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FOURTEEN
THE BULLETIN
-~ HF: bulletin of the catholic laymen’s association of Georgia November 2b. 1942
The Official Organ of the Catholic Laymen’s
Association of Georgia. Incorporated.
HUGH KINCHLEY. Editor '
216-217 Southern Finance Building, Augusta, Ga.
ASSOCIATION OFFICERS FOR 1941-1942
BERNARD J. KANE. Atlanta President
MARTIN J. CALLAGHAN. Macon, 1st Vice-Pres.
•I. B. McCALLUM, Atlanta Secretary
HUGH GRADY. Savannah Treasurer
HLGH KINCHLEY. Augusta Executive Secretary
MISS CECILE FERRY, Augusta. Asst. Exec. Secty.
A M McAULIFFE, Augusta Auditor
Vol. XXIII
November 28, 1942
No. 11
Entered as second class matter June 15. 1921 at the Post
Office at Augusta. Ga.. under act of March. 1879 Ac-
cepted for mailing at special rate of postage provided for
1" n||i tl0n U03 ' Act 0f ° ctober 3. 1917. authorized Sept.
A Sermon and a Letter
A T the Sacred Heart Church in Augusta on All
Saints' Day, the sermon at the High Mass was
delivered by Father James A. Greeley, of the
Society of Jesus, who read from the pulpit the im
pressive and touching letter written by Lieutenant
Commander John J. Shea, U. S. N., last seen on the
aircraft-carrier Wasp, as it sank in the Pacific.
Because it is believed that readers of The Bulle
tin would wish to read all of this stirring message
of farewell, which presents so well the principles
for which America is spending her blood and her
might—the letter of a “Good Catholic” and a “Good
American ’ to his five-year-old son, is printed here
as it was read by Father Greeley:
Dixie Musings
f™ . of N . 9. w „ c - News Service the Catholic Press
Association of the United States, the Georgia Press Asso
eiation and the National Editorial Association
AnnlilS*?- ,he Publicity Department with the
rhfJi b ?' " °j l o e Most Reverend Bishops of Raleigh,
Charleston, and Savannah-Atlanta. and of the Ri°ht Rev
erend Abbot Ordinary of Belmont
The Macon Convention
TN point of numbers, the annual convention of the
1 Catholic Laymen's Association of Georgia, held
in Macon last month, was by no means the great
est in the history of the Association, but no one who
attended that gathering would venture to claim
that any previous convention has evidenced greater
enthusiasm in the work of the Association, or
shown any greater determination that the work of
Ihe Association should be continued and expanded.
While the number of those attending this year’s
convention may have been less than in other years,
the attendance was by no means disappointing, In
fact, it was most gratifying.
Atlanta, particularly was well represented, and
the delegation from that city, headed by Estes Do-
l-emus, President of the Atlanta Branch of the Asso
ciation. was a truly remarkable demonstration that
the Catholics of Georgia’s capital city are keenly
aware of what the Laymen's Association means to
them, and of the necessity for insuring continued
support. _
Numerically, other cities were not as strong in
their representation as Atlanta, but there was no
less a measure of zeal on behalf of the Association
on the par, of the smaller delegations from other
places.
The first factor which contributed to the success
of the convention, and it was a most successful con
vention, was the presence and inspiration of Bishop
O'Hara, who celebrated the convention Mass at St.
Joseph's Church, attended the morning session, and
in his closing remarks at the afternoon meeting,
gave his blessing anew to the Association and its
members.
This year's convention wSs signally honored in
being able to present as a guest speaker a Catholic
laymen of Georgia who has distinguished himself
in his profession and who holds a high and honor
able position in the government of the United
States.
It was indeed a privilege to hear the magnificent
address delivered at the convention by the Honor
able Charles Fahv, Solicitor General of the United
States,
It was a pleasure to welcome Richard Reid,
former executive secretary of the Laymen's Asso
eiation to another convention, as there was sincere
regiet that Benedict Elder, the good and devoted
friend of the Laymen's Association since its very
earliest days, was obliged, because of illness, to can
cel his arrangements to be in Macon.
As at the convention held in Rome last year, the
many young Catholic men and women attending
was an indication that the coming generation is
piepaiing to carry on the activity of the Association
with the same spirit shown by the veteran mem
bers until now.
