Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-12-14
MEMORIAL FOR FORMER PRIEST.
Imposing Granite Piece Erected AS Enduring
Evidence of Respect For Rev. Beyerle,

Imposing Granite Piece Erected AS Enduring
Evidence of Respect For Rev. Beyerle.
Owing to congested space in the
preceding REPORTER and Il week too
busy to make full mention Of the
unwilling of Father Beyerle's monu-
ment or to give proper account of the
splendid dedicatory address on that
occasion by our popular young at
torney, Will J. Conway. we purposely
reserved all reference to this matter
until today, even at the risk of appear
ing a few days slow. Your indulgence
is therefore enlisted and expected
herewith.
The handsome, large monument
recently set up to preserve the memory
of the late Rev. Chas. Beyerle, nine
teen years pastor of St. Peter and St.
Paul's Roman Catholic church in
Grand Rapids, was purchased with
money contributed by the local con-
gregatioq and personal friends of
deceased. 1t was manufactured by
III. f. Wenrich, Oshkosh composed of
five massive pieces of the celebrated
Barre granite from Vermont-total
weight, nine tons. 1t stands 81 feet
in height, 81 feet long and feet, 4
inches wide at lower base. The die, of
sarcophagus design, is feet, 4
inches long, 2 feet, inches
wide and prettily inscribed. The
upper stone, a heavy cross, rests on a
plinth twenty inches square; the cross
is it,, 1 inch high, with bars it.,
l inch across and 13 inches square:
monogram II. II. s. on cross; name
on second base ''Rev. Father Beyerle''
in letters raised of an inch. The
granite is highly polished both front
and back.
Dedication of the above monument
occurred on Tuesday morning,
December ). The usual mass service
was held in the church at nine o'clock,
after which the large audience pro-
ceeded to Calvary cemetery where the
memorial was unveiled and fitting
tribute was laid at it's base.
Rev. Father Rice Of Stevens Point
was expected to give the principal
address, but being absent, Attorney
Will J. Conway was called upon for
impromptu remarks and SO clearly and
creditably did the gentleman respond
that we herewith print his address in
full, which address preceded the
benediction. Atty. Conway said:
My Friends:--It is but mournful
and melancholy duty to speak of the
virtues and services of a distinguished
and revered pastor, who has lately
withdrawn from the stage of active
life behind the dark curtains of the
dead. But there is pleasure even in
the midst of sorrow-pleaSure that
when we are called upon to mourn the
loss of a spiritual director and fellow
member, we may say of him many
things not applicable to all men.
The sad meSSage-''Father Beyerle is
dead, )" has been received: he has gone
to that undiscovered country from
whose bourne no traveller returns, and
we who knew him do well to testify
our appreciation of his high character
md of the honorable example which
he beQueathed us in the record of a
life faithfully devoted to noble ends.
His work is. accomplished, his task is
done, and he has gone home, cut down
in the midst of his usefulness. in the
meridian of his strength. He has
left us, and those who were familiar
with his presence have become fami-
liar with his absence, and the friends
and pariShiOnerS that knew him once,
shall know him no more on earth.
Death is but another form of life to
which we must all submit sooner or
later. OF all certainties it is the
greatest. There is sermon in every
death amongst those who surround us
in life. Therefore it is good for us to
pause over the grave of one whom we
knew we'll in life to accept it's lessons:
the more conspicuous the life, the
more impressive the lesson. Let us
pause for moment in the busy whirl
of life, from our labors, and drop a
tear over his grave while we raise a
stone to his memory to commemorate
his virtues to coming generations: for
we do but honor ourselves by according
due honor to his memory.
Born in StraSburg, Germany, then a
Province of France, nearly 81 wears
ago, Father Beyerle early migrated to
America, and shortly afterwards
entered theological seminary at Mil
waukee, and upon the completion of
his studies there was assigned a Parish
at Duck Creek, which he held for
about years, when he became the
rector of st. Peter and ST. PaulS con-
gregatiOn in this city, which he
retained for nearly 10 years until he
was finally compelled, owing to i'll
health, to give up his laberS and seek
skilled medical treatment. He went
to Milwaukee for treatment but of no
avail, and in July 1897, the pure,
worthy and eminent Father Beyerle,
the beloved pastor and respected
citizen closed his eyes on earthly
scenes and yielded up his spirit to Him
who gave it.
1t is pathetic that he who had such
hosts of friends should have been alone
at this supreme moment. 1t seems
like the irony of fate that this man
whose great heart beat warmly for all
humanity, should have died without
the consolation of friend in his dying
moments. Not having a relative
on this side of the broad expapse of
the Atlantic, we see he ended his
earthly pilgrimage here as he COM
menced it, as a stranger in a strange
land, and within sight of the school
where, about quarter of a century
before. he had received his robes of
priesthood, which for as many years he
wore so honorably and so well.