The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-05-30
Biographical eketch Of Rey. Father Arnold pnKsn,
the Great Jesuit Missionary.
Chicago Times.)

The following Biographical Sketch OF
the Rev. Father Arnold DameH, s. j., will
be read with interest, not only by those
who had the pleasure OF seeing and hearing
this great champion of the Cross and Catho-
licity, but by every Catholic in this land,
where the name of this great priest, on ao-
count of his stupendious missionary labors,
| Ia becoming household word:
Rev. Arnold Damen, 8. j., was born in
1915, in Belgium. The came spirit that
now distinguishes him animated him when
be was mere boy. While still attending
the primary school in his native town,
he was wont to- play church, he officiated
as priest while his sister occupied the less
pretentious position of sexton. AS this
church play was conducted in the most
approved style, with altar, it cost the
proud parent q small fortune in providing
his young hopeful with candles, and the Da-
men premises were the common meeting
ground for all the children of the neighbor-
hood.
AS soon as the young enthusiast had
reached the requisite ears, having pursued
n preliminary course of studies, he was ad-
III tilted to the order of the Soc iety of Jesus as
q novice, at the same time attending q
col ego belonging To the brotherhood. AS
soon as he was fully received into the
on missionary work, and WAS assigned to
the province of st. Louis. According to
the division that obtains with the Order,
the United States are divided into four
provinces, those of New York, New Orleans,
St. Louis aud San Francisco, in which these
cities are headquarters.
When Father Damen appeared in St.
Louis it was a city of considerable pIeten-
sion, while Chicago, now it's superior, was
an obscure trading post. He became identI-
fled with the st. Louis university. and for
years "tticated as the pastor of st. Xavier,
the only Jesuit church in the city.
1t was in 1855, fully twenty years ago,
when he was in the full vigor of his middle
manhood, that Father Damen came for the
frat time to Chicago. He had begun TO
engage in those missions that have made
his name household word in every Catho.
lie family 10 the land, aud it was in pursu
ance of his labors in this field that he came
to this city.
Practically the advent of the Jesuits in
Chicago dates from that time, though it
was not until 1857 that Father Damen OBJ
tanned the consent of the authorities of his
order to purchase the ground on which the
present church of the Holy Family is erect
ed, aud commenced at once to provide a
temporary place of worship.
As soon as the man of action reached
Chicago he saw that this was q point of
great possibilities, and it became his ambi-
tion to settle here. The order, generally
credited with being shrewd aud weii-tn-
formed, no doubt shared Father Damen's
views, and as they recognized in him a man
equal to the position, with all its possible
Development, he was soon gratified with an
appointment In the new field.
Property in the centre locations at that
period had reached a high figure, but in the
suburbs" it was comparatively low, and
as the finances of the pioneer were neces-
sarily limited, he graciously confined him
self to the outskirts, convinced that in
time the growth of the city would stalk far
beyond him. Father Damen was mbitious
in those days as he is still, and it was his
boast that he would one day build mp one
OF the greatest churches in America People
have stopped laughing at him, though Is
or Is years ago, they used TO enjoy many
about him when he started now the
Church OF the Holy Family lie the centre of
the most deusely populated district in the
city. They used to tell him that he had
better contract for a railroad IL run to his
church from the city, as thsr would be the
only way by which he could secure a con
9regatlon, and when he tod them that it
was his purpose to build the largest church
In the city, they looked at him with suepic
lens Glances and m entally endowed him
With strait acket. Aud to most observers
1t did seem absurd to think of erecting a
grand church, such as conte upiated, away
out there on the praiiie,n but the sagacious
and far se-rug Jesuit was not at fault. A
site had besb offered for the church near
the vicinity of the present { nion park and
had been rejected, not because the locality
IN itself was deemed Ineligible, but it was
foreseen that there was not the district in
which the humber classes would seek to
locate, and it was for these the church and
the missionary labors of the Jesuits in
Chicago was mainly designed.
When the little frame church, which for
several years did temporary service as
such af the corner of Eleventh and Nav
streets, was finally completed and opened
tor services, there was hardly house Oh
the west side of Harrison street and west
OF Haisted street, There was a sprink King
of 'shanties" here and there on the still
nnhroken prairie, occupied by q class of
citizens not then held in the highest repute,
popnlariy known as ''squarters," Nor was
the neighbor hood-then embraced within
the area Of the Tenth ward-it any greater
esteem than the settlers.
RIOTS and Tuctions" were as common
as at Denny brook fair" and. taking it all
IN all, 1t seems as though Father Damen