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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC L AYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
JANUARY 18, 1930
THE BULLETIN
The Official Organ of the Catholic Laymen’s Associa-
tion of Georgia.
ltiCHARD REID, Editor.
Published semi-monthly by the Publicity Department
with the Approbation of the Rt. Rev. Bishops of Ra-
eigh. Charleston, Savannah, St. Augustine, Mobile and
Natchez.
3 409 Lamar Building, Augusta, Georgia.
Subscription Price, $2.00 Per Year.
FOREIGN ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE
S. T. Mattingly, Walton Building Atlanta, Ga.
ASSOCIATION OFFICERS FOR 1923-1929
P. H. RICE, K.C.S.G., Augusta President
COL. P. H. CALLAHAN, K.S.G., Louisville, Ky.,
ADMIRAL WM. S. BENSON, K.C.S.G., Washington,
D. C.
BARTLEY J. DOYLE, Philadelphia
Honorary Vice-Presidents
J. J. HAVERTY, Atlanta First Vice-President
J. B. McCALLUM, Atlanta Secretary
THOMAS S. GRAY, Augusta Treasurer
RICHARD REID, Augusta Publicity Director
MISS CECILS O. FERRY, Augusta
Asst. Publicity Director
Vol. XI. January 18, 1930. * No. 2.
Entered as second class matter June 15, 1921, at the
Post Office at Augusta, Ga., under Act of March, 1879.
Accepted for mailing at special rate of postage provided
for in Section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized
September 3, 1921.
A Minister on the Church
Rev. Walter Anthony at the Wesley Memorial Church
of Savannah recently preached a subsequently pub
lished sermon, the spirit of which seems to be reflected
by the reverend preacher’s repeated reference to the
Catholic Church as Romish and Popish, terms which,
as he should know, were coined by enemies of the
Catholic Church as terms of reproach and attempted in
sult.
Dr. Anthony’s sermon was directed against a state
ment which news dispatches ascribed to the Pope in
reference to Protestantism. We have seen no official or
semi-official report of the Pope’s statement, but even if
he is correctly quoted he said nothing about the Prot
estant Church that Protestant ministers have not said
repeatedly in our country both in pulpits and in secular
magazines.
Dr. Anthony said that Protestantism gained nineteen
per cent, in Europe while the Catholic Church was
gaining twelve per cent., “and that in spite of the fact
that the Pope’s church extends to our Protestantispa in
Europe none of the courtesies which Protestant Ameri
canism willingly accords Catholicism.”
On the other hand, Bishop Edgar Blake, writing in the
Methodist Christian Advocate of September 23, 192G,
says: “Germany is the religious prize of Europe. It is
the key to the control of the continent. Before the war
Protestantism held a dominant position in Germany.
The royal family was Protestant; the kaiser was the
head of the Church of Prussia. This gave Protestantism
a social and political prestige that no other church pos
sessed. The Roman Catholic Church, though nominally
free, was nevertheless under certain restrictions and
limitations. The papal representative was not permitted
to have his official residence in Berlin, the capital of
the Empire. He was obliged to live in Munich, the cap
ital of Bavaria. Certain of the great religious orders,
notably the Jesuits, were not allowed to operate in
Germany. The Church was continually on the defen
sive and suffered in consequence. All of this is now
changed. The old political regime has been overthrown.
Protestantism has lost its prestige and power. Under the
new constitution the practice of religion is free. There
are no longer any serious restrictions upon Roman
Catholic activities.”
Bishop Blake, as Dr. Anthony no doubt knows, was
for some time bishop in charge of the Methodist ac
tivities in Europe. We direct attention not only to his
comments on the comparative progress of the churches
but to his assertion that under the Protestant regime
"the Roman Catholic Church, although nominally free,
was nevertheless under certain restrictions and limita
tions,” and his attitude of complaint when he mentions
that now “under the new constitution the practice of
religion is free. There are no longer any serious re
strictions upon Roman Catholic activities.” How does
Dr. Anthony reconcile his complaint against the Church’s
alleged intolerance and Bishop Blake’s approving asser
tion thEtf the Church was under restrictions and limi
tations in the Protestant German Empire?
Dr. Anthony refers to “the courtesies which Protes
tant America willingly accords to Catholicism.” What
does he mean by “Protestant America”? What does he
mean by “courtesies”? Catholics discovered America.
