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66 THE INDIAN ADVOCATE. the churches and schools ho has built. Abbot DeGrasso was born in Bacourt, diocese of Nancy (France), March 1, 1842. At the age of twenty-two he joined the Benedictines, 1864. Ho made his studies in Rome, under Franzelin and Balerini, was recalled to France in 1S71 to bo ordained. Soon afterwards we find him assistant priest at St Benedict, the ancient Floury in the diocese of Orleans, from thence he came to America, 1877. Master of novices and pastor of the Pottawntto mie Indians till 1886, he was appointed pastor of the Osage Indians where he remained till the opening of Oklahoma 18S9. Guthrie was his next field of labor, and after some time spent in the abbey he resumed missionary work at the opening of the Pottawattomie, Sac and Fox country. On February the 10th of this year his brethren in St. Benedict chose him to succeed the late deceased abbot and as such, after confirmation from Rome, he was solemly installed as second Abbot of Sacred Heart, by the Very Rev. Administrator D. Leo Gariador, 0. S. B. His' Lordship Mgr. Meer schaert blessed his former assistant, D. Felix DeGrasse, May 11th, assisted by the Rt. Rev. Abbots, Conrad of Conception, Mo., and Wolf of Atchison, Kan. All the Benedictine Fathers of the mission were present, two excepted, and they had good reasons indeed, en gaged as they were building new churches. One of our missionaries had to travel seventy-five miles out of his way through the prairie to reach here just in time for the ceremony, the roads being washed out and the creeks swollen up by the heavy rains. Truly where there is a will there is a way, and good Father Hippolyte's courage and zeal was admired by the numerous guests who had come from far and near to do honor to our new abbot. Jn the evening there was a musical concert and addresses of congratula tions. We beg to present part of the students' address which speaks for itself. "Rt. Rev. Fr. Abbot: We, the students of Sacred Heart schools, beg respect fully to offer to you our congratulations on this auspicious day. It must be a day of happiness for you, as it is a day of joy for us, a day which must bring to light, and as it were to life again the fond and happy memory of the past. We know full well that few can look back upon thirty-five years spent in the service of God, twenty-one of which was spent in this our country. "If many faithful souls have 'accom plished much in a short time' what must be the treasures of grace and merit which you have laid up during the long period of nearly two-scores of years, 'where the moth and rust can not destroy them,' a life of perfection which you have not only professed but practised, thereby reflecting credit upon the ancient order to which you belong alike by the lustre of your virtues and your unassuming piety, a life both monastic and missionary, contempla tive and active; a life in a word of self sacrifice devoted to the glory of God and the salvation of souls. "Wherefore the Eternal Wisdom who 'reacheth from end to end mightily and ordereth all things sweetly,' wilt to reward you in placing upon your brow the mitre a fitting crown to a life so well spent. "In conclusion, we pray God to give you all the graces necessary to lead your numerous flock, "fortiter et suavi tcr" to the heavenly mansions above." Vivat, vivat Abbas noster Felix.