USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > South Bend > An illustrated history of St. Joseph's Church, South Bend, Indiana > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
In due time they were also confronted by the fact that the rent of many years was still due to Father Sorin for the pastor's residence. This matter was compromised on an easy settlement. But as such an easy settlement could no longer be looked for in future, the residence renting plan was wisely abandoned, and in the summer of 1891, a part of the empty hall and school was arranged for a residence at a cost of $1055.02, and $300.00. These additional $300.00 were given to the general fund by the pastor for a barn which was put up for him at the same time and which is his own personal property. Of the $1055. 02 the pastor collected" from, door to door $838.93 and the balance, $216.09, fell upon the, poor church treasury. To pay it the committee urged upon the pastor a
MONTHLY COLLECTION
which at first seemed to be rather uncongenial, but to which the poor man took, latter on, very kindly, because it brought at first from $90 00 to $100 00 per month. The improvement was soon paid for and a monthly tribute of $15.00 was cancelled. In fact the monthly collection proved itself so good that it has been continued up to this day, and it is this which has ever since paid the interest of the general debt and which, by this time, has largely contributed to reduce the debt itself so materially.
The church was not as yet ten years old and pessimists noticed that the walls without a water table were crumbling and that the heavy and leaking roof was pressing the walls apart; and all the people saw, perhaps then for the first time, that the inside of the church had never been painted and its windows, beautiful though they were, afforded no protection against rain or cold, on the contrary they were themselves in need of protection against an eventual strong wind.
THE ORIGINAL LADIES OF NAZARETH
took it upon themselves to make these needful repairs and improve- ments, and for the 16th, 17th and 18th of October, 1890, they prepared a fair in the skating rink. They called upon the Children of Mary and the children of the school and the Total Abstinence society for help and realized the amount of $1218.24, an amount more than sufficient to make the above mentioned improvements, but very handy to pay interest and to reduce a debt which continued to grow larger and larger in proportion as notes were being presented which had escaped even Father Glceson's notice.
In 1896 again the Ladies of Nazareth, though now for reasons they have a different name, by private collections had a basement excavated under the church where they replaced an an old bricked-in, full-cord-wood-devouring-and-no-heat-but-all- smoke-giving stove by a first class furnace at a cost of about
30
29
$600.00. The accounts for this improvement never as much as entered the church accounts, the ladies taking full charge of all the expenses. The proceeds of other festivals and socials which the ladies held in the meanwhile were directly turned into the church funds and applied on the most urgent ones of the many demands which were then made on poor Treasurer, John M. Singler. The needs of the sanctuary, the sweeping of the church, the washing and mending of church linens, all such minor details continued to be provided for by the small monthly dues of the society.
THE CHILDREN OF MARY
were not less active. Besides lending a helping hand in every movement they would hold, year after year, lawn socials of their own during summer and make private collections during winter. The undivided proceeds of these would invariably wander into the church treasurer's pouch. The expenses for such extraordin- ary donations of theirs as a Blessed Virgin's Altar which they furnished in 1892 with the statues thereon which they had impor- ted from France, at a cost of about $500.00; a cement sidewalk around the church property at about $300.00, in 1899; carpets for the church, ornaments for their altar, etc, all these they defrayed from their own private little treasury and from personal contributions thereunto. They would even furnish the pastor with an occasional new cassock, at one time with a new buggy and complete outfit, and to these they would surely have added a horse, had not the poor man been amply supplied in this respect by the Very Rev. Father Sorin. Nor did any organi- zation undertake any improvement, but the Children of Mary would assist them with at least $25.00 or $50. These are socie- ties which any church may feel proud of. As long as they are alive to their aim, no creditor need be afraid of his investment, and no church need be in want of anything necessary. The
Children of Mary also took the most prominent part in what we may call
A GALA DAY
in St. Joseph's congregation when the latter joined all the Catholic churches of South Bend and Mishawaka in duly celebra- ting the 400th anniversary of the Discovery of America by Columbus. It was on a Sunday afternoon, the 16th day of October, 1892, when
THE COLUMBIAN CELEBRATION
took place, and that beautiful day of October was fully in har- mony with the spirit which animated every Catholic in South Bend and in the neighboring towns on the occasion. A monster parade, the result of months of planning and execution, was now ready and it surpassed the most sanguine expectations of the thousands of spectators that came from near and far to witness it. At 1:30 p. m, the various congregations fell in line, from appointed intersections, on Washington street and moved east on Washington to Main, south to Jefferson, east to Hill, north to Water, west to Michigan, south to Washington, west to Front and counter-marched to the speaker's stand at the court house square. Some idea of the length of the procession may be formed from the fact that when the head of the parade was crossing the Water street bridge going west the rear was pour- ing across the Jefferson street bridge, and the last carriage was passing the court house square when the leaders were as far as Center street, on Michigan, the line extending over the route given on the East Side. About 45 minutes were required to pass a given point, and the parade represented about 5000 persons.
