St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-05

prepare supper. Days of simplicity,
but days we should well remember.
There are indeed sacred memories
clinging to every part of the old build
ing. There is the memory of Bishop
Cretin, who was, indeed, saint,
another st. Paul. He had but one
thought. to fix firmly the church in this
new territory. The old settlers will re-
member how he preached at every
mass, at vesperS and again at benedic-
ton in the evening. How he attended
sick calls, and cared for the spiritual
and temporal wants of his flock. He
seemed gifted with prophetic gaze, be-
ing absolutely confident of the bright
future Of st. Paul and Minnesota. He
suffered and died in the old building,
and that simple fact makes it dear and
precious. In the old building not few
Of the Catholics of st. Paul were bap-
tised, married and made their first com
munion. Here many now here assisted
at mass, many received the knowledge
of their religion. But it g rev too small,
and word was given that a new cathe-
dral should be built, and this time plans
were laid spacious surely.
The building was begun in 1856 by
Bishop Cretin. and completed after
his death by Father RavouX. Mass was
said in the new structure for the first
time in June, 1858, the building being
then uncompleted. The old brick build
ing then became parish school, at first
for girls and boys, but later for boys
only. L am sure many of our young
men will look back with affection to the
days spent in the old building.
At last came the day when the ven
cradle old building was condemned to
go. The city had grown from LOCO to
100000 souls. The prairies disappeared,
the swamps were dried, the hills low
cred, and progress in its relentless
march declared that the old building
should go. Time and so-called
cred memorieS-they make no
room for sentiment or veneration.
But pleasant thing 1t is. even though
progress does blot away old memories,
to know that wilderness has become a
great city, and we should thank God
for it. What to us is most pleasing of
all is that Gods church has kept pace
with the material progress. Ills q
pleasing thought that the holy church
was here before there was city. She
is no stranger here. She blessed our
hills and rivers and dales before others
came. Before commerce asserted it
self she pre-empted the land. 1t is
pleasing to-day, thirty-eight years after
the erection of the brick building, that
we have in the city nineteen churches
and room for many more; and clustered
around them are schools aud hospitals
and refugees in the name OF
charity in every form. Surely
the spirits of our early missionaries
rejoice in the skies above, and no doubt
their prayers are not wanting to us.
Let it not be said, thirtyeight years
hence, that the material development
of city and state went away in advance
of Gods church.
want Catholics TO be foremost in ev-
erything, but it is your duty, above all,
to build up Gods kingdom on earth.
The old building was once a monu-
ment we loved to gaze upon. To-day
they say. Take it away" and it goes
down. And, brethren, so with the
stoutest and sturdiest of men. The day
will come when they, too, must go
down before relentless Time.