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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA JANUARY 25, 1947
®l)p Kullptin
X’he Official Organ of the Catholic Laymen's
Association of Georgia, Incorporated.
HUGH KINCHLEY, Editor
216-217 Southern Finance Building, Augusta, Ga.
ASSOCIATION OFFICERS FOR 1946-1947
ESTES DOREMUS, Atlanta President
M. J. CALLAGHAN, Macon
Honorary Vice-President
FRED WIGGINS, Albany Vice-President
J B. McCALLUM, Atlanta Secretary
HUGH GRADY, Savannah Treasurer
HUGH KINCHLEY, Augusta Executive Secretary
MISS CECILE FERRY. Augusta Financial Secretary
A M McAULiFFE Augusta Auditor
Vol. XXVIII JANUARY 25, 1947 No. 1
Entered as second class- matter June IS, 1921 at the
Post Office at Augusta, Georgia, under the Act of March
3 1879, accepted for mailing at special rate of postage
rovidcd in paragraph 4. section 538, Postal Laws and
egnlations ns modified by nnrncraoh (1
Member of N C W. C News Service. Religious News
Service, the Catholic Press Association of the United
States, the Georgia Press Association, and the National
Editorial Association.
Published monthly by the Catholic Laymen's Association
ol Georgia lnc„ witn the Aoprobation of the Most Rev
erend Bishops of Charleston and Savannah-Atianta, and
of the Right Reverend Abhot-Ordinar.v of Belmont.
With Pride—But With Sadness, Too
/">LERGY and laity of the Diocese of Savannah-
Atianta are thrilled with pride at the signific
ant honor which His Holiness Pope Pius XII
has bestowed upon His Excellency the Most Rev
erend Gerald P. O’Hara, their beloved Bishop, in
appointing him Regent of the Apostolic Nunciature
in Bucharest, Rumania.
Though his priests and people are proud and glad
that the Holy See has deemed Bishop O’Hara worthy
6f selection for a highly important assignment,
tl.ere als.o cotnes to them a feeling of sadness, be-
e use in the post lo which he has been named by the
Holy Father, Bishop O'Hara will be far away from
those who have been blessed with his Episcopal
ministrations and kindly spiritual guidance.
His gentle disposition, his strength of character,
his appealing eloquence, his unselfish charity, his
untiring energy, his splendid contributions to the
cause of the Church in Georgia, and inspiring lead
ership have won him the affectionate regard, not
only of his own priests and people, but have gained
him the esteem and respect of the non-Catholics
of this State, who have come in contact with him.
Last summer, when it was first rumored that
Bishop O’Hara was to go to Bucharest, The At
lanta Constitution paid this tribute to him: “Rarely
has any religious leader of whatever faith come to
Georgia and so quickly won a place in the esteem of
his fellow citizens as has Bishop Gerald P.-O’Hara,
of the Catholic Diocese of Savannah-Atianta.
“He gave much attention to civic affairs. He made
of his Diocese one of the most active and effective
in the whole South, and he made friends.
f' rom Rome, where Bishop O'Hara is, it is re
ported authoritatively that he is to be made Papal
Nuncio to the Romanian Government in Bucharest.
A Papal Nuncio is a direct representative of the
Pope. I he duties of a Nuncio arc .to foster good re
lations between the Holy See and ihe country to
which he is sent. It is, in effect, an appointment
as ambassador.
It means, too, that the Vatican is selecting one
of its most able men to send into one of the strong
est spheres of influence of the Soviet Government
. . .Georgia will take pride in Bishop O’Hara's pend
ing advancement, but will, nevertheless, greatly re
gret his going."
The appointment by the Holy Sec of Bishop
O Ilara to a position of great trust and large re
sponsibility, is taken by the Catholics of Geof^ia as
an occasion to reflect on the spiritual and material
advancement mode in the Diocese of Savannah-At-
ianla since their beloved B shop was installed in
Savannah eleven years ago this month.
