Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-10-20
Head of Catholic Diocese Of
Virginia Had Been Ill for
Several Days
Church BELL T0lLED HERE
Services to Be Held in Local
Church This Morning as Tribute
of Esteem for Prelste

The tolling of the bell of st.
Francis Catholic church Monday
carried first news to the people OF
that congregation Of the death OF the
bishop of their diocese, Right Rev.
Augustine Van de Vyver, which &C.
Cured in Richmond yesterday mora
ing at few minutes before 8 O'Clock.
The bishops illness was made known
to the congregation at the services on
Sunday, when it was stated that his
condition was critical and prayers
were offered for his recovery. This
morning at $3.50 O'Clock requiem
high mass will be celebrated in the
local church for the repose of the
soul of the deceased prelate.
Bishop Van de Vyver died at the
episcopal residence attached to the
Sacred Heart Cathedral in the CAPT.
tai, after short illness. He had re-
Gently made trip to Europe for his
health, but returned little improved.
Illness confined him to his bed few
days ago and he gradually sank down
into comatose state, being entirely
unconscious toward the last mo-
ments. His death-bed was surround
ed by members of the Catholic clergy.
He is survived by one sister, now 8
II
The Office of the bishop, made va
cant by the demise of Bishop Van de
Vyver, will be filled temporarily by
an administrator, who will be ap-
pointed by Cardinal Gibbons, of Bal
timore, pending the appointment OF
the bishops permanent successor by
the Pope at Rome, from a list of can
didates which will be made up and
forwarded to the Pope by the bishops
and clergy of this province.
Bishop Born in Belgium.
Bishop Van de Vyver was born De-
cember 1, 1874, in the town of Haes-
donck, East Flanders, Belgium. He
received his early education in the
city of St. Nicholas. Showing very
strong inclination and propensity for
the priesthood, he decided to enter
the missionary field in America and
matriculated at the American College
at Louvain. He attained high hon
ors in his studies there. and was ac-
cordingly raised to the priesthood at
Brussels in the private chapel of the
Apostolic Nuncio to Belgium on July
"a, 1870.
The appointment of Bishop Keane
to the rectorship of the Catholic uni
versity vacated the see Of Richmond
The eyes Of the church authorities
turned to the promising young priest
as the man best fitted to fill the va
cancy.
The priest of the diocese had so
learned to appreciate the ability and
love their administrator that tehy
sent petition to the Eternal City,
requesting that he be appointed bish-
op. HE was too modest,,"' says a
writer in "Our Faith and Our Des-
tiny" "ever to aspire to succeed BIZ
shop Keane, and when Unexpectedly
the honor came he would have been
glad to decline it, but the selection
had been made because of his fitness,
for those in higher station knew his
goodness and his Abilities The ap-
pointment caused general rejoicing
throughout the diocese.
Bishop Van de Vyxer received his
episcopal conservation on Oct. 20,
1889. Eminent men of the church
participated in the ceremonies and
the capacity of the Richmond cathe-
dral was taxed to the utmost.
During the more than twenty years
in which he has shaped the growth
of the church in this diocese with a
firm, but always tender and loving
hand, the bishop has done wonderful
work. New parishes have been
founded, parochial schools have been
attached to parishes and new COM
of religion have been estab-
lished and developed, while many
charitable institutions have been
erected. His has been a work of
good things. With the best interests
Of his charge, the betterment of his
people in every way, he has toiled in
onward.