NEGenWeb Project
Church/Catholic
Franciscans

Chapter XIV

St. Bernard's Church, St. Bernard Township

A CATHOLIC GERMAN COLONY IS STARTED

About 1873-1874 a few Catholic families began to settle in the vicinity of the present St. Bernard. Thus we find John Dieter, John Melcher, Mathias Classen, Joseph Steibly and a Mrs. Benz. The nearest German Church after 1875 was St. Mary's in Stearns' or Grand Prairie, 4 1/2 miles northwest of the present site of Humphrey. Towards the end of 1877 the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company reserved a large tract of land, about 30,000 acres, for Bernard Schroeder and Rev. Father Ambrose, first superior of St. Bonaventure's monastery at Columbus, Nebraska. The income reserved for Father Ambrose was for the Franciscan Fathers. This land was given to the two men for the purpose of founding a Catholic German colony. The two men, both well qualified for their work, advertised the colony widely, both in the United States and in the Old World.

The railroad company had planned building through there and it was to its advantage to have settlers all along the route. Accordingly, the 30,000 acres were placed in trust of the two men with the requirement that all the land had to be sold within two years.

A LAND BOOM IS INAUGURATED

This land, partly in Platte county and partly in Madison county, was portioned into farms and sold from $2.48 to $4.80 per acre, at an average price of $2.75. Payment was to be made in ten yearly installments without interest. Purchasers could also take advantage of a 40 per cent discount, if they paid for the land within two years. Bernard Schroeder received 50 cents per acre for the land he sold, one-fourth of which was given to Father Ambrose for the Franciscan Fathers, which organization did all in its power to bring immigrants from wherever the Order had parishes and elsewhere. To encourage the Franciscans, the Railroad Company donated 160 acres of land for Church purposes and Father Ambrose promised to build a church, school and monastery as soon as a sufficient number of settlers would warrant this. This gave a mighty impulse to the growth of the colony and from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri, etc., colonists flocked to the new settlement.

THE ACCOUNT BOOK OF FATHER AMBROSE

The Account Book of Father Ambrose, preserved at the Franciscan monastery in Columbus, mentions Godfrey Frischolz as the first person that applied for land in the great railroad tract. Joseph Heiman of Fort Madison, Iowa, claims the honor of having paid the first cash for his farm near St. Bernard. The first people to arrive, during 1877, were Bernard Schroeder Frank Wiebler, Victor Jung and Michael Jonas. Other early pioneers were: John Sand, Clemens Niebur, Anton Loeffler, Andrew Boesch, Joseph Heiman, Joseph Janssen, Herman Wegener, Killian Ottis, John Dohmen, Joseph Albracht, Henry Wegener, Bernard Hauk, Math. Gilsdorf, Fred Loeffler, Michael Schaefer, Andrew Batliner and others.

REMINISCENCES BY MATHIAS DIEDERICH
PIONEER HARDSHIPS

The poverty of the pioneer settlers was very great. The land was poor, farm implements were scarce, the market place about thirty or more miles away and prices for farm produce low. For a heavy load of farm products hauled to Columbus, a distance of thirty-six miles, the farmer brought home a few sacks of flour, some coffee or sugar. Cornbread and bacon were the usual fare; buffalo chips, slough grass and corncobs served for fuel in the dugout, sod-house or log cabin. Prairie grass was the fodder for the cattle.

But the parish also had to experience hard times. All, even priests and Sisters, had to burn slough grass for fuel. Then came the wintry blizzards which numbered 26 from 1881 to 1882. The fuel gave out and people had to burn straw. Yes, they went to the fields with a corn knife and a rope and cut the cornstalks or rather the tops, because the snow was half as high as the stalks. The church was without a stove and the priests fingers almost froze to the chalice. Once Fr. Cyprian published in church: "We have no more fuel; please bring us some".

