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."
Priests have their blue moments. Everyone who deals with the public meets with irritations and discouragements. There are misunderstandings, unreasonable demands. sensitive souls who take offense and make mountains out of mole hills, and above all the clash of ideas. The Church is a teacher and a promoter of good morals. Of necessity it must be fearless and aggressive, and the priest who truly represents it cannot pussyfoot with false and pernicious principles or be a "glad hander" with those whose conduct and character are a scandal to the flock. He must in the words of St. Paul "Reprove, entreat and rebuke." To do so "in sweetness" is his constant aim, but rebukes and reproofs have their stings, and as long as human nature remains the same the Church and the priest will always have kickers and protesters.
Among essential requirements in a candidate for the priesthood a spiritual writer numbers the following: Courage, persistency, and a sense of humor. These are the antidotes to discouragement and must be innate to the man. If he hasn't them in his person his uphill going will be irksome and there will he many stops and little progress. To keep going under all conditions is a nerve strain and the human comfort of being sustained and defended by a loyal flock is a great asset.
The Easter Collection for the Pastors is an index of this moral support. Each donation is a vote of confidence, goodwill and an assurance of satisfaction and cooperation. For these reasons the Pastors of St. James Parish are truly delighted with this Easter Collection. The times are hard and many of the parishioners are having a difficult struggle to make ends meet but notwithstanding this, there are few of the flock who did not make an offering and the sum total of all the contrtbuttons is close to $1100. This is a magnanimous gift at such a time from so small a congregation and a fine tribute or appreciation and goodwill. Dear Parishioners, one and all, we thank you, There is in this Easter Collection a great encouragement.
Your pastors in Christ,P.J. O'Connor
Norbert E, Pohl
From Wednesday of Holy Week until the last Mass on Easter Sunday, there was a constant flow of people toward the Church. All the public devotions were well attended and on several occasions the seating capacity of the church was barely sufficient to meet the demands. During the Three Hours devotions on Good Friday more than a hundred chairs were required in addition to the pews, and on Easter Sunday two priests distributed Communion seventeen minutes at the first Mass and twenty-two minutes at the 7:30. At these Masses the church was crowded and with few exceptions everyone present approached the altar rails. On days when flowers were permitted the altars were neatly decorated and the church was very beautiful. The order preserved during devotions was ideal, thanks to the ushers. On Holy Thursday night until dawn a guard of honor was kept before the Blessed Sacrament by men of the Holy Name Society and parishioners. The school children took part in the various processions and the altar boys were at their very best, but the outstanding feature of all the celebration was the zeal of the entire flock to cooperate with the clergy in making the week Holy and memorable.
The choir excelled itself and was magnificent in its rendition of the Good Friday Cantata and Easter Mass. It was trained to perfection and everyone who had the pleasure of hearing it was delighted with the singing and the organ accompaniment.
Credit for this efficiency is due the, faithfulness of members in attending rehearsals. and to Miss Carreras the organist and Mr. Heil who is the acknowledged musical director of the choir.
The following are members of St. James Choir: Miss Minnie Carreras, Charles W. Heil, Mrs. Frank Walsh, Clarence Gesell, George Jenneman, Mrs. Wm. Hefele, Miss Rose Gioia, Miss Lucille Plengemeier, Louis H. Riegel, Mrs. Sam Gittens, Margaret Cenatiempo, Virginia Pursley, George Wiber. On Good Friday it was supplemented by Louis E. Magennis, 6434 Oakhearst Place: Mrs. H.D. Johnson, 5943 Minerva Ave.; Mrs. A.R. Donaghue, 5842 Maffitt Ave.: Mrs. P.J. Flanagan, 2549 Arlington Ave.; Arch Albert, 6630 Elmer Ave.; Mario Failoni, 2247 Blendon Pl.; Mrs. W. Faherty, 6635 Arsenal St.; A.R. Donoghue, 5843 Maffitt Ave; Mrs. J.J. McKeon, 5055 Northland Ave.
The parishioners and Pastors are grateful to the choir and extend their deep gratitude to those ladies and gentlemen who came from outside the parish and volunteered to assist it on Good Friday.
The Parish will entertain the Good Friday Choir and Parish ushers on Tuesday, April 12th, at a supper that will be served in the cafeteria at 7:30 p.m.
