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 Parishioners:
You are to be congratulated on your wholehearted and united efforts to make the Carnival a success; the organization built up by the executive committee was perfect and operated with military precision and admirable smoothness. Every department has its specific work and its corps of workers, directed by chairmen and sub-chairmen, each responsible to his immediate superior but free to exercise his best judgment in carrying out the general instructions and all united under a general director and guided by him and the executive committee.
The unflagging energy and unceasing grit of each member of the organization made success inevitable. Nothing was left to chance or haphazard execution. There was untiring labor and persistent activity which continued till the very last duty was performed and every scrap of lumber used on the booths was removed from the grounds by 10 o'clock Sunday morning.
It is impossible to report in detail the tremendous amount of work accomplished and the grit that was at the back of it; many of those who worked in the booths had not more than a few hours sleep on the three successive nights of the Carnival and were weary and tired when they set out to their habitual labors on the days following. only an indomitable determination and a heroic spirit of sacrifice enabled them to carry on to the finish. They deserve the unstinted appreciation of the rest of the parishioners and the gratitude of the children who will benefit in the parochial school by the fund created through their industry.
There are many others who also deserve praise because they were heart and soul in doing all they could to make the Carnival a success; half the total receipts were gathered through raffles. Only those who endeavored to sell tickets know how embarrassing and difficult it sometimes is to extract a quarter even. from a friend. There are many people whose temperament cannot stand the humiliation of being refused, it takes a first-class diplomat, a knowledge of salesmanship and all enterprising and courageous character to achieve success. To sell a book of tickets it was necessary in some instances to make long journeys to other parts of the city and take slights, and humiliations; all who sold more than one book deserve a special mention in this issue.
The majority of school children were enthusiastic solicitors, some of them went to Maplewood, Richmond Heights and to places where they were unknown and in that way disposed of their whole package, whilst there were others who had not courage or inclination to make an effort and accepted defeat before an effort was made to succeed. Experience inclines us to believe that everything depends on the spirit which the child or grown-up brings to bear on church support, a lack of inclination to help in youth rarely improves as one gets older.
The women of the parish were as usual industrious, self-sacrificing and solicitous about everything; they made over 700 prizes, including pillow cases, quilts, gowns and cushions, many of which were alluring and attractive and must have taken days to complete.
A feature of the Carnival which must not be overlooked is the enthusiasm and interest it has aroused and the intimate association of new and old parishioners in parish activities. New parishioners are to be congratulated on their fine spirit of good will and co-operation, their presence and helpfulness has been favorably commented upon by the rest of the congregation and is an encouragement that means a great deal to all of us.
Father Pohl and his committee worked long and intelligently in perfecting the organization. To their strenuous efforts must be conceded the general success of the Carnival; their work was educational and helpful to themselves, Men who show ability in organization and execution in an affair of this kind may be depended upon to accomplish bigger and better things in their own peculiar business.
I assure you all of the great delight I have in the knowledge that there are sufficient funds now at hand to complete the school. Thanking you for your splendid co-operation,
I am sincerely yours in Christ,
PATRICK J. O'CONNOR
WHISPERINGS ON THE CARNIVAL
The executive committee under the clergy were the brains of the organization and Frank Walsh is a chairman of exceptional ability and pep. Wm, Jones sold five books of tickets, Mrs. Wm. Birtley, 6424 Brockschmidt Place, was an enthusiastic worker; she was assisted by the Rosebud Club of North St. Louis and Fireman Claude Gregory; she sold 5 books of tickets, made 20 aprons, 11 towels and 7 pieces of hand embroidery.
Mrs. Rupp, a non-Catholic, who gave the use of the grounds on which the Carnival was held, did all in her power to assist the committee. She permitted them to make water attachments in her yard. refused every manifestation of appreciation, and spent a good deal of cash at the booths.
Mr. Lehman lent a 100 feet of water pipe; Mrs. Dodd. also a non-Catholic. assisted the Sewing Circle, as did Mrs. Herbert, West Park Avenue, and Mrs. Hogan of Oakview Apartments.
