The Irish standard., 1906-08-11

New York Supreme Court. addressing
The knights of Columbus. during the
recent convention at Cliff Haven. re-
ferred. as follows. to the part taken
by the Catholic pioneer and mission
AIRY in the history of America. says
Mary H. O'Sulivan in Donohues
Magazine.
we cam truthfully say that not IL
land was found. not Il mountain was
crossed. not Il valley was entered. nor
II strc,m fnrded, but Catholic mis-
Summarizes or pioneers led the way.
And wherever from the depths Of
states spHtng up; wherever instead OF
the savage there appeared men long
ing for freedom there will be found
the mark of the missionary's and pio-
neer'S footsteps. And from that time
down to the present. whether grooming
under the heel of despotic government:
whether amidst the trials of our Rev
olutiom,ry struggles: whether amidst
the wars that succeeded, wherein the
autonomy of our nation was threaten
ed. there. sharing with his fellow
c"llntrymen in the trials and tribula-
ti"ns and in the subsequent triumphs,
was to be found the Catholic"
TO the thoughtful this paragraph is
repletc with suggestion. Reading it.
one asks why the story of such mag
effort. is not familiar to every Ameri-
can Catholic? Generations of boys
and girls have completed their school
course, made their pretty graduating
speeches. and, passing out int" the
world. have speedily forgotten the his
tory lessons perfunctorily learned, in
stead Of receiving from them an in
Spiration to noble doing. Why should
not the example OF Columbus. of DE
Soto. of Marquette. and other lofty
figures of American history. be liv-
ing force in moulding young lives?
There is not a boy who would re-
fuse to follow the admiral of Cas-
tile" from that morning Of Aug. 3.
1492. when he marched in procession
at the head Of his crews. to the mon
nstery of La Rabida, to the dawn Of
Oct. IL, when there was seen Issuing
from the mists IL "howery land, whose
groves colored by the first rays Of the
morning SUM- exhalcd an unknown fra
GRANGE"
No novel could rival this story of
adventure, with q world as proof of its
truth.
The scenes stand out vividly-thc
mariners receiving Holy Communion.
the return to the fleet, the embarka-
tlon. the evening service Of prayers
and hymns breaking the silence of the
trnckless waters, the despair OF the
crews. as week followed week. fruit
leSsly, and. through all. the guiding
master mind, constant, hopeful. though
even the compass itself began to vary.
TO the Catholic, the scene thai.
uuickens the emotions and satisfies
the soul more than any other is Col
umbus, the Catholic, on his knees re-
turning thanks to God, or with his own
hands holding in place the towering
wooden cross, under which the new
found territory was claimed in the
name Of Christ for the Crown Of Cas-
| tile A statue, Of noble workmanship,
commemorating this scene should have
place in the public park Of every city
on the continent, that children pass
| ing by may receive an enduring les
son in history.
| The standard guide-book of WASH
ington provides list Of statues in
public places throughout that city,
but, though Luther is remembered
Columbus has been forgotten. Per-
haps this may be due to the fact that
in the Capitol his career is so fully
illustrated in the paintings, and the
bas- relief panels in the Rogers bronze
door. but for the ten who make special
pilgrimages to this spot, there are hun
drcds, adults and school children. to
whom a statue in the park would be
a more accessible means of instruction
It is no exaggeration to say that many