The Portland daily press., 1896-04-28

While City Turns Out to Bid Him We'll
oome-Parades, Bands and speeches
Remarkable Demonstration In Honor
of Popular Clergyman.
"Bien Venu' and "Welcome Home"
was the sentiment expressed in a hum
dred loving ways by the Pensioners of
st. Hyacinth's Catholic church last eve
ming, on the arrival home of their pas
tor Rev. A. d. DeCelles, who has been
on an extended tour the past several
months to Rome and the Holy Land. A
most enthusiastic expression of welcome
and esteem was that which greeted this
pastor on his return to his flock and
must renew his interest in them and
give him a fresh inspiration to resume
his duties. The pastor was expected
early in the evening and extensive ar
rangements were made for his reception.
The church, the parsonage, the con-
vent school and the homes of the parish
oners were Respondent with bunting,
flags and Japanese lanterns, the several
societies connected with the church
were arrayed in line in the vicinity of
the church and all about We're evidence
of an exceptional event. A delegation
was sent to Portland to meet him at the
Preble house on his arrival from New
York at o'clock last evening, and escort
him to this city. His carriage with
it's escort was met in this city on Brown
street and passed between the lines of
| the st. John Baptist Union, ST. Joseph
Society and the Catholic Total Abstinence
Society, and the members of the congre-
cation in general from the youngest chill
dren to the Oldest men. 1t was an i'm
pressive sight as Rev. FIR. DeCelles in
open carriage, passed along the lines
| amid the strains of music from the Vest
brook city band, the cheering of the crowd
and the expressions of welcome of those
| who could not reach his side, and the
presentation of bouq uets from the hands
of little children. The lines were then
formed and all proceeded to the church.
Every inch of room within the church
was occupied by an individual, there be-
ing a large number of CT ii zens of the
city present outside of the members of
the society. The church was beautifully
decorated with banners and potted
plants, and special music was furnished.
After short relig ious service, Mr..
Pierre Turgeon, for the French Canadi-
an members of the society, delivered an
address of welcome i'll French, which
was feeliDgly responded to by the pas
tor. Then MIR. Edward Doyle did like
service for the English-speaking por-
ton of the congregation. Mr.. Doyle's ad-
dress was an admirable one. He spoke
of the great esteem in which the pastor
was held by the congregation and the
sincere feeling of joy at his safe return
He hoped the pastor had received fresh
inspirations and great blessings from
his visit to the Father of the church and
the birth of christianity. He said the
| congregation awaited the apostolic bless
ing which the pastor bears with him
from the Pope, with deep emotion.
The pastor responded briefly but very
feelingly TO these remarks. Westbrook,
he said, had followed him in all his
journeyings and he now as never before,
realized the sentiment expressed in the
words, "Home Sweet Home" He spoke
of his visit to the Pope and the Holy
Land. and then closed with short re-
ference to his own parish and the parish
iopers.
This closed the public exercises and
the pastor retired to his home to receive
informally his relatives and nearest
friends.