This pamphlet was conceived in enthusiasm by men and women who are bristling with PEP to build a Beautiful Church in St. James Parish. They are impatiently waiting: they are clamoring for action. They want YOU to know what they propose doing. They hope you will be with them. Don't look for a seat in the Grand Stand -- People who do things move -- the disinterested sit and watch -- Our Parish Big Drum is beating a marching tune -- "LET'S GO."
Quite frequently we hear of a Catholic family residing in the Parish who take no interest in St. James and on Sunday goes to another church.
Some of these good people have nothing against us, their pastors; because they say they have never seen us or our church but they simply are more interested somewhere else.
Their Catholic neighbors are sometimes quick to think if not to say - "they remain away because they don't want to give." This is often very uncharitable and frequently is untrue. There are a few parishioners who go to other churches on Sunday and because they are good Catholics obey the law of the Church and contribute to the support of their own parish.
To us it is not a question of funds; it is a matter of organization and obedience. There is assigned by Church authority a territory to each pastor; the people in that territory are given to him to uphold, defend and extend the Church, make provisions for the Sisters who teach in the school, erect parochial buildings, and provide generally for the spiritual welfare and Christian education of the poor and ignorant that live within the confines of the parish.
A person who never attends his parish Church is guilty of bad example.
When you don't attend your parish Church evidently you are not deeply interested in the welfare of the flock. It is of little importance to you how much they scatter and are disorganized! You will not be held responsible for the other parish; you may presume they have enough of good whole-hearted Catholics to sustain and support them. Why then should you desert your post and neglect your own?
Your moral support means much to your parish organization. Your neighbors who are good Catholics grieve that you choose to abandon them. They have many projects that would be advanced by your co-operation, and you would benefit spiritually by being enthusiastically interested in your parish Church, convent and school. Who will take care of the poor children, the nuns and the Church if you don't? Think about it.
American people love their public schools. In every community the citizens point with pride to the school building and regard it as the source of Democratic ideas and the safeguard of the nation. They have a deep-settled prejudice against anything which takes from its importance or interferes with its beneficial influence, and for this reason they view with suspicion, if not with deep prejudice, the parochial school.
Democratic unity is undoubtedly a laudable end to endeavor to achieve but it can be procured, without sacrificing the fundamental principles of the Constitution of the United States.
As a nation we proclaim the inalienable rights of our citizens, and it is entirely contrary to our notions of freedom to deprive any individual who is not a criminal of his God-given rights and liberties.
At the back of this school question there is a fundamental principle which every American must defend and uphold, and this is, Human Beings Are Not Made for the State, but the State Is Organized to Promote the Welfare and Procure the Happiwess of All Who Belong to It.
A tenet of our philosophical theory of government maintains that the child belongs to the parent and the right to direct the child's action is his proper privilege. Undue interference with his liberty in this respect, even by the State, must be regarded as tyrannical and oppressive.
Catholic people maintain that there is a dual ownership in every child, a natural right arising from procreation through the parents and a supreme dominion through the creation of the soul by the Almighty God.
Catholic parents therefore believe they have a solemn duty to instruct the child that his first duty in life is to acknowledge the Supreme Authority of his Creator and to submit to His Divine Will during the time of his probation here on earth, and by so doing, save his immortal soul.
They believe that the eternal happiness of the child is more important than his temporal welfare; hence, they maintain that an education is abnormal which places material welfare above the aim and end of Divine Wisdom.
"What does it profit a man," said Christ, "to gain the whole world and lose his immortal soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
Broad-minded Americans who appreciate fundamental principles approve of our religious zeal to promote God's Glory and to uphold the Christian Ideal of education. They see no danger to the State in the establishment of our parochial schools.
The Supreme Court of the United States decided in the Oregon School Case June 1, 1925, that parents have the first right in the education of children and added: "The fundamental theory of liberty upon which all governments in this Union repose excludes any general power of the State to standardize its children by forcing them to accept instruction from public teachers only. The child is not the mere creature of the State; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right coupled with the high duty to recognize - and prepare him for additional duties."
In the encyclical letter of Pius XI the church makes clear her reason for promoting and defending the Catholic School: - "Let it be loudly proclaimed and well understood and recognized by all, that Catholics, no matter what their nationality, in agitating for Catholic schools for their children, are not mixing in party politics, but are engaged in a religious enterprise demanded by conscience. They do not intend to separate their children either from the body of the nation or its spirit, but to educate them in a perfect manner, most conducive to the prosperity of the nation. Indeed a good Catholic, precisely because of his Catholic principles makes the better citizen, attached to his country, and loyally submissive to constituted civil authority in every legitimate form of government."
A large gathering of friends and relatives gathered in St. James Church on Wednesday, August 20th, to be present at the Nuptial Mass of Miss Genevieve Woods, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Woods, 6151 Crescent Ave., who was married to Mr. John L. Boverie, 3907 Iowa Ave. Miss Viola Flemming, 8900 Tudor Ave., was bridesmaid, and Mr. Boverie's brother, Leo, was best man.
After breakfast at the Saum Hotel the young couple went to Kansas City on their honeymoon and on their return will reside at 3137 Louisiana Ave.
We extend our felicitations to the young couple and wish them many happy years and this we do the more earnestly because Genevieve was one of the old standbys in the days when we had young ladies collecting the quarter a week for our new church.
Sts. Isaac Joques, John de Brebeuf and companions are the first North American Saints and Martyrs to be canonized by Holy Mother the Church. September the twenty-sixth of this year will be the first time their feast will be celebrated throughout the Catholic world. These Jesuits preached the Gospel and suffered torture and death for the sake of Christ here in the United States. True Catholics should be especially mindful of their forceful example of zeal for the Faith, and upon their feastday their memory should be honored by an extra prayer for their intercession.
If reason alone was sufficient guide for man's conduct it would not have been necessary for God to send His Son into the world to give a new revelation and to atone for the sins of man.
