The Nome nugget., 1924-03-22
AN ARCTIC MISSIONARY

On CnrlStmaS Eve, an ESklmO run ner, after driving his dogteam sev- enty-two miles in two days through the drifts of the A-ct !; sorws. "mIshed" into Nome, Alaska. lie had tragic news to tell. He reported that the Jesuit missionary, whose name was beloved thorughout the Territory. the Rev. F. J. Ruppert. of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Nome. had been found frozen in death. not far from the orphanage at Hot Springs, Alaska. The brave priest had evidently lost his way. and his dog-team frightened, either by the storm, or by stampeding reindeer. had scattered and left him. Only Mink" the leader of the team. had remained by the side of his master. when the searching party sent out after the frightened and returning dog-team had given the alarm at the Mission. discovered the body of the priestly santa Claus" and tried to carry it away, the faithful animal. that had kept it's lonely vigil by the lead. fought furiousiy, as only tho dogs of that far-northern breed can fight, and had to be captured.
 Father Ruppert was on an errand f Christian charity and mercy. in splendid keeping with his sacred calling and the nobility of his char acter. when be met his death in the lonely spaces Of the Alaskan Sahara. On his well-stocked sled he was car- rying supplies of candies. apples. or anges and other Christmas gifts to the orphans and to the Sisters that watch over them. st Hot Springs. by the Pilgrim River. north of Nome. Like his elder brethren of the Cana dian Missions. Marquette. Brebeuf, Jogues. like the Jesuit Bishop, Fa- ther Raphael Crimont. the present vicar-Apostolic of Alaska. and the devoted and romantic Father Bar mum, Father Ruppert had often braved the frozen wastes and the swirling snow-storm. But he had seldom set out on a journey that so much appealed to his imagination and his heart. He was going to play Santa Claus" to the poor and the orphan. A priest of Him who said: "Sufrer the little children to come unto me-" he knew that he could perform no more Christ-like task at Christmas time. than to teach by word and example, the grace and beauty of the charity of Christ. But the fierce winds blew, the snow fell and the ribbon-like trail soon was lost in the Puncharted desert. The Jesuit knew that his last hour had come. and with prayer on his lips, he laid down to die. His hands were not to present the Yule gifts to the children he loved. But to them~ and to the Christ-King he would make them know and love, he offered the gift of Magi. He presented the gold, the frankincense and the myrrh of life sacrificed for the cause of Christ, and for those. the helpless and the poor. who are the dearest to His Heart. Our press is filled with the unseemly wrangles of men,, who call themselves doctors of theology and at the same time flout the Div inity of Christ. and the authority of the Church of which they still dare to call themselves the ministers. A true priest of God, Father Ruppert. faithful to the teachings of the Church, stirred to the depth of bis kmghtly soul, and by his love of the God-Man; whose birth he was pre- pairing to- celebrate lovingly and fer vently with the little ones of His flock. yields up his life on the snow and frozen fields of Alaska. from January, 5. 1924 America. e-'. -... .-. X