USA > Indiana > Jefferson County > Madison > History of St. Marys Parish, Madison, Indiana > Part 2
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
.
13
St. Mary's Parish
The next step of importance consisted in this: Pursuant to a notification by Father Brandt, a meeting was held at the school November 3, 1877. The following proceedings were held:
On motion, Rev. Father Brandt was called to the chair. Chas. A. Korbly was elected secretary, John Jaeger, as assist- ant secretary. The chairman stated the object of the meeting to be, to deliberate upon the necessity and propriety of pur- chasing ground for a parish graveyard It was unanimously rc- solved that a separate cemetery was needed. On motion a sub- scription was ordered to be commenced and the assistant sec- retary directed to solicit subscriptions Then the meeting of nearly the whole congregation adjourned.
In the same month yet, fourteen acres of land, about a mile north of the church, with a house on it were bought for $2,000 00, of which the half was paid at once. Then came a dark cloud, which is worth while to describe for the sake of history, not to stir up an old feud. Father Brandt relates facts which caused him blues, on blue paper, in German plain lan . guage It was fortunately preserved.
Memorandum.
"In a meeting of the trustees of St. Mary's parish on the 26 of November 1867 the following five men were appointed to assist the pastor by word and deed in cemetery matters: 1. John Meyer, 2. Nicholas Winter, 3. Mathias Giesler, 4. Leonard Klein, 5. John Jaeger. To these five were added subsequently Henry Dreier and Nicholas Siersdofer.
On the 28th of November this committee and the pastor met on the cemetery grounds. The pastor explained his plan to lay out the ground. It was unanimously accepted, also who should dwell as sexton on the place and under which condi- tions. Some of the seven men were delegated to confer to the county surveyor to find out the proper limit.
A few days afterwards some of the committee assembled for the purpose of staking off the ground proper for the ceme- tery. It was decided to make a front of 56 feet stone wall and then enclose the sides with fences. After these resolutions the priest, leaving the spot, requested the representatives of the committee to proceed. This might have finished in eight to ten days. In the afternoon between two and three o'clock, four men of the committee came to the parochial residence and declared, that if the graveyard would not be laid out according to their plans, nothing would be done.
The pastor however remonstrated, that their plans were
--
14
History of
unpractical; would deprive too much ground by roads and would altogether fail to make a respectable cemetery. The com- mittee insisted on its opinion; the rector replied with the sug- gestion to send both plans to the Right Rev. Bishop for a deci- sion, to which one rejected with the words: We neither care for Bishop, nor for priest, WE WANT IT SO.
L. B.
Thus it remained and cold weather set in. But fifteen lots were sold in November 1867. The first three corpses were temporarily preserved in a vault. On the 30th of January 1868, 8 p. m. three men (they are named in the blue paper) came to me, in order to invite me to a meeting in the school hall, which had been arranged without my knowledge. I refused to attend such a meeting, and they might inform the assembly. Disorderly steps were taken, to oppose the pastor. But only one of the trustees signed a protest.
L. B.
In an extra letter on white paper Father Brandt took occa- sion to censure the officers of the St. Peter's Society for viola- ting the rules of the constitution, It was to be read in the March quarterly meeting.
This society had been organized in October 1859 as a Re- lief or Benevolent Union, not a distinct Catholic society of St. Mary's parish, but a society for Catholics of the whole city. It had as such rented the school hall for their monthly meetings. It appears, that the St. Peter's society took a great interest in that meeting of January 30, held purposely to antagonize the pastors. Members were even obliged under fine to attend and furthermore men invited, who did not belong to the society at all, including strangers and non catholics. Who would blame Father Brandt for protesting against such flagrant violations of the rules, to which he called the attention of the officers and members?
It was the just opinion of the offended pastor, that the guilty should be called down.
The difficulties about the cemetery were not the only thorns, which stung the resident of 475 E. Second street. There is a letter on hand yet of Father Brandt dated December 23, 1867, shortly after the occurrence of the first cemetery meeting. It is addressed to a certain party, which I signify by N. N.
"I beg leave to notify you by this present, that from the 15th of January 1866 we are bound to make other use of the house, which you occupy at present, so that you have time
-
15
St. Mary's Parish
enough to find another dwelling for yourself and family."
"We hope that you will leave the house in good order and in due time and remain with due respect."
The pastor and trustees of St. Mary's Church.
How far the due respect was to be extended is not hinted at in this ultimatum."
