The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-03-03

On tuesday last delegation OF prOmi-
nent Catholics of Alton and of the diocese
of which Alton is the cathedral city, made
visit 10 this city to extend welc ONE to
Rev. Father Ryan as Bishop of that do
cese. The party consisted of Rev. Father
Fallon, ex.Msyor Lucas Pfeiffenberg, Al.
dermen Daniel Ryan aud p. Reyland,
City Attorney John F. McGinnis, Prof. H..
Temper, J. j. Mclnerney, editor of the
Sentinel, j. j. Long, F. Folbracht, John
Jehle, M. Minaugh, Jos. F. Martin, VIM.
Flynn and G. B. Dressner. These gentle
men were met at the Rock Island depot
by committee from 81. COLUMBIA church,
who took their guests to the Clifton,
where q dinner ives served to all save
Father Fallon, who dined with Father
Ryan. After dinner the party proceeded
to the parschial resldepce. where the ad.
dress to Bishop Ryan was read by Rev.
Father Fallon. 1t was printed on white
satin, and ia as follows:
Right REQ. James Ryan, Bishop Elec. Of
Alton:
RIGHT REV. DEAR SIR: II was with
feelings Of Joy and gladuess that We re.
ceived the news that our city was once
more 70 be honOred as the episcopal
residence of the Bishop of the diocese of
Alton, aud that after long and patient
watching and waiting, We we're to be the
happy recipients of the glad tidings that
our Holy Father, Leo, had appointed
successor TO our revered and venerated
Bishop Bates. And the Catholics OF
Alton, acting upon those impulses that
spring spontaneously from the human
heart, met together In mass meeting
and delegated to this committee the pleas
ure of rendering you hearty welcome 70
80 by the memories of our departed and
mourned prelates, Juncker and Bates,
which cluster around her, and whose deeds
for the cause IF our universal creed shall
live In the hearts of generations to come,
and which shall not be forgotten when
time, with Its whitening hand, shall cause
the stone from which II Is quilt to decay,
and Its walls to be leveled to the ground.
We again welcome you to our beautiful
city of Alton, which has justly been CON-
pared by reverend gentleman as the
Rome of the West, built on her many hills
with the grand Mississippi at her feet,
flowing on to mingle Its waters with those
Of the mighty ocean; and upon the most
beautiful and highest of them all sits the
cathedral, In her solemn grandeur and
majesty, "a perfect gem among churches"
And in saying this we do not wish to take
from the church of this lovely city of OF
tawa even one of her GENE; this city and
her good people we believe you love,-yes,
we know you love her and them, and to
whose prosperity you have contributed 80
much; but while THY will regret your de-
parture from among them and have many
q sigh. and tear may even course down
their cheeks, yet will they not rejoice with
us at your elevation to the episcopacy and,
to be charitable, will not their loss be our
gain?
Again we welcome you because you are
the successor of those two holy Bishops,
Juncker and Bates, whose earthly remains
are inferred beneath the walls of the
church you are so soon to occupy, and be-
cause we love you as such; for, although
Individually we may never have met be.
fore, yet In spirit and in the union of the
universal and apostolic church, We are one
and always have been.'
We again thrice welcome you, In behalf
of the Catholics of Alton, because your
reputation for Catholic piety and religious
ardor have long since preceded you. And
now. In bidding you adieu, we pray our
Heavenly Father TO protect and bless you,
That you may long be spared to us and TO
our Holy Church Is the final wish of us all.
The Bishop elect made an appropriate
reply, and stated that he expected to be
consecrated at Alton. After short social
visitation, the guests were shown about the
city until the train arrived that carried
them back to their homes The affair was
very pleasant throughout, and 1t was
especially gratifying to Father Ryan that
his welcome 10 his new feld of labor was
thus early and so cordially manifested.