well as the
students, are taking to go}f for
recreation. Students of the col
lege are green keepers and caddies.
Many Atchison golfers who have
played over the course pronounced
it an excellent one.
Senatorial Committee
Vindicates Col. Malone
At Washington Hearing
COL. PAUL B. MALONE, U. S. A.
Mil MOLICS
H COL IM
Augusta, Ga.—Col. Paul B. Malone,
U. S. A., a veteran of two wars and
many campaigns, formerly brigadier
general of the Fifth Division on the
firing line in France gave public
and hearty approval to the work of
the Catholic Laymen’s * Association
of Georgia in an address before
several hundred members of the
Augusta branch of the association
and their friends in this city Sun
day evening, Jan. 22. The address
was delivered in the hall of the old
Sacred Heart College.
Col. Malone told this .audience that
he could not say too mucr in praise
of tiie Catholic Laymen’s Associa
tion for its efforts. The religion
of a man was not questioned in the
war, lie stated, “Protestant, Catholic
and Jew, united by a common bond,
love of country, made success pos
sible.” Ojilj^ by the same spirit,
cooperation of Jew and Gentile,
Protestant and Catholic, can Geor
gia and other states meet and solve
the problems which beset them
daily, he said.
Tlie address of Col. Malone, who
is considered the orator of the
United States Army, was one of the
finest ever delivered before a Cath
olic body in the state. He is a
former professor at West Point, an
author of international reputation,
and a hero of the World War.
President T. S. Gray, of ihe local
Laymen’s Association, presided at
the meeting and introduced the
speakers. The meeting opened with
the singing of “Onward, Christian
Soldiers,” led by John P. Mulheriu,
and closed with the singing of “Holy
God We Praise Thy Name.”
On motion of Matthew S. Rice,
seconded by Thomas J. O’Leary, the
local Laymen’s Association, adopt
ed resolutions of sincere regret on
the death of Pope Benedict’ XV,
which occurred several hours before.
Pope Benedict had repeatedly shown
his interest in and approval of the
work of the Catholic Laymen’s As
sociation of Georgia, his latest in
dication ot it being the conferring
of knighthood in the. Order of St.
Gregory the Great on President P.
H. Rice, of Augusta, head of the
state association. There are only
two Knights of St. Gregory the
Great, in tlie military class in the
United States, and they are both
Georgians, Admiral Wra. S. Benson
and Capt. P. H. Rice. ’
Reports were also made by State
President Rice and Publicity Di
rector Richard Reid. These reports
showed the organization to be in a
more prosperous condition Ilian at
any time since its organization.
Tiie officers for tlie past year were
unanimously re-elected. They are:
President T. S. Gray; first vice-pres
ident, Mrs. J. J. Joy; second vice-
president, J. J. Cayahan; third vice
president, Mrs. V. J. Dorr; fourth
vice president, Hugh Kinehly; sec
retary, Thomas P. Kearney; treasur
er, Alvin McAuliffe, Executive com
mittee: Mrs. C. D. Kinchlcy, Joseph
S Watkins, Mrs. .T. L. O’Dowd and
Thomas J. O’Leary
Man Who Ma,kes Charge of
Shooting Retracts When
Called Before Investigating
Committee— Col. Malone
Testifies.
CONGRATULATED BY SEN.
BRANDEGEE, CHAIRMAN
Columbus Rotarians and Ki-
wanians Score Charge—
Mayor and Others Volun
teer to Defend Colonel at
Washington, if Necessary.
Columbus, Ga.—Col. Paul B. Ma
lone, U. S. A., assistant command
ant at Camp Banning, Ga., whose
conduct during the late war merit
ed commendation and five decora
tions from the French and Ameri
can governments, was completely
vindicated of the charge that lie
shot a lagging soldier, made at
Washington before the Congression
al Committee investigating tlie
charges of the Junior Senator from
Georgia regarding wholesale hang
ings and executions in the army
during the wan.
Col. Malone was cleared of the
charge by tiie man who made it,
I. Ji. Henderson, of Chester, S. C. In
letters to the committee, Henderson
wrote he was ready to swear lie
saw the alleged shooting, hut when
called to Washington to testify he
said lie never saw Col. Malone shoot
anyone, and that his previous state
ments had been a mistake. Hen
derson’s denial was corroborated by
Col. Russell C. Langdon, formerly
an officer in the same regiment.
Coi. Malone, who served as briga
dier general at the front during the
war went to-Washington to testify
before the committee. He indig
nantly denied even having threat
ened a private soldier, much less
being guilty of the charges brought
against him. Senator Brandcgec,
of Connecticut, chairman of tlie in
vestigation committee, personally
congratulated Col. Mai ope after he
testified.
The bringing of tlie charges
against Coi. Malone was severely
criticized in Cohimbus by citizens
of all creeds. Since he came to
this city he lias won a place in the
hearts of all classes of people by
his genial disposition, his ability
and his work in behalf of Camp
Benning and Columbus. The Ro
tary Club adopted resolutions ex
pressing its confidence in Col Ma
lone, who is a Rotarian, and Mayor
J. Homer Dimon, and other prom
inent Rotarians pledged themselves
to go to Washington to defend him
if it were necessary. Homer R. Mc-
Clatchey, of the Columbus Chamber
of Commerce, tendered his services
to tlie colonel, and the Kiwanis Club
of Columbus adopted the following
resolutions:
' i
1
Be it resolved, That Col.
Paul B. Malone has been known
to the whole of this club for
about three years and an inti
mate acquaintance of his charac
ter makes this club know that
his denial ot any knowledge of
an affair such as this is without
doubt the absolute truth:
Be it further resolved, That
this club goes on record as
pledging its services to Col.
Malone and regret that such a
lie should be perpetrated with
intent to injure the good name
of such an excellent officer:
Resolved further, That a copy
of this resolution be furnished
to the press and to Col. Ma
lone.
Enquirer-Sun Editorial.
The Columbus Enquirer-Sun, of
which Thomas W. Loyless is editor,
denounced the charge against Col.
Malone in an editorial published
the day after it was made, and car
ried the following editorial, head
ed: “The Prompt Vindication of
Col. Malone,” when the charge was
disproven:
Just as everyone who knew
Col. Paul B. Malone expected
would happen, he has been
promptly vindicated of the
charge of having shot and killed
one of his soldiers in battle in
Frahcc and of riding down
(Continued on page 4.) -j