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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
JANUARY 31, 1936
TWO
Mayor Gamble Extends
Welcome to Bishop O’Hara
Savannah Proud of Being See City of Church in Georgia,
Chief Executive Says in Cordial Greeting
Savannah Council's
Spirit Commended
Knights of Columbus News
Sheet Gives Example of Its
Franternal Charity
Biship O’Hara was officially
welcomed to Savannah at the civic
reception by Hon. Thomas Gam
ble, Mayor of Savannah, whom
Monsignor Mitchell introduced as
an outstanding figure in Georgia
and the South and who, although
not a Catholic, knows more about
the Catholic history of Savannah
than any other person. Mayor
Gamble’s address of welcome fol
lows:
On an occasion like this 1 know it
is customary to observe certain -for
malities, that I should address you
as Right Reverend Monsignor, that I
should address our distinguished guest
of tonight as the Most Reverend Bish
op of the Diocese of Savannah, that
I should refer to our other Right
Reverend Monsignori, and to the Rev
erend Clergy, who are with us on this
delightful occasion, as well as my
friends in general assembled here.
Somehow I cannot but feel that
these formalities might well be aban
doned tonight, that we are gathered
together as one family, that we are
here as fellow-Savannahians and as
friends, and that he who is to be offi
cially welcomed is no longer to be
regarded simply as a newcomer, or as
a recent Philadelphian, but as one
who has been definitely adopted and
is henceforth a true Savannahian in
spirit and in purpose.
Bishop O’Hara, it is a pleasure on
my part to welcome you to our city,
to a city whose splendid qualities of
character you will speedily appreci
ate, to a people who will daily grow
in your esteem.
There are ample reasons why our
welcome to you should be most cor
dial. You come to us with a well-
earned reputation for Christian man
hood and Christian services that as
sures us that in you Savannah has se-
cured another citizen of outstanding
virtues who will be a sponsor and
supporter for everything that pro
motes the spiritual and the moral
well-being of this city and this state.
We can look forward to your stand
ing at all times with all the forces
that work for humanity’s good. We
feel that in you there will be a source
of additional strength for every move
ment that seeks to promote the higher
aspects of life in the city and state
you will now regard as your perma
nent home.
This will be entirely in keeping
with the record established by you
in your former home where nothing
that promoted the community’s well-
being was unnoticed or unsupported
by you.
We welcome you, therefore, because
you have come to us recognized as a
spiritual leader and as one whose soul
thrills with the prospect of services
you can render, not only for those of
your own faith, but for all who stand
for that which is noblest and best m
life.
Then, too, we welcome you, outside
of your spiritual or ecclesiastical du
ties, as one who has obtained wide
spread recognition through the force
of his trained intellect We appreciate
your rare accomplishments as a
scholar, and the geniality of your
nature.
May I not say that in welcoming you
we look forward to your having many
years of life here during which you
will become as essential part of our
community, known to all men for
your splendid personal qualities and
for good work, so that as you pass
along the streets of our city you will
be greeted by all with a warm shake
of the hand and a cordial ; salute, ad
dressed simply as “Bishop.”
Bishop O’Hara, you have come as
the successor of a long line of pre
lates who. each in his own capacity
as Bishop, and in his personal rela
tionships with the community other
wise, brought honor to his Church.
From the time of Bishop England,
one of the great early organizing
forces of your Church in the South,
and one who in his personal contacts
made widespread friendships the
memory of which long survived his
death, on down to our present day,
the Roman Catholic Church has had
reason to regard with pride those who
have administered its affairs as
Bishops of Savannah, and whose
labors bore the fruits that are much in
evidence.
(From the Knights of Columbus
News Sheet, New Haven, Conn.)
This letter from Grand Knight
Bernard S. Brady, of Gilmour Coun
cil, No. 310, Cleveland, tells its own
story:
“Brother W. G. Wilson, for many
years a member of Gilmour Council,
No. 310, Cleveland- Ohio, and an
outstanding business man of that
city, died on a train bound from
New York City to Florida on Sat
urday, November 30, 1935. The
body was taken from the train at
Savannah. Learning of his death
members of Savanah Council took
charge, notified the Grand Knight
of Gilmour Council and provided an
escort for the remains to the train
which bore them North.
“I am sure that more details about
this matter could be supplied by Sa
vannah Council but 1 have set forth
all that I have been able to learn
from the family of Brother Wilson.”
We haven’t heard anything from
our Savannah Brothers. They prob
ably feel that it isn’t news when a
Knight helps another.
I know that those of your faith look
forward to a progress under their new
Bishop that will at least parallel the
greatest progress that has been made
under any of your predecessors, a
progress which they fondly hope will
excell all phases of the work of your
Church in this city and state in any
past area.
It is but natural that those of the
Catholic faith, as well as others,
should appreciate and be proud of
the fact that this is the seat of the
diocese that embraces the entire ter
ritory of Georgia. In this city the
Catholic Church was first established
in Georgia. Here it has seen its great
est expansion in this state in every
one of its activities.
Bishop O’Hara, you have come to
a city with Roman Catholic traditions
running over two centuries of our
city’s life, but more particularly dur
ing the past century and a half. You
have come to a city that is not with
out its faults and its weaknesses, but
essentially a city which aspires to
noble things, a city where people, in
the main, have learned to live and
work together in a true spirit of
Christian fellowship.
We know from your life elsewhere,
Bishop O’Hara, that you are a man
of broad tolerance of spirit and of
genuine Christian charity toward
others. We may well feel that the at
mosphere of Savannah is one in which
you will revel, and in which you will
find a field for your work that will
be most gratifying to you.
Bishop Keyes leaves Savannah car
rying with him the affection of all
his people and the high respect and
esteem of all others. We wish him
speedy restoration to health and God’s
manifold blessings in whatever sphere
of service he may enter.
Bishop O’Hara, 1 welcome you as
his successor to a city and a people
you will soon come to appreciate and
to love. I trust that God will grant
you many years of happy service in
your diocese of Savannah.
“SERVING THE SAVANNAH ZONE SINCE 1889”
THE LIBERTY NATIONAL BANK
AND TRUST COMPANY
Savannah, Georgia
“On the Busy Comer”
Bull and Broughton Streets
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
Welcome to Savannah and
the Coastal Empire
J. C. PENNEY
COMPANY, INC.
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
Savannah’s Newest Department Store—Outfitters to
the Great American Family
NATIONAL IN SCOPE
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Welcome
and Best Wishes
Morrison - Sullivan
Dry Goods Company
S1VANNAH, GA.
ALWAYS THE NEWEST IN PIECE GOODS
WELCOME
To His Excellency,
The New Bishop of Savannah,
The Most Reverend Gerald P. O’Hara
THE GEORGIA STATE SAVINS ASS0CIA10N
SAVANNAH, GA.
Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
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