All along this line eager spectators literally packed the sidewalks, the court yards and the porches and the windows of houses, and at every street intersection buggies and wagons were jammed, filled with persons anxious to obtain a view.
32
31
At the home of Rev. Father Stoffel, on Hill street, corner of Water, the magnificent procession was reviewed by Very Rev. Father Sorin, Superior General of the Order of the Holy Cross, the Rev. Fathers A. Granger, W. Corby, T. E. Walsh, A. Morrissey, D. Hudson, Jos. Kirsch, Profs. Wm. Hoynes, James Edwards, Francis Ackerman and other members of the Faculty of Notre Dame.
What a contrast must have been before the minds of Fathers Sorin, Granger and Corby if they thought back to the time when they used to collect all the Catholics of South Bend in the small Alexis chapel.
Of the part taken by St. Joseph's congregation the South Bend Press, on the following day, spoke in substance as follows:
THEY DID WELL THEIR PART.
The part taken by St. Joseph's congregation, of the East Side, was a notable one, and their efforts received particular commendation on all sides. That congregation presented a combination of religion and patriotism. "God and Our Country" was their chief motto. They formed the third division in the parade and were preceeded by the Sweedish Cornet Band. The following is the order in which their floats appeared:
The first float represented a figure of St. Joseph, with four guards of honor, under a canopy and the banner of St. Joseph floating above with the Stars and Stripes. The lilies which adorned the float and the four white horses which drew it were fitting emblems of the patron of that congregation and the patron of our county.
The second float was furnished by the Young Ladies' Sodality, the Children of Mary. It represented Columbus, assisted by Father Perez, as he explains his theories about a new world before the court of Queen Isabella. The tableau contained fifteen figures, and the costumes and decorations were of strictly Spanish design. Mr. Fred. Winkler's stately form
made a beautiful and intelligent Columbus at the globe, and Mr. Geo. Chartier's pate seemed to have been purposely prepared to serve as that of Father Perez. The officers of the Sodality represented the queen and her court.
The third float contained the rest of the Young Ladies' Sodality, sixty-five young ladies dressed in white and floating their banner and the national colors.
The fourth float represented the departure of Columbus from Palos. Columbus and his crew receive the blessing for a happy journey from Father Perez who is assisted by some fifty church ministers. The float was a boat 12x30 feet in size, and was rigged out with cabin, sails, wheel, etc.
The members of the church committee defrayed the expenses of this boat, and the Steward of Notre Dame furnished the truck and six horses to haul it. On this float Mr. Charles Embic made a wise Columbus, and Mr. Ernest Peach a pious Perez. Even without his costume Charles Senrick would easily have been recognized as the cook ; Rudolph Singler was climbing the mast and directing the sails, and Thomas Hoban, at the sound of the bell would work at the wheel as if the safety of the whole parade depended on him. The church ministers were the altar boys, and their uniforms, as they were made then by the Children of Mary, are in use up to this day and show to good advantage in the altar boy's picture in this book.
The fifth float was, Our Lady-Star of the Sea. It repre- sented the waves of the ocean from which emerged the Star of the Sea which guided and encouraged Columbus in the saddest moments of his perils and in whose honor the crew sang every evening "Ave Maris Stella." The Star of the Sea was Miss Mary Semortier, then a child of Mary, and now Mrs. Charles Singler. The float was furnished and fitted out at her own expense. She must have felt quite big when she saw herself mounted on such an elaborate truck and drawn by six horses.
