The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-10-11
PRIEST IN CONGRESS.
The Rev, Gabriel Richard, Of Mich,
igan, Sat in the House Of
Rep esentatives

s hep esentatlVeS.
FATHER THEoBALD MATHEW.
lie Visits Washington IN l840, and Con
gress, by Unanimous Vote, Showers
It's Highest Honor Upon Him.
4 Rev. Gabriel Richard was a delegate
In congress from the territory of M'chi.
gan in 1928 Lanman Is GirectorT Of the
United States congress says Of him:
''He was a Roman Catholic priest, and
a man of learning. Born at Saintes.
France, Oct. Is, 1764, educated AT
Anglers and received orders at a Gath
Ole seminary in Paris in 1880, Came
to America in 1898 and was, for time,
professor OF mathematics in St. Mary's
college, MARYLAND. He labored as q
missionary in Illinois and went to
Detroit, Mich, IN 1893. During his
pastorate Of st. Anus church in Detroit
it became his duty. according 60 the
Roman Catholic religion, to exeom
municate one OF his parishioners who
had been divorced from his wife. For
this he was prosecuted for defamation
OF character, which resulted in q verdict
being given against him for SLIGO.
This money the priest could not pay:
and as his parishioneIs were poor
French settlers they could not pay it
for him, and be was thrown in o prison
While confined in this common JAN,
with little hope of everlbeing liberated,
he was elected delegate to congress
aud went from his prison cell in the
wilds OF Michigan to his seat on the
floors OF congress-"
:, The career in congress Of Father
Richard was a remarkable one. He
delivered several speeches on matters
pertaining to his territory, which
marked him as al able speaker. He
was not only a thorough French and
English scholar, but was aeonv versanV
with the Spanish, German and Italian
Languages, and had learned the Indian
language OF the tribes in Michigan.
In 1909 ne took the first printing press
to the West, and bee .n1e the FIRST Cath
olic publisher in the North, printing
and publishing the Essay du Michigan.
a paper that gave mortal offense to the
Eng lish colony at Detroit. The En-
gl,sh authorities at last laid hands on
the good man and dragged him into
imp prisonment. After the surrender Of
General Hull in 1912, he was released /,
and soon afterward published the laws
OF the new territory in French. AT
this time there was great suffering
among the settlers, their crops having
been taken by the soldiers, and Father
Richard purchased wheat and gave it
to the destitute people.
A Catholic gentleman, residing In
Washington a few Years ago. gave a
pen. picture Of Father Richard as he
remembered seeing him nearly fifty
years before. the sketch appearing in a
volume OF Catholic biography published
bv Lawrence Kehoe in 1869. He said:
I'm 1924 I was vending my way to the
capitol IN the city of Washington, and
when crossing the street with Q
friend, was attracted to singularly
odd looking parsonage. He was OF
middle size. with sharp features and
wirv frame. His low crowned, broad.
brimmed hat was thrown back on the
crown of his head. and a pair Of large
goggles sat enthroned on the top Of an
expansive. bulgtng forehead. He had
on nicely lifting, highly polished shoes,
with silver buckles, but wore no stock
ings. He was tapping fine gold snuff
box. and appeared to bs nfferingla pinch
to friend wnom he had just. met.
Upon inquiry Of nv companion, was
informed that he was Very Rev
Gabriel Richard. NJ. G.. Vicar General
of Detroit. This was the first impress
sion had Of this remarkable man, a
Catholic priest. and an M. G. ] was q
mere STRIPPING then, but have . love
for ali that belonged TO my church. and
the reader may well imagine my feelings
when nv companion soon Introduced
me to this wonderful man as he appea'-
ed to ,ne The qaaintance soon after
ripened into friend dshlp, and much did
I enjoy tho good mans conversation
that winter. ID 20 is one OF the sweet
est "reminiscences OF my life that :
served his d Asa at old St. Patrick's.
On Christmas dav good Father Mat
thew5 bestowed on me the DISTINGUISHED
honor Of dining with the Hon. and Rev.
Gabriel Richard. N, On. for those
DAYS OF real Catholic ferYor and Amer
lcan simplic cit, ~ y
III 1891 Father Richard made pil-
grimage to- the crave Of Father Ma
qaette. the great rnissionary priest Of
the Northwest. ard PLANTED a crossover.
ii, on which he cut with 9 pelkn ife:y
!, Father Marc quette died here Nav