The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-21
A PRIEST AND PIONEER
FATHER BEsSONIES WILL CELE-
BRATE AN ANNIVERSARY.
For Fifty-Eight Years He Has Worn
the "White Flower of
BIameIess Life"

Vincennes, is Familiarity and lovingly called
by hosts of friends, both in and out of the
Catholic Church, in this city, will to-mor-
row celebrate the fifty-eighth anniversary
of his ordination and service in the priest
hood in the diocese.
Yes, Tuesday is the anniversary of my
priesthood" said Father Bessonies yester-
day. Il was born on the day Of the battle
Of Waterloo. June 49, and entered the priest
hood on Washingtons birthday o 1 sup
pose l shall say mass in the morning as
usual and perhaps have a good dinner
without champagne" he replied when asked
how he would observe the day. Il do not
indulge in any sort OF liquor now--have not
for, perhaps, thirty years. I preach tenn
perance, am proud Of what have been
able to do in encouraging temperance. and
long while ago resolved to never drink
again for the sake of the example"
Next June Father Bessonies will be
eighty-three years of age He is remarka-
bly, vigorous mentally and physically for
one of his age and goes about performing
tasks and duties with as much vim as
many younger men exhibit. He attributes
his good health to temperate life, begun
among the hardships Of the Indiana wilder
ness.
IL was born in the south Of France, and
am a compatriot OF Gambetta," said he
'In 1896 1 offered my services for religious
life, but it was not until 1899 1 was sent to
this country from Paris with gwo priests
and number of others like myself. There
was in our party about twenty, all told. In
those days there were no steamships, and
we were forty-four days crossing from
Paris to New York in a sailing vessel,
called, If I remember correctly, the 'Repub-
lican. 1t took US another month to reach
Louisville; from New York to Philadelphia
by water, then by canal toward Pittsburg.
We We're eight days in getting from Pitts
burg to Louisville down the Ohio river.
There were small steamboats, on the river,
but the water was low. 1 was Ill and rode
from Louisville to Vincennes by bus, but
the others in our party had no money and
walked. I had been helped. 1t took them
two days and a night to walk the distance.
Carrying guns they were able To get game
by the way for food. In 1910 / became
priest.
1.-The country was still wilderness. The
people were kind to me and helped me in
my work of building schoolhouses and
churches. Protestants and Catholics alike
came with axes over their shoulders, leyeled
the trees, notched the ends and built up the
rude log buildings, splitting boards for
roofs and doors. 1t cost but little to buy
windows, but money was scarce in those
days. Often I did not even have a log
church, but stood on a stump to preach,
At one time my work covered seven coun-
ties. I have said mass in one county
Sunday, in another county on Monday, and
on through the week in different county
every day, returning by the next Sunday to
A. -k, nf,,t q "a Ioa1
Of hard horseback riding to make that
round, and l often rode far into the night to
accomplish it.
MARRIAGE FEE IN POTATOES.
but there were some amusing incidents
in those days. remember one of my par
ishoners came to me, saying that he wanted
to marry. Very well, Frank, my boy;
you're old enough, said l. Who is the
lady" He told me, and / approved his
choice. But, Father Bessonies,' asked he,
with ill-conceived anxiety, how much will
you charge me-? My boy, marriage is a
religious rite, and l cannot charge any
thing. 1t is permitted the groom to give
what he may choose But he insisted on
my naming figure. told him the gift
varied. If l rode eighty miles on horseback
the gift would be larger than If the mar
riage was in the neighborhood. But how
much do those about here generally give2'
He was so persistent that L finally admit
ted that the usual gift was 81. I'll give
you $3.50 If you will take it in potatoes
said he. Agreed cried. There was big
lot of those potatoes said Father Res-
sonies. chuckling in recollection of that
wedding fee. Potatoes were only 10 cents
a bushel then. We found plenty of use for
them"
After a. long service in the pocket
Father Bessonies went to France, and, on
his return, was stationed for fourteen years
at Fort. Wayne. There was great difficulty
in getting to Fort Wayne. Coming in a
roundabout way to Indianapolis, he found
the Legislature in session.
You cannot get back to Fort Wayne"
he was told by the representatives from
that district. But you came here from
there, did you not?" asked he. Yes, but
we came when the canal was frozen" they
replied. He finally found it would be pos
sible TO reach his destination only by MAX
ing several stages through Ohio, up to the
to Fort Wayne over a road that could not
be reached from indianapolis. That trip
took a week.
Father Bessonies came to Indianapolis
forty years ago All that he has done for
the city in the way CT building up religious
institutions, extending succor to the needy
and the thousands of kindly acts of charity
that have endeared him to so many people
will probably never be known 1t was
through his efforts that st. johns Church,
schools parsonage and other buildings We're
built. 1t was through his efforts that St.
Patricks Church was built He it was that
bought the ground from the city for the
home of the Sisters Of the Good Shepherd,
built the great buildings and numerous adj
ditions Of recent years. using his large ac-
quantance to find the funds Now there is
a debt remaining Of only $4,000.
A FRIEND OF MORTON.
During the war Father Bessonies had
the rank of chaplain and was tireless in
visiting the camps and prisons here, caring
for the wounded and giving consolation to
the dying. At Camp Morton he formed
the acquaintance Of Gen. Lew Wallace,
whose character and work he much ad-
mires General Wallace sent to me from
Kentucky for sisters to come to the front"
said he "Our sisters here were all at work
and sisters were sent from Notre Dame on
my recommendation. 1 admire General
Wallace. / like his Ben-Hur-lt is a great
book" Another of Father Bessonies's war
time friends was Governor Morton. They
were often together. Il remember Cover
nor Morton gave dinner to the clergy Of
the city" said he. He came to me and
said that he had intended to ask me to
pray a blessing, but as the bishop was there
he would have TO invite him to do that in
stead. Morton was a man with a great
head. Some of his relatives were Catho-
lies. He was nothing. 1 called to see him
before his death, but the physicians per-
mitted him to have no company. l wrote
him letter"