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."
MOTHERS CLUB MINSTREL
The Mother’s Club will repeat their minstrel show on Sunday evening, May 17, 1925 at the parish open air theater. They say it is the first word in high class entertainment. When the oldest Catholic Mother’s Club of the city starts to do something it is as good as accomplished.
[Missing: large picture of the Mother’s Club with Father O’Connor]
The minstrel show at Yale Hall March 17 was acclaimed to the audience a better show than one sees down town for $2.00 Judging by the repeated laughter it had plenty of kick. Mrs. Adele McVey Conroy believes she has a few wiggles left for the show in the airdome and Mrs. Gittens expression in the picture proves she is still smiling. The following is the program for the evening:
Act I
Interlocutor
Mrs. E.M. Plengemeir --- Washington.
End Men:
Act 2
Mrs. Sam Gittins and Mrs. Adele McVey Conroy
Act 3
SCRUBWOMAN’S REVENGE
Mrs. V.M. Kavanaugh and Mrs. W. Hefele
ST. JAMES MOTHERS' CLUB
The St. James Mother’s Club is, as far as we know, the oldest mother’s club of parochial schools in St. Louis. It celebrated its fifth anniversary on October 5, 1924. It was organized by Mrs. Emma Bovard, under whose active and zealous presidency it has developed and earned a place in the affections of the school children and their parents.
Every lady in the parish is eligible to membership. Members who have time take turns in the cafeteria -- a hot lunch is served at a nominal charge during the winter months to the children who' do not care to go home, and a seasonable snack with fresh milk the rest of the year. The club aims at no profits in the lunch room and as it purchases commodities at wholesale prices, the lunch costs the parents less than if served in the home.
The health of the children is the first object of the mothers' club and so successful has been its efforts, the children of the parish last year were awarded first prize in the contest among parochial schools conducted under the auspices of the St. Louis Tuberculosis Society
The club also furnishes books to poor children and interests itself in the needs of the classroom and the general welfare of the pupils. Last year it gave a carnival and raised $2,500 for the installation of toilets, and the renewing of plastering in the play rooms. The children probably remember best the Christmas presents and Christmas tree.
The Mothers' Club's chief sources of revenue: are euchres, lottos, minstrel shows and rummage sales. The entire fund is spent on the children. Recently chairs and tables were purchased in anticipation of the euchres.
MEN TO SERVE LADIES BREAKFAST
The Mothers' Club will go to Holy Communion on Sunday May 10, at 7:30 o'clock. and will afterwards be guests of the parish. Men will cook and serve their breakfast. Eddie Ryan says he is a first-class chef but his experience is limited to the cooking of bacon and eggs. He is not much of a hand, he says, at making cookies. However, he believes John Bersch, Stephen Boyer, Louis Regal and George Wiber may be depended upon to turn the trick.
YOUNG MOTHER
Children are much the same at birth. The difference comes later. Human nature is like a grab bag. The inheritance of each one has an element of chance some of our greatest human characters and finest intellects have come from genealogical scrubs. Sir Isaac Newton, for instance, one of the greatest mathematical geniuses the world has ever known, was the son of a little farmer. Nero was born in a palace -- Jesus in a stable.
Your child is an unknown character even to you. What will this child be? God alone can tell. Whilst waiting developments there is much that you can do to mould the plastic beings that God has entrusted to your care.
Health is more important than education. Open air, sunshine, plenty of plain food and exercise will keep the doctor from your door. Let the child kick, shout, climb and play till he's tired. Do not irritate him with "don'ts” "Don'ts" make walls to a child's prison. Your nerves will not suffer if you encourage him to play abroad winter and summer. Inventiveness and self-reliance will come if you leave him make his own toys and games. 0ld folks and adults are poor playmates for children and the picture show is a dangerous pleasure. Fido should be given a place in the family circle. He is worth a dozen artificial toys. God made him; he doesn't talk but he can love and he understands the way of a child. When Fido and the child are too tired to play, feed them, fondle them a make their little beds.