The sixth float contained a camp of Indians who had the
34
3:
Gospel preached to them by two of the early missionary fathers. It belonged to the St. Aloysius Society of Young Men. James Luther and Wm. Braunsdorf in black cassocks and white sur- plices were catechising a forest full of Indians of all ages and all sizes. An occasional war-whoop and even a war-dance around the trees of the forest showed that either the truths of Christi- anity or the plaudits of so much civilization were not all at once according to their taste.
The seventh float was a boat thickly filled with emigrants who came, as their costumes showed, from all parts of God's creation, and who now shower their blessings upon the memory of Columbus. "God Bless Columbus!" was their devise in large letters on both sides of the boat and on the large banner which they carried. This float was the pastor's device in favor of those children of the school that had not as yet been called upon to serve in any other capacity.
The eighth float reprctented the State of Maryland proclaim- ing religious liberty over two hundred years ago. In a diphros- shaped chariot and behind six horses one young lady dashed along shaking the flag of liberty right and left. To describe the outfit would require the pen of a modiste or that of a newspaper reporter at a wedding party. Suffice it to say that the float was furnished by the Children of Mary.
The ninth float characterized the material and political state of America at the present day. The States and Territories were represented on large badges worn by young ladies in white and the devise of the silver dollar "In God we trust" was conspicuous on banners aud ou the sides of the float. It was furnished and equipped by Messrs. Andrew Neddo and James Kenny for 48 young ladies of a Confirmation class.
The tenth float was: "Our Lady Immaculate", patroness of our country, or the religious state of America at the present time. The "Immaculate Conception" stood on a profusely decorated canopy and was surrounded by Faith, Hope and Charity. The
body of the float was filled with the girls of the First Communion class of that year, dressed in white and decked with wreaths. This float was furnished by the pastor with the aim of providing for the girls a place almost equal to the one which the boys of the same class were given on the "Santa Maria."
Following the above floats came the men of the congregation on foot and the members of the church committee in a carriage.
The church societies of men were assigned a special place of their own in the procession. But the members of the St. John the Baptist society readily renounced to that honor, when they were asked to act singly as an ornament, a protection and as a guide to each one of the 58 horses which drew the floats of St. Joseph's congregation through the forests of Red, White and Blue and through the floods of the music of cornet bauds which filled the air.
From among the special notes which the uewspapers appended to their accounts the following may be quoted:
There was never a more orderly large crowd upon our streets. Money and effort were uot spared to make yesterday's parade a splendid success.
Each church was well represented. St. Hedwige's led in the number of the parade and St. Joseph's in the number and in the beauty of floats. The representation as to floats was as follows: Mishawaka, 1; St. Joseph's, 10; St. Mary's, 5; St. Patrick's, 3; St. Hedwige's, 8.
St. Joseph's cougregation was minus its Marshal on horse- back. It is true, Mr. Paschal Bourdon was not in his position on horseback, at least not for a long time. But he was present at the parade in full regalia. From the beginning he wished to shiue, uot ouly in able horsemanship, but also by his steed aud he presumed to ride the pastor's "Jim". The latter, however, soon became intoxicated with all the music, the buntiug and the admiring multitudes, aud Mr. Bourdon concluded that, after all, prudence was the better part of valor and he preferred to walk
35
at the bridle of a less pretentious horse rather than to ride the noblest steed in town.
There was but one accident to mar the entire proceedings. When the statue of St. Joseph was being placed on its pedestal, the horses moved suddenly and it was thrown to the ground and broken in fragments. The little mishap here referred to did not abate anybody's enthusiasm. Before the parade left the float yards about the church, another statue was supplied by St. Joseph's hospital, and during the procession the four guards of honor, Messrs. Robert Braunsdorf, Zootic Crepeau, Michael Hanly and Louis Hickey, Sr. who had designed and furnished the float provided among themselves for another statue of the same make and size. But when they came with their offer to the pastor, Mr. Theobald Gooly who died Oct. 3, 1900, had been ahead of them. The day after the celebration the latter enquired about the possible cost of such a statue and put $75.00 in the pastor's hand for a new one.
The Columbus celebration of 1892 illustrates the practice of St. Joseph's church during the past decade. It is, to be slow in undertaking any kind of any enterprise; but if once such an enterprise has been undertaken, it is, to enter into the spirit thereof with one mind and one soul. With a similar spirit
A SECOND FAIR
was ushered into existence by the Ladies' Sodalities and held in the Skating Rink, on the 17th, 18th and 19th of February, 1898. Four children of Mary alone collected within six weeks $519.50 and the fair netted the fair amount of $1404.91. It was only surpassed, two years later, by
THE CHILDREN'S FAIR.