Catholics explored America. The Gospel was first
preached in Georgia by Catholic priests, four of whom
laid -down their lives for it over three hundred and
fifty years ago in Glynn County. The Protestant Pro
fessor Bolton of the University of California in his
book, “The Debatable land’, says there were as a
result of the labors of these Catholic priests thousands
of Christian Indians in Georgia a century before Ogle
thorpe. Catholics helped to write the Constitution of
our land, which guarantees the right, not the courtesy,
of religious freedom. Catholics have shed their blood in
every battle for our country’s freedom. If by Protes
tant America Dr. Anthony means that the majority of
Americans are Protestants or at least of Protestant an
cestry (Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler asserts most Ameri
cans belong to no church) very well; perhaps he will
then by reciprocity allow us to refer to the capital city
of Massachusetts as Catholic Boston. But America is
not Protestant and Boston is not Catholic in any other
sense.
Dr. Anthony quotes Bishop Candler on the Catholic
I Church as a political institution. Bishop Candler is a
ksJncere, good man; would that his faith were more pre
potent outside the Church today. But Bishop Candler
is no more authority on the Catholic Church than Pre
mier Mussolini is on the American Constitution and
again the statement about the Church Dr. Anthony
quotes from him was made when Bishop Candler was
a much younger man. Dr. Anthony should take little
Question Box |
Q. Is Mass said in Latin in all parts
of the world?
Dixie Musings
While tales of blizzards and sub
zero temperatures came from other
consolation from the opposition of political leaders in
Europe to the Church; most of them have been open
enemies of Christianity and of God. They only attack
ed the Church as lightning strikes the tallest tree.
If the Catholic Church were a political organization,
there ought to be some evidence of it cropping out in
the one hundred and fifty years of our country’s his
tory, during which Catholics have always been a size
able portion of the population. And yet in this day and
year of our Lord, after one hundred and fifty years of
alleged scheming to get control of the reins of Govern
ment, although constituting one-sixth of the population,
Catholics compose about one-twelfth of the member
ship of the National House of Representives, one-six
teenth or less of the United States Senate, and less than
the smallest available fraction of - the cabinet or the
House of Governors.
The Fire at Holy Trinity
Fifteen years ago the Sisters of the Most Blessed Trin
ity, women from homes of culture and refinement,
came to an isolated point in Eastern Alabama some
miles from Columbus, Ga., and started a labor of serv
ice to the poor in that locality which rivals in heroic
sacrifice the most stirring stories of pioneer mis
sionary activities in the United States.
The Sisters started with nothing. They nursed the
sick, taught the poor, preached the gospel by living it.
Their scant living came from the soil, supplemented by
offerings of friends, mainly in the East. Almost mi
raculously, supplementing the parallel efforts of the
Missionary Fathers of the Most Blessed Trinity, they
transformed their apparently barren lands into one of
the garden spots of Alabama. Their humble home,
hardly more than a hut, grew by degrees, board by
board, through heart-breaking and often discouraging
labor, until it became one of the finest social work
structures in this part of the country. The Sisters re
joiced because it meant such an impetus to their work
for the poor and neglected.
The Sisters faced the New Year with hope and confi
dence. But on the day following New Year’s, their joy
was turned to abject dismay By a fire which destroyed
the fruit of their fifteen years of labor and rendered
them, one hundred and fifty in number, as homeless as
the poorest of their poor. Nothing was saved but the
clothing they wore when they escaped. They who came
to serve the poor now found themselves depending on
the charity of neighbors for the barest necessities of
A. The prayers of the Mass are said
in Latin in the Western Church
though it is said in other languages
in other parts. The Church is not un
der any obligations of faith or morals
to employ Latin as the language of
its worship and liturgical ceremonies.
If the Church tomorrow desired to
adopt the English language in the
place of the Latin, the change could
be made without detriment to any
dogma. And apt proof of this is af
forded by the fact that the Church
does not insist on Latin for the Ori
ental Churches. These Churches use
the vernacular languages. Those lan
guages are more adaptable for liturgi
cal purposes than English; they are
not subject to such radical and fre
quent changes; they are more perfect
languages and older languages. The
Churgh employs Latin for the West
ern Church on account of its histori
cal associations and its unchanging
character. It is profitable and con
venient to have the one, same lan
guage for the one, same act of su
preme worship.
Q. What were the names of the
father and mother of Saint Joseph?
A. We do not known who was the
mother of Saint Joseph. According to
Saint Matthew his father was named
Jacob while Saint Luke speaks of him
as the son of Heli. Scriptural schol
ars offer explanations of this differ
ence but there is disagreement in the
explanations. Some contend that Ja
cob and Heli were the same. Others
say that one evangelist traces the
genealogy of Saint Joseph through his
father while the other traces it
through his mother. Other scholars
maintain that Heli was not the father
of Saint Joseph but that he adopted
Saint Joseph and was known as his
father. The practical result of this
controversy is that we do not known
with certainty who was the father of
Saint Joseph.
Q. Could the Pope give permission
for a divorced couple to marry some
body else?
