The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-07-16
A NEW CHURCH
Now Being Built by the Cath
olics of Mandan, N. D.,
Will Be One of tie Finest in
Liocese of North Dakota.

Sunday last was great day in local
Roman Catholic circles, says the Man
dan Pioneer of July Sth. The corner
stone of the new church editice was
laid with appropriate ceremonies and
blessed by Bishop Stanley. None Of
the great church builders of the mid
die ages ever planned Il church with
greater enthusiasm, or commenced
the work with greater zest, than that
evnced by Dean Collins, who is the
promoter and chief enthusiast of this
enterprise. The fact is very appar-
ent that new church editice is need
ed. On ordinary Sundays, when there
is nothing especially doing. the present
building is uncomfortably crowded at
the usual services, and in no part Of
Christendom can this state of affairs
be permitted to exist for any great
length of time. However much some
individual members of the congrega-
ton may be disinclined to put up
money for a larger and finer church
editce, some energetic priest can be
depended upon to be found who will
nut his shoulder to the wheel with a
will, and get the work started.
On Sunday morning after mass, the
work of putting the corner stone in
place was performed, and then the
congregation adjourned to the base
ment of the Opera house, where Il
dinner had been prepared by the
ladies of the church. After most OF
those present had completed their din
ner. the toasts We're proposed and re-
sponded to.
Dean Collins commenced the pro-
ceedings by short address OF well
come to the visitors. He said that
such sight as that before him, re-
newed his youth. 1t was Il unique oc-
casion-the gathering together OF the
bishop of the diocese, who had been
his most cordial friend for the last 20
years; representatives Of the diocesan
clergy; his beloved Catholic flock with
their numerous non-Cathoic friends
and relatives, all unitingtO celebrate the
laying of the corner stone of what is
to be one of the finest Catholic church
cs in the state. He had almost said
the finest in the state, but the bishop
would retort that that honor belongs
to the cathedral ut Fargo. They had
set out to build house Of worship OF
tle living Go,l-nOt mere mcetin
house, and the cooperation of the
flock is need in the work.
Bishop Stanley was then called up
on and he said: Ladies' and Gentle
men: 1t is somewhat difficult to make
an address in surroundings of this
kind The noise and confusion i'll
cident to banquctting, prevent brain
activity on the part of the speaker.
and suppose, deprives the would-be
listener Of any great desire to hear the
words of the speaker. The practical
work that l came here to do, was done
ut the laying of the corner stone this
morning. l may sum up the whole
matter in the words which have been
suggested to me by your mayor
money talks. came here to ask you
to take an interest in the work of
finishing this church. If hear from
your worthy pastor within Il short
time that the necessary funds have
been gathered together to pay for the
beautiful church you are erecting,
will say my visit to Mandan has not
been amiss. 1t is certainly very graft
flying to me as the bishop here to see
the growth Of our church throughout
this prosperous state. Today there are
in North Dakota 1910 Catholic churches
in actual use. These churches are,
with very few exceptions. very bcalti-
full buildings. Without exception they
are too small for the congregations
that worship in them. These $50
churches are supplemented by about
20 out stations that are visited by the
priests ut regular intervals. once q
month or twice month. The number
Of priests in this state is at present
about 80, and before this year closes
this number will have been increased
by about dozen more. l venture to
i<.t ;tnfi 1,,ro
five years have passed the number of
Catholic priests will have been in
creased to 800. Last year had the
privilege and happiness of dedicatina
% new churches, together with some
institutions of charity which were
opened to the public. During the year
1903 the Catholics of North Dakota
spent more than a quarter of mil
lion of dollars in church building an(
church improving. have been in thi.
state IA years and some months. an,
during that time have personally as
sisted at the dedication or blessing O
12O churches in this state. l don
believe that anywhere in the Unite,
States there has been such Il growtl
in Catholic matters as North Dakot
has witnessed in the past II years
How did that growth come about
Was it the work of the bishop? Go,
forbid that should say so. or leav
that impression OH your minds Tn
bishop is necessary in the work, he il