The Irish standard., 1895-06-22
RT. REV. THOMAS |. GRACE
An Interesting Sketch of the Career of
the Venerable Archbishop, of ST.
Paul, u. III! IF

where every general HAL a. COAgo VI IL"
porters on his staff to tell Of his dash and
bravery, and Of what grand movements
he lt1ade,. with the inference that had he
not been in command the army Of; the
union would have been defeated and the
rebel flag triumphant. Thet facts are
that the newspapers Of the country and
these young reporters made more great
men than were ever made on the bat
tie field. Some of these men who, in
part, made Grant, Sherman, Sheridan
and hundreds of others, live in Mime
sofa, now old, gray and grizzled, pub
fishing here and there all over the state
some little newspaper. III
Their articles had to be submitted to
the general in command, Or his adlutaht,
ard il not satisfactory, had to be sup
pressed, and if the reporter desired to
criticise any movement he was quietly
advised there was no further use for
him in that, department. But have
drifted away from my subject.
After Bishop Cretin died, his death
having occurred on the ed day Of Febru-
airy, 1857, Father Ravoux came into pos
session and charge Of the diocese OF st.
Paul. and SO continued until the arrival
of the Rt. Rev. Thomas L. Grace, In July,
1859.
The Catholic church, for more than
century, had her missionaries in the
Northwest, for the church began to real
ize there was future In this unknown
region the outcome Of which no man
could even anticipate. While was not
a member Of the Vatican council, the
story was told that one OF the ablest,
learned and scholarly priests in the Mis-
sissippi valley r1Gst be appointed bishop
of st. Paul. and that he must be 9" West
ern priest, a man who understood West
ern life and familiar with the people, in
fact, with the needs Of the pioneer Cath
o1ics.., Thomas L. Grace was selected
man born in Charleston, S. G., educated
in the United States, except as to q final
preparation Tor the priesthood In Rome.
By the way. want to make an inquiry.
when does man cease to be an Irish
man or a German and become an Aneri-
can? The bishop is often spoken OF as
an Irish bishop. we have a judge on
the district court bench in Ramsey ccun-
ty whose grandfather grandmother,
father, mother and himself We're born in
the United States, yet to all intents and
purposes he claims that he is an Irish
man, .
The archbishop was born, In Ireland, q
am an freshman myself, 50 trust none OF
my countrme will feel offended.) In
every speech he ever made whether i'll
WASHINGTON New York, or elsewhere, in
his peculiar way he has said, I am an
American Citizen and understand that
,pon one occasion when in Rome talking
to the pope, it was suggested thai he was
an Irishman His reply was, MO- no;
an American citizen. The sooner per
llaps we drop this nationality business
the better chance for good honest, de-
cent government, not only in municipal but
In all state and national affairs. Bishop
Grace was for more than ID years at
Memphis, Tenn, which, at that, time, mad
the largest Catholic population, on the
Mississippi river, St. Louis and New Or
leans alone surprising it. While there
he built the fine church ct st. Peter, and
Paul, the convent Of st. Agnes, and an or
phan asylum. Not only his only people
loved him, but the Prntestants admired
and esteemed him for his upright life and
citizenship. When the news OF his ap-
pointment as bishop of st. Paul reached
him he ilesitated and faltered ais to what
he ought to do. Located In a community
where every one honored and respected
him. the title and emoluments Of bishop
added new honors. He was entrench-
ca and surrounded with ar entire COM
lnunity--Catholic Protestant, as well as
lew and Gentle, all were his friends. Yet
his duty was to his church. The appoint
ment was accepted. Il know SO little
about the Catholic ritual that DO not
know whether appointment is the proper
word or not.) He. left the memories Of
nearly half Of q life time, all Of love and
Kindness, and came to st. Paul in July.
1859. Ri .8as
st. Paul was a different town then than
now. In comparison with, the present it
was hut q country village. The financial
crash Of 1857 was still in full blast 1t
was not q question Of money, but OF daily
bread. What little money was in circu-
lafion was wildcat good today, tomorrow
yalueless. Exchange on New York was
10 per cent. Men who but few months
before rated their wealth up In thousands
we're out on claims raising potatoes to
avoid starvation. This was about the
condition OF the times when Bishop Grace
arrived in st. Paul. Although he had left
an elegant home where life was q pleas
IRE, to take charge Of diocese where all
was poverty, he appre lated the situation Y,
IN fact, 1t may be said TIL at ne laid aside
the robes OF his office rolled UP his sleeves
and went to work looking after the wants
and needs Of his people, The bishop