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FRIE

Without Interracial Justice

HARLEM

NDSHIP HOUSE

NEWS

Sociat Justice Will Fail

Vol. 7 No. 6

November, 1947

New Yerk, N. Y. 10 Cents

THE NEGRO: A Problem or a Possibility

God in His wisdom has decreed that His human family should exhibit differing racial characteristics. Man in his ignorance and pride has presumed that God gave the white man superior endowments. Because of this stupid error on the part of man, we have tried to cut off the achievements and talents of the Negro from entering our American culture. Our great concern at this hour should be with the possibilities and not the problem (so called) of the Negro. We make a sinful and tragic mistake when we deny any race its right to contribute to the total welfare and culture of the world we all live in. er ee eee es ee

Fourteen million Negro) challenged on the ground of Americans are asking for the inherent inferiority.e The tide chance to help fashion a bet-! has already turned. The buf- ter world. And in spite of | foon has been replaced by the our persistent denial of that business man; the ‘dialect’ is right, a steady vanguard of'supplanted by perfect Eng- Negroes push forward and do | lish; the cringing yes-sir at- make their contributions to! titude has passed into a quiet, our culture. Against intoler-| dignified independence and able odds, such as would |self-possession. And the typi- make memorable and heroic | cal sense of ‘good humor has episodes, they express their! become a solemn awareness genius in many fields. Too|that some things can’t be often we are unaware of the! laughed off, but must be faced great roles of the Negro in- | and solved. dividuals in our culture be-| The outstanding individual cause of the adverse tradition | Negroes are the eternal of our press. | pledge to the millions to fol-

It is said that when a bee low that they have genius and steals from a flower, it also | great talents to contribute to fertilizes that flower. So it is,;their country. These out- when we do wrong to another | standing individuals have of our fellow beings; we | proven that there is nothing arouse him to greater striving |inferior about a person be- and effort. The Negro in|cause of the color of one’s America has a Christian tra- | skin. And in order to have a dition. And because of} balanced sympathy and un-

BLESSED

BI. Martin on Record Again

The following is taken from a testimonial letter received

‘from St. Dominic’s convent, (Boksburg East, Transvaal,

his Christian character he/|derstanding of our fellow |goyth Africa:

has an .unfailing sense of hopefulness and patience. He has learned to turn his ad- L t versities into advantages. The amen Negro knows he will not get 4 : ° anywhere unless he is better | By Many Children than the white man. So he! ,,, , becomes better. For us to|. To Many Parents deny this great reservoir of| F genius and talent to flow into | By Edwin Kennebeck our national culture to enrich! Once when I was a little it, is stupid and perverse. It) poy I had a penny in my is not a way of achieving the | »outh and you made a face best for ourselves and our | into a symbol of disgust and posterity. Within a span of only eighty | out of your mouth. Some dirty

(Continued on page 7)

said (remember): “Take that |

years the American Negro has made greater development

and progress against greater |

odds than any other race in human history in an equal

length of time. A prominent |

southern white family had to ask for a letter of introduc-

tion to the late Dr. George |

Washington Carver. The white master asking to be in-

troduced to a former slave. A | far cry from the Negro slave | standing in awe of his white | swer Hello.

master. It is our own imma-

nigger maybe had it in his hand.” I remember.

Oh, tell me about the sac- rifice of mothers. Tell me if

they could have chosen any | ‘only with the greatest diffi-

other than your noble way. Did you sacrifice your hate for me? Did you make an of- fering of your disgust (“dirty nigger”) by killing it for the sake of my soul? The sad dark faces say

Hello to me now and I an-|

In my heart I

|answer “Hello, dark face.” I

\ many fields ever again to be

turity of intellect and our | wish I didn’t have to give my- own perversity of judgment | self this tiny push of pride to that still keep us geared to a| say Hello to you. What I want master-slave mentality. That} is to say Hello first and then is no longer the pattern of our | accidentally remember that relationship. you are dark. But once I had The Negro has arrived. He}a penny in my mouth, and can no longer be accused of|now it’s this way: first I having inferior capacities. He| know you are dark and then has proven himself in too|I say Hello. I’m very good (Continued on page)

olin

The 12th of June 1946 was a memorable day in the history of this house. On this day God conferred an immense favor, through the intercession of Blessed Martin de Porres, in the miraculous cure of Sister

| Zedislave.