Meetings 4, average attendance 21, families relieved 27, persons relieved 148, families now on roll 19, persons on roll 105, members visiting the poor 27, visits to the poor 73, situations obtained 2, new members 2, religious papers distributed 500.
Balance last month .... $ 3.12
Coll. at meetings ..... 18.23
Sale Sunday Visitor ... 17.72
Archbishop's Em. F. ... 304.31
Deficit ............... 56.94
Total ................. $400.32
Paid for provisions ... $278.50
Paid for fuel ......... 31.32
Cash .................. 2.00
Paid for Rent ......... 88.50
Total ................. $400.32
(Signed) John J. Kelly, Sec.
Wm E. McGann, President
Arrangements are being perfected for the giving of one of the biggest lottos and card parties ever held in this community. It is being sponsored by St. Ann's Sodality of St. James Parish and will take place Wednesday, April 20th, at the school hall, 1350 Tamm Ave. At this party, lotto, euchre, bridge and pinochle will be played, and the general public is cordially invited to attend. Many valuable prizes have been already collected and each parishioner is requested to send in one to the committee or a cake for the careteria. The committee in charge are unusually enthused because the money collected will be applied to the fund for the erection of a convent. Everyone wants the Sisters to have a better home and the growing needs of the school make it imperative to prepare for additional teachers.
Miss Agnes Kern and sisters have donated a handmade quilt that is valued at $150 as a prize for a raffle that will be held in conjunction with the card game. Tickets are being sold on this raffle by the card and lotto committee which include Mesdames Engelhardt, Wiber, Schuler, Wack, Plengemeler, Foley, Thompson, Lawless, McDonnell, Nixon, Cooper and Griffin.
John Glennon Zundel, 6498 Dale Ave.
Katherine Dolores Naber, 6134 Amanda Ave.
Maria Violet Naber, 6134 Amanda Ave. (conditional baptism).
William Henry Naber, 6134 Amanda Ave. (conditional baptism).
Jacqueline Margaret Naber, 6134 Amanda Ave.
Mrs. Margaret Moore found great delight in being hostess for the parish at a dinner given to the ladies who assisted at the Spring Cleaning of the Church. Those present were Mesdames Griffin, Pierce, Engelhardt, Ready, Plengemeier, Foley, Wagner, Marshall, Wiber, Sister Sacristan and the whole congregation deeply appreciate the neatness of the Church and the great attention that has been given towards its cleaning and decoration on special occasions by these and other volunteers.
That Mary Katherine McGrath, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah McGrath, 1533 Tamm Ave., had her picture in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat last Sunday with that of a companion who teamed with her as the champions of the City in the Catholic series of school debates conducted by the Catholic student Mission Crusade. Miss McGrath and Miss Murphy represented the Ursuline Academy of Kirkwood where they are pupils. In the three final debates they won from the Nerinx Hall Webster Groves by unanimous vote of the judges, from St. Elizabeth's academy by a vote of 2 to 1, and from the McBride High School in the final debate Sunday in St. Louis auditorium 2 to 1. The judges were Dr. F. Crowley. dean of education St. Louis University, Rev. A. Mitchell, Maryhurst Normal, Rev. Joseph Zuercher, St. Elizabeth's Church, with U.S. Commissioner John A. Burke as chairman. Congratulations, Miss McGrath, we're proud of you.
Miss Mildred Dufner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robt. Dufner, 6722 Mitchell Ave., who a few years ago was received into the Church in St. James Parish is now a pupil in the Academy at Arcadia, Mo., where she has the distinction of being a frequent contributor to the school magazine. We publish in another part of the paper her definition of the word, Catholic. She appears to have a very accurate knowledge of its meaning and significance. Miss Dufner was home for Easter and present in St. James Church at the 7:30 Mass Easter Sunday.
Michael Gruenthaner, S.J., preached at the 7:30 and the 9 o'clock Masses on Easter Sunday. He was also sub-deacon at the High Mass.
Father Joseph Davis, S.J., director of the School of Commerce and Finance preached at the 3 hours devotion on Good Friday.
On Wednesdays during Lent, among the preachers were Futher O'Hearn, S.J., Rev. Dan Daly, assistant Pastor of St. Mark's Church, Rev. Lloyd Sullivan, St. Cecelia's Church. Rev. John Hedderman, assistant pastor of St. Margaret's Church. The Pastor had the sermon on Ash Wednesday, Wednesday of Holy Week and Good Friday Night.
