USA > Indiana > Jefferson County > Madison > History of St. Marys Parish, Madison, Indiana > Part 4
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He became affiliated with the Diocese of Nashville. Two photographs in the rectory show the family group on one, and the attending clergy on the other. Rev. Mathias Kasper rep- resents now his home parish in the paradise! of the United States, in California. Forty Hours Devotion was held late, December 1903. Accounts for 1904 were closed on Janu- ary 15, 1904. This date has been kept up since then. The year 1904 promised to become an expensive one' by procuring new pews, for which, first payment was made July 5, with $950.00;' the second in full with $100.00, made on August 26, but a rebate is also recorded on July 18, with $90.00, because the material or work failed to give satisfaction. A friend explained to me this item last winter and I kept it in my memory.
On July 5th, 1904 the entry is booked: Real estate sold $1,200.00, probably house 408 East Second St.
July 13. Building and Loan withdrawal $725.00. Two' substantial factors of revenues. But they were sorely needed. For July 1904 and the following months were exceptionally re- markable for heavy expenses, as follows:
July 18, transom window
$100.00 .;
G. D. brick work
145.75
C. L. slate
35.80
L .P. mason work
58,74
Cathedraticum
45.00
W. T. plumbing
45.25
Lumber bill
441.00
J. F. carpenter work
201 17: :
A. S. for papering
41.35
Tiling
61.78
Nov. 3, A S. bill
38,55
November 10, N. H. & Sons for carpeting
sanctuary and cork carpets in aisles
378.841.
December 30, C. J. two boilers
550.00
H & E. bill
36.00
Aug. 8, P. K. for painting
47.37
G. V. for card tables; hardware
194.76
These are the high bills only, The smaller ate too numer- ous to mention. These expenses were to some extent counter- balanced by somebody's donation of $100.00 on July 18; by the
37
St. Mary's Parish
regular rents; by the sale of a cemetery lot for $75.00; by pay- ments of subscriptions till November 21, $333.00; by various social entertainments, $550 97; by old lumber sold $47.85; by ba- zaar $953 72. There seemed to be good times and good will.
The balance forwarded from 1901 to January 15, 1905 was $786.79; but this sum and a loan of $2,000.00 from the First Na- tional Bank was swallowed by a bill of $2,421.46 from W. Welch January 30, 1905, not in full yet, but only on account. Coal bill $223.67. On February 22, 1905 there was a Martha Wash- ington social, realizing $75.88, less $16.88 expenses. And thus they marched in or up - the receipts and expenses. A bill of January 8, 1906 reads:
J. E. C. tombstone $282.56. No doubt for Father Seepe.
The Forty Hours were performed on January 1, 2 and 3.
Some expenses for 1905 are given in the report in this or- der:
Pastor's salary
$ 600.00
Current expenses
709.24
. Improvements
2,441.76
Purchases
478.88
School
558.86
Cemetery
116.25
Janitor
359.75
Taxes
153.84
Interest
91.95
Insurance
51.60
Repairs
92.05
On January 15, 1906, the begining of the new fiscal year, Father Boersig commenced a new, larger ledger, discontinuing the smaller, which had been in use ten years. It would be too tedious for the fast forgetting world, to dwell long on little af. fairs and the writer will consequently only confine himself to the most important happenings of every year. Under March 22, 1906 is said: By real estate sold $1,200.00, probably the Heck estate, 912 Walnut street, March 22, to First National Bank on note $1,500.00. December 6, net proceeds of oyster supper, $108 00. There was a financial report printed, the first one, for the year 1906 giving total receipts at $5,248.52. On April 17, 1907 neces- sary new rules and regulations for the cemetery were approved by the Rt. Rev. Bishop. An annual assessment of $1.00 for a whole lot and 50 cents for a half was levied. In the fall of the year 1907, the church treasury spent $1,500.00 for frescoing, done by Edward Peine, and $278.98, for electric supplies. Last
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38
History of
January 1915, inquiry was made about the work of painting, whether it was satisfactory. After this decoration a Sacred Concert and a Lecture were held in December 1907, the program of which was handed to me lately and filed in its proper place. The Concert netted $105.65. The subject of the lecture given by Rev. Joseph Chartrand, the present Coad- jutor Bishop of the Diocese, was the "Pope's Encyclical on Modernism", with which the people were not affect- ed as yet, but an ounce of precaution was better. New win- dows, stations, altar railing, sanctuary lamps, statue of the good shepherd were donated without much solicitation from the pastor. It is always easier to get money for improvements than for paying off debts. One window, that of the Holy Fam- ily, bears the name of Father Seepe; a happy thought The cost of the windows, furnished by G. C. Riovdan of Cincinnati, was $2,507.00; subscriptions amounted to $2,446.00. The old window frames came on the cemetery, as a barrier or bulwark against the frequent wild waters of the so-called Crooked Creek which washed ground away. "Des to schlimmer." There seem- ed to be scarcely an improvement left for the subsequent years and still I find an entry in 1908, cement wall on ceme- tery $400.00.
