davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-17
Foresters' Joint Initiation
LARGE NUMBER OF MEMBERS
AND CANDIDATES ASSEMBLED
LAST SUNDAY IN MlNNEAPO-
LIS ENAToR COLLIER AND
THOMAS G. CANNON SPOKE.
(Communicated.)

Five hundred members of the Cath
Ole Order of Foresters filled the st.
Boniface school auditorium in Mime
apolis last Sunday afternoon when the
joint initiation of new members took
place. About one hundred candidates
were presented and the work was con-
Quoted under the direction of State Or
ganizer Peter Loskiel as senior con-
ductor. The obligation was admins
tered by John f. Hooper Of Lincoln
Court, No. S15.
The chief address was made by the
high chief ranger, Thomas II. Cannon
Of Chicago. julius Collier, OF Shake
pee, high trustee, and State President
p. H. Martin, of Duluth, also gave adj
dresses. Mr.. Cannon gave an inter
esting history of the order from its
inception in 1883 as q mere local Or
ganization up TO its present status as
an international Catholic society. He
compared it's work with the work OF
other Catholic societies and develop
ed the thought of cooperation among
all Of the Catholic societies in this
country Each one, he said, has a
peculiar work to do, and if this be
we'll done it will aid Catholicity in
general as we'll as other organizations
of Catholic men and women. The
speaker dwelt on the peculiar Office OF
Forestry in the protection of the mid
die class Catholic home by means OF
fraternal insurance.
Mr.. Collier placed the membership
of the Catholic Order of Foresters in
Minnesota at 1,400. AS the interna-
tional convention Of the Order is TO
be held in Duluth in 1918, Mr.. Collier
suggested that Minnesota Foresters
adopt as their slogan 100000 by 1918.
Mr.. Martin spoke on the plain, prac-
tical duties of the young men entering
the order to be faithful to their
pledges and 10 work for new mem
berS.
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-17
CONVERTING THE WELSH
ENDEAVOR TO WIN
OVER PEOPLE OF WALES.

Anglicanism appears in great vari-
ETY. of colors. 1t is Protestant, semi
Protestant, quasi-Catholic, and so on.
In Wales it is greatly troubled lest
Rome should win back the people to
the ancient faith. SO it presents them,
as safeguard, with counterfeit
Catholicism, special Protestant spe-
cies. 1.-The ST. Davids Catholic
Guild" an Anglican organization, is
aiming at the diffusion throughout
Wales of Catholic ideals in the spirit
of the Welsh genius" The Guild
fears that the Welsh who look for
Catholicity will turn towards the Arch
bishop of Cardiff, and it's apprehension
is not unfounded. The Welsh have no
love for what is spurious. If they re-
main Protestants, they will not pre-
tend that they have renowned Protes-
tantism. If they desire to become
Catholics they will believe in the gen.
uine Catholic creed and join the
Church which taught their forefathers
the truths of Christianity long before
Anglican Professionalism disfigured re-
ligious life in England and Wales.
The, Welsh are too earnest in their
views of religion to be misled by
triflers. They will recognize "St.
David Catholic Guild" for what it is
essentially Protestant organization.
though it seeks to mask it's Protestant
ism. Its promoters have mistaken the
spirit of the Welsh genius which has
an invincible objection to make-be-
lieve.
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-17
DANISH WEST INDIES
CATHOLICS IN ISLANDS BELONG
TO DIOCESE OF RosEAU.