Rev. Michael J. O'Leary, pastor of St. Malachy's Church, directed the Tre Ore and recited the prayers on Good Friday.
Mrs. Antony Chiaurro, 1019 Tamm Ave., who has been suffering from a slight attack of bronchial pneumonia, fainted on Easter Sunday night and caused a great deal of anxiety and commotion among the family and several guests. Priest and doctor were called, Father O'Connor administered the Last Sacraments. The doctor who arrtved later gave his opinion that her condition was not critical.
On Easter Sunday Mr. Mat Fennessey who is in a critical condition at his home, 6432 Nashville Aye., was reconciled to the Church and received the Last Sacraments from Father O'Connor.
Mr. Val VanSaeling, 6122 Clayton Ave., is a patient at St. Mary's Hospital, where he recently underwent an operation and had an infected toe amputated. He and his wife conduct a grocery store at Clayton and Grandview.
Mrs. I.N. Bushey, 6408 Oakland Ave., returned last week from Barnes Hospital, where she had been a patient and underwent a slight operation.
Mrs. John Pamplin, a former parishioner who resided at 6738 Oakland Ave., is a patient at St. John's Hospital.
Mrs. Albert Ferguson, 4426 Swan Ave., while visiting her sister, Mrs. Bigney, was taken suddenly ill last week and received the Last Sacraments before being removed to the Hospital. Her condition is much improved.
Clarence Gesell, 1103 Louisville Ave., who underwent an operation for appendicitis at the Missouri Pacific Hospital several weeks ago, contracted pneumonia which left an inflamed and congested spot in one of his lungs that is causing him considerable annoyance and anxiety. The parish choir of which he is director regretted his absence during the services of Holy Week. He continues to be a patient in the Hospital, and prayers for his immediate recovery are requested.
Mr. John Steffan, 1014 Tamm Ave., is recuperating at the Deaconess Hospital. He had two or three hemorrhages and for several days was in a critical condition during which his daughter, a Loretta Nun, paid him frequent visits. He attributes his recovery to her prayers.
Mrs. Jirauch, 1111 Central Ave., has been suffering a great deal since she returned from St. Mary's Hospital where she spent several weeks because of a broken hip.
St. Vincent de Paul Society meeting has been permanently transferred to Monday evening. More than $400 was distributed by the local conference last month. At the last meeting twenty-two members were present.
There is a promise of marriage between Frank Ritchie, 1515 Gregg Ave., of St. James Parish and Miss Frances Head, 901 Garrison Ave., St. Alphonsus Parish. And between Wilbur J. Napier, 6934 Noonan Ave., and Mary Ellen Kozegi, Immaculate Conception Parish, Maplewood.
Lorretta Cooper, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Cooper, 1515 Tamm Ave., was married by her cousin, Father Wm. Glynn, on last Wednesday to Mr. Will Music, Flad Ave. The official witnesses were Maurice Cooper, brother, and Nell Conley, cousin to the bride. A wedding dinner was served the young couple, their immediate relatives, and one intimate friend at the Athletic Club. Father O'Connor and Father Glynn were among the guests. Congratulations are extended to the young couple. Mr. Music is a young man whose appearance is attractive and character excellent. We are rather glad that Lorretta has decided to take the step, though it is one away from the Parish.
Chas. W. Klasek, 6212 Victoria Ave., finds it dltlicult to shake off the grief occasioned by the death of his mother. A pleasure of his life was the occasional supper that he used to take with her. She was for many years an outstanding member of the congregation of Holy Angels Parish. May she rest in peace.
Harry Knichel, age 45, 1371 Louisville Ave., a fireman, died suddenly at his home on March 11th and was buried from St. James Church on Marcil 14th. The remains were interred in Calvary Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Margaret, and six comparatively young children. The day of his death he was building a play house for them in the back yard. The neighbors in the vicinity were shocked when they heard the news and the deepest sympathy is felt for Mrs. Knichel and her bereaved children. R.I.P.
Antony Palumbo, the deacon at the High Mass on Easter Sunday in St. James Church, is a graduate of St. James School and a member of the Alumni Association. He will be ordained a priest at Kenrick Seminary on June 5th and say his first Solemn Mass at St. James Church on the following Sunday. That will be a big week for St. James as Father O'Connor intends celebrating the 25th anniversary of his ordination on June 9th.