There is an ilnpres=ivc record of progress. New
parishes lnve been established, a new Cathedral lias
been erected in Atlanta, new churches have been-
built in many places, now schools have been open
ed. a new St. Mary’s Home was built in Savannah,
and its former quarter- became a vocational school
for boys. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Free Cancer
Home was opened in Atlanta, and a Colored Clinic,
now conducted by the Medical Mission Sisters, was
opened in that city. Athens was given a Catholic
hospital, where repeated additions have been neces
sary to meet the increased demands for its services.
Mercy Hospital was given Macon. A new addition
was built to St. Joseph's Hospital in Savannah, and
work is now lining started on a million dollar ad
dition lo St. Joseph’s Infirmary in Atlanta. More
than a quarter of a million dollars has been raised
and a site purchased for the erection of a Catholic
hospital in Augusta. A fund of half-a-million dol
lars is now being raised in Columbus for the pur
pose of erecting a Catholic hospital there.
The Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the Redemptor-
ist Fathers, and Franciscan priests, of the Order of
Fi iars Minor, have been given charge of parishes
in the Diocese. Home Missioners of America have
established a mission center in Statesboro, and a
Trappist monastery, recently elevated to the dignity
of an Abbey, was founded in Rockdale County.
Gr6y Nuns of the Sacred Heart. Missionary Sis
ters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Sisters
Adorers of the Most Precious Blood. Dominican
Nuns of ihc Adrian, Michigan, foundation, and Sis
ter;; of St. Dominic, of the Congregation of St. Rose
of Lima, known as the Servants of Relief for In
curable Cancer, have been brought, to the-Diocese
to teach and to engage in works of mercy.
Religious vacation schools were established, a
Diocesan Council of the National Council of Catho
lic Women came into being, the work of the Catho
lic Laymen’s Association of Georgia, of the Knights
of Columbus, the Saint Vincent dc Paul Society, the
Holy Name Society, Catholic Youth Organizations,
and other groups have flourished under Bishop
O'Hara's guidance.
Bishop O’Hara inspired the generosity of the
clergy and laity to support the Confraternity of the
Laity and the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of
Savannah-Atianta, and as a means of enlightening
Catholics and non-Catholics regarding the teachings
of the Catholic Church, he established the Catholic
Evidence Guild in this Diocese.
As one of the sponsors, and the first Episcopal
Unity of Faith—Variety of Worship
D ESPITE the fact that here in our own Diocese
there is a parish of the Maronite Rite, St.
Joseph of Lebanon, in Atlanta, it must be ad
mitted that there are a great many Catholics in
Georgia who know very little about the Uniate
Catholics whose members follow Eastern Rites in
stead of the Roman, or Latin Rite, to which most
Catholics in this country belong.
It is hoped that those who are not well familiar
with the Eastern Rites took advantage of the. op
portunity offered by the Catholic Hour programs
the last two Sundays when Father Alexander Beaton
and Father Canisius Kiniry, both of the Society
of the Atonement, discussed, respectively, “The
Story of the Oriental Rites” and “Oriental Rites in
the Modern World" over the radio.
It would be well, too, if they had read, or will
read, the article titled “East Does Meet West,” by
Father Thomas S. Sullivan, O. M. I., which appeared
in the December edition of The Catholic Digest.
The 8,000,000 Catholics of Eastern Churches
which are in union with the IJoly See are all Catho
lics or descendants of Catholics who left the schmis-
matic Eastern churches and returned to/ Rome.
When they returned they retained their ancient
liturgies and many of their religious customs, and
are real Catholics in union with the Papacy, but
who use, not Latin, but Slavonic, Arabic, Greek,
Coptic, and other languages.
There is no diffei'ence in faith and morals be
tween the Catholics of the Eastern Rites and those
of the Western Rite, though they do differ in the
“superficialities of worship and custom,”, writes
-Father Sullivan.
He reminds that as a matter of fact, the first
Mass was celebrated in» Aramaic, that St. Peter,
first Bishop of Rome, said Mass in Greek, and that
it was not until the third century that Latin was
used in the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy. To
day, he said, some 350,000,000 Catholics offer the
Holy Sacrifice in a variety of tongues.