A loan had to be made on December 9, 1907, of $1,500 00, and still another on January 8, 1908, of $2,500.00 to pay off two notes of $500.00 and $1,500.00 respectively. No wonder that the sum in accounts for 1908 climbed to the respectable height of $12,008.69.
The congregation had to miss the First Mass of another of her sons, Rev. Alphonse Smith, who was ordained at Rome, April 17, 1908. The "Broadway Smith" family had left Madi- son soon after the father's death in 1906. This meant the loss of a good family.
The time came for another Mission after nearly eight years. The Franciscan Fathers Vincent Trost and Angelus Bill gave one from February 16 to 23, 19.8. Despite the inclement weather in an unfavorable season, the attendance was very good, I am often told.
The cement or concrete walk on Second St. church prop- erty necessitated an outlay of $470.05.
May 8, 1908. The new Stations were canonically erected. They are beauties and cost $1,000.00, but willingly donated. It is well to have all these occurrances combined in one book syn- thetically. Father Boersig certainly rejoiced over all these ad- ditions and improvements, but the germ of lurking death seem-
39
St. Mary's Parish
ed to be in him.
For at the end of 1908 there is already an item for $250.00 for Assistant's salary; of Franciscans, during his sickness They officiated on Sundays since the middle of July and this help had to be continued in the winter and spring 01 1909 until the ar- rival of a permanent Assistant in a neo-presbyter of the Dio- cese, the Rev. Edward J. Hilger. This new co-operator dis- tinguished himself besides the spiritual good work at once with the arrangements for a bazaar to be held in October, for the defraying of the expense of a new slate roof on the church, paid December 23, 1909 with $695.00, and a bill of John Forse's preparatory carpenter work on the roof for $345.48.
Father Boersig kept the accounts in the ledger until Janu- ary 12, 1910. On the 17th of October 1909, the St. Peter's So- ciety celebrated its golden jubilee. A photograph of the mem - bers decorates the school hall.
A rare and incurable disease, akin to blood poison, had taken hold of the young pastor, (born April 5, 1864) in the prime of life. January, February and March 1910 passed up to the 23rd. On this day, Wednesday of Holy Week, Father Boersig decided to go to Indianapolis for the Holy Oils, against the ad- vice of the physician and friends. But he possessed will power. "Wie man geht, weiss man, aber nicht, we man zurueckkommt." Returning late on that Wednesday night at Indianapolis to his brother's home, accompanied by him, he collapsed on the pave- ment, was carried into the house, lived next day to be provided with the last Sacrament and make his last will. Then he gave up the soul to his creator. The news of his death was a shock here especially to his devoted mother. The Messrs Peter Den- zer, J. J. Kasper, Frederick Pfortner and Edward Horuff, left next morning, Good Friday to accompany the remains home. The Book of Wisdom says, chapter IV, V, 13, "Being made per- fect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time."
The obsequies were held, the second time in the history of the parish, on Tuesday after Easter' first at Father Brandt's. The solemn requiem was celebrated by his classmate, co-citizen of New Albany, the Rev. Henry Fein, with Rev. Jos. Byrne of Indianapolis, also a New Albanian, as Deacon, and Rev. C. H. Moss, of Cannelton, another classmate, as Sub Deacon. The Master of Ceremonies was Rev. G. Smith, a son of St. Mary's, known to the readers. Rev. F. A. Roell, of Richmond, another fellow student of the class of 1888, delivered a sermon. The ab- solution was pronounced by the dean of the district, the Rev. George L. Widerin.
40
History of
Spiritually Father Boersig was a theologiah. A case of pastoral theology, bordering the department of Canon Law, still extant among the papers is one proof of it. Physically he looked the picture of health. By a gift of nature he was a thrifty mechanic. As a citizen he believed in the principle: per- sonal liberty; when it came to a certain test at Madison and in the county.
St. Mary's is indebted to him for a donation of $100.00 in 1904 at the head of the list for repairs in the church, mentioned at the beginning of his work here.
The tombstone, erected by his still living mother, is a re- plica of those of his deceased predecessors.
A typewritten page, author unknown, is inserted in the ledger his last booking, giving a financial account from Janu- ary 15 to April 5.