AS both branches of the Danish
parliament have passed the bill au-
thorizing the sale to the United
States of what have hitherto been
known as 1.-The Danish West Indies"
for $25,000000, and as King Chris
tan has signed it, the formal transfer
of the islands to this country will
soon be made. 1t does not appear to
be generally known that they are por-
tons of an English Catholic diocese
that of Roseau, which is a suffragan
of the archdiocese of Port of Spain,
Trinidad, British West Indies. All
these Caribbean islands belonged to
the Vicariate-Apostolic of Port OF
Spain till 1850, when Pope Plus TX
erected the Diocese of Roseau, with
it's see in Roseau, the capital OF the
isle of Dominica It's first Bishop was
Right Rev. Michael Monaghan; the
second, Right Rev. Michael Vesque;
the third, Right Rev. Rene Marie
Poirier, C. j. NJ; the fourth, Right
Rev. Michael Naughten; and the fifth
(and presenD, Right Rev. Philip
Schelfhaut, c. IS. R. They contain
goodly number Of Notwithstanding
Catholics as we'll as of Catholics OF
other tongues. The Diocese of Roseau
comprises the islands of Dominica,
B. w. L., with over 10000 Catholics;
of Monserrat, B. w. l., with over 600
Catholics; of Antigua, B. w. l., with
about 500 Catholics; of ST. Kits, with
about 1900 Catholics; of st. Croix,
with about 1920 Catholics; and of st.
Thomas, with over 5000 Catholics.
The total Protestant population of
the diocese is estimated at 100000 In
Dominica nearly all the schools are
managed by the government, relig-
ious instruction being given by priests
during school hours, but in all the
other islands, except Antigua, there
are parish schools. American Cath
olics will cordially welcome their
brethren of the former Danish West
Indies to the protecting aesis of the
Stars and Stripes.
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-17
Lack of Church Progress
THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND AND
THE PEOPLE.

We gather from what the Anglican
Archbishop Of York has been saying
in letter to his diocese Of the impress
sion made upon him regarding the re-
suits of the National Mission" that
the majority of the people did not dis
play deep interest in the undertake
ing. The outcome in the country was,
comparatively speaking, better than in
the towns. I'm the large towns and
mining districts" says the Archbishop,
with one or two notable exceptions,
it must be confessed that the mission
seems to have had much less effect
upon the mass of the population. The
reports are, on the whole, fresh proof
of the gulf fixed between the Church,
or any kind of religious fellowship,
and the bulk of the people. 1t is diff
cult to see how the result could have
been different, unless, perhaps, sensa-
tional methods on a large scale had
been used to attract attention. 1t is
very doubtful whether such methods,
even if successful for the moment, do
much good" The fact is that the
Church of England is not in touch with
the masses and little has been done
during the National Mission" to
bridge the gulf between them. In the
cities and larger towns there has been
for the ordinary observer no evidence
of a religious re-awakening. The pro-
portion Of Anglicans going to church
is very small and the working classes
are scarcely represented amongst
them at all. Neither the war nor the
mission has made any perceptible diff
ference.
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-17
National Church in Mexico
NEW MOVE MADE BY THE FIRST
CHIEF-BISHOPS TAKE NO.
TICE OF 1T.

For three years Carranza has been
endeavoring to eradicate religion from
Mexico. His whole effort has been the
persecution of the Catholic Church
The Mexican Bishops have been eX
lied; the same fate was dealt to the
foreign missions; even native priests
were driven from the land when they
did not suffer worse lot, murder OF
imprisonment; the most shameful in
dignities were heaped upon the Sis
tiers; the churches were closed; re
ligious services prohibited; the recep
ton of the Sacraments make an I'M
lawful act; in fine, everything posi-
BILE was done to deal death blow tC
Catholicism in Mexico. Yet the whole
effort was a failure. A few whose
Catholicism was a sham have fallen
away, but the mass of MeXicans have
chung to their religious beliefs.
Carranza has now changed his tao
tics. Instead of attempting the eradi
cation Of religion, which he found
himself incapable Of accomplishing
the First Chief has determined upon
the founding of national church fol
Mexico. This means simply an at
tempt to sever the religious ties that
bind the MeXicans to the Holy Father
Such move can only hope for sue
cess when based upon web of fabri
cations. Accordingly, in hope of de
luding the Mexican Catholics, Carran
"a has had circulated the report thai
the Catholic Hierarchy of Mexico, now
in exile in the United States, has
Joined him in the establishment of the
Mexican national church. The whole
is an absolute, unvarnished falsehood
Still, there is enough determination
behind the First Chief to cause tht
exiled bishops to take notice of this
latest suppression OF liberty Of con
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-17
Marriage Fees in Mexico
EXlLED PRIEST STATES THAT 1T
Is VERY LOW, ABOUT FIVE
DOLLARS.