Sister Zedislave had been suffering, and had been a par- tial invalid since September 1945. An x-ray showed a deep-seated ulcer. A diet was prescribed and rest, but her condition grew worse. Pain was more acute, a hemorrhage came on, she was able to move

culty. Another x-ray taken in May revealed a very serious condition indeed. The ulcer

|had developed rapidly and was

about to perforate the walls of the stomach and showed

|signs of malignancy. The Doc- |tor said that an operation was

the only means of saving her from intense pain later on, when he feared cancer would set in,

Sister Zedislave was very reluctant to have the opera-

tion and clung to the hope that she would be cured by prayer to Blessed Martin. She was sent to the Kensington Sana-

Sat

MARTIN

MINSTRELS

The Black-Face Minstrel Is Taboo By THOMAS EVANS

The black-face minstrel is taboo. There is no place in our Christian community nor in our present day society for the type of comedy that de- fames an entire body of our brethren.

This type of comedy de- fames the black man because it is always he who is por- trayed as being stupid, ignor- ant and lazy. Unfortunately the majority of the people of the Caucasian and other races form their opinions of the en- tire Negro people on charac- terizations in which they see the Negro portrayed. There- fore, through the medium of black-face minstrels an entire people is slandered socially and generally underestimated intellectually.

Because of this assumed in-

tellectual incompetence and torium, Johannesburg, Mary (presumed anti-social traits she was nursed by the Holy many men of dark skin have

Family Sisters. There the ; : specialist and his partner gave been denied the right to earn

all ‘ her a very thorough examina- | 4 decent living at employment tion. for which they are otherwise

One day a very severe at-| qualified.

tack of pain came on. The| Black-face minstrels create nursing Sister that day took a| erroneous and slanderous im- blood test. As soon as she be-| pressions. It is these impres- |gan to take it, Sister Zedi-/sions that cause prejudice to |slave felt a wonderful change| be born in the minds of those |pass over her whole body.| who do not possess the grace She knew at that moment that of Christian Charity and al- she was cured although the|low themselves to be guided }pain continued till next day | by whatever is seen in black- ‘when it disappeared|face minstrels,

| altogether. Holy Mother Church for- | Sister Zedislave could not} bids Her children to read un- 'assure the doctors or nurses! wholesome literature, for in ithat she was cured. All be-| it would be found occasion of j lieved that she only dreaded|sin. We forbid our children | the operation, Mother Prioress | to view unwholesome movies ‘arrived at the Sanatorium and| which may distort their im- |all was arranged for the oper-|pressionable minds. Why, }ation on the 12th of June. ithen, should we allow un- | The Doctors were prepared | Wholesome comedy which is for a very critical operation. | likely to distort our concept [Mother Prioress remained |0f the Negro to find a place’ | praying in the chapel. Soon | in our midst? Is this too not ithere was an unusual com-/@N occasion of sin? Prejudice ‘motion. The Doctor phoned|is born when we allow our- | the x-ray institute to have the| Selves to become influenced ‘details of the report read| by idiotic portrayals such as again. Then it became ap-|We see in black-face min- parent to all that something |Strels. Let us eradicate the lof a miraculous nature had | black-face minstrel and there- |occurred. There was no ulcer | by terminate a possible occa- to be found. sion of sin. Let us meet and The specialist’s first words | ®Cquaint ourselves with our to Mother Prioress after the|>/ack brethren in reality and operation were, “Do you be-| 25 2” individual. lieve in miracles?” “Of course| Black-face minstrel cannot I do,” Mother replied. The} survive without your support. Doctor said, “After today, I,| We ot com you to avoid this

too, will have to believe, for | type of comedy oyt of fairness to the ot His brethren.

this is a miracle.”

2 <das

the Lay Apostle -learns the real and true TECH-

<i November, 1947

HARLEM FRIENDSHIP HOUSE NEWS

84 WEST 135TH STREET Tel. AUdubon 83-4892

Vol. 7 No. 6

CATHERINE DE HUECK DOHERTY... ccsccccccccccesessssserecsees Editor LEONA LYONS.,......cccccvcscssccceecteeeseeseeececeeess Assistant Editor MABEL C, KNIGHT.,..ccscscccscsccesesecesscssssssesers Managing Editor MELITA RODECK....cccccccceveseceseesereeeseeessrsssssesere Staff Artist

ANN HARRIGAN EDDIE DOHERTY A Member of the Catholic Press Association

HARLEM FRIENDSHIP HOUSE NEWS is owned, operated and published monthly

September through June and bi-monthly July-August by Friendship House at

34 West 135th Street, New York 30, N. Y. Entered as second clases matter Decem-

ber 13, 1943, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the Act of March 3, 1879. Subscription Price, $1.00 Year. Single copies, 10c.

