This pamphlet was conceived in enthusiasm by men and women who are bristling with PEP to build a Beautiful Church in St. James Parish. They are impatiently waiting: they are clamoring for action. They want YOU to know what they propose doing. They hope you will be with them. Don't look for a seat in the Grand Stand-People who do things move-the disinterested sit and watch -- Our Parish Big Drum is beating a marching tune – “LET'S GO."
My dear Parishioner;
I have scarcely given the new church a thought during the past few weeks, as I have been so engrossed by the spiritual needs which I have noticed whilst taking the census.
Everywhere I go I find people who have been slipping away from the church and have lapsed into a careless disposition of indifference from which they find it very hard to extricate themselves. It is saddening to note the number of children, one of whose parents was Catholic, that are completely separated from the church. Undoubtedly we are having many converts, but it appears to me the crowd at the exit is almost as great as that at the entrance.
This is not a local condition and those who are falling away from the church have come into this locality from many different parishes and states, and of course there are some who grew up in this community; in fact there is a Baptist minister in Utica, Mo., who was baptized as a child in St. James Parish by the late Father Casey.
I have endeavored to place my finger on the cause of this loss and find it difficult to assign a reason that would cover every case; each lapse seems to be the result of peculiar circumstances. If one case may be assigned more than another I would say that the lack of a thorough knowledge of Catholicity has led more people away from the church than all the other causes combined, and I must admire the wisdom of the church in attaching so much importance to religious education in the parochial school, Catholic: High Schools and Academies and Catholic Universities.
The traditional faith of the family and the home is not sufficient to sustain the individual who has no reason for the faith that is in him. The difficulties are proportionate to one's education and environment, and unless development along religious lines is abreast of secular education the difficulties pile up and increase until the individual is so completely befuddled and bewildered he does not know what to believe or not to believe, and he generally follows the line of least resistance.
The breaking point for many begins with marriage, the get-away-quick method of the easy civil ceremony is the first wrong step; after marriage usually there is not freedom of conduct nor is a person in a position to make demands which are required by the church for the baptism and Catholic education of children; each parent pulls its own way and. as a result the religious education of the child is rent into part Catholic, part Protestant and a mongrel Christianity is developed. The children of these marriages have no religious back ground and they yield usually to the strongest influence that is brought to bear upon them. In a world of free thought and free action, a percentage remain Catholic, but the majority are open to the newest fad and the newest fancy in religious experience, so we have children whose grandfather or grandmother was a good old German or Irish Catholic, who are Methodist, Baptist, Christian Science -- anything and everything but Catholic.
Apart from these there is in human nature appetites and passions which seek gratification without any reference whatever to the rights of others, the claims of Christianity or the commands of God. The superior individual keeps those under control and regulates his conduct by ideals and principles which he has accepted as being most beneficial for his development and eternal salvation; there are others who, tinder these temptations, throw the reins on the mane of the steed of passion and their lives run into vices and actions that are depraving and deplorable. Under those and similar conditions there is loss of character, loss of faith, false ideas about marriage, civic duty and humane principles; there are, to say the least, entanglements and associations which destroy the traditional ideals of the church and the Christian home.
As I intend going fuller into a description of my experience whilst taking the census, I will digress from this subject to inform you as to the progress that we are making in regard to the erection of the proposed church.
Father Pohl and myself have almost forgotten to ask for donations whilst taking the census, but we feel confident that the importance we have attached to the spiritual will not diminish the sense of duty which makes the majority of parishioners so faithful and so generous.
During the past few weeks the house and lot on Wade Avenue adjoining the church property was purchased from Mr. Greenwell in order to procure an additional 25 feet. Mr. Greenwell, who is a Catholic, gave this piece of property to the parish at a very reasonable price. The house is now for sale at the Dolan Real Estate Company and can be purchased very cheaply.
The landscaping of the ground has also been decided upon. The lot is to be cut down in the back to the grade of the sidewalk on Nashville Avenue. The church which will be built upon this plane will have an elevation of 13 feet above the grade of the sidewalk on Tamm Avenue. This will eliminate the necessity of having a driveway running through from Nashville to Wade (as entrance to the church from Nashville Avenue can be made without the necessity of climbing steps) and also retaining walls, which were estimated to cost about $2,000. This saving will about pay for excavating which will be necessary for lowering the elevation of the lot.
The architect is progressing with specifications and the drawing of the plans and expects to have them complete so that the contract can be let for the church edifice by Easter. In all probability a separate contract will be made for excavation, which will be begun as soon as weather conditions permit.
The prospects that the church will be completed this year are very promising and with the continued co-operation of each and every parishioner we have no fears for the future.
On the second Sunday of each month the promoters of the Apostleship of Prayer will conduct a magazine exchange in conjunction with the sale of religious articles in the vestibule of the church.