The Grand Leader and Famous Barr donated floral decorations that were worth $50. Half the bread was donated by the Mound City, the Bond Bread and the Yard Bakery companies.
Mrs. Foley complained that there was no way to get out of the booths, and Mrs. Cullen said a derrick should have been erected. The widowers helped Mrs. Bovard and Mrs. McDonnell to come across.
Mr Ward, Louisville Avenue, procured hundreds of samples of silk which were turned to good account by the quilting party.
The Daughters of Isabella Drum Corps volunteered their services and enlivened the parade.
The Chiefs of Police of the City of St. Louis, Maplewood and the Township of Richmond Heights were kind enough to send an escort of police to enforce the right of way for the parade.
Mrs. Jackson and Mrs. Corcoran and their sewing circles made a fine showing and contributed to the booths a number of valuable prizes. Mrs. Ritchel donated a table cloth and a set of napkins.
Mrs. Manchester, 1042 Tamm Avenue, gave a silk cushion. Mrs. Pat Murphy a pillow slip. The quilts in the hope chest were donated by Mrs. Oates and Mrs. Hugeback. Mrs. Sauer donated a hand embroidered spread; Mrs. Ed. Gittens, Sr. a quilt of splendid workmanship.
The Tamm & Dale Market donated a baked ham, and almost everyone of the local merchants gave a prize and attended the Carnival.
Mrs. John A. Murphy gave a pair of table lamps. Mrs. McGann a lamp, as did Mrs. Pierce, Mrs. Lawless, Mr. Kriegshauser, Mrs. Klasek. Mrs. Dan Murphy a lamp and two silk pillows.
The Newsread Furniture Co. gave a smokestand.
Mrs. A. F. Dolan and Mrs. Eckhoff gave a hand-painted bed spread.
Mrs. Ebbe, 1137 Childress Avenue gave a lunch cloth for the cedar chest.
The Kriegshauser girls donated 6 hand-made prizes.
Mrs. Kletzker, Mrs. Hausman and Mrs. Henkel gave a beautiful quilt.
The coffee was donated by the Smith Coffee Co., 6 pounds; McKenna Company, 10 pounds; the Forbes Coffee Co. lent a percolator.
Geo. Kuchenbuch, Boyle and Manchester, a basket of groceries.
Conrads gave 48 items of canned goods; the Southwest Milling Co., 10 five pound sacks of flour; the Wendler Florist Co., 2722 LaSalle Street, 24 flower mats.
The H. G. Berning wholesale florists, 2700 La Salle Street, donated 175 roses.
Mrs. Armstrong and Mary Manion were enthusiastic workers and good spenders.
Tom Banks remained with the watchman two periods of 24 hours and the greater part of the time of the Carnival. Mr. Kastelnik also volunteered and kept watch. Mr. W. Walkenhorst, 6300 Manchester Avenue. barbecued at his stand all the meat; it was carved by Mr. Ponciroli. Mr. Wm. Henne surprised everyone by his unceasing endeavors to procure lighting facilities, he was assisted by Kramer and Karnmerlin, 1611 Lafayette Avenue, and used the name of that firm when getting the permit from the city, and the stringers from Union Electric Co.
Mrs. Logernan gave a piece of linen and a child's dress.
Jerry Corbett spent his week's vacation at the parish meeting and working for the carnival.
Mr. Kletzker offered to Father O'Connor at the parish meeting a check of $3000 and was told to deposit it in the bank in the school children's account.
Finance meant days and nights counting nickels and dimes; the honor belonged to B. P. Brady and Allen W. Baer who were assisted Sunday by Sam Morrissey and Mr. Klasek and Francis Collins.
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The former Payne Grocery is now Clayton Market. M. L. Kernen, Proprietor, 6301 Clayton.
