The Irish standard., 1902-12-20

'uHu', III Wllltn was comprised the
territory of Iowa and all of Minnesota
and the llakotnS between the Mis-
sssppi and Missouri rivers. Bishop
LoraS in his turn Immediately went
to France in quest of priests for his
distant diocese. Returning to America
in the winter of l$3S, he brought with
linn. among others. Joseph Crptin, A.
Pclamourgrs. l.urirn Galticr and Au-
guStinr RavouX. He arrived in Du-
buuur April 10. 1889. Two months
later he was setting out for Fort Smell
ing. This visit is described in the fol-
lowing letter. written Ht Dubuque in
July, 1899.
II have just returned frcm st. Peters
(Mrndotn), where | made my second
mission, or episcopal visitation. Though
crowned With success. left Dubuque
on the I'D of June, on board II large
nnd magnificent steam vessel, and was
accompanied by Father Pcl;lno,lrgucs
and Il young man who served as in
trrplrtrr With the Sioux. After sue
rrSStul voyage of some days along the
superb Mississippi, we reached st.
Peters, Our arrival was a cause of
great joy to the Catholics, who had
never before seen IL priest or bishop
in those remote regions. They mani
Il Il,
worship and TO approach the sacra-
| mcns of the church. The wife of our
| host WAS baptized and confirmed: she
subsequently received the sacrament
of lntrmony. The Catholics Of ST..
Peters amount to lS:1, 81; of whom we
baptized, administered conformation TO
., communion to :3 adults. and gave
the nlptinl blessing to ! couples
Arrangements lave been mat,c for
mcr, and Il clergyman is to lie sent
when he is able to speak French
(Which is the lnngungc of the major
ity) English and the Sioux TO faciI.
itatc the study Of the latter we are
to have at Dubuque this winter two
young Sioux. who arc to teach one or
lwo of our young ccclc> ilsrlrs.'
When navigation opened the follow
ing spring, Bishop IoraS fulfilled his
premise Of sending !; PRIEST to Fort
Smelling. The Rev. Lucicn Gnlt,cr, one
Of The young lrNitrs brought from,
France. was selected for the upper
Mississippi post. Father Gnticr w:ls
:: man of remarkable personality and
lnlS,Hi power; he had the face Of Il
cnrSrr ana The heart Of Il Madonna;
in him strength and tenderness, cul
tur" and simplicity met and mingled
in the harmonious formation Of Il noble
character. II he had remained il,
France, his talents ard his virtues
would have marked Him for high hon
ors, but he preferred the rugged lot
and privHtions Of pioneer life to the
power and fame for which petty men
strive. He served the missions Of Men
,lnta and st. Paul for four years, going
directly 10 Kcokuk, Iowa and thence
10 Prairie du Chen, where he IabOreu
ZralOlIsly for the Master from 1919 un-
Ill he was called to his reward in
lSGG
Such was Galticr, the father of the
chapel Of st. Paul, from which our
city received its name, about which our
great metropolis grew as some mcdi-
"val cathedral might lit it's massive
shoulders and huge frame about it's
!owly sanctuary. If some day the an
gel Of history shall touch Tie mystic
chords Of memory in Il grateful gene
ration and Il shaft shall rise towards
heaven in commenoraton OF the build
or of the first Christian temple of st.
Paul. let it bear the simple legend:
"Gnltier, the Father of st. Paul"
Let Father Galticr in his own modest
style tell the story of his coming to
Minnesota and of his luhors in what
was then the ultima thule of our young
commonwealth. Your Imagination will
paint the wild and forbilding back
ground of the picture sketched by his