Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 35.djvu/192

178 He was informed what Father O'Keefe had done, and when the priest returned there were two letters for him from the French admiral. One was a private note, in which the admiral expressed his personal thanks for what the priest had done; the other was an official letter thanking him, in the name of the Government, for his services to the navy when in distress.

In the following spring Father O'Keefe received, through Hon. Hamilton Fish, the Secretary of State, a magnificent gold watch and chain from the Emperor Napoleon, with a letter expressing his gratitude for Father O'Keefe's services. The value of the watch and chain is not less than $500. The watch is elaborately chased, bearing the imperial crown. On one side is engraved, in bold relief, this inscription: "Presented by the Imperial Government of France to Rev. M. O'Keefe, cure of Norfolk, Va., for services rendered to the Imperial Marine, 1869." He was also enrolled as a member of the Legion of Honor of France.

Father O'Keefe served as chaplain of Mahone's Brigade, having been appointed to the position by the Confederate Secretary in 1861.

In 1887 Father O'Keefe returned to Baltimore and was appointed by Cardinal Gibbons to the chaplaincy of the Notre Dame Convent and pastor of St. Francis' Church Towson. In addition to his pastoral duties, he had taken great interest in parochial schools, and was until recently superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

It was at Towson that Father O'Keefe performed the crowning work of his notable life. He erected there the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, a magnificent marble building, trimmed with finest brownstone, and considered by many the most beautiful church in Maryland. It was built largely out of Father O'Keefe's private purse. The interior of the walls of the building are adorned with frescoed steel panels. There are a number of fine stained glass windows, and in the front of the church a mammoth window, on which there is an artistic representation of the Resurrection of Christ. There are five beautiful