Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06
THE NEW BISHOP.

Worcester Paper and Clergymen
speak Hi0liy Of the Rev. J. ,. Rice.
The news Of his appointment ~ bishop
OF Burlington was conveyed to the Rev.
Joseph J. Rice of Northbridge. Mass,
Tuesday by a Worcester Gazette man,
and that paper says Of him and the APP
pointment:
Immediately on receipt Of the news a
reporter for the Gazette notified the Rev.
DR.. Rice Of the news. The message came
like a thundcrbolt out of q clear sky to
the pastor Of the small country parish
that he had been elected to preside over
a diocese that embraces the entire State
of Vermont.
AT first the Rev. Or. Rice thought there
must have been some mistake, and he
declined to discuss the matter until he
received official notification OF his ap-
pointment from Rome.
The news Of the Rev. DR.. Rice's appoint
ment is OF especial interest to Worces-
ter people, for although n native Of
Leicester. he might in almost every
sense OF the word be called a Worcester
man. Here has been the family home
for many years, and while a student al
Holy Cross College t.ie Rev. DR.. Rice spent
much Of his time in Worcester. and
since his appointment to the Northbridge
parish six years ago he has been a
frequent visitor here. where his father and
mother live.
The Rev. Austin d. O'Malley. assist
ant TO Mons!gnor Griffin at st. Johns
Church, and q classmate of tho Rev. DR..
Rice. was one OF the first in Worcester
that the Gazette man brought the news to.
The news OF the appointment was the
source OF the greatest pleasure to
Father O'Malley. for ne and tho Rev. DR..
Rice had been intimate friends since the
old days ut Holy Cross. and he could
hardly restrain himself with JOY now that
his classmate had been the recipient OF
20 high an honor.
ATTENDED COLLEGE UNDER
DIFFICULTIES.
1.-THE Rev. DR.. Rice" said Father O'Ma!-
ley. ATTENDED Holy Cross College un-
der the greatest difficulties, for in
those days he was obliged to drive
from his Leicester home. back and forth
to the college each day. But he was one
OF the greatest Of students, and grad
uated in 1891 with he highest honors.
While at college he was particularly pro-
ncient In philosophy and in later life has
distinguished himself along these lines.
At the Grand Seminary In Montreal he
was noted for his great ability In the log
ical augmentation. In 1894. he went to
Rome to perfec! himself in the languages
and to take a post graduate course in
theology. As to his character, he has al
ways been a genial, jolly. wholesome fell
low to all who know Lin. ! can hardly
find words to express my specification at
the high honor that has been conferred
upon my classinate."
YOUNGEST BISHOP IN COUNTRY.
Monsignor Griffin was also much
pleased with the Rev. Or Rice's appoint
ment. He said: Doubtless he has been
weighed in the balance and found to he
we'll quc-ihed for the high position. He
has distinguished himself ! believe in the
languages. lie is a man of even dlsposi-
ton, looks at the optimistic side Of life
and his training has been such thai he Is
eminently flied for the place. lie is
barely IS years OF age. and as such l
think he will be one OF the youngest II
not the youngest bishop in the country"
The Rev. Bernard 8. Conaty. pastor OF
the Church Of the Sacred Heart. knew
the Rev. DR.. Rice for many years and
was much pleased at mis- appointment.
. NV oiAfht w <
for the Gazette, said: The Rev. DR..
Rice, though a very young man. has long
been known Us a great scholar and a
noted theologian and is in every way
fitted for the place. At a recent meeting
of the Roman students. which includes
priests who have received a theological
education in Rome. 1t was the general
consensus Of opinion Of those present
that the Rev. DR.. Rice was the one who
was qualified to receive this high honor
Other priests of the city and scores of
personal friends of the Rev. DR.. Rice 10
whom the news was communicated were
all asreeably surprised.
FROM COUNTRY PASTOR TO BISHOP
People were surprised that the Vati-
can should see fit to select the pastor of
a small country parish to preside over a
diocese that embraces the entire State OF
Vermont, with it's nearly 10000 commune
cants and 10 clergymen. This In itself
establishes the fact OF the Rev. DR.. Rice's
place in the theological world. where he
has long been known as an authority re-
garding church matters. His great knowl-
edge OF the French language was proba-
bly, another factor that led to his ap-
pointnent, as in the Burlington diocese
there are n great number VINO speak thai