The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-05-04
JOHN WOOD-DOVE.
An Indian Soldier of the Cross.

Father Hughes, the Californian In
dian missionary, who is known among
the Indians as Pasukat Tebeschnech-
ish-White Horse-tells a striking
story of a young Indians faith.
Father Hughes was engaged in
building a stone chapel at Soboba,
California. The Indians were giving
the labor, proud of working with
White Horse, their priest" who led
them in the most arduous tasks. A
young man, of fine physique, rode
into the village and up to the church.
He approached the priest, dotted his
hat and said, Father, would like to
go to work." what is your name?"
asked the priest.
Juan Majel," John Wood-Dove),
the Indian answered.
Juan Majel, from Pauma, are you
not?"
Eyes, Father"
Il am sorry, Juan, but cannot hire
you. I have no money"
Money!" replied the Indian in a
somewhat offended tone, Il do not
want money for building the kish
ANNA blouse of the Spirit)."
This Indian, twenty-five years of
age, had come sixty miles on horse
back for the privilege of working at
the building of the house of God.
At the noon hour while the work
men, Indians and priest, were rest
in hot h41. 81
under the shade of the pepper-tree
sitting Indian fashion with his hands
locked across his knees and his gaze
fixed meditatively in the direction of
his home.
The priest approached him and said,
Juan, you are thinking home"
The Indian looked up in surprise and
answered, eyes, Father. Do you also
read thoughts?"
care you getting lonesome? Or
have you some sorrow?" asked the
priest.
mo, Father. But l was thinking
that if my people in the village of
Pauma only had as good a church as
the one which was torn down here in
order to build the new one, how happy
my people would be-"
The chapel had been torn down
for fear that it might fall in the first
storm.
This thoughtful Indian solved an
other problem for Father Hughes in
the village of Soboba. He married a
poor but estimable young widow, the
mother of two children, and made a
happy home for them and himself It
is of his wife, Placida, and her chill
dren that Juan writes in the letter
which follows. The letter is given
with it's odd mistakes in composition
because these tend to bring out more
clearly the correctness of it's senti-
ments and the strength of it's faith.
Dear Father,
This is my first letter to you. 1t
may be poor letter to understand,
having many mistakes on. For this
| ask you excuse. But I cannot hold
myself study hearing you. I put my
few words on paper, wishing a lit
tie better church building at my ma
tive home, Pauma. Small village, but
proudly l must say that my natives
are true Catholics. I prove this by
our church building at Pauma 1t
was built before I was born. I was
born August 80 in the year 1884
Anyhow my people seem to be proud
of their poor church. This church
building is of adobe sides. ii. e., oil
sun-dried mud.) The roofing Is plain
to see (Which means that the sky car
be seen through many holes in the
roof. Inside portraits of our noble
saints are few, small and old. Nc
grand alarm bell to our honorable
church, but small hand-bell only tc
be heard hundred yards. My natives
visit their church often every sun
days another holidays even without
any priest. To hear Mass was seldom
For Father Ubach's situation used tt
be over so miles away and Francis
can Fathers from San Luis Rey mis-
sion were rare. They came when in
formed to a feunaral or to some
memorial day. Until a priest wa.
settled at Pala mission which is si1
or seven miles away from Pauma
Mass got to be heard oftenly once Of
every two months for some good rea
son. Now for regular time Mass il
once month. Dear Father, lately
heard you sending your remembrance
to us all here at Soboba. Also
heard something you said concerning
my native people and church. (Fathe
Hughes praised their faith.)
For this I may ask your careful
attention to my wish. Oh, how I wisl
that God would keep me on my heart,
wish. I would be a proud God
soldier of the whole world.
Father, and my wife Placida Ma
jel and two children are WELL Afte
we have received sacrament of mat
rimony our hope and wish to GU
further leading life is good Christian
and happy. Thanking you for thi