The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-06-07

WORK AMONG sAvAGES.

Q, 6. . -- o. u
WORK AMONG sAvAGES.
rs.s censeor.tion 81 Father vefius =
BIonu, New Gu inca.
The following account is given of the
consecrationsof Mgr Verius at Mohn,
New Guinea by an eyewitness: s O.
II you could but have seen our dear
savages when they entered tho Chapel,
decorated by the Daug hters Of Our Lady
Of the Sacred Heart! The Holy Women
as they are called by the natives. All
the wealth Of our poverty was there
and the savages were not the only ones
who marvelled at the splendid appear
ance of the Sanctuary, which had been
actually transformed by the pious in
dustry and ingenious devices of the
good Sisters. They had made lovely
flowers with beautiful feathers and
shells Of various colors. Taken alto
gether. there was sem blance of SPLEEN
dor com bined with real poverty, which
inspired the beholder with sentiments
Of piety. Among those who witnessed
tho Conservation, there were about
forty Catholics who happened to be at
Roro ct that time. These foreigners
represented different parts Of Europe:
France, Italy, Spain, England, Ireland,
Belgium, Holland, Germany. All
present were deeply moved by the
ceremonies The savages could not
fathom their impressive significance,
but they understood that Father
Verius was to become a "Great
Chief" like Mgr. Navarro. You can
fully realize what we, missionaries,
must have experienced on this most
solem occasion!, What had this young
man achieved that he should merit to
be invested with dignity such as this2
A distinction which is usually conferred
on men Of mature age, after many years
of labor. Had he converted many souls?
No; self-sacrifce and arduous labors
are not always crowned with success
How often was he not seen forcing his
way through dense forests, to penetrate
into the interior of New Guinea, and
endeavor to reach the settlements where
nibalism was said to exist? Villages
where no white man had ever been, and
whittier no black man would consent to
accompany the missionary! How many
quarrels and desperate fights has he not
ouelled, rushing in the midst of the
savages to bring about peace, totally
regardless of their uplifted spears' And
he did all this impelled by his eager
desire to make known the name of Jesus
Christi It was considered TO be an act
of folly, to launch out on the high seas
in frail bark and undertake g. voyage
of three hundred miles; and the more
rash an act, for the reason that the mis-
sionary knew not what awaited him in
that barbaric land, and it was quite pos
sible that Oh his arrival there, the spears
Of cannibals would be aimed at him. An
act of folly, indeed; Folly resulting
from intense love Of our Lord; folly
such as that which has made SO manN
saints. can act of folly" which has
established the mission in this vast
country. and made of our heroic con-
frere Pontiff, a perfect apostle of the
Sacred Heart.
Such were the thoughts in the minds
Of those who assisted at the sublime
ceremony. We had seen Father Verius
labor with untiring zeal in the midst
ot tribulation and sutferings, and had
seen him run into danger repeatedly to
promote the good work, and, to-day,
we see him invested with the glory and
honors of the Episcopate Our hearts
were filled with exultant joy, and we
were deeply moved when the TIE Deum
was intoned, and we saw the young and
great bishop come down from. the altar,
with his tire on his head and holding
his crosier, accompanied by the two
assistants, and walk through the chapel
and bless the faithful. Our chants of
were more fervid, and we
blessed God who had given us another
Pontiff When Mgr. Verius left the
chapel, everyone seemed eager to kiss
the new bishops ring and to get
special blessing from him. With his
usual kindness he blessed them all
again and again. His Grace, the Arch
bishop, was quite exhausted after the
ceremony, and barely had strength to
got back to mis- room. "Now," said he,
81 can die in peace; I have successor.
God grant that he may remain here I
long for this more than I hope for it !!
The savages are much attached to Mgr
Verius, and were overjoyed to see that
he had been made a "Great Chief" and
wore purple soutane like Mgr. Navarro;
but they were sorely grieyed to hear
that their beloved missionary was 60
ing to another country, inhabited by
blacks like themselves. Mgr. Verius
loves the savsges 80 well, he was eager
that they should take part in the fes-
Invites in honor Of his conservation.
He appealed to his Grace, the Arch
bishop, who complied with the request
made by Mgr. Verius, Notwithstanding
the limited resources of the Mission;
and consented that all the savages of
Yule Island and the neighboring ooun-
try should be invited to a grand ban
quet, to be given the day after The con-
secration. Accordingly, the natives
Of Koko, Chira, Erierina, Pinupaka, the
Chiefs Of Mohu, and few strangers,