The elementary dogma of Christian Faith is, that Salvation comes through Christ and that God has made known His Will In a new dispensation through revelation. "There is no other name under Heaven by which a man can be saved but the name of Jesus."
Our public schools of necessity, must ignore this fact, because they are established for Jew and Gentile and are fundamentally organized on the basis of the separation of Church and State. There can be no religious instruction in our public schools if they are true to the conception of the founders of our Constitution. Many earnest Americans deplore this fact and attribute our crime waves to the lack of religious education. Well informed authorities state that crime cost the country last year, seven billion five hundred million dollars. This must be attributed to a faulty system of education for the majority of criminals are youths who have only recently graduated or completed their education, and of the 27 million pupils in our schools there are only 2 l/2 millions according to the last census who are under the influence of Catholic education.
The motives for being good that are inculcated by our public school system of necessity must be material or social wellbeing. Our directors of education, seeing how completely these are falling, are floundering about in search of something that will strengthen the moral fiber of our school children.
As an illustration we may take the case of expenence with Character Education as seen in a mid-weatarn state. Nebraska now is in her third year of experience with a formally drawn up course in Character Education prescribed by the state legislative enactment for all the schools within the state. The text of the law which was passed in the session of 1927: "It shall he the duty of each and every teacher employed to give instruction in the regular course of the first twelve grades of any public, private, parochial or denominational school in the State of Nebraska to so arrange and present his or her instruction as to give special emphasis to common honesty. morality, courtesy, obedience to law, respect for the National Flag, the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of Nebraska, respect for the parents and the home, the dignity and necessity of common labor, and other lessons of steadying influence which tend to promote and develop an upright and desirable citizenry."
This is all very well as far as it goes. Our aim should be to handle character so that as life proceeds what is best in us must grow stronger and what is worst, ever weaker; but as a river can rise no higher than its source, can a developing personality rise higher than its known and cherished ideals? Supplanting Divine Wisdom by ethical ideas will never curb human passion. The Catholic school places before the child the Human Divine Model infinitely perfect in every virtue and teaches him to respect and obey the Divine Author of the Ten Commandments. When we urge a child not to steal, not to lie, not to commit adultery, we add, "not I, but God commands."
Mr. Wm. Forrest, 1015 Fairmount Ave., was operated upon for a prostate gland on Monday, August 18th, at St. John's Hospital. He is progressing favorably.
Adolph Menner, 6430 Wise Ave., is in a critical condition at St. Mary's Hospital as a result of an operation on August 20th for a ruptured appendix.
Mrs. Stephen Burch, 6507 Nashville Ave., has returned to St. John's Hospital because of a recurrence of malaria.
Mrs. John Kelley, 6905 Mitchell Ave., a former and very loyal parishioner of St. James, suffered a paralytic stroke last week at her home and is in a serious condition at St. Mary's Hospital.
Mrs. Sylvester Jenneman, 5928 Victoria Ave., is recuperating at St. John's Hospital after an operation for appendicitis.
FOR RENT: Flat, 4 rooms with screened porch, tile bath, furnace, 6515a W. Park Ave. Mrs. Manion.
Of the several interesting weddings which took place in St. James Church during the month of August, that of Miss Catherine Coad, daughter of Mrs. Eliz. Coad, 6938a Bruno Ave., was the most elaborate.
Miss Coad was married to Louis Kuhlman, 3447a Gilmore Ave., Nativity parish, from Nuptial Mass on August 18 at 9 o'clock.
The bride was given away by her brother, Mr. Martin Coad, and wore an ivory satin gown trimmed with Irish lace. She wore a cap-shaped veil also trimmed with Irish lace.
Mrs. Catherine Schulz, 4209a Chouteau Ave., was matron of honor and was dressed in pink taffeta.
The bridesmaids, Margaret Huff, 6272 Frisco Park and Virginia Kuhlman, sister to the groom, were dressed in green taffeta.
John Thurber, nephew to the bride, was ring bearer and Mary Ann Lauer was flower girl.
Mr. Kuhlman's brother. Robert, was best man and Russell Cissell, 8121 N. Newstead, and Edward Wajchiechowski, 5931 Thekla Ave., were groomsmen.
Breakfast was served by the groom's mother, Mrs. Kuhlman, at her home and a reception was given in the evening to the young couple and a large gathering of relatives and friends by Mrs. Eliz. Coad, mother to the bride, at her home, 6988a Bruno Ave. Rev. N.E. Pohl offlctated at the ceremony and was also present at the breaktast and reception.
Mr. and Mrs. George Kletzker spent the past week at Edgewater Beach, Chicago, and had a good time on the lakes.
The ex-Mayor of Richmond Heights and his wife, Nellie, are spending their vacation fishing and playing golf on the Indian Reservation near Shawano, Wis.
John F. Moran, son of Patrick and Mary Moran, was married August 11, 1930, to Katherine I. Smith, by Father Ryan at St. Matthew's Church. Dorothy Smith and Bert Smith, sister and brother of the bride, were bridesmaid and groomsman. After a private wedding and breakfast with relatives at the Fairmont Hotel, the young couple went on their honeymoon to Arcadia, Missouri.
There will be a change in the time of Sunday Masses the first Sunday in October when the winter schedule will begin and the first Mass will be at 6 o'clock, second 7:30, third 9, and the last at 11 o'clock.
Mrs. Barbara Grosch, 1431 Hampton Avenue, age 89, died Monday, August 18th, at her home and was buried from St. James Church Thursday, August 21st. Her remains were conveyed to Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery.
Mrs. Grosch lived the greater part of 65 years in St. James Parish and was the wife of Siegfred Grosch, the wagon maker whose shop was at Tamm and Clayton Avenues. She was a widow 44 years and was the mother of Mrs. Geo. Clegg, 6851 Garner Ave., Mrs. John Carney, 3500 Michigan Ave., Frank and Frances Grosch who now reside in the old home. Mrs. Dan McVey, Charleston, Ill., Mrs. Ed. Nagel, 4436 Redbud Ave., and the late Joseph Grosch.
