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Show ! ' PERE MARQUETTE i 1 (Written for The Intermountain Catholic.) The proposed plan of erecting a statue on Mackinac island to the memory of Father Marquette will call attention more than ever to this beautiful Isldnd, and it is fitting that a life like his, which exemplUied the beauty of holiness, holi-ness, should be remembered tangibly in such a dreamland of nature. Pere Marquette needs no monument, built by human hands, to perpetuate his memory. He lived his life here, and death -took his earthly presence more' than 200 years ago, but his deathless soul yet lives and seems to be felt in the places where he so bravely labored long ago. What we owe to him and to his labors we cannot tell until we reach the land where we can read all things by the clear light of fadeless day. The proposed statue is the outcome of the people's love, which has. been gaining in strength all these years, and is a testimony to the larger love that is growing in the hearts of men, regardless re-gardless of creeds or prejudices. While others toiled in exploring and found their ambition satisfied in new discoveries, Father Marquette's controlling con-trolling motive was religion. It is justly just-ly said that the salvation of a soul was more to him than the conquest of an empire. He was a Catholic, but, he seems to belong to all. His devotion to the Blessed Virgin was undying. We have all been touched by the account of his last hours given by hi two companions.- His sufferings were intense, yet even when he felt the pale messenger messen-ger approaching, "his solicitation was for. t'hem. He heard their confessions and exhorted them to trust God. Then he sent them away to take their needed need-ed rest. Two hours later, when the end was near, he called them to him. He took the crucifix from his neck and placed it in their hands, then pronounced pro-nounced his profession of faith and thanked God for permitting him to die a Jesuit, a missionary and comparatively comparative-ly alone. His face grew radiant and, with the words, "Jesus" and "Mary" upon his lips, he entered Paradise. How many of us today would thank God under like circumstances? Think of it! It had been his desire to be laid at rest at what was then known as the Mission of St. Ignatius, now the city of St. Ignace. Death overtook him before reaching there; but, two years afterwards, after-wards, a party of Indians, to whom he had ministered, disinterred the body, ' and, washing the bones, as was their custom,- carried them to St. Ignace, where they now repose. ' A word in description of Mackinac island, is-land, where so much, of his work; was done, may not be out of place. It is situated sit-uated in the strait of Mackinac, which divides the upper peninsula of Michigan Michi-gan from the mainland. It contains many places of interest, among them Fort Mackinac, built by the British before be-fore the independence' of this country was gained. Fort Holmes was built by the Americans a very few years later. The John Jacob Astor House was originally, orig-inally, the headquarters, of the American Ameri-can Fur Trading company. The . old books used in the business of the company com-pany are preserved in a chest in this old house, where the Astors accumulated the foundation, at least; of their wealth. The natural beauty of the island is unsurpassed anywhere else in the continent. con-tinent. The rocks, while, lacking the height and 'massiyeueVs of ' the Rockies, are so diversified ir. shape that no two appear alike. The Island is so small that its size is sometimes mentioned in acres, rather than in miles; so to- the visitor the changes are almost like the kaleidoscope. ' Among its most celebrated natural curiosities are 'Arch rock, Skull cave, Leaning rock, Robinson's folly, Chimney rock. Maiden rock, Scott's cave. Devil's kitchen, Fairy . arch, Pulpit rock and Giant's stairway, .ph . rock, viewed from the shore, is one of its grandest sights. . , For years Mackinac, owing to its delightful de-lightful climate, has been a summer resort re-sort for invalids and tourists. . Last, but not least, the inexhaustible , daisies must' be mentioned. Going to the island at any time in summer, you j will be met by crowds leavipg it laden with these starry little flowers, but the , supply never gives out. - Those who come late find as many as they can I take away. Does it not seem as if these j blossoms of hope may be the echo of j I the spiritual hope held by Father Mar- i I quette while he labored and worshiped where they now bloom? I MARGARET JOHNSTON MERRILL. |