Communications
296 THE COMMONWEAL July 17, 1929 COMMUNICATIONS FOR AGGRESSIVE DEFENSE Lewiston, Idaho. TO the Editor:—Your issue of June 12 contains, under Communications, two letters of protest against...
...Conversely, the deciding factor in a book or play, no matter how exquisite one may consider its art, is whether it be "imbued with the spirit of Christ or is hostile to Him...
...July 17, 1929 THE COMMONWEAL 297 In 1912 when he began the fight on liquor we all know the bumper crop of enemies he made...
...TO the Editor:—Referring to your editorial Exit the Commoner, in the issue of May 15, which pleased me very much: William Jennings Bryan did more crusading in various fields than anyone else and he was aware of the amount of prejudice and even enmity created by his various activities...
...TO the Editor:—Your issue of June 12 contains, under Communications, two letters of protest against the proposal of Mr...
...There has not...
...Donald Powell...
...Concerning the matter under discussion, there are four answers to the query, "What is truth...
...It has to do with our neighbors...
...The broadminded (catholic) Catholic deserves a journal, too...
...It is notorious that this is not now being done, in matters vital to Catholics...
...The liberal will insist that each be heard...
...Has there been anything in said pills but conservative Catholic religious dogma, conservative political or economic theory...
...Bryan have a big field of prospective customers...
...Dennett...
...They also became his bitter enemies...
...It is not a case of argument...
...It would not seek to use the name and cloak of the state for interference with the personal and private habits of any group of neighbors...
...He even seems to think that the "tender airs" of "O Lord I am not worthy" are plain-chant...
...The liberal takes the matter, makes a palatable pill out of it and passes it to the conservative, who, still confusing manners with matter, may even swallow the pill...
...I thought it particularly fine, and such a sane slant on a subject which is usually gone at in such a way as to confuse those seeking the truth...
...P. H. Callahan...
...Establishment by the church of chains of daily newspapers which would 'place the truth and moral betterment of the people above the cash box' was advocated yesterday by Bishop James Cannon, jr., in an address before the Florida Methodist conference in session here today...
...DENNETT (Though we have received a number of letters similar in tenor to those printed below, lack of space compels us to say that no further correspondence can be published on this subject.—The Editors...
...Mattingly may like to hear such stuff at Mass...
...The answers of Monsignor Belford and Mrs...
...Mary K. Rood...
...Asserting that 'the secular press actually is leading the fight against the Eighteenth Amendment,' Bishop Cannon said: 'If the moral forces of the nation want assistance from the press for the betterment of moral conditions, the practical way to secure it is to buy or establish newspapers which will sincerely and aggressively stand for the truth, justice and righteousness.' "The Methodist leader suggested that such papers be 'strategically located in centres of population.'" C. A. Hawkins, Secretary, Idaho Catholic Laymen's Association...
...His beliefs are not necessarily weaker than those of the conservative, but their very strength means that he must tolerate equally strong, if opposite beliefs...
...Connelly appeals to me very much...
...Alfred Young...
...TO the Editor:—Where The Commonweal is quoted, it is most often referred to as a "liberal Catholic journal...
...If some individuals felt that intervention was proper, it may be stated that most of us felt that the error of this government was in supporting an obviously despicable regime in Mexico, and in refusing, at the same time, to permit those opposed to it the privilege of securing arms and ammunition in this country with which to protect themselves...
...with those who, if they knew us better, would realize our claim to be real Americans, and at least would be willing to grant us a hearing when falsehoods are being spread abroad...
...Young may find it interesting to examine.—G...
...It would think it time that the human race outgrew force as an instrument of moral betterment...
...In 1906 when he started the work for international peace, visiting the rulers of the world in that effort and preaching "The Prince of Peace," he stirred up to a white heat all the jingos and militarists, of which we have as many as any other country...
...In my mind, it is essential that our people interest themselves deeply in the matter of molding public opinion, by the very simple method of giving that public the truth...
...I ask it at this time especially because of the letter of the Right Reverend John L. Belford, which expresses mild displeasure at your recent editorial, The Case of Mrs...
...However, a few months before going to Dayton he was telling me of the different degrees of intensity of prejudice aroused by him, and it was our conclusion that his fight to save the Bible created more bitter feeling and enmity than any of the others...