Mrs. Grosch was a splendid type of the old time Catholic. She was much beloved by all her neighbors and probably never quarreled with one of them in her long life. She was bighearted and charitably disposed and in her church affiliation she was regarded as a first class parishioner, she always cooperated with her pastors and was self sacrificing and generous in her contributions. She imparted the Faith in its purity to her children. They are all zealous, Godfearing Christians.
Her wake and funeral were attended by a large number of the community and her demise is regarded as a passing of another much beloved and respected old settler.
For many years, she frequently received the Sacraments of the Church and on the last occasion when she went to Communion she informed her spiritual director that she was getting old and weary and if it were God's Will she was ready to die. May she rest in peace.
Dear Father O'Connor: -
Am anxious for you to know of my heart-felt appreciation of the great service rendered us by your fine choir on the day of Father Marrin's First Mass, and of your ready and willing acquiescence in foregoing the services of the choir in our behalf on that day.
I know you will not be surprised to know that we had a most splendid musical treat, but you will, I am sure, be pleased to learn of the many expressions of praise we have since received of the high character of the choir which I am glad to thank sincerely through you the pastor.
Sincerely in our Lord,
Michael J. O'Leary,
Pastor St. Malachy's Church.
To God-fearing parents, the parochial school offers a stupendous helping hand in the training of children to fear, love and serve God and save their immortal souls.
Parents are stewards in God's Vineyard and on the day of Judgment will have to render a strict account of how they discharged their duty to their children. A child who goes wrong because he never had an opportunity of knowing what is right, will accuse his parents before the judgment seat of God of dire neglect.
The parochial school not only teaches the child what is right and wrong but actually gets him to live a religious life and to use the means which Christ has given us for Salvation.
The child is taught his prayers and is asked each day if he has faithfully discharged this obligation. On Sunday he goes to church and becomes habituated to religious worship. At stated times he goes to confession and Communion and is thus strengthened by frequent reception of the Sacraments.
The atmosphere in which he lives is religious and ennobling. His teachers are dressed in a religious garb, the children with whom he associates practice the same moral code and have the same religious conception of life. In the school room there are religious articles that eminently place upon the plastic mind the great facts of Redemption and Salvation. The Crucifix teaches him the Love of God. The proximity of the Church intimates the Divine Presence. Everything he sees or hears directly or indirectly reminds him of God. He is taught patience, obedience, self-denial, self-sacrifice, purity, honesty, patriotism and love of his neighbor. From morning till night he has drummed into his ears, "Love is the Fulfilling of the Law." Habits of virtue are formed which in many instances are lifelong and as he grows older he develops principles of conduct which will restrain him in every temptation. His appetites are curbed by frequent fasting, his impulses are controlled and directed by the highest motives, his character is moulded and formed so that he may enter life as a Christian and a good citizen.
In communities that are predominantly Catholic, crime and criminals are little known and the prisons are empty, conscience takes the place of the police officer and the Confessional supplants the courts. Nor is a secular training neglected whilst the religious life is developed. In public examinations, prize contests and other tests of mental progress it has been a well established fact that a pupil from the parochial school is able to take care of himself.
The teachers in parochial schools have in these later years thoroughly qualified themselves and in most instances are accredited teachers. They have no distractions or worldly inducements to neglect their duty. Day by day they conscientiously endeavor to promote the best interests of their pupils. They make no distinction between rich or poor. Every child is to them, a child of God. They have no friends, no favorites. They accept no gifts and discharge their duty without fear or favor.
In the parochial school there is rigid discipline and children are discharged who refuse to study. This policy is based on the supposition that the parents are not cooperating with the teachers in the case of a child who has ability and makes no effort to learn, such a one becomes a nuisance and a bad example to all the others. A child who is mentally deficient is given the greatest consideration. The parochial school teaches many things well and the one thing that is essential, viz., to please God and save one's immortal soul.
Mildred Lindauer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Lindauer, 1465 Graham Ave., age 22 years, died at her home Friday, August 22nd, and was buried Monday, August 25th, from St. James Church.
She was awarded a child's funeral because owing to an attack of spinal meningitis in infancy she continued to remain a child. All these years she was nursed by her mother with unalterable affection. Her mind was sufficiently developed to enable her to know those around her and to appreciate their loving consideration. She knew little except the incidents of home life and when her sister, Mauresetta, received her First Communion a year ago Mildred became deeply interested, and frequently asked Mauresetta to tell her about Our Lord.
She was never weary of hearing of Christ's Passion and Death. She used to say she loved Him because He was so good. When Father O'Connor learned of her illness and of her devotion to Our Lord, he administered to her the Viaticum a few days before she died and she became a very happy little lady.
Her pall bearers were school children, friends of her sister, Mauresetta. They were accustomed to visit her and were keenly delighted to give her entertainment.
In the opinion of her parents she never committed a sin; and as it was presumed that she died retaining her Baptismal beauty and innocence the church bells rang joyfully when her remains were brought to church as is customary at a child's funeral.
We do not ask prayers for her as we believe she is in Heaven.
The shadow of an ugly bill for $6,750 is falling upon us and will have to be faced November 1st. We have about $3000 in the treasury and the balance will have to be met by generous contributions of all the parishioners who can afford to donate. There are many people who are out of work and for that reason our resources are more limited. Bigger contributions from those who have constant employment will be necessary to meet the deficit aristng from fewer contributors.
Statements covering contributions since the first of the year, will be mailed by the first Sunday in September to each known wage earner in the congregation. Don't depend too much on the other fellow, he is probably doing more than his share. You are asked to give a helping hand.
High Masses will be resumed beginning the first Sunday in September. Our choir have attracted much favorable attention by all lovers of music who have heard them. It is discouraging to see a small congregation at the parochial Mass.
Waldo and Dean Bisso had a few pleasant days at Sedalia State Fair.