Those who bring recent numbers of Catholic Magazines can exchange them without cost for other magazines that are being circulated amongst Catholics in the community.
Yours in Christ,
REVEREND P. J. O'CONNOR, ADM.
MAGAZINE EXCHANGE
Magazines also are sold at a trivial cost to facilitate the spread of good Catholic literature. Anyone having magazines and who desires to promote this good cause is requested to send them to the vestibule of the church on the Saturday preceding the second Sunday or to the homes of Mrs. Nixon, 6505 Manchester Avenue, Genevieve Mahon, 1534 Tamm Avenue, and Cecelia Badendieck, 1903 Knox Avenue.
THE ST. JAMES ALUMNI DRAMATIC CLUB.
The St. James Alumni Dramatic Club will present the play entitled "The Four-flusher" at Yale Hall Tuesday, February 32nd, and Thursday February 34th. This is an interesting three-act comedy relating the bustling spirit of American Youth. There is not a dull moment during the entire performance The following will take part
“Jerry” is the faithful cashier of the shoe store owned by Horace Riggs, and Andy Whittaker is the clerk, possessing optimism, sincerity and all the time characteristics of young American manhood, and manhood, and earnestly wishes to become the manager of the store. His ambitions received a severe jolt, but developments soon happen which place him in the list of Taunton's 400. Things move rapidly to a happy ending after receiving several setbacks, and “Andy” finds he has been chasing a rainbow, while a real treasure was alongside him all the time.
The play is being presented under the direction of Mr. Sam Halley, whose ability to direct plays is very well known both in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish and the Holy Cross Parish. The Minstrel and Dramatic Club of the Perpetual Help Parish recently presented "Gobs of Fun" and last week the Dramatic Club at Holy Cross Parish presented "The End of the Lane."
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Only 200 seats each evening will he reserved instead of the usual 300. These reserved seats will be directly in front of the stage: that is, there will be a narrow aisle in the center with the seats on each side.
You are therefore warned to get your reserved seats immediately, as quite a few have already been sold. Reservations can be made by phoning Genevieve Mahon, Hiland 2908-R. These reservations will be held until Sunday, February l3th. However, if payment has not been received by February 13th, the seats will be subject to resale.
SLOGAN – “GET YOUR RESERVED SEATS EARLY!”
MRS. STIFF'S FUNERAL
Mrs. Agnes Stiff, wife of Clyde Stiff, 1360 Central Avenue, and mother of Georgette, who, as was reported a few months ago, was operated upon at St. Mary's Hospital for cancer of the breast, died suddenly on Saturday, January 8th, from the effects of the same ailment.
After the operation it was found the cancer was malignant and that the growth continued in the region of the throat, which finally resulted in suffocation.
She was buried from St. James Church on Monday, January 10th, and her remains were conveyed to Calvary Cemetery.
Mrs. Stiff was a comparatively young woman, who invariably wore a genial smile. She faced life with courage and was hopeful to the last of her complete recovery. She was observant of the beauties of nature and took great pleasure in acquiring the names and observing the characteristics of birds and flowers. She taught public school children Catechism at the church every Friday evening for over a period of two years, where she became acquainted with Mrs. William Henkel, 1041 Fairmont Avenue, who continued to be her close friend and companion till death.
Mrs. Stiff had a fine intelligent faith and deep love for God and His creatures. She was kind and considerate of the poor and solicitous of the interest of the church.
Her bereaved husband asks your prayers for her repose. LET'S GO extends to him and Miss Stiff its sincere sympathy.
HOLY NAME SOCIETY
On Monday, January 10th, St. James branch of the Holy Name Society held their regular meeting in the parish hall. The evening was cold and the meeting was small, a fact to be regretted because Mr. John A. Burke, president of the Archdiocesan Union, and Mr. Edward P. Doyle, secretary, addressed the meeting. Mr. Burke was impressive and eloquent and Mr. Doyle spoke with his usual fire.
The annual election of officers also took place and Mr. John Kelly, 6149 West Park Avenue, was elected president, Henry Hugeback, 6155 West Park Avenue, vice-president; Mr. Joseph A. Peschel, 2032 Schaeffer Place, secretary, and Stephen Boyer, 6705 Garner Avenue, was reelected treasurer.
The outgoing president, Mr. Michael Oates, 6414 Nashville Avenue, was nominated and would undoubtedly have been elected president were it not that he announced that owing to a recent nervous breakdown he was compelled to give up his position at the McQuay-Norris Manufacturing Company, where he was assistant sales manager, and had arranged to transfer his residence to New York City, where Mrs. Oates' relatives reside.
The members were very sympathetic on hearing this news and offered to Mr. Oates and family their earnest regrets. All hoped Mr. Oates would soon be well and back in St. Louis.
