CHAPTER XXVIII.

PIONEER MISSIONERS OF MONTANA, MEN AND WOMEN, WHO LABORED ON THE FIELD BEFORE THE CLOSE OF 1891.

In the last chapter, and elsewhere in these pages, either in the text or footnotes, we have duly referred to the missioners, Fathers, Brothers and Sisters, who labored in Montana and died, here or on other fields, within the period embraced by our chronicle. But several of the pioneer workers ended their course later on, that is, between 1891, the closing year of our narrative, and 1913, the present date of our writing. Is it not meet and proper that in this new and revised edition of the work the latter also should be mentioned? We think so; and hence this new chapter, by the addition of which, obviously, so much of our subject is rounded out and brought nearer to date, as pointed out in the preface to this new edition.

The first, not in point of time but dignity, whose death we deeply regret to have to chronicle, is the chief Pastor and the first Bishop in the Helena Diocese, the Rt. Rev. John B. Brondel. He passed away in the city of his See, November 3, 1903, lacking only four months of being sixty-two years of age. His edifying death was a befitting close to a life of piety at home and in the Seminary, and of piety and apostolic zeal in the priesthood and Episcopate.

The immediate cause of his ending the physician attributed to "fatty degeneration of the heart," and no doubt they know what that means.

From the moment of his arrival on the field he naturally became the central figure of Catholicity in Montana , and much of this narrative is justly devoted to him, to his labors and efficient endeavors toward directing, uplifting and sanctifying the flock committed to his care. We lived some ten years under the same roof and in the closest intercourse with Bishop Brondel, and

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what we have written of him and his work is all from personal knowledge gained during this time.

We regret that we could not bring this narrative down to the closing days of his life. Nor could we attempt to do it at this date, having been knocked about too much the last twelve or fifteen years to possess the correct and detailed information need for the task. This, however, can matter little indeed, as ere long some abler pen will doubtlessly take up and do full justice to the subject.

The remains of the departed Prelate were kept instate for several days, and his obsequies were attended by the Metropolitan, the Suffragans of the Province, as well as by the Ordinary of Victoria, B. C. All the clergy of the Diocese, Seculars and Regulars, able to assist, were present, the writer also being in the number, while Religious Communities of women were likewise well represented.

The body was laid to rest, for the time being, ina brick vault in the rear of the church, to the west, and opposite the vault containing the remains of Fathers C. Imoda and Rappagliosi. But eventually it will be removed to the new Cathedral which our goo d Bishop longer to build, but whose erection has been reserved to his successor, just as of old the building of God's Temple, longed after by King David, fell not to him, but to King Solomon.

In worldly goods Bishop Brondel was a poor man; his personal funds at the time of his death amounted to just five dollars. Hence while he had not wherewith to pay for his medical assistance in his last sickness, his funeral expense, together with the undertaker's bill for his burial, were all defrayed by one of his flock, Thomas Cruse.

Nor was the good Bishop always well understood in life by some of his charges, particularly such as were unable to distinguished between he high dignity he was invested with and the man, that is, his own individual personality. Having the right conception of a Bishop's exalted dignity, he was also very particular to see it fully respected by priest and layman. And indeed the sacred character of a Bishop is so high that any

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respect paid to it can hardly be too much. Who, then, could blame him for his being sensitive to a nicety on the point?

But if somewhat touchy about the dignity of his office, he showed little concern with regard to himself and his own person, as he would readily and even cheerfully put up worth any inattention or lack of deference, accidental or otherwise, toward him at anyone's hands. He did so on the Missions, when not seldom he had no one to receive him, and found no facility of transportation. He would then, as best he could, trudge along afoot, a good distance at times, carrying his own valise, a performance not always light or easy.

In Helena, we often saw him, conspicuous because of his tall silk hat, come up Broadway on a draycart, and sitting with the drayman, whose outfit, both cart and hose, were the object of sport and the laughing-stock of the town. As if driven on a coach-and-four (the automobile had not yet appeared at that date) he would often ride from the foot of Broadway to the door of the episcopal residence on the humble conveyance.

