Eaten Alive-what I saw and learned in Minnesota-Part 1

I have been back now from my trip for about 2 days, but still reeling from the experience.

A few months ago, I was checking in at The Distributist Review When I heard there would be a conference in Minnesota, the state’s first Chesterton Society conference. Going to the Society’s website, I read further, noting that John Medaille would be one of the speakers, as well as Society president Dale Ahlquist and Joseph Pearce.I know that I had to go!

No, never have I been to the land of 10,000 lakes, but what distributist could miss that event!.I surfed and finally got my flight, hotel,etc lined up. Granted, it would be 3 stops to St. Cloud, the largest town near the conference at Saint John's University , an all male Catholic college.Of note, a former resident was Reverend Father Celestine Kapsner, He translated a 1928 account of an exorcism by Father Theophilus Riesinger from a German magazine article, and published it, in 1935, in pamphlet form as Begone Satan! (Time Magazine, Exorcist & Energumen, Feb. 17, 1936). Of note later, will discuss the hideous post-modern Church there now and the beautiful former Church.

Having packed, checked and rechecked, I took off Friday 9/18/09 with camera  and video camera in hand. My wife dropped me off at the airport. I had packed my suit and as a precaution against disappearing luggage, wore khaki styled pants, button shirt and sport coat.

I would be both glad and sorry later for this coat, it held a lot of paperwork, but also was hotter than tar.

I have not flown in sometime, maybe 3 ½ yrs, plus RDU now has a new terminal. Despite a rough start, I did receive friendly and prompt service from Delta/NOW personnel and off I was to await my flight.

I wound up having to fly from RDU to Detroit, then to Minneapolis, then to St. Cloud.A lot of plane hopping with little time in between. I was tired and sweaty, but looking forward to the conference.

The first leg of the journey, I sat next to a chatty fellow that was a teacher, but noted being out of work for several months due to contract funding and doing some coaching. In talking to him, he presented himself as rather worldly and materialistic. I mentioned to him the conference, but he quickly shut down and we instead talk about other things. He did not caring for President Obama much, but at the same time, stated he thanked Obama for tax cuts, as he apparently was getting back a rather large amount.

When I got to St. Cloud, I was pleasantly surprised that the town straddled the Mississippi River and was green, warm and had many farms dotted along the plains.The airport reminded me much of the one near my home as a youth, it was neat, clean and small, with only one or two guards and personnel. It was near 5 Pm and apparently, most people working there were punched out. I was met at the front door by a young man that had my rental car key and after filling out forms, liabilities,etc, I was off.

Unfortunately, the most direct and easy rout to my room as closed, the bridge spanning the river apparently was another -35W Mississippi River Bridge collapse in the works. I got stuck in traffic, lost a few times and over shot my hotel, but in the end, I got settled in. I lucked out with a computer to print out my return boarding pass and set out to find some good food and explore the surrounding countryside.

I found a small Mediterranean bistro that had excellent service and  food, replete with crystal chandelier and suited waiters.

Best of all, it was NOT a chain or corporate nightmare, with tasteless food and predictable fare. Good food, service and a a piano player too boot!. Great find in a small mid-western town.

I next climbed in my rental subcompact and took off down U94 west. All along the way, the sun shinned and there was trees, wooded areas and farms, with occ homes interspersed. Taking the exit noted in directions I had printed, I turned off the highway and drove down the country road, noting more fields and lakes.

St. John’s University opened up to me slowly I noticed a few buildings and dorms to the right and in front a large, concrete building I assumed was the Great Hall.I would learn later this unattractive, large soviet looking building was actually the new church on campus.. I located the science building and took  few minutes in the dwindling day to drive around and get my bearings, taking it all in.

Here and there students were walking around, engage in conversation, studying and I had to wonder how many would be turning out to the conference. It is them, even more than me at 38, that will have to bear this financial meltdown and crisis. It is they that will have to transmit the Faith in the future. Was Chesterton even mentioned here? Other than his whimsical fiction.

I try to maintain hop for the future Catholic generations and hope these young people will provide the leadership we all need and will depend on.

I drove off in the setting sun and went to my room to prepare for the next busy, full day and drifted off to sleep, excited and anxious to get started on doing my part to restore Sanity.…

(stay tuned, working on transferring my 8mm video of conference to Youtube)

Chris Campbell

Director, Distributist Party