The Washington herald., 1912-06-29
THE PEOPLES FORUM
COLUMBUS NOT A JEW.
Herald Correspondent object.

Herald Correspondent Objects to
Deductions of HyIand c. Kirk.
To the Editor: In Thursday mornings $
Herald Prof. Hyland c. Kirk declares that
as a result OF an investigation extending
over a period Of many years he has dis
covered that Christopher Columbus was
not a Catholic. Mr.. Kirk does not ex-
plain by what process Of reasoning he
arrived at his remarkable discovery. but
broadly hints that all Of the proofs are
embodied in a wonderful work entitled
The Secret Of Columbus" Unfortunate
", We are not told where this book may
he obtained Evidently the ultra modest
author intended that his masterpiece also
should be a secret, for officers at the
Congressional Library declare that the
work Is unknown to them. At any rate,
the book. or pamphlet. or whatever it is,
cannot be considered authoritative, and
Prof. Kinks argument, therefore, lacks
support
Without pIunging into an extensive dis
cussion of the subject, I am submitting
below several quotations from the will
OF Columbus, which demonstrate beyond
a doubt the Catholicity Of the great dis
coverer. This striking document abounds
IN references to the Catholic Church, and
the following are selected at random:
''In the name OF the Most Holy Trinity,
who inspired me with the idea, and after
ward made it perfectly clear to me that
! could navigate and go to the Indies
from Spain, by traversing the ocean
westwardly." (The reference to the Holy
Trinity proclaims his Christianity
And I supplicate His Holiness. who
now is, and those that may succeed in
the Holy Church, that IL II should happen
that this my will and testament has
need of mis- holy order and command for
its fulhllment, that such order be issued
in virtue Of obedience and under penalty
OF accommodation
And as at the time that I under
took to set out upon the discovery Of the
Indies It vas with the intention OF sup
plicating the King and Queen, our lords,
that whatever moneys should be derived
from the said Indies should be invested
in the conquest Of Jerusalem, and as
! did so supplicate them, If they do this,
It will be we'll; il not, at all events, the
said Diego, or such person as may sue
ceed him in this trust, to collect to-
gether all the money he can and accom-
pany the King, our lord, should he go
TO the conquest Of Jerusalem, or else 90
there himself with all the force he can
anu III pursuing TINS
f. will please the Lord to assist toward
the accomplishment Of the plan" Co
lumbus' zeal to rescue the Holy Sep
uIcher Of Christ from the hands OF the
Turks Is another striking example OF his
faith)
I also require Of Diego, or whomso-
ever may be in possession OF the estate,
that in the case OF any schism taking
place In the Church Of God. or that any
1W vr.k,a IL
should attempt to despoil it Of its prop.
erty and honOTs. they hasten to offer at
the feet of His Holiness their persons
power. and wealth for the purpose Of
suppressing such schism and preventing
any spoliation Of the honor and property
Of the church"
When a suitable time shall arrive. he
shall order a church to be built in the
island OF Hispaniola, and in the most
convenient spot, to be called Santa'Maria
de la Conception; to which is to be an
nexed a hospital, and a chapel erected
TO say mass In for the good OF my soul,
and those of my ancestors and successors
with great devotion
Il also order Diego. my son, or
whomsoever NAV inherit after him, TO
spare no pains in having and maintain
ing in the island of Hispaniola four good
professors OF theology, to the end and
aim Of their studying and laboring TO
convert TO our holy faith the inhabi-
tants Of the Indies; and in proportion as,
by Gods VIII, the revenue Of the estate