The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1877-10-20
BISHOP LERAY.
His Arrival and Reception.

reception such as the virtuous piety
and patriotism of this eminent divine
mcritvd although it did debar them of
the pleasure of Il public parade in
Keeping Will! the occasion.
At four o'clock promptly tho e't-
zrns en- massr headed by Mayor Dram
uuct and the City Connci|mcn, Nrssrs.
Carver, Caspari, Levy and Duncan,
called upon the Bishop at lis resi-.
drucc and were received by him from
tie porch, when the following inter
cs,;nr ceremonies took place.
Speech of the Mayor.
Rirht Reverend Bishop Xavier lcray
In the name of the citizens of the an
ci,rt city Of NatchitochtS, irrespective OF
sect and religious denomination, we their
Mayor and Conncilmcn, have the honor
| TO welcome YOU in our midst. 1t IS MOI
ouly Will, pleasure, but also with pride,
that we. this day. are at last permitted
TO enroll your Justly vrncratcd name up
on onr municipal list. and to nnmhrrN YOU
as one of us. 1t is with pleasure that we
receive You, for the moment 1t Was
known flat YOU had been chosen to re-
place the late di1tinSnishe preIat,r,
whose loss this pcopl" have $" deeply
! mpururl. AID whose saintrd memory
will endure as long as life shall last, we
knew and felt, that lis place could not
have been better. more ably, nor more
approrriatrly filled. 1t is with pride that
we erect YOU. Because, i'll this advanced
age Of learning and civilization, it is not
always the State that contrrs diSt'nrt,on
and Importance upon its citizen, but IT Is
the citizen, who, by his own exertlonS,
his abilities, usefulness, moral worth, and
private and pnbIic virtues, contributes
to the dignity. the power, and real hap
piuesS of his country. Hence orr rejoi-
cings to-day.
Although personally unknown to MS
before this hour, yet fame, with its hun.
dred tongues. did not permit your sacred
name to fall upon our ears nnherdcd as
other names do. We are we'll aware that
when disease, with its presidential breath
was sweeping away it's hundreds OF vic
tins, and grim-visaged and unrclenting
war was moving down its hundreds of
thousands, voices of gratitude. ofresPect
and oflove were loudly heard in Natchez,
in Mississippi Springs, in Canton. III
Shelby Springs, in Jackson and in Weeks
burg. The winds that swept from the
East, waited to our ears, at the time an,!
since, the deeds of IL citizen who seemed
to have in his breast the tenderness OF
heart of woman to prompt them, and the
fearless courage and warm patriotism OF
a hero to achieve them! Your arrival
among is very opportune! Like your
eminent predecessor. you will have many
tears to wipe away many broken
heart to comfort; and many. many prey
udices to overcome and allay! Yours
will be the duty to inculcate the necessl'
" Of industry, of honesty, of love ofone's
neichbor, and ola ready obedience to the
laws, human as well as divine. Like the
cloud by day, and the pillar of fire ny
night, YOURS will be the holy mission to
guide us OIL the path which leads tc the
practice of civic and religious virtues
and to the observance of "peace on earth
to men Of good will y
Thrice welcome, then, is your advent
here, to take charge of the high and re-
sponsible position to which you have been
appointed, as Bishop Of the Diocese OF
Natchitoches! You have come, am told
with Your own free will and accord, tt
reside among a people who arc noted ra
ther for their present misiortunes' thar
for their past prosperity! You have CONT
to share our poverty with us! All honor
to YOU for such generous self-abnega
ton.
Right Reverend Bishop, hold in my
hand certified copy of arcsolutlon pas
sed by the City Authorities, in relation
to the manifestations which are taEln:
place now Receive and keep 1t, keVer
end sir, as token of the high rcgar: an'
esteem which we entertain for the learn
ed divine, the philanthropist, and TIL
distinguished citizen, whom it would b.
an honor to any country to numpc
among her children!
Nav Won never regret this occasion
may your days be long in the land of yon
adoption; and when your lahors are en-
ded, may you reap the reward justly CIV
tor life we'll spent in the service OF co.
and your fellow men.
After which Mayor Dranguet intro
duced the orator of the day chosen t.
welcome the Bishop, on the part of tn
citizens of the parish of Natchitoches
Hon. w. II. Jack,
who spoke as follows:
Bishop Leray On the part of OH
citizens, it becomes my pleasing duty t
welcome your arrival in our midst. Yer
many of our good people are devont &C
herents of the Catholic faith and thei
: hearts are filled with joy aud gla<tnes'
t that God in his providence has cast you
lot among tnem," They are made to fee
to-day, that the Flock is no longer Will
| ont its Shepherd and their mourning
r at length turned into rejoicing. 1t is nl
to them q happy occasion, but not unt
them only for we Of a different creed d
, also rejoice. heartily believing that a.
true followers of the cross, are christian
and are alike heirs of the Heavenly il
hcritance.
+ Reverend Sir: The disciples Of Jesu
were commissioned in behalf of all th
nations of the earth and they belong nc
to the churches alone but to mankind.-
, III this world Of evil and of wickednes
there is surely enough for all good me
to do. "The Harvest is ripe but the ret
: pers are few The soldiers of "Kin
, Emanuel were solemn1y commanded It
= love one another" aud should therefor
live and act in concert, although i'll di
fcrent fields, they fight the common fo
The essence of religion is love to Go
and to our fellow-man and as such
s bringeth harmony, peace and happine'
yea salvation. As the free gift of Go
to all, it is intended to ''cover the cart
as the waters cover the sea-" Withou
it, the world is waste and life itself