EDITORIAL
This little Paper-echo of a regenerated parish spirit and inspired by a desire to spread information and enthusiasm concerning parish affairs, will justify its' existence in the measure in which it serves that purpose, The only thing that could have induced the editors to undertake the great amount of work necessary for its publication was the realization of the absolute necessity of improvements in parish buildings,
That realization, coupled with implicit faith in the people of St. James Parish, gave us the feeling that through this medium a great deal could be done to facilitate the work of making these improvements. As regards the improvements, we all feel that we should have a new church sooner or later; a few of us know that it must be sooner.
To be sure, your present church is not the worst in the world -- the roof doesn't leak; it is clean, warm and almost large enough; but it is not a fitting place to house our Host, because it is not the best we can afford Him. Besides, the present quarters provide no means for taking care of natural parish growth, which is taking place and sure to continue. Furthermore, sooner or later the school children are going to notify us to hang out the "forced to vacate" sign-and when it comes to a show-down, we are with the kids: They have been imposed on long enough; we are ashamed of the way they have been cooped up in their present crowded quarters, and when they get up on their hind legs, we're going-to help them declare themselves. And we haven't said a word about the fact that we ought to get busy in order to let Mr. and Mrs. Macken know that they have not been misguided.
We said we had faith in the people of St. James, and repeat it. There is not a wage earner in this parish who would shirk his or her duty; provided they were sure of what that duty consisted of, and were reasonably , certain that each of the "other fellows” were doing theirs. There folks, is where we come in. We intend to show you just what your duty is; and we intend to convince: you that your neighbor is doing his. When we have done this, we will have justified our existence, and St. James will have their NEW CHURCH.
THE CROWNING OF THE STATUE OF BLESSED VIRGIN
The annual custom of "crowning the Statue of the Blessed Virgin in St. James church will take place Sunday, May 24th, at 7:30 p. m. The Virgin Mother Sodality will march in procession from the Parish Hall singing hymns as they proceed. When they have arrived before the altar of the Blessed Virgin, Miss Virginia Jones will place a crown on the head: of the statue, whilst the rest of the Sodality will sing the beautiful hymn, "O Mary We Crown Thee the Queen, of the May."
The honor of crowning the Statue usually has been conferred by the Sodality on young ladies of unusual virtue. The devotion was established six years ago and three of the maids, Misses Irene Barr, Collette Schram and Parthenia Pate have become nuns.
The preacher for the occasion is not yet selected, but an eloquent sermon may be presumed.
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We are informed that the Mahon Brothers have purchased a Filling Station at 6100 Oakland Ave. "Gasoline Eddie Ryan" now gets competition from "Coal-Oil Johnnie" Mahon.
MOTHER'S DAY
If I were asked to give a thought which in one word would speak
A unity of brotherhood, a sympathy complete,
A hundred happy cheery ways, a mind that knows its own,
Contented midst a throng of folk, yet peaceful when alone,
A heart that sheds its silent glow, to brighten many another,
Without a moment of delay I'd say, "You mean my mother."
Who fed me from her gentle breast,
And hushed me in her arms to rest,
And on my cheeks sweet kisses pressed
My mother
Who taught my infant lips to pray,
To love God's Holy Word and Day,
And walked in wisdom's learned way
My mother
When pain and sickness made me cry,
Who gazed upon my heavy eye,
And wept for fear that I should die
My mother
Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the part to make it well
My mother
And can I ever cease to be
Affectionate and kind to thee,
Who was so very kind to me
My mother
Ah, no, the thought I cannot bear,
And if God be pleased my life to spare,
I hope. I shall reward thy care
My mother
PARISH MEETING
At the meeting of the Parish Organization on March 26 it was decided -by vote of those present to hold a Carnival on the 6th, 7th and 8th of August, at the intersection of Clayton and Childress and Wise avenue. The site was very generously donated by Mr. Sam Bellamy, who has invariably been courteous and sympathetic.
