The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1898-11-15
HIS CAREER AN
INTERESTING ONE
Was Appointed a Bishop When Only
90 Years of Age-Under His Ad-
ministratiOn the Pacific Coast Has
Made Great Strides.


liam Hickey Gross, of the Oregon Ro-
man Catholic church, died at st. Jo-
seph's hospital, Baltimore, Md, this
morning, His grace had been in i'll
health for some time, and during the
first week of last September, he decided
to visit his old home in Baltimore.
Then he did not expect his ailments
would terminate fatally. But almost a
week ago he took to his bed, from which
he never arose, passing into tranquil,
eternal sleep, from general debility. His
death was an unexpected one, as up to
within a few hours of his grace's demise
he gave evidence of recuperation.
The Catholic clergy of this city were
startled upon receiving the mournful
news, as they hoped for something bet
ter. On the late archDishop's personal
request, he will be laid to rest in his
native city Thursday, and there will be
no time for any prealate from the Pacif-
ic coast to reach Baltimore for the fu-
neral. On Thursday there will be p
grand requiem mass (Corcare Absenti).
The Most Reverend William H. Gross,
D. D., G. SIS. R., third archbishop OF
Oregon, was born in the city of Baltimore,
Md, on June II, 1887. The Gross fam
lily came originally from Alsace, and it's
American founder, Jacob Gross, and his
son, John ]. Gross, took part in the de-
fense of Baltimore in 1912.
The archbishop received his early ed
ucation at the parochial school, attached
to St. Vincent's church, Baltimore. In
this church he also made his first COM
munion.
In 1857 he was invested with the re-
ligious habit and formally began his ca
reer as REDEEM ptorist novice. On April
8, 1858, he made his first vows, when his
aim was centered upon becoming per-
feet Redemptorist. In March, 1868, the
deceased prelate was ordained prelate
at Annapolis, Nd, by Archbishop Ken
rick, of Baltimore.
He remained a part of the time as
army chaplain at Annapolis. His ex-
periences during the civil war were of g
trying order. He was almost incessant-
ly in the hospital, the field of battle, the
sklrmish line or the lonely outpost.
When Archbishop Gross was promoted
to the archiepiscopal see of Oregon in
1885, he could point to splendid cathe.
dral erected by his exertiona among 6
people of scanty means, the number o
priests increased to twenty-seven
churches and chapels to thirty, institu
tions and orphan asylums to fourteen
And all this was done in a Catholic popu
lation not exceeding $4,000.
When Archbishop Seghers resigned il
1884, in order to devote his life more
particularly to the Indian missions o
the extreme Northwest the holy SCI
selected Bishop Gross to succeed him
1t was at his instance that the Bene.
dictine Fathers at Mount Angel opened
a college for the higher education of tn
young, which is advancing yearly in tn
number of its pupils and the efficienc,
of it's training. Later on, at his request
a lesser and a greater seminary hav
been added, so that young Oregonian
are now provided right at home wit
all the facilities needed for attaining tn
education, required by the church il
candidates, for the priesthood.
The Christian Brothers have also bee