THE NEW CHURCH
Work was practically discontinued in the New Church during two weeks of the month of June owing to indecision of our decorations. Father O'Connor hesitated to accept the final design recommended by the artist and exhibited a sample to many of the parishioners and a few art critics. The majority of those whose counsel was sought approved of his hesitation and it was finally decided not to proceed until Mr. Gaytee, the artist, who designed the tapestries and windows, should arrive from St. Paul to direct the work. At the time the request was made, Mr. Gaytee was completing the decorations in a church in Canada. He spent the past week superintending the painters and more satisfactory results are anticipated.
It is expected the scaffolding will be removed in a few days and make possible the laying of the floor, installing of the organ and erecting the pews. Though the church may not be completed by St. James day, every effort will be made to have it ready for Mass on the solemnity of the feast which falls on the last Sunday of July. The necessity of completing the school during the month of August makes it imperative that the temporary church be abandoned at an early date.
WILL BECOME A NUN
Helen Oates, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Oates, Waldemar Avenue, who graduated from St. Marks High School a week ago, wi11 leave St. Louis, Sunday, July 1, at 9 a. m., to enter the Dominican Order at Holy Rosary Convent, Sparkill, N. Y. She graduated from St. James School in 1924, her class will be with her at the 6 o'clock mass when they will go to communion, and make her this parting gift.
REPORT ON CARNIVAL
On Monday evening, June 25th, at a parish meeting the executive committee of the Carnival presented the following report which states that the figures given below are approximate and that the items of expense include items of a general nature, such as rental of tents, lumber for construction of booths, etc. The total cost of which has been pro-rated to each booth as fairly as possible.
We very much regret our inability to
embody in this report the names of the many
workers who gave their untiring efforts at the various
booths. We feel, however, that their reward
will come from a source of pride in knowing that
they were a cog in the wheel that brought the
carnival to a grand success.
Respectfully submitted,
REV. N.E. POHL, Director.
Frank A. Walsh, Chairman, R. E. Pierce, Geo. Jennemann, M. C. Coad,
Members Executive Committee.
THE PARADE
The evening before the bazaar, a parade of automobiles was gotten up to arouse enthusiasm and to advertise the event in the neighboring parishes.
At 8 o'clock in the evening the streets in the neighborhood of the church were lined with automobiles, and Mr. Ryan and Mr. Loyet, the directors, gave the order to proceed. A parade was formed that extended over a mile. It is said those who reached Kingshighway could not see on looking backward the last of the machines.
An escort of police led the parade and a float carrying a boisterous and sensational coterie demanded attention of pedestrians and others, who from their windows and lawns were attracted by the excitement.
Among those who were in the float Adele Conroy, as usual, attracted special attention -- her size, always impressive, was extended for this occasion to impressive dimensions. She might have passed for the fat woman in the circus and her smile and bows, though gracious, were suggestive of great hopes and expectations for the things that were to follow. The feather in her hat was large and multicolored. She impersonated, it is believed, an Irish woman, but rarely one has been seen that looked so gigantic and prosperous.
Mrs. Sauer impersonated a negress, and the Misses Lawless and the Martineaus were stage beauties. Ed. Loyet and his companion, a real donkey, also were on the float, and Mr. Ryan incased in an automobile tube and uniformed as a veritable Napoleon.
The course of the parade was over Kingshighway to Southwest Avenue, through Maplewood, Richmond Heights, Forest Avenue and Clayton Road. A little fellow in Dago Hill was heard to remark, "Gee, I don't see why those people have to give a Carnival, they have so many swell machines."
The advertising was excellent and undoubtedly helped to swell the crowd at the Carnival. Dodgers were distributed along the line and thousands of people were thus informed that St. James Parish was very much in earnest about the Carnival.
NEW CHURCH RATED HIGH BY ARCHITECTS
In the magazine section of the Post-Dispatch, June 17th, was published a chart that was sub- mitted to the .architects' convention recently held St. Louis, in which a map was made showing places of architectural interest and among the Catholic churches of St. Louis, St. James and SIX others were mentioned, including .the Old and New Cathedral, College Church, St. Ambrose, St. George, Our Lady of Lourdes.