You can make arrangements to jOin St. Ann's Sodality by calling Mrs. Plengemeier, Sterling 0332. St. Ann's Sodality has a Bunco party after its regular meeting each month and there will be a White Elephant party given in May, also a picnic on May 25th. You don't really appreciate your parish until you become acquainted with your fellow parishioners. The Church fosters organization because it is effective. You can do more good if you belong to a parish organization than if you go it alone.
The Alumni Association will hold its next meeting tomorrow night Monday, April 4th, in the school hall when members and officers are requested to make returns on tickets.
Mr. George S. Tivy, father of Sister Mary George who teaches in St. James School, was buried from St. Mark's Church on Tuesday, March 22nd. More than 9 priests were present in the Sanctuary and several nuns were among the congregation. Mr. Tivy was an outstanding business man for several years in St. Louis and was president of the firm of Geo. S. Tivy and Son. Mr. Tivy had been in good health until he was suddenly stricken after taking an automobile drive accompanied by his wife Sunday afternoon. He had been at Communion that morning. Sister George has borne up bravely under the shock. During a recent illness her daddy frequently stopped his car in front of the convent. Sympathy is extended to her, her bereaved mother and family. May he rest in peace.
A committee on the parochial school picnic has been appointed under the temporarv chairmanship of John D. Bersch who will be assisted by Mrs. Chas. Klasek, Mrs. Michael Doherty, 6821 West Park, Joseph Phelan, Will Hense, Mrs. Plengemeier and Mrs. Wiber. Others may be added later on. Mr. Bersch will soon call a meeting.
That the lunchroom closed last Friday.
St. Ann's Sodality cleared $124.60 at the last card party.
St. James Mothers Club are very grateful to the ladies who took part in the minstrel show and to the boy scouts who ushered in the hall and to Mrs. Ollie Dolan who sold tickets at the window. It is understood that arrangements for a dinner for the cast are being made. The date is not definitely set.
Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Lott traded their home at 6168 Victoria Ave., for a new two story residence at 6480 Lloyd Ave.
Mrs. Bess Gallaher is conducting a ladies' class in gymnastics at the Dewey School on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. Rates $1.25 for 2 months.
J.P. O'Gorman has retired after many years of faithful service at Rice-Stix and intends devoting his time to gardening, flowers, real estate and grandchildren. One of his disrespectful children says that he devotes more time to poker than to babies.
The printer made an error in the Easter card that was mailed to the parishioners giving the hour of Masses. He set the High Mass for 9 o'clock but few noticed the change and many came to 7:30 expecting to hear the choir. Serves them right. They should pay more attention to church correspondence.
There was a memento card of the late Mr. Wilham Hense in front of the Altar of Repose Holy Thursday because the Urn in which the Blessed Sacrament was retained was donated by the family in his memory. May he rest in peace.
If you get a phone call from a "priest" asking you to purchase a ticket and informing you he will send someone to you right away - Beware! That is the newest confidence game.
In the House test vote on prohibition on the resolution for submitting to States a constitutional amendment permitting each State to license or outlaw the liquor traffic, the ayes from Missouri were 5 and the noes 11 so officially we are very dry in Missouri, but everybody who has eyes and ears knows that our representatives are either hypocrites or do not represent the people. Missouri is wet and if the test vote made by the Literary Digest means anything Missouri is very wet and our representatives who say "no" must be sleeping under an umbrella. We don't blame Missouri for being wet the most of the Missourians we know aRe people of common sense and considerable truthfulness. We are not arguing here as to whether prohibition is good or bad, moral or immoral, but we do know that during the past ten years anyone who has money can buy a drink almost any place, any time he wants to; so what's the use of keeping up the pretense that ayes or noes can make us wet or dry.
Prohibition began as a noble experiment, it has lost its nobility, since it generated the bootlegger, the gangster and the organized criminal. Plain people are just wondering if the government of the underworld will not soon be the rulers of the overworld. All the police and department of justice agents in the country, so far, can't find the Lindbergh child or trace the kidnapers, so efficient have become our criminal class. We have not lost our American bottle but we have lost our American baby, and every parent in the country who has wealth and little ones feels insecure. Only the poor are free from fear. The poor man's child alone is secure.
Prohibition has given criminals a social standing. Most of us are in one way or another making contacts with bootleggers. Of course our special one is of the better class. Bootleggers are in a position of affluence and are apparently so wealthy many a young man cannot help but think it is folly to hold a job that pays little or nothing and stand years of grind for a mere sustenance when he can go out, live high, dress well, have lots of excitement and a hope of amassing a fortune if he turns bootlegger.
