The Catholic times. [volume], January 20, 1956, Image 4

About The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current

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14—THE
CATHOLIC TIMES
Friday. Jan. 20.1956
THE
CATHOLIC TIMES
Published Every Week by
The Catholic Times. Inc.
Columbus. Ohio
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Cray for u«!
This Paper Printed by Union Labor
A Remarkable Story
A new high school will bp built Fa
miliar words these a common plate announce
ment in newspapers across thp nation as com
munities seek to meet school building needs.
But put this announcement in a Catholic dio
cesan paper, and you have within its few words
a remarkable story the story of planning, of sac
rifice, of courage and faith. Such is the story
that surrounds the announcement of the second
high school to be built in the Columbus area
during the past three years. But let's go back
a few years
Rishop Ready early saw the need of elemcn
tary classrooms—complete new schools, additions
and renovations. Pastors and people were encour
aged and in the span of ten years, 181 classrooms
were added at the cost of more than four million
dollars. Expanded elementary schools were to
pour large classes into inadequate high school fa
cilities Portsmouth Zanesville, Dennison and Mt,
Vernon began building to meet their needs while
plans continue underway in Marion and Newark.
Meanwhile, the city of Columbus was exper
iencing a phenomenal growth One hundred *or
ty-seven classrooms wore added in the elemen
tary schools to meet the school population that
had increased from 6280 in 1945 to 12,770 in
1955. The need of three now centralized high
schools was projected A drive to provide funds
for the first two of these schools was begun in
April of 1953 Bishop Watterson High School be
came a reality and opened its doors in Septcm
her of 1954 Proud of this great accomplishment
in the north section of the city, pastors and
people awaited the announcement of the second
school to be built under the 1953 plans
From the beginning, agencies concerned with
population trends and the growth and future de
xelopment ot the city of Columbus were consult
ed to obtain needed statistic Ihese (acts along
with a study of the elemental) sci.ool population
and the establishment of new parishes over the
the past ten years were important factors in
the decision to place the second school in the
south east section of the city.
The studies that surrounded the announce
ment of the second high school imply the need
of i third high school in a few years. A study
of elementary school graduates indicates that
90 per cent seek enrollment in a Catholic high
school. According to present elementary figures
6 500 children will he seeking admission to a
Catholic high school hy 1963. Current capacity
of the city's ten Catholic high schools, including
the now Bishop Watterson High School is ap
proximately 3,400 The completion of the new
Bishop Hartly High School would bring the ca
parity Io over 4,300
“A new high school will he built truly
there is a great and proud story behind these
brief words Beyond the plans, studies, surveys
nd statistics, we sense the vision and inspir
ation that made the story possible The untiring
concern nf a Bishop for the welfare of the chil
dren God placed in his care the cooperation
and zeal ol his pastors hundreds of Sisters ded
icafed to God in the work of the classroom the
deep faith and quiet sacrifice of Catholic people
in providing for the religious education of their
children Because of this schools will bn built.
For a True I J.N....
A person should be a dreamer at times One
ought tn have hig ideas for only big worthwhile
goals can inspire us to do violence to ourselves.
Such violence is often necessary for big plans
should always start within our own lives We
dream nf a united world All people united in a
spirit of charity and justice foi each individual
We should dare to envision such a goal There is
solid hope of it based on what the grace of
God has already accomplished in us But now
there must he violence to ourselves We must he
fervent at prayer for the conversion of men's
hearts We hear about the Church Unity Octave
hut most of us won't violate our habit of a set
.sparer number of prayers each day Yet that is
the first wav to solidify the dream Do start fodav,
third dat of the Octavo, with pi avers for "The
submission of Anglicans to the authority of the
Holy Father.”
Mercy and Justice
Sundax w Gospel describes two miracles, both
nf which like all of the Savior s other miracles,
were performed by Him as acts of divine mercy
and kindness hut they give evidence of divine
justice as well If was in response to fervent pro
fessions of faith that the miracles took place,
nd in God's scale ol justice faith weighs heavily,
both miracles reached out to relieve the suffering
of humble and obscure men and divine justice
has special consideration lor those who lack
worldly means and power.