The Rev. E. Hilger remained until June 10, well remem- bered, when assigned to another St. Mary's church, also Immac- ulate Conception. at Evansville. There he had the care again of a sick pastor from September 1911 on.
If the appointment of a successor to Father Boersig de- pended on rumors, there would have been at least ten "Un- verhofft kommt oft." Circumstances beyond control often in- terfere with one's personal choice. It was the Rev. Joseph .T. Bauer, who exchanged the pastorate of the Annunciation church at Brazil with the St. Mary's church at Madison, about the mid- dle of June, a good time for moving. Local history does not record what kind of a reception occurred. Many a one is not in favor of a grand affair, mindful of the obligations it sometimes implies and that the end may not be as glorious. The humble parochial residence was first disinfected and then torn down. It is said, that Father Boersig had plans made for a new rectory. which, according to all report was a long felt want
But per- haps he wished to have the $2,500.00 debt out of the way first, contracted January 8, 1903. To this sum came then on August 21, 1910, -500.00 more from the same creditor and on Septem- ber 10 same year, again $1,000.00 from some one else for the new residence going up and ready for occupancy at Chris mas.
This marked the end of the sixth plain and harmonious de- cade and introduced the seventh, starting with a high octave in musical language. Not many are capable of catching an exalt- ed tune, or keeping pace with it a long while. The number of idealistic followers is limited.
ยท
REV. J. BOERSIG
41
St. Mary's Parish
FROM 1910 TO 1915
The year 1911 transpired with book accounts partly by the rector, partly by the so-called Booster's Club. The whole.sum, apparently spent for the real modern parish is put down in a book at $14,681.06. The donations and subscriptions failed to come up to the expectations.
On June 10, 1911 another son of the parish became a mem- ber of the Diocesan clergy, the Rev Henry Hunger. The sol- emn First Mass was celebrated on Sunday, June 18, with rain, which was not on the official program.
Three months afterwards a Mission from September 17 to 23, increased the fervor of St. Mary's people, though it could not help decrease the debt, which on the contrary multiplied by a loan of $500.00 from the wealthy St. Peter's Society.
October 11, a week day, brought the Holy Ghost to a large class of Confirmandi. The names and number is guess work. The date I learned from the genial neighbor at North Madison. The total receipts for 1911 reached $3,156.77; the disbursements $3,131 63, clearing a cash balance of $25.14 for January 15, 1912. A balance of $1,025.14 would have been better. For $5,600.00 had to be borrowed in 1912 for urgent bills on the house, needy additions and improvement on Sisters residence and school house pursuant to sanitary laws.
A good, well worded appeal in print was made to the mem- bers of St. Mary's on February 20, 1912. It read thus:
To the Parishoners:
As stated to you from the pulpit the Rt. Rev. Coadjutor Bishop Joseph Chatard D. D. V. G., in setting the date of the consecration of the High Altar this summer expressed the wish that he would like to consecrate the whole church and put St Mary's in the Role of Honors of the consecrated churches of the Diocese.
In order that this should occur, it is necessary to pay or guarantee the church debt. There are enough able and good
42
History of
willed people in the parish to do this and I believe sincerely that they will so express themselves in answer to this appeal. When I came here there was a debt of $2,500.00 at 4%. The outstanding notes are now $12,700 00.
This represents the work done in the building and furnish- ing of the new house, also the three room addition and furnish- ing of the Sisters house, also the cement walks, the sewer con- necting the whole church plant, the plumbing for water, gas, electricity, the water purifying plant, the play ground and ap- paratus, the sodding and beautifying of the lawns, etc., so many small improvements, that it forms quite a litany to enumerate them. To pay off this debt or guarantee its payment you are asked, my dear parishoners to sign up one of the forms enclosed separately and it takes but little thought to figure out that these contributions or guarantees must run from $50.00 to $500.00, if the sum required is to be realized. Therefore please sign up one of the statements that seem to fit your good will and purse, and send same in enclosed envelop at your earliest convenience to the undersigned.
Gratefully, Joseph T. Bauer, Pastor.
The consecration did not come off. The reason is not stated in anv book. But instead of it in the summer Forty Hours took place July 14, 15, 16, conducted by the famous Jes- uit Father Rosswinkel. The flood after the early Easter of 1913 damaged the river front of Madison con- siderably. Some sad ruins are visible yet and the consequence still felt. The city has no future as it appears. The population is decreasing for want of employment in industries and other reasons, which the secretary of the Board of Health, Dr. N. A. Kremer, a member of St Mary's parish, late- ly described. With the intended improvement of river trans- portation facility the situation on the river may benefit the river towns again. Probably such gloomy prospects induced the pastor to entertain wishes for a progressive field of labor, where parishes grow instead of recede. Madison is too limited for the living, but a good place to be buried at, hence the many imported funerals. If rumors have been correct, nearly eight years ago the sociable Father Boersig himself wished from time to time to be dissolved and be with Christ, perhaps discouraged by uncontrolable circumstances. This world of ours is full of antagonism, envy, jealousy, self-conceit, and selfishness, he thought and said.
