The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1885-12-05
VISIT OF ARCHBISHOP GIBBONS.

Vlb1 ~ 111tSA10AoAASA SAoDSAto'
The lst Of December, 1885, will be ever
memorable in the annals of Donaldsonvil'e
by reason of the visit of His Grace, Arch
bishop Gibbons of Baltimore, Apostolic
Delegate from the See of Rome and proba-
BILE successor of the late Archbishop Nc
Closkey as Cardinal Of the Roman Catholic
Church in America. The immediate pur-
pose of this eminent dignitary's presence
in our State was to investigate the affairs of
the diocese of Louisiana, and at the in
stance Of number of prominent Catholics
he deemed it proper to come to Donaldson
vile and ascertain by personal inquiry
whether there are any unsettled matters
connected with the whilom discussions in
the Catholic congregation Of Ascension
which his counsel O., authority might be in
strumental in adjusting.
The Archbishop, accompanied by his pri-
vate secretary, DR.. Chapel, aud Rev. Fa-
Their Rapier of jefferson College, st. James,
arrived at Burnside Station, on the Missis-
sippi Valley railway, at 1890 :. NJ, and was
met by Rev. Fathers Dubernard of Donald
socville and Harnais of Plaquemine, who
escorted the visitors to town. The boom
ing of cannon fired by detachments of the
Cannoneers of Donaldson and Ascension
Rifles announced the approach of the cleri-
cal party, aud large conconrse of people
assembled at the river ferry landing to as
sist in according to the distinguished prel-
ate such reception as befitted his exalted
ecclesiastical rank.
R. N. Sims, Esq, as spokesman of re-
cep:ion committee of leading Catholics, de-
livered brief address of welcome. and the
eminent visitor was escorted to the church
by the assembled citizens, led by the indie
pendent Brass Band and Ascension Rifles.
The Archbishop seemed averse to any os-
tentatious display, and declined to use the
carriage provided for the purpose of con-
veying him to the church, preferring to
traverse the short distance on foot. Upon
arriving there he addressed few words to
the people, simply stating the object of his
visit, and inviting ell who had complaints
to make tc meet him at the presbytery and
present their grievances in private.
We have no information as to the details
of the inquiry conducted by the Archbishop
during his brief.sojonrn here, or the num-
Der or character of complaints he received,
and the subject is perhaps not proper one
for newspaper investigation or comment
bat the general opinion is tina: the adjust
ment recently effected of the controversy
that for two years or more disturbed the
harmony of the Catholic church in this par
ish, has been or VIII be fully ratified by
Archbishop Gibbons.
At all events, the eminent prelate was en-
ab!ed to conclude his business here in time
to take his departure for New Orleans by
the O'Clock train, after e1ercising;his del
egated authority to bestow the Papal bene-
diction upon the Catholics of Ascension.
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