More directly, the leper who was healed was
reminded that he must meet the requirement of
divine justice by showing himself, healed, to the
priest in compliance with the law of Moses, the
healing of the Gentile centurions servant was
marie the occasion for a solemn prophetic warn
tng by the Savior that Gods justice would bring
joy to the Gentiles who accepted Hun as the
Mcssias and banishment into the darkness out
ide" of the ‘children of the kingdom" who re
jected Him.
Throughout the liturgy of Sunday s Mbass this
Close relation between God's mercy and His
justice is emphasized we heai the Psalmist's
summons to adore and fear the Creator and to
"rejoice" because the I -ord hath reigned: we
hear. too. the prayet that God will graciously
Jnok upon our infirmifv and will protect us with
the right hand of His majesty, the Epistle admon
ishes the Christian tn leave retribution to the
laird and to "overcome evil with good" in all
bis dealings with his neighbor.
Our woes will be relieved it we turn with faith
and confidence In God’s mercy but if we arc
minded to he harsh with our fellow men, to deny
them the mercy we ak for ourselves in our peti
tion» to God. we must expect the terrible conse
fUtnce revealed in the words St Paul quote* from
the inspired ufleranre nf Mose-- Vengeance is
name 1 will rep|*. aaith the Lord." Those who
deny justice and mercy to their fellow men are
challenging divine justice those who treat their
fellow’s justly and with kindness are making
themselves worthy of God’s mercy: and it shall
not be wanting.
A dwarf sees farther than the giant when he
has the giant's shoulder to mount on.—Samuel
Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834), The Friend.
Aspiration sees only one side of every ques
tion possession, many. James Russell lxwell
(1819-1891), “Among My Books.”
The truth is great and shall prevail when none
cares whether it prevail or not.—Conventry Pat
more (1823-1896). “Magna est Veritas.”
Just Among Ourselves
Patting Comment Considered or Inconsiderate
Many thanks to the kind correspondent who,
most unexpectedly and pleasingly, sent in the
two lines we sought for to round out our jingling
expression of the philosophy of horse trading.
The missing lines were the first two now they
are missing no longer. Here is the completed
jingle:
One white foot,—buy him
Two white feet,—try him
Three white feet,—look about him
Four w’hite feet,—do without him.
There is a double pleasure in reporting this
matter. The first joy is that of having the quat
rain completed, so that it teases memory no
more. The second pleasing feature of the exper
ience is found in the knowledge,—now indubit
ably established,—that this column has read
ers,—or at least a reader.
Maybe we could run down something else.
This is not a thing that baffles memory, but a
well-nigh hopeless quest for factual information.
The story runneth thus: About the year 1905 ap
peared a hook of “excerpfa” called Facts and
Fancies for the Curious. It was compiled by
Charles C. Bombaugh, A M.,M l)., and came from
the press of J. B. Lippincott Company in Phila
delphia.
On pages 130 131 of the volume there is a
“squib” which tolls us that the first suspension
bridge in America was erected in 1801 by James
Finley over the stream known as Jacob’s Creek
in Westmoreland County. Pennsylvania. The
span of the bridge was seventy feet it cost
$6000 00.
There is a slight inaccuracy in the report
for Jacob's Creek is not, strictly speaking in
Westmoreland County for at least part of its
course, the stream is the dividing line between
the counties of Westmoreland and Fayette.
But (he point of interest and inquiry is the spot
at which the bridge was put up.—or perhaps we
should say hung.
Inquiry was made of local historians in sever
al towns of western Pennsylvania, but without
effect. An open letter to the editor of one paper
in the neighborhood brought a dozen replies.
The only trouble was that the replies did not
agree, nor was there uniformity of opinion (since
none could prove a sure claim) among any three
of them. It seems we shall not know where that
first suspension bridge in America was set up,
even though we know how long it was, how
much it cost, and who built it.
There seems some likelihood in the claim of
one writer that the seventy-foot span across the
stream was- erected al a little town still known
as Iron Bridge, which presumably took its name
from the fact that this new-fangled type of bridge
was hung there in 1801. 'The town of Iron Bridge
is on Pennsylvania Slate Highway 819 between
the towns of Mt. Pleasant and Connellsville,
about two miles northeast of1* Scottdale.
