Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-06-25

Pastor of Leonardtown, died in
Georgetown College. on Thursday
June Is, at 6.15 IN.
Charles X. jenkins was born in
baltimore May "a, 1894; he was the
son of James w. Jenkins and Mar
garet Kennedy and a direct des-
cendant of Ap Jenkin, of Wales.
who settled at White Plains, ST.
Mary's County, prior to 1863. The
William Jenkins mentioned by the
Baltimore San in its obituary was
the son Of APP Jenkins, born at White
Plains in 1863. William married
Mary, the daughter ofLieut. Thorn.
as Courteney, who came over with
Lord Baltimore in the Ark and the
Dove, March %, 1854. He was the
founder of the family.
Charles jenkins was educated NJ
st. Mary's College, Baltimore, and
entered st. Charles College near
Ellicott City when it was opened in
1852. Two years later, in 1854, he
entered the nOvitiate of the Society
OF Jesus at Frederick. He was at
tached to Georgetown College as
teacher, Treasurer and Vice Presi-
dent until 1875, when he was ap-
pointed President OF Gonzaga Col
lege, Washington, and Pastor of ST
Aloysius Church. In these offices
FIR. Jenkins remained until July,
1881, when he was appointed Pas
tor of st. AlOysius' Church, Leon
ardtown, and Superior of the Mis-
sions in st. Mary S County. During
the % years that elapsed until his
final illness, he was an indelatiga-
BILE laborer in this part of the Mas
ter's Vineyard. FIR. Jenkins was de-
voted heart and soul to the welfare of
his people. His cheerful, charitable
and whole-sOuled. disposition en-
deared him to everybody, and he
was known to every one in st.
Mary's County. His dearest work
was st. Mary's Academy, of which
he may well be regarded as the
Founder.
Always energetic and Jealous, his
first care was to secure for his chill
dren the best of Catholic training;
accordingly, he applied to different
religious orders to obtain aid in his
holy work; some responded readily,
but after viewing the field of labor,
the small settlement, a scattered
flock and poor accommodations for
school work, they declined. Not
until 1885, when the Sisters of Char
ity of Nazareth, Kentucky, respond
ed by sending five members, did the
earnest pastor feel encouraged to
overcome the many obstacles in the
way of education.
A little frame edifice, the gift of
Col. Richard III. Miles and his good
wife, Mrs. Mary Miles, was used as
a dwelling and an educational insti-
tuition. The work progressed, pu-
pills increased, and in 1887 hand
some, commOdious and a more COM
Portable addition was completed.
Rev. FIR. Jenkins himself superin-
tended the work of construction, and
greatly reioiced over the fulfillment
of his cherished plan.
st. John sand Sacred Heart parish
es are deeply indebted to FIR. Jen-
kins for their beautiful new churches
es, which he built. He camped out
with the workmen during the pro-
gress of the work. and. as he was
an expert in the use of wood and
iron working tools, his personal aid
was given at every step. Besides
these greater endeavors, FIR. Jenkins
in q host of minor ways, cor stantlv
proved the deep interest he hadin
everything that tended TO the civic
Improvement as well as to the reli-
gious welfare of st. Mary's County.
On the 18th of June 1900, FIR. Jen-
kins went to St. Joseph S Hospital,
| Baltimore, for treatment for a seri-
GUS PHYSICAL trouble from which he
had been O sufferer for years. On
his return, he resumed his work,
but with leSsened powers. Two
years later, he was again compelled
to undergo q severe surgical opera
ton which gave but slightest relief.
In December, 1902, he went to the
hospital third time and returned,
| with great hopes Of cure, but the
hopes were in vain. His life work
was over.
On January 9th of the present
year, a severe attack of oedema of
the lungs, brought him 10 Death s
Door. The skill of his physician
and the fervent prayers of his be-
loved children of the Academy saved
him. When he was able to travel,
he went to Georgetow n College where
he had constant care of devoted
Brethren who honored him as a
veteran soldier in the Company of
Jesus.
Once again he came to Leonard
town, and received the generous Of
fering, that entirely unknown to
him, had been prepared by his low
ing people. When the presentation
OF the Envelope Collection was made
TO him he burst into tears OF graft
tude-more eloquent than words.
On June 18th. FIR. Jenkins pre-
pared 10 come to the Commencement
Exercises Of ST. Mary's Academy
and bought some candy for his
dear children. On Thursday morn
Il 2 II n