USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume I > Part 15
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the faithful pastor now leaving them. The archbishop and the right reverend bishops of Vincennes and Covington, who were in the sanctuary, were deeply affected by this exhibition of an entire peo- ple's gratitude and faith. A large delegation of both Catholics and Protestants from Fort Wayne met the congregation of St. Joseph at Cincinnati, and thus voices of gratitude, benediction and fare- well were mingled with those of future joy, loyalty and promise. And after the exercises in the church were over, the newly conse- ·crated prelate visited the schools, and there to see and hear the tokens of sorrow everywhere visible became perfectly painful; and it was only after repeated assurances that he would often visit them .could their grief be restrained. Kneeling to receive his blessing, with a thousand wishes for his welfare, the impressive scene closed.
In a day or two afterward Bishop Luers departed for his new home, and lost no time in taking possession of his see, and in com- mencing the exalted and arduous work before him. He arrived toward evening, alone and unannounced, carrying his traveling- bag in his hand, at the door of the residence of the Very Rev. Father Benoit. A day or two afterward, when the gentlemen who had in charge the preparations for extending to the bishop a public and honorable reception at Fort Wayne, came to the house to inquire when he was expected to arrive, great was their surprise, when the bishop opened the door for them and answered their inquiries in person. Their disappointment was lost sight of in their admiration for his humility, while the bishop enjoyed himself mirth- fully at their expense.
Bishop Luers found his diocese even poorer than he expected. A small frame church, which had grown almost dilapidated in the service, was his only cathedral. A neat brick building, erected by the Rev. A. Bessonies during an absence of Father Benoit in Louisville, was the episcopal residence. In Father Benoit the bishop found a zealous and invaluable vicar-general and co-la- borer. The diocese of Fort Wayne embraced a territory one hun- dred and twenty miles long and one hundred and seventy miles wide, comprising thirty-eight counties, with a scattered population of 20,000 souls, whose spiritual wants were supplied by eleven secular priests and three priests of the Congregation of the Holy (158)
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RT. REV. JOHN HENRY LUERS. (DECEASED.)
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Cross, engaged on the missions. These twenty churches, if such they could be called, were mostly of the poorest description, and wholly unable to accommodate one-half of the congregations. Many places were destitute of both churches and priests. The bishop seemed to possess the faculty of ubiquity in his efforts to supply their necessities himself. He was from this circumstance seldom at home, and it might be said that his episcopal residence was a railroad car. On one day he would be in a remote corner of his diocese, and in a day or two afterward he would be heard of in quite an opposite quarter, preaching, offering mass, and admin- istering the sacraments. His answer to the many petitions he received for resident priests, was a generous effort to bestow upon the congregations the efforts of his own ministry. He fervently prayed for the advent of more priests in his diocese; and within the first year of his episcopate two priests were ordained for the diocese, and he welcomed them as messengers sent from heaven in answer to his prayers. So earnest were his efforts in this regard, that in two years he could point to eight more clergymen ordained by himself. He had also eight ecclesiastical students in preparation for the sacred office in various seminaries. This supply scarcely diminished the demand for priests, for in the same short period his Catholic flock was increased by more than 25,000.
