The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-01
FIFTY YEARS A PRIEST.
Celebration Of the Golden Jubilee
of Archbishop Kenrick, Of
ST Louis.
Cardinal Gibbons and a Long List
of Noted Churchmen Are
Present.
Second Event Of tho Kind In the History
Of the C~hurch-Tho Cardinals
Speech.

ST.. Lours, Nov. @.-Just fifty years agt
Peter Richard Kenriok was conaecrated /
bishop of the Roman Catholic church
To-day his golden jubilee waa celebrated
with great pomp. Only once before has the
golden jubilee of a bishop been celebrated
that Of John McHale, archbishop OF
Tuam, ireland, eleven years ago.. 1t is an
event 10 rare that the whole world is inter-
ested in it, and in this case not simply be-
cause the celebration is i~nfrequent but be-
cause Archbishop Kenrick has filled the
seat fifty years with usefulness n good
and were it not for the fact that on one
other notable occasion he incurred tho dis
pleasure Of the holy see by declaring boldly
his unbelief in the i%nfallibilty OF thop pope,
he would now be a prince Of the church.
The grand poRifical mass, commenora-
tive of the occasion, began a nine O'Clock
in the historic old cathedral on Walnut
street. leading representatives Of the
Roman Catholic hierarchy Of the United
States officiating. The jubilee sermon was
delivered by Archbishop Ryan, Of Phila-
delphia. Preceding mass there was an i'm
pressive procession from the cathedral
parish school, situated next to the church,
to she main entrance of the
cathedral. In the march out from
the yard and up the steps of the
church the venerable archbishop walked
under a oanopy, which was carried by at
tendants appointed for the occasion. Mass,
which was most impressive n elaborate.
was celebrated by Cardinal Gibbons and
Archbishop Ryan, assisted by a number of
priests. The altar was dressed in magnii-
cent syle, with flowers, evergreens and col
ors. The ceremony concluded with the
solemn episcopal blessing. The music of
the mass was given on a grand scale. The
mass selected for the occasion was
Gounod's Mass Solemene de Sainte
rendered by fifty trained voices,
accompanied by orchestra and organ. A
new and novel feature in the music was
furnished by the franciscan Fathers select
choir, who rendered several numbers.
The church was decorated on a grand
scale for the occasion. The sanctuary was
globes and rich colors. Large
banners were suspended from the bright
ceiling and the pilastsrs and columns were
fairly covered with bunting. The two
thrones on the epistle and gospel sides of
the altar were decorated with colors appro-
pirate to the dienitaries who occupied
them. BAnnerets with fitting inscriptions
and illustrations were suspended between
the columns. Archbishop Ryan, in the
course of his sermon, reviewed the life of
Kendrick in all its religious,
business and charitable phases, and spoke
Of his great %sanctity and beatitude. After
pontifcal mass all visiting archbishops
priests were driven to the Lindell hotel
a banquet was rendered Archbishop
.endrick and his guests.
Archbishop Kenr1ck was seated at the
head of the table, Cardinal Gibbons on his
and Archbishop Elder on his left.
the monu was finished Vicar General
Brady read an address from the clergy of
he diocese to Henriok, who made a short
.esponse. Rev. Collier delivered an address
If welcome to the cardinal and visiting
,lergy. Cardinal Gibbons. responding to
he toast, "Our Holy Father. Leo XIII,"
'aid. in part, after %eulogizing the pope:
"The Catholic religion is adapted to all
times and places and finds herself at home
Under every government. Nowhere is the
benign authority of the pontiff more re-
and honored than in the United
States. Our devotedness toward him is
,one the less strong because less noisy in
marriage he proclaims q truth
which ought to be needed by American peo-
If Christian civilization is to be saved
md perpstuated the s~anctity and indisso-
OF Christian marriage must be
recognized by the masses. In all public
the POPE proves that he is
abreast of the time and in sympathy with
he legitimate aspirations Of humanity"
The cardinal closed with an expression of
hanks to the pope for the message sent in
of the jubilee, and with a
eulogy on Archbishop Kenrick,
'fter which he presented the latter with the
gift. a portrait of his holiness in a
gold frame. A number Of other
casts were responded to by eminent
,~relates.
One of the largest professions ever seen
n this country took place tonight. Thirty
torch-bearing men turned out to
honor to Archbishop Kenrick. Fifty
parishes of the city and many visiting
allegations marched past the archepiscopal
esidence, each parish saluting rs it passed.
vera hundreds of transparencies
euloRissic phrases. Each parish
Vas accompanied by a band, and the whole
feet was something gorgeous. Gov. Fran
is and city officials led the procession, rid
ng in carriages. It took the procession an
our and a half to pass a given point.