The Iron Bridge claimant says that the sus
pension bridge was an iron framework hung, not
on cables, but on heavy iron linked chains. No
remnant of it remains, nor has any link of its
chains been preserved there has been no trace
of it for more than half a century. There is a
bridge there, of course, a modern concrete bridge
which serves the flying traffic except in odd
weeks of spring and fall when little Jacob's Creek
goes on rampage and floods the whole valley with
all the rush and vigor of a mighty river
Dr. Bombaugh's book has an interesting story
and it conies pally enough on page 131. just
after the teasing notice about that lost suspension
bridge ft gives details ol an interview with Gen
eral C. Cotcsworth Pinckney by one Thomas
Grimke. The General was asked about the authen
ticity of his reported statement, “Millions for de
fence, but not one cent for tribute." We recall
the phrase, it is as familiar a schoolboy text as
Patrick Henry's “Give me liberty, or give me
death.”
This Charles Cotesworth Pinckney was a not
able figure, and should be still, in the overall
American scene. He was born in the colony of
South Carolina in 1746 educated in England and
France served as aide-de-camp Io Washington
at Brandywine and Germantown was a member
of the convention that framed the Constitution,
and introduced the clause forbidding religious
tests as a qualification for public office. He was
sent as Minister to Fiance in 1796, but the French
Directory refused to receive him.
It was while he was in France, waiting ac
ceptance or rejection as American Minister,
that, according Io the books, including the indis
pensable Bartlett,—Pinckney answered certain
snide proposals of French politicians with the
immortal words, “Millions for defence, but not
one cent (some say “a cent") for tribute.”
Pinckney died in 1825. It was during his last
years that Mr. Grimke talked to him about the
famous “millions for decense" declaration. Grimke
asked the old general whether any members of
the French Directory had actually proposed what
might be called tribute from the United States.
“They did, sir," said General Pinckney, “their
question was what the United States would pay
for certain political purposes."
“And what' was your answer. General?” said
Mr. Grimke. Pinckney replied, “1 said, ‘not a
sixpence'.” Asked whether he had added any
thing to this curt answer, the old general replied,
"Not a word.”
Pinckney went on to say that while he had
not used the famous words attributed to him,
these words were spoken at a public meeting,—a
toast at a Congressional dinner in Philadelphia in
June of 1798,—by Mr. Robert Goodloe Harper,
and were attributed to General Pinckney. The
General said he had never bothered to correct
Harper's speech, tor "the nation adopted the ex
pression, and 1 thought there would be more
ostentation in denying it than in submitting to
the report.”
And now we know about the rules of trading
horses, and about Pinckney's words to the French.
We are still without sure knowledge about that
first suspension bridge. j.
nd know
WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON Three im
portant events came together
here in such a striking man
ner as to give studious pause to
all whe have the cause of edu
cation at heart.
First, Dan T. Smith. Special
Assistant to the Secretary of
the Treasury, appeared before
a House of Representatives sub
committee and said his depart
ment opposed giving private
schools the same exemption
from excise taxes that public
schools now enjoy.
The very next day. President
Eisenhower sent to Congress a
message in which he asked for
emergency Federal aid for
schools for the next five years.
At nearly the same tune, the
Senate Finance Committee ap
proved a request of President
Eisenhower that fanners be ex
empted from paying a two-cent
Federal tax on gasoline they
use on the farm.
There was an anachronism
there which the legislators are
not likely to miss. They have
keen ears and eyes for such
things.
Representative Aime J. For
and of Rhode Island told the
Treasury representative that
exempting private schools from
excise taxes would amount to
a mere drop in the bucket, so
far as loss in revenue to the
Government was concerned.
Nevertheless, the Treasury of
ficial said he opposed it as a
matter of policy.
In 24 hours. President Eisen
however, this treasury offic
ial's top boss, proposed to Con
gress that it appropriate Fed­
MONSIGNOR HIGGINS
There was a time when the
Federal Government was a
leader in the field of labor
standards and personnel man
agement. But __
private indus
now of
fers its work
e s much
more and ’Iwh i
treats them
much better A
than U n 1 e
So
Campbell,
president of the American Fed
eration of Government Em
ployes, in the current issue of
his union's monthly publica
tion.
It is our impression that
Mr. Campbell's temperate and
levelheaded criticism of the
government’s labor relations
policy is substantially ebrrect.
