The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-24
SPIRIT OF PEACE
1t Hovers Over Retreatants at
st. Marys.
Distinguished Catholics From
Three States Gather There.
FOR MEDITATION and PRAYER
David Leahy Writes a Classic
About Jesuit Home.
Strength Came Like 1t Did to
Mira in Valley of Bagdad.
FOR MEDITATION and PRAYER
St. Mary's College.

August 2Oth, 1919.
Editor State Journal: I have been
SO busy with meditations, reflections
and speculations during the past four
days that I have not had the time i
write even a note to such good
friend as yourself.
The Society of Jesus of this college
gives six retreats every summer dur
ing the period of vacation. The last
of these retreats closed with Holy
Communion this morning, and the 10
retreatants who attended are leaV-
ing for their several homes in Kansas,
Oklahoma and Missouri.
I would not have missed the spirit
ual energy and physical relaxation OF
the four days for an hundred dollar
bill. did not hear a telephone ring,
see newspaper or get a letter, dur
ing the time. I neither know nor
care what has happened in the out
side world.
I came here a belated visitor Sat-
urday morning, instead of Friday
night, and was the 102nd arrival. Not
soul greeted me when entered
Loyola hall-that famous dormitory
building which the Jesuits, with the
scriptural wisdom for which they are
noted, built upon hill. The myster-
ious silence that enveloped the place
made me bit uneasy but I put my
things away and awaited eventuali-
ties. From the echoing depth of an
underground chamber. I heard a
loud amen" I knew that prayer
lent Catholic prayer. Then a sound
Of many footsteps fell upon my ears.
/ was in the midst of great com
pany of men but not one of them
in silence. I appeared to them-and
for a moment to myself-as If I were
a non-existant being. felt like a
Bull Moose in a standpat convention.
Down the corridors came a smiling
priest, CARRIED in the livery of st. Ig-
natius. 1 found a friend at last. He
was the only man in the company
who had a word for me. He invited
me into his room and relieved my
mind with the Information that the
company was then under the yoke Of
silence.
1 scarcely know how we came to
talk of the philosophy of life, and
about Darwin, Huxley and others, but
soon found my soul bowling down
before the majesty of great schol-
arshfp He was Father Kuhlman-
the leader and orator of the retreat.
NO Longer Afraid of His Sins.
Five minutes before I met him I
was afraid of my sins, but now I found
in his conversation such a broad char
ity for the frailties of human nature,
and such an inviting and enticing con-
fidence that I could hardly restrain
myself from falling on my knees and
telling him everything. All that
checked me was this, that on account
of the Christian example set mo for
three years by Governor Stubs, / had
nothing to tell worth the hearing of
such an agreeable man. I had a no
ton TIC go out and steal one of the col
Iege cows or dynamite the inf1rmary
so that I should nave something
worth while to confess.
l finally left him to take look at
the smiling valley of the Kaw,
glimpse of which caught through his
window. On the slope of the great
campus, 1 saw men sitting silently I'M
der trees, communing with the author
of the visible, as well as the invisible
universe. 1 walked to the woods in
which found a shrine which was Gedi-
Gated to the Virgin so years ago. A Coz
en- broad backed, square shouldered
men were on their knees before this
statuette of the Mother of Sorrows. I
turned toward the little chapel on the
slope, where 1 found other men beat
ing their breasts before a beautiful ten
thousand dollar altar donated by the
Corrigans of Kansas City. as a me-
mortal to their beautiful boy who had
lied in the college. In this altar
little wren has built her nest. I am
told that sometimes at the early morn
the tabernacle and lends her voice to
the glory of the Lord. moved on
from there to the crest of the hill and
saw an interesting sight. An old man
was leaning upon his staff. gazing SO
keenly and intently at the horizon
that, it seemed to me, he might be
watching a foot race between two red
ants in the distant hills beyond. He
told me that he was a grown man
when Daniel O'Connell was fighting
for emancipation in the British parlia-