The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-10-28
WITH ST. BERNARD MONKS.
How Their New Provost Was Consecrated
Amid SHOWS.

rail- MAIL GaZetre-
We are indebted to Miss G. F. Gordon Cum
ming Tor the following account of the conse-
Grafton or the new provost of the Grand ST.
Bernard: 1.-THE strangely abnormal weather Of
the summer OF 1888 has lent a singularly char
acteristic touch to the solemn ceremonial of
the conservation OF Nj. Theophile Bourgeois de
Bovernier, elected by the brethren of the
Grand St Bernard as successor TO their late
provost. Sept 2 was tho day fixed for this
great event-a date which afforded q fair pros
pect or favorable weather. Ii was, however,
decrsed that the many guests who assembled
on this occasion should realize something OF the
hardshIps OF existence on the mountain. which
on the previous day was infolded in dense
clouds, and soon a bitter wind was accompanied
by such close, fine snow that the many groups
Of prelates, priests, pilgrims, councillors Of
state, representing the government of the
Valais, and other people who journeyed through
the beautiful valley of Entremont TO take part
in the services. hesitsted whether to proceed or
To spend the night at the base Of the mountain.
Happily the telephone from the Hospice brought
encouraging words, aud the assurance that men
would come down to meet and help the visitors
on their tot lsome ascent; and this, combined
with the re solution of two octogenarian prslates
to proceed at once, encouraged the faintheartsd,
SO all determined TO face the storm, notwieh-
standing the bitter cold, and such bewildering
swirls of falling snow rs could scarcely have
been exceeded at Christmas.
1.-The two brave old bishops who thus led the
van were Mgr. de Sion and Mgr. de Bethleem.
For these august prelates q carriage had been
provided, bat so %frightful was its jolting that it
was doubtful whether the occupants did not sat-
fer more from bruises than did the rest OF the
company from exposure TO the tempest A litter
had been provided TO replace the carriage at the
point beyond which it was deemed impossible to
drag it Here, however, the visitors were met
by a party from the hospice, accompanied by
q number of courageous servants of the St Ber-
psrd, descendants of those very men who dragged
the cannon Of Napoleon to the same heights
$50
containing the bishops to the hosplce, and, not
withstanding all difficulties of precipitous roads
and narrow bridges, they fulfilled their VOW.
son reaching the hospice they were met by
the Bishop of Aosta. who, with a dozen of his
clergy, arrived almost simultaneously from the
Italian side of the mountain. These had suffered
even more than their Swiss friends, having had
to face the wind all the way. They said that
never in the depths OF winter had they endured
more intense cold. Soon, however, all the SUI
fering of the ascent was forgotten as they gath
cred around CHEEKY fires, while the good breth-
rem made much of their honored guests. A COM
Portable supper and sound sleep effectually re-
stored them, aud all met in the chapel long be-
fore the hour fxed for the beginning of the
service, which lasted from 9 till 1890. First
came the reading of the papal bull comforting
authority on the new provost. who subsequently
lay PROSTATE on the ground during the recital
of the penitential psalms, thus IMPLYING to all
men that he who would rule his fellows must
excel all In humility,
after a luncheon, at which all the bishops,
the clergy, the councillors of state, and other
dignitaries were toasted in most convivial fash
ion, the company returned to the sanctuary, at
the threshold of which all the brethren awaited
their abbot. The prior inquired of him whether
he wculd swear solemnly to observe the consti-
tuition OF the order. and on his reply in the az
frmstive, committed TO him the care Of the al
tar, the choir. and the whole church, whereupon
all the members OF the order proceeded to do
him HOMAGE homage which in this case
seemed TO be sineularly h~eartfelt. For life amid
the SHOWS of St Bernard does not foster many
distracting affections, but rather tends to intens-
ify the love of the brethren for those whom
they deem worthy of reverence. al 10 emiuently
the case with the provost of their choice. In
the very primo Of life tonly thirty-two years of
agel. he has won the hearts OF ell the brother
hood by his gentleness and modesty, combined
with rare strength of character and powers of
physical endurance. great learning, not only In
theology, but in all natural sciences, and also
extraordinary Linguistic talents. So the broth
erhood are to be congratulated on the singular
unanimity displayed in the election of their new
| father. and all felt that the brilliant sunlight
which sue seeded tho snow-storm and gloriied
the mountains was . happy type of the pros
| poets OF these excellent men,"