But here, between parenthesis let us say a word of the drayman just referred to, a very familiar figure in both the business and the residence parts of Helena for many years.

This was Moses Furlong, who in the early sixties had mined in California, whence some years later he came to Montana, and for a good while pursued the same industry in the gold-bearing gulches in the vicinity of Helena. When he could mine profitably no longer, he got himself a very modest outfit, a cart and an old plug of a horse, and went draying, an occupation at which he kept to the end of his life. He was a man of no little education, gentlemanly, refined, a real gem in a rough setting, and under the garb of a common day-laborer, harbored a king's heart, with apostolic faith, as well as a Daniel O'Connell's love for his country. We often thought that good Bishop Brondel loved to ride on that unseemly vehicle just to do honor to the man and express in this fashion before the whole community the esteem he entertained for him.

Of our Divine Saviour it was prophesized: His sepulchre shall be glorious. Proportionately, this is the case also with all God's loyal servants, as even here below their glory is usually

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wont to begin when they are dead and laid away in their graves. Hence, it is no wonder that whilst bishop Brondel's death was sincerely mourned by the whole diocese, his memory is held in benediction by all classes of people.

Passing now to the pioneer clergy, namely, those who were in the diocese prior to the close of 1891, and after toiling in this field for more or less time, were bidden by the Master to rest from further labor, the first to be summoned to his repose was Father John J. Dols. He passed away at Great Falls, May 31, 1898, comparatively in the prime of life, being at the time hardly three months over fifty acres of age. A complication of troubles, \culminating in pneumonia, seems to have been the immediate cause of his death. He was assisted in his last hours by Bishop Brondel, who also officiated at the funeral.

The next to go to his rest was Father Honore B. Allaeys, who died in butte after a serious operation, undergone in the forepart of August, 1903. He was buried on the 11^th of the same month, being a little over fifty-five when he died.

The third and last of the pioneer priests of the diocese to depart was Father Charles G. Follet, who ended his course also in butte where he had been for a good while one of his assistants at St. Patrick's Heart trouble seems to have carried him off. He breathed his last November 3, 1911, being not quite forty-nine years of age, and having to his credit twenty-four years of active service in his Diocese.

As we have seen in the course of our chronicle, these pioneer missionary priests of the Helena Diocese have each played an important part in the history of Catholicity in Montana. May they rest in peace, and may our people never forget all they owe to their chief pastor and his co-workers, who either preceded or followed him in the grave.

Father L. S. Tremblay, as we saw elsewhere in these pages, of Jesus, departed this life whilst in charge of a congregation somewhere in the Middle West. But we have nothing at hand

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in our present location where from we may learn the place and date of his death.

Several others of the Helena clergy have gone likewise the way of flesh since the close of 1891. But they were later arrivals that is, they came, one and all, to Montana after the closing year of our narrative. However, if this precludes their being counted among the pioneer laborers, it does not preclude us from joining them to the former in our prayers. May, then, perpetual light shine no less upon them than upon the first arrivals into the field!

Father Nicholas Congiato, the Superior of these Missions for some years, finished his course at the age of eighty-one, having slept in the Lord at Los Gatos, California, May 10, 1897. His life in the Society extended over sixty-two years.

Father Joseph Bandini comes next, having died at Spokane, Wash., February 19, 1899, counting then sixty-two years of age, forty-two of which were spent in the Society. He passed much of his missionary life in Montana, namely, at St. Ignatius, St. Mary's, St. Peter's, and Holy Family. He was an earnest worker, quick and energetic.

Good Father Bandini would often say that he had never bathed in his life save twice, and then, too, by accident, namely, when on two different occasions he missed his footing in crossing a stream and fell into it. He likely had in him some of the fiber of Queen Victoria, who, besides being a great sovereign, lived to be an octogenarian despite her decided aversion--as appears to be well authenticated history, to having bathtubs in her royal palace.

Continuing the roll of our departed pioneers, the third whose passing away must now be recorded, is Father Leopold Van Gorp, from Turnout, Belgium, where he was born June 11,m 1834. He slept in the Lord, April 7, 1905, at St. Ignatius, pneumonia putting an end to this life. Tall in stature, of noble though not a few thought him too close a figurer in temporal matters. He was the head Superior of these Missions some seven years, and of the seventy-one years of his life he passed fifty in the Society.