Macon once again extended that cordial welcome
which has given this year's convention city a repu
tation for hospitality. .Every member of each con
vention committee contributed a share toward mak
ing the convention an enjoyable and memorable
occasion.
The splendid cooperation of the priests in Maeon.
and the good number of priests from out-oftown
who attended the convention, showed that the clergy
of Georgia are still whole-heartedly upholding the
work of the laity of the Diocese.
In its effect the 1942 convention of the Catholic
Laymen s Association of Georgia holds its greatest
importance. If. as a result of the meeting in Ma
con. the Catholic laity of Georgia resolve to pro
mote with renewed vigor the campaign of good will
and enlightenment which is the purpose of the Lay
men's Association, truly the convention in Macon
can be what :t has been acclaimed—a success.
“Dear Jackie-
“This is the first letter I have ever written direct
ly to my little son and I am thrilled to know you can
read it all by yourself. If you miss some of the
words I am sure it will be because I do not write
very plainly. Mother will help you, in that case, I
am sure.
“It is too bad this war could not have been de
layed a few more years so that I could grow up
again with you and do with you all the things I
planned to do when you were old enough to go to
school.
“I thought how nice it would be for me to come
home early in the afternoon and play ball with you
and go mountain climbing and see the trees and
brooks and learn all about woodcraft, hunting, fish
ing. swimming and other things like that.
“When you are a little bigger, you will know why
your Daddy is not home so much any more. You
know we have a big country, and we have ideas as
to how people should live and enjoy the riches of it,
and how each is born with equal rights to life, free
dom and the pursuit of happiness.
“Unfortunately, there are some countries in the
world where they don’t have these ideals, where a
boy cannot grow up to be what he wants to be with
no limit o.. his opportunities to be a great man,
such as a great priest, statesman, doctor, soldier,
businessman, etc.
“Because there are people and countries who
want to change our nation, its ideals, form of gov
ernment and way of life, we must leave our homes
and families to fight.
“Fighting for the defense of our country, ideals,
homes and honor is an honor and duty which your
Daddy has to do before he can come home to settle
down with you and mother.
“In the meantime, take good care of mother. Be
a good boy, and grow up to be a good young man.
Study hard when you go to school. Be a leader in
everything good in life. Be a good Catholic and
you can't help being a good American.
“Play fair always. Strive to win, but if you must
lose, lose like a gentleman, and a good sportsman.
Don t ever be a quitter. Get all the education you
can.
“Stay close to mother and follow her advice.
“If I don’t get back, you will have to be mother’s
protector, because you will be the only one she has.
You must grow up to take my place as well as your
own in her life and heart.
'Last of all, don't ever forget your Daddy. Pray
tor him to come back, and if it is God's will that
he does not. be the kind of a boy and man your
Daddy wants you to be.
“Kiss mother for me every night.
“Goodby for now.
“With all my love and devotion to mother and
you YOUR DADDY”.
To conclude his sermon, Father Greeley said:
“What Lieutenant Commander Shea wrote in his
letter to his son does not differ in the least from
the advice that each one of us received from devot
ed and heroic parents who are today with God and
numbered among those whom we commemorate in
ihe Feast of All Saints. As we read the words of
Lieutenant Commander Shea to the little boy, the
hope wells up in our hearts that the lad will grow
to be worthy of such an heroic father, and on this
day, as well as on All Souls’ Day, when we recall
our beloved dead, we cherish the hope that we may
De worthy, too, of our beloved ones w-ho are with
God.”
Ralph T. Jones, whose column,
“Silhouettes,” is a daily feature
of the editorial page of The At
lanta Constitution, wrote recently
that when he was in the adolescent
years of the late ’teens there was
in his home city several book and
magazine stands of more or less
dubious reputation which offer
what his imagination pictured as
most awful — and hence alluring
— examples of forbidden litera
ture. Mr. Jones says Jhat there
was one volume which attracted
his boyish attention, “chiefly be
cause it appeared so frequently
in the display racks of these busi
ness establishments.” Its title, he
says, was “The Confessions of Ma
ria Monk,” a title that Mr. Jones
remembered all these years, be
cause, he supposes, his curiosjty
regarding what was between its
covers was not satisfied in his
youth.
find difficulty, as some of us do,
in finding the greeting cards that
we prefer at our local dealers, the
suggestion is made that they order
from the Salvatorian Fathers.
