The herald., 1896-03-17
This Year II Comes to Los Angeles-It
History

This Year II Comes to Los Apgeies-'ts
History
For twenty years the University of Notre
Dame, Indiana, has observed the custom
of presenting each year medal to some
distinguished member of the Catholic
church. The presentation takes place Cd
d-Lent Sunday, and as that day is called
by Catholics "Lmtare" Sunday, the medal
was known as the Letare medal. Natur-
ally this distinction is one much valued by
Catholics. 1t ia given not only for services
rendered to religion, but for distinguished
achievement in arms, in art, in science. In
literature, in civil affairs. Such we'll known
persons as Augustine Daily, John Boyle
O'Reilly. Eliza Alien Starr, Culinary Shea
have been recipients of this testimonial.
This year the medal has come to Califor-
mia and to Los Angeles. The University
of Notre Dame has wished to honor itself
by enrolling among its medalists that dis
tinguished citizen and soldier, Gen. w. S.
Rosecrans. The address accompanying
the medal explains the motives which de-
termined the university to select soldier
this year for the highest honor within its
gift.
Owing to the health of the general, the
presentation was made privately. Sunday,
at 3 p.m., the Rt. Rev. Bishop Mont
gomery, accompanied by Rt. Rev. Bishop
Medlycott and Very Rev. j. Adam, V. g.,
drove out to the generals residence at
Rosecrans. Only the members of the
family were present.
After a few Introductory remarks Bishop
MONTGOMERY read the following address:
Few men who have borne like you the
rigors of war are privileged as you have
been to enjoy so long the repose of peace.
Still fewer are they who, laboring for so
many years in eminent public station,
still wear a shield not simply untainted by
reproach. but untarnished even by the
breath of suspicion.
Providence has been pleased to grant
you length of days in which to enjoy the
fullness of honor. You are the last, as you
are one of the greatest, OF those noble
chiefs who led our hosts 10 victory. Your
name is set among the brightest traditions
of the republic; your services are writ in
letters of imperishable glory upon our
country's tablet of honor; and unborn gen.
erations, children of these states whose
union you labored SO successfully to pre-
serve, will be inspired by your example
and thrilled by the story of your genius
and courage. 1t ia not within the power of
any man or body of men to honor you
whom the whole nation claims for its
hero; but the University of Nore
Dame offers you the highest distinc.
ton within it's gift in bestowing on you this
year its Letare medal. Accept it as
symbol of the proud appreciation in which
your Catholic fellow-citizens hold your dis
tluRulSlicu puullC seiNiCes. L u6 l4tctnTe
medal has been worn only by men and
women whose genius has ennobled the
arts and sciences, illustrated the church
and enriched the heritage of humanity. II
will be joy to your felow-citizens that
you are now enrolled in that noble COM
pany which is worthy of you and which you
will adorn. For in you are crowned the
virtues of a Christian soldier-the generous
response to duty, the unstinted service of
| laborious days and restless nights, the
| courage of a martyr and the gentleness of
| hero.
| Ore of the noblest chapters of Catholic
theology is that which teaches the duty of
| patriotism and whole.hearted devotion to
the public veal. Catholics are among the
first to recognize that duty and respond to
it. But whenever slanderous cry goes up
from the camps of fanaticism-when men
! would proclaim the church hostile to lib
erty and false to the principles of American
government, she find her best response and
the strongest vindication in the lives of
men like you.
The general expressed his pleasure at
receiving the medal. He spoke OF the
pain it gave him that intelligent and other
wise fair-minded people could be found to
believe the current caiumnies against
| Catholics, Yet the circumstances of the
| times show that such is the case.
The medal is of solid gold, having on it's
(! face the arms of the United States in
enamel, surrounded by q laurel wreath.
| The inscription is "Magna est veritas ct
prsevalebit''-Great is truth and it shall
prevail. On the bar are the words "Lfe-
tare medal" The reverse bears the words,
university Of Notre Dame, Ind, to Gen.
| William S. Rosecrans."