Mr. Oates was a very energetic president of the Holy Name Society. He is the father of four children, the eldest of whom is only four years. He went east on Wednesday, February 2nd, and LET'S GO assures him that he is very much missed and hopes his health will improve at the seashore.
AN OLD-FASHIONED DANCE
Under the auspices of the Mothers' Club an old-fashioned dance will be given in the parochial school hall the night of February 8th, to which the public are invited. A nominal admission fee of 25 cents will be charged. Mr. William Hense, Sr., has secured music for the occasion and may be expected to act as general director. Many of the ladies who hope to be exceptionally proficient are taking lessons from him whenever they have business at his store. It is understood he will award a prize to the group who gives the best demonstration of the saltatic art, and many family parties are expected to perfect themselves before the competition.
FOUR PER CENT ENVELOPES
The school children were asked to deliver to .each wage earner who has been a contributor to the church during the past year a carton of 4 per cent envelopes. Undoubtedly contributors to this collection will increase in number this year and everyone who is earning a salary is asked to contribute a percentage of the same towards the new church fund. It is to be hoped no one in the parish will try to escape this reasonable demand.
For the information-of newcomers, St. James Parish does not send collectors to the door, publish lists of contributions, nor quarrel with people who fail to support the church. It presumes that conscientious Catholics realize that church support is essential, and that contributions that are made for the honor and love of God become an act of self-sacrifice and a manifestation of religious zeal. All pews in the church are free, as is the school; the only special collections that are taken in the parish are those ordered by the Archbishop for extra parochial purposes.
A conservative estimate of the sum that would be required to support the church and school and create a fund for the building of a new church, enabled the pastors and parishioners to decide on a reasonable and proportionate tax on members of the congregation who earn a salary, and five years' experience have proven that 4 per cent is a moderate demand.
If you can't afford 4 per cent, give 3 or 2 or 1 per cent; be regular with your contributions and if you do not attend St. James Church for a Sunday or two place your contribution in the envelope provided for this purpose, and on the first occasion of going to your parish church place all the envelopes in the basket. Parishioners who have accustomed themselves to weekly donations say that this is the easiest and the surest method of complying with the dean of the church's demand. If the matter is deferred the sum that should be given appears to be enormous and leads to neglect of duty.
The people of this parish, with few exceptions, are generous and self-sacrificing in their contributions to the church. Should a member of the congregation who is a wage earner fail to receive a carton of envelopes, he should not on this account presume that he is excused; a simple method to fall in line is for him to place his first contribution in the forget-me-not envelopes provided at the door of the church when his name will be registered in the parish account books and envelopes forwarded. There is a number on each carton of envelopes, which when placed on record in the parish account hooks will identify your contribution, even though your name is not written on the envelope.
REORGANIZE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
The South Forest Park Improvement Association is in a precarious condition and will die unless the citizens of this community come to its assistance. It is dying of inanition, lack of appreciation and support, and the few who stood by it all through the years are weary watching its struggle and are about ready to throw up their hands in despair.
This organization, as its name implies, is an association of citizens who have voluntarily come together to make demands of the city of St. Louis for improvements to this locality, such as streets, sewers, lighting, parks, schools, etc. Its effectiveness depends upon its numerical strength and on its ability to back up its demands by the united force of its members at the ballot box.
To accomplish its purpose meetings are absolutely necessary, and this not only of the executive but of a large percentage of its members, that they may become familiar with the local condition that makes action desirable and that they may know who are their friends in the City Hall.
It is not sufficient for a group of citizens to attend a meeting on a night when they feel a strong urge to have some much needed improvement promoted by the organization that affects immediately only themselves; and as soon as they have attained their end to quit cold the association that gave them backing. An organization formed of such selfish groups could never be stronger than the group making the demand which in all probability would be an aggregation of the citizens of one or two blocks, who would disband after making an ineffectual appeal.
An association of this kind demands mass meetings, intelligent leadership and group unselfishness and sacrifice-the slogan should be, "All for one and one for all." In it political preference should merge and religious prejudice should be taboo. The organization should be neither Catholic, Protestant, Democratic or Republican; it should be simple in its aim and insistent in its purpose, and its one aim and purpose should be promotion of improvements that are to the benefit of this community.
