The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-14
lAETARE MEDAL GOES
TO RICHARD c, KERENS
NOtre Dame Honors an Eminent
St. Louis Catholic with Its
Distinguished Approval.
MEANING OF THE MEDAL
Special to the indianapolis Journal.


NOTRE DAME, Ind. March 13.-The
Laetare medal the highest expression of
esteem within the gift of Notre Dame Uni
versity and annually bestowed on some
American lay Catholic for moral excellence
civic worth and distinguished service to
humanity, is this year conferred the
Hon. Richard c. Kerens. of ST. Louis. .
The Catholic public of America is pretty
well acquainted with the institution and
significance of the Laetare medal Its in
ception two decades ago may be traced to
THE Golden Rose a gift blessed by the
Pope on the mid-Sunday of Lent, or Laetare
Sunday. and usually presented to a MEM
Der of royalty in recognition of the re-
cipients extraordinary virtue. piety and
philanthropy.
The medal itself is of solid gold, of ex-
quisite workmanship, and bears on one
side the inscription, Magma est veritas ct
praevalebit," and on the other side the
recipients name and that of the university
In an accompanying address, artistically
framed and printed on silk, the reasons are
set forth for the presentation. Such is the
Laetare medal, distinction already con-
ferred on a select group which includes the
following very eminent men and women:
DR.. John Culinary Shea. historian; Patrick
j. Kelley, architect; Eliza Allen Starr, art
critic; Gen. John Newton, civil engineer;
Patrick V. Hickey, editor; Anna Hanson
Dorsey, novelist; William j. Onahan, pub
licist; Daniel Dougherty, orator; Maj.
Henery T. Brownson, soldier and scholar;
Patrick Donahue, editor; Augustn DAILY
theatrical manager; Anna T. Sadlier,
author; William Stark Rosecrans, soldier;
DIR. Thomas A. Emmett, physician; Timothy
Howard, jurist; Mary Gwendolen Caldwell,
philanthropist; John A. Creighton, philan-
thrOpist; William Bourke Cochran, lawyer
and orator; DR.. Benjamin Murphy, surgeon,
and Charles J. Bonaparte, lawyer and
pubcst.
Richard C. Kerens the latest chosen for
the distinction, was born in Ireland in 1912,
and was brought to America by his par
entS while mere child. Early in the sons
life death deprived him of his father so
that the family cares devolved on the strug-
Cling youth whose character soon man.
ifeSted the self-reliance enterprise and de-
termination that have strikingly marked
his subsequent career. AT the age of nine
teen he joined the Union army. where his
ability and attention to duty were quickly
recognized. After two years of distin-
guished service in the Army of the Potomac
he was transferred to the West in 1868 and
participated in the campaigns in south
west Missouri, taking part in the conquest
of northwest Arkansas. While on this ex-
petition with the federal army he met
Miss Frances j. Jones, whom he married
in 1861, and who has been his loyal help
mate and inspiration ever since
In 1872 he engaged in the transportation of
mails, express and passengers by stage
coaches to points on the frontier beyond the
advance of railroads. In 1874 he began the
operation of the Southern overland mail
service which covered 1.40O miles of from
tier country and which involved great risk
to life and property. His promptness fidel-
ity and perseverance earned the commenda-
tons of the postmasters general of three
administrations. Later he moved to St
Louis, where he first took an interest in
politics. and a stanch Republican be-
came prominent in the councils of his party
He was never a candidate for office but
in 1892 was delegate-at-large to the Min
neapolis Republican convention, and was
elected TO represent Missouri on the Re-
publican national committee. He has not
confined himself to any particular line of
business since settling in ST. Louis having
large interests in mines in New Mexico
Colorado and Arizona; also devoting his
energy to the numerous railroads in which
he has ownership. Recognizing his experi-
ence in railroad matters, President Har-
riSon appointed Mr.. KerenS one of the three
United States members of the inter-
continental commission, which had for its
object the construction of a railroad
throughout the South American republics
The same President also appointed him COM
missioner-at-large to the Worlds Column
bian Exposition, Chicago. In 1896 he was
again chosen to represent Missouri i'm the
Republican national committee: and when
the Missouri Legislature assembled the fol-
lowing January he received the vote of the
Republican members and senator's for
United States senator, an honor again ac-
corded him in 1899.
In private life Mr.. Kerens is amiable and
OF social temperament, ever ready TO as
sist others and to share with them the
fruits of his knowledge and experience
His charities have been many and generous
He has given large contributions to the
Catholic churches hospitals and schools
in St. Louis and elsewhere TO the Catholic
University and the st. Louis University.
In all he has donated for charitable and re-
lgiOuS purposes princely sums