USA > Michigan > Marquette County > Marquette > History Of The Diocese Of Sault Ste, Marie And Marquette; Containing A Full And Accurate Account Of The Development Of The Catholic Church In Upper Michigan, With Portraits Of Bishops, Priests And Illustrations Of Churches Old And New, Volume 1 > Part 23
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" Mining Journal, Oct. 11, 1879. Peter White Lib. Marq.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF
may go, Father Kenny will carry with him the best wishes of the majority of the people of Marquette." +
In place of Father Kenny, Father Rousseau, a gentleman of fine accom- plishments and agreeable manners, was appointed. On October 19th, Bishop Vertin appeared in person in Marquette and at Highmass, in the French church, made his position, in regard to the recent troubles, plain, giving all concerned to understand that the laws of the Church, must be obeyed at all hazards. The ani- mosity had taken however, too deep root to be quickly allayed. The followers of Father Kenny still clung to him consid- ering him as their 'non-resident pastor.' They contributed monthly to what they called a salary and before the winter pre- cluded navigation. large shipments of food and clothing were made to him. Bishop Vertin looked upon all these manifestations of racial bigotry in a spirit of Christian forbearance, and did not take any steps to punish the offenders against the ecclesiastical discipline; he only made the burning-down of his Cath- edral a case reserved to himself for abso- lution.
Bishop Vertin received from his pre- decessor twenty eight churches, eighteen priests and a population of not more than twenty thousand. His first attention he lent to the regulating of priests' salaries. He held that no mission shall be entitled . to a stationary pastor until they are able to pay his salary which he stipulated at seven hundred dollars, at first, but after- wards raised it to eight hundred on ac- count of the high prices of living com- modities. At the same time he levied, by
+ Oct. 18, 1879. Peter White. Lib. Marq.
permission from Rome, a tax of ten per- cent of the ordinary income of each con- gregation, for Cathedraticum, his own support, and the building of the new Cathedral. It goes without a doubt that in the first years of his episcopate Bishop Vertin received his living from his wealthy parents and converted his whole Cathedraticum for the building of the Cathedral.
The old St. Peter's Cathedral was very poorly constructed so that on real cold winter days, it was simply impossible to heat it, no matter how much fuel was sacrificed, hence, it would have been only a question of but a short time when a more dignified building would have been required, but since some individual made a bon fire of the old church in honor of Bishop Vertin's arrival, the good Bishop saw no other remedy in the matter than to build himself a new one at once. For those who had not been inoculated by Kenny-gitis and all who would come, there were two Masses read on Sundays in the French church which had become, at the same time, the pro-Cathedral. On May 19, 1880, Bishop Vertin held his first ordination in that church raising Rev. Thomas J. Atfield to priesthood. On week days Mass was celebrated in the basement of the bishop's house where the south half had been fitted up into a com- modious chapel.
For the sake of the observance of gen- eral laws of the Church and of the spir- itual welfare of the people the Bishop made, under February 4, 1880, some im- portant rulings :
"On days, during the Lenten season, on which the faithful are allowed the use of meat but once a day, I herewith dis-
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LEO PP. XIII.
