The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-01-20
Bishop Chatard Stricken by Paralysis,
indianapolis sentinell

OF the catholic diocese of Indiana,
had finished his noon lunch at his
corner of Meridian and
he was stricken
with paralysis, and in an uncon-
scious condition was removed to his
sleeping apartment. His physician,
DR.. +. j. Brennan, was called and
was with the bishop all day and
part OF Thursday night.
Up to last fall his health was al :
ways good; in fact re showed his
age but little in manner or action.
He had severe attack Of vertigo
and was finally compelled by his
physician to cancel all his engage
ments in the diocese and take trip
to the East. He made a visit to
his brother in Baltimore and return
ed about Dec. 10 not much i'm
proved in heath, although his case
was by no means considered serious
u It'll last Friday, when he was taken
with severe attack of la grippe.
Last fall in conversation with the
Rev. Father Gavisk the bishop ex-
pr, ssed the fear that he might he
brought low by a paralytic stroke.
Francis Silas Chalard was born
in Baltimore, Nd Dec. l3, 1891
His parents were Ferdinand +. and
Eliza Anna Chatard. His father,
like his grandfather before him, was
a distinguished physician and sur
geon in Baltimore.
Bishop Chatard received his acad-
emlcal education at Mt. st. Mary :
college, Emmettsburg, Md, where
he graduated with high honors in
1858. He had from his boyhood
manifested love for the profession
in which his grandfather and father
had made themselves famous, and
took up the study of medicine in the
medical department of the Univer-
sity Of Maryland at Baltimore. He
took his degree in medicine and en-
tered at once upon the practice in
his native city, pursueingit with re-
markable success for a young ply
sician for little more than two years
Born in the catholic church, he
had from his childhood developed a
deep love for its tenets and institu-
tions and finally abandoned the
practice of medicine in 1857, he
went to Rome, where he took a
rigid six years course Of study in
philosophy and theology.
He was ordained priest at Rome
in November, 1868, and was select
ed for the position Of vice-rector of
the newly established American col
lege in Rome. In 1868 he became
rector of the college, and at once by
a vigorous executive ability that was
one of his strongest characteristics,
placed the institution, in which
from seventy-five to one hundred
American theological students we're
being prepared for the priesthood in
this country, upon the first firm
footing il had ever had
In 1878 he was made bishop of
the diocese of Vincennes in thi .
state. His conservation TO the
bishopric occurred at Rome May
IL, 1873. He had thus been in
Rome for 20 years, and during that
time had made very extensive ac-
quaintance not only of people from
this country, but those from all
parts of Europe.
He came back to this country, ar
irving in Vincennes Aug. IL, 1879.
He did not favor the ancient Indiana
city as place for his permanent
home and determined TO change his
residence to indianapolis. He
reached this city on Aug. IL, 1878,
and was accorded a cordial well
come, in which Gov. Williams,
Mayor Caven and members Of the
clergy participated.
In 1892 he built the present bish
ops residence at the corner of Me
ridian and Fourteenth sts., as we'll
as the chapel Of SIS. Peter and Paul.
The latter was part of his plan for
a cathedral and diocese college.
He succeeded as bishop OF Vincen-
mes the 1t. Rev. Maurice de st. Pa
Iais and is the fifth bishop who has
had charge of the affairs Of the do
cese since its institution when Indi-
ana was little better than a wilder
ness.
Bishop Chatard is one Of the most
accomplished scholars in the catho-
lie church in America. He spoke
Italian, French and English with
equal huency, and he had thor
ough acquaintance with Hebrew
Greek and Latin.
He is very earnest preacher and
thoroughly devoted to every detail
of his responsible work. He is al
WAYS digniiied, but always kindly
in manner and invariably approach
able Socially he IL a charminp q