ROADS

Roads had not yet been laid out. Every one drove across the prairie either in a bee line or in a zigzag line and many lost their way in the prairie during the night. The road to Columbus began at Newman Grove and went down along Shell Creek to the Irish Church, east of the present Platte Center, or over Steam's Prairie, west of St. Mary's church. Everything the farmers purchased was high in price, while the products they sold brought a low price. Eggs were sold at times as low as 5ç per dozen, butter at 4ç per pound. The newcomers were nearly

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all poor; yes, a number moved away, poverty here was so great. The land had not been cultivated before, hence no good crops at first; it took a number of years before they could make notable progress. Grain was too low in price 6ç to 8ç for corn; 7ç to 16ç for oats; 26ç to 36ç for wheat; 15ç for potatoes. When the price of corn later rose to 15ç per bushel, the farmers said: "If it remains this high we shall be able to make money!" The people walked three or more miles to church; those living at a distance came in a wagon. Nor were seasons of no more!" and in 30 years they have not returned.

St. Bernard's, Platte County, Nebraska: (1) The M. Jonas-Leik House, Where First Mass was Said; (2) Rev. Ambrose Janssen; (3) Rev. Cyprian Banscheid, O. F. M.; (4) Pioneers at Silver Jubilee; (5) Rev. Stanislaus Rieman, O. F. M.; (6). First Combination Church, School and Convent; (7) Rev. Pancratius Schulte, O. F. M.; (8) St. Bernard's Church Completed; (9) First Permanent St. Bernard's Church; (10) Interior of St. Bernard's Church; (11) The Old School; (12) The Present School and Convent.

Until the erection of a church at St. Bernard, the settlers had to attend divine services at some private home or at St. Mary's in Stearns' Prairie Township. Great hardships were entailed. The roads, poor to begin with, were very often extremely bad. The distance was from ten to twenty miles. Often the settlers had to go for weeks without the consolations illness spared them. One winter (1893) an epidemic of diphtheria visited St. Bernard and many children fell victim to the grim reaper. Doctors were helpless. Mr. Math. Adams lost a child, so did Messrs. John Kuntz, Math. Diederich, Martin Wegener. In the family of John F. Ratterath all six children died within two weeks; the last two were laid in one coffin. But grasshoppers and chinch bugs did not inflict heavy damage on them. The time of locusts was past. When this pestilence (grasshoppers) had destroyed much at St. Mary's, Fr. Anselm Puetz foretold: "They will return no more!"and in thirty years they have not. 

BEGINNING OF ST. BERNARD'S PARISH

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Beginning with religious services at the home of Mr. Michael Jonas on August 15, 1878, quite a few Masses were read at the homes of John Dieter, Bernard Schroeder, Victor Jung and Michael Jonas. A number of baptisms were administered in the private homes by Father Ambrose while on those frequent trips to the new colony. While on one of these, Father Ambrose was thrown from his buggy and suffered considerable injury.

ACTUAL BUILDING AT ST. BERNARD

At the beginning of 1878 the colonists commenced hauling lumber from Columbus, a distance of about 35 miles. Father Ambrose directed the building operations, making many trips for that purpose. Bro. Damian Bueschgens, O. F. M., helped in the construction, in which he was assisted by William Duesman, John Hemrichs, Nick Thill, P. Beyer, and Frank Gores (the latter from Columbus) and others. These men labored with such zeal that the building was ready in November of 1878.

DEDICATION AT ST. BERNARD

The dedication of St. Bernard Church, School and Sisters' residence, a combination building, erected at a cost of $6,000, took place November 21, 1878. It was a day of great rejoicing for the pioneers, and it caused them to forget for a time the trials they had heretofore endured, so that the objective might be gained. The Rt. Rev. Bishop had come to Columbus a few days before, where he dedicated the new school at St. Bonaventure's and two days after that had gone to St. Mary's (Stearns' or Grand Prairie township) and to St. Anthony's on Elm Creek to administer Confirmation. The services at St. Bernard were very impressive and largely attended. Rev. Otto Groenebaum, of Omaha, delivered the dedicatory German sermon and the Rt. Rev. Ordinary, the English one. On this same occasion he also administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to twenty-four persons. Nov. 21 was a red letter day for Father Ambrose, for he had worked exceedingly hard to sell the land and make possible the first Catholic settlement and parish. He had met with much opposition even from his confreres, who feared that the founding of a monastery at St. Bernard would work detriment to the monastery at Columbus, already burdened with a heavy debt.

