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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
NINE
OCTOBER 26. mo
Laymen’s Association
President Delivers Address
Dr. J. Reid Broderick, President of the Catholic Lay
men’s Association of Georgia, Is Heard on Station
WTOC in Pre-Convention Talk
SAVANNAH, Ga.—The following
address hy Dr, J. Reid Broderick,
president of the Catholic Laymen’s
Association of Georgia, was deliv
ered over Station WTOC, Savannah,
is a recital of the aims and objects
of the Association, with a brief ref
erence to some of the highlights in
its history:
.As President of the Catholic Lay
men's Association of Georgia, I am
grateful for the opportunity and for
the privilege of addressing a brief
message to you concerning tne history
and tne object of our organization.
It is likewise my privilege to present
a brief outline of the anniversary
which we are about to celebrate. The
fundamental doctrines of American
democracy are freedom of speech,
freedom of the press and the rights
of every man to worship God as his
conscience dictates. Americans have
fought and died for the preservation
of these principles, and our biassed
country has prospered and developed
into the greatest nation of modern
times because of the guarantees af
forded each individual by the Con
stitution under which we are privi
leged to live. Every true American
is jealous of his rights and privi
leges and deplores any interference
with his inalienable rights by which
he has been endowed by his Creator.
Unfortunately, in the history of our
country there have been periods
when ’ misguided and misinformed
fellow-citizens have attempted to in
fringe upon and to interfere with
the constitutional and God-given
privilege of another class of fellow
Americans.
A quarter of a century ago in some
sectinons of our state there existed a
feeling of mistrust and apprehension
regarding members of the Roman
Catholic Church. Many of her age-
old doctrines were assailed, her
teachings mis-interpreted and mis
understood. Many of the newspapers
were openly unfriendly to the Cath
olic Church and even legislative acts,
such as the Veasey Bill, resulted from
the tirades that had been levelled
against the Roman Catholic citizens
of Georgia and the faith which they
professed and loved.
Such an unhappy condition of af
fairs was not typical of the princi
ples and the traditions of the true
American spirit. It was brought about
by a lack of knowledge of and a lack
of contact with those who were sub
ject to discrimination and misrepre
sentation Georgians of Catholic faith
became convinced that the unfriend
ly feeling manifested toward them
could be easily eradicated if their
fellow citizens became acquainted
with and were enlightened upon the
teachings and doctrines of the Cath
olic Church.
Hostility of class against class be
cause of religious differences was not
natural and tended to divide and sep
arate friend from friend and neigh
bor from neighbor.
It was therefore decided by lead
ing members of the Church to form
ulate plans for the organization of
an Association whose only motive
would be ‘'to bring about a friendlier
feeling among Georgians, irrespective
of creed”, We felt that our fel
low citizens in Georgia would wel
come reliable, and accurate informa
tion on misunderstood and disputed
questions pertaining to Catholic be
lief and practice; we perceived it
to be our duty to acquaint our fellow
Georgians and neighbors with the
Catholic viewpoint of questions per
taining to Catholic doctrine, and to
correct the inaccuracies which. had
arisen from misinformed sources. Our
respect for the high sense of justice
and sound judgment of our neigh
bors in Georgia assured us that in
terested attention would be paid our
declarations.
The Right Reverend Benjamin Jo
seph Keiley, a Confederate Veteran,
Bishop of Savannah, most generous
ly responded to the request of the
Catholic laymen of his Diocese to
call a meeting -at Macon. Georgia, in
which every section of the state was
represented. z
Our own city of Savannah was well
recognized by the following distin
guished gentlemen, Thomas E. Walsh,
Jr., William J. Harty, William Kehoe,
M. J. O'Leary, William A. Saunders,
William J. R'yan, Thomas Ballentyne,
Thomas J. Finn, J. A. McKenna and
Frank J. McNally, Jr. At that meet
ing the Catholic Laymen’s Associa
tion of Georgia was founded. An
office under the capable direction of
Mr. James J. Farrell was opened in
Augusta, Georgia.
The infant years of the organization
were crowded ones. Voluminous cor
respondence with individuals, with
the press, with other organizations,
was carried on courteously and
friendly but frankly. Thousands of
pamphlets, on subjects that seemed
most relevant, were printed and dis- ]
tributed; a clipping bureau was es
tablished that took cognizance of
every item that appeared in any
Georgia publication that had refer
ence to anything Catholic. Letters of
information and constructive criti
cism were addressed to writers who
consciously or unconsciously mis
stated the Church's viewpoint or at
titude. Paid advertsements m the
news’paoers of the state gave inform
ation about Roman Catholics and
their Church. In the maelstrom of
work and activity, the Laymen's As
sociation vigilantly observed its car
dinal principle of fraternity and char
ity. seeking always to inform and
to instruct, never to offend, or to hurt.