At the time the interior of St. James Church was filled with scaffolding. It is to be presumed therefore that the church will be more interesting when all the beauty of the interior can be observed.
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The quilts raffled for the Stephen Boyer Benefit were won by Mrs. Brady, Ripple Street and R. E.. Stanley, 6531 Wise Avenue.
THE CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT, Etc.
Though this has been one of the wettest early Summers recorded in St. Louis, the children's picnic, school entertainment and the Carnival escaped a shower and were fortunate enough to have excellent weather. There seemed to be an Angel guarding those events and keeping the rain at a distance. .
On the days previous to the Carnival, torrential rains caused the rivers to overflow the banks and made many roads impassable. The first night of the Carnival the weather looked threatening and a few miles away adjacent to Ferguson and up State there was a downpour. But at the Carnival grounds flies were humming and a pleasant temperature prevailed.
The school children's entertainment which was given in the air dome, delighted all. who saw it, and it was thought by many that it was better than the ones given on former occasions. The stage backed by the shadows of night gave a solemnity to the scene and when the curtain raised and the children appeared, the play of light and smiles gave one the idea that a whole host of little ones had just been born in a fairy world for the purpose of entertaining mortal man. The sketch represented was clever and interesting. The children's acting was excellent and indicated a long period of training, but better than the formal role was the spontaneous and undetermined action with which a child endeavors to conceal a conscious error or an unobserved cue. In these petty exhibitions there were children's acting and grown folk's entertainment, originality ripe with freshness and laughter, and a performance that cannot be duplicated in detail, though in general affects a children's entertainment without artificiality or tediousness. The large grounds appeared to be filled but on closer observation it was found there were many of the parishioners absent, perhaps the closeness to the Carnival had something to do with the attendance. There were a few families including the Heils and Dolans who came accompanied by big parties of friends and relatives. The performance was over at 10:30. The receipts from the ice cream and refreshment stand were less than usual and the sale of tickets probably will not exceed $150. There was little expense to the entertainment, as Sister eliminated as much as possible costly costumes, but notwithstanding desirable effects that these produce the entertainment lacked nothing of its usual attractiveness. It was excellent.
THE GRADUATION EXERCISES
This is the first year that children graduating from the parochial school were given their diplomas in church. At the end of the Mass the graduates in pairs entered the Sanctuary and were given their diplomas.
Edmond James Hefele and Alice Scherzinger were given the honor to lead the class. Their parents were among the first graduates of St. James School and these children were the advance guard of the next generation.
Father O'Connor delivered an appropriate sermon and in part said, that education is the development of human power that gives a human being greater opportunities for service and enjoyment. The art galleries and libraries of the Universe would mean little to untutored man, animals in partaking of their food, do not use knives and forks nor do they crave the cultural surroundings that give pleasure to human beings. The better educated we are the greater capacity we have to appreciate what is sublime and beautiful. The highest that man can aspire to is God, the lowest the gratification of animal inclinations. These are the poles to which the human race are attracted, the magnet that draws must be Heaven or earth. Our Christian education inclines the child to seek for Heaven and to perfect himself for association with God. Civilization goes backward when it turns to the earth and the things of the earth and forward when it aspires to Heaven.
The graduates received Holy Communion at the Mass. The class of 1928 are manifestly innocent and reverent,
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Miss Sylvia Blasitz was married from Nuptial Mass, Saturday, June 16, to one of her countrymen. A large gathering of the neighbors were present in the church and extended greetings to her.
PARISHIONERS GIVEN DEGREES AND DIPLOMAS
R. Brent Murphy, Jr., on Tuesday, June 5th, was awarded an A.B. Degree at St. Louis University.
Eugene Flood was given a diploma in Commerce and Finance. Albert Schweitzer graduated from the Law School.
On June 8th, Miss Roma Virginia Fisher, niece of Mrs. Mills, graduated with honors from Font Bonne High School.