For many years the South Forest Park Improvement Association has been an energetic neighborhood organization that has done incalculable good. It was organized many years ago by a coterie of gentlemen at the home of Dr. John H. Simon, 1101 McCausland Avenue, when the district on the south side of Forest Park was practically a wilderness. Oakland Avenue was then a ditch almost impassable; there was no fire protection; poor school accommodation; street car service was a joke. The only sewer, one may say, was the Tamm Avenue district sewer. West End Heights, an amusement resort at McCausland and Clayton Avenues, which was run by a brewery owner, was in the zenith of its ambiguous attractiveness. "Kid" Becker was just opening his gambling resort on the very spot where, now stands the magnificent new St. Mary's Hospital. It was bruited that a negro organization was seeking a lease on a large tract of ground on the southwest entrance of Forest Park. This combination really induced the meeting at Dr. Simon's house, where the tentative plans were laid for the big organization.
The first meeting was held at Forest Park University, where a permanent organization was affected. Among those elected to office at this meeting and who long continued active in the work of improvement were Dr. Simon, the late John P. Dolan, Mr. Ben F. Gratiot, Mr. Edward Schwartz, Mr. Alois Rothenhaber, Mr. R. G. Bellairs, Mr. James P. O'Gorman, Mr. Joseph M. Robinson, and in late years Mr. Thomas Morgan, Mr. Ben F. Ehrhardt, Mr. Donald CorMack, Fathers Casey and O'Connor and the pastors of the Congregational Church, also Mr. Ed Manahan, John and Joseph Muth, Anna Sneed Cairns, the Wright brothers, Mr. Luechtefeld, Mr. Frank H. Gerhart, Lawrence McDaniel, the late Mr. Martin F. Moore, the late Dr. Mayfield and a host of others too numerous to mention lent their energetic and enthusiastic support.
The one man, however, whom all admit to be the most faithful and the least conspicuous was the first secretary, Mr. K G. Bellairs. He served almost fifteen years as secretary, and though in his capacity of reporter for one of the metropolitan newspapers he must have found it very difficult to find time to be present at the meetings of the organization, he was scarcely ever absent when the roll was called.
Let's Go is anxious to see this useful civic institution reorganized and would suggest opening membership to the ladies and the calling of a monster meeting at some convenient date. Organizations already formed, for instance the public and parochial school patrons' associations, the Boosters Club of St. James Parish, etc., might initiate the movement toward reorganization. There is a big public spirit of appreciative citizens who would welcome this manifestation of civic awakening; to this intelligent body LET'S GO makes its appeal and to focus the attention of our fellow citizens on it, the Catholics of this parish, who are mostly our readers, are asked to pass on this copy to their non-Catholic neighbors, so that concerted action may soon be taken to revive interest in this splendid old institution, the South Forest Park Improvement Association.
THE SICK
Mrs. Michael J. Macken, wife of Mr. Macken, who donated the site for the new church, slipped on the icy street and fractured her hip. She is a patient in the Baptist Sanitarium. Her condition is not serious.
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Mr. John W. O'Keefe, of the O'Keefe Grocery Company, Hampton Avenue, is also a patient at the Baptist Sanitarium, where he underwent an operation January 24th. He is convalescing.
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Stephen Boyer, 6705 Garner Avenue, is a patient in his home. His condition is much improved.
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Miss Helen Milenslayer, sister of Mrs. Kletzker has been an invalid for the past year. She recently returned from a hospital to her home, 6308 Oakland Avenue, and her recovery is slow.
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Maurice Sullivan is still a patient in St. John's Hospital, where he gives a great deal of pleasure to his fellow suffers in the ward. His elbow is much inflamed from the burns he received, though his face is healed and shows no scars.
SAINT JAMES ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Architecture is the true witness of the progress of man, and symbolic of man's thought, ideals, love and religion, for man has always built what he loves most, and so in the middle ages, when his greatest love was God, he erected those wonderful mediaeval cathedrals which have ever remained both our inspiration and our authority.
The magnificent and monumental examples of Gothic Architecture possessed not only the highest perfection of proportion, but were more wonderful as works of art, and were filled with a sentiment of religious truth, the historical truth of the incarnation of Christ and His actual resurrection, expanded life, while the divine love of God enriched it, and so these mediaeval builders and craftsmen felt within them the desire to express in one shape or another every form of life The columns and arches became the tree trunk and its branches, the life and history of man was carved in stone, the windows contained biblical scenes of the old and new Testaments and the walls were covered with paintings and mural decorations portraying the suffering and triumphant Christ. And so these ancient cathedrals may be likened to a book in which man wrote his interpretations of the Holy Scripture in stone, wood and glass.
God has given to us the perfection of His wisdom and His love, and in thanksgiving, we build ourselves places in which to offer up to Him reverence and praise. But do the congregations of the twentieth century realize that in building a church to the Glory of God, they must put what they are themselves, as did the earlier Christians, into their churches, that their walls may show the strength of their devotion, and their altar and churchly embellishments be as beautiful as their inspirations, a building conceived in faith and built in love. And in this spirit of love and faith let us try and visualize the building and furnishing of St. James Roman Catholic Church.