Shortly after the organization of the
Laymen’s Association, The Bulletin,
now issued monthly, came into exist
ence. This publication serves as a
medium for bringing Catholic news
of the world to the Catholics of Geor
gia. It is on the exchange list with
secular papers, daily and weekly, in
Georgia, and gives the editors of the
state news of happenings in the Cath
olic World which they might not
otherwise have the opportunity of get-
tine*.
The Catholic Laymen’s Association
of Georgia has attracted attention
throughout the Catholic World. It has
received repeated commendation for
its unwavering attitude of courtesy
and fair-mindedness from members
of every creed and race who have be
come acquainted with its activity.
It is as Georgians, no less than as
Catholics, that the Catholic Laymen
of the State have supported and main
tained the Laymen’s Association for
all these years. As citizens of Geor
gia, they realize that for Georgians to
view other Georgians with any other
than a friendly, fraternal feeling con
tributes not to the welfare of the state
and the common good, but breeds a
spirit of ill will inimical to the spirit
of unity that should exist in our midst-
Adherents of diverse religious de
nominations settled America. Together
they cleared the forests, drained the
swamps and plowed the land. They
fought together in the battles of the
Revolution which gained American
independence. Together men of every
creed have developed upon this con
tinent a great nation. Together they
live under and will die for a Consti
tution that guarantees to every indi
vidual liberty of belief and freedom of
worship.
All good Americans, irrespective of
creed, desire peace and friendship and
good will. Our beliefs may be differ
ent and the difference may be radi
cal. but where there is charity there
is never bitterness nor strife. It is for
all of us to live together not only as
neighbors but as friends. We hope
that the Catholic Laymen’s Associa
tion of Georgia will continue to con
tribute its share to this ideal.
It will be our privilege on our twen
ty-fifth anniversary to be host to the
Apostologic Delegate, the Most Rev
erend Archbishop • Cicognani. The
Apostolic Delegate comes to us as a
repreesntative of Pope Pius XII, Su
preme Bishop in the Catholic Church-
He comes in his capacity as a religious
leader. a Bishop in the universal
Church, the legate of him who is the
Bishop of three hundred million souls
of every race, clime, and country- His
presence among us is an honor be
cause of the exalted office he occu
pies. As Apostolic Delegate to the
United States, he is concerned with
and interested in the religious wel
fare and spirilual life of the'Tnillions
of Catholics in this country . . .
As president of the Catholic Lay
men’s Association of Georgia, it is my
happy privilege to extend to each of
you a warm and gracious invitation to
participate in all the festivities of our
Silver Jubilee. In closing may I thank
the citzens of all beliefs, as well as the
many organizations in our city, who
are so cheerfully co-operating in mak
ing this convention the outstanding
chapter in our history.
PRE-CONVENTION RADIO
PRO* RAMS IN SAVANNAH
SAVANNAH, Ga. — During the
week preceding the twenty-fifth an
nual convention of the Catholic Lay
men's Association of Georgia in Sa
vannah, a pre-convention broadcast
has been made each day, featuring
brief talks by priests of Savannah
and prominent Catholic laymen of
the city.
The first of the series of radio pre
sentations included a talk by the Rev.
Robert Brennan, O. S. B., of the
faculty of the Benedictine Military
School.
The programs were presented over
Station WSAV. Savannah.
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA
To Direct Laymen s Convention
DR. J. REID BRODERICK BERNARD J. KANE
The president cf the Cathoiir Laymen's Association of Georgia, Dr. J.
Reid Brodeti'-k. of Savannah, will preside at the twenty-fifth annual conven
tion to be held in Savannah on October 2T. Assisting in directing the pro
ceedings of the convention will be Bernard J. Kane, of Atlanta, the vice-presi
dent.
Charleston Diocesan N. C. C. W.
Holds Convention in Columbia
Three
Women
Attend
Hundred Catholic
of South Carolina
Eleventh Annual
der his direction an interesting series
of programs has been presented for
more than three years.
r
Rev. W. D. O’Leary
Named to Alabama
Welfare Board
(Special To The Bulletin)
SPRING HILL, Ala.— -The Rev.
