The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-01-12

to Ichang, and thence to Han-koW,
to arrange with the government for
the indemnities for the property de-
stroyed in the recent troubles, and to
arrange for his conservation. While
he was at Han-kow, the Boxer rebel
lion broke out. Before it was put
down, $4,000 Christians, 81 priests, Fl
brothers, IL nuns and five Bishops
were massacred. But Han-kow was
untouched. And finally on November
II, Father Theotime was consecrated.
The very next day overwhelmed by
the worries and fatigues of the cal
amitous times, he fell seriously i'll.
Immediately upon his recovery he
set to work to put fresh life into his
Vicariate. To perfect this, he desired
Ichang to become truly the center of
all propaganda He ielt that when
this, the heart of his Vicariate, was
vigorous and healthy, strong stream
of life would flow from it out into the
body of the Vicariate.
Work in City of Ichang.
So he devoted great attention to the
city of Ichang. Realizing the emf
nently practical nature of the Chin
csc, he endeavored always to base
the preaching of the Gospel on
strong foundation of good works.
With this in mind he erected new
hospital, and Holy Infancy outside of
the city walls. With it he connected
a catechumenate and a school for
Chinese virgins. Realizing also the
lack of reliable and we'll instructed
Chinese men, he erected a central
school, including primary and normal
grades, and also a petite seminaire.
But his attention was not taken up
entirely with Ichang. He multiplied
the centers with resident mission
aries. He endeavored to ameliorate
their living conditions.
He made himself professor of
Chinese for the newly arrived mis-
sionaries. He insisted on continual
ton of their studies, even on the mis-
sion. He inculcated by letters, preach
ing and example, all the maXims of
real spiritual life.
Nor was he satisfied with direction
given in a general way. He visited
personally all the communities of the
Vicariate. During these yisitations he
preached and heard confessions without
rest. There was no corner of the
Vicariate which did not feel his in
fluence. His journeys multiplied, he
IoI ThTicfia,o
New churches and residences were
built Great consultations and griev-
Gus Disappointment came to him. All
these works further impaired his al
ready weakened health. Yet he drove
on, whispering now, as years before
in his novitiate: Jesus, Mary and
souls
Coming of His Brother.
In 1903 Father Frederick Verhae-
CHEN, his brother and also Fran
ciscan, came to Hoppe and placed him
self under the Bishop. This was a
source of very great joy to Mgr. Yer
haeghen, for he loved this brother
very tenderly.
After the feast of st. Anthony in
1904, Mgr. Verhaeghen left Ichang for
a visitation among the mountains.
He first visited Si-cha-ho and Ma-tcha-
pin, where he had spent the first
years of his apostolate Then he set
out for the district of Father Florent
Roberecht, dear and trusted friend,
with the ultimate purpose of visiting
Cha-tsi-ti, new community.
He was warned not to enter Ou-ia-
pa, because of the designs of the
secret societies against his life. But
he entered the town, made the ordi-
nary visit, and passed on without any
trouble. At Houa-pe burning fever
forced him to rest for few days.
The news spread through the noun
tains that he was making vista.
ton. After few days Mgr. Yer
haeghen continued on his way to
Cha-tsi-ti, accompanied by Father Flor
ent. They took up their residence a
short distance outside the town, in
the house of a catechist. At once
Father Florent, worried about the
state of the Bishops health, sent for
Father Frederick Verhaeghen, who
was at mission ten miles away.
FanaticaI Sectaries.
Meanwhile group of fanatical Sec
taries were stirring up the town
against the Bishop and the priests.
The pagan population was becoming
FESTIVE. The Christians came to re-
port that menaces of pillage and
death we're circulating. But the
Bishop, knowing the Chinese to be
prompt to threaten but slow to exc
cute, paid little attention. This was
on Sunday. On Monday Father Fred
erick arrived. He had passed through
Cha-tsi-ti without molestation. This
confirmed the Bishop in his position.
The pagans we're now smoking
opium heavily, and exciting one an
other by wild speeches, hoping thus
to gain courage for any trouble which
would arise. The country men we're
pouring into the town, summoned by
the heads of the secret societies. The
Christians warned the Bishop of all
that was going on; but he trusting
to his high dignity, and to the grave
consequences of any insult offered to
him, and above all confident in the