After plans were completely formulated and well under way, the order of the Police Department putting a ban on raffles of every description, including those for charity, made the Carnival a more or less hazardous undertaking. The heads of the committees after consulting with Father O'Connor, decided to withhold all activities until the parishioners were consulted.
APRIL PARISH MEETING
The April meeting held at the assembly hall on April 30 was well attended and enthusiast tic.
Discussion of Carnival
The first question considered was whether or not plans for the Carnival should be continued, and developed the following discussion:
Mr. Pierce: "I am one of the many who feel that the police ruling which prohibit church carnivals is unjust and unfair. The anti-gambling law was aimed at gamblers, and a gambler doesn't apply his arts at a charity carnival. No one goes to one of these affairs with the hope or expectation of getting rich quickly; on the contrary, a man starts out with ten dollars in dimes with the declaration 'This is all I'm going to spend.' He takes a chance with the idea of donating and at the same time getting a 'kick' out of it. I predict the Police Department will be forced to renounce this ruling, but in the meantime the ruling stands and I don't think we ought to tie our kite to a rainbow by inviting a legal; battle with them. Therefore, I move we table' the Carnival program."
Mr. John Houlihan, Chairman of the Carnival Committee: "Under the existing conditions, I feel that the only thing to do is to table the proposition and that is the consensus of opinion of the committee, but I would like to hear others express their views:
Afraid of Police
Mrs. McDonnell: "I believe the Carnival should be set aside for the present"
Mrs. Bovard : "Table it. I'm afraid of the police."
Mrs. Nixon: "Someone has to make a test case; why not St. James?" .
Motion to table the Carnival program was seconded and passed by acclamation.
All Cheating
Mr. Crotty, Chairman of the Parish Organization, said: "The chief purpose of the organization is to raise funds for a new church.' He invited discussion on other means to in. crease the parish revenue.
Mr. Frank Walsh: “Mr. Chairman, in a steel mill yard scraps of iron and junk lay strewn on the ground and the intelligent hand puts them into the furnace and fashions out of them an engine that carries freight across the continent, ships to distant ports and air planes into the clouds of Heaven. This is nothing more than an achievement in organization the scraps are arranged and unified and set to a purpose and stupendous results are accomplished. Let us all get together under the directing hand of Father O'Connor and when every member of the congregation becomes a unit in the activities for raising funds, a great force will bet set in motion and a New Church will soon be so near even the short-sighted can see it. I suggest that we concentrate on the 4%"
"Let me speak plainly," he continued; "Father O'Connor stated that the revenue of the Parish last year amounted to $375 a week. It was good. It would have been better if most of you were not like myself cheating a bit on the 4%. I believe about 85% of those supposed-to-be 4% contributors are cheating. They are not conscientious in this matter and their bad example is contagious, for instance, John says to Bill, 'Did you hear what Father O'Connor said last Sunday about the 4%?’ 'Yes, John, I heard it, but I don't pay much attention to that; I give what I like.' 'Why, Bill, how much do you give?' 'Me l give 50c a week and that’s all.' 'My!' says Bill;, 'what a chump I've been giving 4%.' That is the attitude of a great many of us.”
They Do Not Contribute
Mr. Walsh asked Father O' Connor how many were regular contributors to 4%. Father O'Connor stated that there were about two hundred of the 560 wage-earners who were 'at' least honest enough to admit they did not believe in the 4%. They were not contributing half as much as the others; they had no system of giving; they belonged to the disordered mass of scrap iron that should be organized.
Mr. Walsh continued: "Mr. Chairman, our course is quite clear; if those whose names are on the list of 4% contributors give a real 4% and the others be induced to come in, we will increase the revenue in one year $10,000 and be ready to build a church in January, 1927."
