Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-06-07
Laying the Corner Stone.


monies. Just before noon It began to
threaten rain, but the afternoon passed
away without interruption from that
cause.
A temporary floor had been laid over
the ioists and seats of rough boards pro-
vided for the audience. Over what will
be the east entrance of the building was
reared an arch, surmounted by a cross,
tastefully draped with flags, wreaths of
leaves and flowers, a colored picture of
ST. Clement, the patron saint of the
church. and under the middle of the
arch was the papal standard inscribed
with the word 'paX'-peace. At the
west end was platform, also ornament
ed with wreaths, where the speakers sat
and fromwhich they addressedthep people.
The position of the corner stone was in
the northwest corner of the building. On
its face were engraved a Maltese cross
and the date 1855, thus: IS Sc In
the middle of the upper side a cavity had
been sunk.
Those present to conduct the cere-
mony were Vicar General Batz, of Mil
waukee, Father McNulty, of Mt. Hope,
Father Drexel, of Cassville, Father
Dreiss, of Dutch Hollow, Father Wib-
bert, of Platteville, Father Albers, of
Keller.
At ten o'clock the Vicar-General Gel
ebrated high mass at the old church. At
3 p. m. the congregation assembled a;
the church, formed a procession and
proceeded to the new building.
Father McNulty preached in English
from the text "On this rock viii l build
my church" He spoke feelingly of the
liberality of the congregation in erecting
this great monument, for future gen
Grafton as well as for the present. He
also spoke highly of the heroic labors of
Father Barth in collecting funds for this
great work. His sermon was very
strong and effective one. Then followed
the benediction of the cross on the spot
where the altar is to be placed. This
was Latin chant Mr. A. Nusang,
teacher of the public and Catholic school
at Keller, was the organist during the
chant. A procession was then formed
and marched to the corner stone where
the Vicar General delivered an address
over the corner stone. He is a powerful
speaker and his address was very inn
pressive. He spoke highly of the con-
gregation whose devotion and liberalty
had provided means for so fine an edi-
fee He reminded them that Catholics
had right to be proud of their history
| in America and in Wisconsin, Column
bus, who discovered America, was
Catholic. The discoveries of the Mis-
sissippi, both the upper and the lower
river, were Catholics. The pioneers of
this whole western region were Catholic
priests. Two hundred years ago the
Catholic blaek-froeks were teaching the
faith at Prairie du Chen and Green Bay.
Then followed the benediction Of the
stone-a Latin chant and the placing
Of the corner stone. In the cavity OF
the stone were placed d parchment man
u5cript in Latin containing the names of
the priests present and the following:
''Amcn. In the year Of our Lord 1886,
in the month Of June, in the pontilicate
Of Pope Leo XIII, under the administra-
ton of the Most Reverend Archbishop,
Michael Heiss, Of Milwaukee, and of his
Excellencv, Grover Cleveland, President
of the United States and jeremiah Rusk,
Governor of, Wisconsin, this corner stone
was laid by the Reverend Monsignor L.
Batz, Vicar General, in honor and glory
Of St Clement. Amen Also copies of
the Semi-WeeHy Herald and the Teller,
the German Columbia and Catholic Cjtt-
zen, Of Milwaukee. Then a procession
marched around the building, chanting
and sprinkling holy water.
The exercises then closed with the
re Deu1R
The church edifice is to cost S11.000,
and about 1,000 Of this has been paid
in donations Of labor and material. be-
sides 81, 800 in two installments has
been paid for the building as far as com
pleted About S140 was collected from
spectators during yesterdays exercises.