IT ALL GOES TOGETHER

The Lay Apostolate is young. The Lay Apostolate is new. Yet both its youth and its newness are of God. For its re-birth is due to the Holy Ghost speaking through the appointed and the anointed representatives of Christ on earth, the Holy Father. And therefore, as all things of God, its development, its ascent is IN- WARD. All those who join its ranks, therefore, begin a JOURNEY INWARD without which all their out- ward activities, sacrifices, works, would be as NOTH- ING BEFORE GOD, and could, in fact, rebound not in the extension of the Kingdom of God to which we are dedicated, but that of the Prince of Darkness.

It is a very simple journey, this “JOURNEY IN- WARD” that each lay apostle MUST take in order to make the Lay Apostolate the true success it must be. It is like God’s journey “OUTWARD” from heaven to Bethlehem; from Bethlehem to Nazareth; from Naza- reth to Calvary.

The Lay Apostolate starts at Bethlehem. Small, hum- ble, unknown like that hamlet, the lay apostle gives

’ birth to God. Which simply means that having REALLY

TRULY become aware of the true vocation of all Catho- lics, he makes himself another Mary, and in complete and utter simplicity of Faith, utters his FIAT. Know- ing full well that this is the beginning of the end of him- self—for FROM NOW ON he will begin to die to SELF, so as to be filled with Christ and be able to say with St. Paul—“I LIVE NOW, NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVETH IN ME.”

This first step, this INWARD realization of his (and humanity’s) is the very center, crux, foundation of the Lay Apostolate. He who for an instant loses sight of this beginning and end, loses his way. Yet to give birth to Christ, to be Christ-bearers, is but the first step of the long JOURNEY INWARD that lies before the Lay Apostle. The next step is the HIDBEN LIFE.

Oh, the Lay Apostle and his apostolate is very visible. For he lives and works in the market place. He is busy about many outward things. -He is active in corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Busy binding the many wounds of the Mystical Body of Christ—now in the in- terracial field, now in the rural one, now on the labor front, now on the teaching one. But as the lay apostle works, his soul is quiet—listening, learning, praying, go- ing about inwardly full of recollection and contempla- tion. It is at this stage of the JOURNEY INWARD that the habits of prayer are acquired. The tranquility of order established. First things placed first. Naza- reth teaches the traveller of this JOURNEY INWARD how to be one with the poor, how to be one with all men, and to be all things to all men. The hidden life helps him to find out too, the respective places of faith and in- tellect. Shows him when to use either, and how they are to be used. Brings the first realization of his utter énsignificance and smallness, and gives a glimpse of God’s perfection and awesomeness, gentleness and mercy, wisdom and holiness. Introduces Mary and Jo- seph—the legion of angels, the saints. Yes, first things are placed first at this point of the JOURNEY IN WARD.

But on the journey one does not stand still. Onward to Cana and the public life of Our Lord, moves the Lay Apostle, to sit at His feet and listen. And listening, learn how to witness the living truth-unto-death. How to become one with Christ the Teacher. How to steep soonest in Love that is a Person, that is GOD AND

It is here that the inward horizons widen. Here that

The decision of Bishop C. P. Greco of Alexandria, La., to examine a young Negro can- didate for admission to sem-

dinary studies was announced publicly recently in the dio- cesan weekly. At once a re- port began to circulate that Archbishop Rummel of New Orleans had accepted a young Negro of Algiers, La., a for- mer member of the Society of the Divine Word, as a major seminarian and was consider- ing a second candidate. Like- wise Bishop J. B. Jeanmard of Lafayette, La., is reported

NIQUES of his apostolate. Understands at long last that they all can and must be summarized in one word— LOVE. That all the rest—planning, organizing, doing, working, in fact, ALL activities are but the reflection of the height, depth and width of his love for GOD and neighbor, and are utterly dependent on it for their TRUE success before the Lord.

