The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-08
STORY OF A GOOD PRIESTS LIFE.
The Humble Beginning of a Distinguished
and Universally Esteemed Catholic.

The day that the First Empire disappeared
in the thunder and flame Of Waterloo was the
day upon which August Ressoniss, for thirty
years the good priest at St Johns Catholic
Church, was born, in Cahors, France. Father
Bessonies, his figure rounding more and more as
the years go on, is better known than any
clergyman in the city, and Protestant no
less than Catholic respects and honors him.
Still strong and in good health, he now walks
with slower step and carries a cane, for he has
passed his three score and ten milepost. He
was student at the famous Seminary of ST.
Sulpice, Paris. in 1886, when Bishop Brute. first
Bishop of Vincennes. visited that institution.
Young Bessonies, barely twenty-one years DID,
offered his services, eager to come to the United
States. "My lord he said to the Bishop, ~
wish to go with you to America. If I am not fit
for missionary, can be your coachman." He
was accepted, but the Bishop sold him to remain
and study three years longer, and on
Aug. 2, 1889. he sailed from Hayre
for America At that time the Cath
Ollie Church did not own a foot of ground
in Indianapolis. but the following year lot was
bought and small frame church was built upon
it. 1t was called the Holy Cross Church, and
in the southern edge of what called
Military ground" of which Military Park is a
remnant The churches now, all with large con-
gregations, are St. Johns, ST. Marys ST. Pat
ricks, ST. Josephs. St Bridgets and the Sacred
Heart So numerous have the churches become
in Indiana that day not far distant this State
instead OF having as now, two dioceses, the
Vincennes and Fort Wayne. will have three, the
central one composed of the middle counties of
the State
Father Bessonies was ordained a priest in
1910, and was Immediately sent to the wilds of
Perry county. He could speak few words of
English Since then, as he himself says with
charming ,candor, he has learned to speak En-
glish "fuently but badly" Indeed, to those not
we'll acquainted with him, his English is almost
as difficult to understand as his French The
sacerdotal Office in Perry county, forty-six
years ago, was no sinecure but the
Father was young and active, well musced and
untirng He became a good horseman and q
thorough woodsman, and soon adapted himself
to the hard life of the new country-a great con-
trast to his student life at Paris. He boarded at
and half baked corn bread. There was no coffee
to be had. He then learned to do without it,
and has not drank any since. One of his
churches was at Leopold AID the other on the
Ohio. six miles away, with rough road between,
yet for thirteen years the Father never d.sap-
pointed the people of his pastorship.
In 1847 Bishop Bazin called him to Vincennes
He wished to make him vicar-general of the do
cese, the Office he now holds Father Bessonies
refused the place. What shall dog' said the
Bishop. II will go down my knees if you
will consent" The Father still refused, saying
that by accepting he would do an injustice to
the people who had bought lots at Leopold, be-
lieving he would stay there. The place had
grown. and he was convinced that if he was re-
moved the village would go down. "But what
can I dog said the Bishop. appoint
Father De st. Palais" was Father Bessonies'
answer. Father Maurice de St Palais was q
priest at Madison. He was appointed, and af-
forwards, being in the line Of succession. became
bishop, place that at that time would probably
have gone to Father Bessonies had he not
through his strict sense of justice to his par
ishioners, denied himself the place from which
the bishop was chosen. However, it never ap-
peared a sacrifice to him, so simple and unosten-
tatious is this man of many good works.
The little church he built at Leopold was a log
one. He also built log school house. and soon
after there was store, blacksmith shop and a
postoffice, of which Father Bessonies himself was
the first postmaster, being appointed by Presi-
dent Polk. The new postmaster employed car
penter, and, at the enormous expense of $14, put
in some pigeon holes and boxes He sent bill
to Washington for the amount. The answer
came back, s'Your postofice is too small for such
luxury. Pay the bill yourself" which the ex-
travagant new postmaster did
He remained at Leopold until 1852, and then
paid short visit to France. On his return he
was sent to Fort Wayne, where he was pastor
for one year. He was sent to Jeffersonville in
March, 1854 and remained there until Novem-
Der, 1857, when he was appointed pastor of St.
Johns Church, then small affair, IN Indianapo-
lis. In contribution to Rev. H. Alerdings
History of the Diocese of Vincennes,' Father
Bessonies says: "All I desire written on my
tomb is:
AUG. BEssoNIEs
Pastor of st. Johns, from 1857 till -.
And thousands of Protestants will join with
those of the Fathers faith, in the hope that it
may be many, many years before that blank is
filled
It wasa disappointment to every one, except
Father Bessonies, that he was not made bishop
ard had it been put to vote he would not only
have carried the Catholic strength, but the en-
tire Protestant vote of the diocese. But bishops
are not chosen in that way, and Francis Silas
Chatard, who came here stranger all the way
from Rome. has made an excellent bishop. the
church having materially prospered more dur
ing his eight years than ever before in double
that time.
Father Bessonies was recently made Mon
signor. special honor as member of the Popes
household The new Monslgnor at the time of
his nomination, showed to the reporter, with
whom he is on the most easy and agreeable foot
ing. the hat that he was entitled to wear as one
of the Monsignori. 1t is q silk hat, very smooth
and glossy, with a low crown, the brim Of mod
crate width at the Sides extending far to the
front and rear. The monsignor was properly
pleased with the Popes appreciation but it is
doubtful if any one has seen the hat upon the
street
Father Bessonies delights to talk of Governor
Morton, with whom he was especially intimate
in the stirring days of the war; The priest Of
st. Johns was steadfast friend of the Union,
and his counsel, as the writer knows, was fire.
quently asked by the great War Governor
During the Franco Prussian war Father Bes-
sonies' sympathies were all with the land of his
nativity, and several humorous stories are tcld
of warm discussions that took nlaca hatvean
him and German priests of the diocese. His last
visit to France was paid in 1882.
Afew weeks ago a knock at Father Bessonies'
study door brought the words Come in!" On
entering. the two vicar-generals of the diocese
of Vincennes-Father Bessonies and Father An
thony Scheideler-were found engaged in the
exciting game of dominoes, at which, as the
writer then saw, both are skilled performers 1t
is said that these two contestants meet frequent
ly, and that victory sometimes falls on the side