The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-06-08

isteiiAa faithfully to all until the disease
died out Fat the end of the year, Christ
L mas wis celebrated with ming feel
SStin98e cf sadness and JOY for looking back
son til at dreadfu year 1t was found that
thes diocese of Natehez had lost IS brave
elsie and six out OF total Of rs priests:
Il E roms thenceforth & Father Meers-
Hchaert's advancement in his. sacred
calling was as rapid as twas deserved.
In June, 1879, he was sent to- Bay ST.
Louis to replace Father LeDuc, who had
departed aon asyear's leave OF absence.
On the pastors return in 1880 Fathe..
Meerschaert was sent to Natchez. In
the mea ntilna Vicar General Grlgnon,
onesof the faithful priests OF the diocese,
had become enfeebled by age and over
work and Bishop Jahssens placed the
duties OF the Office in the hands OF Faith
er Meerschaert. On the death OF the
aged priest Father Meerschaert re-
sceived the title Of vicar general OF the
Diocese Of Natchez. In 1888 Bishop
Janssens was promoted to the Archie
piscopal See Of New Orleans. Before
leaving Natchez he appointed his vicar
general administration of the diocese and
few weeks later this appointment Yves
confirmed BY Rome. In June OF the fol-
lowing year, when Right Rev. Thomas
Heslin became Bishop OF NatcheZ, ne
reappointed Father Meerschaert. vicar
general. It was very evident that the
work of this good prisst had not been
unnoticed in Rome, for on the goth Of
April, 1891, a, cablegram was re-
ceived from the Eternal City appoint
ing Father Meerschaert vicar apostolic
Of the new vicariats OF the Indian terri
tory This new responsibility was re-;
ccived with The humility that had mark
ed his previous career. Bishop Heslin
was making his first visit to Rome at
that time, and although the bulls ar
rived In Natchez on the LIST Of July, the
'consecration with the permission OF the
Holy See, did not take place until Sep
TENDER s, the feast Of the nativity OF the
Blessed Virgin. The ceremony was an
event IN the history Of Natchez.: It took
place in st. Mary's Cathedral, and be-.
side the newly -consecrated prelate there
were eight bishops, two archbishops and
priests aipnumerabie present So many
ecclesiastical dig1itar1es had never as
sembled in the old city of the bluffs"
before. On the following Sunday the
new bishop sang High Mass In the Cath
eG1ral and babe farewell to his beloved
congregations He was presented with
many practical evidences Of their esteem
including a generous purse and q COM
plete. episcopal outfit. When ha de-
parted his people escorted him to the
railroad depot in a. body. and as the
train bore him away to the scenes Of his
future labors there was many d. tear
dimmed eye in the vast assemblage that
shouted Its affectionate farewell. Bishop
Meerschaert'!; arrival In Guthrie was a
red-letter day IN that wideaWake west
ern town. The people of all Glasses and
conditions in life turned, out to meet and
to greet him. Bands Of 1Ilusic escorted
MIN to the city hail, where a monster
public reception was held. There were
addresses OF welcome by Governor
Steele, Supreme Judge Grsen and other
persons of Importance Among those
that extended the hand of fellowship
was the Corigregationalist minister Of
the place. = The following day the first
Fontihcai Mass OF the vicariate was cele-
hrated in the primitive Pro-Cathedral.
That first Pontifcal Mass marked the
beginning Of a new era for Catholicity.
in the Indian and Oklahoma Territories.
Bishop Meerschaert has become a verita-
hle apostle of the Indians, and when his
life work is ended many hundreds Of the
red men that had fallen away from the
faith, but who were reclaimed by the
piety, che energy and.the earnestness Of
this good prelate will send up a prayer
to tue Great Father OF all in his behalf
for his eternal repose.
More than one priest that now helps
him to bear the sweet yoke of poverty
has said that it the Holy Ghost presided
over the selection Of q bishop he did so
when Theophile Meerschaert was chos-
en-. BY his never-end1ng activity the
Church in the vicariate has arisen as
from a long sleep. Prior to his coming
there were dozen Or more priests zeal
ously laboring for the salvation of souls,
but they were without a leader and their.
work was necessarily disjointed and
spastnodic.
Tbs Catholics of the two territories
were lying like sheep without a shep-
herd. But with the coming Of Bishop
Meerschaert there was en-. immediate
change for the better. With his pas
toral crook he struck the hearts Of the
people and religion burst forth IN all
Its brightness and plentitude. He was
a leader and the people instinctively
recognized him as such. The priests
raw III uluA q lIttI W AuSplAc Ibdl 6uu
confidence, and under such a commander
they went forth fearlessly. It soon be-
came evident that he was not a man to
enjoy the title without the responsible
ities. He has been and Is foremost in
mission work. He breaches constantly
and is always ready to serve In the ca
pacity OF a. confessor. He has several
times visited every part OF his vast
vtcariate. preaching, baptizing, confirm
ing and ordaintag as he went his way
From the day Of his arrival In his vic.
ariate Bishop Meerschaert has worked
side by side with his priests, sharer in
their Joys and a partaker Of their Boz
rows. It would, be impossible to fully
describe the annoyance Of travel in carts
wagons and buggies over the rough roads
and frequently In the most Indictment
kind Of weather. Eastern priests who
are doing good work In their own way,
but who enjoy all Of the modern COM
forts OF life and Of travelling, have but a
faint conception of the vexations that
constantly confront these far-away mis-
sionarfes on their long journeys. The
uncomfortable beds that are gladly ac-
cepted and the unpalatable food tlfatis
endured are but small part Of their
hardships. ! Priests of the Yicariate who
have .ssr0ughed it, with the Bishop in
the manner mentioned, who have crossed
rivers In canoes with him and who have
helped him to pull buggy wheels out Of
the mire, say that he has borne all OF
these things with the spirit OF q true:
apostla He has been blistered with the
hot sun ind turned as brown as an
49, ~. f~>S 4