Bishop Luers gave his early attention to the work of erecting a cathedral worthy of his diocese. Father Benoit had already matured plans for that purpose, and in the spring of 1859 the pres- ent cathedral, a Gothic building 180 feet long by eighty feet wide, with two towers in front, was undertaken. The corner-stone was laid by Archbishop Purcell on Trinity Sunday of that year, and such was the energy of the bishop and his vicar-general, that it was under roof before winter. It was thrown open to the thou- sands who crowded to see its graceful proportions, and to attend a grand fair held within its unfinished walls, in order to defray the expense of its completion. Other places soon emulated Fort Wayne in its erection of fine churches, in which they were warmly encouraged by the bishop, who had the happiness every year of laying the corner-stone of two or three fine churches, ranging in value from $15,000 to $40,000. In these works he was warmly
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seconded by his zealous clergy, most of whom he had educated in the diocese and under his eye, and who were devoted to him as he was to them. He was remarkable for his affection for his priests. The same interest he manifested in them while they were students of the diocese continued and increased when he recognized in them the laborers in the Lord's vineyard. It was remarkable that he never spoke disparingagly of any of them, but delighted in commend- ing and encouraging their labors, and in speaking of them in praise. He also took pleasure in assisting them, and in sharing with them the labors of the mission. He would frequently travel all night, at great inconvenience, in order to arrive at an early hour at places where he was announced or expected. On his arrival he would repair to the confessional, and hear the confessions of the people until his time for saying mass arrived. He was devoted to the celebration of the holy sacrifice, esteeming it the greatest privilege of his life. It made no difference at what hour of the night or morning he arrived at a place, he was found at the altar at the early hour of six. He used to say: "God derives more glory from the celebration of one mass than from the praise of all the angels in heaven. Ought not priests give to God that glory, at no matter what personal inconvenience?" This love of the holy sacrifice sometimes brought him in contact with strange characters and amusing occurrences. On one occasion he arrived at the house of a priest at an early hour; the priest was ill, and was attended by an odd, though well-meaning character as a nurse, who on hearing loud knocks at the door, threw up the window and addressed the intruder as follows: "Be off out of that! Don't you know his reverence is sick, and can't go out on sick calls? A pretty time of the day you are calling." The window closed amid a shower of abuse on the unknown bishop. He quietly walked, valise in hand, to the convent, where he met with a cordial reception. He said: " There was a man down at Father - .'s house who ordered me to rather warm quarters, but I thought it better to come 'and say mass." The visit was well timed, for the good nuns had not enjoyed the consolation of mass in their community for some time.
Bishop Luers was prompt, and at the same time prudent, in
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checking and correcting any irregularities lie observed in the man- agement of ecclesiastical interests. A custom prevailed in many of the congregations of having one or more laymen to aid the pas- tor in providing and managing the temporalities of the churches. Bishop Luers discovered that this custom, in several cases, led to enroachments upon the rights of the pastor, and savored some- what of lay trusteeism, which had been fruitful of such serious evils in other dioceses. He resolved to arrest the evil at once. He availed himself of the first retreat of the clergy, and of the synod following it, to apply the correction. He was in the habit of hold- ing a biennial retreat for the clergy; he now made arrangements for holding these spiritual exercises at the university of Notre Dame, an accommodation which resulted in great advantage to the clergy and diocese of Fort Wayne. He gave notice that the next retreat would be held at the university of Notre Dame, on August 18th, 1863; its exercises were conducted by the gifted Father Smarius, S. J., and after the retreat followed the diocesan synod. At this. assembly, Bishop Luers, in a few well-timed remarks, exposed the evil he desired to correct; statutes were enacted for that purpose, regulating the temporalities of the churches, the relations of the clergy and laity to the temporalities, and defining the duties of all. The result was the ultimate withdrawal of laymen from all control over church temporalities, and the establishment of peace and good understanding throughout the diocese.
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Bishop Luers was distinguished for his devotion to the Holy See. He had long desired to go in person to visit the shrine of the apostles, to inhale the religious and inspiring air of the Eternal city, to manifest his loyalty to the vicar of Christ on earth, and to receive the blessing of our Holy Father Pius IX. He had a profound appreciation for the grand and symbolic services of the church, and had ever endeavored to present them to his people, in his own chaste but modest cathedral, with becoming beauty and solemnity. To visit the grand basilicas of Rome became a cher- ished object with him, and especially that mighty pile in which the genius of religion became enshrined under the magic touch of Michael Angelo, and in which,
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From each carved nook and fretted bend, Cornice and gallery seemed to send Tones that with seraphs' hymns might blend.
