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4 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.