Some weeks ago, a friend of Mr.
Jones, who was cleaning out his
attic at the request of air raid
officials, opened an old trunk
while clearing out attic rubbish
and discovered a copy of “The
Confessions of Maria Monk.”
Memory of his boyhood frustra
tion came back to Mr. Jones when
he was asked if he would care to
look the book over, and he did,
and as a result of its reading Mr.
Jones had this to say in his
column:
“And, another illusion is des
troyed. How much better it
would have been to let imagina
tion continue to paint the wicked
delights of the book, rather than
permit reality to prove so disan-
pointing.
“ ‘The Confessions of Maria
Monk,’ to be frank, is dreary read
ing.
“It is supposed to expose all
kinds of vicious things going on
in a nunnery. All false, of course.
But not even written with sparkle.
No daring, no touch of humor.
Just dreary page after dreary
page. When at odd moments,
you do imagine the writer is ap
proaching something juicy and
exciting, she seems to scare away
and leave you, in innocuous fash
ion with a sense of empty frustra
tion.
“No, you needn't bother about
‘The Confessions of Maria Monk,'
if you seek titillating reading mat
ter. It just isn't.”
Some months ago, The Bulletin
published a splendid tribute to the
Catholic Sisterhoods that appeared
in the column that Dudley Glass
writes each day for The Atlanta
Constitution.
One of our friends in the Middle
West has asked for a copy of the
article so that it might be repro
duced, and insisted on having it as
it was published originally in The
Constitution. Since the tribute to
the Sisters was quoted in its en
tirety in The BuHetin, Mr. Glass
writes that as our friend wants an
original and not a copy, perhaps
he wants to give it the justice it
deserves—a scroll on parchment,
hand illuminated by monks in a
monastery, skilled in the ancient
arts. Mr. Glass adds that he hopes
the work will be done by Benedic
tines. “For years I have had a
strange affection for that Order
because of their noble work in
helping to cheer the world. Second
in my admiration is an order in
Canada which makes a cheese
worthy of being locked in a safe,
even if you must throw out all the
bonds, stocks and family jewels to
make room.”
In a letter published in The
Charleston News and Courier, a
writer who signs himself Ahamet
El Gufa, Merchant Seaman of the
Moslem Faith, wrote that he want
ed to tell Christians something
they should not forget: “You are
fighting your war now largely be
cause you praised the ammunition
and passed by the Lord.”
At the launching of the largest
freighter ever constructed on the
Gulf of Mexico, at the Alabama
Dry Docks in Mobile, on October
25, the invocation was delivered
by the Very Rev. W. D. O'Leary,
S. J.. president of Spring Hill
College.
If Mr. Jones would like a book
about a convent, a book which
would possess a touch of humor,
“Murder In a Nunnery,” which is
on the shelves of the library of
the Catholic Laymen's Associa
tion, is suggested reading for him.
A T the meeting of the Rotary Club in Atlanta,
held this week, the National Conference of
Christians and Jews conferred a citation upon
Dr. M. Ashby Jones for his outstanding service in
the promotion of justice, amity and understanding
among Protestants, Catholics and Jews.
In the midst of the violent attacks upon the
Catholic Church which brought into being the
Catholic Laymen's Association of Georgia. Dr. Jones,
then pastor of the First Baptist Church in Augusta,
did not hesitate to denounce from his pulpit the
anti-Catholic attitude then prevailing in this State,
and he scathingly denounced the Ku Klux Klan
when that organization was at the height of its
power in Georgia.
Dr. Jones is the recipient of an honor which he has
merited and deserves, 1 i .
Catholic in Tone
I T is not unusual to find many non-Catholics
whose ideas on the sanctity and indisolubility of
marriage arc in line with the teaching of the Catho
lic Church. Particularly Catholic in tone are the
expressions, from non-Catholic sources that are
quoted here:
“The purpose of marriage was for the reproduc
tion of the race, so that it might not die out. There
fore. any plan which is used today by Christians
ior preventing the birth of children is unscriptural,
and contrary to the will of God. Marriage under
those circumstances becomes nothing more nor less
than legal prostitution'. . . . There is one other
thing. A Christian marriage must be permanent.