In a recent issue of the Catholic
Mind" the Rev. John Navarette, an
eXiled Mexican priest, takes to task
the editor of Prosperity" a monthly
magazine of New York, for stating
that 1.-The Mexican Indians morals are
extremely low" and that ito some ex-
tent the Church is responsible for this,
as marriage with the blessing of the
Church comes at price too high for
the mass of the natives to pay"
Father Eavarette says in part:
IF we take the prevalence and OBJ
servance of marriage as the criterion
upon which to build our judgment of
q nations morals, the MeXicans as a
people rank among the most highly
civilized races of the world. In the
average Mexican mind the only idea
of marriage is that set forth by ST.
Paul. when he said: This is a great
sacrament The people, of course, I'M
derstand that they can receive sacra-
ments from the Church alone and they
perform all the duties toward God and
toward society which the observance
of Christian marriage implies. Hence,
divorce, race suicide and other social
evils which are common in 'up-to-date'
countries are scarcely thought Of
south of the Rio Grande. When a
Mexican looks for a wife, he intends
to select a partner for life, a maker
of his home and mother for his chill
dren.
THE truth of my assertions can be
proved by any one who visits the
country and comes in close touch with
its home life. For in Mexico nothing
is held in higher respect than the
family. Even men who have but little
self-respect will never receive into
their homes people who have not been
married in the Church, and the illegiti-
mate are ostraciZed " The
average Mexican holds that ecclesias-
teal marriage is an absolute necessity.
In a small congregation, for example,
of 1000 Mestizos and poems of whom
| happened to be the pastor, | used
to perform, on an average, four mar
riages month. In towns and cities
the parishes record an average of two
marriages daily for every 10000 souls
In Indian villages where a priest is
at hand no couple live together with
out the blessing of the Church.
AS to the ecclesiastical marriage
fee about which the slanderers of Mex
leo say so much, it is merely a con-
tribution toward the support of the
ministers of worship. In fact, it is
the only fee that is of obligation for
those who can afford it. Yet as a
conservative estimate / should say
that fifth of the marriages in Mex
leo are performed free of charge; of
the other four-fifths, olie-fifth gives an
aims below the established fee, and
lthree-fifths the regular amount So
the average Mexican does not become
much poorer because Of the payment
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-17
ANTON LANG'S MESSAGE
FAMOUS "CHRISTUs" OF PASSION
PLAY HOPES AMERICA WILL
MAKE EFFORTS FOR PEACE.

'This is not Gods war; it is mans
war. So long as there are armies and
so long as nations prepare, there will
be war
So spoke Anton Lang, "Christus" in
Obcrammergau's world-famous Pas.
sion play, on the saddest YuIetide the
little Bavarian village has ever known.
OF her 1900 population, Oberammer-
gau has given $50 to the army, includ.
ing Alfred Bierling, the Saint John
CT the play, who is now an artillery
man in the German army.
Lang desired that greetings be sent
to his friends in America and that de-
NAL be made that he had joined a
machine gun company.
Il have never been TO the 'front.' "
said this bearded man whose face
most nearly resembles the features of
the Savior. please tell my many
American friends that for me-"
And then Lang showed his visitors
book, with the names of thousands of
his friends signed therein. One sigma
ture was that OF the king Of Rumania.
He said:
Fifty Of our people have fallen.
How shall it end? | see no end. |
see another spring Of fighting, blood
Ter than ever. And if neither side is
defeated, then more fighting, with mil
lions being killed and millions of
others working SO other millions shall
be killed, with some Of those millions
becoming rich in the war.
Il recall Christ's words, who takes
the sword shall perish by the sword.
That doesn't mean Europe shall per-
ish by the sword, but | interpret the
phrase to mean that he who starts
war shall perish
Lang was told how some Of Ru
mania's soldiers said they did not be
lieve in God any more because God
would not permit such murder as the
great war has brought about Lang
replied slowly:
Yes, | know. | receive similar let
ters from the front. But | reply, this
is not Gods war; it is mans war. No
where in the Bible are nations told tC
murder; on the contrary, the Bible
| says, Thou shalt not kill, but | know
how the feeling is growing among sol
diers and l fear the wars bad effect
on them.
THAT is the saddest thought today
Why has England the largest navy:
Why has Germany the largest army:
Because Of world trade.
las long as people are selfish and
unsatisfed-though they have every
thing-and until they follow Christs
example, then there will be war
Lang was dressed in his Red Cross
uniform and had just returned, when
interviewed, from a cemetery, where
he had buried an officer. The face OF
the famous "Christus" was placid-a
picture of patience-but his words re
vealed his own suffering.
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-17