The latter proved not less successful than it was unique in its nature and almost providential in its conception. This is the way it was brought about: A small hall was asked for by the
36
Catholic Knights, a large one by the congregation at large; the latter had not the will to accomodate the former nor the means to suit itself. While hall matters were thus being dis- cussed, the children caught the idea and at once anticipated the un of a coming fair. The hall matter was dropped, but the necessity of additional school room forced itself upon the congre- gation, and the children claimed that prospective fair for their school accommodations. They will hold it themselves.
The idea appcared amusingly strange to some and seriously so unto others. But children in a school form a world of their own among themselves and this little world of theirs exercises a greater influence over the rest of this world's inhabitants than the moon ever exercised over the inhabitants of any of her sister planets. At home, perhaps, the children were not listened to at all, but in that little world fo their own they have a right to assert their claims and to ask for the reason of their being refused. Their work on similar enterprises of the past precluded the excuse of a possible failure. The possible loss in studies was equally futile, because the more a child wants to do the more he can do, and the management of a fair is a great training in itself. Assurances, too, were given, that not a lesson would be lost and that studies would receive even greater attention than ever before.
All that the sisters of the school and the pastor himself could do now was to put the children off from week to week and from day to day.
As early as the 7th day of November 1899 a child, Lconic Poulin, called on the pastor with an article which she had begged of her parents, and asked to obtain a book authorizing her to receive collections on the same. He ask her to wait, under the plea that he would first have to send for such books, but in reality to gain time and to learn what was the general feeling in the matter. At the same time 25 books were sent for, then 50 more and again 50 and finally 100, all of which were called
37
for even before they had arrived. Article upon article now arrived in school, the donations of parents, friends and business men of South Bend at large. They ranged from a Senegambian goat that jumps from precipice to precipice and back again all the way down to a pair of fighting cocks, and from gold watches and parlor stoves all the way down to a baby cradle or an ironing board. The pastor was kept busy, day after day, from mass time till noon, superintending thic entering of the same and issuing books authorizing collecting thereon. An account also was opened of the books the collectors and the contributors.
Armed with these books the children then would make a bee line for their parents, their friends, not even slighting their focs, in fact all over town, for a donation. The hope of making five cents would not allow any one to think of the distance even to Notre Dame and St. Mary's Academy.
Some people thought they were pestered with them and felt greatly worried about the children's attention being withdrawn from their books, others admired their courage and all, without exception, encouraged them with a small donation.
How useless the pastor's remark was, when on the following Sunday, Nov. 12, 1899, he asked the congregation: "Do you know that the children have really started their fair," was fully evinced by the "Indeed we do" look and by the 'Indecd we ought to know" smile which was on every countenance. He continued by asking the people to encourage the children and to be kind to them in every case, assuring them that a kind refusal will be more appreciated than even a large donation given with a disdainful look or an unkind remark.
The pastor's request was not without its effect. The people always had a nickel or a dime in readiness for their youthful callers. Mrs Sherland who then resided in St. Joseph's hospital, sent them a check for $100.00 to save them the trouble of calling on her singly and individually.
The uniform collecting books contained room for just 100
uniform subscriptions, and before the end of the first week sever- al of them were returned with five and ten dollars, and these same collectors would ask for a second, a third, some even for a seventh book.
Following is the list of the children who collected ten or more dollars together with their respective collections:
Adelsperger, Rose. $22.05
Kochenderfer, Anthony. 15.40
Archambeault, Clyde. 10.80
Krueper, Cecelia 10.00
Archambeault, Hildegard. 10.00
Lafortune, Louis 15.00
Beriault, Arthur. 13.31
Larkin, John. 10.00
Black, Erl.
14.10
Lonergan, David 32.10
Braunsdorf, A.
10.00
Maher, Bernard .. 12 00
Cassidy, Clifford .
40.00
McCafferty, Anna 13.70
Couch, Fred.
20.10
McCartney, Mary. 10.00
Crepeau, Joseph
17.00
McNamara. Mary 20.00
Crepeau, Melvin
36.20
Miller, Otto 17.10
Dobson Bernard
65.80
Mitenberger, Joseph 10.00
Dobson, Mary.
