Probable Fatal Accident To Rev. Father Van Erp

As Fnther Van Erp, pastor of St. Thomas' Catholic Cburoh in this' city, was returning from a visit to the poor and siek ut the County Ilonso on Wednesday morning lie was thrown from bis carriage, on the córner of North and División streets, and striking bis head upon the concrete eidewalk receiving injuries from which lie willprobably die. He has remained unconscious from the time he wns thrown from hiscarringe, and shows no improvoment at the time of our going to press. The news of the terrible accident iilled the city with gloom and sorrow. Hundreds of our citizens callee at his house ou Weduesday to inquirc about his condition. The physicians o the city tendered their services. But the attentions of his faithful congrcgtion and the scienco of the physicians seen of no avail. When the accident occuí i ;;(' Father Ilaire was called from the Probate Office, whoro he was doirig somp business, and adnnnistered to his dying brother the last rites of tbo church. Father Van Erp was bom at Oss, in Holland, of an ancient and wealthy faniily belonging to the nobility. He was lifty-two years of age, and was the youngest of aixteen ch-iHren. He has a brother neariy seventy years of' age whi is a priest noar their native town in Holland. Father Van Erp had no relatives in this country. He was ordainei a priest by Bishop Lefevre of Detroit in 1852, and his first charge was at Grar.r' llapids. He was then assigned to Hudson, in this State, where ho reinainoc fourtfien years. Seven yearB ago he assumed his charge in An.n Arlior. He was very popular at Hudson and his congregation presented a unanimous petitiou to the Bishop to allow him to remain tbr-re. Although it was not in the most satisfactory condition when he carne hore, he has made St. Thomas parish one of the most prosperous anc inüuential in the diocese. Father Van Erp was a powerful theologian and accomplished schoiar. He spoke and read with case five bmguages besides his nativo tongue. He had mude two trips to Europe sinco his first arriva in this country, and had travoled extensively in Franco, Italy, Ireland, Holland and England. Since his residenoe in oar city Father Van Erp has endeared himselï to ai' of our people. He commanded the respect and esteem of Protestant and Catholic alike. The possessor of inherited wealth, his entire salary was beslowed in deeds of charity and given to the poor. His last services as a priest were performed for paupers at the County House, a fitting, though sad termiuation of a noble and unselfiah life devoted to the great church which he loved, and to mankind, for which he labored. No whispor of scandel ever touched his name. All the iuiluenco o! his examplo and speech alike was for good. Brought up ourselves in the protestant church, we must say that we have never heard moro powerful appeals in favor of tetnperance and purity, and integtity of character and life, than we have heard from the lips of Father Van Erp. The great secret of his influenco and success lay in the tact that he possessed that rare combination of qualities, extreme good nature and at the same time thtj utmost firmness of character. Nothing could disturb his temper. Nothing could deter him from the courso which his conscience and his judgment approved. Next after the church, to which Ie devoted his life, he loved his adopted country. After his late return from Europe, ho said that no inoney or position could induco him to rosido there again. He preferred tho new to the old world, America to the land of his birth. Eïe stated, at an ovation given him by. tiis church, on his return from Europe, that rauoh as he had ehjoyed his trip, nothing that he had heard was so plaasnig to his ear, nothing gave him somuch dclight as the cry of the brakeman on the Michigan Central It. 11., " Anu Arbor !"