The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-04-15
HUNDRED PRIESTS
TAKE PART IN
CONSERVATION
Youngest Bishop Now Head o.
Burlington Diocese
GREAT CROWDS ATTEND
Over 1900 Witness Impressive cere-
mony While Thousands Gather
About Crowded Cathedral

Burlington, April ia notable
event in the history of the Roman
/ Catholic diocese of the state was the
conservation here yesterday of the
Rev Joseph Rice as bishop of Bur
lington. The conservation took place
at the Cathedral of the immaculate
Conception and was marked by all
the pomp and ceremony of the
church.
1t was the second time bishop
has been consecrated in this city and
the attendance of church dignitaries
from without the diocese the clergy
of the diocese, representatives of
various Catholic societies and prom
inent laymen in various walks OF life
was very large, although some of the
ihigh officials of the church who had
been invited we're prevented from at
tending by the funeral of Bishop Ca
meron OF Antigonesto. n. S., which
was held Wednesday, In fact al
though the seating capacity OF the
cathedral is about 1900 IL was utterly
impossible for all who visited to OBJ
tain admission when the doors we're
thrown open at $3.50 o'clock in the
morning.
The cathedral had been appropri.
ately decorated for the occasion and
the beauty Of the decorations. the
rich vestments OF the officiating bish-
ops and priests. the impressive sol
emnity OF the service and the bril-
liant music Of Ioeschs Mass in +
rendered by the combined choirs of
the cathedral and st. Joseph's
church, assisted by an orchestra, all
combined TO make the occasion most
impressive.
The consecrating bishop was the
Rt Rev Thomas ID. Beaver D. d Of
/ Springfield, Mass. who ordained him
to the priesthood and in whose do
cese Bishop Rice served as priest
prior to his elevation to the bishop
rio. lie was assisted by the Rt. Rev
Matthew Harkins, d. D.. OF Provi-
| dence. II. l.. and the RI. Rev. l.. S.
! Walsh. d. D, of Portland, Me.
The reverend preacher was the Rt.
Rev d. +. Feehan OF Fall River. Mass
and his sermon was one OF the most
eloquent and scholarly ever delivered
In the cathedral.
The ceremonies at the cathedral
lasted about two hours At their
conclusion a banquet was served to
the clergymen to the number OF over
200 at the Van Ness house.
The RI. Rev. j. ]. Rice the new
bishop. was born In Leicester, Mass,
December 6. 1871 and Is consequently
one OF the youngest men to be eleva-
ted to the bishopric in this country.
He received his early education at
Leicester Academy, Holy Cross Col.
lege. graduating from the latter In
stitution with the class OF 1891. He
then prepared for the priesthood at
the Grand Seminary at Montreal and
was ordained at Springfield, Mass,
September 20, 1894 by the same man
who was later TO consecrate him TO
the higher duties OF bishop
Following his ordination he passed
a short time in further study at the
Catholic University In Washington.
going from there to Rome for a two
years post graduate course In theol
ogy.
In 1896 he received the degree OF
doctor OF divinity from st. Thomas
Aquinas Pontihcial University at
Rome.
Returning TO this country Bishop
Rice served for n time In the Port
land diocese was ourate In St
Bernard's parish OF Fltchburg. Notre
Dame parish OF Pittsheld. ST. Rocks
parish OF oxford and St Patrick's
OF Whitinsville.
He was then appointed professor OF
PHILOSOPHY In ST. Johns Seminary OF
Brighton where he served two years
For the nast six years he has been
pastor OF St Mlchaels In Whitins
willie.