13.15
Murphy, Williamu
20 10
Donohue, Joseph John
27.50
Murphy, James.
15.00
Donohue, Joseph Joseph
15.20
Murphy, John
10 00
Dorn, George
11.00
Neifert, Anthony 11.05
Doyle, John
11 80
O'Connor, M. 55.75
Eckenroth, John
11.20
Park. Hattie.
10.50
Erl, Mary
14.50
Poulin, Leonie 10.50
Fleck, Clarence
20.00
Poulin, Joseph
32.60
Fisher, Francis
12.20
Probst, Ruth
10.00
Hanke, Lea
13.00
Robert, Wilfred
15.80
Hartford, Matthew
15.00
Semortier, Mary 10 00
Haverle, Julia
17.35
Seyen, Annie 12.20
Hickey, Thomas.
10.00
Sheiblehut, Edward
10.00
Hickey, Virgie
10.00
Sheiblehut, Leo
10.00
Hoban, Mary.
13.80
Velaire, Leo
16.60
Hiss, Gertrude.
10.00
Wagner, Ada
20.00
Johnston, Edward
13.20
Weston, Arthur 10.00
Johnston, Joseph.
10.00
Zipperer, John
23 10
Joyce, Margret
12.70
Besides these nearly every child of school reported with amounts varying from three or four dollars to ten.
39
Alphabetical entries also were made of the names of contri- butors, and these were credited with all the small amounts which the collecting books recorded in their favor. The list is some- what less than a mile long and is preserved among the parochial records.
The fair was counted a success before it opened. It com- menced on the 15th day of February and was intended to last three days. Owing, however. to the large number of articles to be disposed of it was continued two more days. The advice and the help of fathers and mothers, of older brothers and sisters was needed and was cheerfully given. It closed on a Saturday night, about 10 o'clock. Whatever articles, by that time, were not as yet disposed of were now sold at auction by masters James Murphy and Oriel Crepeau. The latter had returned from Chicago to lend a helping hand. Many a tried auctioneer might have learned a few points from these lads.
It was a great surprise, indeed, for the congregation, on the following morning, to learn that the children had made, clear of all expenses, the sum of $1860.03. "Good for the kids across the river!" said those who had overheard this taunting remark on several occasions, and "God bless the children!" was the general verdict. Nor is the material success of the enter- prise one bit more worthy of commendation than the earnest zeal and the good will which the children manifested. Of course, it goes without saying that the Sisters of the school and the parents at home come in for a good share of the credit.
THE COQUILLARD BEQUEST.
Alexis Coquillard, a nephew of the elder Alexis Coquillard, died on the 25th day of February, 1890. He was the lad that rowed Father Sorin, on his arrival in South Bend, across the St. Joseph river on a primitive ferry of his own construction and who became subsequently the first student of the latter's incipi- ent institution. He was one of the earliest and most successful
ALEXIS COQUILLARD.
40
settlers of South Bend and a faithful member of St. Joseph's church. A few weeks after his demise his last will and testa- ment was probated, and the local newspapers anuounced in large head lines
$5000.00 FOR ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.
The joy and the gratitude of the people were commensurate only with the need of the amount, aud the pastor lost no time in putting red lines around the article and exclamation marks in the margin, in underlining the $5000.00 figure and in sending the papers to the ordinary of the diocese, the Rt. Rev. Joseph Dwenger, Bishop of Fort Wayne, in whose name the bequest was made in trust for St. Joseph's church.
By return of mail the Bishop instructed the pastor to make to the wife and relatives of the deceased the offer which is embodied in the following order:
JOSEPH,
BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND THE FAVOR OF THE APOSTOLIC SEE. BISHOP OF FORT WAYNE,
IN PERPETUAL REMEMBRANCE.
Be it known by this, that ALEXIS COQUILLARD has bequeathed to St. Joseph's Church, South Bend, Ind., the sum of Five Thousand Dollars, and in consideration thereof a Requiem High Mass, the 25th day of February, shall be sung every year, and a Low Mass shall be said every month as long as said Church and Congregation remains in existence.
Given under our hand and seal this 12th day of March, 1890. [Seal.]
Signed: JOSEPH DWENGER, Bishop of Fort Wayne.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.