God has no patience with this present plan of trial
marriage, of constant divorce and remarriage.”
From “Sunday School Lessons." by Marion McH.
Hull of the Atlanta Bible Institute, in The Atlanta
Journal.
“God ordained marriage. Marriage, from the
Christian viewpoint, is not only divine in origin, but
it is a permanent union, sealed in heaven. The
purpose of Christian marriage is the right sort of
fellowship between hearts made one in affection,
and second, the reproductive function of marriage is
God s plan for partnership with man in continuing
the creative process. The child is the glory of the
Christian home, and thus of the Christian com
munity and nation. Jesus blessed marriage by His
presence at a wedding in Cana. He will bless every
marriage, every home, every family, if only we will
ask Him so to do. (From “Good Morning,” by Dr.
Louie D. Newton. Pastor of Druid Hills Baptist
Church, in The Atlanta Constitution.) ‘
While on the subject of Marie
Monk’s book, thoughts drift to a
friend of our student days at
Mount St. Mary’s, the Rev. Will A.
Whalen, now a priest of the Dio
cese of Harrisburg, well known
as an author and a playwright.
As the story was told to us.
some years ago one of those anti-
Catholic lecturers who present
themselves as “ex-nuns” was ap
pearing in a large city up North
in. a widely advertised series of
"disclosures” that attracted Fath
er Whalen's attention.
Coincident with the lecture se
ries, Father Whalen came out in
the newspapers with an advertise
ment of one of his books, “The
Ex-Nun,” offering it for sale, and
if the report that reached this of
fice was correct, quite a number
of copies of Father Whalen's book
was sold at the time, and it is not
hard to imagine that the purchas
ers must have been greatly disap
pointed when they found out that
the book which they bought was
written by a Catholic priest and
contained more truth than fiction.
Missed at the convention in Ma
eon W'as a beloved citizen of
Macon, one of the founders of the
Association, Professor James G.
Weisz. w'ho was claimed by death
since the convention held last year.
Known and loved by generations
of-Macon citizens for his gifts as
a musician and for his qualities as
a man, Professor Weisz is deeply
mourned by the members of the
Catholic Laymen's Association of
Georgia w-ho w-ill hold him in af
fectionate remembrance lor years
to come.
This year, it is' hardly believed
that it. is necessary to remind
readers of The Bulletin that
Christmas is a religious festival
and that it is proper that the true
significance of the feast should
be reflected in Christmas cards.
The publishing department of
the Salvatorian Seminary at St.
Nazianz, Wisconsin, is presenting
a new assortment of greeting cards
which convey the true sentiments
of Christmas, as the Anniversary
of the Birth of Christ.
To those of our readers who
American housewives, confront
ed with meat rationing, and re
strictions as to other .articles of
diet, might take a tip from Hon
olulu where the food shortage is
more acute than it is in this
country.
So many folks from Hawaii are
finding a solution of menu pro-
lems by the use of Chinese re
cipes, where one pound of beef,
chicken, lamb or pork can be made
to serve four persons, that the
United China Relief headquarters,
1790 Broadway, New York, is of
fering for $1.25 a book of "New
Chinese Recipes” that may be
ordered by mail, and which when
requested will be mailed in a
Christmas wrapping.
Some of the sample recipes are
most appetizing, and indicate that
genuine Chinese recipes produce
dishes more palatable and nourish
ing than the chop suey that has
always been popular.
Among the new books added to
the library of the Catholic Lay
men's Association is “Rig for
Church,” the thrilling life story
of Father William A. Maguire, the
veteran Navy Chaplain who was
not Ihe “sky-pilot” who laid aside
his book to pass the ammunition.
In his book, rather Maguire
writes that “the most heroic per
son” he met during his World
War service overseas was a little
red-headed Army nurse. Miss
Shannon, of Raleigh, North Caro
lina. Father Maguire also men
tions his pleasant association with
the parents of Father Thomas
Mackin. pastor of St. Francis de
Sales Church, Columbia. South
Carolina. H. K;