hour for Mass and a stranger to the
parish would not hear the announce
ment the previous Sunday. Such a
person, of course, may readily learn
the time Of the Sunday Mass from any
fellow Catholic or from the priest him.
self. In general the priest makes just
as few announcements as are absolute
ly necessary. Each one takes some
moments and distracts the people
somewhat from the primary obliga-
ton.
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-17

science in Mexico. Accordingly Rt.
Rev. Ignacio Valdespino, Bishop of
Aguascalientes, Mexico, now living in
San Antonio, has addressed a pastoral
letter to his flock in Mexico, in which
he takes notice of this new move of
Carranza.
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-17

of the marriage contribution, for the
fee is never higher than II pesos, the
average being eight, and for a Mexi-
can, even of the poorest classes, such
a fee is very little"
A peso is a little less than half a
dollar.
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-17
Life's Land.
written for The Catholic Bulletin,
by DR.. James Henderson,

From the borders of Lies Land
river
Runs off to the great Is-to-Be,
Long it's course the most wonderful
cities;
Still farther mist-hidden sea:
And out there the sailors are waiting
To row us, when tasks are all
through, 4.
Perhaps when the hours are full
gloomy;
Perchance when the skies all are
blue.
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-17

their protector. He died OH July 81
1866, at the age of 80 years.
1t must not be supposed from the
| foregoing that las Casas' missionary
labors were chiefly bound up with
legislation. His labors for the Indians
knew no such limitations. He was
the true missionary priest in the Field
Affair, as we'll as the priestly advo
cate before the Spanish Court.
Converting the Indians.
He went among the tribes and con
verified them. He preached the Cos
pei to them, he catechiZed, he hap.
tized them in the Faith. He travelled
through the wilderness and over
mountains even at an advanced age
undergoing every hardship that he
might minister to the scattered fiocks
His labors covered the lands of Mex
leo, of Guatemala, of Peru, of Cuba, of
Tuzulatan, of San Domingo, of Porto
Rico. Everywhere he labored to free
the Indians from their bonds and
from their paganism. He had mis-
sion--he knew it-and he was faith
ful to it.
He was the true type of the true
missionary. Like Paul in earliest
times, like Xavier in a later day, like
the whole valiant army Of Apostles
of the Faith through all the ages, he
fought for Christ with all the power
that was in him. He knew the Gospel
words: go. teach all nations" only
in their literal acceptation. He gave
up all and followed Christ. He knew
that his conservation must be entire.
There must be no giving merely a
part His remuneration must be COM
plete. His must be the remuneration
and the zeal of Paul. Opposition, dis
favor, persecution, perils of travel and
threats to life itself, enemies in high
places, even PRINCIPAL these he
disregarded in his singleness of pur-
pose.
Great Apostle of the Faith.
He made himself hated, hunted
even, but he did it for the sake of
Christ. Las Casas' adherence TO his
ideal never wavered. He heard the
gentle Masters voice calling him from
far off Galilee; and hearing, he an
SWered it. He renOunced his proper
ties, he renowned his friends, he re-
nOunced his promise and his life itself
Truly was he great Apostle OF the
Faith, such as those who labored in
the infant Church-even such as the
great Apostle of the Gentiles. Amer
lea may we'll be proud of such man
and missionary-he first priest and
first missionary. And America is
proud of him. One of her historians
John Fiske, himself a Protestant, tells
us: I'm contemplating such life as
that of las Casas, all words Of eulogy
seem weak and frivolous. The his
torian can only bow in reverend awe
before a figure which is, in some re-
spects, the most beautiful and sub
lime in the annals of Christianity
since the Apostolic age. When now
and then in the course of the CEN
turtles Gods Providence brings such
a life into the world, the memory of
it must be cherished by mankind as
one of it's most precious and sacred
possessions For the thoughts, the
words, the deeds of such a man, there
is no death. The sphere of their in
f1uence goes on widening forever.
They bud, they blossom, they bear the
fruit from age to age
1t is the perfect tribute from Amer
ica's historian to Americas first
priest, Americas first missionary,
Americas first Apostle of the Catho-
lie Faith.
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-17
CONTINUED from page IL
Bartolome De Las Casas

Catholic Church. What induced him
to this step, we do not know. Only
this we do know-that in November
1910, las Casas was ordained to the
priesthood and said his first Mass
the first priest to be ordained and
the first priest to offer up his first
Mass on American soil.
For a time after his ordination, his
life, as far as We know it, was not
very remarkable. He continued to
manage his estates and to work them
with Indian slaves. He seems to
have been at least not over jealous
Then, of sudden, we find him fired
with q mighty zeal for these very In,
dams, whom up till then, he, in com
mon with his fellow Spaniards, had
regarded as little more than brutes
and at best as only slaves. He seems
to have suddenly become conscious
of the terrible wrong being done these
native Americans.
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-17
Fighting for the Right.

