St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-10-05

"All l know" said he, sis that l have
been appointed. OF what diocese l
have not yet been informed, and will,
in all probability. not know until the
briefs arrive from Rome"
The Right Rev. Thomas L. Grace was
born at Charleston, S. c., on Nov.
Is. 1914, making him now almost seven
ty-five years old. He began the pre-
paratory studies to taking holy orders at
the age of fifteen. at the seminary at
Cincinnati. AT the age of sixteen he
entered the Dominican order, at the
Monastery of St. Rose, in Kentucky.
He then went to Rome to pursuse hts
studies, entering the college of the
Minerva, He was ordained a priest
on Dec. 81, 1889 in Rome and re-
turned to America in 1874. On arriv-
ing he Immediately entered upon the
work of the ministry in Kentucky. For
over thirteen years he had charge of a
parish at Memphis, Tenn, building
during his pastOrate the Church of ST.
Peter and st. Paul, st. Agnes convent.
a large orphan asylum. and other &C.
clesiastieal buildings. On July "a,
1859. he was consecrated bishop of St.
Paul. His predecessor, Bishop Cretin,
mad been dead for over two years, and
after careful scrutiny of the
abilities of the various priests on
the continent Father Grace was chosen.
The place was a hard one to fill, and it
was only after the most earnest investi-
CATION that his qualifications decided
the Holy Father TO appoint him. The
ceremony of conservation took place at
St. Louis, Archbishop Kenrick being
the consecrator. A deputation of priests
from Minnesota, among whom was
Father Ravoux, then vicar general. was
present, and escorted the new bishop
to st. Panl. They left st. Louis on
Tuesday, July 26. 1859, on the steamer
Northern Belle, there being no railroads
in those days, and arrived here on the
following Friday. They were met at
the wharf by delegation of priests and
laymen. and were escorted to the eathe-
dral by the st. Paul guard. A TIE Deum
was then sung.
When Father Grace became bishop
the diocese included Minnesota and Da-
kota. and there we're only two Catholic
churches in st. Paul, the Cathedral and
the Church of the Assumption. There
were Only twenty-SeVen priests and a
population of $4,000. In the whole do
cese were only thirty-0ne churches
and ninety-Seven missions. Intercourse
was very difficult, and the Journeys
had all to be made on horse
back. There were only four higher
grade schools, under the charge
of the sisters of st. Joseph, and
St. Benedict. The bishop was unceas-
ingly occupied; he was so persevering
in his work that the results were mar
velous. In 1873 Bishop -Seidenbusch
was appointed and the Yicariate of
Northern Minnesota established, while
Rt. Rev. John Ireland was appointed
coadiutor to Bishop Grace. Four years
later Dakota was made a vicariate
and Bishop Marty appointed. These
subdivisions were rendered necessary
by the spread of the church under
RishOp Grace. and we're made because
if was impossible for him to cover all
the territory. Bishop Grace has EN-
deared himself to Catholics and Prot
estantS alike by his solid learning, men,
tai ability. gentleneSs and sincerity.
broad and liberal Christianity, earnest
piety. graceful Oratory and deep sym
pathy with all sorts of human suffering.
As citizen is is recognized and APP
preciated AS libeFal-minded man, al
ways ready to aid in any matter
tor the advancement of the city or of
mankind. lie is one of the ablest bish-
OPS of the church. and the news of his
elevation to the archiepisc0pate will be
received by all with qualification. 1t is
a fitting reward for the long years of
hard toll spent by him in moulding the
rude forms and habits of Western life
into gentle, quiet and purified methods
of civilization and Christianity.