Mr. and Mrs. B.P. Brady, parents of our well known young ladies, the Brady twins, reluctantly moved from St. James Parish last week to a larger residence at 4768 Greer Ave. They failed after a search of several weeks to find in this locality a seven room house for rent. Mr. Brady had been an usher for many years in St. James Church and took a keen interest in distributing left over copies of Our Sunday Visitor in street cars and libraries. He also was accustomed to place a bundle of them in the magazine collection box on 9th Street near Pine.
Perhaps some other faithful parishioner would volunteer for this work. Our gratitude for God's gift of faith to us is shown best by the zeal with which we strive to spread His kingdom on earth.
"Rainy season here this summer in Killarney," write us Mr. and Mrs. Oarroll, new parishioners who reside in the Dewey apartments.
John Lavin, 6438 Wade Ave., beloved husband of Margaret nee Griffin and dear father of Owen T., John P. and Joseph E. Lavin, a baby 6 months old, died at St. John's Hospital after a lingering sickness on August 6th and was buried from St. James Church August 8th.
Mr. Lavin was reared in this community and his life was an open book to a great many residents. For many years he had been sickly, but continued his labors to support his family. His employer considered him so favorably he paid him a full salary during the several months he was an invalid. During his illness he was usually patient and cheerful though he had frequent acute attacks of heart disease; his kidneys also became affected and the last few weeks of his life his distress was evident though he tried to conceal it from those about him. He was an earnest Christian man and won the affections of all who knew him. May he rest in peace.
Mrs. Lommen came to St. Louis to be a God-mother for her grandchild, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Lommen, 6211 W. Park Ave.
She arrived from Detroit August 3rd and died on August 8th. After her journey she suffered a paralytic stroke and as her condition became serious, a priest was called. Administration of the Sacraments became difficult because the only language she knew was Flemish; fortunately one of the Fathers of the Holy Family who reside in the parish was sufficiently acquainted with this tongue to hear her confession and give her spiritual consolation. During her illness she manifested a deep Christian Fatth. After a funeral at St. James Church Saturday, August 9th, her remains were conveyed to Detroit for interment. May she rest in peace.
Mrs. D. Harris, 1033 Fairmount Ave., is a patient in St. Mary's Hospital suffering from a nervous breakdown.
The John P. Dolan Soccer Team are to start the twilight league games on September 7th.
School Geography had little attraction for me as a boy. It was a task assigned by a stern disciplinarian who believed the rod was the most persuasive argument to use on a boy who preferred to investigate the possibilities of local streams and far away stretches of moorland than to memorize the difficult names of towns, provinces, rivers, lakes, promontories and mountain ranges in distant lands.
There were, however, well defined and distinctly colored portions of the school map that, because of size and peculiar markings, made a vivid appeal to my imagination and as the names were associated with the few words of my limited vocabulary and easily remembered - I regarded them with a feeling of appreciation akin to fondness, and have ever associated them with the pleasurable impressions of my youth. Among the relief spots in the Geography of the world I have remembered none with more pleasing recollection and grateful appreciation than I do that long range of mountains in the American Continent that stretched with fine boldness of dark color down the center of the entire map from Canada to Mexico and were sufficiently accommodating to a boy's memory notwithstanding their height and length, to be called such a plain expressive name - Rocky Mountains.
All the pretentious hills I had known in my childhood were rocky. From the front door of our hom I could see the Kerry Mountains in the distant horizon, lifting their rugged peaks sufficiently high to touch the Heavens or that portion of the sky where the earth commingled with the clouds under an azure robe.
The Rocky Mountains have been to me the Mother of all the mountains I have known and in my memory they have been associated with all the tales of adventure and romance that have delighted the mind and captivated the imagination of every boy who has read even sparingly of the thrilling stories of the Wild West.
After seeing them and the various scenes connected with the pioneers, the stage coach, the forest ranger, the mining camp, mountain robber and Buffalo Bill, I now am more convinced that never did Nature set a stage more peculiarly suited to an adventurous tale of heroism and daring deeds, than the magnificcnt panorama of mountain and canyons that separate the eastern portion of this continent from the West and has made the Rockies the delight of all who seek an outlet for adventure in story or in fact. The records of the past point to them as the almost impregnable barrier that halted the onward march of the pioneer in his thirst to fill his sacks with the golden treasures of the West, and made the men and women who succeeded in scaling those heights, heroines and heroes who must always be given a place of distinction in the honor roll of the brave.
The trails these pioneers cut through the mountains and forests still bear mute testimony to their energy and daring; and their descendants who live beyond the range have more reason, in my estimation, for pride in their forbears than have the descendants of those much heralded Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Rock. These pioneers were surrounded with more dangers, and surmounted more difficulties than did the Pilgrims. They dared attack with scanty preparation the great Fortress with which the Mighty Monarch of the Mountain with extended arms and prodigious threatening blocked their passage to wealth and glory and held half of a continent as his Domain. Above them towered the snarling visage and frowning brow of the mountain with open jaws and cyclopian molars, and huge hands ready to roll down upon them, gigantic masses of granite, but they were not deterred in their march; they attacked these dangers with daring courage and captured the highest passes only to find beyond, a hungry desert devoid of water and every semblance of human sustenance.
The early adventurers made the roads as they went and cut serpentine trails along and up through the range till these paths as viewed from a distance look like the threads of silk in a suspended horizontal skein. As the tourist proceeds he sees below him the road he recently travelled and after an hour's journey and tortuous turns he still can see directly below him a point at which he passed. The view from these ridges takes one's breath away and gives a feeling akin to terror when the observer considers that a fragile clutch or an inconsiderate move of the chauffeur's hand might bring the automobile in a crashing moment down 5000 feet over chasm and canyon to the rocks below.
Across the giant's body there is cut a passage that leads most directly to the West, and there is also a road at each extremity.
It was at Denver and through this central trail I entered the mountains in company with my faithful and cherished friend Rev. Robt. E. McKeon, assistant pastor of St. Mark's. We drove over the 240 mile circle tour through the Nationut Park that returns to Denver through Loveland in the north.