June 10th, Helen Oates, Ruth McKenna, graduated from St. Marks.
June 17th, M. Edward Quinn graduated from McBride High School.
Dorothy and Dolores Brady and Madge Maloney and Margaret Huff graduated from Rosati Kain,
These young people are to be congratulated on their success. It is a great pleasure to us to note a growing ambition among the parishioners to give a higher education to their children. In these modern days people without education cannot hope to be more than $5 a day men.
PRIZES DONATED BY THE SEWING CIRCLE
140 pair pillow cases, worth ----- $ 2.00 each
18 hand-made quilts, worth ----- 15.00 each
12 gowns, worth ----- 1.00 each
12 bridge sets, worth ----- 2.50 each
22 cushions, worth ----- 1.50 each
12 children's dresses, worth ----- $1.00 each
100 plain aprons, worth ----- .25 each
SO fancy aprons, worth ----- 1.00 each
320 towels, worth ------ .10 each
20 pot holders, worth ----- .10. each
There were a number of ladies who donated individual prizes. A complete report has not been submitted to us for publication, hence we regret if a name is omitted from the following list:
Mrs Pat Usher. Maplewood, an Irish chain quilt: Mrs. Gittins, of Victoria Avenue, Mrs. W. Kirby, Mrs. Willer, Mrs. Pierce, Mrs. Lawless, Mrs. Sullivan, W. Park, Mrs. Apprill, quilts and lamps.
WINNERS OF ATTENDANCE AND OTHER PRIZES
$100 Liberty Bond-No. l0025-Billy Masterson, 1111 Louisville Ave.
$50--No. 7851-Loraine Jones, 1034 Tamm Ave.
$35-No.24061-Blanche C. Dunn, 4486 Maryland Ave.
$25-No.9277-J. Long, 2232 McCausland Ave.
$15-No.21265-W. J. Hefele, 1432 Tamm Ave.
$l0--No. 19991-Mrs. Zieroff, 6318a Victoria Ave.
$5-No.20918--T. E. Petri, 25 Edwin Ave., Glendale.
$5-No.22106--A. V. Morrow, 518 Polo Drive, Clayton, Mo.
$5-No. 24751-John A. Murphy, 6438 Lloyd Ave.
Cedar Chest-No. 1897-Mrs. B. Ross, 6311 Famous Ave.
Quilt-No. 503-L. Doyle. 1122 St. Louis Ave.
Silk Dress-No. 120-- Cathryn Fessel, Route 23, Chesterfield, Mo.
A Rosary was won by each of 107 children who sold one package of tickets. An Eversharp Pencil was won by Eugene Godfrey, Lawrence Heinecke. Bernard Kelly, Virginia Fahey, Hermetta Birch, who each sold two sets of tickets.
Second prize was won by Rosemary Kelly and Dan Murphy, Jr., who sold three packages of tickets, and the capital prize, a Gold-filled Wrist Watch, was won by Catherine Houlihan, 6319 Clayton Ave., who sold eight packages.
NEED OF FUNDS
Letters are being mailed to all who have not completed payment of the promises made at the Barbecue. It is presumed these subscriptions would be paid in time to meet obligations arising from contracts for the New Church. Demands will be made by the end of this month for full payment on all contracts, and a great deal of embarrassment will be caused the pastor unless the whole congregation make unusual efforts to give generous contributions.
New parishioners are requested to fall in line in making weekly contributions of 4 per cent of their income, and wage-earners who are back in their payments are urged to bring their accounts up-to-date.
THE ALUMNI BANQUET
The Annual Alumni Banquet which was given in honor of the graduation class of the parochial school, was held at the Chase Hotel on Sunday evening, June 24th. One hundred and twenty-five members were at tables and addresses were made by the outgoing president, Arthur Pahl, Raymond Usher, Antony Palumbo and Father O'Connor.