CHARTER MEMBERS OF ST. BERNARD'S CONGREGATION

The following is the list of parishioners found in the oldest Baptismal Record, that of 1881:

Joseph Albracht, John Albracht, Mathias Adams, Ignatius Beller, Andrew Boesch, Simon Braun, Andrew Batliner, Peter Bellartz, Silvester Birkenfeld, Joseph Borer, Joseph Buettner, Joseph Bockwinkel, Wm. Bellinghausen, Christian Cremer, Patrick Coleman, Mathias Diederich, Anton Dohmen, Christian Dohmen, Peter Delissen, John Dieter, Mathias Dreifuerst, Jacob Denner, Henry Engelbertz, Anton Fangmann, Joseph Frisch, Henry Fellhoelter, John Frisch, Henry Gruenther, Mathias Gilsdorf, Joseph Gilsdorf, Caspar Gilsdorf, Gerard Humpert, Joseph Heiman, Joseph Huseman, Nicholas Hemmer, Jacob Hemmer, Bernard Hauck, Geo. Hutmacher, Frank Hoelscher, Anton Havercamp, Bernard Hasmann, Mathias Jasper, Joseph Janssen, Michael Jonas, Francis Klocke, Engelbert KuhI, Jacob Koehnen, Godfrey Kroeger, John Kaus, Sr., John Kaus, Jr., Peter Kaus, John Kuhn, Thomas Klassen, Michael Lehnertz, Fred Loeffler, Anton Loeffler, Peter Lousberg, John Melcher, Martin Melcher, Peter Maag, Edw. Marrek, John Mueting, Henry Moseke, Clement Niebur, Christian Niemeyer, Henry Niebur, Kilian Ottis, Thomas Ottis, Joseph Ottis, Fred Ostmeier, Nick Pauly, Mathias Pauly, Wendelin Pimpel, Mauritius Pimpel, Godfrey Ramaeker, John Reichert, Peter Retherath, Peter Ruffing, Michael Schaefer, Mathias Schaefer, John Schaefer, Maternus Schaefer, Bernard Schroeder, Herman Schlageck, John Schneider, Peter Schwartz, Joseph Schoennoehl, John Schmitt, Sr., John Schmitt, Jr., Math. Joseph Schmitz, John Sand, Fred Smith, Jacob Smith, John Sueper, Joseph Sueper, Frank Sueper, August Sueper, Fred Sueper, Joseph Steibling, Wm. Schulte, Henry Schaecher, Theodore Thome, Fred Wessel, Jacob Weidner, John Weidner, Martin Wagner, Henry Wegener, Herman Wegener, John Wilhelm, Joseph Wieser.

MAKING DIVINE SERVICE IMPRESSIVE

Divine service was made as impressive as possible under the circumstances. During the first years the parish had no melodeon, though there was a Sister that could play. Hence Bother Damian Bueschgens, O. F. M., the carpenter, directed the first choir consisting of Henry Gilsdorf, William Duesman, Math. Diederich, Nick Thill, Peter Beller, Henry Gruenther. They sang Gregorian Masses and various hymns. One day Fr. Cyprian said he would like to have vespers, but had no cope. Before long somebody donated the necessary vestments. Sr. Clementina, O. S. F., drilled some school boys, who alternately sang the psalms. The names of the boy leaders were Tony Schmitt and Joseph Lehnertz. It was edifying. Mr. Bernard Schroeder also donated the Gothic monstrance and after this Sacramental Benediction was imported every Sunday afternoon. Mr. Schroeder, after whom the parish and settlement were

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named, also donated a painting of their patron, Saint Bernard.