The Indians called him Kutenalko kuailks (The Tall Black

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Robe). His frame and turn of mind seemed to be cast in an exceeding practical mold; for he looked the plain, the solid and substantial in things spiritual as well as material, and had a horror of any and all show in every line. Hence, in life he could cleverly manage to hide, to a great extent, his sterling worth as a Religious under his uncommon financial ability. But when the end was nigh, his piety and fervor showed forth in all their strength to the very surprise of even his confreres who stood by him watching his life ebb away.

Father Peter P. Prando received his summons at St. Michael's near Spokane, Washington, where he died in the Lord, June 20, 1906, being then sixty-two, and forty-two years a member of the Society. He was born on New Year's Day, 1846, in a small town of the Diocese of Vercelli, Italy. AS we have seen in the first part, he made a very efficient and successful missioner among the Indian tribes in Montana. Full of zeal and a hard worker, he was likewise the possessor of considerable originality. It is, doubtless, on this latter score that it fell to his lot to be occasionally misunderstood and misjudged, not only by this or that extern, but also by some of the Society, even Superiors. The writer himself, time and again, heard many a stranger thing about Father Prando, but the witnesses did not agree. Things, however, will be cleared up and set to rights in God's own time, as we must all be manifested and come out, one and all, in our true colors to receive our due.

Father Joseph Guidi appears again and again in both parts of this chronicle, having labored a good while in Montana among the Indians we well as the whites. From the Mission in the Rocky Mountains he was transferred to that of Brazil, in South America, where, after several years' labor in that new field, he passed away. But we have at hand no particulars about the exact spot and date of his death.

A pioneer laborer more recently gone to his repose is Father Aloysius Folchi, who closed his long missionary live at Spokane, Washington, where he passed to the Lord November 13, 1909. He belonged to a noble family of Rome, Italy, and was born November 25, 1834. He lived to be seventy-six years of age, and was some thirty years a priest when he entered the Society, spending there the remainder of his days. Long

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before the Civil War he had labored in the Carolinas, where he built the first church for negroes in the United States, and where his name is still held in benediction. Some of his first mission work, after he joined the Society, was done in Montana at St. Ignatius, Frenchtown and Missoula. It is, however, in Idaho and Washington where he labored longest and where he became so well known for his zeal and missionary spirit.

The last of our pioneer laborers in Montana to go to his rest was Father Jerome D'Aste, the oldest priest in the State, and the one who toiled longest in the field, his ministry there having been extended close on half a century. He slept in the Lord at St. Ignatius, November 10, 1910, being then eighty-two years of age, and sixty-five a member of the Society of Jesus. He was found asleep in real death, sitting in his chair, where a couple of minutes before his attention had left him dozing.

The following is likely the last letter penned by Father D'Aste, as may be inferred from its date and the date of his death, only a few days apart.

We had asked him whether Francis Saxa, the son of Old Ignace, who had been baptized in St. Louis in 1835, as related in Part I, was still among the living. Having answered the question, the good Father passes onto speak of himself, and his words make it clear that he felt his dissolution near at hand. This, with all the rest, renders his letter well worth reproducing. It is as follows:

ST. IGNATIUS, OCT, 28, 1910.

Rev. and dear Father:

P. C. I thank your Rev. for your note and for the announcement of your not distant visit to the Mission. Old Francois is not dead, but is entirely blind and is living with his son, Peter, not far from Morizeau. He is pretty old.

When you will come you will find Father D'Aste quite changed. Though apparently looking well, he is really a rag. Since I came back from the Hospital last summer, my legs refuse to carry me, though not every heavy (about 190 pounds). I need help to go up the steps to the altar and to come down. But so far, I can still say my mass. My legs are getting pretty stiff, the circulation being very slow, and the calves of the legs pretty hard and painful I was tormented with eczema very bad and I am afraid if things continue

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in this way, I shall be in a short time unable to walk around. Already twice I fell down felling no control of my legs. The first time it happened around the mill, I felt unable to walk and instead of going on, I stepped slowly back, and meeting inmy way a small log, I fell over it, but gently with getting hurt. The other time coming out of the church after the mass of nine and thirty, when at the head of the staircase, I lost control of my legs and fell on the steps, not rolling down, however. I hope God will grant me the grace to be able to say my mass sometime yet. I was fortunate to be able to go through my annual retreat two weeks ago, and thus prepare for the last trip.