An interesting incident is told in
this regard. The Spaniards, refused
absolution and therefore unable to
make their Easter duty, forced their
way into his house and threatened his
person. Gentlemen" he said, you
may do what you will, I will not yield. .
That was the secret of his charac-
ter-he would not yield. He went on
fighting the fight of right despite all
obstacles and despite all costs. True,
his fight was not entirely successful
at the time-the laws he labored so
long to secure were partly abrogated
for political reasons. But the seed
had been planted, and the harvest,
though delayed, was very great. The
Indians were saved. Las Casas re-
turned to Spain and continued his
work in their behalf at court, as a
minister of state, for the last eighteen
years of his life He worked till the
end, always for his Indians, always as
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-17
Freedom for the Slaves.

At length, on his fourth visit came
the crown of his labors-a law which
stopped all the present abuses and
guaranteed the abolition of Indian
slavery within single generation. 1t
was signal triumph, the more so be-
cause Of the strength of the oppo-
sition against which it was secured.
1t was the very coping stone Of his
life work for the redman.
At the same time he was, much
against his will, appointed to an epis-
copal see in South America. He re-
turned thither with the new law and
worked for its enforcement He was
bitterly attacked on every side. His
countrymen called him a traitor, he
was social outcast; he was calumni-
ated and vilified; he was mobbed il
his own house. But his resolution
never wavered. He refused all COM
promise and even went SO far as to
deny dissolution to Shareholders who
would not obey the law and free their
slaves
The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-17

W1In mighty zeal LOT InCSG very III
dams, whom up till then, he, in COM
mon with his fellow Spaniards, had
regarded as little more than brutes
and at best as only slaves. He seems
to have suddenly become conscious
of the terrible wrong being done these
native Americans.
Spanish Adventures.
And we'll he might, for even con-
sentative history tells us that condi-
tons were terrible. The Spanish ad-
venturers were for the most part
purely adventures. They were seek
ing wealth and even human rights
and liberties must not stand in the
way of that seeking. They reduced
the natives to a condition of serfdOm
to a practical slavery. The Indians
were compelled to work the soil, to
labor in the mines, and were subject
to the most brutal and inhuman
treatment. If las Casas speaks truly,
wholesale murders of the Indians by
the whites were quite the ordinary
thing and these, together with the
ravages of disease and the hardships
of slavery, caused such a loss of life
that the Indians of America seemed
on a fair way to determination.
These were the conditions las CaSas
found himself suddenly conscious of
as a priest at the age of 81 years.
These were the conditions he set
himself to remedy.
Fought Against Great Odds.
His task was no sinecure. Estab-
lished' order and financial interests
were pitted against him and estab-
liShed order Cor even established dis
order) and financial interests are no
mean antagonists even in our own
day. But las Casas was not the man
to fear even these great odds. He
must stop the torrent of Indian blood
which was being shed. He must save
the Indians and preach the Gospel to
them.
Five times he journeyed over seas
to Spain to fight for the abolition of
Indian slavery before the Spanish
court. He fought against men of in
fiuence and power-princes and court
favorites-whose vast estates and
royal grants in the new world would
become worthless in the event OF
slaverys passing
On each visit, first as secular
priest and later as a Dominican friar,
he carried his fight to the bitter end
and gradually his efforts bore fruit
He was appointed Protector of the
Indians; laws for alienation of con-
ditions were passed. commissions
were sent to America to right the
wrongs which las Casas had de-
nounced; las Casas was given a royal
grant which freed the slaves in a
large territory.
Freedom for the Slaves
Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1917-07-20

lected and paid in from such source.
Yours very truly,
HARRY l.. PATTON
Attorney General
But vigorous action upon the part
OF the present officers is the thing
needed to improve the collection of
our taxes Without such action no
permanent improvement can be ex-
pected