The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-09-26

priestj aid his proficiency insmath
ematics and natural sciences, hi
was called to teach at st. Ytncents
! college before his theological course
waS over. AS teacher At this
college he prepared the graduating
students for examinations Of the
bachelor degree. The students Their
passed the examination before the
university board. In this work
, Father Boutlou WIS very SUCCESS
ruI.
Old enough to be raised 10 the
| priesthood A. Boutlou insisted or
returning to the seminary to com
pIete his theological course and he
did SO. He was ordained February
go, 1875. Father BoutIou was ap
pointed to q parish not far from
Rennes and be was in charge there
for some little time. The young
priest asplred after the work OF the
! missions and he asked to be al
lowed to devote his life TO the Atrt
can mission, but this request wal
rot granted.
Father Boutlou's coming TO the
| Wheeling diocese is traced to the
fact that the Right Reverend Rich
ard Vincent Whelan, at that time
bishop Of the Wheeling diocese and
the future Cardinal Brossius Saint
Marc OF France were classmates in
the seminary Of st. Sulpire, Paris
and they became friends for life
Father Boutlou's longing desire was
TO "go to the missions" Through
the friendship which existed be
tween Bishop Whelan and Cardt
nal Brossius st. Marc, the latter IL
nalIy consented for Father Boutlou
to come to the United States al
though he regretted greatly to part
with him. The cardinal gave Faith
er Boutlou a letter stating that nc
might return to Rennes at any
time should he ever feel inclined to
do SO. After Father Boutlou had
sent his application to Bishop Vine.
Ian and had made arrangements to
come 10 this country reply came
from The Right Reverend John
Kahn that Bishop Whelan had died
Bishop Kahn had succeeded Bishop
Whelau and he granted Father
Boutlou admission into the Wheel
ing diocese In 1875. Cardinal Saint
Marc hesitated to allow tho young
priset to go when he heard of the
death OF his friends and former
classmate, Bishop Wheetan. but
Father Boutlou insisted and car
ried his point, Cardinal Saint Marc
was close friend Of the Routlou
family in France and took great
| interest in the young priest.
On his arrival in the Uniteo
States Father Bnutlon was sent to
Parkersburg where the Rev. Henry
F. Parke was then pastor. He had
his first experience in sick calls
along the Baltimore and Ohio rail
road and had many hardships to
endure in those pioneer days. wslk'
Ifngfor many miles at times to ad'
minister to the sick and dying Al
Parkershurg Father Boutlou found
one Of his native countrymen, the
Rev. Peter Tunnel, from Little Brit
tany.
Boutlou was sent to Charleston.
where the Rev. Joseph Stenger was
pastor. The appointment was
meant to help Father Boutlou in
his new surroundings as Father
StenEer could speak French I'm
emily and was a we'll informed man.
Here Father Boutlou was charged
with the various missions through
out Putnam. Kanawha and Sicho
las counties and he visited the
towns OF Buffalo. Canuelton, Coal
burgh. Peytoria, Salt Works, Sum
merville, Scott Station and Other
villages. From 1877 to 1882 he re
manned assistant to Father Stem
ger. In 1882 he took 4 trip to France
to visit his home folk.
In his missions out from Charles
ton Father Boutlou had many try
ing experiences. His mode OF trav
ell was principally by horseback
and he went over the mountains
and valleys into the far remote
sections OF Kanawha. Nicholas and
other adjoining counties, Tired
and weary it was often hard to find
a place OF rest, and Father Boutlov
carried with him a hammock
which he suspended from a tree
This formed his bed the greaIe'
part OF his time during his mission
travels over the rugged and hall
populated sections Of the mountain
state. He offered the sacrifices o.
the mass daily at rude affairs con
structed at the homes, at the camps
and often in the open with natures
own garbs forming the only shel
ter as the messages from God were
brought to the people. He hae
many worshippers in many placer
and in others very few, but hip
kindly presence lent an air OF ss
credness everywhere he went anc
his rewards were numerous. Father
Boutlou worked among the mrs
sions with all the fervor and zeal
that characterized his heroic nature
and he accomplished great good
After his return from a visit r.
France IN 1882 he was stationed fo'
short. time at Mt. De Chantal
Wheeling. during his recovery from
an accident with which he mel
while abroad. having spralned ar
ankle. As soon as he was able !or
active work he was named as as
sistaut to Father o'CoRuer ri
Clarksblrg, being lnested 'h"-S
from 1898 to 1884. From CLARKE
burg he was transferred to Mounds
VILE where he was stationed toT