Heste Fili salutemu et Apostolicam Benedictionem. Apostolatus officium, meritis livet imporifus. Nobis ex lito commisum gusomniume Sulusarum regimeni Divina providencia, presidemus utiliter exequi adjuvante Domino, cupientes, sollicité corde redaimur et sollertes ut cum de Eulesionum quorum regiminibus agentur comomittendis tales eis in Pastores pracficere studeamus qui populum suas curre creditum sciant non solum doctrina verbi sed etiam exemplo loni operis informare commisasque sibi Ecclesias in stata pacifico it tranquillo velint et valeant auctore Domi. no salubriter regere, et felicitar gubernare: Dudum. siquidem provisiones "Ecclesiasum omnium nunc vacantium at in posterum vacaturerum ordi nations et provisioni Mostrar reservavimus, decorrentes ex tune irritum et inane, si seeus super his a quoquam quavis autoritate scienter vel ignorantet contigorit allentare Postmodum vero Marianopolitana et Marquettensi Episcopali Ecclesia in Federalis flatilus & merica Septentrionalis cui Ventis Ina ter Ignatius Merak ultimus illus Antistat pravidelat, per ejusdem Vonlis Fratris renunciationem sponte oblatam da Adis acceptam Pastoris slatio destitata- Nos ad ejusdem Ecclesine provisionom celerem atque felicom in qua nemo pracker Messe potuit, poterelive immistere, Burels et reservatione obs istentibus su pra dietis, ne illa diaturnoe vocations exponation incommodis Paterno at solicito studio intendentes post deliberationem. giam de pracfinendo cidem Ecclesiae personam utitem as fructussom com Ventilus Fratribus Postres I. R. E. Cardinalibus negoti's Propagandai Fidei przepisitis, habuimus diligentem demum ad te qui ex legittimo es matrimonio procreatus, et in à elale etiam legittima constitutes d'étéjies apud los de integritate vitae merun. gravitate, et doctrinas laude, no non in rebus gerendis peritia at dexteritate, omni exceptioni majora documenta perfilentur oculos mentis Nostrie con. vertimas. Battus omnibus et singulis seduto attentique perponsis tique at quibusvis excommunications et interdits Elasque ecclesiasticis sontentus censuris et poenis quovis modo vel quavis de causa lates, quas si forte in curreris, hujus tantum dei gratia absolventes, at absoluttem fore censonles, camdem Episcopa. Len Eceteriam. Marianopolitan) et Marquetteny , in Federalis Stalilas Americas Septentrionalis de personaliz Notes, limemorales Cardinalities of tas- rum praestantiam meritorum, accepta, de Fratrum corumdem consilio, autoritate Vostra Apostelua tenore protsentium, providemus teque illi in Spisto. pur proficimus el Mission, curam regimen et administrationen cjus Calvine in spiritualibus tili at temperadas plenarie com mettendo, in Illo, qui dat gratiam et largitur dona, confisi, good dirigente Domino actus Miss caden Ecclesia utiliter de prospere dirigatur gratagas tam in speri tualius quam in temporalitus suscipit incrementa. fugum igetter Domini luis impositum humoris prompte devotions animi amplections curamet administrationem pracfalas ita studeas fideliter prudentergui exercere, ut cadem Ecclesia gaudent's provide gubernatorial freetuoso administration esse commliam; taque practir aeternae retributionis premium, Mostram quoque et Jedis Apostoliest uberius colinde consegui merearis benedictionom et gratiam bacterum ad ea quae in luce cedere posunt commoditales augmentin favorabilites intendentes lite ut a quotum que quem maluery Cattolico Antistilt graliam et communionom. Jedis Aplicar habento, accitis di in hodilli assistentibus daslas Episcopis vel d'reperire commode negaoval dusbus corum loco Presbyteris in Ecclesiastica dignitate constitutes, similem que graliem et communionem Sedis Apostolica habentibus munus Consecrationis real. pere libere at ticile possis, valeasque, at cidem Antistile, at receptis a le prius Catholicar fidei profesion, jesta articulos pridem al har Janela Sede propostos, at Nostro, et Romance Ecclesiae nomine, fidelitalis delikat solito juramento plum munustili autoritate Nostra, impendere licite valeat- eadem auctoritale, plenam el liberam, harum vi triluimus facultatem. Volumus autem alque decerni mus ut nisi receptis a te prius per dietum Anlistitem juramento el professione fidei hujusmodi, inu Antista Conservationis manus tili imponder, laque illust rasespere presumpseritis item Anti. des d Jontificales oflieu exercitio et lam ique quam la a regimine et administratione Ecclesiarum vestratan suspensi sites es inso Non obstante Apliers at in universalibus provincialibusque el synodalibus Goneilas editis generalibus vel specialibas Constitutiontid es Ordinationitus nes non diethe Feele. siau Marianopolitan) et Marquetteny eliams juramento confirmatione Aplica vel quavis formitate alia valoralis flatulis et consuetudinilas carterisque con. travis quiluscumque . Datum. Comac apud J. Petrie sul Annulo Fiscalous die XVI Maji MDCCCLXXIX Pontificalus Nostri Anno Fecundo
Eno signades conservaciet promovi ad Episcopatem Reverenimmun Jaannem l'estin s'appuie Regauner Die 14 to Septentt. a. S. 1819, Shahare Hein Ejap. Cressense'
Alosistentibus + Gaspar 24. Borg;
R mis Ep iscan) + 8hspalding
Pro Dro Card. Carafa de Tracts
FACSIMILE OF APOSTOLIC LETTERS APPOINTING FATHIER VERTIN THIRD BISHOP OF MARQUETTE WITH THE ATTEST OF HIS CONSECRATION.