43
St. Mary's Parish
On Pentecost Sunday, May 11, 1913 the children of the first, and perhaps some of second grade of school went to First Holy Communion. They sacrificed $55.00 in a collection which was sent in gold in different grades of denomination to Rome for the Holy Father. As a return for this unexpected favor there did not come an honorable title, but relics described in the accompanying required documents, issued June 11. They were of St. Pancratius and Tarsicius, martyrs; St. Anthony of Padua, Herman Joseph, Confessors, and of St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr. These valuable relics were properly attached to the sev- eral statues on the side altars. The writer is glad to have them as a reminder of those he left behind him in his former parish. Whilst the rector of St. Mary's, Madison, was wishing to be transferred and promoted, it has been in the mind of a certain pastor about 110 miles distant, for many months to be assigned once to a place with some comfort and convenience after work- ing faithfully over three decades in the country, building churches, residences, a chapel, school and sister's house, innum- erable walls around cemeteries and church property under adverse difficulties such as distance from railroads, bad roads, etc. In this desire and prayer he was encouraged by Reverend neighbors, who had witnessed and appreciated properly the ar- duous work. Several app'ications for a more desirable location had not been timely. On July 18, 1913 this certain pas'or made another attempt on the thirtieth anniversary of his ordination in a letter to authority enumerating the principal labor manual and physical, adding as mental also the fact of having prepared three students for the college. That letter was a revelation and had as such its expected effect. Negotiations came on the slate, which at times, after having been made up, must be sub- verted through a sudden unforseen event. In another memor- andum of October 20, after return from the Retreat a formal application was composed for St. Mary's, Madison, only in case of a pending change there.
The reasons given in this script were among others these: There was no vain ambition to be a city pastor. The historical distinction of the town, the size of the parish, given at least in the official statistics, the general g od spirit of the people heard of, the convenience for reaching the seat of the deanery, the old friendship of the nearest clerical neighbor, pastor of St. Michael's from Seminary years, when we were desk neighbors from 1877 to 1878, would make the move desirable to me.
And it came late in the season, on November 26, with the instruction, that the appointment should take effect December
44
History of
2. So it was carried out on my part despite the very painful circumstances of a relatives nature. Veni, vidi, vici; I came, saw and conquered, Caesar once said. I came, I saw, but did not conquer at once the prejudice of narrow minds against one coming from the country. Prudence was not lacking on the part of the "new comer," having acquired a strong portion of it in experience of thirty-three years, and prudence it was, that was required at St. Mary's, not a representative strong voice or body, but a spirit in humiliated bones. The writer recited the fourth penitential psalm, when coming.
Few changes were made, advisable as some appeared to make at once. On Ash Wednesday, order came from Indianap- olis to make arrangements for a Mission in the very near fu- ture. I begged to be excused chiefly for two reasons: First, that there was only a short time since the last one here in Sep- tember 1911, therefore not even three years yet; secondly, that I had just gone through a Mission at Celestine last September. And a mission is a task, not only for the Missionaries, but also for the Rectors. On the strength of such solid motives reprieve was granted until 1915. Arrangements have been made for a Mission by Passionist Fathers in September this year, which will then close the first half of the seventh decade. During it all the former priests of the parish will be remembered Shortly after my arrival, a good church worker made the remark com- menting on the name of the new head: "We do not get out of the B, Brandt, Boersig, Bauer, and now Bilger." The letters of the alphabet have been represented by priests officiating from A to Z.
Antoni, Carius, Doyle, Ferneding, Fischer, Hilger, Kun- deck, Loescher, Martinovic, Munschina, O'Connor, Qstangen- berg, Schafroth, Schei leler, Seepe, H. J. Seibertz, Torbeck, Thie, Weber and Zirkelbach.