Our experience from the time we arrived in Denver Monday night until we left there Thursday morning was a succession of delights and agreeable social contacts for which we are deeply grateful to the many charming people whom we met as strangers and parted with as friends. The only acquaintance known to us in Denver was Mrs. O'Fallon. We wired her from the train and she and her son met us at the depot and extended to us a warm welcome. At our request we were driven to the Argonaut Hotel where our good fortune began. The owner, Mr. Frank J. Huberl, on seeing us enter like two enthusiastic school-boys having fishing poles in our hands, apparently marked us out as persons deserving consideration. We told him of our piscatorial ambitions and asked if he had any friend who was a fisherman and was well acquainted with the mountain streams. He smiled enthusiastically and said pointing to an individual who sat at an information desk, "Paul, take a few days off and drive these gentlemen to Monarch Lake in the morning. There you will find the best fishing in all the mountains."
Paul Swank immediately took us in charge and the few days we spent in his company were the most delightful we ever experienced. He is a noble Swiss from the Canton of Berne and an ex-soldier of the Rainbow Brigade. The O'Fallons showed us Denver that evening and we were much impressed with the beauty of the city. It differs from all the American cities we had ever seen and is peculiarly attractive because of the correctness of its architecture and the grandeur of its parks and public buildings. In this city sky scrapers are not permitted and when one views the metropolis from an elevation his eye at once observes the State Capitol, church towers, schools and all the other imposing public edifices; each one manifesting its importance from its size and magnificence and taking its place as ambassadors do at table each in accordance with his claim to superiority and social rank.
We arranged to leave the hotel next morning at 6 a.m. and Paul was promptly taking our satchels as the Angelus rang. Anticipating snow in the mountains he provided overcoats for us and he was also equipped with a rifle and a complete fishing outfit. As we drove out of the city to the south and west he pointed to a nearby peak and said, "there is Lookout Mountain." Immediately my mind reverted to Buffalo Bill and I was informed that he now rests at the top of that famous ridge looking down, we hope, with pleased content on the great plains to the east of irrigated farms and vast acreages of beet gardens.
As we drove southwest along the road that runs to Colorado Springs parallel with the mountains, we were not much impressed with the first sight of the Rockies. It appeared to me that the Kerry Mountains are much more impressive, and that the Alleghaneys are a higher range. As we turned to the west at the foot of the mountains there is a cemetery concerning which Paul remarked, "There is only one class of people buried here." I was much interested in this lack of democratic ideas among the westerners, and asked Paul how that was and he replied, "None is buried here except the dead ones." Paul felt happy in his little joke and we enjoyed it because our hearts were filled with gladness, we were on our vacation and anticipated three very pleasant days touring this wilderness.
Gradually our automobile moved up into the mountains and as we advanced the scene became more gorgeous and magnificent. We climbed range after range till we reached Idaho Springs where we ate breakfast at the Queens Hotel after a 35 mile drive. This is a very unpretentious place. The manager and owner apparently was also the cook. He was assisted by a handsome, gentle boy who was most solicitous to give us efficient service. We had here our first taste of mountain canteloupes and they tasted sweeter and better than any cantaloupe I ever ate, and I wondered if a supply of them ever reaches the St. Louis market. We had also mountain ham that was equally good and eggs and other appetizing dainties. All at the moderate cost of 75c an individual service.
Leaving the hotel we continued to climb higher and higher and as we proceeded we noticed everywhere shafts of mines where silver and other valuable minerals are still procured. Into the valleys gushing, rolling streams come down from the snow-clad hills and frequently the traveller finds himself in a mining village. Our chauffeur pointed to us the tree line, a well defined territory in the peaks above which there is no vegetation, and all is gigantic walls of granite, canyon and chasm. As we passed upwards through the forests our attention was frequently called to bare patches in the hills where forest fires had cleared a pathway or where gigantic masses of rock and mountain slipped from their moorings and tore down through the chasms a smooth pathway till they reached the valley. On one occasion we came upon a herd of 15 deer placidly grazing on a green sward. We were now 7000 feet above the sea level and the road continued to ascend higher and higher until Berthouds Pass was reached and the Continental Divide crossed. Here the mountain peaks range up to 14,000 feet and when they are reached the tourist is immediately impressed with a tremendous, awe inspiring respect for the Rockies.
These mountains are nature's climax at thrills. I was astounded and unusually delighted and was never so deeply impressed with the stupendous magnificence of a scene. One could make a return trip of more than ten miles in less than a minute, all that was necessary is to miss a turn by a foot and the automobile or what was left of it, would tumble in what appeared to be infinite chasms. It makes one tremble to look down and think of the terrible possibilities of an accident. The roads are just wide enough for two automobiles to pass and this only at intervals. Many tourists from the lowlands unaccustomed to mountain roads traveling in their own cars, are scared stiff. The roads are so narrow there is no turning back and every yard is a danger spot overlooking an unfenced, unwalled and unprotected chasm. Father McKeon who is a daring and expert driver said he was glad he made his first trip as a passenger.
Our chauffeur is an old-timer and our confidence in his skill relieved us of all fears, except at times when he was pressed too close to the edge of the ravine by another car, and this was quite frequently. These were splendid occasions for disposing oneself to make an examination of conscience and considering the uncertainty of life. To a conscientious Christian a trip over the Rockies is as good as a Retreat. Whilst over a chasm there is no forgetting man's last end.
There are only a few out of the way places in the mountains. The roads over which small busses run are as travelled as Broadway.
There is a continuous line of tourist cars and 4 out of every 5 that we met were from Missouri. After a 5 hour drive from Denver we arrived at Moffat Tunnel where a railroad goes under the mountains 7 7/8 miles and shortens the run to Salt Lake City by 23 hours. At the mouth of the tunnel we met a party from Philadelphia, and one of the ladies remarked to us, "I wonder how many Americans that go abroad on vacation know of the fascinating grandeur of these beauty spots at home."
