011r Cat/uJlic Heritage in Tcxas
prophetically wrote in his diary, won the respect and affection of all those who came in contact with them. Timon's address on Sunday evening was.given in "such a chaste and eloquent language," observed Sterne, "as perhaps never has been used by any Divine in Nacogdoches.";; 7 Great interest was aroused. Charles Chevalier gave Timon a city lot and 400 acres of land in the county for the building of a church and its maintenance. He even offered to lodge and board the parish priest, if one was sent. Timon was glad to accede to the request and called a meeting to discuss plans for raising the necessary funds. There were about 75 Anglo and more than 200 Mexican Cathol~cs in the community. During the meeting, after Mass on February 2, Timon offered to contribute $rno to the fund. Later, in justifying his extravagance, he frankly confessed, "When on my mentioning the possible erection of a church I saw the poor Mexicans (who had con- gregated to witness the baptism of six of their children) look as if they had been suddenly liberated from bondage ..., I could hesitate no longer." 58 A committee, composed of Charles Chevalier, Charles S. Taylor, and Adolphus Sterne, was appointed to collect funds and supervise construction. Timon was deeply moved by the misery of the Mexicans. He in- terceded in their behalf with the officials and joyfully reported to Durando a few days later, "Now the poor Mexicans may return and repossess at least that part of their land that has not been sold." They had been driven from their homes by intolerant and bigoted settlers who could not distinguish between natives of Texas and natives of Mexico. The feeling against Catholics had also been strong. "Anti- Catholic prejudice was savage and implacable a few years ago," he explained, remembering the martyrdom of Diaz de Leon, "but, be- cause God has deigned to exercise His power and mercy, a striking change has since resulted in the people's attitude toward the Church." 59 Timon and Odin were called to minister to a woman from Maryland who took seriously ill during their visit and died after receiving all the Last Sacrament~. As she lay dying, she showed the confessor a miraculous medal which she wore and told him that when she set out for Texas, a priest had given it to her and asked her to repeat each day, "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." With a smile on her dying lips she gave thanks to
51/bid., 185-188. sanmon to [Durando], February 14, 1841, C. A. T. ff/bid.
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