Prohibition has made people poorer because drink costs more than it did before prohibition and the number who drink have not considerably diminished; there is also the loss of taxes and the cost of enforcement. "A veritable golden torrent, even in these depressed times is flowing into the pockets of bootleggers, high jackers, racketeers, corrupt public officials and of foreigners who smuggle liquors to our shores," as one of the city editors puts it.
A conservative estimate made by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch states that prohibition has cost the U.S. Government to date the enormous sum of five billion six hundred and ten million. But we are not concerned with the cost, the loss of revenue or the difficulty of balancing the budget. What irritates our moral sense is that in the name of Good, so much evil should be done to the young generation by these blind and foolish experimenters. Youth and especially girls in their teens, we are informed, associate the fellow who carries a hip pocket flask with characters of the type of the three cavaliers. Before prohibition he was considered nothing but a common whiskey soak and the girl in her teens who drank and the man who furnished her the cocktail were outside the social set of plain honest-to-God citizens.
How low are we sinking! In our efforts to rise we are like a mule in a quagmire, the more we strive, the deeper we sink. In the old days there was only one saloon to a block; now there is a saloon and a brewery in almost every home - but the noes have it and the country is as dry as the Sahara desert, if you want to believe it.
P.J. O'Connor, Pastor
We don't blame young people for being wild, but we do deplore that subjects for lunatic asylums are becoming so numerous. The young people are not the subjects we have in mind, but their imbecile parents who are encouraging and promoting petting and drinking parties all Saturday nights and on other nights when young people are capable of withstanding the loss of sleep. The condition, we are assured, is growing worse and worse and a girl or a boy who does not drink and be one of the crowd fails to come up to the measurements of those who confer the title of "Big Shots" on youth. Not all our boys and girls have succumbed to the common requirement of good fellowship. Thanks to God, there are sufficient numbers left to make the distinction more marked. Mr. and Mrs. Promote Parties, half your neighbors are talking about your lovely girl, she has been seen staggering in the street at an hour that was approximately dawn and she was being kissed and hugged, petted and depraved by some of the neighboring boys whom she is helping to demoralize. Are you deaf, or blind or drunk? Your church affiliation doesn't seem to have increased the gifts that you received at Confirmation from the Holy Ghost, at least your lack of prudence is notable to those who give you credit for reasonable amount of faith. Old fools are the worst fools. Youths are no worse than youth ever has been but the elders are going crazy.
A fairly full house greeted the St. James School Alumni Dramatic Club on Wednesday, March 30th, at the Lambskin Hall when it staged a three act comedy, "Am I Intruding?"
The comedy had many humorous situations which kept the audience laughing from start to finish. Those who took part proved themselves worthy of the applause which greeted their efforts in the portrayal of the various characters and all are to be congratulated upon the excellency of the production.
The play was staged and directed by Francis Staab. Members of the cast are Mae McCauley, Matt McLaughlin, Frank Strathman, Mary McGrath, Joe Phelan, Dorothy McLaughlin, Ida McCauley, Ray Buescher, Florence Wack, Jerry O'Connell, Estelle Coad. The audience were mostly young people and they appeared to catch every fine point in the acting.
FOR RENT - 6315a West Park; new 4 room flat, with or without garage. Bargain. Call HIland 4023
The quarterly meeting of the Holy Name Society on March 14th brought a new, or we might say revived an old method of entertainment and instruction. Through Dr. P.W. Thibeau, who by the way was a former member of St. James Parish, arrangements were made to have teams from St. Louis University debate on the subject "Resolved the U.S. of America should recognize the Soviet Government." Mr. Librack and Mr. Rabon affirmative, Mr. Cramer and Mr. Frank negative. Messrs. J.P. O'Gorman, Harry Huger and John Newport judged the contest and awarded two votes for the negative and one for the affirmative. A vote of those present was also taken and reversed that of the judges by a majority of one.
There were 42 members present. They manifested a great deal of pleasure and unanimously agreed that debates should be frequently held as a means of entertaining at the quarterly meeting of the Holy Name Society.
Short addresses were made by Dr. Thibeau and Judge Pensar of Kirkwood. The officers were rather disappointed that this meeting was not better attended.