He started upon his pilgrimage to Rome on the 22d of May, 1864, accompanied by his chaplain, Rev. A. Oechtering, leaving the administration of his diocese in the hands of Father Benoit. His European tour was most gratifying to him, and at the same time most beneficial to his diocese. He visited Louvain, that old Catholic monument of learning, and by his earnest appeals and winning manners secured the services of four young Levites for the diocese of Fort Wayne. At Rome he was received with great kindness and affectionate regard by the Holy Father; who con- ferred upon him a mark of his confidence and esteem, in empow- ering him to draw up a constitution and rules for the community of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in America, as an independent organization from the mother-house of the same congregation in France. These good sisters had struggled through difficulties for years; it was impossible for the superiors in France to understand the position and requirements of the community in the young and growing west. and nothing but embarrassment grew out of the relation. The Holy See, after long but prudent delays, confided their interests to Bishop Luers, who on his return, with the assist- ance of Father Sorin, provincial of the Congregation of Priests of the Holy Cross, and of Mother Angela, superioress of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, prepared a new constitution and rule for the congregation in America. His work was approved by the Holy See, and under their new institute the good Sisters have advanced in prosperity and usefulness a hundred-fold.
Bishop Luers found in the Congregation of the Holy Cross, with its priests, brothers and sisters, most valuable auxiliaries in the great and good work he achieved for his diocese. He honored and cherished these co-laborers with paternal affection and encour- agement, and they, in their turn, enriched his diocese with the fine university of Notre Dame, and took charge of eleven female academies, an orphan asylum, six religious institutions, and forty parish schools. Such has been the growth of the Congregation
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of the Holy Cross in the diocese of Fort Wayne, that they have been able to carry the blessings of their institute to many other dioceses. They numbered at the time of Bishop Luers' death twenty-one priests in the diocese, six scholastics, ninety-one pro- fessed brothers, fifty-two novices and ten postulants. Besides these were the excellent Sisters of Providence, introduced at Fort Wayne by Father Benoit, while it was embraced in the diocese of Vincennes. The sisters established, under Bishop Luers, the academy of St. Ignatius at LaFayette. Under Bishop Luers' administration were also introduced into the diocese of Fort Wayne the Sisters of the Precious Blood.
In his visitations of the diocese, and in his labors among his flock, Bishop Luers was untiring. He frequently went through his diocese, visiting one town or village after another, instructing the people, conferring confirmation and first communion after hav- ing first prepared the recipients of these sacraments in many instances himself, hearing confessions, laying corner-stones of new churches, dedicating and consecrating new temples of the faith already finished, projecting and providing sites for other, founding parish schools and placing them under the care of the brothers and sisters of religious communities, and performing every work of the holy ministry and every deed of christian charity. In all these labors he took pains to present the ceremonies of the church to- the public eye with imposing splendor and touching effect. He preached frequently and with great impression upon his hearers. Although he commenced his studies late in life, it was remarked of him that in his discourses he gave proof of a thoroughly trained and educated intellect. The progress made by religion in his dio- cese during his administration attests his zeal, his energy and his labor. Fifty churches and ten chapels were erected in the dio- cese of Fort Wayne during his episcopate, in addition to the building of the cathedral, and six new churches were in the course of erection at the time of his death. The whole number of the clergy at the commencement of his administration was twenty; at his death he left over twenty-one priests of religious orders, forty- eight secular priests and ten clerical students. Houses of charity and education were multiplied, and the Catholic population of the
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diocese was more than doubled during the thirteen years that he governed it.
Bishop Luers was remarkable for his charity to the poor, and to the orphans especially he was a provident father and most ten- der and solicitous guardian. His heart was pierced with grief at the sight of the many orphans who were left destitute by the Civil war. Many of them were Catholics, and while the state felt great sympathy for them, it was but too clear that their greatest danger consisted in the public provision which was about to be made for their support, and which, while it generously provided for . their temporal wants, would expose them to the greatest misfor- tunes in eternity, the loss of their faith. Bishop Luers resolved to devote himself to this good work with all the energy and zeal of his character. He purchased a tract of land in the suburbs of Fort Wayne in the spring of 1865, as the site of his orphan asy- lum, and Father Benoit and his successor, the Rev. E. P. Wal- ters, undertook to solicit subscriptions for the erection of the necessary buildings. In the fall of 1865, a solemn jubilee was proclaimed by Pope Pius IX, and among the conditions for gaining the indulgence was that of bestowing alms upon some object of charity designated by the ordinary of the diocese. Bishop Luers gladly availed himself of this opportunity, by designating the orphan asylum as the object of their charity on this occasion. He addressed several eloquent and earnest pastorals to his flock on this subject. The following extracts from that which he issued on the feast of the Assumption, 1866, will illustrate his zeal and efforts in this good work.