On February 10, 1868 the spiritual father closed the tem- poral accounts, receipts and expenses of the year 1867:
Receipts were $4,576.24
Expenses
4,958.05
Leaving a deficit of 371.81 which was however, partly conquered by $165.00 collection during the Mission, $125.70 by a concert and $16.00 by interest from the bank. The good, con- scientious financier recorded it in the book, of same date, that since March 1865, $9,000.00 were spent for real estate. The capital debt of the parish is reduced up to this date to $2,775.00 besides $1,000 00 for the cemetery, which will pay for itself, as soon as it can be arranged. Continuing he says, that he was contented since eleven years with a salary of $300.00 and it his principal business to liquidate the debt.
Only since January 1967 he draws $450 00 and fuel and light What did his enemies sacrifice?
All for the greater glory of God, he closes. We come now to the year 1869 which was not eventful, with the exception, that fifty feet were added to the church and the interior beau- tifully frescoed, at a cost of $4,086 40 together. Despite the many expenditures for home calls and 'needs the diocesan col- lections were very good. After this there was a pause.
The second decade of the history closed in the fall of 1870, or rather at the end of the year. The plant started in 1850 un- der adversities, had become firmly rooted until the time of at- taining its majority.
:
--
16
History of
JANUARY 1, 1871 TO APRIL 14, 1881.
From October 27, 1870 to August 22, 1871 appears the name of a Rev. Weber as Assistant. In the year 1873 a Rev. Charles Loescher became Assistant at St. Mary's and he remain- ed about nine months. Some parishoners remember him and Father Weber yet.
The new cemetery absorbed in the coming years - seven- ties-the principal attention, as in the closing years of the six- ties. The climax of the care for it was reached by its conse- cration on Sunday, September 14, 1873, Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, when the Vicar General Bede O'Conner, O. S. B, the readers remember him as a former temporary pastor, came from Vincennes, to perform the ceremony.
Father Brandt put it down that a large concourse of peo- ple was present. A procession, formed by St. Michael's and St. Mary's members, started from St. Mary's church after Ves- pers. Six months and a half another large procession went to a cemetery but not to St Joseph's of St. Mary's parish but to that near St Patrick's church at North Madison.
The Very Rev. Hippolyte Dupontavice V. G. pastor of St. Michael's since twenty-seven years died on May 27, 1874, and was laid to rest in the mortuary chapel.
The two pastors were co-laborers in this part of the Dio- cese's vineyard for eighteen years and nearly four months. We can imagine the sad sentiments of St. Mary's pastor at the loss of his Rev. neighbor. Once only, according to a letter yet ex- tant, without date however, a dark cloud seemed to overshad- ow the three squares and a half between the two churches. The Ordinary presumably removed the cloud satisfactorily.
In Father Dupontavice the Diocese lost a Vicar General, appointed by his predecessor, Father Maurice St. Palais who was pastor of St Michael's for fourteen months, October 1846 to December 1847, when he became Vicar General and Superior of the Seminary at Vincennes and subsequently the fourth Bis- hop of Vincennes.
-
17
St. Mary's Parish
The first account book for revenues and expenses begun by Father Martinovic of St. Mary's, contains this memorandum by the hand of Father Dupontavice:
"I, the undersigned, Vicar General of the Diocese of Vin- cennes, do hereby testify, that I did on this 21st day of Decem- ber 1853, according to orders, being now received from the Right. Rev. M. de St. Palais, D. D. Bishop of this Diocese, closely examine the above accounts of the Church of the Im- maculate Conception, in Madison, Ind., and find the debts of said church, all paying interest from dates of the notes, held by the creditors to be: three thousand and eight hundred and one dollar ($3,801.00). I moreover testify that I found in the treas- ury one hundred and sixty dollars ($160 00) coming through the hands of our Bishop from the Society of the Missions in Munich, Bavaria, and the pew rent now due to the church for this present year is two hundred and thirty six dollars and forty five cents ($236 45). In testimony whereof I have signed my name, the year, month and day above mentioned.
H Dupontavice, Vicar Gen.
The two parishes of Madison seemed to be almost the cen - ter of gravity in the fifties and sixties, at least on a level with those at Vincennes, Evansville, New Albany and Indianapolis. I have given on a preceding page the large number of Confirmed in the decade from 1860 to 1870. There were two big classes again, one July 9, 1871 with ninety-eight, another June 1, 1873 on the Feast of Pentecost with ninety-six; May 13, 1877 even one hundred forty-three, coming down to fifty-eight on May 18, 1879.
