Marble Hill press. (Marbel [sic] Hill, Mo.) 1881-1923, 1903-08-12
silver JubiIee al Leopold.


~ ~--------
Silver JHbiIee al Leopold.
On Tuesday, August Is, 1908,
our people, with great solemnity,
viii celebrate the twenty.ffth ami.
yersary of Rev. Father BetteIs' ser.
wee as parish Priest at this place.
Twenty-seyen years ago he was
ordained o priest and aftcr two
years service at Charleston, Mo-, he
took charge Of this, the Leopold
parish, on August l6, 1878, and has
been here continuously since.
On Sunday, August 2, our citizens
met in the old church house at9;sO
o'clock p. m. The house was crowd
ed with enthusiastic men and women
who made all arrangements for this
silver jubilee. Rev. Father Bettels
delivered a very able lecture enti-
tied, "Thep and Now" II was
historical recital Of the progress
etc, during his pastoratc for a
quarter Of a century at this place.
Father Bettels and his oongrega-
ton have much to feel proud of and
10 celebrate and rejoice for. When
he took charge of this parish there
was no town here, no postoiiice, no
store, in fact, only two families,
consisting of four persons, lived
here. The old church house with
q seating capacity of 100 had been
built in about 1861 by Father Van
Luytelaar, the founder of this CON
gregatioh, who now lives at Kansas
City and who has been invited to
be present on the 18th instant TO
participate in the Silver Jubilee cele-
bration. As he Is 81 years old IL is
not likely that he can attend. In
his letter replying to the invitation
he givesall credit to Father Bettels
as the second founder of the con-
gregation. "Then," or when Father
BctteIs took charge here, the con
gregation numbered something over
800, nowjit numbers over 500.
The growth, financially, has been
much greater than it has been nu
merically. Most of the members
then were poor, paying interest tc
outsiders at the rate Of 10 per cen
per annum. Now they pay but little
if any, interest to outsiders. They
, have much money loaned to outsid
ers. Interest has been reduced to
per cent and much good has accrue'
to the public in general by this
Especially to Bollinger county, a
! Father Bettels and our citizens wer
the first to pay face value for count,
i warrants. "Then," or when Fathe
Bettels took charge Of the parish
there was no school except q foul
J. months term in o dilapidated 10
y house on "Uncle' Fred Braincr
M farm. The largest daily attendant
being 30 pupils. Hisfrst effort w
i to move the school to town.
,r Two eemmodious frame buildins
; have been erected at a cost of ov'
e $1,000, School is kept open
a months each year; it is q grade
II school. The best teachers are ei
ployed ata good salary; the dal
IN attendance is 100, yet, under b
skilled management the taxes a
NJ comparitivelylow. In 1885 an a
dition was built to the old chur,
I'd house, charging the seating capaci
ns to 220. Soon after this Faith
= Bettels announced his intention
of commence the accumulation Of
re fund for the new church. When
stated that he expected to lay asi
We 81, 900 per annum for this purpo
nd some one smiled and the laugh We
around. All thought it impossil
Mt for him to do this, yet he has do
if even more, y
od In 1899 the new church was co
,ts menced and was completed in 19I
also, a new residence was CONNIE
ere ed in 1899 and completed in
II. latter part of 1902. These huildiI
tt: have cost in money and labor,
es. ii1easts35,O ,Oe0. The residence Fatl
lrd Bettels paid for principally ont
his individual money. The ehul
Eas is the finest and best south of
PIX LOUIS.
,ek The residence is modern in ev,
ily particular and is asmodel of c
venience, The ventilation I
our drainage is perfect. The large b,