USA > Illinois > Stephenson County > The history of Catholicity in Stephenson County; Illinois > Part 5
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St. Clara's Academy supplies teachers for schools in thirty cities, the farthest west being Denver and the farthest south Washington, D. C. The Dominican Sisters are widely spread in the United States and have several Mother Houses, each with its many branch houses. It was at Memphis, during the raging of the yellow fever, that Dominican Sisters left their schools to help care for the sick ; many of them never returned to their schools, because the dread disease which they might easily have escaped, gave them a martyr's death. The services of Sisters of this Order have been long devoted to St. Mary's precious heritage, the little ones of the flock, two hundred and fifty being the average enrollment of pupils.
The school is free and well graded. The pupils are classed in four departments, viz .: Primary, having four grades and two teachers; the Intermediate, having two grades and one teacher ; the Grammar Department, four grades and two teachers; the High School Department, two grades and one teacher.
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ST. MARY'S SCHOOL.
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The text books and the course of study are the same as used in the public schools of the city, but half an hour is daily devoted to instructions in Christian Doctrine.
Three grades of honors are conferred on the occasion of the annual commencement of St. Mary's School : first, the laurel crowns, given to those who have been examined by the county superintendent, and have received from him a second grade certificate ; second, diplomas, conferred on those who have been examined by the county superintendent in the additional studies required for a first grade certificate, and have attained the average required for graduation from the city High School; third, a gold medal, conferred on graduates whose deportment has been exem- plary in all particulars.
Each year, since Father Horan has required the members of grades eleven and twelve, both boys and girls, to take the " teachers' examination," at the court house, under direction of the county superintendent, there have been from two to eight of St. Mary's High School pupils, not above eighteen years of age, successful in gaining second grade certificates, and an excellent standing for the first grade. A first grade certificate is conferred only after the applicant has taught for a certain time.
Instrumental and vocal music receive careful attention. The pupils of the school are given lessons daily in singing by note. Special attention is given to literature, interest being aroused and preserved by duly organized reading circles, of which there are three, namely, "The Feehan Circle " comprising the high school pupils, " The Bryant-Whittier," to which belong the girls of the grammar department, and " The Longfellow," consist- ing of the boys of the same department. The ladies of the parish, a chosen few of them, are banded under the title of "The Aquinata Reading Circle," and since the above were established the higher grades in the primary department have united under the title of " The Father Horan Reading Circle."
The Young Ladies' Sodality has a fine library of nearly four hundred volumes. Many of those were donated by the pastor ; others were obtained by means of entertainments.
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Stephenson County, Illinois, 1896.
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Several volumes in the Sodality library being considered rather childish for such a collection, the young ladies donated them to the school library in the grammar department.
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BENEDICT & CO CHI.
ST. MARY'S CONVENT.
" The Longfellow Circle " collected, during the first year of their association, over eighty volumes. These were donated by non-Catholics as well as Catholics, so agreeable is the spirit that governs the social relations of Freeport's citizens.
The school children edit a monthly journal, the "Santa Maria," and the profits it brings in are devoted to the purchase of books and periodicals. This little monthly edited by the children, whose compositions constitute its literature, has been ranked by CHOOL 6
STUDENTS' LIBRARY
LOS ANGELES
CAL.
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competent critics, with the best college journals. That St. Mary's pupils are earnest parishioners in other particulars is proven by the following facts.
When the new church was in the process of erection, the children of St. Mary's school were as interested as their parents. in all that concerned it, and they wanted to do something to help.
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CHARLES DUBS. JOE G. ALLEN.
LIZZIE F. CORCORAN. KITTIE KILLION.
JOHN MANION. JOHN FLANAGAN.
EDITORS AND MANAGERS OF THE SANTA MARIA FOR 1896.
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on the good work. Their teachers suggested having a bank in which the pupils could place their donations. These were to be the fruit of self-sacrifice; money given the children by their parents to spend on sweet meats was dropped into the bank instead, and, when the pennies and nickels amounted to many dollars, the sum was devoted to the purchase of a magnificent stained window representing the Holy Family. This beautiful donation has a place of honor over the front entrance, and bears an inscription stating that the little ones of the flock contributed this handsome addition to the very beautiful and costly set of windows that adorn St. Mary's Church.
