The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-07-03
THE RECEPTION
In Convent Hall-Addre.sps in German
and EnglIah.
pARApE tAsT NIGHT.


and English.
While the societies were making the
lirst parade, large audience had gath
cred in tho Convent hall. 1t was here
that the addresses on behalf Of the laity
Of tho diocese were made. The hall was
literally packed with people, every
Catholic OF the three parishes being
particularly interested on this occasion,
when their own immediate representa-
tives wore to address the object OF their
love and venerution. Tho first was that
on behalf OF tho laity OF the entire
diocese OF West Virginia. Mr.. 4. S.
Riley was the orator Of the occasion,
and spoke as follows: fGi6
MR. RrLEY's ADDRESS. Z Y
RI. REV. Blsuop:-1t is with no in
different feeling that the laity Of your
diocese greet you on this twenty-hfth
anniversary of your priesthood. We
know you best and love you most as
Bishop, for it isiIt that capacity you
have been intimately associated with
US, and in which you have been our
CHIEF spiritual guide and advisor. Six
teen years ago, the sd of last May, when
you were consecrated Bishop Of this
diocese in the cathedral in this city,
you we're quite young both in years and
as q priest. You had oiliciated as
priest less than ten years and believe
at the time OF your conservation you
were tho youngest Bishop in the United
States. You were selected from among
the many as the tittest to fill the kplace
OF one who had been conse-
Grated Bishop the very year in
switch you were born and who had then
served in that high office in the church
as many years us YOU had at that time
lived. One, too, who like yourself by
his devotion to the church and those in
his charge and his great ability rs
minister OF the gospel and manager OF
church affairs had won the hearts OF his
people and the admiration OF oil who
knew him. So at your years in life and
experience rs priest, tnehonor, duties
and responsibility thrust upon youwere
such that 10 ordinary man could safe
ly assume. However, it did not take
your people long to learn that, as usual,
Rome had made no mistake, and that
the mantle Of the deceased bishop had
fallen upon the shoulders OF one able
and worthy to wear it. And time ind
the results of your work have only
served to confirm those truthsS.Ses
Although the laity Of this diocesehaye
only been intimately associated with
you since you became our Bishop, yet
you never were stranger to us. Born
as you were within the territory that
composes our State and served as you
have your God and, your people since
you were consecrated priest within the
State, We have the right to claim you as
ours from your very childhood. This
State, too, has the right>to claim you us
one OF her gifted sons who has risen to
eminence, influence and usefulness in
the church and State without any as
sistance except your own energy, fru-
gality and industry, and Gods grace
and those marked abilities which he
seemed pleased to bestow upon you.
While the State las u just claim upon
you rs one OF her true, faithful and
patriotic citizens and the church ut
large has the right 10 claim you rs u
Bishop who stands high in the
ranks of those eminent divines
who are fighting for the cause OF rclig-
ion and under whose direction and
guidance the church is making snch
rapid progress in this country, yet the
laity oil your diocese haveia special in
terest in you, and one that is paramount
to all the rest. We claim you rs our
bishop as distinguished from all the
other bishops OF the church, and we
claim for you qualities OF both mind
and heart that few possess to the degree
found in you. We molestly insist that
no diocese OF the church in this country
has been moro fortunate than ours, and
that VIC can say without Boosting
that VIC have in you, as we had in your
predecessor, a model American Bishop,
one who understands that to be true
Catholic and faithful TO the teachings
and mandates OF his church, is being
true to his country and possessing all
the qualifications OF an honest, upright
and patriotic American citizen. One
who is kind and tender and faithful to
his people, and who possesses that high
degree OF fairness and justice, coupled
with Christian charity, that extends to
the humblest parishoner the same cor.
dial and hearty welcome and considera-
ton that the most exalted is entitled to
receive. Tonight you celebrate your
silver jubilee as priest, which is a
long time, aud yetit is short to us who
have received tho benefit OF your untir-
ing and faithful services. As time goes
OH aud YOU become moro mature in
wears and inorc able and useful to the
church ycurpcoplc, the more rapid
Is will the Yeats seem to pass, yet time
| Is not olwSys measured by years;it is
measured by that which wo accomplish
whilst on earth and tho preparation We
make Tor eternity, and TO measure your
| lie thus far by this etlndard you have
already lived q century and more.
In the irst twenty-five years 81 your
life you accomplished allSllIdb 4 Student
could accomplish ut that age in prrpar'
ing yourself Tor your holy calling.
Within tile next ten years you SO dis
tinguishc,l yourself as a priest that You
were recognized by Rome and, tortu'
nately for us, placed ut the head OF the
diocese.
Since that tiulo the great work that
you have accomplished Is manifest tC
every member OF your church and to
all those outside WHO arc posted as to
the progress the church has made In
the diocese sincc you have taken charge
] can say io,you tonight, In behalf o.
the laity, that etcryll6aFt Beatl III uni,
son Tor you and that many apnycr viii
4 90 up this night to the good God thai
Won may be long spared 10 US. We
L.,..... Ah,lA n..,t, ,,.n,,ld rnthnn hn,.n III 1