The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-13

devotion to the church that Is one OF ms
proudest predictions today
He decided to go TO Wichita in 1850,
a. period antedating the boom one year.
when reached Wichita it was a
pretty good town. said Father Casey.
IN talking with a correspondent nut
dormant condition True, there was a
church, but it had done service for 20
years. and a move toward building was
at once decided upon
The old church was sold for $50.
He was stationed at Wichita two
years and In that time built, or ar
ranged for the erection of the cathedral
st. Patriclz's and St Joseph's churches
All Hallows academy, St. Columbla's
college. St Aloysius school and hall at
a. total cost of more than S100, 600. He
also introduced several societies, sisters
of Charity, Sisters of Mercy and kindred
organizations. He established ST. Fran
els hospital and secured for the church
real estate worth $3.50, GOO which, at that
time, was considered a low figure
Father Casey had a close friendship
with William Grif11nstein. the father
Of Wichita, and with Mrs. Meagher, the
mother of Wichita He had the pleas
ure of baptising the last boy of Mrs
Lease.
AT this time the state OF Kansas COM
posed one diocese-the diocese Of
LeavenWOrth. It was seen that dlvi-
sion of the diocese must be MADE TO IA
cllttate matters. and a meeting was
called for LeaVenWorth in the spring or
1887, Father Casey being the only rep
resentative from the western part Of the
state. The division took place, leaving
Leavenworth diocese, Concordia diocese
and Wichita diocese.
Father Casey's name was presented
for the selection as bishop OF the
Wichita diocese, but he refused. to serve.
the honor falling to Father James
GREELEY of Topeka
Before the latter received the bonds
his death occurred. Father Casey was
then again appealed to to assume
charge of affairs, which he consented to
do. holding the position of administrators
of the diocese two years.
At Newton he paid debt Of $4,000 and
established the first Catholic free school
in the state, which he supplied from the
proceeds Of his newspaper which he had
In the meantime established at Leaven-
worth.
At Abilene he discharged a debt of
81 600 within few months; at ScammOn
he enlarged and furnished the school,
besides fencing and renoyating the ex-
tenSive grounds at cost of several
thousand dollars. At Chicopee he col
lected and had in the bank sufficient
cash to build a new church
It was then that the people of st. An
thongs church Of this city determined
to have the services of Father Casey
At this time st. Anthony's church was
hopelessly in debt.
Father Casey was called and came.
He regarded it as the poorest church IN
the state, but he has placed it upon the
plane Of competency and the debt is be-
ing gradually diminished.
Father Casey went east and Iectured
and he wrote books and put them on the
market He IS the author of three
books: THE Church-What It Is and
What It's Not 1.-The Mass-What 1t
Is Not and What It Is, and Confession
What 1t Is and What It's Not. The
books all found a ready and rapid sale
and the proceeds. amounting to thou
sands of dollars, have been applied on
the indebtedness of the local church.