The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-04-28
TEN YEARS A PRIEST
Anniversary of Father Tihen's OrdIna alton
FittingIy Honored by His People.

Yesterday occurred the tenth ami
versary of the ordination to the priest
hood of Father ]. Henry Then of this
city and some OF his Catholic friends
made it the occasion to show their love
for him as a man and their apprecia-
ton of his pastorate over themselves
and their families. Never was priest
or minister in this city treated more
handsomely. When Father Then first
came here it became the practice of
Catholics, especially the children, TO
celebrate the anniversary of his ordina-
ton, but some four or five years ago,
while approaching the compliment
very highly, he forbade 1t on the
grounds that il was too expensive 10
parents and absorbed the study hours
of the school children. This year they
could not obey his orders and wishes
any longer and when he was escorted
into the school hall last night, through
throng of people that extended out
onto the sidewalk, he was the most
completely surprised gentleman in the
city as he was led prisoner up 10 the
front and turned over TO a guard OF
over 100 children, handsome little girls,
dressed in pure white and all carrying
flowers for arms. Six tiny little girls
led him in from the street with all the
dignity and precision of that many
metropolitan policemen.
Professor Blume's orchestra was
present and played the triumphal
march, Hail to the Chief" and other
delightful pieces.
When Father Then got his breath
and part of his speech he was accost-
Cd NV 10 n Tah Of hA
Cicero and Adonis of Kansas priest
hood, who in words of thrilling elo-
quence recounted accurately his many
fine qualities of personal manhood and
priestly virtues and then presented him
with little purse of $500, gathered up
among his friends during the day and
which would have amounted to $1,000
if all Of them could be seen. But good
wishes and not money were what the
people deemed most appropriate for
the young priest and they bestowed
them with the heart of prodigal. Miss
Josie Getto, on behalf of the school, de-
liVered the address of congratulation
and greeting and it was one of the most
charming and eloquent outbursts of
feminine oratory every heard IN the
city. 1t was pregnant with the sweet
sentiments of a lovely young woman
VINO had the remarkable gift of express
ing those of every person in the audi
ence. The great feature Of the event.
however, was the response of Father
Then, which was humorous one mo-
ment, wise another, pathetic another,
poetic another and eloquent all the
time. He knew the motives of the trib
utes paid him and his reply was beau
tifully responsive thereto. Complete
happiness reigned and the golden bonds
of love which should unite every good
pastor TO his flock were strengthened
an hundred fold.
Among the priests present were:
Fathers Schmiehausen, Abel, Meyer,
Heitz, AIaher, Conway, Sullivan and
Henry.
The following program was carried
out:
AIarch-"Welcome'' ......-..,... Gungl
Gloria" from Leonard's Mass in B fat.
Concert Selection-"Amorita".
,..... ---....-....ClDu4ka
Address of oongratulation and greet
ing-AIisS Josie Getto.
ChrouS ...-..-..-...-We Greet IneS
Observation-Disclosures OF Home"
.... ......-.,..-....... -.-...-.-Elier
Poem ......"A Decade of LIES Rosary"
Miss Fitzpatrick
Chorus-''Morning Invitation" -..Veazie
Selection-"La Tipica" ....-......Co Cox
Address ........ -.-...Rev. John Maher
Concert March-''Amicitia" .... Casey
Owing TO lack of time a great many
beautiful features of the anniversary
celebration had TO be necessarily over
looked by the repOrter