The Irish standard., 1899-06-17
CONFIRMATION AT COILS.
Address To Rt. Rev. James Trobec,
Bishop of St. Cloud.

Bishop of St. Cloud.
To the Editor OF the Irish Standard.
Coils, Mimi, June 12-Yesterday Rt.
Rev. James Trobec, Bishop OF St.
Cloud, confirmed about one hundred
and fifty persons at the Catholic church.
The first Mass was celebrated at s
o'clock, at which great many OF the
children went to communion, after
which they repaired to the school house
where lunch was served. at the 10
o'clock Mass, the bishop gave instruc-
tons to the confirmation class and then
| administered the sacrament.
The church was beautifully decorated
for the occasion, and filled to its utmost
capacity, not only with the parishioners,
but with people from Graccvillc, Whea-
ton and the surrounding country. AS
the Bishop entered the church an ad-
dress was made by Mr.. O'Phelan, for
which the Bishop was very grateful
The following is copy OF the ad-
dress:
The Catholic people OF Traverse coun-
ty, with the cooperation OF their fellow
citizens OF other denominations, desire
to tender to you a hearty welcome on
this your first official visit TO this part
OF your vast diocese, and we hope that
while you remain among us you will feel
yourself at home and we will do all
we can TO make your visit as pleasant as
possible. We take the first opportunity
that we have had to congratulate you on
your elevation to so important See as
that OF St. Cloud, where you will con-
time the good work OF your late la
nented and illustrous predecessor
Bishop Marty; furthermore we wish 10
convey through you our heartfelt thanks
to the Great Pope Leo NH. for the
privilege he has given us OF saluting
your Grace as our Bishop. We know
that his predecessors in the Chair OF ST.
Peter sent St. Denis to Gaul; ST. James
TO Spain; St. Bonface to Germany; ST.
Gaul to Switzerland St. Augustine to
England St, Colulnbkill to North Brit
aim St. Patrick to Ireland and thus
we see century after century and year
after year the Popcs consecrating and
commissioning great and intellectual
bishops and priests as missionaries for
all parts OF the known world; that at the
beginning Of the 18th century there was
scarcely river, mountain, lake or plain,
from the Straits OF Magellan 10 Behring
Sea, from the Atlantic to the Pacific
Ocean that was not discovered and given
Il name by Catholic missionaries. In
this our own day we have intellectual
leaders in the Church, such as Leo
MIL, who is the greatest light OF the
10Th century; the illustrious Cardinal
Gibbons OF Baltimore, who worthily fills
the historic See, and the great Archbish-
OPP Ireland OF St. Paul, who has no; only
upliited the Church in his own country,
but is even now adding new lustre to
the old and historic faith in the land of
his youth; and that your Grace may
rival these illustrious men in your loyal
ty to the Living God and His Holy
Church is the ardent prayer and sincere
wish oil all your admirers. We love that
grand and glorious Church that has
established political and religious lbcr-
ty in Europe and contains not less than
three hundred millions OF the human
race within its fold-peoplc OF all ma
lions, OF all languages and OF all climcs.
Truly she is the Catholic, the Universal
Church. To use the words OF the Eng
fish historian Macaulay: "Shc was great
and respected before tho Saxon had set
foot i'll Britain; before the Frank had
passed the Rhine; when Grecian clo-
quencc still ilourished in Antioch; when
idols were still worshipped in the Tcm-
pie of Mecca. And she may still exist
Ill undiminished vigor when some trav-
clcr from New Zealand shall, in the
midst OF a vast solitude. take his stand
Oh the broken arch OF London bridge to
sketch the ruins OF St. Paul's."
We love our country with the love
81 Catholics, and we thank God that we
arc citizens OF the greatest and most go-
rious country on earth. We love our
Bishops and priests for their picty, their
zeal, their learning and for the sacrifice
that they make for the uplifting OF man,
Tor the honor and glory Of the living
God. We love our good pastor, Father
Gumper, and we trust he will have many
years OF usefulness before he passes to
his reward. And lastly, we beseech you
that, when you go to Rome to see his
Holiness, you will request him to give
us and Our families his apostolic bene-
diction.
Signed on behalf OF the people of
Traverse county,
P. D. O'Phclan,
Ed Murray,
]. NJ Lynch,
Luke Roam,
M. Mccarthy,