La Rabida Monastery
The Huelva Gazette

The Huelva Columbus Society

(As published in La Provincia)

As we stated in our previous issue, on Sunday a select gathering attended the halls of the Most Excellent Provincial Council with the object of constituting a society of this title.

Mr. D. Francisco de Asis Pastor, civil governor of the province and one of the promoters of the meeting, was unable to attend due to being ill, and in his absence the interim presidency was occupied by Mr. D. José M. Cadenas, acting as secretaries Messrs. D. Justo Jimeno Dominguez, D. Rafael Lopez and D. José G. Cabañas.

In addition to these gentlemen, the call for the meeting was also signed by Messrs. D. Horacio Bel y Roman, Don José Garcia Lopez, D. Jose A. Cepeda and D. Manuel Vazquez Lopez. Mr. Cadenas declared the session open, and after exposing in brief words the object of the meeting, the following bases were read, which were approved by unanimity:

«A Society is created in Huelva that has for its object to commemorate the anniversary of the departure of Columbus to the discovery of the New World, according to the following bases:

1.ª The same shall be titled «Huelva Columbus Society».

2.ª Said Society shall celebrate a solemn Civic-religious function on the third day of August of each year, anniversary of the departure of Columbus. The act shall verify itself indispensably in the Monastery of Santa María de la Rábida.

3.ª With the indicated object, prizes shall be established: * 1.º to reward poetry, works of art and historical dissertations relative to the discovery of America or to the facts that from the same may have originated, and memoirs that have for their object to study and propose the means of tightening the relations between Europe and America. * 2.º to reward virtuous actions and humanitarian or heroic deeds in which the masters and sailors may have distinguished themselves. * 3.º to stimulate geographical studies.

4.º These prizes shall be solemnly adjudicated on the third day of August and on the same date shall be announced the themes and matters that are to be the object of the competition in the following year.

5.ª The Society shall determine the festivities that on said day are to be celebrated in the historic Sanctuary of La Rábida, for which purpose it shall solicit from the local authorities and from the Government the necessary cooperation to the end of giving to this solemnity the character of a National holiday.

6.ª For the realization of this thought, the Society shall be divided into the following five sections: 1.ª Administrative Section; 2.ª Section of festivities; 3.ª Scientific and historical Section; 4.ª Literary and Artistic Section; 5.ª Religious Section.

7.ª To the account of the first shall run the administration of the funds of the society. 8.ª To the second corresponds organizing the festivities that are to be celebrated and establishing the good order of the same. 9.ª The third shall form and publish the themes and matters for the literary compositions and objects of art that are to concur at the competition: it shall form the jury for the examination and censure of said works giving to its acts the necessary publicity and shall sustain the literary centers and the regulations that naturally originate from its character. 10.ª The fourth shall intervene in everything that has relation with scientific and historical matters in the same form as the previous. 11.ª And the fifth shall have to its account not only the realizing of the religious functions that are celebrated on the referred anniversary, but also to form the Jury to grant prizes for virtuous, humanitarian or heroic actions executed by the seafaring community. 12.ª The society may invite to enter into its midst all persons of Europe and of America, who have distinguished themselves by their geographical and historical studies relative to this new part of the World; or else by their critical studies upon the discovery. 13.ª Likewise it may appoint honorary members to all those who by their special conditions are deserving of this distinction. 14.ª When its circumstances permit, the Society may also appoint Commissions that attend the congresses of Americanists that are celebrated; and manage at the same time so that in the Monastery of La Rábida some of said Congresses takes effect.

15.ª Likewise it shall manage with the Government, the provincial authorities and individuals regarding the creation of a Monument in honor of the distinguished discoverer of the New World on the same beach where the cited Monastery of La Rábida rises. 16.ª Also the bases shall be established to found in the same building a Columbus Library and a Museum of artistic objects allusive to the grandiose fact that this society proposes to commemorate; practicing with said [object] the opportune managements with the Most Excellent Provincial Council and other Corporations and authorities that may or should lend their assistance.