A PAGE FROM FATHER HORAN'S LIFE.
Here we think it well to give a brief biographical sketch of him, to whom, under God, all this success, so honorable to religion, is due.
His life has been crowded with zealous activity and crowned with remarkable success. Rev. W. A. Horan, pastor of St. Mary's Church, is a son of Patrick and Mary (Hanaughan) Horan, and was born at DeKalb, Ill., Feb. 2, 1851. His father was, for some years, a dry goods merchant in Chicago; this he abandoned to engage in farming at DeKalb, Ill. There were eight children in the family. William, upon attaining the proper age, was en- rolled in the public school, near his home, where he pursued his studies, with marked interest and earnestness. His aptitude in pursuing the branches of a higher course, is apparent, when it is learned that he graduated from the high school, with honor, at the age of fifteen.
Having decided to fit himself for the priesthood, he went to that celebrated institute of learning, the University of Niagara, New York, at which place he spent ten years, six in classical studies and four in theology. He finished the university course in 1877, and on May 26th of the same year, was ordained to the priesthood, by Bishop Ryan of Buffalo, N. Y.
The training of a Catholic priest is very exacting, and re- quires many years of the hardest kind of mental exertion. The
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fact that Father Horan completed his studies and was ordained a priest at the early age of twenty-five, shows that he was possessed not only of unusually fine abilities, but also of the spirit of deter- mination and of habits of application.
His first mission was at St. James' Catholic Church, Chicago, under Father P. W. Reardon, the present Archbishop of San Francisco, Cal. Here he remained from 1877 to 1879. His abilities becoming recognized, he was assigned to duty at the Cook County hospital, a position not only teeming with oppor- tunities for doing good, but also, attended by lurking dangers that threaten the ruin of the strongest constitution. He resided with Rev. Thomas F. Cashman, assisting him in his manifold duties. It was a life of busy activity for the youthful priest, and, though the time spent amid the foul air of the hospital had impressed its biting seal upon his robust constitution, he would not have had those years spent otherwise, for he considers the difficult duties there fulfilled to have been the greatest work of his life. He was engaged almost incessantly in attending the sick, smoothing the pillow of the dying, and in performing the last offices for the dead. From the lips of the sufferers he learned many of life's experiences that awoke his interest and sympathy, and brought him in close relation with people from various and even distant parts of our country, for, in the great city of Chicago it is strangers, persons from other parts of the United States, who are carried to the hospital, in case of accidents or sickness. Within its walls are found many people who have no homes, and others whose homes are too distant to admit the patient's removal to them. Much to his regret, Father Horan was obliged to give up his work at the hospital, and, in 1882, he was appointed pastor of St. Thomas' Church, Hyde Park. The parish then included not only Hyde Park, but also Auburn. While stationed there he raised funds and erected St. Lawrence Church at Grand Crossing, St. Leo's Church at Auburn, and began the new church of St. Thomas at Hyde Park. A fine parochial house in connec- tion with the latter was erected, besides the school building and a convent for the Sisters. One hundred feet of ground had been
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purchased, and the walls of the church had been erected, when Father Horan was obliged to relinquish his work and travel for the benefit of his health. The vicinity of the lake had a tendency to aggravate his disease, which continued to grow worse, until
REV. FATHER HORAN.
the patient was compelled to seek other climes. By advice of Dr. Murphy, and other prominent physicians of Chicago, he spent the winters of 1887 and 1888 in the south, much of his time being occupied in New Orleans, La., and Jacksonville and Pen- sacola, Fla.
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In the summer of 1888 he went to Minnesota, and part of the next winter was spent in Chicago, after which he enjoyed a trip to Denver and Salt Lake City in company with his warm friends, Judge Pendergast, of Chicago, and Father White, of Wis- consin. The next fall he arranged to go south after the holidays, but was requested to proceed to Freeport to take charge of St. Mary's congregation during the absence of Father Welby. The death of the latter, while in Mexico, created a vacancy in St. Mary's parish .: When it became necessary to appoint a successor to the deceased pastor, it was not strange that universal sentiment was in favor of the young priest who was in temporary charge of the congregation ; he had so greatly endeared himself to the people that they were unwilling to part with him, and petitioned the Archbishop of Chicago to appoint him to the vacant pastorate. It was a happy day for all concerned when he was assigned perma- nently to Freeport.