It is here, too, that the traveller-apostle on that JOURNEY INWARD begins to see that HE MUST DIE TO SELF in earnest. Fér CHARITY dwells only where self decreases and God increases, and in the same proportion. So from now on the JOURNEY INWARD WILL BE A JOURNEY OF DEATH, THAT WILL LEAD TO LIFE. A paradox? A secret? Yes. Re- vealed to those who keep on going.

Through the dusty streets of doubt, and the dustier roads of temptation, walking, walking in the footsteps of the Master, the JOURNEY INWARD will now take the apostle and teach him the one-ness of all, men—the unimportance of works and techniques, the ever grow- ing importance of learning well how to love friends and enemies—how to grow in gentleness, patience, humility, poverty of spirit, simplicity, self-forgetfulness, mercy— how to slowly but surely and never falteringly. divest oneself of self—of both outward possessions and in- ward attachments.

And now the PASCH—GETHSEMANE—HOLY THURSDAY—HEROD—PILATE—THE WAY OF THE CROSS. Yes, the Lay Apostolate is new and young, but neither youth nor “newness” are obstacles for LOVE. And so, on fire with LOVE OF GOD, the Lay Apostle will follow faithfully Christ unto the end. He must. For unless he does, his apostolate will be but a pious dream without substance—a humanitarian en- deavor that cannot be lifted up to the Man of Sorrows. No, it is ALL, OR NOTHING AT ALL. This IS the cross-road of the JOURNEY INWARD. A true Lay Apostle will take the turn to the Holy Hill. The ones who have just been toying with the new fashionable shibboleths of pseudo-Catholic action lay apostolate will turn backward.

FOR THE LAY APOSTOLATE, ITSELF, IS REALLY BUT A SERIES OF SIGN POSTS, AT THAT, SHOWING, CALLING, LEADING ALL MEN ON THAT JOURNEY INWARD—TO FIND THEM- SELVES BY FINDING GOD—AND HAVING

| FOUND HIM, IN TURN, BEGIN WALKING IN HIS |/FOOTSTEPS. AN ENDLESS CHAIN OF SALVA- ' TION BROUGHT FROM MAN TO MAN. Bringing, too, the extension of God’s Kingdom on earth—His peace—true happiness.

That is the true calling, vocation and work of the Lay Apostolate. This JOURNEY INWARD — THIS 'SCHOOL OF LOVE—THAT WILL LEAD TO DEATH OF SELF—AND TO RESURRECTION IN LOVE—IN A LOVE THAT WILL BE A FIRE TO SET MEN’S HEARTS AFLAME—SIGNPOSTS ON 'THE JOURNEY INWARD, THAT IS THE BEGIN- 'NING AND THE END OF THE LAY APOSTO- |LATE. BUT INORDER TO SHOW THE WAY, ONE MUST HAVE TRAVELLED IT TO THE END—AND /KNOW IT WELL—AND LOVE IT INFINITELY. OF SUCH WHO DO, IS THE TRUE LAY APOSTO- LATE COMPOSED—EVEN THOUGH IT IS NEW— EVEN THOUGH IT IS YOUNG. rt

ee sessment

November, 1947

In the Right Direction

to have taken a young colored seminarian.

These developments are the natural outcome of sentiments such as those expressed by Archbishop Rummel October 16, 1945, at a banquet cele- brating the silver jubilee of St. Augustine’s Seminary at Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The Archbishop then said that the day would come when Negro priests “will be integrated in the diocese and will take their place among the Secular priests” (St. Au- gustine’s Messenger, Decem- ber, 1945).

The religious leaders of Louisiana, the most populous Catholic area in the Protes- tant South, are looking ahead with vision, initiative and fearlessness to days of glor- ious growth for the Church.

Statement of the Ownership, Man- agement, Circulation, Etc, Re- uired by the t of Congress of ugust 24, 1912, as Amended by the Acts of March 3, 1933, and July

2, 1946, of Harlem Friendship

House News, published monthly

Sept.-June, bi-monthly July-Aug,,

at New York, N. Y., for Oct. 1,

1947.

State of New York | County of New York ss.