ST. BERNARD'S PAROCHIAL SCHOOL

As a school is a great necessity for a flourishing parish, the combination building harbored not only the church in the upper story, but also a school and Sisters' residence in the lower. The same Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, of Joliet, Illinois, that had charge of St. Bonaventure's school at Columbus, also took charge of St. Bernard's school. As the community was new and few in numbers the Sisters were at first reluctant to come so far West. The population was scarce and privations very severe owing to being 35 miles from the nearest railroad and subjected to countless snow-storms and blizzards during 4 or 5 months of the year. It required stout hearts to brave the hardships of those pioneer years. Our present generation smiles incredulously at a story of the privations of those days. Still let us be grateful to our grandparents and parents who braved the hardships of pioneer life on the western plains to secure for their off-spring a comfortable home and the advantages of education and religion by dint of hard labor and countless sacrifices. This gratitude should also go out to the venerable Sisters who shared the hardships with the pioneers. To quote the letter of Ven. Sr. M. Stanislas, O. S. F., to Father Eugene, O. F. M.:

"Pioneering usually means hardships, poverty and trials of every kind, but the early settlers of St. Bernard toiled and suffered privations in the spirit of faith, encouraged in the efforts by the consolations of religion and the hope of final success. Until they could provide lumber for frame dwellings, in many cases their living quarters consisted of "dugouts" or sod houses. The Sisters cheerfully shared the poverty of these good people. Milk was scarce, and they were grateful for coffee without milk. About once a year they enjoyed the luxury of fresh meat."

"Naturally, the upbuilding of St. Bernard was slow and difficult, as there were no railroad facilities for the transportation of building material and provisions, and the settlers had thirty-five miles to drive over country roads from St. Bernard to Columbus for the necessary supplies."

ST. BERNARD SCHOOL

St. Bernard school was served by the following Sisters:

1878-1879 Sister M. Gregory Miller, O. S. F., Superior; Sister M. Assumption Klipfel, O. S. F.; Sister M. Sophia Jungblut, O. S. F.

1879-1882 Sister M. Clara Schneider, O. S. F.,

Superior; Sister M. Clementine Koch, O. S. F.

Sister M. Clementine (1929) is the only surviving member of the St. Bernard Sisters. She had sixty-four to eighty pupils in attendance during her three years at St. Bernard.

LIST OF ST. BERNARD FIRST PUPILS

John Albracht, Ballarz, Anthony Beller, C. Craemers, Dauven, A. J. Dohman, Nicholas Dohman, W. Duesman, Henry Engelbertz, Eumelen, Fangman, Gilsdorf, Gruenther, Heinrichs, Theodore Janssen, John Jaspers, Jonas, Jung, Henry Kaus, F. Kuehnel, Max Kunz, Lenartz, Peter Lousberg, Anthony Loeffler, M. Melcher, Henry Niebur, John J. Niemeyer, Kilian Ottis, Eva Ottis, M. Ramaekers, M. Schaefer, Nicholas Schmitz, Anna Schroeder, Bernard Schroeder, Steffes, Weiland, Wibler.

ST. BERNARD COLONY

St. Bernard was platted in June, 1878, by R. L. Rossiter, county surveyor. At the invitation of Mr. B. Schroeder and the Franciscan Fathers Mr. Schroeder opened a hotel and store followed by a blacksmith shop. The post office was opened but discontinued later on account of the rural free delivery. The expected railroad, however, never came through St. Bernard and all dreams of a prosperous town vanished.

ERECTION OF ST. BERNARD'S FRIARY

Fr. Cyprian had to come all the way from Columbus to St. Bernard and he stayed about three days saying Mass on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. At least, such was the rule for the friars attending missions. He lodged at B. Schroeder's and took his meals at Joseph Janssen's for about a year. This arrangement of the pastor living most of the time at a distance of 25 miles was very inconvenient and as the colony had increased to about 75 families and the Franciscan superiors had promised the erection of a convent when the number of people would warrant, Mr. Schroeder wrote the following letter, translated from the German original, signed by the trustees to the Higher Superior in the East:

June 5, 1879.

