BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Iv 



consideration of the economic status of these people — and 

 that was the limited purview of the industrial world — led 

 not to betterment but to further alienation and to both moral 

 and civil deterioration. Among these foreigners were a num- 

 ber of Catholics without clergy of their own tongue and to 

 whom the Latin rite was like an alien religion. These condi- 

 tions appealed strongly to his charity. His natural beneficence 

 was quickened and the supernatural ardor of his deeply rooted 

 faith aroused. These people must be saved, not only in a 

 civic, but in a religious sense, and their religious salvation 

 depended upon their steadfastness in their Catholic Faith. 

 They were a flock without a shepherd. Lured to America by / 

 the mirage of the promised land, which they dreamed could i 

 be found in the United States, they were pouring in great 

 numbers to our shores. The Church in this country had no 

 means of meeting the problem and scarcely realized it. An- 

 drew Shipman, a layman thrown into close contact with them, 

 did realize it, and proceeded to devote himself to its solution. 

 He mastered their tongues, studied their history, their rites 

 and their customs, placed himself en rapport with their sym- 

 pathies and their aspirations. All this, of course, not in a 

 moment. First came the idea, and by degrees the means. It 

 would take time and labor. It was, therefore, in Hocking 

 Valley, Ohio, that an obscure mining superintendent first felt 

 the apostolic spirit kindle into flame in his breast and con- 

 ceived the beginning of the plans, which in later years were to . 

 grow to such abundant fruit. ( 



As was characteristic of him, his method was radical and 

 thorough. He must first learn the people sympathetically and 

 completely. How well he accomplished his purpose became 

 manifest in the result. For the last fifteen years of his life 

 he spent nearly all his vacations among the Slavic people in 

 Euioge. He made their acquaintance in their original habitat. 

 He studied their languages, their rites and their history at j 

 first hand. He came into intimate touch with their clergy in 

 Europe, acquainted them with the needs of their people in 

 the United States, urged their interest and their co-operation 

 and conducted a voluminous correspondence with them. He 

 also took up the matter with the hierarchy in the United 

 States and received their help and participation. It was a 

 great and glorious lay apostolate and a striking exemplar to 



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