As evidence of how highly the Catholics of the
Eastern Rites are regarded in Rome, there is the
fact that His Holiness Pope Pius XII is personally
the Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the
Oriental Church.
The recent celebration of the Mass, accofding to
the Melchite Rite, by Archbishop Joseph Maloof, of
Raalbec, Lebanon, Syria, at the Immaculate Con
ception Church in Atlanta, has brought the exist
ence of the Eastern Uniat groups vividly to the at
tention of the Catholics of Georgia, and it is hoped
that they will seek to become better acquainted with
the history, customs and ceremonies of th« Catholics
who are not of the Latin Rite.
Br. M. Ashby Jones
H IS Catholic friends in Georgia, and they were
many, learned with regret of the death in At
lanta, some days ago, of Dr. M. Ashby Jones,
a Baptist minister.
The death of Dr. Jones recalls the stirring and
courageous appeal for religious freedom in Georgia
which he made from the pulpit of the First Baptist
Church, in Augusta, where he was pastor, some
thirty years ago, when the greatest wave of anti-
Catholic prejudice in Georgia’s history reached its
climax with the State Legislature "enacting into law
the Veasey Bill, or “Convent Inspection Act.”
Dr. Jones’ sermon, of course, was in no sense a
defense of the Catholic religion, but it was instead
an appeal to the Protestants of Georgia to protest
against the Veasey Bill as a vicious “menace to
Christianity and democracy.”
Dr. Jones' Catholic friends in Augusta appreciat
ed his speaking out against the Veasey Bill, the in
sulting provisions of which were aimed against the
saintly Sisters who were engaged in works-of edu
cation and mercy in Georgia, and when he left
Augusta to become pastor of a Baptist church in
Atlanta, they presented him with a watch.
As a leading figure in the National Conference
of Christians and Jews, and as a member of an
inter-racial commission, Dr. Jones took an active
part in campaigns against religious and racial pre
judice.
le was a Christian gentleman of the highest type,
and a citizen who was an asset to the community in
which he lived.
His passing from this life is an occasion of pro
found sorrow to his many Catholic friends, who
extend sympathy to his bereaved family, and pray
that God will giant his noble soul eternal rest.
Chairman of the Catholic Committee of the South,
Bishop O’Hara was instrumental in promoting
the program of that organization in the fields of
religion and social service.
During the war years he furthered the work of
the National Catholic Community Service at mili
tary posts and for those engaged in war industry,
meanwhile, devoting a good part of his time to the
spiritual welfare of the men and women in uniform
as a Vicar Delegate of the Military Ordinariate.
But faintly has the record of accomplishment of
Bishop O’Hara in the Diocese of Savannah-Atianta
been brought out here, for its most important
aspect, the spiritual development, which has sur
passed the material’ progress, is beyond human
reckoning.
These few things arc mentioned to show how the
Catholic Church in Georgia has profited by Bishop
O’Hara’s spiritual guitiance. and to evidence the
executive ability, which will enable him to render
efficient service at the Nunciature in Bucharest.
To that assignment he takes a devout piety, a
wealth of knowledge, testified to by his holding
doctorates in both canon and civil law. and a record
of priestly and Episcopal service that has won the
.special attention of the Holy See.
That he may return at some not far distant date
and continue to guide the Church in Georgia is the
prayerful wish of the clergy. Religious, and laity of
the Diocese of Savannah-Atianta, and it is also the
sentiment of the multitude of non-Catholics who
cherish his friendship.
The present absence of Bishop O’Hara from his
Diocese will but shrve to accentuate, if that could
be possible, the affection which his priests and peo
ple have for him. The impression that he has made
upon the Catholics, and non-Catholics, of Georgia,
will remain for all time. The fruit of his labors in
our midst will extend into eternity.