Suggests a Picnic
Mr. Blank: "I am a newcomer in the Parish but would like to do all I can to help to build the new church. I believe as long as we cannot hold the Carnival, a picnic would be a good substitute. We can raise a good deal of money from the sale of lunch, ice cream, etc., also by charging for dancing."
Motion to appoint a committee to investigate the prospects of holding a picnic carried. Amended to name the Carnival Committee, to which Mr. Blank was appointed for this work and report at the next meeting.
Better Luck
Mrs. Bovard: "I think when people give to the church thy have better luck. A family moved into our apartment who had nothing when they came and $500 when they left. They gave 10% of their earnings to the church. The husband was a carpenter during the week and a minister on Sunday."
Mr. Reese: "Mrs. Bovard! Do you mean to suggest that Father O'Connor ought to get a, job so he can pay 4% of his earnings to the church?”
Father O’Connor: “I am sure whatever success I have at preaching I would be a failure as a carpenter.” (Laughter.)
No System
Mr. Regal: “Along the 4% line seems to be the only logical and sure way of raising revenue. If we would organize and canvass the Parish and see everyone who is not paying the 4% I believe we could increase our revenue sufficiently so that we would not have to bother about Carnivals and make just as much cash. If two-thirds of the wage-earners are leaving us a surplus each year of $15,000, without doubt, we could set aside $20,000 if all contributed their full quota, and we would have a permanent revenue that would enable us to take on a bigger debt and erect a neater church. We owe this to ourselves to our children and to Almighty God. The school is congested -- on Good Friday between the hours of 12 and 3 the church was crowded though most of the men were at work. A new church will be an inspiration to the Parish.
Mr. Nick Nolan :"You may lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink. We cannot compel the rest of the parishioner to pay 4% but we may induce them to do so if we handle them in the correct manner."
Selling the New Church
Mr. Frank Walsh: "Each one should consider himself a salesman. He should talk 4% to his neighbor, and sell the idea of a new church to the Parish."
Mr. Regal: "We can get everyone to contribute if they realize the conditions that make a new church necessary. Talk to other parishioners like men in other organizations talk to one another. A pledge system could be used."
Mr. Hodnett: "A steady source of income is most needed and is a thing that would be best for the parish."
Pledge Card System
Mr. Heil: "I suggest a house-to-house canvass of wage-earners. Ask each one, regardless of what he has done in the past, to contribute 4% of his income to the church. We do not want to know how much money he will give, nor is it my idea to investigate any man's past donations. Let us get a card system and canvass the parish, not only the slackers but the good people; organize teams; get each wage-earner to sign a pledge card. It should be possible to do this in a couple of weeks."
Mr. Crotty: "Mr. Heil's idea is excellent.
Mr. Hodnett : "Following Mr. Heil's suggestion, I move that a committee of sufficient number be appointed. This committee to be known as the Pledge Committee.” Motion carried.
Mr. Crotty requested Father OConnor to name this committee. Father O'Connor said that every man present at the meeting who has been paying 4% should consider himself a member of the Pledge Committee. The following were later appointed:
C. Heil, P.J. Ludden, .D. J. Coad. S..J. Gittins, W. T. Boman, D. F. Collins, Thomas Williford, Bernard Brady, Henry Hugeback Louis Regel, Wm. Hawkins, Ray Dolan, F. Walsh, R. E. Pierce, G S. Kletzker, Ben Hawkins, John McDerby, F. M. Graves, Bernard Quinn, Aloysius Dolan, John G. Houlihan, W. G. Saxton, J. Crotty, M. C. Coad, W. J. O'Brien, C. K. Stiff, Joseph Hruby, Mike Maloney, Thos. Duggan, John Brady, Geo. Wiber, H., F. Hodnett,, W. D. Reese, J. H. Seager, P. H. Murphy, Leo Hefele, J. P. Harris, E. A. Dyer, W. D. Blank, Win. Henkel, Henry McCauley and J. P. O'Gorman.
This committee will meet at Rectory Wednesday evening, May 13, at 8 p. m.
