Establisltment of tlz.e Dioceses, 1847-1948
135
The jubilant cheers were soon .drowned out, however, by the strident note of bigotry. Of this sudden change Manucy wrote Bishop John Quin- lan of Mobile declaring that the hosannas reminiscent of Palm Sunday were "soon followed by my Good Friday." Some, particularly the Free- masons, seemingly felt they had been slighted because they had not been personally invited. The traditional incompatibility of "thrones and princes" with the principles of a "Republic" was played up in a circular distributed widely throughout the lower Rio Grande with the result that much animosity was aroused. With sorrow in his heart, the Vicar preached eloquently through the Lenten season to make a deep impression on his listeners. 63 Undeterred by the prospect of meeting hateful bigotry, Manucy set out after Easter on his first confirmation tour. He left Brownsville on April 6, 1875 with two veteran Oblate missionaries, and going up the valley made stops at Encantada, Santa Maria, Capote, Lomita, Davis, and Roma. where he stayed for two days to rest. Continuing his tour, he met at San I~nacio, Father Lagier. the pastor of Laredo, who accompanied him to the old Spanish town founded more than a century before at the important crossing of the Rio Grande. After a few days rest, the Vicar Apostolic went on by stagecoach to San Antonio where he arrived on the eve of the Feast of Pentecost and enjoyed a visit with Bishop Pellicer, his cousin. He then proceeded by way of Victoria and Indianola to Corpus Christi. Here. by the se:1. the sorrow-laden Vicar, who could not forget the unfair attacks made on him after his installation, found peace and comfort. He apparentlv decided during his stay of almost a month to make the strug- gling little port town his episcopal residence. Manucy was. by July 27. back in Brownsville, where rumors of his contemplated move to Corpus Christi had alienated even his best friends. A subscription for the purchase of a house for the Bishop, which had been started and had reached the not inconsiderable sum of $3,000.00 was dropped. Early in September the Vir.ar publicly announced his deter- mination to establish residence in Corpus Christi. In a farewell sermon to the people of Brown~ville on Sundav. September 20. 1875. Bishop Manucy paid tribute to the zealous and devoted Oblates. whose hospitality he had enjoyed ever since his arrival. 64 For eight years Manucy labored incessantly to meet the great needs of 63 Parisot, op. cit., 119-121; Journal of Father Vandenberghe, Arcltives of tlte Oblates. 64 ,Tournal of Father Vandenberghe, Arrlth,es ".f tlu Oblatn.
Powered by FlippingBook