The priests, the Religious, the laity of the Diocese
of Savannah-Atianta will offer prayers for Bishop
O’Hara’s health and safety, and for the success of
his mission on behalf of the Holy See, but most
fervently of ail will they pray that he will return
to them, as their bejoved Bishop
Dixie Musir***?
__ — .—
Morgan Blake, whose column is
a daily feature of the editorial
section of The Atlanta Journal,
had this to say, recently,, about
Hughes Spalding, treasurer of the
Endowment Fund Committee of
the Catholic Laymen’s Association
of Georgia:
“To the Trustees of the DeKalb-
Fulton Hospital authority Christ
mas of 1946 was made more me
morable by a wonderful gift from
our chairman, Hughes Spalding.
It was a magnificent silver ves
sel given in memory of the late
Thomas K. Glenn, beloved for
mer chairman and the man main
ly responsible for the establish
ment of the Hospital authority. It
was the handsomest present I
have ever received on Christmas
and the memories associated with
it make it one to be cherished
and to be handed down to the
Blake posterity to the end of time.
“In the company of most men of
wealth I am a bit uncomfortable.
But there have been two notable
exceptions, namely Tom Glenn
and Hughes Spalding. Their hu
mility, their sweetness of charac
ter, their genuine love . for their
fellow man, their ‘plain as an old
shoe’ personalities, their ‘country
boy’ simplicity of manner made
me thipk of them as comrades
and real friends.
“So enthusiastic were the trus
tees over this beautiful gift and
the thoughtfulness of the chair
man that we were calling one an
other up expressing our joy. If
Hughes could have seen the radi
ant faces of the Blake family when
we took this present out of the
box I am sure his Christmas
would have been even brighter.”
According to a United Press dis
patch from Hallein, Austria, an
All-American choir of soldiers,
WACs and civilians, sang “Silent
Night, Holy Night” on the night
before Christmas beside the grave
of Father Joseph Mohr, compos
er of the famous hymn. The choir
was accompanied by Karl Adler,
of Salzburg, who played the same
guitar which was used when the
hymn was first sung in 1818.
Father Mohr wrote the song
when he was preparing for a
Christmas festival for the church
in Oberndorf.
The Christmas party fbr or
phans and poor children in Rome,
Italy, given annually at the club
of the National Catholic Com
munity Service in the Eternal
City, began on Christmas Day and
continued through January 6, as
the club played host to thousands
of underprivileged children.
Many of the children came from
the institute conducted by the
American Gtaymoor nuns in
Rome. The famous. Sistipe Choir
gave a number of musical rendi
tions at the party on Christmas
afternoon, which were broadcast
throughout Europe through the
facilities of a u. S. Army radio
hook-up.
Each child entertained at the
NCCS club was given a bag con
taining food, candy and soap.
These materials were obtained
through donations by U. S. mili-
taiy and naval personnel in Rome
and Naples, through local gifts
and through presents prompted
by Catholic newspaper appeals in
the United States and elsewhere.
A fund of $500,000 for restora
tion oi'-the early Catholic Missions
of California has been turned
over to Archbishop 'John J. Mit-
ty of San Francisco, Archbishop
John J. Cantwell of Los Angeles,
ishop Charles F. Buddy of "San
Diego, and Bishop Philip G. Sphcr
of Monterey-Fresno by the Hearst
Foundation, Inc. The fund will be
used to restore structures founded
between 1769 and 1777 by th»
Spanish Franciscan, Father Juni-
pero, Serra.
The missions, extending from
San Diejjo to San Francisco, in
cluded the well-knoyvn San Juan
Capistrano, Santa Barbara, San
Gabriel, San Fernando, San Fran
cisco dc Asis and Luis Obispo.
Special committees will be cre
ated to determine which of the
mission are sufficiently preserved
to he restored: The Santa Cruz
and Nuestra Senora de Soledad
missions are believed beyond re
pair. San Rafael Archangel, in the
San Francisco Archdiocese, was
leveled years ago. A fourth site,
La Rurlsma Concepcion Mission,
in Los Angeles Archdiocese, is
now owned by the Federal Gov
ernment.