Rev. Father Commissary:

We hereby like to communicate to your Paternity a few words about St. Bernard's parish. As we learned from our beloved Rev. Father Cyprian, the chapter will be held in a few weeks. Probably the building of a monastery at St. Bernard's will be a matter of deliberation. You will remember, Rev. Father, that you promised us at the time you were in our midst that a monastery would be built in St. Bernard. This has also been announced in the

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respective advertisements so that every new settler at St. Bernard's came hither with the intention to share in the sacred functions and prayers of you Reverend Fathers and to be edified and also now to give our children a real Christian education. This is the supreme wish of every one of us in this parish and we all unanimously shall contribute with all our power, in order to procure the means necessary for the erection of the church and monastery at St. Bernard. Already for some considerable time a change regarding the independence of the St. Bernard parish (it was attended as a mission of and by Columbus-Editor) was desired by members of this parish, because it is to the disadvantage of the whole parish, when the respective priest cannot labor unimpeded in the parish but is tied down too much. Thus the parish lacks courage to go ahead. On the other hand, if we work hand in hand with the priest, we shall soon be able cheerfully to arrange what is still missing in many ways in St. Bernard. Our much beloved Fr. Cyprian takes all pains to make St. Bernard's one of the most flourishing parishes of the west and is, therefore, well beloved by the whole parish. It is also the heartfelt wish of us all to retain our beloved Father for a long time in our midst, in order to be able to provide for us all morally as well as materially. Finally, Rev. Father Commissary, I put my full confidence in your goodness that you will take care of our welfare and a favorable report from you after the celebration of the chapter would put our whole congregation under great obligations of gratitude towards you and everyone would welcome this news with joy. I hereby remain respectfully yours Reverence's most obedient son,

In a meeting called by Fr. Cyprian he explained to the people the great inconvenience of the priest living in a small room at Mr. Shroeders and taking his meals at Joseph Janssen's besides having his residence at the Columbus Monastery, a distance of 35 miles. Among others the following were present at this meeting: Kilian Ottis, Sr.; Kilian Ottis, Jr.; Joseph Schmitz, Joseph Albracht, Victor Jung, Michael Jonas, Math. Diederich, Christian Dohmen, Mr. Dohmen, Sr.; Joseph Heiman, Fritz Krewel, William Delessen, John Weiand, Mr. Pauly, Herman Wegener, Henry Wegener, Henry Gilsdorf. B. Schroeder, Jos. Johnson, M. Schaefer, Math. Schaefer, Humpert, Wm. Duesman, Math. Gaspar, H. Gruenther, Fred Wessel, etc.

Almost all present were ready to pledge a certain sum and give their note for the purpose.

With these notes and some cash Father Cyprian began to build a small residence for the friars. Before winter set in it was completed. With the assistance of a few Fathers and Brothers from Columbus it was dedicated and Fr. Cyprian and Ven. Bro. Giles (Aegidius) Steckling, immediately moved into it. About Christmas the Rev. Aloystous Hoeren, O. F. M., arrived to attend St. Anthony's in Burrow's Township and St. Leonard's at Madison. Both are more than 16 miles distant. Fr. Cyprian had heretofore attended Madison about once a month.

Both Fathers had to undergo most severe hardships, especially during the winter season. The cold was very excessive and blizzards very numerous. In 1881-1882 there were 26 blizzards. On one occasion Father Cyprian, all stiff with cold, fell from the wagon and would have perished in the snow had not his driver, Mr. Joseph Janssen, noticed in time that his passenger was missing. He picked him up and brought him to the Shell Creek postoffice nearby, where the good people refreshed him and took good care of him. On one occasion Fr. Cyprian announced in church that they had no more fuel and requested the people to bring them some slough grass or the like. Poverty was also very great in the monastery. The kitchen served also as a dining room where the damp ground served as a floor and a few stakes driven into the ground with strips nailed and holding a few boards served as a table. When Fr. Cyprian reported this to his higher superior he received this reply: "Would to God that things would always remain such".