Mr. Heil: "I believe the names of those who sign pledge cards should be printed in the parish paper, 'LET'S GO.' It would be just as well to know WHO IS WHO in this parish."
Motion made and seconded that names of those signing pledge cards be published; the number each month to be left to the decision of the committee in charge of the publication.
Mr. Regal then arose and asked what the meeting intended to do on Mr. Hodnett's motion about appointing a pledge committee. Everyone laughed and Jim Coad asked Mr. Regal when he awoke.
Father O'Connor: "Before any action is taken by this committee the minutes of this meeting should be published in 'LET'S GO, so that the parishioners will know such a committee has been appointed. The committee should be ready to act on the seconds Monday following the publication of the pamphlet. It is best that members be not appointed to visit parishioners in their immediate vicinity. I would suggest that the committee also take a census.”
Taking a Census
Mr. Duggan: "Father O'Connor is the best 4% talker in the parish. Let him take the census and also talk 4%. He converted me to the 4% system. I thought that a man with four or five children should not be expected to contribute in the same ratio as a man with only one. I was opposed to the Carnival from the first. One knows exactly how much, he must give under the 4% system. If a man goes to a carnival with his family and runs out of money he’s in a poor place to borrow.
Mr. Houlinhan: “The committee should make it clear they are not going to make an effort to find out how much anyone's salary is nor how much he will contribute, but simply get one to promise to pay 4 cents to the church out of every dollar he might earn.”
Mr. Pierce: "I think the committee should tell everyone which of his neighbors has signified a willingness to contribute. The knowledge might help him to sign the card."
Father Pohl
Father Pohl was then called on and greeted with applause. Father Pohl said: "I don't understand what the noise is about! The suggestions made are all very good. The parish books show that when one contributes others will follow. However, after the pledges are signed that will not mean that the 4% is in the parish treasury. There are a number of persons whose names are on the books, who call themselves 4% contributors, but have only one or two entries on their accounts -- the balance of the page is beautifully white. The pledges must be followed up in order that payment may be made. Keep up the spirit shown in the meeting tonight."
Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Macken
Motion made, seconded and carried that a rising vote of thanks be offered Mr. Macken and his wife for the gift of a location for a new church, also that a committee of three be appointed to call on them and thank them. Meeting arose in expression of their appreciation and committee appointed was Mrs. Bovard,. Mrs. McDonnell and Mrs. Pahl.
Meeting adjourned.
HOLY NAME SOCIETY
Easter Sunday morning at the Solemn High Mass, two hundred and fifty men and boys of the Holy Name Society of St James Church approached Holy Communion and one hundred and thirty five others went at the 7:30 o'clock mass. It was an inspiration to those who witnessed so large an attendance and justified the good opinion expressed by Mr. Josias, President of the Arch-diocesan Union, at the last meeting when he said St. James was not only the first branch established in St. Louis, but also the most regular in their attendance at Holy Communion.
The Holy Name Society goes to communion on the second Sunday of each month at the 6 o'clock mass during the summer months. All members are now assisting in reviving the old custom of assembling at the old church hall before mass begins, and marching in a body to the church, taking seats to the left of the center aisle. Holy Name badges -are worn which adds to the splendor of the spectacle. .
Then there is, the monthly meeting on the Monday evening following the communion Sunday. These meetings are not so well attended .as they might be. Members have the impression that they are tiresome business affairs, but that is not so; they are really a devotional exercise, which begins at 8 o'clock, continues for a period of only one hour. There is a short business session of twenty or thirty - , minutes followed by a very interesting talk by Father O'Connor, the Spiritual Director, on the life of some Saint. These talks are indeed inspiring and should be heard especially by every youth in the parish. After the meeting has closed those who desire to do so may adjourn to the school hall where several forms of recreation are afforded."