Since then he has worked indefatigably for his people. No sacrifice has been too great, no effort too mighty for him to make in their behalf. He has given them a magnificent parochial residence and a commodius hall and school, besides the hand- some church.
Father Horan has also been benefited by his appointment, for during his sojourn in Freeport, he has improved wonderfully in health. The sick spells that were frequent, when he first came here, occur but seldom, and, he appears to grow stronger with each dawning day. He has done a world of good, and has won the everlasting love and gratitude of every member of his church and every child in the parish.
The father of Rev. W. A. Horan is still living and is a hale and hearty gentleman 93 years old. One brother is in the real estate and dry goods business at DeKalb, Ill., one is farming, and the youngest, Stephen, is a druggist at Rockford. Only one of his sisters is living, she was present on the occasion of the dedi- cation. Another was a sister of Charity, Sister St. Vincent, who died some years ago at the Mother's House at Emmetsburg, Va. Father Horan's mother and Cardinal Gibbons were first cousins.
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REV. FATHER DU FOUR.
Rev. Father Du Four, who came to Freeport to assist Father Horan, had but recently arrived, at the time of the dedication, but has participated enthusiastically in all parish affairs since
REV. FATHER DU FOUR ..
that occasion. He is noted for his eloquence as a pulpit speaker, for his culture and his wide range of information. A native of St. Genevive, Mo., his earliest recollections are of St. Louis, where he was a student during his youth. There he attended the
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Christian Brothers' school, and later went to the institute at Cape Girardeau. In 1878 he entered the well-known St. Vincent's Seminary at Germantown, Pa., and afterwards returned to Cape ยท Girardeau as an instructor, where, in 1882, he was ordained to the priesthood. For several years he was connected with the celebrated Niagara University as professor of mathematics, came west a short time since, and will doubtless not return to the east. He has occupied St. Mary's pulpit frequently, and his discourses have been listened to with a great deal of pleasure- and satisfaction.
THE RECORD OF ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.
It is fitting that we here introduce to our readers St. Mary's. noble sister-church, St. Joseph's, a handsome edifice erected and used by an eminently pious and respectable German congregation, organized thirty years ago.
As we have elsewhere stated, in the early times the German and the Irish Catholics were members of one congregation, but. many of the former being ignorant of the English language, it was deemed advisable to form two parishes. Father John Westkamp set about selecting a suitable place of worship for the Germans, and, on June 4, 1862, purchased the old Baptist Church, on the present site, for $2,000. The congregation at that time numbered 125 families. This old church was repaired and fitted up in good style, but in 1868, finding that it was too small to hold the rapidly growing congregation, a large gallery was built in it, and in the fall of 1871 it was decided to erect a new build- ing. During the winter, the members living in the city quarried stone and the farming class hauled it to the site for the new edifice. Early in the spring, the old building was moved back to Pleasant Street and used for church purposes until the new structure was completed, after which it was torn down, and the lumber sold. The new church was immediately commenced.
The contracts were let as follows : Carpenter work, Straub & Baumgarten ; brick, L. Metzgar; mason, Shoeb & Bruehler ; plastering, Heitzman & Snyder ; frescoing, D. Adamson.
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Early in June the corner stone was laid by Bishop Foley, of Chicago, in the midst of a large number of priests and people. It was completed in December, 1872, and dedicated on the fourth Sunday of Advent by Bishop Foley, in the presence of a great many priests from all parts of the diocese.
REV. FATHER KALVELAGE.
The building is of modern Gothic, its dimensions are 50 x 140 feet, and the cost was $35,000. The church is built of brick with stone trimmings and faces northeast. John Dillenburg, of Chicago, was the architect. The seating capacity including the
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gallery is 850. It is lighted with gas and heated by means of
large furnaces. The windows are of stained glass.