17.ª The Society shall be governed by a Board of directors elected from its midst and organized in the form that shall be expressed. 18.ª The Board of directors associated with the five Sections previously related shall have competence to agree and resolve upon all matters of general interest corresponding to the Society. 19.ª To the Board of directors by itself belongs the carrying of the official representation of the Society, to establish the relations they judge necessary with the official Centers, Corporations and individuals; sustaining to that effect the necessary correspondence. 20.ª Likewise shall be attributes of the Board of directors the admission of Members and the appointment of those who should belong to it by title of honorary. 21.ª The Board of directors shall remain in charge of formulating the general regulation and each one of the sections shall form and publish its respective [one] which must be submitted to the examination and approval of the Society, represented by the Board of directors and Sections of the plenum.

ADDITIONAL BASES

  • 1.ª The Society Board of directors and sections shall remain constituted provisionally in the first meeting that is celebrated.
  • 2.ª Those who attend the first meeting, adhere to the thought and satisfy the fee that is established shall have the character of founding members.
  • 3.ª Likewise shall be considered as founding members those who solicit entry within the 40 days following the constitution of the Society.
  • 4.ª The amount of five pesetas is pointed out as a minimum for the entry fee, to the end that it be within reach of all fortunes and social positions; without prejudice that the Board of directors may open a list of voluntary fees or subscriptions among the members and appeal to other means that are within its reach to cover the deficit that results and worthily realize the end that the Society proposes.
  • 5.ª This [Society] shall determine the form in which the next anniversary of the departure of Columbus is to be celebrated.

After the previous bases were approved, the appointment of the Board of Directors and boards of the sections proceeded, the following Gentlemen being elected:

  • Honorary President: Most Excellent Mr. Civil Governor of the Province.
  • President: Mr. D. Antonio Fernandez, director of the provincial institute.
  • Vice-Presidents: Mr. D. Horacio Bel y Roman, Mr. D. José Iñiguez Hernandez Pinzon.
  • Vocals: Most Excellent Mr. Military Governor, Mr. Commander of the Navy, Mr. President of the Provincial Council, Mr. President of the City Council of Huelva, Mr. D. José Maria Cadenas, Mr. Manuel Vazquez Lopez, Mr. Rafael Clemente, Mr. Justo Jimeno Dominguez, Mr. José Garcia Lopez.
  • Secretaries: Mr. D. José García Cabañas, Mr. D. Rafael Lopez.

Board of the sections

  • Religious Section: President: Mr. D. José M. Cadenas. Vocals: Mr. D. Rafael Paton, Mr. D. Pedro Roman Clavero, Mr. D. José Fayula, Mr. D. Antonio Tello, Mr. D. Pedro Garcia Jalon. Secretary: Mr. D. Antonio Gomez Jaldon.
  • Administrative Section: President: Mr. D. Manuel Vazquez Lopez. Treasurer: Mr. D. Francisco Jimenez. Auditor: Mr. D. Enrique Gamero. Vocals: Mr. D. José Pablo Martinez, Mr. D. José Lopez Moreno, Mr. D. Rafael de la Corte y Bravo. Secretary: Francisco Hernandez Quintero.
  • Scientific and historical Section: President: Mr. D. Rafael Clemente. Vocals: Mr. D. Justo R. de Alhas, Mr. D. Brantio Santamaria, Mr. D. Rafael Heyna, Mr. D. José Gallego, Mr. D. José Parejo. Secretary: Mr. D. José Salcedo Mesonero.
  • Literary and artistic Section: President: Mr. D. Justo Gimeno Dominguez. Vocals: Mr. D. José Callejon y Aames, Mr. D. Antonio Veas, Mr. D. José Redondo, Mr. D. Luis Arcadio Martinez, Mr. D. Federico Vallepiga. Secretary: Mr. D. Faustino Navarrete.
  • Section of festivities: President: Mr. D. José Garcia Lopez. Vocals: Mr. D. Antonio Pizarro Iñiguez, Mr. D. Francisco Gomez Gonzalez, Mr. D. José A. Cepeda, Mr. D. Antonio Garcia Ramos, Mr. D. Emilio de Sola. Secretary: Mr. D. Miguel Vega Heredia.

The list of honorary members and that of the founders we shall publish another day. The thought has awakened great enthusiasm and we believe that it will have a brilliant success.