The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-10-01

| A VENERABLE SERvANr.-A correspond
ent Of the New York Tablet, writing from
Elizabeth, N. j., under date OF sept. 10Th.
1868, sAeaks thus of the venerable Father
LEMKE, a priest well known and greatly be-
loved among his co-religionlsts on the ALE
ehenies, as indeed he was by all classes with
whom he came in contact:
About six years ago we Elizabethans
became aware of a notable looking stranger
pacing quietly through our streets. The
children called him Santa Claus, because he
had long white beard, and the older people
thought he had stepped out of some painting
OF the olden times, some st. Peter or St,
Jerome. One of our most valued citizens,
since then happily Catholic, was one day
induced by curiosity, for he had not the
slightest interest in our religion, to step into
the "little barn of church." where, burden
ed with his predecessors debts, the Rev.
Father Henry Lemke had been so recently
placed "and there l saw" said he, "the dress
that was worn eighteen hundred years ago
| heard language that was spoken elgEteen
hundred years ago, the same principles that
were given to the world eighteen hundred
wears ago, and saw a priest officiating who
looked as if he might have lived and preach
ed all that time" Besides all this the sick
soon began to know him, both as priest and
physician, and the most bigoted Protestants
and let me assure you we have thatdelec-
table article in all its glory here-honor
him, and speak of him now. 'as the priest
who works miracles" So he does, for he
cures the sick when all others have despaired
of them, and more miraculous still, has lived
on hermit's fare and quietly freed his people
from this debt, brought down some Benedic-
tine nuns, who have won all our hearts, built
them first small house, and now has just
completed large Convent for them, where
10 about two weeks they will receive board
ers and day scholars, and if they make gen
tie. earnest, unaffected women, after their
own pattern, they will he blessing to the
country.
Now for the first time-since it is no
longer for himself, but for others-Father
Henry throws open his doors and permits
the public to come and help, which means
there is IL fair going on in the school house
at the corner of Spring and Magnolia streets,
which will close on September 18th, be
lieve. We have had one week of rain
Won't the good people in Elizabeth who
read your paper, ard they are not few.
give us one week, or half week. of that
other kind of shower we like so much? Let
them recall that Father Henry has asked
nothing of them before that he has suffer
ed innumerable pIivatious, that he has labor
ed with the old fashioned missionary spirit
among us, and we all know has loGlked
many weary mile in rain, and mud. and
dark and cold, far beyond the limits of his
parish, to attend TO our sick. The Irish
have grateful hearts, we are told, and are in
capable of envy. Let them prove it and jim
hands with the Germans in helping Father
Henry now. There will come a day-God
grant it is far off-when the venerable old
priest, with his inevitable cane, and his
constant little companions, whom we see
capering around him, bis pet dogs, will no
more bring romance into our prosaic streets.
Let US lay up for ourselves the comfort Of
remembering we have given him one great
pleasure. And now is the time.
S. NJ. B."