In 1881 the appearance of the sacred structure was greatly improved by the erection of the steeple, which is 175 feet high, and is of beautiful design and finish. Four bells, weighing 5,000 lbs. and costing $1,000, constitute a set of chimes that ring out joy- ously and solemnly on all religious feast days and on every Sun- day. Their tones are E, F sharp, G sharp and A. They were purchased and hung during the pastorate of Father Kalvelage. In 1886 new altars were put into the church, at a cost of about $1,500. They were consecrated by Archbishop Feehan, May 20, 1886. The lower part has three reliefs, representing the marriage of the Blessed Virgin to St. Joseph ; the nativity of our Lord, and the death of St. Joseph. There are three niches in the sub- structure. The larger one contains the crucifixion group, Christ on the cross and Mary and John beneath. In the right niche is the statue of the Immaculate Conception, and on the left, the statue of St. Boniface.
It was during the same year that the side altars and pews were purchased and put in. The interior furnishing and decorat- ing are complete and choice, and St. Joseph's Catholic Church, from basement to steeple, is a structure of which our German citizens may well be proud.
Scarcely had the new church been completed and paid for, when efforts were made to improve the educational advantages. At first a small frame building, which had been purchased of St. Mary's congregation, and which stood on the present site, was used, but this became too small and was unsuited for the purpose, hence, in 1883, the new structure was begun.
The contracts were let as follows: Brick, John Trunck ; stone, Bruehler & Eberle Bros .; carpenter work and plastering, D. Weary. F. E. Josel was the architect.
The building is fifty feet square. It has two stories and a basement, and is built of brick and stone. There are four school rooms, each 24 x 36 feet, with 12 foot ceilings. The basement is divided into a coal room and a room used for the various societies
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connected with the church. The cost of the building was $5,500.
The school is divided into eight grades, there being four rooms of two grades each. Father Kalvelage superintends the
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ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.
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school and teaches catechism. The enrollment of pupils is 250, and the attendance is very regular, absence being occasioned only by sickness. Father Kalvelage has been very earnest in his efforts to improve the school, and bring it up to a high standard of scholarship and thoroughness. The parishioners very highly appreciate the excellent work done in St. Joseph's School. It is taught by Franciscan Sisters from Joliet.
The congregation of St. Joseph's Catholic Church have left nothing undone that might tend to make them better men and women in all directions; they have established a number of societies for social and benevolent purposes, each of which has been doing a grand work for God and for souls. Father Kalvelage has directed and assisted very materially in the forma- tion of these societies, and it is due to his assistance and the deep interest taken by the members, that each one has made such progress, financially and numerically.
St. Joseph's Benevolent Society was organized March 4, 1866, by Rev. Father Baluff. Its purpose is insurance, which ranges from $500 to $1,000. A sick-benefit of $4 per week is paid. The membership is sixty. Meetings are held on the last. Sunday of each month.
The St. Pius Benevolent Society was formed June 20, 1880, by the young men, and its insurance and sick-benefits are the same as in the St. Joseph Society. Both organizations belong to the German Catholic Central Society. They meet on the third Sunday of each month. The membership is seventy.
St. George's Branch of the Catholic Knights of Illinois was organized a few years ago. It furnishes insurance $1,000 to- $2,000. Its membership is thirty-five, and meetings are held on the first Sunday of the month.
St. Mary's Society originated Oct. 30, 1867. The object is to assist in getting ornaments for the church. Rev. Father Kalvelage is the director.
St. Cecilia's Society, which began Aug. 10, 1870, is composed of the young ladies of the parish, who assist in decorating the
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church, and in maintaining a circulating library. There are forty-five members.
St. Aloysius Society, for boys between the ages of twelve and eighteen years, dates from Jan. 18, 1891. The membership is twenty. They also have a sick-benefit.
A HIGH SCHOOL
NTS' LIBRARY
NGELES, O
A ZEESE &CO. CHI.Um
ST. JOSEPH'S SCHOOL.
St. Agnes Society for girls was established March 31, 1891, and numbers thirty members. They assist in decorating the church and keeping up the library. One of the Sisters acts as president.
The admirable progress of St. Joseph's German Catholic Church has been due to the good work done by her pastors.
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INTERIOR OF ST. JOSEPH'S SCHOOL.
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They have left monuments of devotion and zeal that make brief sketches of their lives worthy of perusal.
Father John Westkamp was the first pastor. He was born in Westphalia, Germany. In his youth he came to America, and studied at the St. Vincent College, at Beatty, Pa. He was ordained at Chicago. His pastorate here continued until 1863, and it was during his charge that the congregation was organized and the first church property purchased.