In looking at the plans we can feel its Gothic Architecture towering upwards toward the Heavens, not with the mystical feeling of the Gothic of mediaeval ages, but the perfection and simplicity of the church constructed to meet the modern requirements of today, built of stone, soft and warm in color, its serene majestic beauty will tell us when completed, that here stands a monument of faith and truth, and that the vision of the pastor and the trust of the parish has been visualized.
In describing the architectural beauty of St. James, we must think of the ideal location on which it will stand, built upon practically the highest elevation in St. Louis, it is beautiful to the eye from any angle from which it may be viewed. Its walls resting on a foundation imbedded firmly in the earth, gives us an impression of solidity and strength, its buttresses holding up the walls symbolize courage and fortitude, the beautiful tracery of the windows show us grace and lightness, as they grow upwards like a vine almost to the roof, upon which is firmly planted the banner of Catholicism, Our Lord’s own symbol, the Cross, and viewing this beautiful structure built cruciform in shape of the highest type of English Gothic, it impresses us with the feeling that here is a worthy casket, built to hold securely, the spiritual treasures within.
Approaching the entrance of the church we feel again the words of the Psalmist: "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving; and into His courts with praise." And passing through the arched doorway we find ourselves within the Narthex, but here the simplicity of this waiting room misleads us, for it seems to have been designed to hold the font of holy water only, and call to our attention, that, here we may partake of the sacramental of blessing before passing into the church.
I was glad when they said unto me, "Let us go into the House of the God."
Immediately, we feel that we are in the House of God designed and decorated with a beauty sanctified, the rich coloring of the walls, the jeweled splendor of the stained glass windows, the long center aisle all seem to lead directly to the altar, which standing in the immense apse, its purity and graceful beauty tells us and makes us feel that this magnificent building has been prepared for the second coming of the Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Standing at the door, you are impressed with the long sweep of the nave, with its arched walls separating two passage like aisles, and leading upwards with beautiful proportioned lines to the apex of the paneled ceiling of wood, giving us an effect of grace and height, which only helps the impression, that here everything has been designed to carry our eyes directly to the sanctuary, for somehow we know that it has been the intention of the architects and decorator to tell us symbolically that St. James Roman Catholic Church has been built as a magnificent setting for the altar.
The early Christians first built their altars and set them within the holy sanctuary and the church of the worshippers was the roughly tunneled chambers of the catacombs or the woodlands vaulted by the dome of the heavens, and all of their love and devotion was given to and consecrated upon this symbolic table of sacrifice, and so the religious ideals of the primitive faith are here shown. The nave may be likened to the Ark, holding the body of the faithful, but all efforts are, centered upon the sanctuary, which holds the Table of the Holy Eucharist, symbolic of our Lord's great sacrifice.
The painters of the mediaeval ages painted with a rapture of color that impressed all who might behold their work with a feeling of glory, and with this beautiful thought in mind, so the decoration of St. James is to be carried out. The ceiling of natural wood to be relieved by richly ornate borders of Gothic design, the walls covered with patterns of interwoven color, set on a background of antique gold, giving the effect of the beautiful embossed leathers of Spain -- all rich and subdued in tone to bring out the glory of the sanctuary, the abiding place, and in which dwelleth the Holy of Holies.
Against this soft background of color and antique gold, we see the tapestry paintings, showing "The Way of the Cross," placed on the walls of the ambulatory, and in harmony the stained glass windows, richly designed and painted in the XIII century technique that so wonderfully brings out the rich jeweled effects of mediaeval glass.
The lamps and communion gates are of antique bronze, modeled to harmonize with the crucifix, candlesticks and tabernacle of the altar.
The richly carved ends of the pews, the stone Baptismal and Holy Water Fonts all may be seen or visualized as forming part of this Christian scheme of decoration.
But these must be taken up separately for full descriptions, as must the furnishings for the sanctuary and the Chapels of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph our view in this article being only the visualization of the Gothic church, designed and decorated as we feel it must be done, a building conceived in faith and built in love.
The above admirable article was written for "Let's Go," by Mr. Thos. J. Gaytee, a church decorator and artist in the employment of Mr. O'Meare, the architect for St. James Church. -- Editor.
4% ENVELOPES
Our supply of cartons of envelopes dating from February 6th ran short. They are distributed in alphabetical order and Mr. Bernard Quinn was the last to receive envelopes. Those names beginning with R to Z were not sent envelopes. These wage earners are requested to use the For-get-me-not envelopes till a new supply of cartons is procured.
BAPTISMS IN JANUARY
ALUMNI DRAMATIC CLUB MEETING
The regular monthly meeting of the St. James Alumni Dramatic Club will be held in the School Hall Thursday evening, February 10th. Refreshments will be served and a real time is assured. Be on hand early.