And when shall we be able to see you? Please give my best respects to the Fathers and Brothers, and to the Sisters of the Hospital who have been so kind to me. Pray for me.

Yours in C.,

J. D'Aste, S. J.

Father Jerome D'Aste was a Genoese by birth and made, as we have seen, no small part of the history of Catholicity in Montana.--Eternal Rest, O Lord, grant to him and to one and all of these Thy Servants.

Passing now to the Coadjutor Brothers, those among them who have finished their course are the following:

James Henneberry and John Donnigan, the two firstlings from Montana to embrace the Religious life, though they were not born in the State. The former departed at Santa Clara, California, September 25, 1896, being then fifty-six years old, and thirty years a Brother. The latter ended his life pilgrimage at De Smet, Idaho, November 6, 1901, counting seventy-seven years of age, and twenty-nine in the Society.

As can be gathered from our narrative, one of the oldest pioneer Brothers in Montana was Lucian D'Agostino, a Neapolitan, who also went to end his days at Santa Clara, Calif., where he slept in the Lord April 25, 1909, aged eighty-one, and a Brother in the Society fifty-six years. He was skilled cabinetmaker and came to Montana with Father De Smet in the early fifties.

When leaving his native country or the Indian Missions in the Rocky Mountains, he took along with him a few brass medals--half a dozen or so--which had on one side the likeness of Francis, the young and popular King of Maples at the time.

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Those medals proved the occasion of some trouble for the poor Brother.

One of the hired hands at St. Peter's where the Brother was first stationed, happened to see them, and whilst on one occasion he traveled with Father Giorda, confided to the latter that "the little Brother at St. Peter's had a pile of gold which he had seen himself." Father Giorda first laughed at the story; but his traveling companion was so persistent about "the secret," that good Father Giorda directed Father Imoda, the local Superior at St. Peter's, to investigate the matter. Of course, there was nothing to the charge, and Father Imoda reported accordingly. But it had not occurred to him, nor to the Brother either, that the few brass medals in question could ever be the corpus delicti; and so he did not even allude to them in the report to Father Giorda.

Not quite satisfied with the information received from the local superior, on his next visit to St. Peter's, Father Giorda took the Brother in hand himself to have him come our and lay things open, and told him besides that he could make an eight days' retreat. At last it dawned on the mind of the unsophisticated Brother that the yellow brass medals were likely the cause of the Superior's worry. He brought them to Father Giorda, who ar once understood. The fellow who had spun the year, falling again in Father Giorda's company sometime after, declared to him that "he meant it all as a joke on Jesuit cunning."

One of them is Brother Michael Campopiano, who first came to Montana in 1874, though he had been on the Indian Mission in Idaho and Washington since 1863. Having resided six years at St. Ignatius, he passed thence to other Missions, spending also a year at Holy Cross in Alaska. Later on he returned to Montana to end his days at St. Ignatius, where he went to this Maker, May 8, 1909. He was then seventy-seven years of age and fifty-five years a Brother in the Society of Jesus.

The last pioneer Brother to pass away was Charles Regis, whose pious death occurred also at St. Ignatius, where he breathed his last November 24, 1911. He came to Montana as a nurse to Father Ravalli in the last years of the Father's life. On his charge departing, the good Brother continued to reside at

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St. Mary's, the companion of Father D'Aste, till the removal of the Flat Heads to the Jocko. He was then transferred to St. Ignatius where he passed the remainder of his days in useful occupations. He lived in the Society forty-five years and lacked only three years from being an octogenarian. Brother Charles Regis was a Piedemontese by birth and together with a most charming simplicity, possessed a heart remarkably kind and tender. May he and all his departed confreres rest in peace.

