Col1'mbianism in Texas
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in 1923. Bigoted enemies of the Church in Oregon threatened to deprive Catholic parents by law from sending their children to schools of their own choosing. Archbishop Christie of Portland, unable to give further aid to those who appealed to him for help in the legal battle, turned to the Knights of Columbus. "My people are at the end of their resources." he cried out. "We can go no further; he have nowhere else to turn and I appeal to you, the Knights of Columbus, to carry on their fight or our cause is lost." The case of Catholic parents against the encroachments of the State of Oregon was taken up by the Order and with its aid carried to the Supreme Court of the United States. The decision of the lower courts was reversed and the inalienable right of parents guaranteed by the Constitution to rear their children in accord with the dictates of their conscience was unequivocally reaffirmed, thwarting forever the evil designs of the enemies of parochial schools who so ardently desired to outlaw religious instruction by making attendance at public schools mandatory. In these nation-wide appeals for aid, the Knights of Columbus of Texas did their share on a par with all others and for the benefit of all. Locally, they have undertaken several projects to help the cause of edu- cation in the State that need to be recounted. The University of DaUas. 2 This institution, known as Trinity College, was operated by the Jesuits. Its regular income in the early years of the century was so low that it was in desperate need of help to subsist. The Knights of Columbus attempted to raise an endowment to help it by voluntary contributions to permit its continuance. At the Galveston Con- vention in 1920, a special committee recommended that the desired quota be raised by an assessment of thirty dollars per member, payable over a period of five years. There was no lack of good will, but times were hard and the money could not be raised in time to prevent the temporary closing of the struggling University. The Studetit Loa,1, Fund. This fund was established by the State Council at the Laredo Convention in 1924. It was Brother Victor H. Pannell, of Austin Capital City Council, who presented the new project. Its purpose was "to aid deserving Knights of Columbus, or their sons, to pursue a higher course of study in any college or university within the bounds of the State of Texas," by making loans available to them. The plan as adopted provided for a fund of $25,000 to be raised on a per 2 A fuller discussion is given In the section on the educational work of the Jesuits in Texas. The University has been re-established by Bishop Gorman of Dallas.
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