At Granby, a mountain village, we stopped for gasoline. The old gentleman who attended the pump was a native who had spent 46 years on those hills. He said he had been a miner, stage coach driver, and at times a sheriff. He showed us his hands which still retained the torn tissue caused by bullets. He was reminiscent and kindly. One of his sons, he said, was killed in the war. Whilst conversing he inadvertently handed me change that was intended for the chauffeur. This I considered a compliment as I was dressed as a fisherman. "You are placing too much confidence in me," I said, "when you intrust me with this money that belongs to the chauffeur, you must think I have a conscience." "Well, if you haven't," he said, "I have a gun," and immediately he drew his six shooter. "You are," I replied, "like all the big powers. You rely more on guns than you do on the conscience of others."
After a short drive we turned from the main highway and soon reached Monarch Lake, the most delightful place I visited during this trip. Here the mountains stare down a thousand feet on a body of water about 3 square miles. The lake abounds with trout. I could have stayed there forever. The trout, however, are fastidious in their fare. Father McKeon, though an amateur, was the first to take a fish and I used all my skill for several hours before making a catch and tried at least 20 different fiies. Towards evening I happened on one that all the trout seemed to want to eat at the same time and in less than one-half hour I caught 7 mountain beauties, each about 10 inches long.
The KaHose Hotel at which we stayed over night is all that could be desired and the proprietor who hails from Kansas City and the manager, a local gentleman, were most polite and made us feel quite at home. The hotel rates are reasonable. Grass and fiowers grow about the door and a mountain stream runs within hearing distance. The evening before our arrival one of the guests saw a fawn come down from the mountain and drink in the stream. This is also a hunting resort for big game and sage hens are found in the mountains. The waitresses, we learned, are students from Denver College. Miss Strong, the lady who waited at our table is preparing to be a teacher.
From Monarch Lake we drove to Grand Lake and fished the streams along the way. This was the second day of our outing, and we continued our journey through Grand Lake to Estes Park. Both of these villages are about 12,000 feet above the sea level and are much frequented by tourists. They held little attraction for us, the streets were crowded and the place was too congested.
Before arriving at Estes Park we entered Fall River Pass and were much impressed with the gigantic peaks that we saw along the way. Here the roads are most difficult to ascend or descend, and we had many what appeared to be hair-breadth escapes.
A few miles out of Estes Park is a hotel known as Estes Park Chatel where we stayed over night. Not far distant is a lake in which we were informed there is good fishing. Mary's Lake, as it is called, is private property and the owner gives the privilege of fishing to all who are willing to pay 50c an hour for a boat and who are ready to pay him 75c a pound for all fish taken. He has a hatchery and the lake is almost alive with fish. We tried our luck there a few hours. I made up my mind that I would present for analysis to the trout every fiy I had. As soon as I found one that seemed to attract them I gave it a credit mark and immediately exchanged it. Father McKeon had much more sanguinary intentions and evidently intended investing $100. Fortunately he had not a landing net and when he had hooked a big one, he called on me to take the line a few feet from the water and lift the fish into the boat, but invariably by some accident the trout would escape. Towards sundown he suspected me of sinister intentions and tried to do his own landing. He had lots of sport and added a few nice rainbow trout to our bag.
The third day we were on our return trip to Denver and followed a road that for 30 miles is only a few feet distant from the Big Thompson river, another Paradise, it is said, for fishermen. This road passes through miles of canyons each of which, as the traveler enters, appears to be a gigantic castle inclosed in rocks. The exit cannot be seen by the tourist until he is about 20 yards away from it, and it opens as a portal to another chamber the walls of which appear to be a thousand feet high. Overhanging our automobile were immense boulders suspended on doubtful foundations and terrible to behold. In passing under one of those which I feared was about to tumble on us I feigned great fear and shouted to Father McKeon to hold his hand over his head.
By Thursday evening we were again in Denver enjoying the luxuriant ease of our hotel and next morning we drove to Colorado Springs in the neighborhood of which I took a train to St. Louis, arriving Saturday morning at 11 o'clock. In the five days that had passed I had seen the wonders of my life and had covered a distance of 2300 miles.
Should anyone of you, dear readers, take a trip to the Rockies, set out from Denver where accommodations and automobiles are by far cheaper than they can be procued at the Springs and should you call at the Arganaut Hotel you will, I expect, be given a great deal of consideration from Mr. Frank Haberl, proprietor, and his faithful guide, Mr. Paul Schwank, if you mention the names of your humble servant or Father McKeon.
P. J. O'Connor, Pastor.
Mrs. Piggot, mother of Mrs. Jas. Woods, 6151 Crescent Ave., died at St. John's Hospital on August 8th at the advanced age of 88 as the result of a fall and a broken hip. A day or two before her death Father O'Connor asked her if she feared to die and she said, "no" because she would be glad to see God and to be with him in Heaven. She was almost blind but her eye of Faith was very keen and she seemed to be able to see and appreciate many things beyond human ken. May she rest in peace.
Nell Usher LeRoi sent us a card saying that she with her father and mother and her brother, John Usher, was having a good time in the Rocky Mountains. Sorry, Mrs. LeRoi, we did not meet you there. We are just after returning from a visit and did not remain at Colorado Springs because the hotels there are too costly and there were too many sunflowers and no flshing near the town.
Caroline Catherine Schweitzer, 6317 Wade Ave.
Charles Gerard Harte, 2168 Clifton Ave.
Mildred Eva Strobl, 1041 Oakview Pl.
Robert Hubert Alfred Lommen, 6211 West Park.
James Antony Flavin, 1040a Art Hill.
There are about 150 Catholic children in the State School for the Deaf, and the Sisters of St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf inform us they are glad to receive such children regardless of poverty or religion.
The St. Louis Better Business Bureau has been informed that many merchants are being victimized by solicitors for advertising in parochial school book covers, and Monsigneur Crane, Vicar-general, states that two men posing as East Indian priests are collecting funds from Catholics for Mission work in India. There are many others who without credentials are selling magazines, distributing statues and Rosary beads. No one should be given money in St. James Parish for any Catholic cause unless they can show that they were authorized to do so in the pages of Let's Go.
