The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-04-04

When tho exercises began at o'clock 1t
was estimated that more than 5000 per-
sons were within the Cathedral walls.
The reception and it's attendant eXer-
cises formed one OF the most significant
events ever held In local Catholic circles.
Rev. Robert ]. Johnson, rector of the
Gate OF Heaven church OF South Boston
delivered an address welcoming Arch
bishop O'Connell and congratulating him
upon his appointment.
Trained I'm this diocese. under the
benign administration OF our beloved
archbishop, you have thorough acquaint-
ance with its needs, the esteem and re-
gard OF It's priests, and the respect OF
the community Not only are You
equipped to assist with vigor and wisdom
I'm the conduct OF the affairs OF the arch
diocese. but you are well adapted to en-
couragej and increase the spirit OF kindly
feeling toward the Catholic faith among
those outside OF the church. and your in
fuence for good will be exerted with
Catholics and non-Catholics alike =.
Notable have been the services which
YOU have rendered TO the cause OF good
and Catholic truth. AS rector OF the
American college at Rome. you admirably
fulfilled the duties OF a difficult position
one requiring special qualifications, ana
in every way you maintained the prestige
| OF that institution. The training OF young
| priests Is obviously most important work.
! and your success In that office insures
| your success as a leader OF the priest
| hood now.
"Your duties while at Rome brought you
| into frequent personal relations with the
| Holy Father and the high dignitaries of
| the church. and they were quick TO recog-
/ nize your character and attainments. your
| deep religious feeling your excellent judy
/ megt. your earnestness, your unfaiiing
amiability and consideration for others;
| I'm a word. the strength and the sweetness
| OF your character.
| "As bishop OF Portland you have shown
/ during the past five years not only those
| same erlInent qualities. but the same
executive ability with which you conduct
ed the affairs OF the American college
! while you were its head. Many and great
| have been your services 10 the cause OF
truth and religion In the Portland diocese.
Nor must fail 10 speak OF the important
services rendered by you on your recent
mission TO Japan, where you showed your
self to be a trained diplomat as wen as
a thorough ecclesastic, and achieved re-
suits OF great Importance TO the welfare
and extension of the church. resslFs that
have been warmly commended by the
Holy See"
Archbishop o'Connell said in part:
Nearly three years have passed since
the venerable prelate OF this See, him
self the first 10 recognize the need OF
! help, turned TO Rome, whence alone that
aid could come. Rome has made her irrev-
ocable decision. | stand before you with
! the mandate OF the supreme pastor OF the
universal church in my hands l come
! from Peters presence into yours. And
true 10 the faith you preach and to the
holy traditions OF this See of Boston, the
best exemplar OF which still rules IT, you
OFFER to whomevcr Peter sends your 10y
atty and reverence. and the diocese OF
| Boston has once more proven her infiexi-
BILE spiritual allegiance to Rome and the
supreme pontiff of the Catholic church.
This is the great and the high meaning OF
this hour. and with ii the hour goes into
history. recorded. dead. The future lies
before us. There lies life in duty.
"The church acts I'm the living presence
and looks toward the future. If we face
only the past we shall die with the past
the church must live. and he who rules
! will be held responsible for her life.
"Not one great bishop OF the past, re-
| turning, would persist i'm viewing present
| conditions AS If naught had changed. That
which made them great was precisely
their ability to grasp the significance OF
| the hour and control it.
"I believe as strongly as / believe that
there is n God, that that God has placed
me where / am. And that faith compels
the solid conviction that even when the
time comes-may It be long-when the
greatest man that has ever ruled this
See is taken from IL. He who Is omnipo-
tent will still be with IT. In that perfect
faith / place my trustees faith than
that were pusillanimous."
Archbishop O'Connell explained that the
inspiration TO study at Rome had come
10 him % years ago from Archbishop Will
liams. He went on.
Everything that has come to me since
then l can trace back to his influence;
the years OF student and director in Rome
the knowledge OF her great men, my ordi-
nation, my conservation. the dignity OF
papal envoy, my present promotion I'm this
great See, one Of the greatest I'm the
world, the benencent patronage OF the
immortal Leo, and today what I treasure
dear as life ITSELF dare TO say IL be-