EXAMINATIONS AT ST. JAMES SCHOOL
Interest in the examinations which were held recently at St. James parochial school was revived on Monday morning, January 31st, when results were announced to the children by Father O'Connor.
The highest average attained in the grades was as follows
In the Eighth Grade -- Dorothy Buescher, 6214 Victoria Avenue, and Jack Houlihan, 6744 Oakland Avenue, made an average of 95 2/9 and drew for the first prize that was awarded, and in the drawing which took place Dorothy was victorious. Betty Kavanaugh, 6811 Wise Avenue, was also a close contestant, making a percentage of 94.
Seventh Grade -- Mary Kearney, 1336 Hughes Place, 98 per cent; Agnes Frattini, 6501 Manchester Avenue, 96 per cent; August Matrici, 2121 Schaeffer Place, 94 per cent; Gertrude Stoverink, 5657 Garner Avenue, 94 per cent.
Sixth Grade -- Veronica Duggan, 6156 Victoria Avenue, 97 7/9 per cent; Virginia Arnold, 6507 Manchester Avenue, 97 7/18 per cent; Helen Kelly, 6149 West Park Avenue, 97 2/9 per cent; Eileen Houlihan, 6744 Oakland .Avenue, 96 2/9 per cent.
Fifth Grade -- Mildred Sullivan, 6108 West Park Avenue, 98 5/9 per cent;-Veronica Coad, 6433 Lloyd Avenue, 97 5/9 per cent; Ruth Heil, 2108 Forest Avenue, 96 per cent.
Fourth Grade -- Agnes Duggan, 6156 Victoria Avenue, 97 per cent; Florence Foy, 5912 West Park Avenue, 93 per cent; Louis Scartino, 1318 Tamm Avenue, 92 per cent.
Third Grade -- James Kelly, 6519 West Park Avenue, 99 per cent; Francis McLaughlin, 6225 Victoria Avenue, 97 per cent; Martha Cantalin, 2158 Forest Avenue, 96 per cent; Sadie Sharamitaro, 6328 West Park Avenue, 96 per cent.
Second Grade -- Eileen Duggan, 6158 Victoria Avenue, 99 per cent; Gertrude Foy, 5912 West Park Avenue, 97 per cent; Florence Morrissey, 1328 Tamm Avenue, 95 per cent.
The above averages have a special significance from the fact that the graduates of last year who received the highest averages are leading their classes in a majority of subjects in the Catholic High Schools. In the Rosati-Kain High School Monica Moynihan, 1328 Hughes Place; Ruth Bovard, 6907 Bruno Avenue, and Bertha Stoverink have gained special distinction in class work, and Estelle Coad, 6433 Lloyd Avenue, was placed in a group chosen because of excellency in vocal music. She was taught the "New Educational Method" in St. James School.
The general average made by the school children was unusually high, though the examinations were difficult. The Sisters are to be congratulated on the excellency of the school and parents have reason to be pleased that their children are given such an excellent advantage in acquiring knowledge.
THE LATE MRS. WALSH
Mrs. Mary Walsh, 1523 Sulphur Avenue, died after a lingering illness and was buried from St. James Church January 15th. She was a kindly, energetic little woman who loved her home and family. She received the last Sacraments with great fervor and was reconciled to God's Holy Will and died in the fullness of Christian hope. May she rest in peace.
WHILST TAKING THE CENSUS
The Pool Room and Petting Parties
"Taking the Census," the Archbishop recently said, "is as good as a mission for a parish," and I would add, 'tis as good as a Retreat for a priest; it takes him out of the narrow gauge of his own life and switches him into the intricate tracks of innumerable other lives. The scene changes whilst he is passing from one house to another; here is comedy, there is tragedy, and as the motion continues there is life.
Life not as it is acted on the stage or thrown on the silver screen, but as it is lived by the human beings whom we meet on the streets in our vicinity. The plain people who work and love and hate and live and die. It is a great experience to move in the privacy of a home life and a great privilege to be given the confidence that is sacred to the family circle, to be often told secrets that are hidden from intimate relations and sometimes only known to God.
Taking Census means to a priest, a wandering among a people's hearts and homes and honored as no other man is honored -- one moment there is gladness in his heart, he has heard an animated story of someone's success and happiness, or he is touched by some fine sentiment or noble trait of character which appears in the ordinary course of conversation, or more usually by sense witticism or human delusion which begets a smile.
The happy mood which he takes with him from one home often disappears or sickens when he enters another and hears the tale of a human life whose soul has felt the steel and whose heart is breaking in despair.
Smiles and tears, fidelity and falseness, delusions and disappointments, mistakes and regrets, ambitions and failures, pride and falls. love and jealousy, disease and accident, passion and pain, all played in life's gamut, and the priest wonders at God's ways and endeavors to trace the finger of providence in every human experience, and to direct the life in the way of peace and hope.