" In our day, many sympathize as little with poor Jesus as did the Jews of old, who only longed for a rich Messiah. They seek Him to this day without finding Him, as Christ Himself told them. The promises of God in regard to the poor are disregarded, because the baneful vices of avarice and pride have taken possession of their hearts, as was the case with the Jews and their imitators in all ages. The spirit of religion and the love of neighbor impelled our forefathers to erect magnificent churches, schools, orphan asylums, hospitals, universities and other like institutions, to give learned men and saints to the land. Within these institu- (166)
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tions men were trained for the object of their existence, and while the Te Deum resounds within those time-honored walls, it is re-echoed by the saints above, who erected those buildings."
Bishop Luers intended to commence the erection of the asy- lum in the fall of 1866, but unavoidable delays occurred in carry- ing out his plans. In the meantime he learned that a large tract of land in Jasper county, affording a more suitable site for the proposed establishment, was offered for sale. At the retreat of the clergy held at the university of Notre Dame, in 1867, he announced the proposed change of location to the pastors, who cordially approved his views and pledged themselves to their sup- port. Immediately after the close of the retreat, Bishop Luers issued an admirable address on the subject of this cherished work, from which the following extracts are taken:
Dearly Beloved in Christ: The number of orphans has lately increased to such an extent, that the erection of an asylum for them has become an imperative necessity. It is a holy duty, incumbent upon us all, to take care of the spiritual and bodily wants of those who have no longer father and mother to do it for them, and who like strangers now wander over God's wide earth imploring our pity, mercy and love.
A year ago I purchased twenty-five acres of land adjoining this city, for the purpose of building such an asylum upon it, but as yet it has not been commenced. On this all-important matter I consulted with the clergy lately assembled in spirit- ual retreat at Notre Dame, and as building materials and labor are yet very high, the building to be erected would cost from $30,000 to $35,000, which amount would have to be on hand immediately. To obtain this seems to be a matter of impossi- bility. It was therefore unanimously agreed to accept the favorable offer of the Spilter farm at Rensselaer for $18,000.
This place contains 933 acres, 650 of which are under fence, 200 under culti- vation, 200 wood, the balance prairie. There are on it two dwelling-houses, one of which contains twelve rooms, affording accommodation for forty or fifty orphans.
Experience teaches us that not a few of those who have been raised in the asylums of our large cities, for want of suitable employment and from other una- voidable causes, have not realized the expectations, considering the extraordinary care and attention bestowed upon them. Here, upon the farm selected, the chil- dren can have employment suitable to their age and strength, and growing up with industrious habits, they can become men who will be an honor to the institution and a source of consolation to their benefactors.
Having purchased the farm, Bishop Luers appointed Rev. George Steiner, Rev. J. Mayer, Rev. P. P. Cooney and Rev. E. P. Walters to solicit contributions throughout the diocese, and to prepare the building for the reception of the orphans! Rev.
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Joseph Stephan was placed in charge of the property and of the immediate preparation for the orphans. The bishop struggled through many discouragements. In September, 1868, he had the happiness of seeing the Sisters of the Holy Cross welcoming to the farm-houses thirty-five destitute orphans. Soon the number increased to sixty. He gave a considerable portion of his time and personal attention to the improvement of the farm, in seeing it fenced, drained and cultivated. He used to mark out some special work for the children, and then superintended its performance. He took part in their devotions and in their sports. He was ever a most welcome visitor to the asylum, and his visits were hailed with joy and announced by every tongue. He never allowed a Christmas to pass without an appeal and collection in favor of the orphans. After his death it was discovered that he had his life insured for their benefit to the amount of $10,000.