The roster of the pastors proper is this:
1. Rev. Anthony Carius from January 1850 to March 1851.
2. Rev. Joseph Kundeck from March 1851 to April 1852.
3. Rev. Charles Schafroth from April 1852 to April 1853.
4. Rev. Edward Martinovic from July 1853 to May 1855.
5. Rev. Anthony Carius again from May 1855 to February 1856.
6. Rev. Leonard Brandt from February 6, 1856 to April 13, 1881.
7. Rev. J. B. H. Seepe from May 5, 1881 to June 7, 1903.
8. Rev. J. Boersig from June 6, 1903 to March 24, 1910.
9. Rev. Joseph Bauer from June 7, 1910 to December 2,
-
45
St. Mary's Parish
1913,
10. Rev. Charles Bilger from December 1913 to
On Sunday, December 7, 1914, the incumbent pastor read a paper which cast a retrospect over the time since the arrival, including the reception which some one called the fifth wheel on the wagon, an appendix of the fare- well, The paper is preserved for the benefit of successors, per- haps a historian among them. He may make use of it in a fu- ture history.
Two reports of the financial status of the year of 1914 were printed in January and February this year. The first on white paper by the so-called Booster's Club, which exhibited a very creditable showing of its activity the sewing circle and foot stool club foremost, a great consolation and relief for the pas- tor, who should have "Seelsorge und nicht Geldsorge " The report for the church proper on yellow paper is this, from De- cember 2, 1913 to January 15, 1915.
Receipts
Disbursements
Pew rent $1,418.75
Salary of Pastor $ 862.50
Sunday collection 834.57
Assistant at 40 Hours 25.00
Cemetery 157 50
Organist 1913-1914 250 00
Altar Society 109.35
Janitor 594 00
Donations
246 25
Entertainments
350.60
Sanctuary & Sacristy 289 10
('andles sold and burnt
on votive stand
158.73
Refunded
86 72
Sept. 1912 to June 1914 523 75 Current expense of
school 51.00
Cemetery Sexton 1913-
1914 150.00
Cathedraticum1913-'14 110.00 Taxes 86.68
Insurance
56.00
Telephone 42.00
Interest 3.00
Founded Masses 11,00
Notes paid off
1,200.00
Improvements 118.35
Fixtures
34 75
Furniture
22,50
Repairs 333.96
Miscellaneous 1913-'14 152 49 Plumbing bill since 1912 623.64 Diocesan collection
Raffle 40.00
18.85
Sale of articles
Miscellaneous 34.95
Diocesan collections
456.00
$6,899.52
Twenty-three dollars of dona- tions from one person were for the new high priced C'on- fessional erected Aug. 1913
Water, fuel and light 528 27
Salary of Sisters from
46
History of
sent off 456.00
Balance on hand 375.53
$6,899.52
The city kindly furnishes water for the organ motors of the churches at Midison. St. Mary's pa ish makes use of this good occasion to express its gratitude to the authorities. The present water superintendent, Andrew Jacobs is a good mem- ber of St. Mary's.
Notes outstanding against the church, on which the pastor pays interest from the church treasury, amounted to $1,600.00. The Booster's Club manages the other debt of $11,800.00, and provides for the payment of interest through extra efforts, the generosity and the good will of most members. In the same church report proper the number of souls was given at 743; that of school children in the eight grades 110. in the Commer- cial Course 26. The Kindergarten established in 1912 had only a short existence owing to lack of patronage and was discon- tinued at the end of October 1914.
On Thurs lay after Pentecost, May 27, the Deacon, Rev. Clement Zepf, of the parish was ordained priest. And he cele- brated the First Mass on Trinity Sunday, favored hv welcome weather. The Rev. Clement J. Bocklage, pastor of Carrollton, Ky., an intimate friend of the family, delivered the sermon. There are several candidates for the priesthood either in a sem- inary or a college.
Since a number of clergy "in re" and of clergy "in spe" of a parish is quite a credit. St. Michael's congregation is also distinguished by a godly number of deceased and living Levites. To the devoted servants of God in the piously inclined sex may be accredited as coming from St. Mary's: The Ven. Sisters Augusta and Aloysis Bedel of the Benedictine Con- vent of Ferdinand. The Ven. Sisters Olivia and Loretta of the Ursuline Convent of Louisville, the Ven. Sisters Alphonse and Majella of the Sisters of Providence, St Mary of the Woods, all of these four of the fam ly Smith, sisters of the Revs. George and Alphonse Smith, both a: Indianapolis. Sister Clarissa Den- zer, Sister Marcellina Bloom, a so or une Ursuline Convent of Louisville, and Sister Radegundis Lehnert of Oldenbarg
Almost under the shadow of St. Mary's church, the present home of the J. J. Kasper fa nily, have been reared and educa- ted two prominent politicians of the state. One of the two brothers, Charles Korbly became the representative of the In- dianapolis district in Congress for several terms, whilst Bernard
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