The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1906-07-07

After seven years, glorified with great
achievements, spent away from the peo-
pIe among whom he was reared, among
whom he had labored, and whose mem
orv ever stood enshrined in his heart,
the Most Rev. James Hubert Blenk re-
turned last Sunday to the home OF ms
bovhood as Archbishop. No hero
loaded with the laurels of conflict, no
statesman heralded by the mighty deeds
Of his diplomacy, ever received truer
and more spontaneously heartfelt well
come than New Orleans Sunday after
noon accorded her son. Thousands OF
Deople. saws the New Orleans press,
marched in the parade, while still great
er numbers lined the sidewalks along It's
route. as the distinguished prelate pass
ed wave after wave OF enthusiasm surged
through the crowd.'
Archbishop Blenk, formerly Father
BIenk of New Orleans, and for the past
seven years Bishop Of Porto Rico, reach
ed Bav St. Louis last Saturday from
New York en- route to New Orleans,
to assume his new post of duty. He was
met here by private delegation from
the church and escorted to ST. Stanis-
laus college, where he was the guest OF
honor and to await until Sunday after
noon the arrival of special train and
delegation repres 9nting both the church
Iaity to welcome and bear him on to his
capital city.
On Sunday afternoon the especial train
reached Bay st. Louis at about 2:15
o'clock, and about $50 delegates disem-
barked and marched up Bookter avenue
to ST. Stanislaus College, and assembled
in one of the large study halls.
AS soon as Archbishop Blenk ap-
pcared there was great cheering and
clapping of hands. He was given a seat
of honor, facing the assembly, and when
quiet was restored the opening address,
on behalf of the clergy of the Archdio-
cese, was made by Very Rev. P. NJ. L.
Massardier, who said:
'Most Rev. Archbishop-As Chair
man of the Priest Committee, named by
the clergy to prepare the reception
which is going to be rendered to Your
Grace on your arrival at your archie
piscopal city, l have been instructed by
nv conferees to act as their represen-
tatives when meeting you, and as such
to be the one to address you the first
words of hearty welcome.
81 wish, indeed, my brother priests
had selected a better and more eloque Mt
speaker to accomplish this honorable
task, to fulfill this pleasant duty, yet |
now say they could not have found one
with a heart animated with warmer love
and deeper respect toward your sacred
person to do our wishing, to be the first
to welcome you on this happy day of
YOUR coming to US. 1t is but natural.
Are we not your privileged children,
YOUR chosen sons, to be your co-labor-
ers in that portion of the Lords vine
yard just now intrusted to your care and
solicitude? Hence, for all these rea-
sons we feel that we already occupy the
first place in your apostolical heart, and
that therefore it is our right and our
duty to be the very first to honor you,
and pay to you the homage Of our atfec-
ton and veneratlon.
"Permit me to remind you, Most Rev
eTend Sir, that you are not coming
Str4n-
ger to us. You know us and we know
YOU. And no doubt it is this mutual
acquaintance that is the cause why we,
your priests, all rejoice at your eleva-
ton to the Archiepiscopal See of New
Orleans, and all delight in greeting, in
you, our Archbishop, our leader, our
spiritual and ecclesiastical father; as
we are also confident that you yourself
entertain and cherish, not only the hope,
but also the certainty, that you will find
in us clergy dutiful and solicitous,
ever ready to assist and obey you, most
proud to be under your leadership, for
ever willing to labor under your wise
guidance for the glory of God and the
salvation of souls.
"Hence, in my humble name, and in
the name of all my brother priests in the
Archdiocese, from the very depth OF my
soul, say unto you, in the language of
Holy Mother Church, 'Benedictus qul
rent in nomine Domini.' Welcome to
you, our beloved Archbishop. Yes,
welcome; a thousand times welcome"
When the applause that greeted Fa-
her Massardier's eloquent greeting was
over.
JUDGE JOHN L. ST. PAUL
spoke on behalf of the laity, as follows:
'Monseigneur, the honor OF bidding
YOU welcome on behalf of the laity
of your Archdiocese might we'll have
been conferred upon some more distin-
guished citizen, or yet upon one more
worthy or more capable of doing ustice
to the occasion, but | yield to none IN
the sincerity and heartiness of the well
come which l wish you in their name.
ssBut if in this lag not behind, pei-
ther do I claim to be one whit in ad-
vance of my fellow-citizens, as this
large assemblage of citizens attests,
and that still more vast outpouring OF