Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-06-21

ability, together with those feelings of
the heart which such Il day awakens.
will be accepted as an apology for the
mistakes made in filing this embarras-
sing position.
Religion first erected an altar i'm the
diocese of Milwaukee. in the pictur-
esque old town of Potosi, where stately
trees, beautiful flowers and grass GROW
ON its surrounding hills, dotted here and
there by mounds whose ancient ruins re-
veal the existence of prehistoric race and
its winding streets still warmed in the
blessed sunlight that once cleaned upon
them through the smoke of the Indian
camp-tires long ago grown cold.
Here is the spot, ON which edifices
have been erected by noble pioneers, the
fathers and mothers of many present.
How few are here to-day to participate
in its fiftieth anniversary.
While speaking of those made dear to
us by domestic ties, we can place them
only as auXiliaries to the Rev Fathers,
who dared to expose themselves to danger
of the most hazardous kind. and gave to
God the care and keeping of their lives,
who left homes and firesides made hap
Ply by kind fathers, loving mothers. noble
brothers and loyal sisters, to erect a
Catholic church in the southwestern
part of Grant County, in the Badger
state, a member of one great political
family whose government is the greatest
and grandest in the world, the symbol
OF which as it floats from the spire of st.
Thomas steeple to-day, is the only flag
that has in reality written upon it-Lib-
erty, Fraternity, Equality-the grandest
trinity of human rights.
o Rev. Fathers, ladies and gentlemen
present, what tribute too great to pay to
their memories, what encomiums of love
and general thanksgiving too precious
to shower on their noble work for the
truth. Christian charity and Christian
piety, the very fountain of all moral and
political laws that have been taught us
within these sacred walls?
We have set aside this day, a memoir
able one in the history of our nation, to
dedicate to their honor by making known
the feelings of our hearts by outward
demonstrations. For this purpose many
have come from far and wide, though
not unwelcome, for all have been invited
to participate and aid us in the first work
OF commemoration of this kind in our
diocese. To all, Rev. Fathers. Cath
olics and non-Catholics, who honor us
by your presence and aid us bv your
services, do we tender hearty well
come.
Miss Grogan is fine elocutionist and
her little speech was well rendered and
well received.
Hon. j. W. Seaton, of Potosi, then
took the floor. He said it was an aus
picious occasion. The heavens smiled
upon them and even the elements seemed
tempered to the occasion. He said. we
have come here with the high and holy
purpose of commemorating the estab-
lishment of a church of the everything
God. We have come together to con-
graduate one another that we live in a
land of liberty and religion, where the
sound of the church bell is borne upon
the Sabbath air Many old residents of
this place are here, but many still older
pioneers are absent. He referred to the
venerable Chief Justice Cole and Geo.
| w. Jones, both unable to come on ac-
count of poor health. He had received
communications from others, among
them Miss frankie Woods, Hon. Cyrus
X. Lord and Hon Moses M. Strong. The
last wrote as follows:
MINERAL PoINT, Wis, June 9, 1886
| To the Committee OF IaUitGti0n:
GENTLEMEN-I was gratified by the reception
of your invitation to be present with you on the
18th inst. and take part in communicating the
event OF the ift1eth anniversary of the organ
iZation of st. Thomas Catholic Church of Potosi
furnishing as it would an opportunity of reviving
| the memories of fifty years ago.
The Jealous, devoted labors of Father Samuel
MaZZuchelli more than half century AGO in
| Southwestern Wisconsin, and of the noble broth
/ erhood of devoted workers with him are equ-
| ally deserving of commemoration with Ragen-
! bault, Jogues, Dequerre, Dracou Mesuard. Al
| lonez. Dabon and Marquette These daring
| Jesuit missionaries defed the dangers of the
canoe navigation of our great inland seas and
| the unknown terrors of the previously unex-
! plored wilderness Of forest by which they were
! surrounded, inhabited only by savage beasts OF
| prey and more savage Indian tribes, whose CON
version 10 Christianity was their only incentive;
] pursued their dangerous voyages by water and
i perlous travels by land, more than two hundred
years ago, to the shores of what is now the civil
1 lZed and populous state of Wisconsin.
AS early as 1865 Father Allouez established
the first mission within the present limits of Wis
consn, ON the shores OF Chequamigon Bay at or
near the site OF the present city of Ashland, and
In 1910, having been joined by Pierre Dablon es-
tablshed near Green Bay the mission Of St
Francis Xavier, and they bore the cross through
eastern Wisconsin TO Illinois. 1t in 1873 that
Father Marquette. with Sieur Joliet. explored
the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers and on June II
the day OF your anniversary, discovered the Mis-
sissippi, and probably on the same day passed by
the site of POtosi.
The 18th of June has immortal memories On
that day was fought the battle Of Bunker Hill
which demonstrated that the unframed militia
Of the colonies were adequate to the great work