Before me, a notary in and for the State and county aforesaid, person- ally appeared Mabel C. Knight, who having been duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that she is the Managing Editor of the Harlem Friendship House News, and that the following is, to the best of her knowledge and belief, a true state- ment of the ownership, management (and if a daily, weekly, semiweek- ly or triweekly newspaper, the cir- culation), etc., of the aforesaid pub- lication for the date shown in the above caption, required by the act of August 24, 1912, as amended by the acts of March 3, 1933, and July 2, 1946 (section 537, Postal Laws and Regulations), printed on the reverse of this form, to wit:

1. That the names and addresses of the publisher, editor, managing editor, and business managers are:

Publisher, Friendship ouse, 34 West 135th St., New York 30, N. Y.

Editor, Catherine de Hueck, Ma- — House, Combermere, Ont.,

‘an.

Managing Editor, Mabel C. Knigh 48 W. 138th St., New York 30, N. Y.

Business Manager, none.

2. That the owner is: (If owned by a corporation, its name and ad- dress must be stated and also imme- diately thereunder the names and addresses of stockholders owning or holding one percent or more of total amount of stock. If not owned by a corporation, the names and ad- dresses of the individual owners must be given. If owned by a firm company, or other unincorporated concern, its name and address, as well’ as those of each individual member, must be given). Not a corporation. Owned by Catherine de Hueck, Madonna House, Com- bermere, Ont., Can., general director of Friendship House. Mabel C., Knight, local director of Harlem FH, 34 W. 135th St., New York 30, N. Y.

3. That the known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security hold- ers owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mort- gages, or other securities are: (If there are none—so state). None.

4. That the two paragraphs next above, giving the names of the own- ers, stockholders, and security hold- ers, if any, contain not only the list of stockholders and security holders as they appear upon the books of the company but also, in cases where the stockholder or security holder appears upon the books of the com- pany as trustee or in any other fi- duciary relation, the name of the person or corporation for whom such trustee is acting, is given; also that the said two paragraphs contain statements embracing affiant’s full knowledge and belief as to the cir- cumstances and conditions under which stockholders and _ security holders who do not appear upon the books of the company as trustees, hold stock and securities in a ca- pacity other than that of a bona fide

|} owner; and this affiant has no rea-

son to believe that any other person, association, or corporation has any interest direct or indirect in the said stock, bonds, or other securities than as so stated by him.

5. That the average number of

copies of each issue of this publica- ~

tion sold or distributed, through the mails or otherwise, to paid sub- scribers during the twelve months preceding the date shown above is wenn seeee.-ee (This information is required from daily, weekly, semi- weekly, and triweekly newspapers

only), MABEL C. KNIGHT. Sworn to and subseribed before

me this, 25th day of ge 1947. LEROY GREEN.

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; [ ' '

HOPE IN COURT

JOHN DOEBELE

A flood of articles, pamphlets, statements, and resolutions have been published during the past few years against racial restrictive covenants (which exclude from residence in a given area elements considered undesirable). These state- ments together with the steadily worsening and ever more appalling conditions which first released the flood are gradu- ally leaving their mark on American law courts. Although we can still apply that famous statement of Saint Augustine to many judges: “They run well but they have left the track; the farther they run the greater is their error, for they are going ever farther from their course,” it is more and more apparent that the judges are beginning to find little satisfac- tion in noting that in this matter their course is not set on

justice. Unfortunately, the majority seem not yet prepared

to change their course. +

A number of judges today are forced to go to extraordi- nary lengths to demonstrate the difference between law, which they are bound to obey; and justice, which they es- teem and venerate, but aban- don to follow after law. The “law” we have to do with here is, as we said, simply the law of precedent, the pol- icy adopted by the courts. Brought forth and nourished by them, it can have life only so long as they wish to sus- tain it. (Ironically, it is from equity, the special court of justice, that one seeks a neigh- bor’s eviction.)

Few courts now care to en- force a restrictive covenant without a more or less de- tailed explanation—often bor- dering on the apologetic.

our traditions and ideals .. . At the same time, however, and regardless of what its

dent and govern itself in ac-|

cordance with what it con-|

siders to be the prevailing |

law.” Justice Henry W. Edgerton, on the other hand, has ex-

pressed an opinion that “A/selyes that their homes or | court of equity would have their land would never be)

nothing to do with such a con- tract unless to prevent its en- forcement.” But such state- ments remain in the minority. Again, judges are admitting into eviction trials a picture of the whole background in which restrictive covenants are set.