Ironically, the government
has been slow to adopt some of
the very reforms which it help
ed to bring about in private in
dustry during the past few dec
ades. It has said to industry, in
effect, "Don’t do as 1 do, do as
1 say.” In contrast to the situa
tion which prevailed 20 or 30
years ago, private industry is
now setting the pace and the
government is content to bring
up the rear in the field of labor
relations and labor standards.
Chang* of Approach Basic Naad
Mr. Campbell feels that the
time has come for the govern
ment to recapture the leader
ship which it used to exercise
in this field. Thia means, in
his opinion, that there will have
tn he a basic change of ap
proach. At the present time,
Discordant Note in Washington
eral aid for schools which
would total $1,250,000,000 in
five years.
The Senate Finance Commit
tee took only four days to act
favorably on President Eisen
hower’s request for help for
the farmer, a relief from taxes
which it is estimated will
amount to $60,000,000.
One is tempted to ask: How
many additional hundreds of
millions, or even billions, of
dollars would President Eisen
hower have to ask for in Fed
eral aid to education, if private
schools were not carrying a
large part of the nation's edu
cational burden? It would not
be only the money the private
schools are now spending, for
if the private schools did not
exist the public schools would
he in a much worse plight than
they now are, anif much more
would be needed to help them.
What the Treasury depart
ment opposed is the correction
of a situation like this: Public
schools buy a lot of typewrit
ers, and they do not have to
pay the 10 per cent excise tax
on them. Private schools buy
typewriters for the same edu
cational use. but they have to
pay 10 per cent more than the
public schools—the excise tax.
Children attending private
schools are told they cannot
ride on the busses that carry
their public-school playmates
over the same route they trav
el. Then, when the parents of
private school children come
together to buy a bus, so that
their children may he transport
ed safply, they arc told that
Uncle Sam's Employes
he says, the labor relations pol
icy of the government, the na
tions biggest employer, is to
approach as closely as possible
the practices of private indus
try. whereas it ought to be just
the other way around. “There
is no valid reason.” he insists,
“why the Government should
not go beyond the pattern of
private industry in matters in
volving employe working con
ditions and welfare.”
This change of approach is
not likely to come about until
government workers’ unions be
come stronger and more effec
tive. According to William C.
Doherty, president of the Na
tional Association of letter
Carriers, this will necessitate
a merger of all these unions in
to one central organisation. Mr.
Doherty is convinced that one
strong federation of federal
employes is the only answer if
government workers “are to
share in the benefits of the
united labor movement.” to
say nothing of setting the pace
for workers in private industry.
Unification, he says, is inevit
able. It is hound to come soon
er or later. “Why not sooner?”
he asks in the January issue of
NACL Postal Record. “There
is no belter time than right now’
to make a start toward com
plete organization.”
Thought Stimulant
It is too early to tell how the
other government employe un
ions will react to Mr. Doherty’s
proposal, hut it is safe to pre
dict that it will meet with op
position from some members of
the Congress and from certain
segment* of the pres*. Regard­
IL
they have to pay 10 per cent
more than the public school
bus costs—the excise tax.
There are many ways in
which this tax intrudes itself
in purchases relating solely to
education, when the purchases
are for non-public schools.
To lift the tax would not
mean a serious loss to the Gov
ernment. as Congressman For
and pointed out. To refuse to
lift it means a lot to the par
ents of children attending pri
vate schools.
It does not hold water to say
that to lift the excise tax would
be to show class preference,
and that excise taxes would
have to be excused on enter
tainments, and the like. What
is asked is that the excise tax
be taken off things bought for
educational purposes general
ly. It already has been lifted
from things bought for use in
public education. And, it looks
now like it will he lifted from
gasoline used in farming.
President Eisenhower’s mes
sage can be taken to indicate
that parents in general are hav
ing a hard, presumably impos
sible. time supporting public
schools. It would seem fair to
assume that parents supporting
private schools also are hav
ing a hard time. The more so,
since these same parents also
help to support the public
schools.
Coming so closely on the
heels, one of tne other, these
three developments on Capitol
Hill here may hear some good
fruit. Certainly they provide
food for thought.
less of its immediate outcome,
the ensuing debate between Mr.
Doherty and the critics of uni
fication will be very benefic
ial if it does nothing more than
than get people thinking ahout
the right of government work
ers to organize, and about the
need for effective unions in
government service.