On Sunday, April 10th, (next Sunday) the regular monthly communion of the Society will be received at 7:30 Mass and members are requested to meet before Mass in the Old Church Hall and march with the school boys in a procession to the Church. This, it is believed will arouse keener interest and increase membership in the society. Mark this date on your cuff or something so as not to miss the society communion this month.
FOR RENT - 6219 Victoria Ave.: 4 rooms, all conveniences. See P.H. Murphy, 6219a Victoria Ave.
Mrs. Adele Conroy, the popular comedienne of St. James Parish, and an accompanying cast of minstrels - ladies mostly from the Mothers Club - had their annual great eclat in the Lambskin Hall on St. Patrick's Night. They gave three full hours of great entertainment to a house that was crowded to the doors; many who failed to secure a seat went home with regret.
The performance displayed the perfection that comes from hard and sustained training, each minstrel was perfect in her part. The end men who had the strain of carrying the weight of the show did very well. Their jokes and wisecracks were for the most part well seasoned and proper. The comedy of modern minstrels is rarely original. It usually is a rehash of stage scraps that are taken from cold storage, spiced with a vulgarity of a Fatty Arbuckle, or with a shake or two of the caustic caricaturing of Will Rogers. This has been discouraged amongst our Catholic comedians, but it is difficult to completely avoid it when audiences are apt to consider a show dead that is not salacious. There was some criticism of the jokes on the pastors. There was a touch of lampooning which undoubtedly was not intended but was inconsiderate and not in good taste in a hall where many of the audience were non Catholic, but taking it all in all it was a splendid show and Mrs. Uxa who directed it and the ladies who took part in it are to be congratulated on the excellency of the production.
The vaudeville sketch which preceded the show was a delightful offering of Irish songs and ballads by Mrs. G. Cramer, Mrs. Frank Walsh, Mr. Tom Ryan and Olivia Mathews. There was a monologue by Miss Genevieve Jones. There was an Irish Medley by Mrs. Henrietta Bufono Uxa's Orchestra. The Minstrel mothers are: Chairman, Mrs. Chas. Klasek, Mesdames Plengemeier, Wamhoff, Quinn, Agnes Bisso, Conroy, Marshall, Cramer, Wack, Boerckle, Bosche, Pierce, Weaver, Mudd, Boman, Bovard, Wiber, Flood, Lawrence, Gallagher.
The southwest part of the parish is being built up and new roads have been opened so that a person can d ive from Clayton Ave. to Manchester Ave, via Childress and Dale, Louisville and Dale, also from McCausland Ave, to Tarnm Ave, via Dale and Lloyd Ave,
A row of 11 bungalows on Louisville Ave, has been built between Dale and Nashville by Smith & Smith and are selling like the proverbial hot buns. They are among the cheapest houses we have seen in this neighborhood, 5 rooms and breakfast nook and a fine basement with modern heat and plumbing for $4500,
On Louisville south of Dale Ave. 25 bungalows are contemplated, two of them already begun. The builder is taking advantage of the reduced price of materials, we are informed, and easy terms can be arranged for the purchaser.
Mr. J.P. O'Gorman has in this locality a new subdivision. He is getting this property ready for building sites and offers good bargains to the home builder.
"Soak the Rich," the poor are more than soaked already. What's good for the goose is good for the gander, Congratulations Mr. Ramseyer.
"General; universal: embracing all; liberal" - these were the words that met my seeking eyes; they stood for the meaning of "Catholic." That definition had a great deal to do with my becoming a Catholic.
The Catholic Church is everywhere, for every color, for every race. It alone is slowly wiping out the horrors of the African jungles, where the law of the survival of the fittest still holds sway. It is East, West, North, and South; wherever you go you find Catholics.
