The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-05-04
A Graphic Picture of the Marvellous Work
Accomplished by Priests
and People.
The Statement that the American Church
Has Suffered Big Losses
is Refuted.

The following magnificent address
on "The Church in America-Its Yes
terday and Tomorrow" was delivered
by Most Rev. John Ireland, d. d.,
archbishop of st. Paul, on April II,
in st. Raphael's cathedral, Dubuque,
Iowa, OH the occasion of the bestowal
Of the pallium Oh Archbishop Ncanc:
Remember the days Of old, think
upon every generation; ask thy father,
and he will declare to thee; thy elders,
and they will tell thee.-Deuter. 32-7.
1t was the 10th day Of April, of the
year 1889. There was much conmo-
ton in the little village of Dubuque;
a steamboat was breasting the swiftly
flowing waters Of the Mississippi river.
A steamboat upon the upper Missis-
sippi was always, in those days, an
unusual sight, and whenever one did
appear crowds focked toward the
landing to give it welcome and receive
from it news of the far-off centers OF
population and civilization. This time,
however, the eagerness of the villagers
to rush river-ward was such as to de-
note an extraordinary curiosity and
expectation; it was the first steamboat
of the season from Dubuque's en-
porium, St. Louis, and-this especially
heightened public interest in its COM
ing-the rumor had spread that
aboard this steamboat there would be
the newly consecrated bishop, Matthias
Loras. No wonder that there was
commotion in the village A bishop
for Dubuque! This to Catholics meant
that hereafter the holy church would
ceaselessly watch over their spiritual
welfare; to all, whether Catholics or
not, it was an augury that soon in
Dubuque extensions would be given
to streets and groups OF houses, and
Iowa's silent prairies would be glad
dened by the tread Of hosts of incom-
ing immigrants.
And, indeed, rs the steamboat was
made fast to the shore, quickly from
It's deck stepped Dubuquc's first bishop
and two companions, priests who had
come with him from distant France,
Thomas Grcvin and Anthony Pcla-
mourges. A few moments later the
woodruff chapel at the base Of the
bluff, Dubuque's solitary monument to
Catholicity, was filled to OVERLOOKING;
the bishop with benting heart and tear
full eye blessed the people, blessed the
diocese of present and future time; the
Catholic church was formally and Of
ficially installed in the Northwest.
At it's inception the diocese of Du-
buquc embraced the vast region stu
atcd between the Mississippi and the
Missouri rivers, from the state of Mis-
souri, on the south to British America
on the north. In this immense ter
ritory there were ut the time three
chapels dedicated to Catholic worship,
a prOp0rtionately limited Catholic pop
ulation, and not one resident priest.
What spiritual favors had been here
tOfOrc vOuchsafed to Catholics had
been coming from the hands of the H.
lustrlOus and devoted Samuel Mazzu-
chelli, the pastor of the neighboring
village Of Galena. who, while caring
for northern Illinois and western Wis
consin, was not unwilling to extend
into Iowa his apostolic labors.
1t is the 18th day of April, Of the
year 1901. AS our pioneer fathers six
ty-two years ago, so we today witness
the Induction into his charge Of
bishop Of Dubuque. How changed
from the scene of 1889 is that of 1901!
o spirit of our sainted Loras, pres
cnt with lis, 10 doubt, this morning.
prophet Of hope as thou vast for Du-
buque, for Iowa, for America, never
hadst thou dared picture to thyself,
as possible within six decades Of years,
the scenes of 1901, and all the won
drous things beyond 1t, which this
scene symbOlizes!