But such privations brought God's blessing on their labors. The parish increased. Already at the end of 1879 it numbered 70 families and the material condition of the pioneer settlers improved year by year.

CANONICAL ERECTION OF THE RESIDENCE

On August 16, 1880, a small Friary was canonically erected as the Franciscan residence and Fr. Cyprian appointed the first superior. He labored successfully in the parish till July 14, 1881, when the Provincial chapter assigned him to Quincy, Illinois, as Vicar of the Monastery.

Father Cyprian Banacheid was born May 22, 1852, at Neviges (Hardenberg) in Rhenish Prussia. At the age of 18 years he joined the Order of Friars Minor at Warendorf, Westphalia. He continued his studies at Wiedenbrueck, Dusseldorf, Paderborn, and finally at St. Louis, Missouri, where he was ordained to the priesthood on June 25, 1877, by the Rt. Rev. James P.

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St. Bernard's Church and Friary, 1926

Interior of St. Bernard's Church, Platte County, Nebraska

Ryan, D. D., coadjutor to the archbishop of St. Louis. Fr. Cyprian was first stationed at Columbus, whence he attended Luxemburg and David City and Center. Afterwards he was appointed first pastor at St. Bernard. For a number of years he labored very successfully in St. John's parish in Joliet, Illinois, then at St. Peter's in Chicago. After serving as Definitor and Custos of the Sacred Heart Province, he was finally elected provincial, took part in the General Chapter in Italy, and soon after his return he suffered a paralytic stroke at the depot in St. Paul, Minnesota, and died some months later in Ashland, Wisconsin, February 18, 1910.

FATHER PANCRATIUS SCHULTE,
JULY 14, 1881-JULY, 1891

Soon realizing the need of a larger church, Rev. Pancratius, O. F. M., in the spring of 1882, caused the circulation of this petition: "We, the undersigned, promise for the honor of God to give every twenty-fifth bushel of all the fruits of this year for the building of a new church at St. Bernard's." This petition received the signatures of Joseph Heimann, Bernard Schroeder, Joseph Janssen, J. Melcher, Mathias Diederich, Henry Wegener, M. Schaefer, Joseph Schmitz, Fred Loeffler, Godfrey Krewel and many others. All these and a number of others who were not bound by their signatures, faithfully donated every twenty-fifth bushel of their crop. To get the necessary funds, it was deemed necessary to sell the so-called school farm of 160 acres in Madison county, which had been bought from the railroad, to Joseph Husemann for $1,160.00.

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LAYING THE CORNERSTONE OF THE NEW CHURCH

On September 9, 1883, Fr. Pancratius, assisted by Rev. Theodore Arentz, O. F. M., and Rev. Maxmilian Klein, O. F. M., and in presence of a large concourse of people, laid the cornerstone of the new temple of God. The plans had ben drawn by Ven. Brother Adrian Werner, O. F. M. Mr. B. Hauck, of St. Bernard, laid the solid foundation of cut stone. Later he also laid the foundation for the steeple. The church was of frame and veneered with brick. Brother Damian, assisted by several carpenters from the neighborhood, did the building. Before winter set in, the building was under roof. During the winter and spring the work was continued in the interior. Whatever could be done by the parishioners such as hauling the material, excavating, etc., was done gratis to reduce expenses.

DEDICATION OF THE SECOND ST. BERNARD'S CHURCH,
JUNE 29, 1884

The ceremony of dedication of the second structure erected for worship by the people of St. Bernard's took place at 8 o'clock a. m. on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, and was in charge of the Rt. Rev. Bishop of Omaha, James O'Connor. After ten o'clock Solemn High Mass was celebrated and a class of 34 was confirmed. At 3 o'clock his Lordship blessed the second larger bell. The first bell had been procured in 1878. It was a day of rejoicing for a great work (for that pioneering community) had been finished: "A home had been built, not to men but to God."

