The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1901-12-28
BISHOP GLoRIEUx's VISIT.
Enthusiasm of the Indians Blended
With Their PietY.

Of course it was ,Eumored before hand
that the Bishop of Idaho was to visit
the mission and its schools, and all
were in anxious expectation of his
coming. Early in the morning of
| June %, father set out from De Smet
for Oaksdale, twenty miles distant
where he was to meet the bishop. But
one of the Indians claimed the honor
of conveying his Qrdship to the mis-
sion in his fine new buggy and he OBJ
tanned his request. halfway they were
met by a great number of the Indians
who came riding up at full speed. Par
ticularly noticeable among them were
the Soldiers of the Sacred Heart, .
! whose brilliant red. sashes faring in
the bright light of 1.-The monday sum-
produced a striking effect. The whole
company was arrayeds in neat-fitting
suits, some of which were of expensive
broadcloth, and their horses were ac-
coutred with fine new saddles and
brides. AS they came up. with the
carriage in which the bishop was seat
ed with his happy Indian host, they
gave him an enthusiastic salute by a
tremendous discharge of their firearms
which they repeated at intervals along
the whole way. At this the frightened
horses broke into a furious gallop. so
that ten miles over a rough road were
covered in a short time, and conse-
quently those remaining at the mis-
sion were not a little surprised on see
ing them make their appearance. I'm
mediately the glad pealings of the sa-
cred bells, mingled with the more SOL
emn tones of the large church bell
rang out a hearty welcome. In a few
moments De Smet was all astir The
school children, filing out of their re-
spective departments, advanced toward
the church, where they stood ready to
greet his lordship.
In the meantime, Bishop Glor-
ieuX had entered the village,
just below the church, and hav-
ing alighted, he was invited into the
house of one of the leading men of the
tribe, where he took few moments
rest The house, though small, would
be an ornament to many a town. All
was neat and we'll arranged. The en-
trance was fitted up and carpeted with
a number of bright colored blankets,
bought purposely, as it would seem,
for the occasion. Here he received the
welcome of the reverend fathers at
tending to the mission, conspicuous
among whom was the old Father Jo-
set, his hair white as snow. Then, vest
ed in Gotta and stole and bearing the in
sigma of his office, his lordship passed
up the long sidewalk, preceded by sew
eral acolytes. The whole tribe lined
either side of the passage, and rever-
emily knelt to receive the blessing of
the bishop-a touching spectacle, in
deed
AS the bishop entered the church, the
silence was broken by the triumphant
strains of the familiar "Benedictus qui
VENT in nomine Domini' (''Blessed is
he that cometh in the name of the
T xvii toI1y Io, I,
occasion. The sacred edifice was soon
crowded. The bishop. turning to the
congregation, thanked the Indians for
his nice reception, congratulated them
on their spiritual and temporal prog
ress and in a few pointed words told
them the object of his coming. There
was something grand and impressive
in the whole ceremony that must have
gone to the hearts of all. Here was a
picture truly edifying, and in it one
could see the spirit of the Catholic
Church, which, knowing no color nor
distinction, shows ever and in all places
the same tender love and solicitude
for all her childre.
The reception over, all retired
with hearts full of joy and
expectation. His lordship remained
here about five days, during
which time De Smet was the scene of
imposing religious ceremonies. Every
thing assumed a holiday attire. 1t was
a season of universal rejoicing to par
ents, teachers and children alike And
all did their best to testify their feel
ings of respect and veneration to their
beloved pastor. The presence of their
bishop at the mission on June "a, on
which day last year fell the Feast of
the Sacred Heart, the grand day. at
all times for the Occur d'Alenes, will
help to imprint its recollections on the
minds of the Indians for many year
During his stay Bishop Glorieux bap-
tized three Indians two of them Spo-
kanes and the other from Chief Lots |
tribe. But perhaps one of the most |
beautiful ceremonies was when he ad-
the Sacrament of Confirma-
ton to several of the children from
the schools. To honor the bishop and |
give him a chance of seeing their |
progress an entertainment had beep
prepared for him by the young ones !