A. The Pope has no authority to
recognize the dissolution of a validly
contracted and consummated mar
riage; the bond was not made by the
Church but is a mandate of Almighty
God. Some times we read that a di
vorced person was married by
a Catholic priest. Investigation will
show that such marriage was per
formed only after there had been pre
sented indisputable evidence to the
fact that the former marriage of the
party involved was not a valid mar
riage.
life.
But the dismal gloom of the Sisters was short-lived.
“The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.” They spent no time
lamenting what “might have been.” They thanked God
that all had escaped unharmed, and that the little cabin
chapel had been spared. One hundred and fifty religious
without the necessities of life in a sparsely settled
country is not a reassuring picture, but the Sisters, the
personification of fortitude in the face of overwhelming
adversity, refuse to dispair in their plight. That their
friends will come to their assistance and that the cen
ter of their work of Christian charity and education at
Holy Trinity in Alabama will rise again more glorious
than ever is the hope and prayer of The Bulletin.
An Uncrowded Field
One of the most common complaints these days alleges
lack of opportunity for young people, including those
with education. The professions are crowded, although
we are told there is plenty of room at the top. Con
solidation of great enterprises and the dwindling num-
Q. Since they say that Christ was
baptized by immersion why do we not
give the sacrament in that way? Can
it be proved that Christ was not im
mersed?
A. There is no necessity that you
prove that Christ was not baptized
by immersion. The probable opinion
leads that He was, though it is by
not means certain. The Church
teaches that baptism by immersion is
valid. But it is not the only valid
way of baptizing. On account of the
inconveniences of immersion, the
Church commands that baptism
should ordinarily be administered by
the pouring on of water.
Q. Is it alowabte for us to pray for
a deceased Protestant friend?
A. It is not only allowable but it
would be a real act of charity to pray
for your Protestant friends, both liv
ing and dead. It is not permitted to
have the public prayers or offices for
a Proestant. This is forbidden be
cause the Protestant was not a mem
ber of the visible Church of Christ.
His good faith may have made him a
member of the soul of the Church
and by which he may have been sav
ed.
ber of independent businessmen are causing concern.
Paradoxically, many Catholic educators are greatly
disturbed over the lack of properly equipped men and
women to meet the growing demand in the higher
fields of education. Francis Crowley of the National
Catholic Welfare Conference Department of education,
writing in Columbia reflects the experience of many
Catholic educators when he asserts that eight years of
combing the field for professors in Catholic colleges and
universities convince him that Catholics are not making
any marked effort to train for such positions. Catholics
are likewise conspicuously absent from the faculties of
many leading secular universities, a situation which
cannot be dismissed by attributing it to bigotry.
Our Catholic young people who are fortunate enough
to secure a college education and who have no voca
tion for the religious life should consider the oppor
tunities afforded the laity in the higher fields of learn
ing. This is particularly true of those inclined toward
teaching. The average college graduate makes but little
progress in the first few years out of college; these
years spent in study, even part-time study, lead to
deepened and broadened knowledge and higher degrees.
College graduates with degrees in law may be found in
every hamlet in the land; it takes no longer to become a
Doctor of Philosophy, a man of prestige even in a metro
polis. There are few more effective ways to assist in
improving the status of Catholics anywhere than by in
creasing our representation in the fields of research and
higher education. The Knights of Columbus through
their graduate scholarships at the Catholic University
and other organizations and universities are rendering
splendid assistance in this direction. The Catholic laity
should measure up to the opportunities. We have a
great number of Catholic Doctors of Philosophy, but
most of them are not among the 20,000,000 laity but
among the 85,000 priests and religious. Tfce laity should
do its part in this important field.
Q. How can there be true contri
tion for sin when we known almost
certainly that we will commit the
same sin again?
A. There can be no true contrition
without firm purpose of amendment.
Confession without such contrition
would be a sacrilege. There is true
contrition whenever the penitent, at
the time of confession, is truly sorry
and intends sincerely not to commit
the sin in future. By sad experiences
he may known that he is very weak,
and that, in spite of his good resolu
tions he may fall again but if he
makes use of the means suggested by
his confessor and avoids the occasion
of sin, he may be sure that his con
trition was good, even if he should
have the misfortune to fall again. It
is only when he makes no effort
whatever to avoid the sin. that he has
a right to doubt his contrition. Stay
ing away from confession is the very
worst way to overcome a sinful habit.
The best remedy is very frequent
confession, frequent enough to head
off temptation. A sick man needs
medical aid, and the sicker he is the
more he needs it. The very fact ol
going to confession often is a proof
of true contrition.
Q. Do you not think that our happi
ness in heaven will be spoiled by the
knowledge that those whom we have
left behind are suffering by oul
death?