Father Ignatius Baluff was born in Europe. He emigrated to America in his younger days, and studied at St. Vincent's College. His course was finished in Chicago, where he was ordained. He served as pastor from June, 1863, to January, 1874. The new church was built under his direction, and the parsonage, a substantial and commodious brick building, was purchased. The cemetery, containing four acres, was also secured during his pastorate.
FATHER CLEMENT KALVELAGE.
Father Kalvelage, the present pastor, was born at Lohne, Germany, Nov. 23, 1845. He is a son of Herman and Mary (Dekmann) Kalvelage. His father was a weaver by trade. He attended a Catholic school near his home until thirteen years old. On Oct. 20, 1858, he reached this country with his mother, his father having died when he was but a mere child. They went to Milwaukee, Wis., and there for five years he studied at the St. Francis Seminary. At the end of that time, four years were occupied in study in St. Mary's of the Lake, Chicago. Then another year was spent in study at Milwaukee, and on Jan. 29, 1869, he was ordained at Milwaukee by Archbishop Henni.
His first pastorate was at the St. Francis Church, Ottawa, where he remained five years. He took charge of the congrega- tion in Freeport, March 11, 1874, of which he has since been the pastor, doing a world of good. During this time the new school house was built, the steeple erected, the bells purchased and the hospital built. He has officiated at 1,000 baptisms and per- formed 300 marriage ceremonies as pastor of St. Joseph's Church.
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The financial condition of the church is very good. The debt on the church and school is paid. The property, not includ- ing the hospital, is valued at $60,000. The remaining debt on the hospital is $8,800. The congregation held a jubilee in 1887, celebrat- ing their twenty-fifth anniversary.
REV. FR. MEYER.
The assistant pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Rev. Father Meyer, is a man who has rendered efficient service to Father Kalvelage since he came here, a few years ago. He is a man of fine attainments, an excellent pulpit orator, and a priest who is devoted to his calling, and he is a prime favorite with the members of the large congregation.
THE ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL.
AN INSTITUTION OF WHICH FREEPORT IS PROUD-A NOBLE WORK.
Connected with St. Joseph's Catholic Church is the St. Francis Hospital, an institution of which all Freeport is proud. And it has already done a noble work, which cannot be estimated by dollars and cents, but rather computed in that great city above, where the treasures are much more precious than gems or gold.
It was through the efforts of Father Kalvelage that the hospital was erected and fitted up. The story of the Stoneman bequest is familiar to all our readers and need not be recounted. We have referred to the good work done by the building com- mittees and the members of the congregation, in helping the project in various ways. The building was begun on a beautiful, commanding site, on South Walnut Street, in the year 1889 ..
It is a handsome brick, tastily planned and substantially built. The cost was $20,000, to which was added $10,000 for furnishing, bedding, etc. The building is 44 x 104 feet; it is three stories high with an eight foot basement. The interior is lighted with gas and has water in all rooms where necessary. Large steam boilers heat the rooms and ventilators and dust shafts are ranged throughout the building. A fine feature is the
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large porch on the east side, where convalescents may greet the rising sun, and draw hope and strength from its genial beams. The building was dedicated Feb. 12, 1890.
Everything, from basement to dome, is kept exquisitely neat, and the good Franciscan Sisters in charge are untiring in
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KELSE & CO. CHI.
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ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL.
their efforts in ministering to those under their charge. One room is set apart for old soldiers who may be ill, and the John A. Davis Post, G. A. R., have fitted it up in an appropriate style, which any old soldier would most certainly appreciate. Not only have a great many patients of this city been taken care of at the hospital, but also a number of. traveling men, and the inhabitants of the surrounding country and towns have added to the roll of patients.
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The hospital is sustained partly by a moderate charge and partly by the charitable contributions of friends and benefactors. The first annual report of this noble institution furnishes some- interesting data. For instance, we find that the religious beliefs of the sixty-eight patients were as follows: Catholics, 28; Pro- testants, denomination not given, 25 ; Lutherans, 4 ; Episcopalians, 2; Shaker, 1; Methodists, 3; Presbyterians, 1; Evangelical, 1; Congregational, 1; no religion, 2. It would seem, from these statistics, that a greater number of non-Catholics than of Catholics- have profited by this excellent institution, which owes its existence and continuance to Catholic charity and enterprise.
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