Generally, in citing past policy, the courts forget that

Thus, a New York judge|the policy adopted in previous about to forbid the sale of a| years arose from a considera- home to a Negro family re-|tion of relatively unusual cently began: “. .. by way/contracts, whose terms did in of prelude, the court wishes|truth concern only a few to state that it is in accord| people. But promoters of

with the views expressed by | residential segregation, quick |

Mr. Justice Murphy . . . that | to understand the advantages

; g: take the oars away from

‘Distinctions based on color are utterly inconsistent with

of a system whereby the courts would direct the power

Hoey Interracial

Awards Conferred

On October 26 the annual James J. Hoey Award for In- terracial Justice was given to Mr. Clarence T. Hunter, Pres- ident of the Catholic Inter- racial Council of St. Louis, Missouri, and to Mr. Julian J. Reiss, Commissioner of the New York State Commission Against Discrimination. These award are given to outstand- ing individuals, one Negro and one white person, whose work during the year in the field of interracial justice has merited such honor. The award is sponsored by the Catholic In- terracial Council of 20 Vesey St., New York, of which Mr. George K. Hunton is exec- utive secretary.

The Awards were conferred by Rt. Rev. Msgr. Francis W. Walsh, President of the Col- lege of New Rochelle, who represented Cardinal Spell- man.

Taking the words of our Di- vine Lord, that whatsoever was done to the least of these was done to Him, Mr. Reiss gave a picture of how our treatment of the Negro had certainly given him the least portion or justice in our so- ciety. Where other men came to this country to claim free- dom and justice, the Negroes had been reduced to the status of mere chattels. There were even those of the white race who thought that this member of our human family had no soul, As Mr. Reiss declared, that day has passed. But we have a great deal yet to do in order to give full justice to those who share least in it.

Mr. Elmer A. Carter, Com- missioner, also spoke, empha- sising the need for laws

against diserimination in this |

country. He said that despite all contrary opinion,

Mr. Hunter praised Arch-|F.E.P.C. in New York State

bishop Ritter for his firm stand in opening the Catholic schools | to Negro students. The Arch- |

bishop’s ultimatum

has been a positive success. It has brought about a real con- sideration on the part of the

against |employers in the matter of segregation is that it is a sin,| hiring help impartially. Also)

and that it is no less a sin in|the individual discriminated the South than in the North. /against has recourse and help Mr. Reiss made a moving/in obtaining his just rights.

plea for Christian awakening | to our moral responsibility toward all men. He said that many white people say that the Negro must improve him- self before he is acceptable to their society. He pointed out

The failure to practice fair |

employment has become high-

ly unpopular. So much so that

an employer will conform to

F.E.P.C, rather than face the

stigmatizing procedure of ap-

pearing before the judge. He y

that this is the same as asking|strongly advised that we do him to row upstream while we | all we can to have a National

ca.

him.| F.E.P.C. in force soon.

Wy iat

the}

and

}

sentiments may be, this court | power, into supporting rather

is constrained to follow prece- |

| the area of an entire city, the

of the community, the police | than hindering their efforts, have succeeded in so spread- ing these covenants that they have become an _ institutiqn, segregation an estab- | lished fact. The first few men | who contracted among them-

sold or rented to Negroes did no great harm to the general community. So long as the total area of land restricted | against Negro families is neg- | ligible in comparison with

effect of restrictive covenants will not be marked. But over the last thirty years, the num- ber of restrictive covenants

| city.

ithe cumulative effect of his

'the evils springing from seg- |regation; we know them well, | 'and so do most of the courts,

has enormously increased. Now, when a major area of a city is blocked off, or when an existing Negro community is ‘completely isolated by a ring |of restricted land, the route is open for the onset of all those problems which have become so well known.

The Negro population, like the population of the nation as a whole, is growing. To ex- pect to enclose a growing pop- ulation within the confines of an ever more limited area is as inhuman as it is unrealistic. In the chaos that we call

blighted areas, life in society, from being a most powerful and efficacious instrument for the development of human personalities, becomes per- verted into a means for the dwarfing both of lives and of personalities.