275
SAULT STE. MARIE AND MARQUETTE
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF
superiors, and especially to all who hold the same relationship of father to their spiritual children.
"Let us then, Beloved Children in Christ, pray for the restoration and pres- ervation of the spirit of unity, for the conversion of sinners, but let us, above all, each and all of us, be converted our- selves, whereupon shall come the victory and triumph over all our spiritual ene- mies.
"Having received some appeals to our charity from the Irish Episcopate, and following the noble example of our Breth- ren of the American Hierarchy, We therefore ordain :
"That a collection be taken up in all the Missions of our Diocese on the third Sunday in Lent for the famine stricken people of the Emerald Isle.
"They deserve our sympathy as a na- tion on account of their generosity and fidelity to the Church, and we hope that their suffering with the suffering ones faith and charity will be revived and strengthened in us all.
"The proceeds of this collection to be sent to Our address to Marquette by Easter Sunday.
"We further ordain: That another collection be taken up for Our Orphans on the fourth Sunday after Easter. This is a diocesan institution; to use the words of the Apostle. "Our joy and our crown." Let all liberally contribute towards it; let every priest in his congregation be another St. Vincent of Paul and every man and woman, be another brother and sister of Charity.
"Remember the words of Christ : "Whatsoever you shall do to the least of these little ones, you shall have it done to myself." And consoling to us will be, at the hour of our death, his inviting words : "Come ye blessed of my father-for I was hungry, thirsty and naked, and you gave me to eat, to drink and have clothed me. Enter ye now into the joy of the Lord." 5
5 Pastoral, dated Marquette on the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 2nd of February, 1880.
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Chapter XI.
Bishop Vertin commences the building of his Cathedral .- Makes his first visit to the Apostolic See and incidently visits his native country .- Attends the Third Plenary Council .- Attends the first Provincial Council of Milwaukee. Models the government of his diocese in sentiment of the decrees of the Plenary and the Provincial Councils.
