The bulletin (Augusta, Ga.) 1920-1957, March 01, 1921, Image 4

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4 THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA COUNT PULASKI AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. By Very Rev. Jos. D. Mitchell, V.G. In the articles on Count Pulaski published in The Bulletin last month, it was stated that he was a loyal child of the Catholic Church. There is no doubt whatever concerning the Catholicity of this hero of the American Revolution who gave his life for our freedom in the fatal attack on Savannah in 17 79. In his early life in Poland Count Pulaski and his father were leaders of the Catholic party against the tyranny of the Russians on one side and the Prussians on the other. In the famous Confederation of Bara, formed for the liberation of his native land, Pulaski was associated with Father Marcus, a Carmelite monk, Bishop Adam Krasinski, and other staunch Catholics of Poland. One of his notable exploits in this brave, but futile, attempt to save his country was his fortifi cation of the Cloister of Our Lady of Czenstochora, which for a long time he held against the Russians. It will doubtless be of interest to the readers of The Bulletin to know the account that Major Rogowski gave of the death of Pulaski just outside the breast works of Savannah on that fatal October day in 1779. Major Rogowski, who was himself severely wounded while at the side of Pulaski, thus describes the scene: “For half an hour the guns roared and blood flowed abundantly. Seeing an opening between the enemy’s works, Pulaski resolved with his Legion and a small detachment of Georgia cavalry, to charge through, enter the city and confuse the enemy and cheer the inhabitants with good tidings. General Lincoln ap proved the daring plan. Imploring the help of the Almighty, Pulaski shouted to his men ‘Forward V and we, two hundred strong, rode at full speed after him the earth resounding under the hoofs of bur chargers. For the first few moments all went well; we sped like knights into the peril. Just, however, as we passed the gap between the two batteries a cross-fire like a pouring shower confused our ranks. I looked around. O, sad moment, ever to be re membered Pulaski lies prostrate on the ground! I leaped towards him, thinking possibly his wound was not dangerous, but a cannister shot had pierced his thigh and the blood was also flowing from his breast probably from a second wound. Falling on my knees, I tried to raise him. He said in a faint voice, ‘Jesus, Maria, Joseph!’ Further than this, I knew not, for at that moment a musket ball, grazing my scalp, blinded me with blood, and I fell to the ground in a state of insensibility.’’ Major Rogowski also relates that just nine days before the battle Pulaski had lost his scapulars which the Nuncio had blessed for him during his stay at Crenstochowe and he regarded this as an evil omen, stating that he anticipated an early death. Mrs. Charles R. Herron, a convert to the Catholic faith, with her sister, Mrs. Morrison, remembered well the exhuming of the supposed remains of Count Pulaski at Greenwich in 1853. The whole skeleton was intact, and after a thorough examination by the Medical Society of Savannah—especially by Dr. Wil liam G. Bulloch and Dr. James B. Read, it was de cided that the skull was that of a Pole the distance between the eyes and the shape of the cheek bones confirming this opinion. There was also unearthed with the remains the remnants of a Rosary and a Polish dagger—such as were worn by Polish officers in the time of Pulaski. Of course, it is impossible to state with certainty whether these were the actual remains of Count Pulaski, as Colonel Bentalou s state ment was that he had himself buried his beloved commander and hero at sea while the Wasp was leaving the Savannah River on her way to Charleston. It was stated, however, in the old days, that this report was circulated for fear the English, who hated Pulaski, and still held possession of Savannah, might desecrate the grave. At any rate, we are certain that Savannah has erected a beautiful and imposing monument to one who was as staunch a Catholic as he was a patriot as much a lover of the Church as he was of the cause of freedom. BAY STATE TRIBUTE TO MR. FARRELL. (From The Catholic Mirror, Springfield, Mass.) A striking example of the wonderful influence Catholic laymen can exercise upon religious and civic action is brought to light by the death of James J. Farrell, of Augusta, Ga. He founded and was acting chairman of the Catholic Laymen’s Association of Georgia, whose object was the suppression of bigotry in the South and the education of his fellow non- Catholics in the principal truths of our Church. The organization has met with wonderful success and it has quickly become one of the greatest religious in fluences of the South. And James Farrell was its moving spirit. But his soul has returned to its Maker and other hands must carry on the work. A won derful tribute has been paid this man of great re ligious faith by the Catholic press throughout the land. Bishop Keiley, of Savannah, made the state ment that James Farrell was the greatest layman he had ever known. The early return of the Dominicans to Oxford is» foreshadowed in the announcement that the Order has purchased property in that city within the precincts of the University. The property acquired is on the historic St. Gives Street, where the Jesuits have their house of studies. The Benedictines are housed in St. Bennett’s Hall, and the Franciscans, the other of the four great religious orders at Oxford, have Grosse teste House, named after an illustrious English scholar and prelate of pre-Reformation days. La Croix reports that on motion of a Protestant, seconded by a Protestant, the Municipal Council of Bordeaux has voted 25,000 francs in aid of poor pupils attending Catholic schools.