With these statistics on Confirmation the chronology came out somewhat ahead of other incidents. There was nothing said as yet about the force of school-teachers; school buildings were mentiened, but not the pedagogues.
As such appear on a book under the periodical expenses the names of Martin Meyer 1855. The contract with him, dated February 15, 1855 is on file yet. He drew $300.00 salary in monthly payments for teaching, directing the choir and clean- ing of the church. The tuition fee of the pupils was 50 cents a month. Jacob Meyer 1860, teachers Limbach 1867, Walde also 1867; Gschwender 1868 to spring 1870; Becker 1870, Bury 1871-81, all these for boys.
The girls went, as said on another previous page to the Sisters of Providence at Broadway and Third streets. In Sep-
18
History of
tember 1872 three Ursuline Sisters came from Louisville to teach the girls. They were Ven. Sisters Isidora, Gabriela and Zita, selected by Mother Martina Nicklas. This interesting item of history is not put on record, it was learned by inquiry from the author.
Days came and days passed. They made months and months made years, in apparent good order and discipline. On days with fine or gloomy weather and perhaps sleepless nights, Father Brandt pondered over the next work of progress. The year 1876, called the centennial year, arrived and with it the conviction of pastor and congregation, that a better and more convenient school building was "badly" needed
Preparations for it were made April 8, by the purchase of a house and lot immediately west of the first pastoral residence for the sum of $2,300.00. This transaction furnished the Sis- ters a suitable dwelling and also sufficient additional ground for the school.
The second pastoral residence was torn down and in its place the present, spacious, two-story brick school building erect- ed in 1877 at a cost of $7,000.00. It is the chef d'oeurve, mas. terpiece of the pastor, an ornament to the city, especially at that time.
The nearest house east of the church was next bought for a parsonage, the third, and improved. An expense of $3,500.00. There is no date mentioned of the dedication of the temple of wisdom and learning. But if none took place, it was a cause of joy anyway.
A composition of a pupil on the life of Father Brandt says: he often visited the school and in order to encourage the youth to good penmanship, the teacher was required every Friday af- ternoon, to write the following Sunday's gospel on the black- board, from which the boys would copy into a special book which were all sent to him for inspection and returned with appropriate remarks.
One of his greatest pleasures was to celebrate Corpus Christi in the most solemn manner, "gerade wie in Deutsch- land." Men and boys would go to the woods and get limbs and leaves to decorate. Several times he had an Altar erected in the parish garden on this feast.
In those days the people had not the comfort of today, the essay says; no furnace and no stoves in the church; yet the greater number of people attended High Mass, No empty pews as nowadays at High Mass. Father Brandt used German con- clusively in church services. I am told that he was fond of
19
St. Mary's Parish
long prayers.
On February 16, the newly ordained priest, Father Francis Torbeck come as assistant, to share the manifold labors The former strong hand writing of the pastor became weaker and weaker. He was excused from the Diocesan Synod, November 30,1880.
As a pioneer priest he had endured many hardships, to keep the faith alive in the hearts and minds of his intrusted scattered souls Otherwise averse to worldly celebrations and demonstrations he could at last be persuaded to celebrate the silver jubilee as pastor, falling on a Sunday. How it was just done, is not in the memory of even the oldest people, perhaps described in an article to the former "Wahrheitsfreund" of Cin- cinnati.
Between the jubilee day, February 6, and his death trars- pired only two months and seven days. The candle of his life had been shining brightly, but it flickered after February. He passed away in the fifty-eight year of his life, peacefully on Wednesday of Holy Week, April 13, 1881.
A writer quotes from Father Ryan, the poet priest, this verse:
"They murmur on earth "De prosfundis"
The low chant is mingled with sighs;
"Laudate" rings out through the heavens, The dead priest has won faith's prize."
The Very Rev. Anthony Scheideler, Vicar General, preach- ed the funeral sermon.
20
History of
APRIL 13, 1881 TO JANUARY 1891
A few months got the right of way from the third to the fourth decade. When France was ruled by kings, it was cus- tomary for the excitable, gay and proud Frenchmen to exclaim, "Le roi est mort; vive le roi"! The king is dead, long live the king, i. e. his successor .
