apart, he addressed his first pastoral letter from St. Louis after his elevation, that being the only way he could reach his members. He died in 1839, leaving a distinguished 1ecord as a Christian gentleman and a popular bishop, and was buried in the crypt of the church. Bishop Brute was succeeded by Bishop Celestin Reno Laureant Gyner de le Hailandiere, in 1839, who resigned in 1847. He was succeeded by John Stephen Bazin in 1847, who died April 23, 1848, after a brief episcopate of six months. Bishop Isaac Maurice de Long d'Assac de St. Palais was appointed to this diocese in 1849. It then comprised the whole State, including about fifty churches and a Catholic population of about 30,000. Bishop St. Palais was an efficient and popular bishop. During his episcopate the diocese was divided, and one at Fort Wayne erected, embracing about one-half of the State. He died in 1877. Francis Silas Chatard, the fifth bishop, succeeded to this diocese and was consecrated bishop in Rome, May, 1878, by Cardinal Franchi. Up to this time the bishop's residence had been at Vincennes and his parishoners here were much. concerned to know whether the new bishop would continue it or not. As this had been the battleground for the success and advancement of the church for more than a century and a half, they felt a just pride in claiming priority of domicile for their bishop and had good reasons for supposing that this city would become his home. But such was not to be, and sacred ties, consecrated by sweet memories of the past, were to be rent asunder for public policy through the inexorable changes of time and progHe was installed in office by Archbishop Purcell, of Cincinnati, in August, 1878. The brief changing the

ress.

style of the diocese from Vincennes to Indianapolis was dated March 28, 1878, but was not promulgated until April 20, 1898. The news of the change was received with grief by his parishoners here, but was loyally accepted by them.

St. Xavier Cathedral has for its rector the Reverend Louis Gueguen, R. D., a most estimable gentleman and Christian, and the Reverend Frederick Berget, an eloquent young preacher, as his assistant.

St. John's German Catholic Church, a branch of St. Xavier, was constituted in 1851, and had for its pastor Reverend Nicholas Stauber, who erected a brick house for worship in the same year on a beautiful square` between Eighth and Ninth streets, on Main, the same in recent years being remodeled and enlarged under the supervision of the second pastor, Reverend A. Mertz, who faithfully administered unto his parishoners for more than forty years and up to his death. Reverend Meinrad Fleischman, the present pastor, succeeded him.

The prosperity and status of the Catholic Church may be judged by the following statistics gleaned from the reports of its official records for the year 1900, of the Church in the State: Bishops, 2; priests, 353; churches, 302; Catholic population, 184,388.

PRESBYTERIAN.

The first missionary work done in this State by the Presbyterian Church occurred in the years 1804, 1805 and 1806, by the Reverends Samuel Runnels, Samuel D. Robinson, James McGrady and Thomas Clelland, members of the Transylvania Presbytery of Kentucky. In 1805 the

Reverend Clelland visited Vincennes and Governor William Henry Harrison's wife, who was a Presbyterian, invited him to preach in the council chamber of the Gov-. ernor, which he did; and this is the first recorded sermon preached in Indiana Territory by a Presbyterian minister. The first church was organized (under the title of The Indiana Church) in 1806, by the Reverend Samuel D. Robinson, of the Transylvania Presbytery, Synod of Kentucky. Missionaries, besides the ones noted, occasionally visited Indiana Territory, including Reverend Thomas Williamson, of the Presbytery of South Carolina, but there was no regular pastor stationed here until 1807, when the General Assembly of the church "ordered that the Reverend Samuel T. Scott, of the Presbytery of West Lexington, Ky., be a missionary for three months in the Indiana Territory, and especially at Vincennes." The Reverend Scott had been serving as pastor of Mt. Pleasant and InIdian Creek churches. He arrived under this resolution of the Assembly in 1807, and became pastor of Indiana Church,* which was the first Presbyterian Church organized in Indiana Territory. The Reverend Scott proved to be an efficient and laborious pastor, meetings being held in the woods oftentimes. He soon gathered three congregations, known as Upper and Lower Indiana and Vincennes portions of the Indiana Church. He was prime factor in educational advancement in this region and was the first teacher employed by the Vincennes University trustees. The impress left on the people by him was elevating and enlightening to the cause of civilization and the Christian religion. He ministered to these congregations many years

Indiana Church embraced the churches of Vincennes, Upper and Lower

Indiana.