Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-26

so great that it was no longer pos
sible to accommodate them in the
building of the church and school then
erected.
Under the pastorship of Father F1tz-
gerald plans were made and steps TAX
en- towards a new building more COM
modious. The site purchased already in
the time of the much lamented and
genial Father Gull was selected as the
place for the new school and church
building. The location is one of the
most desirable in the city of Bellaire.
The contracts for the new building
were unfortunately let at a time when
a financial panic agitated the country,
and many working people were without
employment. To these great Difficult
ties were added Still others such as the
illness of the pastor, who though af-
fiicted for a long time by a cancer that
was gnawing at the vitals OF his
throat, had succeeded in iburying his
sorrow until the dreaded disease made
itself felt in the imminent danger that
threatened his life.
Even at that time the Rev. Father
never complained and though suffer-
ing intense pains concealed his at
fiction from the devoted people of his
flock. A committee was appointed by
the Rt. Rev. Bishop to assist the af-
fiicted pastor in the burdensome finan-
cial administration of the temperate
ties of the parish. However, the peo-
pie having no employment, We're with
very scant means, while credit also
was at a very low ebb. Under these
unfortunate circumstances the thoughts
Of the people turned to God for help.
Worn out by many cares and at
deaths door with the dreaded cancer
of the throat, Father Fitzgerald re-
signed his charge of the parish 10
which he had labored many years and
brought consolation to many an ach-
ing heart
Fervent people of the parish still re-
tain many memories of his kind minis
t~rations. A few months after his res
ignation Father Fitzgerald died at the
home of his parents in Columbus. An
other pastor was appointed to Beilaire,
but under the great financial strain it
was a long time before much Roadway
was made. Sincere devotion to the
practice of their religion and many
great sacrifices finally brought about a
change in the condition of things.
Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary,
Mother of Jesus. has been from the
early days of Christianity one of the
most tender and inspiring of the his
tory of the Roman Catholic church.
From the very days of the Apostles
Catholics have venerated the Mother
OF Jesus Christ, and shown her a de-
votion greater than that manifested
towards any of Gods servants, a de-
votion in its intensity next only to
the tie that binds them to the AL
mighty God himself. Evidences of
this early devotion are found in great
numbers, not only in the writings of
the fathers of the first ages, but also
in the works Of art that have escaped
the ravages of barbarians and time.
Among the paintings of the Mother
of Jesus Christ and commemorative of
this fact of her effectual intercession
in peupetually lending heap to her de-
vout clients, is one particular picture
known to the Catholic world as "The
Picture of Our Lady of Perpetual
Help" The painting is preserved at
present in the Church of st. Alphonsus
In charge of the Redemptorist Fathers
in Rome. This celebrated picture is
very old. While the artist is unknown.
the painting is that produced by one
of the Greek School, and was made
evidently about the thirteenth or four
teenth century. The picture measures
twenty-five feet in height by eighteen
In width. 1t is painted in distemper
on q gold proun4. Our Lady in half
fgure, holds the child Jesus on her left
arm, and with hdr right hand presses
the tiny hands Oh the infant to her
breast. She Wears q dark azure cloak
with green lining. The tuJ3tc Is red,