The same definition holds good for Catholic Charities. They take in the weak, the strong, young and old. Everything is done for the physical and spiritual comfort of the needy. Wee babies who have been left alone and unprotected are reared in comfortable and spiritual surroundings and are educated to become upright men and women. The old are cared for and fed; the poor and jobless ones are provided for; and wherever there has been a "Catholic" helping-hand extended, it leaves the impression of good-will and liberality. From the time of our birth to the time of our death, the Catholic religion protects and helps us. It gives us our chance for an unspotted life on earth and our chance to appear before our God unafraid,
Many of our local mechanics are idle and would appreciate a little repair job in your home, For electric repairs call W. Henne, 6916 Bruno Ave.: Richard Barry, 1321 Hampton. For good and cheap upholstering write Otto Harger, 1549 Tamm. For other labor, call the Rectory,
The Pastor sez:
"The crime of prohibition is the degrading effect it is having on the young generation. Sixteen-year-old 'drunks' were unknown previous to 1920"
UNCLE HENRY'S LETTER
dear Charlie:
the St. James Minstrel Mothers presented their "Folies of '32" on St. Patrick's day, an kept there promise to be "bigger an better" in every way. they were bigger in all dimensions an in my humble judgment, better than they have ever been. there jokes was humerous an in-offensive, the dancing an singing commendable, an the arrangement very entertaining. they deviated from there usual "hodge-podge" setting an costumes that looked like they come out of a sack in the attic, an showed us an inexpensive uniformity of dress that was more professional, an easier to look at.
the first part of the show consisted of Irish songs appropriate to the occasion, an intended to please the Pastor. he was not entirely satisfied though, on acount of he thought they should of had a horn-pipe or jig. he seems to forget that since Ireland become a Free-State we don't see many "colleens", an the older ones that used to be so spry like Allie Lagarce and Mrs. O'Connel cant be induced to join the show. bridget Brady, if she was living, would of been up there, but the other old timers dont seem to have eny "pep".
Adele Conroy an bess Wamhoff of course was the outstanding performaners, with a brand of harmony an Comedy that was worth the price of the show. they had plenty of help though from Plegemeier the perennial interlocutor; Quinn and bess Gallagher the dancing "girls": Wack, Cramer, Bisso, Bert Weaver, Louise Bosche: in fact the whole cast "done noble". the jokes was mostly at the expense of the audience an therefore was appreciated by everybody except the "jokees". the one on bill Boman though went over 100 percent an when he heard it bill went into high-gear with a laugh that stopped the show, congratulations to henrietta Uxa.
our Tre Ore had lots of competition this year as most of the parishes had sum sort of a exercise, but in spite of that the church was packed with folks from all over the city. Our Choir is too far ahead for serious competition.
al Mudd arranged a very interesting meeting for the Holy Name Society last month on account of he got a debating team to come out an convince us that we should, and should not recognize the Russian "misgovernment". after they got through giving us the "yes" and "no" side of the question, a vote was taken an the bolscheviks won by a single vote.
the Pastor is quite upset over the fact that the moral structure of some of the young people is in danger of being weakened by the presence of "rot-gut" liquor at their parties, outings, and auto rides. he is inclined to lay all of the blame on the parents for having it around, but i wonder if refusing to have it in the house is an insurance against "puppy-hysteria".
it is my idea that a parents greatest responsibility is to devise some means of correcting our "ignoble mistake", and finding a common-sense substitute for the present infernal conditions. Whether we are law-breakers in our disrespect for this particular law, or the law so impossible as not to warrant respect, is at least a debatable point.
your youngsters and mine can get all of the rotten "stagger-juice" they are able to pay for, and the oftener we warn "burnie" the more alluring the flame becomes. I might go to a great deal of trouble to set my youngster a fine example of abstinence only to give the idea that I am a "sissy" and find he is imitating Charlie Brown's father who is a "regular guy."
if your youngster has a tendency to "show off" occasionally, so did you at his age; and if he is'nt "dry behind the ears", neither was you. the fact that he likes to "bust-out" occasionally dosn't make him eny worse than you were, the difference is that you thought it terrible to see a woman drink, while he thinks it smart to display a concoction which the law says "isn't being made," and to induce your neighbors young daughter to "be-a-sport." Drugged to giddiness, conscience and moral training have a poor chance.
our job, charlie, is to correct this condition and do it quick; or a lot of our kids will be living in institutions. our best line of attack is the ballot in the coming election. i have made up my mind to follow no party. regardless of his other qualifications i am "for" a candidate because he is "wet": "against" him because he is "dry". the "drys" vote that way to maintain the balance of power, and it is the only way to wrest it from them. so dont come around asking me to support some candidate because he is a "good fellow", and a "friend of yours", unless he is "right" on prohihition: i cant do him eny good.
your pertickler friend & uncle
HENRY.
REPAIRING -- Painting, Paperhanging, House-CLeaning -- W.T. Boman, Hlland 2-31.
BACK TO LET'S GO, 1932
BACK TO LET'S GO, 1925-1932
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