The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-09-09

been his teacher and friend in college days
 This friendship had been maintained during the years Father O'Connell had been in America, and on his return to Rome the eminent churchman saw jus tification of the promises of student days. Soon after his return to Rome Father O'Connell was made a private chamberlain by the late Pope Leo, with the rank of monsignor.
 Mgr. O'ConneH remained at the head of the American College four years. During that time he made many changes and improvements and be- came prominent factor in the life of Rome This work brought him into close touch with the Vatican, and when in 1901 the See of Portland became vacant through the death of the ageo EJames 4. Healey, he received the ap- pointment. The appointment ,came as mentioned for the place nor consid- ed in the lists of names sent to Rome by the clergy of the diocese Or the higher church dignitaries
 It was interpreted as meaning that the Vatican thought so highly of his abilities that still further honors were in store for him, the warmest of his friends going so far as to name him as the archbishop of Boston.
 Under the new bishop the affairs of the Church in Maine took a more ac- tive life In short time he had ac- complished the immense task of visit ing every parish in the State, had met everyone of his clergy in their homes and seen what the needs of his people were with his own eyes. He was also in touch with public affairs and had made himself a factor to be considered in every movement for public good. Meanwhile he was also in close touch with Rome and made several visits there in connection with the affairs of the diocese.
 STUDIED JAPANESE,
 During one of these visits, three | years ago, the late Archbishop, finding his health would not allow his attend ing to all the duties of hls office and knowing his end could not be many years off, asked that a coadjutor arch bishop with the right of succession be | appointed. On the decision to grant this request several names were sent to Rome by the clergy and hierarchy for consideration, as is customary un- der the rules of the church, but that of the Bishop of Portland did not ap- pear on any of them. Soon after he went to Rome again, and for over two years the appointment lay open, though those who had watched the career of the young Bishop and knew of the high favor in which he stood considered that ultimately the place would be his. In the meantime, however, new hon. OTIS came to him. In Rome he learned of the intention of the Vatican to send an envoy to Japan at the end of the war, and foreseeing the possibility that American would end the war and an | American be chosen for the position, planned to be prepared to fill it should it be rendered him. To this end he quietly took up the study of the Jap anese language, as well as of the GUS toms and history of the country and when peace was declared and Ills Hol- mess set about to select delegate the name of the Bishop of Portland was presented to him as that of the one I American of high rank best fitted for the portfolio, the one prelate of high rank in the church who spoke Japanese huently On him the honor was bestow- ed and he not only obtained every thing the Pope wished, but more be- sides while the authorities showered honors upon him and his small suite.
 Tokio appreciated very much the delicate compliment of His Holiness of sending to the Mikado an envoy who could speak the language of the country. It was the first time any power, temporal or spiritual, had sent one with whom the Mikado could con verse without the interpretation of an interpreter.
 It Is the practice of the Vatican to reward it's envoys to the great courts of the earth with the red hat on their return, and this led to the belief that the archbishoprlc of Bos ton would not be given to Bishop O'Connell,t but that instead he would be made a cardinal The custom. however, was broken in this case, and on January 26, year ago, the bull