No time was lost in getting the prepa- rations for the building of a new Cath- edral under way. J. Koch, from Mil- waukee, was entrusted with the work of furnishing plans; the ground plan was delivered in summer of 1880 and the work commenced at once, while the full plans arrived before Christmas of that year. On January 15th, 1881, the Mining Journal gave a description of the new Cathedral and we reproduce it ver- batim because unwittingly it chronicles the deviations from original intentions : "The plans for the new Catholic Cathe- dral which is now in course of erection on the beautiful site of the one recently destroyed by fire, have at last arrived, and through the kindness of Rt. Rev. Bishop Vertin and the Master Builder, Mr. H. Gregory, we were permitted to look them over, and will, in the language of one little acquainted with architectual phrases and the ecclesiastical terms of the Catholic House of Worship, try to give our readers an idea of the beautiful church edifice which will soon become
highest in rank among the numerous temples of worship, which grace this western country. The building is to be a Cathedral in all that the word implies. The headquarters for the Bishop, and the place where the sacred function of his office will be performed. The size of the building on the ground is to be 160x80 feet, and designed after the modern Rom- an style of architecture and will be built of variegated Marquette sandstone. There will be two towers; one on each front corner 13212 feet in height from the water table to the top of the finale, and each tower is to be surmounted by a beautifully gilded galvanized iron cross. The northeast tower will be furnished with a clock of four dials, and entries will be made into the vestibule through the side of this tower from the street. The front elevation to the church will be furnished with triplet arched entries from the street and above these will be five arched windows to light the gallery. In the gable of the front elevation will be triple arched windows, and between
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them and the gallery lights will be a rose the work progresses, We shall have oc- casion to say more about the Cathedral that, in days to come, is to be one of the chief ornaments of this city of beauti- ful churches." 1
window 14 feet in diameter. A recess, projecting six feet from either side of the church will be lighted with triple arched windows surmounted with gable and gilt crosses. All the windows of the Cathedral will be of stained glass. A basement nine feet in the clear will be furnished with three furnaces, and the best modern improvements for conduct- ing heat into the audience room above will be supplied. Two large ventilating and smoke flues surmounted with galva- nized iron caps will be located on either side of the rear corners of the church. The size of the main audience room from the vestibule to the communion railing will be 94 feet and the sanctuary will be 36x261/2 feet. There will be two side altars IIX5 feet, with a sacristy in the rear of each and on either side of the main altar or sanctuary, 15x1512 feet, with a passage way to the door behind the main altar. There will be three aisles -center and two sides-center one to be seven feet wide and those at the sides four feet wide. There will be a front gal- lery over the vestibule 18x56 feet reached by a stairway in the west door. The roof is to be of slate. The cost of the build- ing alone, without the pews or other fur- niture, will be $40,000.00. Already the work of laying the foundation has been commenced, and the work of building will be pushed forward as rapidly as pos- sible under the supervision of Mar- quette's Veteran Builder, H. Gregory, whose skill in his chosen profession is acknowledged by all to be that of a Master, and during the coming summer it is expected that the walls of the edifice will be up, and the building enclosed. As
The fund for the new Cathedral was started by a large donation by Joseph Vertin, the Bishop's father. Many of his personal friends, Protestant and Catho- lic, sent their subscriptions with a word of cheer here and there, encouraging him in the great undertaking, which, indeed, started out more auspiciously than at first expected. "Having already earnestly set to work and having been materially aided by outsiders as well as by a good number of generous Catholics of the city and the diocese, we have decided to make an ap- peal to all the faithful of the diocese, that they, too, may assist us in our enter- prise. Hence, we ordain that a collec- tion for said purpose be taken up, in the most convenient manner, in every con- gregation of the diocese, during the week within the octave of the feast of the Apostles Sts. Peter and Paul, or. on the Sunday within that octave, of each year. until the Cathedral is self-sustaining. During the octave a Mass will be said every day for all the benefactors. More- over, persons who shall contribute FIFTY DOLLARS, or more, shall have their names inscribed in a memorial book, and a Mass shall be said monthly in the Cath- edral for their intention, for ten years." 2
The result of the first collection taken up in 1881, was the following :
The Poles of Calumet $178.00 All others of the Calumet congre-
gation 177.00
1 P. White Lib. Marq.
" Circular letter, May 24, 1881.
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SAULT STE. MARIE AND MARQUETTE
Torch Lake Congregation 157.00
Hancock Congregation 144.00
Ishpeming Congregation 119.00
Negaunee Congregation 78.00
Houghton Congregation 55.00
Spalding and Stephenson 51.00
Eagle Harbor 50.00
Marquette French Congregation. 50.00
Menominee Congregation
40 00
L'Anse Congregation
32.00
Champion
29.60
Sault Ste. Marie
22.00
St. Ignace and Mackinac Congre gations 20.00
Rockland Congregation 21.69
Michigamme by Mr. Hickey
34.00
Fayette
II.OO
Manistique per John Costello 10.00
Norway
none
Escanaba ; no collection because there was no resident priest at that time.