His affection for his clergy has already been mentioned. He felt a deep interest in all that concerned the priests of his diocese, and especially in providing for their support in old age. He earnestly favored the plan of providing for the support of aged priests throughout the United States, and called the attention of the second plenary council of Baltimore to this important subject. In the absence of any general provision on this point, he adopted a plan for his own diocese, and encouraged the formation of the Catholic Clerical Benevolent association of the diocese of Fort . Wayne.
Bishop Luers on many occasious became a champion and defender of the faith, and silenced its assailants by his sermons and lectures. On one occasion he was attacked by the secular press for his advocacy of. Catholic schools for Catholic children, his remarks being grossly misrepresented. He replied in a card, from which the following extract is taken:
"It is with me a matter of sincere regret that our non-Cath- olic friends will not understand the Catholic position upon the so-called public-school question. We do not object to Protest- ants sending their children to the public schools, nor to their sup- porting them by a tax or in any other way they may deem. fit. We have not the slightest intention of interfering with their exist-
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ence. They may, perhaps, think they are well adapted to the wants of those who patronize them; but Catholic parents, who realize the sacred obligations of preparing their children not only for this life but for the life to come, prefer to see their children in schools where religious instruction and moral discipline go hand in hand with secular education. Many Catholics regard it a hard- ship that they should be taxed to support a school system that they do not and cannot approve; but in Indiana it is the creature of the state constitution, and until that instrument is changed or amended in this particular, Catholics, as law-abiding citizens, must continue to bear their share of the burden, as well as assume their share of the responsibility."
Bishop Luers attended the provincial councils of Cincinnati, and sat in the second plenary council of Baltimore, which assem- bled on the first Sunday of October, 1866. He was one of the prelates excused from attending the general council of the Vatican, 1869, on account of the pressing necessities of his own diocese, and in order that he might also exercise the functions of the epis- copal office in favor of neighboring and other dioceses. During its continuation he administered confirmation in almost every county of three states, and holy orders in most of the ecclesiatical seminaries. It was while rendering services in another diocese that he was stricken down in death.
At the request of Very Rev. Edward Hannin, administrator of the diocese of Cleveland, Bishop Luers went to that city, where he arrived on the evening of June 28, 1871, to confer holy orders on some of the ecclesiastical students of the seminary. On the following morning he said mass at half past five, and then gave minor orders to three seminarians and deaconship to another. After breakfast he started on foot, satchel in hand, to take the train for another diocese, where he was to perform a similar serv- ice, intending to call on the way at the episcopal residence in Cleveland. A carriage had been ordered to the seminary for him, but, as he felt so well, he preferred walking. When within a few rods from the bishop's house, he fell, from apoplexy and the burst- ing of a blood-vessel. Those who ran to his aid, perceiving that he was an ecclesiastic, carried him to the bishop's house, where
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he received absolution, extreme unction, and the last indulgence. He expired in fifteen or twenty minutes after the fall.
His remains were carried, in a funeral train draped in mourn- ing, from Cleveland to Fort Wayne, escorted by clergymen and laymen from both dioceses. Other delegations joined the sad and solemn funeral at various points on the way, and on arrival at Fort Wayne every honor which veneration, love and religion could sug- gest was paid to his memory. A delegation from St. Joseph's church, Cincinnati, went to pay their last tribute of love and grat- itude to their former pastor. His funeral took place at the cathe- dral of Fort Wayne, on July 4, and was attended by Archbishop Purcell, Bishops de St. Palais, O'Hara, Toebbe, McCloskey of Louisville, and Borgess; by the Very Rev. Edward Hannin and by a large concourse of the clergy and laity. Archbishop Purcell delivered a glowing eulogy on the virtues and services of the deceased. His remains were deposited in a vault immediately in front of the altar, under the floor of the sanctuary in the cathedral. The age of Bishop Luers was fifty-one years and nine months.
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