EX-PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT IN UGANDA

New Zealand Tablet, 21 April 1910, Page 612

EX-PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT IN UGANDA

At the civic meeting held in Carnegie Hall on the evening of February 2, to close the Panlist Jubilee, Judge Thomas C. O’Sullivan, whose subject was Reflections of a Paulist Parishioner,’ paid an earnest tribute to the work done by the women of St. Paul’s, the-parish of the original New York foundation (says America). There was one woman,’ he said, ‘in the early days—a Mrs. Murphy, who used to come down regularly from Eighty-fourth Street to attend the early Mass at the Paulist Church. A few days ago former President Roosevelt, during his hunt in the African jungle, met a white woman. She was not a huntress, and still she was a huntress of souls, and she is a daughter of that Mrs. Murphy, and her name in religion is Mother Mary Paul.’ ‘ -Mr. Roosevelt’s Visit to Uganda. Mother Mary Paul, as the readers of America will remember, wrote some time ago to say how much pleasure the perusal of. the paper gave her in the wilds of far off

Africa. The Society of the Propagation of the Faith has just received the following letter from her describing Mr. Roosevelt s recent visit to her at the mission at Uganda: .■ j x great man has been to see us I How long I have waited to say this. Yesterday he arrived at Entebbe, and a o «ri eeg , ram inviting him to lunch here the reply came: With ) pleasure, Kermit and I accept the invitation to dinner. The Bishop, attended by the priests and Prince Joseph, with a great throng of our people, turned out to greet Colonel Roosevelt. We had two bands, and one of them walked 60 miles to be here. Up the road came the tour runners who had been sent to watch for the rickshaws. Breathlessly they came with the message, and on top of it the rickshaws with the provincial governor and Colonel Roosevelt. Introductions followed, and to my remark how it was for him to come he replied, “Kind? Why pitchforks wouldn’t have kept me away! In fact, I would have been afraid to go back to the States if I hadn’t come to see you. , ‘To the sweep of a lively march we all walked to the convent, where Mr, Roosevelt charmingly and so naturally spoke of men and things that we were ready listeners. I will only mention the matters near home, and that later. He was delighted with the convent and the work of the children, and commented on the modesty and good manners of the women. The queen sister, who ranks' next to the king, was here, with several of the princesses to meet him. He was gracious enough to raise his hat and shake hands with these our great ladies, as he did with Prince Joseph, when bidding them good-bye. The Baganda who witnessed this were beside themselves with joy to see the gracious act of “this man of kindness.” He was deeply interested in . the process of bark-cloth making and our other industries. He visited the St. Elizabeth’s Infirmary and the school, where he saw the children at their tasks. I. know he was sincere in his praise when he said several times that he wished Mrs. Roosevelt could be here with them to see this model school in the heart of Africa. The children sang the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Perhaps it was the tears in my own eyes which made me think they were in his. Kermit thought it wonderfully fine, as they both thought the two bands which the Fathers here taught the boys to play so well. ‘ I do not know what most holy nuns will think when they hear that I was invited to the luncheon, and seated beside Mr. Roosevelt and opposite Kermit. I was their countrywoman. Did I feel embarrassed? No one could with Colonel Roosevelt, for he is simple and kind and puts one at one’s ease. I forgot to tell you of whom he spoke. He said the Paulist Fathers were ever his staunchest friends in temperance work, and he always relied on their sincerity. He spoke of Dr. Wall, who had such influence with the police and who worked so faithfully for their good. Monsignor Denis O’Connell, Archbishop Keane, and others were mentioned.. He asked me if I knew Maurice Francis Egan, and I told him how the latter had on one occasion visited our school and insisted on my sitting down to rest, and he taught the 84 little colored children for me the whole hot afternoon. He is to call on his Grace Archbishop Farley to give him his impressions of our efforts here. At luncheon I told him how, when my dear old mother wanted to rebuke us for finding fault with things, she would remark, “It is fit for a President.” How little, then, did I dream that I should ever be so near one. When , you sent us a box some months ago I saved a can of tomatoes, and whoever sent them would have rejoiced to-day could they have seen the glad surprise on. the faces of Colonel Roosevelt and Kermit when the American tomatoes in Africa were served up. ‘ Mr. Knowles invited us to a tea party at his place, but the Bishop looked serious. Colonel Roosevelt in his most strenuous manner pleaded with the Bishop to grant this favor, and so to-morrow the Sisters will be at luncheon with our “great American,” the king and his court, and in the afternoon all the Kampala folk will come to the reception. The Bishop, Fathers, and my Sisters are simply charmed with Mr. Roosevelt, and if there be in Uganda a woman prouder of her country and its incomparable representative than I, just let me see her, please. I did not fail to say to him how his broad and generous spirit of toleration had made him dear to American Catholics. His reply was characteristic: “I try to be decent, and I do detest religious intolerance. Some of my dearest friends are Catholics.” ’