Raymond Usher gave the address of welcome to the graduates and mentioned that it was a great source of pleasure to learn that two of the boys intended continuing their studies at the preparatory seminary, that two of the graduates were children of members of the Alumni and that one of the class won a scholarship at Font Bonne College. He exhorted the new members to be faithful to the traditions of the Alumni Association. which aimed, he said, in developing Catholic ladies and gentlemen that might be worthy of the ideals and principles taught in the parochial school.
Edmond Hefele responded to this toast in behalf of the graduates and Father O'Connor complimented all that were present. He said the aristocracy of the Alumni usually fostered the giving of this banquet and showed a willingness to defray the expense that they may extend a hand of greeting to those who have completed a course in the parochial school.
It was a sign of magnanimity for men and women to be mindful of the days when they themselves were graduates and banqueted by those who went before them to retain appreciation of these honors and continue them through the years.
It was an occasion of reunion and affection. Mrs. LeRoi (Helen Usher) surprised and delighted her old friends by journeying from Chicago to be with them. There were many others also present who came with great inconvenience to meet and greet their old friends.
The spirit of the banquet is the spirit of Faith and of St. James, continued absence from this event is often an indication that the bonds based on these are weakening or broken.
After the Banquet whilst many of the members gathered into groups and chatted, the rest participated in the dance.
PICNIC
The school children's picnic which was held at Creve Coeur Lake was as picnics usually are, a delightful distraction. Four cars took the children to the grounds and during the day many of the parishioners drove there in automobiles. The Ferris Wheel was patronized by the childdren, and the picnic baskets, though well filled, were soon depleted. The athletic events aroused lots of excitement, there were keen contests among the children of the various classes and the grown folks had also their ambitions. We regret we cannot give the names of all who won prizes. but certain it is that reputations have been established and many of the children have reason to be proud. The Sisters accompanied the children and had an opportunity of meeting the parents of many of them. There was nothing to mar the pleasure of the day and all returned in the evening satisfied with the outing.
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Sisters Jeanette and Celestine are spending their vacation in New York. Sister Jeanette will spend a few days with her mother who has been critically ill. Sister Celestine was five weeks in St. Mary's hospital previous to her going East. She is threatened with tuberculosis.
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Arrangements are being made for a mission from the second to the ninth of September, to give an opportunity for careless Catholics to see the inside of the new Church.
PAROCHIAL SCHOOL CLASS HONORS
Eigth Grade --
Agnes Frattini, 96 7/11%, also a scholarship at Font Bonne.
Mary Kearney, 96 1/2%.
August Matreci, 95 3/50/0.
Seventh Grade --
Eileen Houlihan, 97 7/11%.
Helen Hazelett, 97 2/11%
Veronica Duggan, 95%.
Sixth Grade --
Rosalind Reese, 97 3/11%
Ruth Heil, 97 3/11%.
Veronica Coad, 96 3/11%.
Fifth Grade --
Mary Louise Godfrey, 97 9/11%.
Agnes Duggan, 96 7/11%.
Mildred Saxton, 95 7/11%.
Fourth Grade --
Hubert Ward 97 1/9%
Gerald Lutz, 95 2/3%.
James Kelly, 95 1/9 %.
Third Grade --
Benedict Moynihan, 98%.
John Smith, 97 3/4%
Edward Regan.
Second Grade --
Carmelita Kelly,
Mary Gioia,
Anna Marie Lafser.
An indication of how accurately is the class
rating. Agnes Frattini and Mary Kearney met in
competition at Font Bonne College, and Agnes
again beat Mary by a fraction. We congratulate
Agnes in her success. She competed against the
best from the 8th grade in all the parochial
schools of St. Louis.
Prizes were not given this year because they
had been a source of jealousy and contention in
the past. The parents are poor losers, and many
of them appear not to have learned that pride
is a deadly sin.
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE
The Parish Meeting appointed Wm. Henkel, Jerry Corbett, Mrs. Bovard, Wm. McGann, Wm. Henne, AI Moellenbeck and Morris McEvoy a committee, under direction of Father O'Connor, to attend to letting contracts for the improvement of the school and expend the fund of nearly $7000 now on hand. It was decided to give an annual Carnival for school betterment and the erection of a Convent.
