The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-07-08
ADDRESS To BISHOP MIOHAUD BY
REV. d.. j. O'sULLIvAN.

To the Rt. ReU. John Stephen Michdud,
d. D., CoGdJutor Bishop Of Burlington;
RI. REVEREND SIR:-You are the CEN
tral figure of this eventful day. But, as
prelude to the congratulations of your
present friends and former fellow priests
| of Vermont, allow us to join you in ac-
Bnowledging our Indebtedness to the
eminent sources whence flow the favOrs
we enjoy to-day.
In your promotion to the episcopate,
we recognize an act of the supreme au-
thority of him whose heart throbs with
loving 'solicitude for the churches" and
across the intervening seas, the bishops
and priests of Vermont, send their trib-
ute of admiration, allegiance and love
to our peerless pontiff, Leo XIII. In
your conservation, we behold the crown
| ing glory and earthly reward of our own
beloved bishop, whose presence to-day in
renewed health and vigor we hail with
thankful delight. We rejoice in an oc-
casion which brings to this remote, but
friendly, portion of his province, an arch
bishop whose eminent virtues and noble
character shed lustre on the church of
God. We eXult in this manifestation of
the vitality and progress of the church,
our mother. For it is by the creation of
bishops that she gives expression and life
to the power she receives from the abid-
ing spirit of God. That one among us
should have been found worthy of the
exalted dignity of the episcopate, is, to
the clergy of Vermont, source of the
deepest qualification; and, that you,
Rt. Rev. Sir, should be the recipient of
that distinguished honor, affords us sim
cere joy and heartfelt gratitude. Your
soul, brimful as tits, at this moment, with
the hottest emotions, would shrink from
proffered words of commendation and
praise. But we cannot refrain from add
ing our feebly testimony to the high en-
comium already involved in your eleva-
ton to the episcopate. We believe til at
you are admirably fitted to discharge the
duties of your high calling in the field
allotted TO your labors. You inherit the
sturdy, steadfast faith of the two nations
which are the most thoroughly and loyal
ly Catholic in the world to-day. In you
we behold an example of the fearless
Democracy of the church, who does not
seek titled or a wealthy lineage for
those whom she places among the prin-
ces of the people. But allow one to say
it, who has known you intimately from
your first step toward the altar of God
till the consecrating JUNCTION flowed upon
your brow, you possess what transends
all other titles, pure, a spotless record.
AS priest, you sought no prestige or
prominence, other than that arising from
a constant devotion to the humble and
arduous labors of the sacred ministry.
The faithful you consoled by your kind
ness and patience, and fatherly counsels;
your fellow priests you edited by a life
of regularity, unostentatious simplicity,
fraternal charity, respect and love for au-
thority. The interests of the church
spiritual and temporal, absorbed your
whole life, and to-day your praise is pub.
lished by your works, They bear witness
to the blessing of God upon life Of
humility, wisdom and perseverance.
We feel therefore that you are fully
equipped for the new duties that con-
front you. Years of close observation
and experience have endowed you with a
clear and discriminating appreciation of
the conditions which affect the church in
this age and country. In your enlight-
ened zeal for her prosperity, you have
sought to make her youth intelligent,
consistent and fearless, and to raise
among her people standard of dignity
and power that would command the re-
bDCCb VI blOOC WIN Ou bllO
part having no evil to say of u.s." An
ardent admirer and lover of your country,
you are eager to recognize what is good
and noble in its spirit and tendencies, to
purify and strengthed them, by enlisting
them in the service of the truth; and
henceforth, you will proclaim, that our
religion far from estranging us from
country to which we owe so much, teach
es the duty of labOring for its regenera-
ton, by concentrating every element OF
in the union of fraternal peace
and harmony. Such, Right Reverend
Sir, is the noble mission that awaits you
at the opening of this new era in the his
tory of the church in Vermont. To di-
rect and sustain you in its accomplish
ment, we trust that our Reverend Bishop,
our common father, may be spared for
many years. The way will be smoothed
for you by the esteem and confidence
which you have won from men of all
classes, creeds and pursuits, by the ability
and integrity of your dealings. But to
you, the dearest, the most indispensable |
assurance of success 10 in the cordial CO. |
operation, reverent and affectionate de- |
votion which the priests of Vermont |
pledge you to-day. When your soul |
grows weary and sad with the cares and |
burdens of the episcopate, it will be
cheered and strengthened by the support |
and sympathy of those who, so long,
have been your fellow-laborers in the |
vine yard of the Lord, and by the prayers
of priests and people, who, henceforth |
will claim share in your pastoral So
licitude.
The loyalty of true hearts is the most |
precious tribute your friends can offer |
you on this happy day. Awaiting the |
time when we may be allowed to tender |
you the real and lasting evidence of our
devoted sentiments, we beg you to accept |
this token of our sincere Congratulations
and cool wishes for long and happy
conservation seruiceS June 10Th,
1892.
AN OLD STORY AND A GOOD ONE.
At the conference of charities at Dem