It appears from the books, that Father Brandt lent the church treasury on May 22, 1866, $1,200.00 at the usual inter- est at that time. This debt was kept up till his death. Father Seepe made the note: Settled by last will, which seems to mean, that Father Brandt kindly relinquished it to the parish as a good example and as a christian, or still more a priestly revenge for injustices and wrongs. After Father Brandt's burial the many friends of the Assistant Father Torbeck were in hopes of retaining him as pastor, promising a long life They actually sent a delegation to the Ordinary, but according to a newspaper article the reply was given: What would you think, if the ruler of Germany would appoint a young officer as general over the heads of older deserving officers? The desired appointment is out of question.
On April 22, the Rev. John B. H Seepe, of Connersville, priest since December 8, 1859, was appointed. He arrived here on Thursday evening May 5, to begin his long, successful ad- ministration. There was no "Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini," voiced for his reception, quite to the contrary. There are three papers preserved in the writing desk of the Rector's office, written by incognito writers, one entitled: Biography of Father Seepe; the second, Essay on Father Seepe; the third, His- tory of Rev. J. B. H. Seepe
They commented on the cool reception. But before mak- ing use of their contents, let us hear Father Seepe himself with his own words:
"May 6, 1881. Came to Madison last night. Stopped at the Western Hotel. This morning (Friday) coming to the parson- age, I find it locked. I went into the church, where a boy
1
---
REV. LEONARD BRANDT
21
St. Mary's Parish
brought me a key of the house. I said Mass and after taking breakfast at the hotel, I investigated the affairs of the pastor's dwelling. It is almost bare of everything. It seems that all the furniture belonged to the Rev. predecessor.
Sunday, May 8. Today I introduced myself to the congre- gation, telling that I came here in obedience to the Bishop, that I would try to do my duty and that I had no doubt, but that we would get along with each other quite well."
Here now is the place for an extract from a pupil's history. Father Seepe made no allusion in his introductory sermon about having received insulting letters before his coming. The pupil says: "How could some of the people of the parish do such a thing as to write letters to him, warning him not to come to Madison, when they knew nothing of his good, kind, quiet, re- ligious disposition?" His thoughts were very few for the world; his mind seemed to think nothing but of the last judgment day It did not require the young writer of this praise much time to discover such eminent qualities in the new pastor. Let us re- turn to Father Seepe's own words.
May 9. The president of the Altar Society today purchas- ed some chinaware and some chairs for the parsonage. She tells me also, that there was but little money in the treasury. I told her, that I would try to get along without troubling the society on that score.
May 12 Not being able to find, what had been the allow- ance of the postor, I submitted the question to the Rt. Rev. Bishop, who ordered, that as long as I would be without an as- sistant, my salary should be $700.00 per annum. I shall leave for a while $100.00 to the church every year in order to decrease the debt.
June 1. On account of the building of the school house, the pastor had more calls for money than he had means to pay. The Sisters complain, that for several years no settlement was made. Some creditors claim considerable back interest. As much as I now can see, there must be nearly $6,000.00 indebt- edness. The trustees favor the sale of the old school house, now used as a store and as a dwelling of the teacher. Some one has offered to pay $3,000.00 for it. I have been requested to ob- tain the sanction of the Ordinary for such disposal in order to decrease the burden of the church debt.
August 5. Permission for the sale of the school house ar- rived, but I have come to the conclusion, that it would be bet- ter to retain it, otherwise it might be used for purposes, which could be unpleasant for the church and neighborhood.
-
22
History of
November 5. My predecessor obtained much assistance in regard to the finances by fairs and suppers; the compiler of this book found two items for suppers in the years 1877 and 1878 amounting to $258.35 As the Council of Baltimore permits such means only under stringent conditions, and as the better class is also tired of such means, I have told the people, that they must pay more pew rent in future in order to make ends meet.
February 1, 1882. The congregation has accepted my prop- osition to increase the rental of the church pews and last Sun- day, January 29, were rented satisfactorily.
January 2, 1884. There is still a debt of $5,000 00. The trustees talk again about selling the old school house, but I am still and will remain opposed to it.
A subscription list for paying off the debt was started Jan- uary 1, 1884, and continued up to 1893, when the last subscrip- tion was paid. Father Seepe's own contribution was. $187.00. A legacy of $100 00 from Cordelia Kimmel is recorded in 1884.
December 1, 1887. The church looks shabby, because the frescoing is rubbed off in many places. I shall therefore take up a collection in the near future for improving the interior. The zealous pastor contributed himself for this necessity $726 .- 72. The whole list shows $2,399.87.
December 31, 1888. The church has been frescoed, the pulpit and altars improved, cathedral glass has replaced the common window glass, and the sanctuary was newly carpeted. The whole expense amounts to $2,578 87. The debt has not been increased thereby. They were on December 31, 1883, $5,- 078.40 and reduced till December 31, 1888 to $4,180.90.