Rich people may possibly be able to fill in their lives with the luxuries that gratify the appetite or that appeal to pride, the poor and all who have known sorrow need God.
In this community I have met people of many creeds, but none who deny the existence of an all seeing eye that rules and regulates.
Religion is not dead, though the practical sentiment may not be always active. Consciences may be callus when passion rules; whilst the soul lives reason has its triumphs and God made the light fall on the path of all who travel the way to eternity.
I often wish that all men could find the door to the one great Temple where love for God and man would dissipate the prejudices that divide and irritate God's children and that the prayer of Christ prevailed, "that they be one, Father, as Thou in me and I in Thee."
The closer I get to human beings the more I admire them; those outside the church are usually plain people with plain thoughts and hearts like the rest of us. Their viewpoint is the viewpoint of a jury who has been listening to a prosecuting attorney attacking the church and asking them to condemn it and the damaging charges that are made against it.
They are told that the Catholic Church is intolerant, that it claims that all other religions are false, and that its alone is true, whereas there are :Many Catholics whose lives are no better, and often even worse, than other members of the community who have no religion at all, or who at least do not associate themselves with any church organization.
They point, for instance, to Mrs. Ruff, who lives next door and is a Catholic, and is constantly quarreling with her neighbors except when she is at church -- it would appear she never sleeps or eats or goes to a picture show -- she is either at church or quarreling. She is a paragon of Catholicity and vulgarity. She is Pope and popular nuisance and, like the tailors of Tooley Street, speaking for their fellow countrymen, she usually speaks for the Pope, the Cardinals, the various religious orders; and is an explosive element in the quiet calm of ordinary human life. Her neighbors do not condemn her as an individual who may be lacking in education and mental balance; they condemn her as a product of Catholicity, and in her they condemn the Catholic Church.
Yes, and there is Mrs. Matter-of-fact down the street who has some quarrel with the clergy and submits her grievance to her non-Catholic neighbors. She courts the approval of being more tolerant than the majority of her co-religionists and she does not see eye-to-eye with the church in many matters that pertain to discipline and morals. She has much sympathy for poor simple Mrs. Jones, who is under the delusion that birth control is sinful. She is the kind that lowers the estimate which well disposed non-Catholics might have of the clergy and the church.
And for that matter, says Mrs. Plain Speaker, there are many Catholic boys and girls who go to the Catholic School whose language on their way home is too foul to bear repetition. Go over on an evening to the poolroom and listen for a time to some of the graduates from your parochial school and judge for yourself whether they are models for other boys to imitate. Only last night, she says, my son Jim came home intoxicated; the hooch, he said, was sold to him by a Catholic and a big order was delivered at Mrs. Mulligan's, where there was a Saturday night dance and the petting party was carried on till morning, when most of those present, like good Catholics, went to mass.
Accusations such as these are in the air and are doing a great deal of damage to the cause of Catholicity. Non-Catholics of the community are slow to make these charges, but it is not in the nature of human beings to admit a claim of superiority such as the church makes for herself, though not always for her members, without casting a weather-eye on the lives of those who belong to her fold.
If we are honest with ourselves we must expect to be judged by the standard which Christ proposed as a test of Christian Truth, "By their fruit ye shall know them, a good tree does not bring forth evil fruit, nor an evil tree bring forth good fruit." Unfortunately those who have animadversion to the church are quick to point at those whose lives are a reproach and are blind to the innumerable other members whose lives are virtuous and whose characters are admirable, unmindful that Christ said the church is like a fisherman who catches good and bad fish.
If I can rely upon the impressions I have received when taking the census, a fine spirit of charity and good will prevails in this community. Neighbors are sympathetic and kindly disposed to one another without distinction of race or creed. With few exceptions, Catholics speak well of non-Catholics and non-Catholics are generous in their expression of admiration of their Catholic fellow citizens. I cannot too highly recommend this noble Christian virtue. I felt it everywhere I went; a well disposed neighbor is a gift from heaven; if your house is on fire he is the first to come with his bucket, if your child is injured on the street he rushes to his aid, when death comes to your home a tear comes to his eye and he presses your hand in silent sympathy.
A man's soul is his own and God trusted it to his care, his opinions and beliefs are his God given privilege; all that we have a right to demand of one another is tolerance and good will.
We need have no fear of real Christianity whose widest and grandest sentiment is love; love for God, love for man, love for nature, love for all that is beautiful and good in the creation around us, adding to its beauty and grandeur a touch of our nobility and goodness, taking from the sunshine a smile, from the moon and stars a hope which the clouds may dim but not destroy, expressing to God in our own way our reverence and love and giving to the world an assurance that Christ lives while His last admonition prevails, "Children, love ye one another. Be ye children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh His sun to rise upon the good and the bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? Do not even the publicans do this? and if you salute your brethren only, do not also the heathens thus? Be ye therefore perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect."
