Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1875-08-28
THE PATRIARCH OF THE cHENEAux.

Rev. Andrew j. Piret, better knewa a
Father Piret was born in belgium
county of Brabant, in the vicinity O
Brussels, of highly esteemed ant
wealthy family in the year 1903. After
he had finished his humanities i'm Bel
gium he went to Paris, where he studied
medicine for four years. Returning tC
Belgium he prepared for the priesthood
studying philosophy and theology for six
long years. Being ordained priest ne
was appointed professor of natural his
tory at st. Johns College in Belgium
After teaching for few years with the
greatest success he was promoted to the
honorable position of principal ofthe same
college, which position he held with
great honor to himself until the year
1916, when, upon invitation of Bishop
Rensez, NE decided to remove to the
United States with the purpose of start
ing college in Detroit. In the interim
Bishop Rensez resigned, and Bishop La
Fevre, his successor, not being prepared
to start the college, sent Father Piret to
Mackinaw, where he arrived in the same
year, 1916, and at which place and Point
st. Ignace he remained for many years.
He was the only priest in that whole sec
ton of country, his mission extending as
far west as the Rocky Mountains, being
the same field occupied by Father Mar
quette 200 years ago, and of whom Father
Piret was worthy successor. His la
bors among the Indians were very sue
cessful, and to whom he ministered both
spiritually and physically, saving many
of their lives by vaccination. He often
endured the greatest hardships, frequent
ly being greatly endangered of his life,and
on at least one occasion narrowly escaped
being scalped.
He was i'm the active priesthood about
forty years. AS professor of natu-
raj history he ranked second to
Agassiz. He had a Chapel at the Che
neaux, and very extensive museum,
costing him the labor of twenty-six
years, which, during his absence some
years ago, We're destroyed by fire.
During all the time he had been in
this country he kept up a correspondence
with many Of the removed institutions of
Europe, sending them specimens, &c.
He was a gentleman who, although
brought up strict Catholic, was en-
tirely without prejudice and totally void
OF bigotry, and who by his urbanity of
manners and gentleness of disposition
endeared himself to all with whom he
came in contact. He was universally be-
loved and esteemed by all who knew
him, and will be mourned by the whole
section through which he had so faith
fully labored and was 80 widely known.
He was known Of late years as the
" Patriarch of the Cheneaux," where he
had retired to study the laws of nature
and to unite himself closer with the
Author Of Nature. He has frequently
remained in devotion for a period of
months, scarcely ever during these pc
RODS being seen outside his home, which
was furnished in the EXTREMIST simplici-
ty, cOnsecrating himself entirely to the
cause in which he was heartily engaged.
For the last three years, in the sum-
mer time, he has made his home with
Father DeCuninck, in this village, who
respected him as father, and received
from him valuable counsel in many per-
plexities. 1t was at the house Of Father
DeCuninck he died, after an illness of
three weeks, which it was supposed had
been overcome, but last Sunday morning
he was stricken with apoplexity, which
resulted in his death about four minutes
after the attack.
Thus has passed away one of natures
noblemen. Although Father Piret had
lived more than the allotted three score |
years and ten, and accomplished a work |
for humanity, excelled by few. if any, in
the present generation. he still had plans |
for the future, which, had he lived to car
ry into execution, would have added
much more to the debt of gratitude
which the world owes to him who lived |
4 life of self-sacrifice for the elevation of |
his fellow men.
The funeral took place from the Cath
bic Church, in this village, at 10 o'clock
4. m. Tuesday, and was largely attended,
Catholics and Protestants uniting in pay
ng their respects to the memory of the |
deceased. The solemn and impressive |
of the church were conduct |
ed by the Rev. Chas. DeCeuninck, at the |
close of which he stated that he was
from debility and did not feel
able to make any extended remarks, but |
IS the many present would doubtless ex-
pect il of him, and his great love and es-
teem for his departed friend and BROTH
er constrained him. he would speak |
briefly. In feeling and eloquent language
ne then paid a glowing tribute to the no
Ole character and many virtues of the |
deceased, urging upon the numerous
hearers the duty of emulating those vir-
tues.
The st. Joseph Society turned out in
large numbers. in their regalia, to pay
tribute to his memory. The cortege was
very long. Over forty vehicles, well
illed, followed the remains to the ceme-
cry, thus showing the great respect in
which the deceased was held in this
community.