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Our Catlzolic Heritage in Texas
the Rt. Rev. Bishops of the State, therefore be it resolved: That a com- mittee be appointed by this State Convention to confer with the Right Reverend Bishops throughout the State with a view of marking in a substantial manner those places connected with the introduction of the Catholic Faith in this State." This undertaking to mark the mission sites of the State gave the first impetus to a desire on the part of some leading Knights of Columbus that the mere marking of the old missions was not enough. What was needed was the publication of the true account of the place of the Church in the early history of Texas. We find therefore at the convention which fol- lowed a serious discussion of this subject. To the Honorable William Blakeslee belongs the credit and honor of having first proposed the publication of such a history. His voice at the conventions merited much respect and consideration. He was a gentleman of the old school, and a commanding figure in the affairs of Columbianism since its establishment in Texas. He had held various offices within the Order, including the highest honor, that of State Deputy. When he proposed that a committee be formed to study the organization of com- mission to undertake the publication of a history of the Church in Texas, his proposal met with an enthusiastic support. For the sake of the record it might be perhaps interesting to quote here Brother Blakeslee's own version on how the historical commission came into being. It is taken from the report sent to Brother J. I. Driscoll, then the State Deputy, written in 1927, and reads as follows: "Dear Sir and Brother: Complying with your request made in the early part of this year, which you have since renewed in several letters, asking for the History of the Resolution that was submitted by the Committee on the Good of the Order at the Austin Convention (1923) of the Knights of Colum- bus, and of which Committee you mention I was the chairman and the following brothers constituted the personnel thereof; Rev. W. F. O'Brien, of Texarkana, who became the State Chaplain; B. T. Gregory, who is the present Grand Knight of Beeville Council; J. M. Goodwin, of Santa Maria Council, Port Arthur; J. E. Williams, Denison; J. J. Kelley of Orange, and Joseph J. Roberts, who is now State Treasurer, which resolution was the foundation of the present Historical Com- mission of the Knights of Columbus of Texas. It is with some mis- givings that a reply is undertaken. To reveal the promptings of those hearts and minds which visualized during passing years the imperative necessity for a Catholic History of Texas would be a long story, perhaps tedious and out of place, but
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