The church is one of which St. Bernard may well feel proud, a structure 45x102 feet, including the fine pentagonal sanctuary and apse. Two chapels-the baptismal chapel and that of our Lady of Sorrows-were erected in the summer of 1888 on the west side of the church. All this the people had accomplished without outside aid. Such a spirit of sacrifice, in the face of their poverty, deserves recognition.

The road in front of the church is 32 feet wide. The 16 feet of land on the west front side of the church, leading to the school, was donated to the church at an early date by Mr. Joseph Janssen; the deed, however, is dated March 31, 1917. The file at the Register of Deeds' Office at Columbus, Nebraska, signifies that this 16 feet of land is "for Public Use". The eastern 16 feet strip was purchased by the parish and paid for.

INTERIOR FURNISHINGS OF THE CHURCH

The congregation now had a beautiful place of worship, but at the finishing of the construction, the funds being low, there were many things lacking to enhance the splendor of worship. Already on August 10, 1884, the Rev. Pastor blessed the fine Stations of the Cross, which adorn the church to this day. A pulpit and two fine confessionals are the work of Bro. Damian. In the beginning of August, 1886, the fine new high altar (cost $500) arrived. The equally splendid two side altars ($350) were installed in October, 1887. All three are the work of Gier Brothers, of Chillicothe, Missouri. The three altars are built in strict Gothic style. On the second Monday after Pentecost, 1887, Fr. Pancratius blessed the artistic Pieta, before which many a grief-stricken heart has sought in prayer to the Sorrowful Mother of God consolation and strength to bear the cross imposed by Divine Providence. Fr. Pancratius, zealous and eloquent but rather strict, deserves credit for accomplishing so much, leaving a monument in the beautiful church and school, both well established and worthy of praise. He made, however, a number of bitter enemies by his fiery denunciation from the pulpit of certain existing abuses.

BIOGRAPHY OF REV. PANCRATIUS SCHULTE, O. F. M.

Fr. Pancratius first saw the light at Oedingen, Diocese of Padenborn, Westphalia, on April 5, 1838, was admitted into the Seraphic Order Nov. 25, 1860, received the tonsure, the four minor orders and subdeaconship together with the friars Damasus Ruesing, Chrysostom Beinecke, Meinolph Schmitz and Alardus Andrescheck, from the famous Bishop Conrad Martin, of Paderborn on February 12, 1864. Fr. Pancratius was raised to the dignity of the priesthood on March 27, 1868. While successfully laboring at Wiedenbrueck and Rietberg and other monasteries in Westphalia, in a few years he had preached 262 sermons (130 at Dorsten). In 1875 he came an exile to the hospitable shores of North America and labored for a number of years at Indianapolis, Indiana, St. Mary's (Wien) in Missouri, one year as guardian of the Quincy Monastery, whence he was assigned to St. Bernard on July 14, 1881-July, 1891.

Fr. Pancratius was sent to St. Louis in 1891 and with the Fathers Servatius Rasche, Daniel Finkenhoefer, Titus Hugger and Symphorian Forstmann gave many missions in various states of the Union. He also was elected Definitor of the Province (1894-1897), guardian of the Teutopolls monastery (Dec. 28, 1898-Sept. 12. 1900), when he returned to St. Louis, acted as superior at Washington, Missouri, for a year and a half, returned to St. Louis to resume his missionary labors until the infirmities of age com

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polled him to relinquish this work. After a brief stay at Chaska he was sent to St. Joseph's monastery at Cleveland, where he remained for three years and from December 28, 1910, until May 17, 1913, he was stationed in West Park (now part of Cleveland). A long siege of asthma and dropsy patiently borne was his last preparation for his departure to meet his Master. Fr. Pancratius was not a tall man; he limped a little owing to a short leg. He had a most sonorous voice and delivered masterful German sermons. He was also an expert in regulating and repairing watches and clocks, which was his hobby.--R. I. P.

The next pastor of St. Bernard's parish was:

REV. RUFINUS MOEHLE, O. F. M.,
1891-MARCH, 1894

Father Rufinus entered upon his pastorate with great enthusiasm and love. On October 24, 1891, death entered the residence of the friars and called Brother Michael Wolf, O. F. M., to his eternal reward.

