The Irish standard., 1915-09-01
THE IRISH STANDARD


voux tells us in his memoirs, found
ministrator hurried the completion of
the other building of stone, which be-
came the third cathedral. In spite of
the financial difficulties of the time,
the building, which measured l73 feet
by 20, was so far finished, that on
June 13, 1853, services were held in
it for the first time. This building,
which was demolished in the autumn
of the year 1914 has ceded-only
few months ago-its rank to the new
majestic cathedral, which rises on the
brow of Summit hill. Another object
of Father Ravoux's care was to in
crease the number of priests i'll the
diocese SO as to make them cOrre-
spond more to the number of the
Catholic people. He succeeded SO
we'll in this that in 1858, the year fol-
lowing upon Bishop Cretin's death,
their number had grown to Il. Mean
while an appointment was made III
Rome to the vacant bishopric of St.
Paul. Father Anthony Pelamourgues,
then stationed at Davenport, Iowa,
was the choice of the Holy See; but
the humble priest could not be in
duced to accept the episcopal honor.
He made special journey to Rome,
and laid his request, of being relieved
of such a burden, before the Holy
Father, Pope Plus TX, who acceded
to the wishes Of the petitioner and
withdrew the appointment. Father
Pelamourgues returned to his parish
in Davenport, where the good people
received him amid great rejoicings;
and on this account the diocese of St:
Paul remained vacant for over two
years.
The administration of the diocese
by Father Ravoux came to an end in
1859 with the appointment of St.
Paul's second bishop in the person of
the Right Reverend Thomas Lang
don Grace, O. P: (1859-8). Bishop
Grace was born November 10, 1874, at
Charleston, South Carolina, of a very
devout and religious family. While
still very young he moved with his
parents to Cincinnati; and as he felt
within himself strong inclination for
the sacerdotal life he entered the pre-
paratory seminary of that city in 1929.
Only a year afterwards, in 1880, he
sought and obtained admission to the
Dominican Priory of St. Rose, Ken
lucky, where he took the white habit
of St. Dominic, and on June II, 1881,
made his religious profession as
member of the renowned order of
the Friars Preachers. AS he dis
played rather unusual talents and a
spirit of remarkable piety, his su-
periors sent him to Rome in 1887, that
he might complete there his studies
at the Minerva, the theological school
of the Dominicans in the eternal city.
On December 2l, 1889, he was Or
dained to the priesthood by His Emil
nence, Cardinal Patrizi, then the
Cardinal Vicar of His Holiness, Pope
the care of the Sister of Charity of
Nazareth. In other ways he en-
deared himself to the people of Mem
phis. During a cholera epidemic,
which ravaged the city in 1852, he rem
dered heroic service, going day and
night from house to house bringing
consolation to the sick and dying. In
Paul by Pope Plus TX; and thus, to
the great regret of his parishioners
and the good people of Memphis gen.
orally, he was taken from their midst,
and sent to field of wider usefulness.
He was consecrated bishop at St.
Louis, July "a, 1859, by the Most Rev.
erend Peter R. Kenrick, then the arch
bishop of St. Louis; and on July %
following took possession of his see.
A large delegation of Catholics,
priests and laymen, from Minnesota,
went to St. Louis to meet their new
shepherd and escort him to his epis-
copal city of St. Paul; among them
were 100 Catholic Indians. For Is
years he presided over the see of St.
Paul and guided it's destinies with
strong, still gentle, hand, when on
July 81, 1884, he resigned, and laid
upon younger shoulders the burden of
the episcopal office He was appoint