The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-02
s,sHoP p'AMzeR or CHINA.
Catholic Priest who Has Bccome n Man
DARN Of Highest Rank.

In Priest who Has Become a Man
DARN Of Highest Rank.
One OF the most remarkable men OF
the age has Just left New Orleans after
a brief visit to his sisters. Rt. Rev.
lear Baptiste Ritter d'Anzer. grand
mandarin Of the province of Shantung.
China, and bishop of that province.
Bishop Amer has in some respects a
marvellous history. He was born in
Bavaria 4S years ago and vas of noble
lineage. Completing his studies he went
to Holland, determined to become a
Catholic priest. 1t may be asked, and
with reason. how IL came to pass that
in China. where Christians are perse-
! cuted and put to death, how a Catholic
priest, OF all others, should have risen
in such favor with the reigning en-
peror as to have been appointed grand
mandarin of one of the Is provinces OF
China and ruler over 10000. 900 OF peo-
pie. 1t is possible to give only the out
lines of his career. Soon after COM
pleting his education and being or
dained he determined to become a mis-
ionary and was sent to Hong Kong.
| China, n thence drifted into mission
airy work wherever he felt the priest
was needed in the Hong Kong district.
ne 1uhy HldStCiCo NJ 800
made himself perfectly acquainted with
the political condition Of the Chinese
country. i,
In 1879, while preaching the word Of
God in "A pagan district of S~hantung.
he was apprehended by the heathens
and tied. with his head downward, to
a tree and shot and left for dead. Some
Christians, watching for an opportu-
nifty to take the body Of their beloved
priest and bury il, discovered that life
was not quite extinct, and they carried
Father Amer to a place of hiding and
nursed him back to life and health.
When he again made his appearance
among the people of Shantung, who be-
lieved him dead, they were filled with
CONSERVATION, and in their supersti-
ton believed that he had indeed come
back to life and that a marvellous pow
er protected him from them. They
were ready to adore him whom they
sought to murder. and afforded him
every protection and assistance.
In all the quarrels between pagans
and Christians Father Amer was con-
stantly referred to as arbiter, and he
never failed in making peace. Not only
i'm Shantung. but all over China. his
power extended, and he became the
firm friend and helper of the emperor
In his efforts to, restore peace among
his people. Father Amer was decor
ated by n emperor of china under
the title of The Prince of Peace and
seeing his great influence in the prov
ince of Shantung. the emperor, in 1879
created him a mandarin, or ruler, con-
ferring the order of the blue button.
In 1892 Bishop Amer was made grand
mandarin Of the province by the EN-
peror. and entitled to wear the red but
ton in his hat. He became then tht
ruler Of TO- 600, 900 of people. whom h
manages in a wise and fatherly way
He is now a mandarin of the second
highest rank in china As a ruler o.
one of the is provinces he Is a mempel
of the council of Corea, now deaiint
with the European question. He wen
to Rome i'm August on a special mis-
sion of the highest Importance, ant
was sent by the pope to confer witt
the German emperor, and again by tn
emperor back to the pope. He Is nov
Fastening back to his province. a
whenever he is absent the superstition
among the heathens. believing this a.
opportune time to slay the Christians
, never fail to commit some depreda
ton. Two of his priests were muir
dered While he was away. AS long a
he is at home there is never a quarr
! or struggle In his province. He ma
done much good, and from his omcia
position can accomplish much NOR
, for the Christians in China. He ha
been decorated by all the courts of Eu
!, rope on account of his great work as
peacemaker and ruler. He Is yer
!; %courtIy and speaks many languages.