Mrs. Margaret Rothenheber, wife of Norman Rothenheber, 6752 Wise Ave., died at St. Mary's Hospital on Friday, August 22nd, after giving birth to twins, one of whom also died. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. T. Black, of Forest Ave. Our deep sympathy is extended to her husband and parents. She was a graduate of St. James School as is, we believe, her husband, and in her childhood was one of the pets in the parochial school. May she rest in peace.
Miss Adeline O'Gorman and her sister, Maria, sent Father O'Connor last week from Walloon Lake, Mich., a fish that resembles a pike; but it did not look natural and was made of leather. In its mouth it bore a tag on which appeared the following verse:
Hello, there Father. How do you feel?
Don't you wish for a rod and reel,
A boat, bait and a big straw hat?
We have them all, just think of that.
Too bad you're not here, you bet;
Think of all the flsh we'd get.
Through the generosity and zeal for Christian Education, the people of St. James Parish are maintaining a parochial free school, and in many instances children of the poor are given books free; there is therefore little reason why all Catholic children should not attend the parochial school.
The importance attached to Christian Education by the Church is evident from the encyclical letter of Pope Pius XI, the Plenary Council of Baltimore, and Diocesan Statutes.
"People easily fall into error, because instead of fixing their gaze on God, first principle and last end of the whole universe, they fall back upon themselves becoming attached exclusively to passing things of earth; and thus their restlessness will never cease till they direct their attention and their efforts to God, the goal of all perfection, according to the profound saying of Saint Augustine: "Thou didst create us, 0 Lord, for Thyself, and our heart is restless till it rest in Thee."
The wisdom of the Church in this matter is expressed with precision and clearness in the Codex of Canon Law, Can. 1113: "Parents are under a grave obligation to see to the religious and moral education of their children, as well as to their physical and civic training, as far as they can, and moreover to provide for their temporal well-being."
A statute of the last Archdiocesan Synod takes from parish priests the right of deciding for parents that they have sufficient reason for not sending their children to the parochial school and reserves this to the Archbishop. It further states that parents who refuse to comply with this obligation are to be refused absolution. This seems to be a severe and rigid disciplinary law but the facts justify the legislation. In our estimation one-fifth of our Catholic people are lapsing into paganism, and in all the instances of loss of Faith that we have examined, the cause may be attributed to lack of religious education and to the associations that are formed in youth which frequently lead up to civil marriages, divorce, homes without religion and children without moral training.
The reasons that are usually given for not sending children to parochial school are expense, distance, physical defect. As to the first, it is as cheap to send children to St. James Parochial school as to the public school; and as for distance, parents are very apt to form a false idea of the difficulties a child experiences in the walk to school. They presume the child finds it as hard to walk a mile as they do themselves; but they should remember that children, to satisfy their craving for exercise, indulge in strenuous games for hours after school and they are not averse to climbing trees and telegraph poles; a physical defect undoubtedly should be given proper consideration, but even in this it is usually experienced "where there is a will there is a way."
Miss Vera Bersch and her sister, Verda, and Margaret Irvin left Saturday, August 23rd, on a trip to Niagara Falls.
St. Ann's Sodality held their picnic on Monday, August 25th, at Ravenwood on the Meramec. A goodly number of ladies gathered in front of the school and were conveyed to the grounds in private cars and trucks from Jos. Sharamitaro, the Mahon boys and Mr. Looby. The pastors were unable to accompany them as Father Pohl had to attend a funeral and Father O'Connor was busy editing Let's Go. They had a good time and danced, ate and played cards all day. There were about 70 present.
Mrs. Cunningham, 6654 Mitchell Ave., has slightly recovered from the critical condition in which she was reported to be in our last issue of Let's Go. Should her condition continue to improve, she may undergo an operation for a goiter.
There is a rumor abroad that Sister Raymunda and Sister Vincentia are transferred from St. James School. Sister Rayrnunda will remain in the east, and Sister Vincentia goes to St. Mark's School.
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Klasek and family are after returning from a trip in Wisconsin. They say they had a very pleasant vacation.
Baptisms are every Sunday at 3:30 p.m. The Rectory need not be notified. Sponsors should be practical Catholics who are confirmed and over the age of fourteen.
A class for adults and converts will be held in the Rectory beginning Wednesday, September 3, at 7:30 p.m., also on Friday. Parishioners are requested to urge all who might be disposed to receive Confirmation to attend these classes,
The Holy Hour is held in St. James Church every month on the eve of the First Friday at 7:45 p m.
FOR RENT: Flat. New, 4 rooms, bath, steam heat, garage. 1444 Tamm Ave. Rent reduced.
Fast-days and days of abstinence: The Quarter-Tense Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, September 17, 19, 20.
A child has a divine and natural right to receive an education that will equip him to please God and save his immortal soul.
A right so essential to eternal happiness cannot and should not be jeopardized by faulty or insufficient instruction.
A child's education begins at the first dawn of consciousness. Before it ever goes to school it acquires a language which we are accustomed to call the Mother Tongue: this implies that the mother is the first teacher who lays the foundation of all the education that is to follow. The father, also has an established place in the child's conception of his duty to his country which we term Fatherland.
From this it is evident that the home is more important than the school in the development of the child's character and that the first duties in education and character training fall on the parents.
The school is supplementary and an auxiliary to the home, and the parents, under God, are the authorized and responsible directors of the child's wellbeing.
To Catholic parents, we address the following remarks:
Your child will get a false conception of life unless you give him a Catholic education.
Few parents have time or sufficient religious instruction to personally superintend the religious education of a number of children and the once-a-week instruction given by the church is entirely insufficient to give the child even the minimum of knowledge that is necesaarv for salvation.