Departed Pioneer Sisters.

Passing now to the departed pioneer workers of the gentler sex, and referring to them in the chronological order of their coming into Montana, some of them belonged to the Sisters of Providence from Montreal; others to the Leavenworth Community; while others were Ursulines, and others, lastly, Sisters of the Good Shepherd. How soon do the living forget their dead! Let us be grateful to our departed pioneers, enough at lest, to recall their names, so far as able, and whilst doing so breathe forth a prayer for the repose of their souls.

Sisters of Providence.

To them belonged Sister Mary Edward, one of the four who founded the first boarding school for Indian girls in Montana and a co-founder with Sister Mary Victor of St. Patrick's, Missoula, the first sisters Hospital in this part of the Northwest. She departed this life at Montreal, Canada, February 11, 1911.

There, too, at different dates ended their earthly pilgrimage several other members of the same Sisterhood who had also done duty in Montana for more or less time, namely, Sisters Mary Peter, Mary Louis, Mary Elise, and Sister Joseph of Providence.

Perhaps, besides those here named, there are still other of the same Order who should have a place in this chronicle, but whom we fail to recall. If such should be the case, while regretting the involuntary oversight, we pray peace to them, one and all, as to the others.

We cannot forego, however, adding to the number Mother Hilarion, although we must stretch a little the time limit of out narrative, as she came to Montana some few months after 1891, the closing year of this account. She was then placed in charge of St. Clare's Hospital, Fort Benton, whence, however, soon

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after, she passed to conduct the school at De Smet, Idaho. But returning to Montana, some time later, she was placed at the head of the Academy of the Sacred Heart, Missoula, and in 1903, became Provincial.

Whilst visiting the De Smet School, in the summer of 1908, she was stricken down by typhoid fever, and died some three months after, October 19, among her sisters of Wallace, whither she had been taken from De Smet for care and treatment. The body was brought to Missoula, the headquarters of the province, and Bishop Lenihan, of Great Falls, assisted at her funeral. Her remains were then laid to rest in the cemetery of the parish church where several other pioneers of the same Sisterhood are reposing, and where, though still in death, they keep furthering by their merits and the perfume of their virtues, the welfare of Missoula, which owes so much to the Sisters of Providence.

Mother Hilarion was a woman of excellent parts, simple in her ways, yet prudent, considerate and noticeably tactful. The true religious spirit that animated her could be seen exemplified in the even and edifying tenor of her whole conduct. She was of an amiable and cheerful disposition and whilst possessing the confidence and love of the members of the Community, she was no less well thought of and respected by all externs who came to know her.

Sisters of the Leavenworth Community.

The Leavenworth Sisterhood counts quite a number of members who labored in Montana prior to the close of 18921, and were garnered in His granary above by the heavenly Husbandman since, that is, between that date and 1910, or thereabout, this being the time-limit of the present paragraph. WE give their names, mentioning in the first place those who died in Montana. They were the following:

Sister Perpetua Cummings, M. Gabriel Hess, M. Veronica O'Connor, M. Agnes Toole, Evangelista Wynn, Louisa Carney, Emilda Devlin, Grilla Donahue, Ann Davis.

The two first died at St. John's Hospital, Helena; the next two, at St. Ann's Hospital, Anaconda; the four next at St. James' Hospital, Butte, and the one mentioned last at St. Joseph's Hospital, Deer Lodge. They all repose in Montana soil, where

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some of their companions, as previously related, were already at rest.

With the exception of the last four, three of whom died in Kansas City, Kans., and one in Denver, Colo., all the others named below passed away at the Motherhouse, Leavenworth.

Pioneer Ursuline.

Of the pioneer Ursulines of Montana the following have also been gather to Himself by the master of the Vineyard, namely, sister Helena Noonan, who passed away at St. Peters, February 2, 1890. Here, too, went to their repose Sister Veronica Ferris and Mother Theela. Sister Aurelia Enright finished he course at St. Paul Mission toward the end of January, 1905.

