335
T/18 Ago,ry of tlie Cl,urck in Texas, I821-I836
the new settlers and bring the light of the true religion to the uninstructed. His superior at the College of Zacatecas in Mexico had been warned of the bitter hostility of some of the newcomers and of the dangers to which the aging missionary would be exposed. The Guardian at Zaca- tecas did not, therefore, command him to go, but gave him his choice of returning to the College or going to East Texas as pastor of Nacog- doches and of the distant settlements of Liberty and San Augustine. Having spent years in the missions of Nuevo Santander among Indians more fierce than those of San Antonio and La Bahia, he was not deterred by the thought of possible death. In fact, the guileless missionary thought white men could not be that dangerous. 63 His sincerity, his humility, and his contagious love for God and His creatures made a deep impression on the pioneers and the indifferent "Muldoon Catholics" of East Texas. Shortly after his arrival he blessed the marriage of one of the most prominent residents of Nacogdoches, Judge Charles S. Taylor. Many others followed the good example of Taylor in having his marriage blessed by a priest, and many more were instructed in Catholic doctrine and were baptized. His English was limited but his love and kindness were boundless. Small wonder then that whereas he found only a handful of genuine Catholics in Nacog- doches when he came, it was not long before there _was a noticeable increase in their number. Tirelessly he worked in and out of Nacogdoches. Generally on foot, sometimes on his roan mare, he was to be seen going from home to home through the pine woods of East Texas as far as Liberty and San Augustine. In spite of his language handicap his labors met with incredible success. One evening in May, 1833, he was in the parlor of the influential Adolphus Sterne awaiting a newcomer to Texas, a man in his prime, destined to become the hero of San Jacinto. With the Sternes as spon- sors Sam Houston received the waters of Baptism from the hands of the aging missionary." 63 Sotomayor, Historia del Apostolko Colegia de Nuestra Senora d11 Guadal11p11 de Zacatecas, 5 I 7-5 I 8; Oberste, History of Refugia /;fission, 328-329. "Blake, Documents, 3, 12; John J. Linn, Reminiscences of Fifty Years in Teras, 336 (Austin, 1935). For reference to "Muldoon Catholics," sec Barker, Afexko and Teras, r82r-r83 5, 66-67; also J. M. Kirwin, History of tl,11 Dioces, of Galveston and St. /;fary's Catl,edral, 63. The term was applied to nominal Catholics in Austin's colony, who had been given baptismal certificates by the good-natured Father Michael Muldoon, who was not very particular. The descendants of Judge Taylor and General Houston have persevered in the Faith to this day.
Powered by FlippingBook