A. The happiness of heaven com
pensates for all loss. The friendship
and love for those we have left be
hind is intensified in heaven. The
blessed are happy because they can
help their loved ones on earth by
intercession at the throne of the Most
High. They can help them to reach
that same happiness which they now
enjoy and which will be made great-
ed by the reunion of loved ones. They
recognize with Saint Paul that the
sufferings of this world are nothing
compared to the joy that awaits in
A heaven. ,
parts of the country early in the
month, the Southeast was enjoying
weather New York would class as
perfect for April or Mayy Jackson
ville in its annual weather report
records but thirteen days in which
the sun did not shine, an average of
but a day a month; that is typical of
the Southeast. However, we hear
from a Los Angeles booster that they
have 365 days of sunshine out there,
“and that’s a mighty conservative es
timate.”
The San Francisco Monitor, offic
ial organ of the Achdiocese of San
Francisco, says editorially in a recent
issue: “If there had been the slight
est danger of A1 Smith winning there
would have been the shedding of
blood.” This leads us to wonder what
kind of a place California is to sug
gest thoughts like this. There was
no shedding of blood when Governor
Smith was elected governor of New
York. We venture to say there would
have been none in California had he
been elected president. Perhaps the
radiant California sunshine would
have made the tears of joy and sor
row occasioned by such a contin
gency look like blood.
When the Catholic Press Associa
tion met in Savannah in 1927, it was
announced in the press that “Al”
Smith was present. And so he was,
Father Albert Smith, editor-in-chief
of the Baltimore Catholic Review,
The Bulletin’s neighbor. The Holy
Father, who had previously honored
Father Smith for his outstandipg
service to the Catholic Press, has
again singled him out for distinction
—he has named him a member of
the Papal Household with the rank
of Monsignor. Monsignor Smith was
invested with the robes of his office
recently by Archbishop Curley of
Baltimore. Monsignor Smith and the
entire Baltimore Catholic Review
staff have always been kind to their
provincial neighbor ar.d this kind
ness has been a continuous source of
encouragement to The Bulletin and
the Catholic Laymen’s Association of
Georgia. We rejoice in the honor
which has come to Monsignor Smith
and wish him as many happy returns
as his distinguished namesake got on
four of the five occasions when he
ran for governor.
A parish at Whitehaven. Cumber
land, England, has with the permis
sion of the Bishop of Lancaster elect
ed twenty-seven councilors to run
the temporal affairs of the parish. We
shall watch the experiment with in
terest and not without misgivings.
There are priests who are not good
business men but it is our conviction
that the proportion is far less arijong
the clergy than among the educated
laity. The manner in which priests
and religious start with nothing and
build great establishments with mi
croscopic means is a continuous
source of wonder to us. And our
idea of how to complicate almost
anything is to delegate it to a com
mittee of twenty-seven.
• ‘
We were reading the other day of e
nation which spends seventy-two per
cent of its national revenues on war.
Seventy-two cents out of every dollar
of its income goes to prepare for
future wars or to pay for past ones.
The figures were cited by the head of
the nation, so they cannot be doubt
ed. That nation is our own United
States.
,One silver lining to the cloud of
bigotry is the fact that it stirs
many Catholics who never do a thing
for the church. It indicates that de
spite their lethargy they are still
Catholic enough and still love their
church enough to resent an injustice
to her. Perhaps it / stirs some of
them to a determination to interest
themselves in efforts in ber behalf.
The Fellowship Forum, as quoted
by a reader of The News and Observ
er, Raleigh, N. C., in its January 5
issue, denies that Secretary Hurley of
the War Department is Catholic.
The Fellowship Forum is right. It
also says “The neW Secretary of
War is believed to be a ‘square shoot
er’ and a genuine American.” The
Fellowship Forum is right again—
twice in one issue. For Colonel
Hurley, according to the Washington
correspondent of the Boston Her
ald. hired a pew in a Catholic Church
during the anti-Catholic agitation in
Oklahoma some time ago in order to
show his contempt for the spirit of
bigotry which The Fellowship Fo
rum fosters.
And Rev. Louis D. Newton, D. D.,
editor of The Christian Index, in the
January 2 issue, writes (we presume
it is Dr. Newton): “Now comes word
from Washington that Secretary of
War Patrick Hurley refuses to say
whether he is a Roman Catholic or
not. His father and mother are
Catholics and the people of Tulsa re
gard Pat as a Catholic. Why should
he be embarrassed to say?.” Colonel
Hurley’s father and mother are Cath
olics. They are dead. Colonel Hur
ley is not a Catholic. Now, Doctor,
we ask you: Why should he be em
barrassed to say that he was not a
Catholic? Our guess is that he was
not, but he regards his religion as
having no bearing on his position in
the cabinet of as an officer of the
government. General Dawes is not
inclined to embarrassment and we d
like to be around when some busy
body asked him what his religion is.