Religious training must be continuous and suited to the child's mental development. First of all a child must be taught at the dawn of consciousness the difference between right and wrong. This is usually done or left undone by the parents in the home and must be motivated by some principle which is in accordance with the natural instincts of the child. The child learns in the home even before he goes to school, the difference between love and hate. selflshness and big-heartedness. and by frequent quarrels, defense and attack recognizes that others have rights and that he has the duty to maintain a reasonable attitude of conduct to all around him. The Christian parent, although he may avail of the method of praise and blame soon learns that these are not motives sufficiently strong to regulate the child's conduct. These and all other human bribes and penalties quickly give way to others which are apt to become the ruling principle for future action. The only solid foundation for avoiding evil and doing good is, to teach the child there is a God Who rewards the good and punishes the wicked; in other words, Religion must be made the prevailing motive in the formation of a child's character, the signpost directing his way from time to eternity.
Octobor Devotions consisting of Rosary before the Blessed Sacrament. Litany and Benediction each evening during the month October at 7:45, Sunday excepted. The parochial school children will be expected to attend at 8:30 when they will recite the Rosary.
Blessing of children on the feast of the Guardian Angel after 8:30 Mass on Thursday, October 2nd, also at 3:30 p.m.
The Archbishop has expressed an intention of administering Confirmation at St. James on the Feast of Holy Rosary, October the 7th. Individual sponsors will be necessary. We are doubtful whether His Grace will come in the morning or evening.
Mrs. P.H. Murphy advises that the name of Mrs. Burtelow. 6232 Oakland Ave. was omitted in the Carnival report as having sold two cards.
Sister Rose Mariam (Hazel Smith) visited the Convent and Church last week. She has been transferred from New York to Monroe City, Mo.
A report says Sister Jeanette shall remain East.
UNCLE HENRY'S LETTER
Sept. 1, 1930
The Pastor Sez: "Just now, a number of parents are confronted with a serious and momentous problem: whether to send "junior" to a school where he will learn something of his creator, or to one whet'e he may get an opportunity of playing in the drum corps."
dear Charlie:
dont you feel a little bit sorry for the youngsters these days, wen you realize that in a day or two there vacation will be over an they will be trudging there way back to the class-room? wen i see them gettin ready for the first day of school i get a feelin for the kiddos which is very much like the one i used to get about this time of yr. that same old lump that has a way of climbin up my wind-pipe, an lodging in a most uncomfortable part of my neck. it brings back old memories of the days "way back when" you an i was kids an class-mates.
remember miss. Krickenbaum, who taught the 7th grade at Gratiot school? she was a wonderful old lady, an had been a good teacher, but we got her in the sunset of her career, an she was so hard-hearin that by turnin our heads a trifle we could talk to each other acrost the room, an she couldn't tell where the noise was comin from. the poor soul must have been at her wits end to discover the cause of the constant giggling, but she seldom catched us. about all we learned that year was devilment an wise-crackin,
wot a rough crowd that was. they wouldn't let you behave, if you wanted to. i think two of the worst tormentors was mike Shields, gone to his reward, an john Manion, who is "seeing America". they had plenty of company, though, in will Lang, "Minnie" Harden, an bill an Sewell Smith. from acrost the tracks: sam Bellamy, mike Brady an tom Rooney, from "dog-town"; an Joe Williams, mart Harnes an johnnie McKevitt, from cheltenham. of course. you an me "never done nuthin wrong," but we got punished about as often as the others. an i guess we deserved about all the punishment we got.
do you remember how easy it was to start a three-cornered gang fight: maybe sum kid from "the heights" would accidently bump into one from "the hll" an shove him against one from cheltenham, an then the fireworks. i dont know if you recollect wen the Houlihans moved to the hill, an started in school they was a little too independent, an sum of the cheltenhams decided to take the "strut" out of there walk, but the three brothers, john, Ed., an ralph, stood back to back an give the whole gang a scientific beatin for thereselves, an the Houlihans was never bothered again. if i remember right, sam Gittins got a shiner out of that malee.
do you recall the whippin you got from principal Miller for dippin kate Manions blonde braids in the ink? wen i hear the youngsters now-a-days complatnin about the triflin punishment they get, i wonder if they really know what punishment is. i can still see "chuck" LaGarce with his hands all tied up, an displain the stripes on his legs, that he got from principal Ludlow's rawhide whip.
things now are a lot softer for the kiddos, an the schools are more pleasant an interesting, but they must have the same feeling of resentment at having there play-time cut short. an substituted by the responsibilities of recitation an home-work, an i suppose they have the same feeling of disappointment when they follow the fire department down the street toward the school-house. only to see it pass by the school, to sum place beyond.
this reminiscent mood was agrivated sum what by the death of Mrs. Grosche a few days ago. remember how she used to give us grapes an cookies wen we was playin around her house? an how we used to pester "old man" Grosche to help us fix our coasters when he had his wagon-shop on Clayton road? They was a fine old couple, an our memory of em is a pleasant one.
father O'Connor just returned from a short vacation trip to the mountains, an he came back so enthused about the "see America first" movement that i doubt if he will visit Ireland again for a long time. he left rather sudden, all john Newport says it was because the Pastor was so grieved at holdin 300 penochle an 60 additional meld, in a recent session, an then gettin set for a 400 bid that he had to go away to "forget". i have an idear though, that he was fed up on huntin "lost sheep" in st. James parish, an went out for bigger an more interestin game.
st. Arms sodality gave there annual potato-salad & pickled-beet spread out at Wiber's club the other day an from what i understand it was a complete sucess, that was assured of course wen they persuade adele Conroy to go along, on account of wen you get her an Gittins an Cullen an mary Murphy an the rest of them comedians together ware they is no men, so they can speak an act freely, they are better than a show. father Pohl made hisself scarce, so he wouldn't be in the way, helen Walsh was tellin me she laffed so much that wen she got home her sides hurt - both of em. the spaghetti, i understand, was wonderful on acount of Jennie Sharamitaro made it Italian style. everything went fine till time to go home. an after Beno had helped to load em on the trucks be said he wished he had brought a ramp.
your pertickler friend & uncle
HENRY
BACK TO LET'S GO, 1930
BACK TO LET'S GO, 1925-1932
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