News Of The Guilds And Societies

C.Y.M.S., Birmingham, South
SUPPORT FOR " CATHOLIC HERALD " PEACE PLAN About seventy members of the South Birmingham C.Y.M.S., representing ten branches], attended at St. Anne's club for the bi-monthly general meeting on Sunday. April 23.
It was announced at the meeting that the Birmingham C.Y.M.S. has arranged to supply the newly-formed Birminghain branch of the Catholic Social Guild with the names of those members of the society who belong to Trade Unions.
A special invitation is to be issued to these brothers to join the Guild as it is realised that only through the agency of well instructed Catholic men can the social doctrines of the Church ever get into the Unions.
Bro. Fearon, of St. Michael's branch, called for the support of the C.Y.M.S. for the CATHOLIC HERALD Peace Appeal; the matter was left to the branches to take any individual action they may consider desirable.
Addressing the meeting Fr. P. Danaher, 0.M.I., warned his hearers against modern emotionalism which is responsible for so many of the modern excesses. He also warned against the other modern error of worshipping action for its own sake: and the notion that it does not matter much what we do so long as we are doing something.
Fr Danaher, who had been a C.Y.M.S. President for many years, expressed the opinion that the society is a blessing to any parish, but he warned the society against a real danger which could be seen in some branches. This is the Identification of the C.Y.M.S. merely with a social club.
It is an unfortunate fact that, in some branches of the society, members think exclusively of the recreational facilities provided by the club, and never spare a moment for the ninny important works of the society.
The annual half-day retreat of the Catholic Nurses' Guild, Southwark branch, was held on Saturday last, April 22, from 3.15 to 6.30 p.m., at the Convent of Notre Dame, St. George's Road.
Catholic Drama League
HOLDERS OF TROPHY OUT OF THIS YEAR'S FINAL The Catholic Drama League Festival Is now in progress. On Friday and Saturday last the eliminating contests were held and the final performances take place next Saturday evening.
In the South Western area St. Vincent's Club go forward to the final. The Westminster Catholic Club, holders of the trophy, lost several points through over-running the allotted time. They will not this year be in the final.
Liverpool and Northampton will also be represented in the final. at which the adjudicator will be Miss Una O'Connor.
His Grace Bishop Myers has kindly consented to be present at the final on Saturday, April 29, at the Rudolph Steiner Hall, Park Road, Clarence Gate,
Catholic Scout Guild
SPLENDID PROGRESS REPORTED AT BIRMINGHAM Splendid progress is reported by the Birmingham Diocesan Catholic Scout Guild; six troops and one cub pack have been formed during the year, and the membership has increased by 203 to 578. Perhaps the most pleasing feature is that the number of officers has increased from 25 to 55, showing that Birmingham men are realising the necessity of giving their time to work for Catholic boys.
During the year His Grace the Archbishop of Birmingham suggested that the Guild should have its own field altar in view of the many Masses which are said in the Scout camps during the summer.
The St. Philip's Grammar School Rover Crew took this in hand and have now provided the Guild with a collapsible field altar and a canvas canopy to protect the celebrant during Mass.
The whole outfit was made by the boys; the cost was defrayed by a donation from His Grace, who seems to have an ever-open cheque book, particularly where boys are concerned.
The annual parade in honour of St. George will be held at St. Chad's Cathedral on April 30 in the presence of the Archbishop.
The Grail, Birmingham
TRAINING WEER-END AT HARBORNE HALL The next training week-end of the Grail in Birmingham win be held at Harborne Hall Convent on May 6-7.
These courses have been very well attended, and those wishing to attend should get into touch with Miss Helen Worrell, Bethen Hall, Avon Dassett.
C.Y.M.S., Westminster
DETAILS FOR RALLY ON SUNDAY NEXT ARRANGED On Sunday last, April 23, a meeting of the Westminster Archdiocesan Council of the C.Y.M.S. was held at the Westminster branch.
The final details of the General Rally at the Cathedral on April 30 at 3.45 p.m. were discussed.
On Trinity Sunday a pilgrimage from St. Saviour's, Abbots Langley, to Breakspear Farm, the birthplace of Pope Adrian IV, will be organised.
Members of the C.Y.M.S. in many branches will also take part in the Procession of Our Lady of Willesden on Whitsunday.
C.Y.M.S., Oxfordshire
GENERAL MEETING AT CHIPPING NORTON
A general meeting of the Oxfordshire branches of the Catholic Young Men's Society was held last week at Chipping Norton. Delegates attended from the parishes of Banbury, Oxford, Cowley and Chipping Norton.
Reports from the various branches were read and commented upon, and the questions of the extension of their society and the care of youth between the school-leaving age and manhood were touched upon by the Chairman, Mr L. H. Millar, vice-president of the District Council.
Mr K. Mackey, Archdiocesan preee dent, gave an inspiring address on the fight against modern paganism,
S.V.P., Southwark
SLIGHT DECREASE IN NUMBER OF ACTIVE MEMBERS At the quarterly meeting of the Southwark Council of the St Vincent de Paul Society held in Mitcham last Sunday, the ordinary business of the meeting revealed that there were 711 active and 248 honorary members in the Southwark S.V.P., as against 723 and 246 the previous year.
Value of relief distribution in goods was £2,496 and 11,024 in cash. Visits numbered 3.600; families attended, 2,916; total receipts from all sources amounted to f6,605.
The meeting discussed the question of the possibility of running a boys' camp, reported more fully elsewhere.
The next meeting of the Council will be on July 23 at East Greenwich.
S.V.P., Brentwood
The quarterly meeting of the Brentwood Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was held on Sunday last, April 23, under the presidency of the Very Rev. Canon C. J. McKenna.
One hundred and sixteen members and friends attended, and listened with interest to Canon McKenna's account of the S.V.P. and its origins, and Bro. Kennedy's reminiscences of fifty years' work in the society.
C.Y.M.S., Worcestershire
EVERY BRANCH SHOULD FORM JUNIOR SECTION
The Rev. P. F. M. McSwiney, Administrator of Seaford Court, Worcs., gave an address at the quarterly conference of the Worcestershire C.Y.M.S. at the Sacred Heart College, Droitwich, on Sunday.
His subject was "Modern Youth—Its Difficulties and Their Solution." Mr P. T. Ashcroft (president) presided, and in a reply stressed the necessity of every branch forming a JOIllor section to cater for boys on leaving school.