Sister Euphrasia Frezel and Mother Antonia Sharpenay closed their days at St. Ignatius, the former, November 10, 1910, the latter, a year or so after. They were both French exiles whom the Government of France drove away from their home and their country, and who found a hearty welcome among the savages of the Rocky Mountains. What a contrast between the sincere and simple conduct of these untutored children of the forest, and the cant, hypocrisy and heartlessness of infidelity, masquerading under the garb of progress and civilization!

Sisters of the Good Shepherd

The Order of the Good Shepherd counts also some of its members among those who went to their reward, after some years of service in this portion of the Master's vineyard. They are the following: Sister Mary of St. Ann McAlenden, who lived in Helena from July, 1890, to June, 1899, and finished her course in St. Paul, October 15, 1902.

Mother Margaret Ward was the first in charge of the Helena Convent. She, too, passed away in St. Paul, January 8, 1903, whither she had returned from Montana some ten years before. Sister Mary of St. Bonaventure Maher, ended her days in the same Helena Convent, of which she had been one of the founders

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and where she lived twenty-one years. She returned to her Maker April 29, 1910.

Two other members of the Order, Sister Mary of the Annunciation, Coyne and Sister Mary de Sales, Hampton, died also in Helena, the former, August 27, 1894, and the latter, May 6, 1896. They came to Montana, one in 1892, the other, a year later, that is to say, early enough to justify our placing them among the pioneers, although they fell a little short of being so.

Whilst these particulars are from the respective Communities, it was the writer's good fortune to know personally every one of the departed mentioned in this chapter and likewise to see most of them for years at work in their several capacities. And as by fulfilling their different duties with ability, efficiency and persevering endurance, they, one and all, glorified God and advanced His Kingdom to their best, they were also, one and all, part and joint makers of the history of Catholicity in Montana presented in these pages.

A few of the laborers who came into the field at the first, the second, and the third house, growing wearied, failed to put in their day, or dropped off, failing by the wayside. But praised be the Lord! their number is very small, so small, indeed, that they can be counted on the fingers of one's hands. We leave these out, but, yet, not without a fervent prayer that their meritorious doings whilst at work in Montana may stand them in good stead before the Judgment Seat of the Master of the Vineyard.

And now, after speaking of the departed pioneer Missioners, let us make due refernce also to a departed pioneer layman, Daniel J. Hennessy, who exemplary Christian conduct will ever entitle him to a place of distinction in the history of Catholicity in Montana.

Daniel J. Hennessy,

Was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, September 15, 1854. He was one of nine children, two boys, counting himself, and seven girls. While one of the latter died in early childhood, all the rest are left to mourn his loss. At the age of fourteen he had received what is commonly known as a high school education, and soon after went to work, first ina grocery store and afterwards ina dry goods establishment, where he did the book-

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keeping for several years previous to his coming to the United States.

In the spring of 1879 he started for Montana with a companion, Thomas L. martin, who has since become so well known throughout the state, and arrived in Helena, whither three other friends of his had preceded him the year before. He met these on his arrival and the very first thing he did was to go and introduce himself and them to the priest in charge, who happened to be the writer. He was the spokesman of the band and whilst his words were a frank avowal of their object incoming to Montana, which, as he put it, was to seek their fortune in this new country, they were likewise a manly profession of Catholic faith.

The writer bade one and all welcome and Godspeed, telling the, further, that likely nowhere were better advantages offered then in Montana for willing, industrious and capable young men, as they showed themselves to be. He advised them, besides, not to shirk putting their hand to any kind of honest work coming their way, however laborious and humble, till they should find something better and, above all, to be practical Catholics and every loyal to the faith. They could not but achieve success, by following the advice.

Assenting to the words of the priest, Daniel Hennessy made here the remark that, if needed, he for one would go from door to door with a bucksaw to saw wood. There was not mistaking the metal of the man from the ring of his voice.

Just at this time there happened to be a want of harmony in our church choir, and the writer not inquired of the visitors whether there were any singers among them. Upon this, Daniel Hennessy pointed to his companion and friend, Tom L. martin, the tallest of the bunch and that gentleman for a good many years since had been, and likely is still today, the leading tenor and the mainstay of the church choir on Catholic Hill.

