St Agnes School - Lamb Yearbook (Rockville Centre, NY)

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Early Catholic Pioneers As Catholics we are often compelled to hear that the members of our religion are unpatriotic and that, far from aiding our country's development, they have obstructed it. Now we are aware that this state- ment is not o11ly misleading but also false. Were it not for a Catholic., the discovery of the Weste1'11 Hemisphere might have been delayed for decades, but bigoted people pass over this fact as though it were false because they do not wish to believe that. It is true, we have had no George Wasliingtoii, but there are members of our faith of whom we can be almost equally proud. From the very first, Catholics have been prominent i11 all fields of the countryis development. Christopher Columbus, as we all know, discovered America. That he was' a devout 'Catholic is proved' by the fact tl12lt'011 his second voyage he brought with him missionaries to convert the Indians. J oh11 and Sebastian Cabot, Italians, sailing under the English Hag, were the second to visit our country. They had England's claims to tl1e Eastern shore of North America. Cartier, a Frenchman, discovered and ex- plored thle St. Lawrence Bay Ellld River. There were., moreover, many missionaries who came over primarily to explore unknown lands and secondarily to convert A111C1'lCil7S inhabitants, the Indians. La Salle, Joliet and Father lVIarquette explored the Mississippi and labored in its valley, while Father .logues and his companions engaged solely in missionary work among the Mohawks. The latter have recently been canonized. During the French and Indian wars many converts to Catholicism rendered distinguished services. Among these Esther Wheelwriglit was foremost. She was a member of -the Ursuline order and tended to the wounded and dying soldiers in the latter mentioned wars. Mary Davis, the first American-born Nun, was engaged in the same service. Another convert, Rev. Mr. Smith, who was a Russian nobleman, wrote many pamphlets 011 the defense of Catholicism. Q The first Catholic hospital was established at New Orleans in 1720, in accordance with the provisions of a will left by a French sailor. In 1779 it was destroyed by tire, subsequently rebuilt, and it is now the City Hospital in charge of the Sisters. of Charity. In literary activities of the colonial times Charles Carroll of Car- rolton was prominent. His writings are of an occasional periodical character. His cousin, John Carroll, wrote the first Catholio book published in America. The latter was also an essayist. Rev. John Thayer was a Catholic controversialist in Boston. There .were likewise, many others of our Faith engaged 111 the hberal professions. 22

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1 . Josephine Schillo Valley Stream A I Ambition To forget to do her themes Famous Words I studied that history an llouri' Joe comes from that dear little one-horse town, Valley Stream. But- she is miles ahead of it and everybody else., But almost once! a weekf we are deprived of her pres- ence. Perhaps Joe takes a visit' to Bronx Park every Friday. However, when .loe is with us she makes up for lost time by her good spirits and cheery disposition. Ambition To remember to water the flowers Famous Words KS-a-a-a-a-a-y As usual, Helen is traveling side by side with El Busch. Helen is unusually good in all studies, but her c'forte is English. Her essays are mental tonics and her wit- has made many a dreary day rose-colored. Good luck to you, Helen, may your smile never die from your lips, nor your wit be deadened by adversity. Helen Smith Springfield Marion Elberfeld Rockville Centre Ambition To grow up Famous ,Words Hi, hi, hi Marion, better known as' - Shrimpie., is the baby of our class. Nevertheless, she is! very prominent both as a first rate pupil and ra line pal. Her friends usually recog- nize her by her clear, loud laugh, which is almost continually audible. Although she is small, we expect her to win a scholarship and thus verify the age-old adage that all good things come in small quantities. 21

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The success of the Revolution was due' in a large measure to the help of the Catholics. If we had not received the timely aid of Catholic foreigners in our War for Independence, our cause 1nigl1t have failed. It was a Catholic who came to W3Sl1iDgt0H,S assistance in the darkest hours at Valley Forge. The most outstanding of these was Lafayette. He played an important role during the entire drama of the Revolution. Another was Rochambeau, who, in the final battle at Yorktown, hennned the British in by water. John Barry, the father of the American Navy, was also a devout Catholic, as was John Paul J ones. Both rendered distinguished services on the high seas in behalf of the American cause. Pulaski and Kosciusko, Poland's representa- tives, were two more Catholics who were, in a measure, responsible for our success. John Lynch and Robert Fitzsilnmons rendered the much greater part of the hnaucial assistance needed hy tl1e Patriots. The history of America, we therefore see, is closely linked with the works of the members of our faith who were, it is true, eminent in all stages of 'the history of our country. It was through Catholics that tl1is country was discovered and explored and likewise by their works that it has arisen to its present glory. It is a known fact that some principles of the Declaration of Independence are derived from Catholic theology. Proportionally speaking, those of our religion have done their share and more in making American history and with the help of God, will continue to support and maintain our glorious and world- renowned republic. . Marion Elberfeld. 23