The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-04-30
Diocese Priests Unite in Present
ing Archbishop Messmer
With Purse of $4,000
WILL START ON LONG TRIP
More Than Hundred and Fifty Priests
From the Diocese Attend Farewell
Banquet in Milwaukee On
Wednesday Afternoon

Archbishop S. G.. Messmer of the Mil
waukee diocese leaves Milwaukee on
Friday for New York, where he will at
tend the. centennial celebration Of the
founding Of the New York diocese.
Over $50 priests of the Milwaukee
diocese gathered at the diocesan resi-
dence in Milwaukee yesterday to wish
the archbishop God speed and to present
him with a purse of $4,000. The purse
was the gift Of the clergy Of the do
cese and is the largest ever offered to
prelate in this diocese.
The purse was presented at a meet
ing held in the parlor Of the archbis
hops residence after farewell lunch
con given the archbishop and clergy.
The Very Rev. J. J. Keogh Of st. John s
cathedral Milwaukee, made the presen-
tation speech and his remarks were in
terrupted by loud bursts of applause
whenever he touched upon the regard in
which Archbishop Messmer is held by
the members Of the clergy. His address
in part follows:
"You are on the eve of your depart
ure for Rome to make your prescribed
visit to the tombs Of the Apostles and to
offer your respects and fealty to the
successor Of St. Peter, Plus x, now
happily reigning over Gods church.
|This occasion, therefore, seems emin-
entity proper for us to give some ex-
preston of our high appreciation Of
yourself personally, and Of our loyalty
and devotion to the supreme pontiff.
"We beg you, therefore, to carry to
Rome the full assurance of our pro-
found esteem and reverence for the holy
father and Of our warm attachment and
ready obedience to the holy see. You
may tell him with all truth that no
archbishop in any land can have a more
loyal and devoted clergy, nor a more
faithful laity than those over whom you
preside in this great archdiocese Of Mil
waukee.
GFor yourself personally we enter
tain the highest esteem, the warmest af,
lection and the sincerest gratitude.
"Your untiring zeal and unselfsh
labors in every field or church work,
your activities in all social, charitable
and educational movements, your con
slant efforts for the betterment of the
people, have been an inspiration and al
incentive to all your clergy and have
accomplished splendid results around us.
S'Under your genial influence racial
divisions and misunderstanding are
rapidly disappearing, and racial pride
and activity now tend only to make us
more devoted Catholics and better citi-
zens Of this favored land.
We are now united clergy and a
united people under one leader in whom,
without distinction of race or nationali-
ty, we have the greatest confidence, and
for whom we all entertain the pro-
foundest esteem. Let me assure you
that it is the united prayer of all that
you may be spared as our archbishop
for many happy years.
"And now, before your departure we
beg you to accept this check as prac-
teal testimonial of the good viii Of
your clergy, and of their wis, and
thoughtful provision for the necessary
expenses of your journey, lest, perhaps,
you might be embarrassed by your warm
hearted and free handed generosity
which makes you forgetful at times Of
your own needs
After Father Keogh had finished, it
was several minutes before Archbishop
Messmer could master his feelings, and
then several more elapsed before the
applause had subsidized sufficiently to let
him speak.
cit is hard to thank you for this
bounteous Offering" said the archbis-
hop, "and I want you to feel that [ ap-
preciate it from the Utmost recesses Of
my heart. It is not so much the gift,
though that is great one, but the
sentiment which it represents, that
makes me feel like man with a cloven
tongue. 1t is indeed thing to be
proud Of when [ know with what close
love and friendship the clergy Of this
diocese regard me. I shall mention it
to the holy father when I get to Rome
and tell him of the great spirit of harm
ony and affection that binds my clergy
and myself as one. [ have never
thought that did not have faults, as
you all know and whenever any one
OF you has told me of things that did
not please me, 7 have always tried to
remedy them. Never have I harbored
any feeling of anger against my correc-
tors nor will ever. I will tell the holy
father of the Catholic parishes and
churches growing up all around us
here -
The 0Ood