The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-08-27
Our literary Cable.
Gle PERE .JUSTE u

|
Father O'Brien of Kalamazoo Mich. sends MS
pamphlet containing an address he made in the
senate chamber of the state house at Lansing before
the Michigan Pioneer Historical society June 2 1904
! The subject was lie Pere Juste" an eminentIy fit
ting title for the great Belgian priest of whom he
| spoke-Right Rev. Monsigneur Joos V. g.. who died
at Monroe Mich, 1901 in the seventysecond year of
! his age.
| The panegyrist of Monsignor Joost drew picture
OF the religious conditions in Michigan before and
during his early missionary life and it appears the
greatest obstacles the pioneer priest had to surmont
were those presented by Catholics whose intense
racial jealousy made repeated trouble First it was
the French, who held the fort for many year; then
with advancing prosperity came the sturdy Irish,
and later the thrifty Germans. The French looked
upon the others ntruders. The priest who sided
with either party made to realize that other
fields we're better for him. For many years the Mon
parish had the regular periodical church rows.
One priest Father Carabn, was practically starved
out 1t not until the advent of the Redemptoriss
who furnished priest for each of the factions that
peace was promoted. But the time came when they
were recalled and for a long time the parish was
without priest. Then the priest and the
story begins about Father Joos.
The story itself is interesting, but Father Joosts
panegyrist points out traits of character which
interesting than the story, because it shows how
all men do not think alike in judging such things
For example, Father Joost-
WAS exceedingly particular about wasting time
1t would appear from his example that any moment
not well employed was wasted time He did not
to realize that such thing recreation
A
trip to New York for vacation, solemnly averred,
that on going down the Hudson, which looked
on then with interest than while everyone
admirng the beautiful scenery, Father Joos
not to be found He went to look for him. and found
him in the stateroom reading Brownson's Review
That certainly not very good example of the
profit of being well employed, though it be
meditation over BroWnSon s philosophy To exalted
minds there is something in the contemplation of
not to be found in books-sermons in rocks and
hills and cataraets. And there is no ovlier land
But perhaps the priest weary of the panorama
and sought the pages of Brownson for material for
sermon.
Here is another evidence of contradiction in human
nature: Positive almost to stubbornness, when
opinion formed yet always submitting grace
fully to the voice of HIS superiors no matter how
distastefu it really loved to be leased by his
friends
Monsgnor Joos must have been remarkable man.
We agree with Father OBrien, his panegyrist when
he says: No man can be measured by simple year
or act. His whole life must be considered in the
makeup of years. Measuring Right Reverend Mon
signor Joos in this way, must stand in
review his long life of sacrifice and say, this
great man who exercised benign and blessed in
fuence upon the world
The Catholic Foreign Mission Field" is the title
of pamphlet sent out by the Society for the Propa-
CATION of the Faith The two papers comprised in
this pamphlet read at the Missionary conference
recently held at Washington, D. c. april 6-12) on
the occasion of the dedication of the Apostolic Mis-
University Catholic Foreign Missions was the theme
selected by the Rev. James Anthony Walsh and THE
Society for the Propagation of the Faith" by Rev.
Joseph Frer
The publication of these papers has been urged |
in order that deeper and wider interest in the
missionary progress of the church throughout the
world might be aroused among the Catholics of Amer
lea.
1t has also been felt that if the true relationship
between the worldwide advance of Cathocity and /
the Society for the Propagation of the Faith which
does so much to make this advance possible conld
be clearly understood tremendous opportunity for
extending the kingdom of Christ would be realized
by the American church.
Today at the lowest estimate there are about 500
millions OF human beings upon the earth of which
number 400 millions including schismatcs and here
tics are Christian According to MulhalPs statistics
for 1903 out of population of 1900 millions there arc
zS6 millions Catholics. 112 millions Heretics 90 mil
lions Sehismatcs, millions Jews and AGO millions
made up of Mohamnedans Buddhists Brabmins
pagans and other n-Chrstians 1t is quite safe TO
assume then, that at least 1900 millions of our
fellow human beings have not yet received the COS
pei message and most of these have never heard the
name of Jesus Christ
To this vast multitude, occupying different sections
of the earth the Church has out her missionaries
who today, according to Louvet, number probably
ahot $4,000 priests, 5000 brothers and As DOC sisters