VOLUNTEERS FOR THE MINSTREL SHOW
About fifty ladies presented themselves in the school hall on Monday evening, January 31st, and signified their willingness to take part in the Minstrel Show which the Mothers' Club proposes to give at the Masonic Hall, Maplewood, on St. Patrick's night.
In the gathering were noticed Adele McVey Conroy, Mrs. Sam Gittins, Mrs. Cullen, Mrs. Quinn and a number of ladies who have not been seen on previous occasions at Mothers' Club affairs. Mrs. Helen Dolan Walsh was unavoidably absent. She is in St. Mary's Hospital, where she recently gave birth to a baby boy.
Mrs. Bovard announced that a light lunch and entertainment was provided and that the gathering would be turned into a farewell party in honor of Mrs. Michael Oates, who is about to leave the parish and make her home in New York City. A suitable present was given to Mrs. Oates as a souvenir of the Club. Mothers' Club.
LADIES, BEWARE!
A lady who talked all day over the fence to her neighbor in the summer sun was taken ill and the doctor in charge pronounced her illness a sever case of sun burning of the tongue.
He prescribed for her constant applications of sweet cream and complete silence for a period of twenty-four hours. She died in the interval.
UNCLE HENRY'S LETTER
February 2, 1927.
dear Charlie
wel Charlie we ben havin plentie of winter an ice an snow an i gess you are not mad that you are in a warm place an if you dont watch your step an men your ways you wil wind up in a hoter one. i didn meen that Charlie an i wus ony jokin cuse I now you aint the worse feller in the wurld.
you woud of die laffin if you woud uv seen sum of the sites aroun hear wen the ice wus reel slippey specily mis Irving an her dauter margaret ridin down Clayton road in there ford an skidin an swavin forth an back on the ice. finly they come to a stop an mis Irvin tryed to figger out wot was the truble but cuddent an so margaret who is smart an nows everything acount of she gos to high skool says the truble wus they wasnt enuf wait in the back of the car and if they cud get sum reel heavie waits in ther to hol clown the back it wud be al rite an so they put mis Foley an mis McDonnell in their an they didn have no moor truble.
joe Gibbons an jonnie lawrence was goin down tamm aye. on there way to` work 1 mornin an you no that hil jus pas the church wel they hit that fas lik joe always drive an wen he realize he better slow doun it wus to late an he wen into a tail spin an tuk about 6 loops an brung up with a noze dive in to the curb. wile they wus trin to figger out how they wus going to get out anuther machine cum doun an hit joes an turn it aroun an hed it doun tamm an they went on to wurk an got their almost in time. joe alwas wus luckie in havin sumone get him out of truble.
it wus so slippy 1 sunday i almos got out of goin to church but the mises overule me an insist on me goin an wen we got to the church their wus father Pohl an geo. Wiber standin out in frunt an the mises says wot are you doin out hear in the cold father an he says i especk sumbodie to tak a fal on the ice an i don want to mis seain the fun an wen we cum out they wus there agin an the mises says wel father did any one fal an he sed not a 1 but we still got hopes.
I got disgust with the ushers the other sunday acount of they don seam to use no jugment about crowden people in the pues an wot is the use of goin to church if you cant be cumfrable. wel it seams like father O'Connor decid that the pues wud hole 8 people an if all of them wus as thin as him i gess there wouden be no truble but the mises and me got in a pue with.tom Williford an his wif an then the usher insist on shuvin 4 moor people in an my sunday wus spoil then an their. It is alrite to figger on the pues holdin 8 normal people but wen 2 of the wimen is fat as my wif and miss Williford they out to mak alounce an ony squeaz in about 5 don you think.
wel the cold wether has kep the paster on the job anyway acount of it bein 2 cold to go huntin an he aint go no use for the cold wether sence the time him an father Bob McCune was on a huntin trip and stop at a farm hous over nite an wen they lift the covers to go to bed the covers wus froz an lift up stif like a bord an father McCune said Pat i am goin to bed with my cloze on an the paster said wel i got to ware a nite shirt cause I am ust to 1 an so he slip his nite shirt over his cloze an went to bed to.
I dont gess you herd that eddie Ryan was in the hospitle acount of not actin his age an thinkin he can stil handel joe like he usta an . Joe had to get ruff with him an lade the of bird up for repares. after this i suspos ed wil use a little jugment about stortin sumthin he cant finich an maby wil pick on sumbodie his size.
yours truly,
uncle Henry
BACK TO LET'S GO, 1927
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