William D. O’Leary, M. D., S. J.,
president of Spring Hill: College,
has been appointed to the Alabama
Welfare Eoard by Hon. Frank M.
Dixon, Governor of Alabajna.
The appointment of Father O'Leary
to this important post came through
the recommendation of those mu -
mately connected with the Welfare
Board and familiar with the work
done bv him in connection with the
fields of civil work associated with
the Alabama Welfare Board.
News of the appointment reached
Spring Hill through Commissioner
Loula Dunne who expressed the
gratitude of the Board in being able
to obtain the services of Spring Hill’s
president.
Father O’Leary brings a wealth of
experience to his new post. During
the past few years he has frequently
served on the Alabama Civil Service
Board, especially in connection with
its activities in the Mobile district*
In addition he has been prominent in
the welfare work sponsored by many
Mobile and Alabama social service
agencies in recent years.
As a member of the Merit System
Council of the Alabama Welfare
Board, Father O’Leary’s present work
will chiefly deal with the appoint
ment of persons connected with the
city and state agencies under the
jurisdiction of the Welfare Board.
A native of Augusta, Ga., Father
O’Leary was a practicing physician
before he entered the Society of
Jesus.
Session
(Special to The Buleit'n)
COLUMBIA. S. C. — More than
three hundred women from all parts
of the State of South Carolina attend
ed the eleventh annual convention
of the Charleston Diocesan Council
of the National Council of Catholic
Women which was held here on Oc
tober 5 and 6 at the Wade Hampton
Hotel.
EXPOSITION
COTTON
The convention opened with regis
tration at noon on the mezzanine
floor of the hotel and a board meeting
followed. The theme of this con
ference was ’’Unity Through Fed
eration,” and proved of unusual in
terest to both the Diocesan Catholic
Women and members of the Catholic
Youth Council, which was also in
session at Columbia.
Guest speaker at the convention
was the Rt. Rev. Monsignor Michael
J Ready, General Secretary of the
National Catholic Welfare Confer
ence, of Washington, D. C.
Many distinguished guests attend
ed the conference, among them being
the Most Rev. Emmet M. Walsh, D.
D.. Bishop of Charleston; the Rt.
Rev. Monsignor A. K. Gwynn, of
Greenville; the Rt. Rev. Monsignor
Joseph L. O'Brien, Diocesan Youth
Director, of Charleston, and Miss
Agnes G. Regan, Executive Secretary
of the National Council of Catholic
Women, of Washington, D. C.
Mrs. J. Carroll Magarahan, of
Spartanburg, Diocesan President, was
in charge of all sessions and was ably
assisted by Mrs. J. D. Swygert, of
Columbia, the general chairman.
The program on Sunday was opened
with a Pontifical Mass at St. Peter s
Church, with Bishop Walsh as the
celebrant, and Monsignor Ready de
livering the sermon. Music for the
Mass was rendered by the Ursuline
High School choir, under the direc
tion of Sister Mary Ellen.
The morning session of the conven
tion consisted of a panel discussion,
and the presentation of an amusing
skit “Muddle and Model Meetings,
the “Muddle Meeting” being enacted
by members of St. Francis de Sales
Parish, and the “Model Meeting by
members of St. Peter s Parish.
Following the morning session, a
luncheon was served at the Wade
Hampton Hotel. Miss Kathryn Rid-
dock, Youth Director, was in charge
of the luncheon program and the
speakers included Monsignor Ready
and Miss Cornelia Duffy, of Charles
ton, who spoke on ‘‘The Young Wom
an’s Place in Catholic Action.
Bishop Walsh addressed the assem
bly at the closing session in the aft
ernoon and officiated at Pontifical
Benediction of the Blessed Sacra-,
ment.
Savannah Catholic
Radio Programs Now
In Fourth Year
(Special to The Bulletin)
SAVANNAH, Ga.—One of the most
attractive features presented by
Radio Station WTOC in Savannah is
the Savannah Catholic Program
which is sponsored jointly by the
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and
Savannah Council, No. 631, Knights
of Columbus.
The Savannah Catholic Program is
now in its fourth year, having pre
sented its initial broadcast on May
30. 1937.
During the summer months It was
heard each Sunday morning from 8:13
to 8:30. but on September 29 the pro
gram was changed to the winter
schedule, and is on the air over Sta
tion WTOC every Sunday afternoon
from 2:35 to 3 o’clock.
Hugh Grady is the chairman of the
radio program committee, and un-
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^ Best wishes to the Catholic
Laymen's Association of Georgia.
V