Here in Georgia, wc may hope
that some day. the Hearst, or
some other foundation, -will pro
vide funds which will give im
petus to the restoration of some
of the Span! h Missions which fur
nished along our coast line be
fore the coming of Ihe English
settlers under General Ogle
thorpe.
Mrs. James P. McGranery, of
Philadelphia, is among the new
members of the Girl Scout nation
al board of directors.
Mrs. McGranery has served op
the national Girl Scout Catholic
advisory committee. She is the
wife of the Honorable James P.
McGranery, formerly the Assis
tant to tile Attorney General of
the United States, and now a
member of the Federal judiciary.
Justice McGranery was the guest
speaker at the convention of the
Catholic Laymen's Association of
Georgia held in Atlanta in 1944.
In Georgia newspapers, dated
January 13, there appeared one of
a series of pages devoted to the
stories of Georgia’s people and
their achievements—and their ef
fect upon the world df America’s
growth — “Because There Is a
Georgia,” sponsored by Rich’s,
Inc., in Atlanta.
This one of the series, written
by Henry F. McIntosh, editor of
The Albany Herald, began by
saying:, “The names of men who
adorned an honored profession
are written high on the scroll of
Georgia journalists. One has but
to mention Henry W. Grady, Joel
Chandler Harris, J. H. Estill and
others whose names come readily
to mind to be reminded that great
men have sat in sanctums in this
state.”
It is gratifying that of the four
Georgia newspapermen that Mr.
McIntosh chose to name, two of
them, Joel Chandler Harris and
Patrick Walsh, were Catholics.
We are grateful to Mr. McIn
tosh for doing this, but .it in no
way at all contributes to the opin
ion that when a list of Georgia
editors who have won universal ■
respect and admiration is made,
the name of Henry F. McIntosh,
himself, is entitled to a high rank
ing place among the editors of
tjais state who have been an hon
or to the profession of journalism.
The Pittsburgh Catholic, in its
Christmas issue; recalled that
Dickens’ “Christmas Carol” was
pretty nearly required reading at
that time of the year, and said that
“no doubt some of the planned
parenthooders and "euthanasians
take time off to enjoy again the
story of the education of Mr.
Schrooge,” and if so, the Pitts
burgh editor continued, there is
one passage which should cause
them to lay down the book and do
a little thinking. It is in the ac
count of the Christmas dinner at
Bob Cratchit’s house, where the
crippled Tiny Timin’ gives his
toast, “God oless us everyone!”
and the ghost reminds Scrooge of
his heartless words about “de
creasing the surplus population.”
“Man,” said the ghost, “if man
you be in heart, not adamant,
forbear that wicked cant until you
have ..discovered where it is. Will
you decide what man shall die? It
may be that in the sioht of heaven
you are more worthless and less
fit to live than millions like this
poor man’s child.”
Christmas hymns and carols
were composed by those who wish
ed to honor the Infant Saviour on
the anniversary of His birth in
the stable at Bethlehem. It is
most appropriate, proper, and in-
piring to join in singing them
or to hear them sung at Christmas,
but the incessant and persistent
rendition of them over the radio
for weeks before Christmas that
was indulged in recently, is mak
ing annoying distractions < •
them.
The Federal Communications
Commission would render a pub
lic service if it banned the singing
of Christmas carols except on the
night before Christmas and
Christmas day.
There never was any excuse for
inflicting an atrocity like “I’m
Dreaming of a White Christmas”
on radio listeneis.
Monsignor William Hemmick,
the first American priest to be
appointed a Canon of St. Peter’s
Basilica, has been installed in his
new post by His Eminence Fede
rico Cardinal Tcdeschini, prefect
of the Sacred Congregation of tije
Basilica of St. Peter.
Stationed in Rome for many
years, Monsignor Hemmick was
formerly Canon of the Basilica of
St. Mary Major. A native of Pitts
burgh, he served in France as a
U S Army chaplain in World
War 1 ' H. K.