Cathedral of the Madeleine

Historic Buildings of Utah 

The Cathedral of the Madeleine is situated at 331 East South Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was constructed over a nine-year period, starting with the acquisition of the land in 1900, under the guidance of The Right Reverend Lawrence Scanlan, the city's inaugural bishop. Architects Carl Neuhausen and Bernard Mecklenburg blended Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles, resulting in an impressive exterior and interior. The entire construction project cost $344,000. In 1991, a significant renovation commenced, amounting to $9.7 million, which greatly improved and reinforced the structure. The renewed cathedral was rededicated on February 21, 1993, and it holds a place on both the Utah and national registers of historic places.

One of many works of stained glass offset by pipe organ

Noteworthy features of the cathedral include:

1. Baptismal Font: Fashioned from Carrara onyx and glass mosaic, the font incorporates a conventional upper font and a lower immersion area, which was used for adult baptisms through water pouring. The symbolism of the font includes the cross and its eight sides, representing the concept of eternity's 'eighth day.' This design harks back to ancient baptismal practices involving immersion.
2. Confessionals: The two confessionals at the rear were enlarged in 1993, providing spaces for private confession and repentance.
3. Shrines of Charity: Dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua (carved in 1918) and St. Vincent de Paul (carved in 1993), these shrines exemplify the church's dedication to serving the less fortunate.
4. The Organ: Installed in 1992, the English-style organ features 4,066 pipes and stands within a Gothic case. It serves both liturgical services and concerts.
5. Stained Glass Windows: Adorning the interior, these exquisite windows depict various classic Catholic themes, including the Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, Resurrection, Ascension, and Descent of the Holy Spirit.
6. Stations of the Cross: Painted by Utah artist Roger Wilson in 1992 and 1993, these 14 stations adhere to a revised version directed by the Vatican in 1975. They blend traditional iconography with colors inspired by the American Southwest.
7. The Altar: The centerpiece of the cathedral, the altar is constructed from Carrara onyx adorned with glass mosaic. It occupies a prominent position at the intersection of the cathedral's main seating areas. Notably, the altar holds relics of St. Gratus, Bishop of Aosta in Piedmont, Italy, who passed away in 457, symbolizing the call to sainthood.
8. Blessed Sacrament Chapel: Located at the rear of the main chancel, this chapel is reserved for the sick or for private devotion. Adjacent to it is the Ambry, which holds holy oils. The chapel was added in 1993.
9. Shrine of St. Mary Magdalen: As the patroness of the cathedral, this shrine and the large painting above it are captivating focal points. The painting depicts Mary looking up to Christ, who is positioned above her.

Jesse James Home

 How did Jesse James die?

The infamous outlaw Jesse James met his demise in his home at 1318 Lafayette Street in St. Joseph.Missouri on April 3, 1882. He was fatally shot by Bob Ford, a fellow member of the James gang, who shot him to claim the $10,000 reward offered by Governor Tom Crittenden.

At the age of 34, Jesse's lawless career spanned 16 years. During his final days, he was living with his wife and two children, and going by the name Tom Howard to evade capture.

On the day of the incident, Jesse was unexpectedly shot from behind while standing on a chair, trying to adjust a picture in his home. Following his shooting, his wife, two children, and his mother, Mrs. Zerelda Samuel, sought refuge at Patee House, known then as the World's Hotel, for the next two nights.

In 1995, forensic scientist James Starrs exhumed the outlaw's body in Kearney, Missouri, to perform DNA tests. The results of these tests indicated a 99.7% likelihood that the individual killed in 1882 was indeed Jesse James. 

 

The James Home serves as a museum dedicated to the life and death of Jesse James. Today, visitors at the Jesse James home can view various artifacts from the grave, including the coffin handles, a small tie pin worn by Jesse James on the day of his death, a bullet extracted from his right lung area, and a cast of his skull, revealing the bullet hole located behind his right ear.

Managed by the Pony Express Historical Association, the Jesse James Museum generates revenue through admission charges, which is then utilized to maintain both the James Home and the Patee House Museum.

The James Home was initially situated approximately two blocks north of its current position, situated atop a high hill with a view of Patee House. However, in 1939, it was relocated to the Belt Highway in St. Joseph to serve as a tourist attraction.

