The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-09
PRIESTS WHO BREW
BENEDIOTIFE MONKS WHO HAVE
BEEN OFTEN CRITICISED.

bh6N VI bN CHIIiOlShD.
That Brewery Which denounced b,
the Catholic Total Abstinence Union Il
There All Right and the Monks Manic
uIate it, but it is Very Small Affair ana
Does no enc any Harm-Beer is Brewec
in Bavarisn Style-Arch Abbot ha.
Prohibited the Sale of the Product al
Present.
Greensburg, Pa, Jan. Sin the dis
eussions before the annual convention
cf the Catholic Total Abstinence union
Df America in New York City last sum-
mer, good deal OF attention was di-
reotsd TO the brewery Of the Benedic-
Tine Monks at DaItrObe, Pa There was
3 disposition in some quarters not TO
make 50 radical a declara ton for total
abstinence ais to bring this brewery IN
der dts ban, while, on the other hand
there was open condemnation of any
beerEbrewing even when it received
such celFfcal approval. Some account
therefore, of this monastery, its monks,
and their ways viii be Of general inter-
est.
Situated on the old Pittsburg and Phil
Rdelphia turnpike, one mile south of
The Penn sylvania railroad, and eight
miles east of Greensburg, Pa, the first
county seat formed and established
lwest of the Allegheny mountains, stand
st. Vincent's old abbey and monastery.
Built on a knoll at an altitude of near
ty 1000 feet, the broad rich meadow
lands spread out before it, while, look
ing toward the sunrise, the western
slope Of the Chestnut ridge, three miles
distant, complete one of natures grand
psf pictures. On the north, west and
south sides the rich farming lands of
that section spread out before it. 1t
would foe impossible to conceive of a
more healthful location, with its pure
air and water, than St. Vincent enjoys.
The old trees which stand about the
place are a paradise in themselves and
the home Of wyriads of singing birds.
The CHEEKY walk and the various court
and drives about the place have been
commented on by poets and historians.
All these makes the location one of the
most picturesque imaginable.
The founder of st. Vincent, Arch
bishop WINNER, was born in Bavaria
In 1903. He was educated at the Rats
bon, Melton, and Munich colleges. In
his early collegiate course he studied
Jurisprudence After his ordination
he did missionary work in Germany for
some time. His next few years were
spent i'm travel He visited all the
principal cities on the continent and
laid his plans for the foundation of the
abbey before the pope, whose sanction
and blessing he received. He was ac-
compas1aed TO America by several
ciergyunen and haH-dozen laiborers. The
founder was met on his arrival in New
York by Father Lempke of CaIroltOwn,
Cambria county, Pa, who sought to
have the institution located at that
place. But The land there, as in most
mountain regions. was poor, and the
proposition was rejected. Father VIM
rner+, believing that the center of popu-
lathon IN the United States would soon
be west Of the Allegheny mountains,
destined to locate as near the head wat
ers OF the Ohio as possible. He spent
some time canvassing sites, visiting
Bishop O'Connor of Pittsburg, before
wd1oun he laid his plan. The bishop
granted him the present site.
The place had previously been known
as "'SpoTtsman's Hall" It was owned
Joy wealthy New York and Philadelphia
hunters and fishers, who spent the hunt
ing and fishing season there over a cen
tury az. Old "SpOrtsman's HalP'
was a large twO-stOTy house erected
oIrt Of Logs and rooted with clapboards,
according 20 primitive custom. The
stream which flows through the rich
meadow a,ounded with fish while the
slopes Of Chestnut ridge afforded the
hunter unlimited opportunities for his
favorite pastime. Although the hall,
Ike the game fish. before mans onward
march had disappeared, the tender
memories Of the place are cherished
md occupy a conspicuous position in
the archives Of the institution.
Prior to the Revolutionary war half a
dozen Catholic families emigrated west
and scctlei in the vicinity Of Sports
mans HaH." Father Brewers. a young
rriest, on one Of his itinerations. cross
ed the mountains. visited the members,
holding services in their houses, and
finally orga nized them into a congre-
ga atom. ''Sportsman's Hall" was pur-
chased, and the congregation began
wcrshipinE in the little log building
about the time Washington was inau-
EuDated president of the new republic.
Father WINNER and his little band
Of cO-labCrarS at once began erecting
the abbey building and establishing
college and theological seminary. Faith
er WINNER supplemented the work.
being the GT- infect Of the pullulnSS as
well as presiding over the institution.
Louis XIV, kirg Of Bavaria. a relative
assisted the founder very materially
his fiGs. cheek being $4,000 TO which he
added AZ other times.
The abbey = a rectangular building
500 feet long by $50 n width. The beau
tiful park IN the enclosure Is bisected
by tn church. In this building the dif-
ferent departments Of the college are
located and the abbot. monks and stu
dents reside Il s of brick. and was
erected Of material nearly all of which
were made and grown on the Brothers
land The large brick-yards operated
by the Benedicunes have 4 reputation
among other builders and contractors.
and mem beers of the Benedictine clergy
were once brickuakers.
The present was several years ago
found 10 be Inadequate to accommodate
the rapidly increasing membership of
ST. Vincent's, and a new eGitice is being
erected. 1t was planned by the laUe
arch-abbct just previous TO dis death
b few. years ago. The building IS near
inz- completion. and according 10 pres
ent Intentions VIII be dedicated on OCT.
s Uh=la viii he The fiftieth anniversary
TIE building is of Jhe RoCuaneSque style
IF architecture. and viii be one IF the
largest and finest churches IN the state.
II IS 325 feet in length by an average
width Of % feet, and VIII have seat
ing capacity IF from $500 10 5000 per-
sons. The basement under the altar
VII be sci apart as the final resting