, 1889-02-03

ton to all this ten acres OF good land in a
commanding position have been pur-
chased upon which Father Fitzgerald
hopes in the near future to erect a charit-
able institution. Evanston Catholics
have every right to be grateful for the
blessing they possess in their present pas
tor. He is a good priest, and having
been amply blessed by Providence with
this worlds wealth. he spends all freely
for the benefit and advancement of the
church.
Your correspondent sincerely trusts
that he will not be looked upon as treat
ing Cheyenne with disrespect if he leaves
her to the last. Being mother and head
of the church in Wyoming she can well
afford to have her children praised and
their achievements suns not alone without
envy, but with a pardonable pride in the
good deeds and rapid growth of her
spiritual offspring. How Catholicity has
advanced in this city and neighbor-
hood since the suspicious day
on which it pleased our Holy Father to
appoint as our bishop Ri. Rev. M. F.
Burke, it is needless to say one of the
most polished scholars of the American
Catholic church of to-day, and admired
by all the leading scientific bodies of the
country for his knowledge and erudition.
Bishop Burke since his arrival here has
never ceased to work in the interest of
religion and particularly of education.
Through his efforts schools have been
opened and existing ones have been fos-
tered and increased.
New parishes, too, have been created,
and jealous priests have been induced to
leave the comforts of Eastern homes to
labor among a scattered people, and with
all the discomforts Of frontier life. The
status OF the congregation of st. Mary's
cathedral for the year 1888 is a crafty
ing proof of the wonderful strides made
by the church in this city. According to
the official returns there have been during
the past year los baptisms, nineteen
marriages and thlrty-seven funerals, while
the membership amounts to nearly 1000.
This is certainly an encouraging state of
affairs and when the promises held out by
the Union Pacific to our city are fulfilled
we have every reason to hope that the
membership OF our church will be in
creased at least 40 per cent. AS it is at
resent there are loud demands for a
church across the track, and many resi-
dents there have promised liberal sub
scriptions to aid in the erection of a
church and parsonage. The writer does
not think he is betraying any secrets
If he hints that it will not be a hundred
years until the Gloss shines down from
belfry or tower on the good people of the
south side. | had intended saying some
thing of our glorious academy, which, I'M
der the good sisters of the Holy Child, is
one of the brightest gems in the diadem
of Catholic Wyoming, but | must defer it
until next week. Let me. however, call
the attention of your readers to the fact
that one of the musical feasts OF the year
will be given at the convent on Friday
evening next. The cultured people of
Cheyenne are well aware of The perfect
musical training impaired by the good
sisters and how ably their pupils sc
quit themselves on these occasions.
1t is to be hoped, therefore,
that the many ladies especially in the
city who can appreciate really good music
will be present at what will be. 1 AN sure,
a delightful artistic treat. The tickets are
wonderfully cheap. In fact if the price
were fixed according to the excellence of
the artistic menu" to be set before the
audience on Friday evening, S. and not
fifty cents (which latter small sum is the
price of the tickets) would be the cost of
admission.
Other interesting church news | shall
reserve for next week, as | purpose, with
your permission, supplying your readers
weekly with items of Catholic informa-
ton. | Just wish to say in conclusion that
now, as in the future, when l use the
expression church | always shall mean
that body OF Christians protesting allegl.
ance to the chair of st. Peter, which,
when mentioned In the Sunday issue of
the Sun. is generally described as the
Romish church. TYR OWEN.
Extending the Water system.
GRock Springs Independently
1lo rro,au l.o~ .--l- .ul.--