The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-05-09
A Simple and Touching Episode.
Mobile Realstsr, Nay 4th. ]

taueous character and the pleasant unani-
nifty of all parties concerned, will always
leave a fresh and verdant spot in the mem
ory of those whose good fortune it was to
witness it.
About three months ago the beloved pas
tor of St. Joseph's Church. the Rev. Father
Imsand, of the Society of jesus, while re-
turning at night from o pressing sick call
met with a severe accident, eliminating in
a severe spell of sickness, which for many
long days kept him struggling between life
and death. Having, however, partly re-
covered, his superiors, on the urgent rec
ommendation of his medical attendant,
our distinguished friend, DR.. E. H. Four
ner, determined to ''order" Father 1msand
to Europe for a short time,; we say "er'
dered" for Jesuits are soldiers, ana nks ire
Roman Legionary found still standing
and defiant at the gate OF the Olympian
Temple of Pompeii, sixteen hundred years
after having been placed there on duty by
his Centurion, those militant sons of the
Church, must wait till relieved or die at
their post. So many, however, nave been
the sacrifices of Father Imsand for the sup
port of the three hundred children educa-
ted in his parish school that his friends and
paEishioneTs tell knew that he could add
nothing to tho scanty allowance made by
the Order to a travelling brother, and, act
ing under the inspiration of their hearts,
encouraged and aided by the Rev. Father
for every suffering, the poor parishioners
of st. Joseph silently gathered up their lit
tie Nate, while their worthy adjunct,
Father Ryan, was invoking the help of his
brother priests. of the Catholics in general,
and of the many Professionals whose hand
Is ever open for deeds of kindness.
But of all this, Father Imsand was kept
in complete ignorance, and Sunday morn
ing at the early service, and later, at high
Mass, he babe his touching adieu to the
large congregation in attendance, believing,
in his honest heart, that it WAS for the hast
time he was to meet them before his de-
parture
But it was not to be, and when, at 4 o
clock of the same afternoon, he ensered his
church for the Vesper service, he was be-
wldered at finding the ed,fice crowded to
overlooking, the galleries almost yielding
under the weight of worshippers, and even
the large green in front of she church COW
cred with anxious pleaders for admission.
In the front pews sat, IN their modest
white and blue insignia, over one hundred
young gisls of the congregation of the
Children of Mary attached to the Cathedral
then the several So6alities of his own and
other churches, including the pious and
esteemed creole organizations, whose high
moral standard of private life reflects SO
much credit on the Faith and on the
Church of their ancestors.
In the choir, in the nave, in the cbaneel,
around the altar, throughout the sacrissy,
his brother priests OF other churches were
pressing to cast last glance, exchange a
last parting word with one who, for eight
cen J ears, has done good aud manly service
in the cause of his Master. We could, in
| that great crowd, recognize but a few, such
as Fathers Ryan and keeier, of the Cathe-
dral Father Brown of Sc. Patrick's Z;
Fathers U2anpa and Sierra, of Spring HAl
College, and nearly all the Brothers of the
SacraH Hart fhnaa daUnfp2 lah Orara of
the Catholic clergy in the good work of
Christian education.
| The good priest, unable to understand
the cause of such an unusual assemblaSe
in kis poor, modest, little church. felt, how =
| ever, that he was expected to meet the oe-
cssion, and addressed a simple and touch
ing allocution to the "Children of Mary"
as to their duty to their Heavenly Protee
| tress, to whom this YER ymonth of May il
specially dedicated by the common consen,
of the whole Catholic world this pathetic
and impIovised address created on the
young hearts to whom it was directed s
deep Impression, which had hardly subsi
ded when the solemn service of Vesperi
commenced, at which Father Keller
Father Ryan and Father Sierra acted al
acolytes to the worthy desservaut, Will,
the choir entoned the sacred hymn, o SsI~
tari' RostiG,p SO inspiring aud SO charac
teristic of the Holy Mystery it presents t.
the worship of the Faithful. When th,
last tremulous notes of the deep tone,
organ had died away, drowning in thei
lingering echoes the sweet sounds OF TIL
fresh, young voices of the choristers, an,
when Father Imsand was about retirini
from the sanctuary, Father Ryan gentl!
laid his hand on his shoulder and stayel
his retreat.
There is in that priest-so widely know
as the poet and patriot of the South-a1
indetinable charm which, whether You vii
or not, indissolubly chains you to his lip
and captivates the finer and subtler facul
ties of your whole being. Personally un
!, acquainted as we ale with him, except il
his sacerdotal functions, we have oftel
sought to resist this attraction, but sough
it in vain, and finally yielded with deligh
to the spell We first had determined t.
break.
In his melodious, harmonious voice
9 Father Ryan told Father Imsand tina
although the Jesuits were thought to b
very crafty" he, his brother priests an
the Catholics every parish of this cit,
were still ''craftier than those self sam
Jesuit ; that they had "stoien a march
on the wary son of Loyola, and finally cap