BAPTISMS
March
April
ST. JAMES BASE BALL TEAM
Line Up
Substitutes:
Manager, Tony Palumbo
Captain, Frank Strattman
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Father O'Connor's going to get a job
And go to work each day;
Dinner bucket on his arm
With lively step, and gay
And when his daily work is done,
And he is homeward bent;
St. James will be the gainer
Of another four per cent.
=====================================
SCHOOL CHILDREN SEE THE ELEPHANTS
Sergt. Eugene Martineau is the most popular man in St. Louis Police Department in the estimation of the children of St. James Parochial School. He procured for them a pass to the Police Circus. On Tuesday, April 28th, the Sisters, Father O'Connor and 280 little tots were at the Coliseum laughing at the clowns and through the kindness of good Sergt. Meyers and the Police, partaking of soda and popcorn. One of the clowns warmed his hands over the blaze of Vivian Saxton's red hair and put his finger in his mouth when Sister Alphonses looked at him. The elephants climbing on the tubs were as attractive to the children, as the ladies who swung on the trapeze or rode on the horses. It was a very delightful day; the Sisters and Father O'Connor seemed to be as happy as the children. There was a little difficulty in procuring cars in the evening during the business rush. but the discipline of the children and the watchful care of the nuns made the trip a happy event long to he remembered.
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Father O'Connor was a booster for the Police Salary Increase Bill which recently was voted by the legislature and was signed by the Governor. $35.00x4%x12 months = Gosh! Ain't that Grand. And just look how many policemen there are living in the parish,
Officer -- We're truly happy
In the success of your attempt;
But when you get your raise, remember
That it isn't tax exempt.
-----------------------------------------
Ray Dolan is a clever young man and keeps his wits well ailed, but he just turned a deal that has him guessing. He sold himself a house, and bought it back from himself; and has spent most of the time since in trying to figure out how much commission he made out of the deal.
Better call in "Bill" Hawkins on this one, Ray.
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There is a story going the rounds to the effect that a certain young man in the confessional admitted to Father O'Connor that he had missed Mass on five consecutive Sundays. "What's that, five Sundays l What was the matter with you? "Why Father, this is the hunting season and I have been going out on Saturday." Oh, Is that so? Where did you go? Get anything?
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SPORTS
The Home Team is decorating the vestibule of 'the church with Pennants. The Soccer Team in the Parochial School League in Forest Park Division won the Championship for years, 1923-1924. This year the base ball team are going to increase the decoration, Capt. Fanky Strattman says. In the opening game they cleaned up St. Cronans 26 to 14. It was a runaway for St. James. This was evident from the first inning when they hammered St. Cronans all over the field, and made three home runs. Waldo Bisso, first to bat, slugged the ball into the bleachers, and arriving over the plate was elevated on the shoulders of the enthusiastic fans and carried around the diamond. The procession halted to watch Bernard Thiele drive the ball almost out of the park. When he arrived he was embraced by a crowd who kissed him; rolled over him and rolled over one another several times. The enthusiasm did not abate till Frank Strattman. was thrown out at second. The whole team showed unusual skill.. Billy Corbett, shortstop, distinguished himself by catching three successive flies. Manager Palumbo was well pleased with his .team and says he is going to show St. Margarets and the New Cathedral boys that the kids from Clayton and Tamm Ave. are the real Babe Ruths of local base ball. St. James played the Dewey School Team on April; 27th and beat them 24 to 3. The Dewey boys say a few of their best players were missing. It remains to be seen whether they can hold down the score of St. James in the next game.
OUR ADVERTISERS
We call especial attention to our liberal advertisers and cordially recommend them to our readers. 1n giving this paper their patronage they materially aid the cause and we should show our appreciation, as Catholics, by giving them our generous support.
The fact that a merchant advertises in "LETS GO" is a guarantee that he considers your patronage worth having. It is a guarantee that he: believes you a desirable customer and is willing to patronize "LET US GO" to secure you. Such people are worthy of your patronage and you should always scan "LET-US GO" to see who they are.
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