D. Hennessy remained in Helena some six months, working for Richard Lockey, at this date in the bakery business. He then went to Butte where he held for a time a position of importance and responsibility with E. L. Bonner & Company and soon demonstrated his uncommon capacity and business tact. Some

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time later he started business for himself with remarkable success and shortly after he founded "The Hennessy Mercantile Company," which before long developed into one of the largest concerns in the state.

He was elected twice to the Montana Senate, and while the Chairman of the Committee of Mines and Mining, he served also as a member of the Finance and other important Committees. He resigned, however, his official position before the end of the term, his large and ever increasing business demanding all his attention.

In Butte, August 25, 1897, he took unto himself a helpmate, marrying Mary F. Furlong, a pious, accomplished and most estimable young woman, whom the writer had known for years, having instructed her in Christian doctrine as a wee child. The first fruit of their marriage, Mary, hardly saw the earth, God taking her to Himself a few hours after He has given her being. But whilst he pleased to take from them their first-born, as if to make her the earnest and pledge with Him for the salvation of parents and the rest of the family, He blessed their union with three more children, Margaret, Daniel J., and Paul Kirby, respectively, thirteen, eleven and eight years of age, as we are penning these lines.

On Monday, January 27, 1908, Daniel Hennessy was on his way to St. Patrick's Church to hear the eight o'clock Mass, when on Park Street, at a point near Jackson, without an symptom or sign of being indisposed, he sank, through heart failure, and breathed his last a few minutes after. A sudden ending, surely, but yet no less enviable for that.

Why so? Because it is written: The just man, if prevented with death shall be in rest. And again: With him that feareth the Lord it shall go well in the latter end, and in the day of his death he shall be blessed. And further still; Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord. In the testimony of all who know him, Daniel Hennessy was a just man whom nothing on earth could swerve a hairsbreadth from the path of strict honesty and justice. He was a God-fearing man. Catholic and non-Catholic alike

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could say of him: "zealous devotion marked the year of his whole life"; by which is made manifest that the filial fear of God was the mainspring of his whole conduct.

The shock felt by the entire community at the sudden taking away of Daniel Hennessy no words would express. The people of Butte, specially, mourned and would not be comforted. Their recognized leader in civic and social affairs had been suddenly struck in their midst. The friend of the poor and needy, to whom all might go, and from whom no one ever asked a favor in vain, had departed to return no more. His noble qualities of mind and heart and his whole character had endeared him to every class of fellow-beings. Business men esteemed him for his uprightness and scrupulous integrity; the poor loved him or his kind-heartnedness and unstinted benefactions, while church people praised and admired him for his solid Christian virtues and manly piety. As he had the esteem and love of everybody so his death was felt as a personal sorrow by everybody and brought affliction and mourning to every Butte home.

As a religious man Daniel Hennessy set a sterling example to al the people, for he never left his belief at the church door, but carried it with him in his daily walks and applied it in a practical manner. . . . .His life was an open book that all might read, for in every respect, he was a model citizen, whose career could be taken as an example by every youth in the land.

Thus wrote of the deceased editors of the daily press; thus spoke of him non-Catholic ministers in their Sunday sermons.

No man who had died in Montana ever had a more splendid tribute of respect paid to him then was given to Daniel Hennessy by the citizens of his town and state. Hundreds came from outside cities to attend the funeral, and thousands in the snow and zero weather accompanied his remains to their resting place and with every one of them it was a last sad labor of love. As lips

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sealed by death can grant no favor, it is at one's grave friendship and gratitude show forth best.

It is rarely, indeed, that a whole city will completely suspend business and work of every kind, to do honor to a private citizen. This is what Butte did on the day of Daniel Hennessey's funeral, spontaneously and with but a single thought, that it might show in some measure its esteem for the departed one. Yet, this massing of thousands round his grace cannot equal the simple testimonial of that poor widow declaring: "He helped me in my hour of need." And the same testimonial is repeated, god knows, by how many needs and poor of Butte! For Daniel Hennessy was truly the friend of the needy and poor. May his soul rest in peace!