In signing a restrictive cov- enant, an individual white owner intends—usually after he has been so urged—simply to keep Negro families away from his neighborhood. There is no intention on his part, nor indeed the power, to con- | fine Negroes to any particu- | lar undesirable section of the Nor, and this is the tragedy, is there any concern on the part of the ordinary signer as to what will happen to colored families. However,

contract, when added to so many others, is what must be | considered in order properly | to judge restrictive covenants.

It is needless to dwell on all |

now. Accordingly, for the courts to continue to enforce restrictive covenants long | after the institution has be-| come a leading cause of American slums seems inex- plicable, no matter how or by | what adroit or learned argu- | ments they may offer.

Nor is it necessary to agree on some precise definition of justice, to which we might turn in order to to decid

(Continued on page 4)

The Village is under the spell of Indian Summer these days. Doors are open and the street noises flourish like mid- summer. Washington Square has a merry-go-round and the ice cream man is still making his rounds, ringing merrily his bell. But there are signs that it is neither June nor July. The morning glory vines are no longer blooming. The petunia boxes with their gay colors no longer catch the eye from balcony and inner- court borders. Instead, the lovely mums and red oak leaves fill every florist win- dow. It is Fall, and we are looking forward to a winter of active work in our new quarters,

Already the children’s story hour has gotten off to a fine start. Lee reads to the neigh- borhood children every Wednesday afternoon. About thirty children were in for the first session, and they have been in almost hourly ever since asking for the next story

hour. This week Mary and Peg gathered up their Harlem tiny tots and gave them a sub- way ride down to the Village to enjoy the story hour and cookies and punch with our Village children. It was a happy and exciting event in their young lives and we hope to repeat it regularly.

Our Wednesday evening sessions will tend to conflict

with the American Labor Party forums across. the street. It would be interest-

ing to know what antidote for a vital Christian way of life is being offered over there while we sit about hearing Father Dugan give us some powerful shots in the arm about the duties of the lay priesthood. As Father Ed said, each of us can change the world by changing first our- selves and then our neighbor. Which is the technique the Communists claim to use. We can remember that Christ changed the world with only twelve followers. This is an age when the lay Catholic should be living the high ad- venture of rescuing the world from its dead secularism. The sin of the age, Father Dugan reminds us, is not paganism where men deny God’s exist- ence, but an altogether more serious offense of ignoring God almost completely. He has no place in politics, in the schools, at work. No place in their lives actually. This at- titude is much harder to arouse men from than one of positive denial of God’s exist- ence. Only the Catholic lay leaders can do the job of

Village Views

changing the poisonous secu- lar atmosphere in which we now live. Father Dugan cited thrilling experiences of indi- viduals who have done much in a positive way to change their own environment.

Last Wednesday evening we had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Emanuel Romero speak on Interracial Living. He gave an encouraging picture of the work being*done by the Cath- olice Church. More _ schools are being opened to Negro students. Mr. Romero’s daugh- ter has been offered a teach- ing position in a Catholic col- lege. That is true progress.

Bit by bit we-are spreading a modest but dignified air to our Village location. The fold- ing chairs which a neighbor- ing priest gave us are in a less temperamental state of col- lapse, thanks to our good neighbor, Jim Cal and his brother Adolph. They brought in their electric drill and did things that the chairs never expected would happen to them. That isn’t all; a good friend has ordered seats for their slatless skeletons. And, who knows, we may sit folks down on them and have them hear words of truth they just hadn’t thought of before. We're awfully happy about the chairs. Someone felt the aesthetic need for shades around our bare glaring light bulbs. You have no idea what soft elegance a_ thirty-nine cent shade lends to the place. Well, we're just happy through and through over things like that. Because you may not realize how remote from us thirty-nine cents ac- tually is at times.

A good Father of hearty, rugged appearance just stuck his head in the door. “Is this a Catholic place?” he asked. (We're hoping for funds to get the window lettering done soon.) We answered, “Yes, Father. It is Catholic and in- terracial.” He raised his hand in blessing and said, “Thank the good God for a place like this. We should have had it years ago.” And like that he disappeared. And we don’t know his name or if we shall ever see him again, but it seems very peaceful and promising just being here at this moment. We are think- ing that God sent him by to cheer us up in this wonderful way.

The statue of Blessed Mar- tin has arrived. A _ lovely two-foot figure that stands in the window and commands reverence from the street. The expressman wanted to know if this was the B. L. Martin place. “Blessed” is

the title, we told him. And he set the package down most gently.

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