The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-07-22
OVATION TO BISHOP o'GoRMAN,
Butte Knights of Columbus Honor
Distinguished Visitor.

| Bishop OGorinan of Sioux Falls. S.
D.. was royalty entertained Saturday
night at Elks' hall by reception given
! in his honor by the knights of Column
bus, Catholic friends and ladies' The
reception was largely attended and was
brilliant success.
The bishop, accompanied by d num-
Der of local Catholic clergy, entered the
hall amid a storm of applause, and
when he arose to speak shortly after
ward he was given an ovation. At the
conclusion of the speaking a social ses-
sion was enjoyed and all those present
were given an opportunity to meet the
distinguished visitor
Occupying the rostrum with the bish-
op were c. E. Meagher, grand knight
of the local council; Fathers Fitzgerald
of Minneapolis, Coopman of Anaconda,
De Siere, Van AIKEN, Barry, McGlynn
and Ryan of Butte. During the social
session light refreshments were served.
Grand Knight Meagher spoke a few
words of welcome to the bishop in
opening the exercises of the evening"
Hon. c. f. Kelly made short address,
followed by Father De Siere.
Bishop O'GOrInan was then called
upon, and as he arose to speak he was
given an ovation. When the applause
had subsidized the bishop delivered an
address in response to the welcome and
reception given him.
Ladies and fellow knights" said the
bishop, II appreciate the honor you
have bestowed upon me tonight. In
honoring me you honor my office, and
in honoring my office you honor the
church for which it stands.
THE reception is more of a personal
affair, and / thank you for it. Since
my last visit to Butte, about twelve
years ago, some of those l met then
have gone to rest-Largey, Caplice,
Daly-God give them rest.
Il have observed improvements in
your city, and l find great improve
ment in the church. Then there was
one church in Butte. 4 well remember
that Sunday morning, when l spoke to
thousands in the open air Now there
are thousands more, and you have six
churches and about dozen priests.
Here is a growth in spiritual affairs
that far outshines the industrial
growth.
Butte and Montana have passed the
frontier stage and are highly developed
in modern civilization. A young man
has been sent to you as bishop of this
diocese. refer to Bishop Carroll. I
am no prophet, in fact l base my
prophecy on what l know, and 1 tell
you that the growth of the church in
Montana under his guidance in the
years to come will be wonder.
You must be the co-operators OF
your church and your clergy, for the
growth of Catholicity in Montana and
in this city depends upon your united
efforts in its behalf. We need a laity
who understand religion; we want in
telligent Catholics, and we want libra
ries of good books in all Catholic homes.
''The great moral and purifying fac
tor i'm any place is the moral home, and
that which has placed Butte beyond
the rugged mining camp is the home
and the mother The Knights of Co
lumbus should place a tax or every
member who does not get married when
he arrives at the proper age"
Bishop O'Gorman said he remembered
we'll when General Thomas Francis
Meagher started for the northwest. He
met the general in st. Paul, and the in
trepid worker told him of the great
things he intended to do for the church
in Montana, but a mysterious Provi-
dence had cut his life short so that his
full mission had not been accomplished.
He congratulated the people of the state
for their efforts in erecting a monu-
ment to the noble pioneer