Ste.-A near relative of Mr. Reed
Lewis's has sent me a copy of Catholic Truth dated July-September, 1941, the official organ of the C.T.S., from which it is clear that neither Mr. Rittner nor myself were anywhere near correct as regards the C.T.S. membership achieved by Mr. Reed Lewis, and the apology by Countess Vanden Heuvel for inaccuracy re figures, superfluous. Catholic Truth states "Our records show that in July, 1920, Mr. Reed Lewis attended his first C.T.S. committee meeting. There followed intense organising work, directed by a dynamic personality, and as a result of which, membership rose by leaps and bounds to 15,000." It goes on to add, "It has recently been incorrectly stated in the Press that the membership then reached a total of 33,000. This statement was immediately contradicted and shown to be based on Cardinal Bourne's expressed hope that a total of 30,000 would be reached."
This correspondence may have served a useful purpose, besides that of justice, if it suggests to the C.T.S.
to consider afresh the methods used by Mr. Reed Lewis, admitted to be so successful, to increase membership-now stated to be 19,696-since it is clear from the above that in the 28 years following his resignation, membership has only increased by less than 5,000.
Henrietta Bower.
3 Oakhill Road, Putney, S.W.15.