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The school children donated 79 prizes for the hope chest. Roderick Baalman gave a fine linen table cloth and buffet set. The other children vied with one another in bringing pretty pieces of embroidery and fancy work. Their raffle went over big.
BAPTISMS IN JUNE
John Robert Wood. 6757 Wise Ave.
Anna Mae Burch, 6509 Nashville Ave.
Lionel Calhoun Joseph Moise, 1347 Central
Ave.
Rose Marie Chiaurro, 5760 West Park Ave.
Leola Georgene Shaffrey, 6320 West Park Ave.
Evelyn Gertrude Lynch, 6840 Manchester Ave.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND AL. SMITH
The Catholic Church is not concerned with the political situation in this country. It has all it ever wants, freedom to exercise its God-given mission "Go teach what so ever I have commanded you." Security in its activities to do this has been guaranteed it by the constitution and unless an effort is made to change the basic law of the republic in this respect, the Church is not concerned in an election campaign.
A Catholic President cannot and must not interfere with the religious freedom of any church or citizen, neither can a Methodist, a Baptist, a Presbyterian, or a Jew; hence a Catholic at the polls does not investigate a man's religion. Good citizenship demands that no man be elected to office who is unfit to discharge the duties imposed upon him by that office. The determining factor in every election should be the fitness of the man to procure the public good.
A Catholic is not necessarily incompetent because he is a Catholic no more than a Protestant is incompetent because he is a Protestant. Incompetentcy and unfitness belongs to the individual and not to his creed.
Al Smith as a citizen should be judged from the standard of good citizenship. His beliefs are his own affair, and a real American knows it is consumate ignorance and prejudice to object to a man for any office merely because he exercises the privilege of worshipping God according to the dictates of his conscience. Catholics have much to lose and nothing to gain were a Catholic elected to be President of the United States. His actions would be scrutinized by many with an eye of prejudice and any error he might make would be attributed to his Church. Were the late Mr. Harding and his cabinet Catholics, Mr. Heflin and his ilk would clamor to the four winds of Heaven, that the Pope had his finger in Tea-pot-dome, the Veterans' Bureau; the Attorney General's peccadillos. In all probability they would ferment an outburst of prejudice that might seriously undermine the rights and destroy the privileges that Catholic as well as other citizens have to the pursuit of peace and prosperity.
Catholics are interested in Smith in so far as they see in him an embodiment of their own rights as citizens. If Al Smith is not eligible for the office of President, then no Catholic is eligible for any political office, which is similar to saying that all Catholics should be defranchised. It should rather be the boast of our proud citizens that every boy born in this country is given the opportunity of filling the highest office in the land and that a diploma from the fish-market stands as good as a diploma from our best university, provided that the man who wears it is distinguished by a peculiar genius and fitness to qualify for the job.
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Mr. Hugo M. Schaff, Supt. of Landscape Division Board of Education, on being informed by Father O'Connor that his work around public schools has attracted a great deal of attention, volunteered his services to superintend the landscaping of the grounds around the new Church. This improvement cannot be begun until all the walks are made and it was deemed advisable to await the construction of Wade Ave., when earth for terracing can be easily procured. It is expected that the excavation of this street will begin before the end of the week and will be completed before dedication of the new Church. The sodding of the terrace will be deferred until September, when climatic conditions will be suitable.