St. Mary's was in a progressive line. The diocesan report for 1888 was this:
Jan. 1, 1888 cash on hand $ 1.06
Rector's salary $ 700.00
Pew rent during year
1,619.25
Church expenses 600.31
Sunday collections
685 12
Repairs 2,965 62
Subscription 2,399.87
Schools 1,415.53
House rent
300 00
Cemetery
194.90
Miscellaneous
267.94
Interest
170.00
Donations
84.25
Debts
200.00
Schools
523.75
Balance on hand 27.38
Cemetery
192.50
Loans
200.00
6,273.74
$6,273.74
In 1889 from May 5 to 13, a Mission was held by the Re-
.
-
.
23
St. Mary's Parish
demptorists Neu and Gruener. They were rewarded with $150.00 covered by the collections of $159.00. It was nine years since the last.
October 1, 1889. The congregation has finally concluded to keep the old school house for church property and help the pastor to pay the debts. A debt paying society has been or- ganized in the past summer, of which every member pays 25 cents a month.
To have a suitable dwelling for the teacher and organist, I have purchased house 408 East Second. Said house with the necessary alterations and repairs cost me fully $1.250.00. I have donated same to the church on condition that the parish pay me each and every year of my administration, the sum of $75.00 rent for said premises, and pay all taxes and other expenses.
It appears from a sentence above, that Father Seepe pro- vided for a teacher's suitable dwelling. Enumerating the ros- ter of teachers under Father Brandt we have finished the list with Bury from 1871 to 1881. Father Seepe acquired a teacher of his own selection soon after his arrival, in Matthias Merl. This one filled his place well until June 6, 1890, when he re- tired of his own accord. He was succeeded by a J. E Goelz in summer 1890, who finished a little over a decade until Decem- ber 28, 1900. Thus it appears that teacher Merl did not enjoy his new and better location of a residence long, from October 1889 to June 1890. He exchanged Madison with New Albany. J E. Goelz preferred East St. Louis to Madison.
Besides the anxiety for temporal progress, Father Seepe kept in view also, spiritual advancement. Hence, his application for the favor of having the high altar privileged, which was on August 1, 1886. This meant, that the souls in purgatory, for which a Mass was offered up, obtained the benefit of a plenary indulgence. The confraternity of the Sacred Heart, existing in the parish, was affiliated with the archconfraternity at Rome, April 14, 1890, which step secured more benefits. The neces- sary documents for both are preserved, framed, in the sacristy. These were blessings for the members militant and suffering. But the shadow was not missing in the fourth decade, already in 1893. The trouble and difficulty arose through a picnic of the St. Peter Unterstuetzungsverein held on Pentecost Monday, May 14, 1883. There are five letters, and not short either, saved, which describe the warm sentiments of parties concern- ed. Father Seepe protested two or three weeks after the picnic from the pulpit against the action, selling of beer and a dance. The Society related the affair to the Rt. Rev. Bishop. The Or-
24
History of
dinary delegated the Vicar General A. Scheideler to act in the case. Explanations were sent up and down. Father Seepe's arguments were the most logical and solid. The society gave satisfaction by turning the net proceeds to the poor, St. Vincent of Paul Society, instead of keeping the money for its own treas- ury, as intended. The matter was settled in the beginning of March 1884, with the effect and result, that some people be- came wiser.
The time had come, when the self-sacrificing priest should wish himself a rest and recreation, especially after a sickness in 1888. He resolved to make a trip to Germany, to see his birth- place, which he had left when only six years old. From Ger. many further to the Holy Land. He set out in 1890, giving the care of his dear parish to his nephew, Rev. Joseph A. Thie, who had been ordained June 15, 1889. Returned in the begin- ning of December and gave a number of stereoptican views of his trip. He seemed to take great delight in amateur photog- raphy. As further souvenirs, he brought and gave parishon- ers medals and rosaries, but the white venerable beard which grew in Palestine without expense, he kept for himself. He had disapproved or condemned the wearing of a beard of a confra- ter, but now he found it convenient to wear one himself. One of those, who could admire that beard, besides his own parish- oners, who had remained faithful to old St. Mary's, was the new pastor of St. Michael's church, who had come here on No. vember 23, 1890, the Rev. Michael L. Guthneck. He is yet, nearly twenty-five years, fighting the battles against the ene- nies of God at Madison.
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.