The best thing we have read
in a lo.g time is a report of the
American Bar Associations
Committee on Iabor Relations
of Governmental Employes.
This report (made public on
June 27, 1955) maintains that
“public employes have an in
herent and justifiable right to
organize among themselves to
serve their own best interests
and welfare It also says
that "the special legal status
claimed for government as an
employer which places federal
employes in a less advantageous
position than private employes
in the area of management la
bor relations is an apparent
anachronism.”
"Almost Un American
The latter criticism applies
to certain state and municipal
governments more than the
Federal Government. The Fed
eral Government officially ac
knowledges the right of its em
ployes to organize. But even in
federal service—as Mr. Camp
bell points out in the above
mentioned editorial many
top officials “have set their
sights too low and seem to re
gard the adoption of any bene
fits not firmly established in
the overwhelming majority of
private business as almost un
American."
Inquiry Corner.
-----------------Fathar Healey------------------
Q. In my new job I am liable
to be called on often to get
word to the priest of people in
jured in accidents, etc. Just
what should 1 tell him?
A. In case of accident or sick
ness the person calling the
priest should give the name of
the persm and the exact ad
dress. with directions on how to
reach the scene, if necessary.
The status of the person, if it
is known, should be given: if
he is a practicing Catholic, fall
en-away. etc. The degree of dan
ger should be mentioned i.e.
whether he is in immediate
danger of death, apparently
dead, etc. Finally it is import
ant to tell whether the person
is conscious and whether he is
able to receive Holy Commun
ion.
Q. I am planning on being
married to a Catholic girl. Why
do we have to advise the priest
six weeks in qdvance of our
wedding date, present certifi
cates of baptism, etc. Is all
this to show the Church's dis
approval of me?
A. Marriage is a serious and
permanent vocation. It is nec
essary for the protection of the
parties planning marriage and
for their proper preparation
that certain investigations and
instructions precede this step.
Especially when one party is a
non-Catholic it is essential for
the future happiness of the
couple and their children that
possible points of disagreement
be explained. For all marriages
some instructions on the moral
ity and the ideals of Christian
marriage is necessary. The
various papers simply establish
each party’s freedom to marry
—and the innocent should bear
with this process that everyone
be protected from the occasion
al deceiver and the religious
state (i.e. baptized or non-bap
tized non-Catholic) and such
other facts as pertain Io making
the projected marriage a happy
and successful one. Her pastor
will explain in detail.
JOHN C. O BRIEN
Considering
our phenom
enal achieve
ments in the
fields of con
struction, av
iation and
nuclear fis
sion this seems incredible.
But the statistics leave no room
for doubt.
The Russians are turning out
more trained scientists and en
gineers than we are. More Rus
sian children on the secondary
school level receive instruction
in the sciences and mathemat
ics. And Russia has an adequate
corps of teachers of these sub
jects, while our school systems
are complaining that they can
not get enough.
On-the Spot Study
Two American educators—
Homer and Norton Dodge
who recently made an on-the
spot study of Soviet schools
and universities, reported to
the editors of United States
News & World Report that in
1954 the Russians graduated
more than 50.000 engineers. In
the same year we graduated
less than 20.000. From a peak
of 50.000 engineering graduates
in 1950 we fell off to 19,000 in
1954.
All students in the Russian
elementary and secondary
schools are required to study
sciences and mathematics. By
the time the Russian student is
ready for college he has had
six years of biology, five years
of physics and four years of
chemistry and mathematics.
Mental Discipline Unpopular
In the opinion of the Dodges,
the Russian student leaving
high school is well ahead, in
the sciences and mathematics,
of the American high school
graduate. Many of our high
school graduates senter the uni
versity so woefully unprepared
in these subjects, the univer
sities have to give them non
credit courses before they can
qualify for legitimate college
work.
The startling fact is that our
high school students are dodg
ing most severe mental discip
lines such as physics, chemistry
and mathematics. A substantial
percentage of our high schools
have even given up offering
such courses.
Statistical Report
According to the Office of
Scientific Personnel of the Na
tional Research Council, half
the nation's high schools do not
offer courses in chemistry, 53
per cent do not offer physics.
Since 1900. the percentage of
high school students studying
algebra has dropped from 56
to 24 per cent. For geometry,
the drop has been 27 to 11 per
cent, for physics from 19 to
4.3 per cent. And only two per
cent study trigonometry.