UNCLE HENRY'S LETTER
July 1, 1928.
dear Charlie:
our carnival was a marvelous success, an you missed sumthing all account of not bein hear to see it. YOU never saw enything like the way evrybody hussled. an with such wonderful spirit and coperation it was bound to be a success. the execkutive committee planed everything, devided up the the work an told everybodyy wot job wus, an' there wasnt a single case of enybodv shirkin there work.
the workers ill charge of the booths had nuthin to do with sclectin the goods they sold and sum of them had tough consignments but nobdy give up, all it looked like the tougher the going the harder they hussled, and when closing time come we was sold out of evrything an we had made so much money that it surprise everyone. mrs. Plengemeier spent three long evenings calling lotto numbers an if don't think that is work you ought to try at. joe Sauer helped an was so horse he could hardly talk.
charlie Gesell an mrs. Birtley had a tough job with the sugar booth but they stuck it out and made money. ann Houlihan was helpin John with the blanket booth and she put a lot of pep in it and to see her back there "zipping" things up remind me of the days before they wus married when john wus playin football with ann standin on the side lines helpin him kick, an whenever enyone one the team would score a goal ann would get all full of exciternent and yell "gee, i wish i was a boy".
moellen beck and Hense served a lunch that was grand an you would think from the way they had evrything prepared that they had been in the lunch business all there life. mrs. Lawless lost her puree but she said she didn't mind if the party wot got it would spend the money at the carnival becus she might get some of it at the lamp booth.
delphina Jones and jerry O'connell had a tough job with the flower booth on account of they was so few wot believe in "sayin it with flowers" an nobody seem intrested in the "beautify the home" movement an so they got pretty discouragin results the first two night but they learned a few tricks an kept husselin, an the last night they cleaned up.
i tried my luck an found it was "bad," on account of i couldn't win a thing an sum one come up to me an said "gee, your wife is sure luckey" an i said certinly she is, didn't she get me? of course i wus just foolin but i guess they aint no harm in tryin to make your wife believe she got a prize package, is they charlie?
sally Dolan has been pester in me on account of i didn't tell you about a ailment which has been trubbling me for sumtine. she says i aught to tell you the news about myyself the same as i do other people but i figgered you wouldn't be intrested in a matter like that an besides they is sum things that a person just don't no how to explain. i think wot made her soar was 1 night i was her partner in a bridge game an we got a royal trimmin from Ray an the mrs., an she blamed me for not keepin my mind on the game but i guess any man don't want to set around playin cards when he is got a pain but would rather get out an walk around to get relief from his misery, aint i right charlie?
the school graduated there twenty-fifth class an edw. Hefele had the honor of being the first graduate whose father an mother both graduated from St. James, an i guess that kinda brought a proud lump into the throats of Bill & Cath. 1 of our youngsters was in the class an when she wus showin me all of the presents she got i told her she sure was lucky cause i didn't exactlv graduate but when i got kicked out of grammer school nobody give me a thing. after the exercises she said to me "dad, arent you goin to congratulate me?" and i said "no i aint, i'm gain to congratulate the sisters for gettin you thru."
wel charlie, i guess we will soon be in the new church on account of it is neerly finished an the more i see of it the more beautiful it looks. they is only 1 thing that is causing a grate deel of coments an i am worried about it, and that is i am afraid the Pastor got stung on the woodwork, i will admit that it makes a fine showin gwen you stand off a ways an dont examine it 2 close but you know how i am charlie, always looking for flaws, an very observent an i dont mind telling you that the lumber they used for the mill work is terruble. it is all full of worm holes an believe me it is goin to be sum job for sumbody to putty em all up, an you no very well that in't no kind of stuff to put in a new building.
i noticed it sum time ago an was goin to call the Pastor's attention to it but he was raving so much about the wonderful workmanship on it that i didn't have the nerve to say enything cause i no how he will feel wen he find out. lou Regel pertends to no all about millwork an so i thought i would call his attention to it an it just goes to show that sum fellers don't no as much as they perterit on account of wen i mention it to him he said "listen egg, i didn't think it was possibel for enybody to be as dumb as you look, but i see it is"; then he went on to esplain that "wormy chestnut" is the finest stuff you can get. now how are you goin to get anywares with peeple that has such crazy idears, an so i let the matter rest but i am afraid they is going to be an awful row wen the parishioners finds out they have been "rimmed."
Your perticler friend an uncle,
HENRY
BACK TO LET'S GO, 1928
BACK TO LET'S GO, 1925-1932
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