MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1996
Vatican officials painted a grim picture Tuesday of the state of the priesthood in Europe. Fewer and older priests are working in a ”strongly hedonistic” culture that makes it tough to attract young people to the clergy, they said. But they found bright spots. Despite a 13% drop in the number of priests on the Continent during 1978-94, ordinations and the number of seminarians are up. Defections from the priesthood also have been reduced, from 676 in the first year of Pope John Paul II’S papacy to 238 in 1994.
Celebrations marking John Paul’s 50th anniversary as a priest, to be commemorated Friday with a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, have focused new attention on the shortage. The prelates asserted that the recent crop of seminarians is more mature and noted that rank-and-file Roman Catholics have assumed more of priests’ lay duties. They rejected the notion that easing strict positions, including a ban on female priests and a celibacy requirement, would increase the number of priests. 50 years ago — 1971
Twenty-five coeds at Lemoyneowen College have been chosen as the school’s official hostesses, forming a new organization called the Lemonett Society. According to Mrs. Vera S. Payne, the group’s adviser, the hostesses will “help promote school spirit around the campus, work with the president and other departments and be available to outside organizations in connection with the school.”
75 years ago — 1946
The suggestions of E.H. Crump on the control of lewd and perverted books drew a full endorsement yesterday from City Commissioner Boyle, who said a committee of five will be appointed to censor the city’s literary diet. Commissioner Boyle said he will discuss the appointment of a board to censor books with the mayor and other commissioners before next Monday, and then will recommend persons to serve.
100 years ago — 1921
KNOXVILLE – Gen. John J. Pershing late today accepted by wire the invitation of Col. Cary F. Spence, former commander of the 117th Tennessee Infantry, to dedicate on Nov. 5 the monument erected here by the surviving members of the regiment. Gen. Pershing advised that he would arrive in Knoxville on the morning of Nov. 5 from Nashville, where he will address the annual reunion of the 30th Division and will leave the same afternoon for Washington.
125 years ago — 1896
OXFORD, Miss. – A terrific cyclone passed through the eastern part of Lafayette County this afternoon at 4 o’clock, demolishing farmhouses and uprooting trees of all sizes. The news has just reached here being reported by Hon. W.Y. Sullivan, congressional nominee, and T.J. Harkins. Mr. Sullivan had been speaking at Tula and was returning to Oxford, expecting to speak at Abbeville tonight.