The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-09-05
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the ordinary parish expenses had
been betrayed, $18,987.59.
The smallness Of receipts from col
lections in st. Paul is explained by
the slender means then at the dis
posal of Catholics. A tribute of
thanks is due, and now is gratefully
+. given, to the Society of the Propaga-
ton of the Faith in France.
Later, the wings, since marked
feature of the Cathedral, were built
by Bishop Grace, partly with the
view of Strengthening the main walls
and break somewhat the monotony
of their length, partly with the view
of adding to the interior further
space in the form of lateral chapels.
This latter project, however, was not
put into execution.
The Cathedral a Landmark Through
Many. Years.
July the twenty-seventh, 1856
What changes since then in city,
state and diocese! In 1856, the
population of st. Paul exceeded but
little the five thousand. Two years
previously it had put off its child
hood robing and dared to call itself
a city. Minneapolis was as yet a
mere "town." Minnesota was a
territory" and though it reached
to the Missouri River and its census
takers were unsparing in statements
of figures, it was said to hold within
its borders not more than $4,000
souls. The Diocese of St. Paul, COW
ering the whole area of the terri
tory of Minnesota, had its one
Bishop, its twelve priests, its Cath
Ollie population of twenty thousand.
Today, as the Cathedral closes it's
doors for now and aye, st. Paul has
its 100000 souls. with 100000 in
nearby Minneapolis, and the state
of Minnesota, though shorn of much
of it's primitive area, has its $780,
900. What in 1856 was the Diocese
of st. Paul has today its eight bish-
ops, its nine hundred priests, its six
hundred thousand Catholics. OF all
this wondrous growth, the Cathedral
was the watchful witness. All else
around it changed; alone the Ca
thedral stood unmoved and I'M
changed. AS passersby took notice
of its storm-beaten stones, forcibly
they remembered the men and
the things of a long past, of which
it was the enduring token. Now
the Cathedral goes, and with 1t the
vivid vision of the past-the pioneer
days, SO instinct with poetry and
heroism, the pioneer men and wom-
en-, whose strugglings with rude ma
ture. whose courage and prophetic
vision made of them a race apart,
whose deeds deserve golden emblaz-
oning, to challenge from present
and future generations reverence and
imitation.
The Cathedral was more than a
landmark of the marvellous prog
ress that has blessed st. Paul and
Minnesota. 1t was potent factor
in the making of this progress. 1t
was the Cathedral-the seat of
episcopal authority, the fount and
home of all that bishops and priests
and Catholics were able to do for
the Church Of which they were the
sons and guardians, of all that the
Church was able to do In the up
building of the material and the spir-
itual welfare Of the whole city. the
whole state. From the Cathedral,
from the episcopal residence, proper
ly part of the Cathedral, again and
again fervent appeals went forth
urging immigration to Minnesota's
fertile fields and health-giving air.
Bishop Cretin in his time was not
able apostle of colonization, as after
him was each of his successors. In
the Cathedral priests were ordained
and bishops consecreated, who pre-
ceded or followed the immigrants in
their searchings for homes, and by
word and example taught them the
patient and hopeful courage required
of the inhabitants of the wilderness.
Seldom, If at all, was there work
undertaken by the citizenship Of st.
Paul, or of Minnesota, for the bet
terment of city or state, on behalf
of which a strong voice was not
heard from the Cathedral of st.
Paul. And, then, st. Paul and Min
nesota were not to be without this
other better and higher life, the NOR
al and spiritual. To this every
church proffered its efficiency and
good will. None, however, so much
so as the Cathedral, because there
the official authority resided to
evolve into loyal act mandate and
exhortation. Old Cathedral. the
whole city, on thy departing day, the
whole state, salute thee with warm
and grateful love.
Pioneer Clergy and Laity.