St. Tammany farmer., 1915-05-22

feet was welcomed with general ap-
plause. He thanked them, he said,
for this united expression of their
good will. 1t was more than he eX-
pected, far more than he deserved.
When in February last the twenty
fifth anniversary OF MS advent to
Covington approached he hoped that
it would pass unnoticed. 1t came
and passed and he gave a sigh Of re-
lief that it was past. He had not
thought of still having to account for
it. 1t was only by accident he had
learned few days since of this in
tended celebration, and his first i'm
pulse was to lose himself in Abita
Springs for the day. But he owed
much to the sturdy loyalty of such
families as Judge Lancaster and 9th
ers, and so he thought better Of it
and decided to remain in order to
be able to tell them how altogether
unworthy he was. That morning
when he found himself arrayed in
Gothic vestments OF gold, waited on
by deacon and subdeacon, saying
mass with a new gold chalice-the
gift of the Abbey-and the Abbot
himself preaching over him-he be-
gan at last to think that perhaps he
was somebody and had done some
thing more than his eyess lay duties
during these twenty-five years.
Father .Koergerl then gave a very
interesting account Of his first COM
I ing to Covington as an invalid il
1890; of the old church SO we'll stu
ated on bluff; of the ancient ruin
which served as a residence. the
chinks in the walls and roof Of which
admitted light and rain with equal
|impartiality. After two years he
had a new church built, the new St.
Peters. Archbishop Jenssens, of
sainted memory, said the last mass
| in the old church in 1892, and his
nephew, Father A. Janssens, now
rector of st. Rose of Lima in the
city, said the first mass in the new
church.
Withal he much preferred to re-
side in the old presbytery because of
its beautiful situation than where he
now resides. For much the same
reason he much preferred the Coz
ington of twenty-five years ago, EN-
powered as it was in tiny groves, <
the Covington of today. He then
perpetrated S me light pleasantly a.
the expense of historic white mule
which was used to haul the Lancast
er family to mass in the olden days,
and with much naivete he inquired
of the Judge whether the mule was
still alive. The Judge replying that
the mule had long since slept with
its ancestors, Father Koegerl pro-
ceeded to outline the work which
still lay ahead of him. At the end
he thanked them again for the gem
erous festivity and thoughtfulness
land sat down amid great applause.
The toast-matster next called on
the Abbot Paul. The Right Rev.
Abbot spoke for a few minutes with
his usual brilliant wit. He believed
he had shot his bolt at the high
mass.
Father Gaynor, himself a Knight
OF Council 1880, was then called to
his feet. He spoke with some seri-
BUSINESS and some pleasantly and
testified that he was under great per
sonal obligations to the devoted jill
bilarian. He had to thank him for
one more Immediate favor, OF which
Father Kcegerl was at least the oc-
casiOn-a generous, good dinner
amid pleasant company.
By this time the children in the
auditorium of the Convent were
eager to take their part in the pro-
gramme of festivity, and the COM
pany adjourned to hear them. The
public entertainment given by the
pupils of the Benidictine Sisters of
Covipgton are always of the highest
class. The artistic note always pre-
walls both in conception and execu-
ton; SO that the semi-private SYM
postum of music, song and drama
was conducted with distinction.
The opening orchestral piece, "The
Wedding Of the Winds by the con-
vent orchestra, showed great tech
niQue in the control of variety of
stringed instruments. Then follow
ed an original address in verse de-
ivered in alternate strophes by two
young misses, Aline Bernard and Ce-
ella Rubion. It was entitled Con
gratulations, and it carried to. the
Revernd Jubilarian the fluctuations
of the convent school. It was very
pretty and effective. OF the rest OF
the entertainment We shall not
speak; yet mention should be made
of particularly happy conception
which was carried cut with much
grace. twenty-five little boys, each
dressed in white and carrying a ban
neret of white and silver, represent
ed the twenty-five years Of the jubi-
larian's life in Coyington. This pro-
cession Of the years had already fig
ured earlier in the day at the high
mass.
Altogether the festivities of the
day were artistic in their subdued
and religious modesty as became the
object Of them. A tone Of deep sin
cerity was at all times sensible. The
breviaries which the Knights OF Co
lumbus presented their pastor were
a special importation from Italy, and
were bound in Morocco and gold.
with India paper, and very legible
print.
Rev. Joseph Koegerl was born in
Munich, Bavaria, June 5, 1874, was
priest July 25, 1868, came /
TO New Orleans in November, 1868,
and to Covington February &c, 1890. /
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