DONATIONS BY PRIESTS.
Very Rev. Edw. Jacker $150.00
Rev. Frederick Eis 100.00
Rev. Fabian Pawlar 50.00
Rev. Thomas Atfield 100.00
Rev. Gerhard Terhorst 50.00
Rev. Matthias Orth
25.00
Rev. Aloysius Majerus 25.00
Rev. H. J. Rousseau 3 100.00
In summer of 1881 Bishop Vertin was preparing for his visit ad limina. The ten year limit, by which every American bish- op is required to make personal report of his diocese to the Holy Father, had ex- pired in the fall, Bishop Mrak having made his last report in 1870 but owing to the unsettled state of the Cathedral parish, Bishop Vertin was granted per- mission to defer his visit for another $ Undated circular letter, August 1881.
year. The work on the Cathedral had progressed far enough to enable him to lay the corner stone before his departure. Of this event the Mining Journal has the following record : "Sunday, June 19th will ever be a historical day with the Catholic people of Marquette and of the entire Lake Superior diocese, as it was the day on which the Corner Stone of St. Peter's Cathedral was laid, a building which, when completed will not only be an ornament to the city, but a source of pride to the Catholics everywhere as well as a lasting monument to the bishop who is doing such noble work for the good of his people. The day was all that could be desired, bright but not too warm-a day upon which every one might venture out. and with cheerfulness participate in the exercises. The foundation and walls up the first floor had been laid and cov- ered with flooring : stands had been erect- ed for the clergy and the singers, and the beautifully carved corner stone being held ready to be placed in its final resting place. After dinner the people began gathering at the Cathedral and by three o'clock, the time set for the ceremonies, the throng in that neighborhood fairly blocked up the streets in all directions. Promptly at the appointed hour, the pro- cession of bishops and clergy filed out of the bishop's house; Rt. Rev. Bishop Ver- tin, D. D. leading, and being followed by the Rt. Rev. John Joseph Hogan, D. D., Bishop of Kansas City and St. Joseph, Missouri ; Very Rev. Bonaventure Frey, Provincial of the Order of Capuchins, of Appleton, Wis .; Rev. Maurice C. Mc- Gee, of the Bishop's house, Marquette; Rev. F. Eis of Negaunee, Rev. H. J. Rousseau of Ishpeming, Rev. F. Pawlar
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of Calumet, Rev. James W. Kelly of Houghton, Rev. M. Orth of Republic, Rev. Joseph Niebling of Champion, Rev. E. J. Martel of Marquette and Rev. T. A. Majerus of Spaulding. The ceremony as performed by Bishop Vertin, assisted by the clergy, was strikingly beautiful and impressive, lasting a full hour and being watched by a devout portion of the immense throng present, although nine- tenths of them could not get within hear- ing distance. At the conclusion of the cer- emony, Bishop Hogan preached the sermon. He spoke highly of his impres- sions of Marquette, and of the name as commemorative of the heroic Christian missionary who for ages past had visited and labored among the Indians on these shores; he likened the beautiful bay to that of Naples, yet thinking it more grand and beautiful; he also paid a high com- pliment to the people for their self-sacri- ficing aid to the cathedral fund, and urged them to contribute even more largely until the work was completed. At the conclusion of the ceremonies the visit- ors returned to their homes and the first victory for the new cathedral had been achieved, and Catholic people were happy. It is estimated that fully 5,000 people witnessed the ceremonies.