Leonard Wolf was born in Gleisweiler, Germany, on April 11, 1859. His parents were Leonard Wolf and Sibylla Kreuz. As a young man he came to Quincy, Illinois, with his brother, Fred Wolf. Leonard entered the Order as Tertiary Brother on July 9, 1881, and was professed as such July 26, 1882. On December 13, 1885, he was admitted to the first Order together with Brothers Venantius, Eligius and Magnus. On December 14, 1886, he made his simple profession. His solemn profession was made January 4, 1890. He was stationed at Chillicothe, Missouri, and St. Bernard, Nebraska, where he died in the thirty-third year of his life.--R. I. P.

The new pastor was indefatigable in beautifying the house of God. First he called Master Heferle, of Cincinnati, to very richly decorate the church (cost $2,000), so that St. Bernard's was in those days extolled as "the most beautiful church west of the Mississippi." Seventeen artistic paintings decorated the ceiling and walls of the church. In the sanctuary two paintings representing the Sacrifice of Abraham and the sacrifice of Melchisedech pointed to the Holy sacrifice of the Mass, the most precious treasure of the church. Two adoring angels adorned the ceiling of the sanctuary. Fourteen rich medallions set off the ceiling of the middle nave, viz., St. Cecilia, St. Paul and the rest of the Apostles. The side naves, especially the arches, are richly frescoed. Gold was not used sparingly. This fine frescoing required a hot air furnace which was installed in the fall of the year 1892. To enable the school children living at a distance to attend school in the winter months, Fr. Rufinus enlarged the school building in order to have room for boarders. We must also mention the enlarging of the monastery, the fine statue of the S. Heart of Jesus carved out of wood and imported and the splendid pedestal made by Gier Brothers in Chillicothe, Missouri, and the two middle rows of pews furnished by Mr. Faulhaber, of Cleveland, Ohio. The latter were put up in winter 1893. Add to this some magnificent vestments imported from Kevelaer, Rhenish Prussia. All this was the work of three years accomplished by the generosity of the parishioners. On November 1, 1891, the Rt. Rev. Bishop R. Scannell confirmed ninety-six children of St. Bernard's congregation.

Owing to sickness and other circumstances, Fr. Rufinus was transferred to St. Louis, Missouri, in the beginning of March, 1894. The parish has always kept his memory green.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Anthony Moehle was born at Paderborn, Germany, on September 7, 1847, the son of Ferdinand and Anna (Jacobs) Moehle. When almost twenty-one, he decided to enter the Franciscan noviatiate (sic) at Warendorf. Accordingly, he was invested May 15, 1868, and made his simple profession May 19, 1869. Exactly three years later, he took his solemn vows, and was ordained priest at Cologne on March 13, 1875, just before the May Laws affecting religious communities were put into effect.

Coming to America in July, 1875, his first appointment was at Jordan, Minnesota, from where he attended St. John's church at Union Hill, 1876-1877. In 1877 he was appointed praeses and pastor of Wien, Missouri. At the Chapter of July 25, 1888, he was elected guardian of the Quincy monastery, and after serving his term of three years, was transferred to St. Bernard, Nebraska. During his administration Fr. Rufinus did much for the embellishment of the church.

Resigning his charge of St. Bernard's parish, he was transferred to St. Louis, and after a few months at St. Augustine's at Chicago, was made vicar of the St. Louis monastery, in 1896. In 1897 he again returned to Jordan, Minnesota, where he took charge of Belle Plain until 1899. In January, 1899, he entered upon his new duties as pastor and praeses of Waconia, Minnesota. After building a beautiful new Romanesque church at Waconia, and restoring it after a cyclone in 1900, he mained (sic) there until the parish was taken over by a secular priest in 1909.

Fr. Rufinus was then made assistant of the new residence in St. Paul, Minnesota, but shortly after was given charge of Victoria, Minnesota. Here he spent the last years of his priest

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