Laek of T©echoes
As these disciplines have dis
appeared from the broad base
Q. If God has no body why
does the Bible refer' tn Hi*
eyes, His hand and His face,
etc.
A. God is a pure spirit. He
is not made up of physical
composed parts for He is per
fect and infinite. The expres
sions in the Sacred Scripture
referring to His “eyes”,
“hands”, "face" etc. are adapt
ed to our understanding. We
are made in the image and
likeness of God, but He is not
limited by our physical com
position, and our likeness to
Him is found in our spiritual
souls. Is it likely that anyono
is decieved by the use of these
terms? Does not everyone who
reads the Bible Understand that
the Creator and Ruler of tho
Universe is not just a great
“man in the sky” but is a
spiritual Being distinct and
different from all His creatures
which we know?
Q. What is simony? How.,
could it come about in our
time?
A. Simony consists in selling
spiritual things for money (or
the equivalent). It w’ould ho
.simony to charge a higher price
for objects because they are
blessed or to offer money for
a spiritual office (as Simon the
magician did in the Acts of
the Apostles. 8:18-25). It w’ould
seem to be a rare sin in the
United States but expressions
such as “How much is a Mass?"
or "I'd like to pay for the
Mass” are sometimes heard.
No one buys a Mass or pays
for a Mass. The Mass offering
is a traditional way of contri
buting to the individual priest’s
support. In turn the priest
agrees to apply the special
fruits (not all) of the Mass to
the person or the intention of
the one making the offering.
It is not the money itself w’hich
makes simony but the idea of
buying spiritual things with it.
Send questions to Father Ed
ward F. Healey, Inquiry Cor
ner. The Catholic Times, Box
636. Columbus (16), Ohio.
Technical Education
Our scientists and educators
are warning us in anguished
tones that, in this atomic age,
we are losing ground to Russia
in the train
ing of scient
ists and engi
neers.
of our educational system, the
number of students specializing
in them in colleges and univer
sities also has declined. Fewer
and fewer men and women cap
able of teaching the science*
and mathematics are being
turned out by the universities
each year.
Not only do the schools and
universities have difficulty in
recruiting competent science
and engineering teachers, they
have even greater difficulty
holding them. Of those who do
start out as teachers, the best
soon leave to go into industry
w here the pay range runs from
$8,000 to $14,000 a year.
Made, Not Going
What, w’e may ask. is respon
sible for this alarming drop in
the output of scientists and en
gineers, so essential to our na
tional welfare and survival in a
scientific age? Are our Amer
ican youth afraid to study? Are
they going soft?
They are not going soft they
are being made soft at least,
that is the belief of the Dodge
brothers. They put the blame
squarely upon the “education
ists” who dominate our publie
school systems. A majority of
these are followers of John
Dewey, whose “progressive edu
cation” theory followed the
line that not knowledge or in
formation but “self-realization"
is the goal of education.
Pablum Die*
The “educationists.” as the
Dodges point out, took this to
mean that they were “freed
from the task of transmitting
knowledge and proceeded to
develop ‘life adjustment’ cur
ricula centered on ‘real life
problems such as ‘how to make
a successful date,’ instead of
the three Rs and other coursee
with substance.”
Instead of subjects basic to
mastery of the sciences or a
branch of engineering, high
school curricula now consist of
such pablum as family living,
consumer economics, job infor
mation, physical and emotional
health, training for citizenship
and the like.
To a large extent the high
school student is permitted to
pursue a nebulous goal of “self
realization” without ever com
ing to grips with real mental
discipline. The teen-ager being
by nature indolent, is it any
wonder that he steers clear of
the courses requiring cerebra
tion and sustained effort?
Catholics may be thankful
that Catholic educators have
never succumbed to the Dewey
philosophy of education. Ca
tholic schools are still teaching
physics, chemistry, algebra, and
geometry. Pupils are being
compelled to acquire at least
the elements of the sciences and
mathematics.
But the Catholic schools train
only a fraction of our Ameri
can youth. Unless we are con
tent to let the Russians take
the lead from us in this atomic
age, when our very security
depends upon continued ad
vancement in the sciences and
engineering, the directors of
our public schools must put
meat and marrow back into the
course of study.