The Dickinson press., 1902-10-25

marks an important epoCn IN the history
# Dickinson and of North Dakota.
1t was a beautiful aut m day, and
.arly in the morning the teams from the
commenced to wend their way !
nto the city, and by II o'clock there was
he greatest gathering of German people
hat had ever been known in Dickinson.
Right Rev. Bishop Stanley of Fargo
and Very Rev. Dean Collins of Mandan
had become guests of the city the
night previous, and at the appointed
hour, II o'clock, they appeared, preced-
ed by Rev T. L. Rabsteinek clad in the
robes of their office, and performed the
impressive ceremony of laying the cor
ner stone Of St. Joseph's chnrch, located
south side of the city. The city council
and county officers attended in a body
and appeared on the first floor of the
building with the bishop and priests. their
attendants, committees and hundreds of
eager spectators. AS soon as the bishop
advanced to the front part of the build
ing, where the corner stone was to be
laid, the crowds on the ground also had
a chance to see.
When all was done and the stone was
laid, Rudolph Frank stepped forward
and gave an address in German. He
said that the church was the source of all
good, and it gave him great pleasure, in
behalf of his German co%.workers, to well
come the bishop to the city. The En-
glish speaking people could see in the
glow of Mr.. Franks countenance his
great happiness and pride in St. Joseph's
church.
Bishop Stanley then gave a short ad-
dress in English. He spoke with much
satisfaction of the beautiful church edi-
fee begun, which is to have a parochial
school in connection. He spoke of the
westward tide of immigration in North
Dakota and the great number Of German
and Bohemian Catholics who had re-
Gently taken homes in this vicinity. He
| commended the Germans for their de-
sire to preserve the language Of their
mother contry and hand it down to their
children. The bishop told his hearers
that St. Joseph's church would be the
third in size and importance in the state
first the cathedral in Fargo, second a
Polish Catholic church in Walsh county
and third St. Joseph's church.
The bishop commended the Dickinson
Pensioners for what they had done, ane
in conclusion told them that early the
coming spring there would be a dedica
ton service at which time special trains
would be run and all the Catholic clerg.
of the Fargo diocese would be present.
At II o'clock the people repaired tc
the banquet tables in the opera house
where 900 covers had been laid. Tn
hall had been fttingly decorated ant
there were scores of ushers and waiter
to attend to people as they crowded in
but hundreds could not be seated AM
standing room was soon at a premium
and throngs Of people were still outside
An orchestra-under the direction OF {
Rex Townsend-furnished music as tn
people came in and during the banque
At the head table were seated Bisho
Stanley, Dean Collins, Father Raj
steinek, Rev. J. H. Dobbyn, Senate
Simpson and Capt. Gregory.
After the wants of the inner man ha
been supplied, Father Rabsteinek Gale
upon Capt. Gregory in behalf of Star
county to answer to the toast, "Germa
American Citizens" Mr.. Gregory wa
at his best and paid a high tribute to tn
many Germans who had so recently bt
come citizens of our country. He cor
graduated them on having come to OF
land of freedom, on their zeal in churc
work and assured them that the Amer
can people were glad to have them her
Senator Simpson, in behalf of the cit,
responded to the toast, "Progress of tn
Church." He referred to the gre;
work accomplished in the state by Bisi
op Stanley IN the splendid organizatio
of the diocese of Fargo and in the gre;
number of churches recently erected. H
commended Father Rabsteinek for h
!. untiring work of the past year in Dicl
. inson in organizing and getting materi;
together for the erection of St. Joseph
church, the pride of Dickinson, Star
) county and the western portion of Mort
Dakota. He also referred to the lare
: influx of Germans, their general thri
and aptness for adopting America
ways.
Franz Wanner, assigned the toa
Thanksgiving" paid a touching tribu
to Bishop Stanley, and in his closing r
D marks said: ."We have looked towal
the great Gay OF the church of
Joseph's with great anticipation, and nc
that GU prayers have been realize
we are thankful-thankful to our Il
:, Rev. Bishop, to our pastor, Father Ra
. steinek, and above all to our heaven
q Father"
{ The Right Rev. Bishop Stanley tn
addressed the people as follows
e GAS l said this morning after layil
the corner stone of this grand church,
c am exceedingly happy to have an Q
e portunity Of taking part in the festiviti
of this day. My pleasure is largely d,
J. to the fact that this corner stone of tt
$ new church marks, in q special way, Il
extraordinary growth Of the Cathol
church in North Dakota. Way out he
It in the western limits of the diocese, co
! 6ded to my care, 1 today have place
q the corner stone of one of the grande
d churches in the state, Some years az
when | took charge of the Catholic i
u terests in this state, l thought a chur,
d of this kind would never be built. "
:: are now due to have n of the fine
i church edifces not only in this state, b
in several of the adjoining states.
1t may not be out of place to brie!
n review the condition things we're in th|
teen years ago in Catholic circles
& North Dakota. when | FIRST BEGAN
acquainted with you. Had know
:, when l received a cablegram from Ron
h - S~-x~-La. ,oQa 4ojI:a~ 49, - ~