The evening world., 1888-01-23

nv. aAsToN sEPTIER. fund, and other gen.
erous contributions were made by the French
citizens as we'll as Americans in New York.
The work prospered, and the new Church
of st. Vincent de Paul was dedicated Aug.
81. 1912, by Archbishop Hughes. The Rev.
Father Deydier, who was chosen temporary
pastor, was succeeded the same year by the
Rev. Annet Lafont, who was sent over from
France by the Bishop of Nancy, and who was
pastor OF the church from 1S42 to 1875.
Father Lafont established in this country the
Society of the Fathers of Mercy, a convent of
Vincent de Paul since the early years OF his
passionate.
As the city grew and the population began
to move towards the upper part OF the island,
IL became necessary to seek another site for
the church, and the location on Twenty-third
street, where the church now stands, was
finally chosen and the corner stone laid in
January, 1857, by Archbishop Hughes. The
McCloskey officiating. The new building is
constructed after the m style, and its
cost was 1886, 600.
Besides the parochial schools and other ed
ucational institutions, Father Lafont estab:
it under the care of the Marianites Sisters of
the Holy Cross. He died in January, 1874.
and was succeeded by the Rev., Edmond
Aubril, under whom the good works begun
by Father Lafont were carried on. He died
in May, 1881, and his successor, who was ap-
pointed shortly afterwards, is the Rev. CASTOR
Septier, also of the Society of the Fathers of
Mercy.
Under Father Septier's passionate the church
has greatly prospered, and one of the most
important works ever attempted in the
parish, the building of the new French
Orphan Asylum. has been accomplished.
The asylum is one of the handsomest struc-
Seventh avenue and Thirty-ninth street. 1t
has now under its charge over 300 children.
Another noteworthy charity, established
by Father Septier in connection with the
asylum, is the Fresh-Air Fund, which enables
the children to take two excursions a week
during the entire sum mer season. By ar
rangements which he has effected with the
railroad and steamboat lines one excursion
is made each week to the seashore and one to
the country. All the children are taken on
each of these excursions.
The cost of the asylum building up to the
present time is something over $500, 900, and
the debt of $S5, 900 has been largely decreased
during the past year through the earnest and
successful efforts of Father Septier.
The church. which has one of the finest
congregations in the city in point of wealth
and culture, has been improved in many
ways during the passionate of Father Septier.
parish has ever had. and his kindly manner
and uniform courtesy have endeared him to
| all his parishioners, who are scattered over
the city, from the Battery to the Harlem
River.
Among the societies connected with the
church are the Ladies' Associations, the Re-
ligious Society of the Arch-C onfraternity of
the Sacred Heart of Mary, the Society of st.
Vincent de Paul, the Society of st. Ann and
the Mutual Benevolence Association.
The Rev. CASTOR Septier was born in Paris
in 1851. He received his early education in
the little seminary at Boulogne. sur Mer, and
Afterwards studied at Cardinal Manning's
seminary in London. Returning to France,
no snapt fpnr VaarG "a q pnyitlata in the
House of the Fathers of Mercy at Orleans,
France, and was ordained as a priest soon
after at Paris. In 1877 he was sent to New
York to preach the customary Lenten SER
vices at the house of the order here. He
was not recalled, and, becoming an assistant
at st. Vincent de Paul's, was appointed
pastor at the death of Father Aubril.
His present assistants are the Rev. V. Hum
bert, S. P. M; Rev. L. II. Wucher, s. p. M;
Rev. w. Smith, S. P. NJ, and Rev. j. ]. Mad
den, S.. P. NJ. Father Smith is also chaplain
of the st. Vincent de Paul Orphan Asylum,
and spiritual adviser of st. Louis College.