Codex Lethbridge
Transcription: 15
Transcription:
{[Left page]
there is also a school attached to it. A cemetery, if possible a hospital and a manse. These things are indispensable for Catholics, without them Catholics do not feel at home. I hope that, before long, we will have them also here, except the latter however as I do not intend to erect my mansion just now.
One of your subscribers
Father VanTighem O.M.I
Lethbridge February 17th 1889.
The catholic school opened on the 3rd day of April and about thirty five children were inscribed on the roll. Having a school now of our own, where the catholic children besides the ordinary branches of science, received daily religious instruction, the Father had something else in view. A few catholic children had died and were buried in the open prairie, where their graves were daily desecrated by cattle and other animals.
The different protestant denominations had held several meetings for the purpose of fencing in a piece of land for a graveyard, but, they never had come to any understanding.
Father VanTighem who had carefully examined the location of the burial grounds, went to see Mr. MacGrath, who had charge of the Company’s lands, and asked him for a few acres, just behind the actual graves, but on the eminence of the hill.
After many objections, the principal one being; fear of offending the other denominations by giving us the nicest spot, he consented, saying, that they had had time enough to build their fence – that they always were slow etc. etc.
[End page]
[Right page]
The father, for fear of contra orders [underlined], placed at once two men on the spot, who begun to dig the post holes, for the fence.
The next day the father went around to all the catholic houses, making a collection, this time, to build a cemetary [sic] fence. He was well received by all his parishioners, for they all wished to have a blessed ground for their dead and a modest fence to surround it. In two evenings the Father gathered the sum of $140°° about sufficient to put up the fence. He himself made a large Cross of cedar wood and painted it white.
After a few weeks everything was finished. The large cross stands on the top of the hill, like on a Calvary, and commands respect. From everywhere it can be seen, miles away.
When His Lordship our great bishop Grandin [added in-between the lines] came to visit Lethbridge again in June of the same year 1889, He blessed our cemetery, and remaining a few days amongst us His Lordship confirmed 18 persons. On this occasion our saintly Bishop received a public reception and three addresses were presented. One by Mr Thom. Curry in English – one by Mr Noel in French and a Slavonic address by Mr Lewis Perumko.
His Lordship answered these gentlemen and the whole congregation present, and the Catholics returned to their homes more satisfied than ever.
I have mentioned, just now, that there was a Slavish or Slavonic address. It may not be out of place to mention here how Lethbridge is a conglomeration of numerous nations of the world
[End page]}
there is also a school attached to it. A cemetery, if possible a hospital and a manse. These things are indispensable for Catholics, without them Catholics do not feel at home. I hope that, before long, we will have them also here, except the latter however as I do not intend to erect my mansion just now.
One of your subscribers
Father VanTighem O.M.I
Lethbridge February 17th 1889.
The catholic school opened on the 3rd day of April and about thirty five children were inscribed on the roll. Having a school now of our own, where the catholic children besides the ordinary branches of science, received daily religious instruction, the Father had something else in view. A few catholic children had died and were buried in the open prairie, where their graves were daily desecrated by cattle and other animals.
The different protestant denominations had held several meetings for the purpose of fencing in a piece of land for a graveyard, but, they never had come to any understanding.
Father VanTighem who had carefully examined the location of the burial grounds, went to see Mr. MacGrath, who had charge of the Company’s lands, and asked him for a few acres, just behind the actual graves, but on the eminence of the hill.
After many objections, the principal one being; fear of offending the other denominations by giving us the nicest spot, he consented, saying, that they had had time enough to build their fence – that they always were slow etc. etc.
[End page]
[Right page]
The father, for fear of contra orders [underlined], placed at once two men on the spot, who begun to dig the post holes, for the fence.
The next day the father went around to all the catholic houses, making a collection, this time, to build a cemetary [sic] fence. He was well received by all his parishioners, for they all wished to have a blessed ground for their dead and a modest fence to surround it. In two evenings the Father gathered the sum of $140°° about sufficient to put up the fence. He himself made a large Cross of cedar wood and painted it white.
After a few weeks everything was finished. The large cross stands on the top of the hill, like on a Calvary, and commands respect. From everywhere it can be seen, miles away.
When His Lordship our great bishop Grandin [added in-between the lines] came to visit Lethbridge again in June of the same year 1889, He blessed our cemetery, and remaining a few days amongst us His Lordship confirmed 18 persons. On this occasion our saintly Bishop received a public reception and three addresses were presented. One by Mr Thom. Curry in English – one by Mr Noel in French and a Slavonic address by Mr Lewis Perumko.
His Lordship answered these gentlemen and the whole congregation present, and the Catholics returned to their homes more satisfied than ever.
I have mentioned, just now, that there was a Slavish or Slavonic address. It may not be out of place to mention here how Lethbridge is a conglomeration of numerous nations of the world
[End page]}
