Have you ever considered that you might not be in command of some of the facts about the more important events in history — because you weren’t taught them in school? Only very recently — just two weeks ago, in fact, — did I learn a few things.

By John A. Schwarz

 

Have you ever considered that you might not be in command of some of the facts about the more important events in history — because you weren’t taught them in school? Only very recently — just two weeks ago, in fact, — did I learn a few things.

 

Let’s start off with a quiz.

 

1) When and where did the American Revolution end?

2) When and where did the Civil War end?

3) How many apostles were there after the crucifixion of Christ?

 

Did you answer Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781? The Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia on April 9, 1865? Eleven apostles?

 

If you did, you are 0 for 3. Don’t be too depressed. Close to 99% of the people who answered this quiz gave the same incorrect answers. I’m part of the 99%.

 

For starters, there were more men killed in battles after Yorktown until the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783, than in the first year of the war. By the way, the first year of the war was brutal and very bloody.

 

The British held Savannah, Charleston, and New York City until 1783. I did know about the British in New York. But, thinking that the war ended in Yorktown in 1781, I always wondered why the Brits hung around New York for another two years.

 

The Civil War ended on April 26, 1865 in Durham, North Carolina, when General Joseph Johnston surrendered his army of 89,000 troops to General William Tecumseh Sherman. At that point, all the other Confederate armies surrendered. By the way, Durham was then called Durham Station. I went to school about two miles from the Bennett Farm House and never knew its historical significance.

 

At a Reading from the Acts of the Apostles at Mass a week ago Sunday, I learned that between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came down, that St. Peter addressed 20 disciples. Right away, I realized I was in over my head. I always thought that the 12 apostles were the 12 disciples and that was it. Anyhow, at this point, I’m now really starting to pay attention to the Reading.

 

It turns out St. Peter explained to the attendees that in the Psalms in the Old Testament it had predicted that Jesus would face treachery and that there should be once again 12 apostles. The group, en masse, then decided that the two most deserving disciples were Justus and Matthias. To settle matters they drew lots. St. Matthias was selected and became the 12^th apostle. Of course, others believe Paul was the 12^th.

 

Now you know.