...As to how our separated brethren look at it, I refer you to the enclosed clipping from the Morning Oregonian, giving an Associated Press despatch from Miami...
...It would look upon the state, not as a superorganization, designed to control marital habits, or tastes in drinking or reading, but rather as a group of neighbors...
...The Commonweal has done this in its editorial comment, but a truly liberal journal would go farther...
...N. S.) WHAT SHALL THE FAITHFUL SING...
...Nothing can help the Catholic Church more than the effort to make it clear where and when she is involved, and when and where she is not involved—to mention one item...
...Further, it implies a freedom of expression, which Monsignor Belford would limit to freedom of expression as to truth...
...Yet the non-Catholic editor, pleased with The Commonweal's politeness, pays it the compliment of being "liberal...
...When one is told that the deciding factor in a play is not whether it "teaches a lesson but whether it is beautiful with an inkling of everlasting life," the thought would seem to follow, as night the day, that what is thus expressed illustrates in the very clearest way the teaching of a lesson...
...While not questioning the obvious right of either of these groups to lobby, it would suggest that it is inexpedient for any church group to seek the aid of the state in enforcing its own views on moral questions...
...It has...
...he was attacked more viciously and there was greater scorn displayed, especially by the press of the cities, than we may find in any of his previous activities...
...I have my doubts...
...but, if so, he must have a cast-iron aesthetic digestion...
...TO the Editor:—May I, for one, say that I am more than sorry that your editorial re Sanger, Dennett and McGoldrick was misread by anyone...
...Our problem does not relate to Mexico alone...
...Bixel is not a member of the Knights of Columbus...
...S. Twyman Mattingly a delicious instance of muddle...
...Each Catholic journal with which I am familiar is written for the conservative...
...LETTERS AND CENSORSHIP Brooklyn, N. Y. TO the Editor:—A reader deeply interested in the article, Letters and Censorship, by George N. Shuster, finds it difficult to accept even as a "somewhat paradoxical statement" that the Church, while negatively safeguarding its faithful from impulses toward evil in literature, is "positively interested in upholding the separation of morals from literature...
...It would look as much askance at the lobbying of Catholic women on contraceptive measures as upon the lobbying of Protestant women on prohibition...
...I take it Mr...
...Norwalk, Conn...
...Has The Commonweal peddled palatable pills...
...I find it difficult to pray during Mass because of the intrusions of ignorant choirs and choir-masters with their wholly irrelevant singing...
...Williamstown, Mass...
...This is where the liberal enters...
...While the manners of the radical may annoy him, he looks behind the manners into the matter...
...But urbanity is only a small part of the equipment of the liberal...
...I hope that The Commonweal will be edited for him...
...On the other hand, the radical seems to glory in being a rowdy nuisance, which he cannot afford to be, if he considers an early hearing a desideratum...
...The distinction in question is based on Saint Thomas's definitions of "sapientia" and "prudentia," which Mr...
...Liberalism connotes tolerance of opinion, the "broad-mindedness," which the Monsignor decries...
...There is no race, religious or political prejudice nowadays so uncompromising as the antagonism of the modernists toward the fundamentalists and vice versa...
...But is it...
...I ask that The Commonweal justify the compliment...
...The Commonweal has introduced but one new and major note into the scale of American Catholic journalism: i.e., urbanity...
...Liberty and Werner and other critics of Mr...
...The conservative is likely to be urbane, too: he can afford to be...
...It is a case of circulating the truth, and I hope this will be arranged...
...Cuthbert Wright's article on Church music has evoked, comes from the pen of Mr...
...Sanger...
...The matter acts as a cerebral stimulant, without begetting a cerebral hemorrhage...
...Washington, D. C. TO the Editor:—Along with all the admirable letters which Mr...
...Theodore Maynard...
...EXIT THE COMMONER Louisville, Ky...
...Beginning in 1892 he aroused the prejudice of the high tariff people and in 1896, and for many years afterward, he was looked upon as the arch enemy of capitalism, which brought down upon his head the prejudice of the financial crowd...
...McGoldrick are opposed to those of Mrs...
...THE CASE OF MRS...
...Dennett and Mrs...
...William M. F. Connelly, printed in The Commonweal of May 1. The suggestion made by Mr...
...It is a sane way...
...The italics as expressive of the reader's perturbation...
Vol. 10 • July 1929 • No. 11