In 1977, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Keatley acquired the James Home and later generously donated it to the Pony Express Historical Association. Subsequently, the house was brought back to its original neighborhood and now stands on the grounds of the Patee House Museum.

 

Visit the Patee House Museum and Jesse James Home website.

How do ESL classes help immigrants and refugees adjust to life in America?

Theme: The United States takes a hands-off approach when it comes to integrating immigrants by teaching them English as a Second Language. Immigrants who speak English tend to have higher earnings and are more readily embraced by Americans. However, the United States falls short in providing an adequate number of free English classes for incoming immigrants. 

Summary: Immigrants' proficiency in English, whether justified or not, significantly affects Americans' perceptions of immigration. The majority of Americans hold the belief that to be considered truly American, an individual must be able to speak English. 

In the United States, there is a strong correlation between English proficiency and earnings. Immigrants constitute about one-sixth of the American workforce, and those who acquire fluency in English tend to have higher earnings primarily because they become eligible for better-paying positions. According to Amanda Bergson-Shilcock, a senior fellow at the National Skills Coalition, which promotes vocational-skills training, even learning basic English has a positive impact on job opportunities as the majority of entry-level jobs in the U.S. demand some level of English proficiency. 

According to Khazan (2021), Other developed nations actively engage in efforts to assimilate immigrants and refugees into their societies. For instance, in Sweden, foreigners receive unlimited Swedish lessons without any charge, and sometimes these lessons are incorporated into job-training programs. France, on the other hand, requires a brief indoctrination session on "French values" but then offers 400 hours of language instruction along with free child care. Similarly, Canada provides extensive free language classes to newcomers, some of which include free child care and transportation services. Canada adopts a proactive stance, aiming to leverage immigrants' skills in their labor market by ensuring they have the necessary English or French language proficiency. Regrettably, the U.S. lacks a national policy dedicated to aiding immigrants in becoming fully integrated American citizens. 

Application: I usually take a hands off position to government involvement in people's lives, but English language studies for new immigrants is one area where some government direction might be helpful. Even with minimal local government help to facilitate ESL, most of the teaching could be done by volunteers. What happened to the program where LDS Relief Societies were involved in teaching English? 

 Reference: Khazan, O. 2021,, June 4). Americans Say Immigrants Should Learn English. But U.S. Policy Makes That Hard. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/06/why-cant-immigrants-learn-english/619053/

 For Better Jobs, Immigrants Voluntarily Line Up to Learn English ... artdiamondblog.com

Which is the true North Pole?

 

Santa's house in North Pole, Alaska has been a landmark since 1952. KTUU photo

There are actually four North Poles or maybe more depending if you count the numerous locations hwere Santa hangs his hat. 

The Geographical North Pole, also known as True North, is the highest point on Earth and the point where all lines of longitude converge. The Magnetic North Pole is the location where Earth's magnetic lines point straight down, and it is where a compass needle points. 

The Geomagnetic North Pole is the point where the Earth's magnetic field intersects the planet at the northern end, while the North Pole of Inaccessibility is the farthest point in the Arctic Ocean from any coastline.

 Getting to the North Pole

• There are only around 5 trips per year for 640 passengers
• A total of just 1,000 people a year reach this point
• You can get there on a nuclear powered ice-breaker 
• The Pole is around 700 miles from the nearest land
• There is not much wildlife at the Pole; however, you may see polar bears, seals, walrus, whales and all sorts of birds on the way.

When you get to the North Pole 90 degrees north where all lines of longitude meet, you will be standing on top of ice that is between 6-10 feet thick. Underneath is the ocean that is 13,000 feet deep.

Nuclear ice breaker parked at the North Pole.

The first circumnavigation of the globe through the North and South Poles occurred in 1965. A number of people have done that since then. In the late 80s, Australian aviator Dick Smith flew a Twin Otter aircraft around both the North and South Poles, following meridians of longitude. He began his journey in Sydney, Australia on November 1st, 1988 and returned on May 28th, 1989, making stops at both the North and South Poles and completing a full circumnavigation.

Sources: Feerick, J. (2020, December 28). Earth Actually Has Four North Poles. https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/earth-actually-has-four-north-poles.

Woodyatt, A. (2019, July 11). Flight crew breaks record for circumnavigating globe via both poles. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/speed-record-circumnavigate-intl-scli/index.html