Work upon the cathedral will be pushed rapidly during the summer and by fall the walls will be up and the roof in place." +
Early in August Bishop Vertin turned over the administration of the diocese to Bishop Mrak, and gave him a helper in the person of Father Maurice Hens, a Capuchin from Wisconsin, and then sailed for Europe. This was the first
vacation the Bishop allowed himself since his ordination to the priesthood, fifteen years before, as it was likewise his first trip to Europe since his emigration to this country. After his business in Rome was attended to he paid a short visit to his native home. In eighteen years many things had changed in old Carinolia, and he would have been a stranger in his own native place were it not that his advent was heralded by press and letter. Old classmates who had risen to various posi- tions in life hurried to greet their old friend who now wore the mitre. At Rudolfswert, his quondam professors, of whom only three were alive, vied for the honor of assisting him at the Pontifical Highmass which he celebrated in the Franciscan Church in the presence of the entire family and students of the Imper- ial-Royal Gymnasium of which he had been a pupil himself. In Dobliče, his na- tive village, he arrived at the time of the vintage, the most joyous season of that region. A tap from the church-bell is sufficient to arrest the people's attention as far as its sound is heard. The vintag- ers hurried from all over Tančagora down to their peaceful valley to greet the high visitor, who first saw the light of day in their own midst. There were many who had been his school companions, oth- ers knew him by name only, since the news of his elevation to the episcopate had penetrated even that remote corner of Southern Austria. The little church of St. Vitus where he celebrated Pontifi- cal Highmass, unable to hold the people, was surrounded by a multitude, happy and satisfied to catch a glimpse of him while passing from the church door to his carriage. Only a Baraga or an Abuna
4 June 25, 1881. P. White Lib. Marq.
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River have become permanent parishes be rightly guided in the selection of the with many smaller missions attached to them.
The missions north of Escanaba were not as prosperous as those just men- tioned; though numerous enough, na- tural resources were too limited to foster their rapid growth and they are to this day divided among the nearest bordering parishes. Until some ten years ago, however, Lathrop or Centerville, Maple Ridge, Perkins, Brampton or Days River and Ford River were dependent for serv- ices on Escanaba. In 1889 when the parish of Gladstone was formed, they were attached to that place, with the ex- - ception of Ford River, which, being in the immediate neighborhood of Escanaba. naturally still belong to it. Manistique became a parish in 1884, being detached from Fayette. In 1880 Republic was raised to a parish. In 1879 the Gogebic Range attracted, by the discovery of in- exhaustible deposits of iron, multitudes of people, so that the towns of Ironwood. Bessemer and Wakefield came into exist- ence as if called forth by magic. At first one priest was detailed to look after the spiritual wants of the people, but soon his task became too arduous, and Ironwood and Bessemer were erected into perma- nent parishes in 1886.
These developments practically opened up the whole compass of the diocese; and if we notice that it was all accomplished within seven or eight years, we can better imagine the activity of the Bishop than describe it. He invariably visited new places to ascertain for himself about their future prospects and stability, in order to determine the kind and the size and the location of parish buildings, and then, to
pastor, he never failed to inquire into the nationality of the people .- The ma- jority of the new settlers were not people of means; while they were willing to contribute towards the building of the churches, oftentimes they were unable until they had secured a home for them- selves. Here the liberal policy of Bishop Vertin proved most beneficial, he always went sponsor for any reasonable amount of debt, and as the property was deeded to him in fee simple he personally signed the notes and never mortgaged any prop- erty. He was satisfied that the policy was financially sound, being based on a princi- ple of a loan association. The building lots were usually donated or bought for a nominal sum; the character of the building as well as the growth of the town added almost as much value to the property as the periodical payments de- . creased the indebtedness. It was the simple plan of a poor man acquiring a home applied in the acquisition of church property, only with the additional safe- guard that the unit of a congregation was composed of many responsible pay- ers, who were more likely to increase in number than decrease. At all events Bishop Vertin's theory asserts itself by the fact that in twenty years of his ad- ministration he was but once obliged to pay a note of five hundred dollars, which a run-down congregation failed to meet. At the time of his death the diocesan property was valued at over seven hun- dred thousand, with an incumbrance of less than fifty thousand. However, re- gardless of the merits or demerits of his financial policy, the fact remains undis- puted that if it were not for his lenient
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