The Irish standard., 1901-05-11
THE CATHOLIC INDIANS.
The Work Accomplished by the Priest,
and Sisters.

The Work Accomplished by the Priest.
and Sisters.
In connection with the recent appeal
Of the Catholic Indian mission bureau
it may be interesting to read the fol-
lowing tribute to the work of the mis-
sioneries in Southern California. It is
from the pen of non-Catholic, Miss
Constance Goddard du Bots, and is in
Guided in a pamphlet issued by the
Indian Rights Association of Philadel-
phia. Miss Goddard says among other
things:
The Spaniards have taught them to
be saddlers, blacksmiths, coopers,
freighters, candle makers, vintagers
coppersmiths, hatters. guitarmakers,
muleteers, ranchmen, doctors, rope
makers, shepherds, woodcutters, paint
ers, sculptors, bell ringers, masons,
acolytes, 'sacristans, stone cutters,
cooks, soapmakers, embroiderers,
farmers, BARRIERS, carpenters and bas-
ketmakers; and all these trades were
specifically applied in the daily life OF
the mission community. Indians built
the mission churches, whose ruins are
the admiration of the tourist in South
ern California. They carved the fonts
and altar rails and statues, made must
cal instruments and played upon them
in the choirs. They learned to emboss
on leather. sengrave horn, inlay wood
and iron with silver; the women were
taught emhroidering in gold and silver
thread, lace work, drawn work, and
the native basket making was en-
couraged.
The success of this practical work
shows what wise craftsmanship could
devise and devoted Christian purpose
accomplish with no previous prepare
ton in an incredibly short space of
time toward building up an Indian eli
vilization Has beautiful as it was tran
sient."
There are some who cannot see the
forms of Catholicism without burning
with zeal to uproot them. l am no
Catholic, but have seldom seen any
thing more sincere than the devout
religious worship among these poor
neglected people. They cherish this as
their most precious possession, the on
ly good left to them of those the early
fathers gave them.
They are now ready to accept good
influences. The seed the early friars
planted still bears fruit. The unfortu-
nate divisions among professed Chris
tians make it possible for many worthy
people to remain blind to the beauty
of religion unless it speaks through
the formula most acceptable to them
selves.
In places where no priest has visited
for many, many years, they still have
their little church, an adobe hut, or
one of boughs; the altar is decked with
a few poor ornaments, and candles set
in tin cans for candlesticks. The men
enter with uncovered heads, and the
people kneel on the earth floor.
One better educated than the rest or
with aobctter memory for the Spanish
liturgy will say the prayers and the
people make the responses as rever-
emily as at a cathedral service. The
simple faith which rears that humble
altar should commend itself to any
protested Christian, by whatever name
The chooses to be called.
"They are gentle, friendly race, in
credibly patient under wrongs" as
Mrs. Jackson Helen Hunt Jackson)
says.
"They are all so polite even in their
rags" says Mr.. Restarick, $50 gentle
and respectful"
eff they were 'bloodthirsty savages,"
remarks Bishop johnson, "the govern
ment would probably provide them
with ample rations and other things
needful to keep them from going on
the warpath, but little is being done
for these peaceful wards of the ma
ition, who are every way more deserv-
ing than. the savage tribes who have
received SO much Of the nations
bounty