The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-18
NEW ST. BERNARD ABBOT IS BLESSED Prominent PreIates and Priests
 Are in Attendance CROWD SEES CEREMONIES Abbot Bernard Menses Succeeds His Uncle, Abbot Benedict Menges,
 as Head of the College
 Near Cullman.
CROWD SEES CEREMONIES

cullman, November I7.-(special)- With solemn ceremonies of the Cath ollie church, the Rt. Rev. Bernard Menges, 0. s. B., was given the final blessing as abbot of St Bernard monastery and president of St. Bernard college today by the Rt. Rev Edward P. Allen, D. D., bishop of Mobile.
 Abbot Bernard Menges succeeds his uncle Abbot Benedict Menges, who died last summer. He Is strong young man and is dearly beloved by all who know him. He IS eminently fitted for the po- sition to which he has been chosen.
 Those who assisted in the ceremonies this morning were: The Rt. Rev. Will liam McClesky, bishop of Louisville; the Rt Vev Sebastian Byrne, bishop or Nashville; the Rt. Rev. Peter of St. Johns, Minnesota; the Rt. Rev. Inno- cent, Atchison Kas.; the Rt. Rev. Athan- asimus, St Vincent, Indiana; Fathers Moore Gleason, Abbott, shannon and Ennis of Nashville diocese; Father Run Lebaum Clucinnati; Father Hart, Chicago Fathers Kuilap, Demen, Kreifenkamp, Shaeffer Fred and Glenn Becklage, Gov ington diocese; Fathers Finney and Bek- kers. Mississippi; Fathers Coyle, Me- Quillan, Cassidy, Brady, Menner, Kelly, Doyle, Gavest, Henry. Mobile diocese; Father Marrion Ashville N. C.; the Rt. Rev. P. Joseph, St. Vincent abbey, Penn sylvania; the Very Rev. Felix, the dele gate from N C. and P. Eugene. Bene- aictine Fathers from the missions; the Revs P. Theodore, Ignatus Robert, Clarence, Urban, Augustine, Alphonse and Vincent LaIty: MT. Louis Merkle. Busi- Less manager, Benziger Bros, Peter Wallrath; editor "Sternenbanner," Miss Emma Schwartz. Miss Kate Udry and Miss Mary Baum of Ripley, O.
 Handsome Presents.
 Among presents received are especially mentionable: A precious miter, from St. Vincents rarish. Ripley, O.; an office desk, from two friends; a ring from students of St. Bernard college; an album from the dcanery of Birmingham, and an ivory cross rom Benziger Bros.
 The cere- -nony was singularly impress i've and WIS witnessed by a large num- Der of people not Catholics. The chapel where the ceremony occurred was taste- fully decorated in white, blue and yellow and a profusion of flowers. The long din- ing hall where a banquet was given at noon was decorated with the national eolors and vas most tasteful and attrac- tive.
 The new sbbot is native of the Pala- tinate. He was born December | |, 866- After the death of Abbot Benedict the election of a successor became neces- sary, and. accordingly, on the goth of July, the Rt. Rev. Bernard Menges, O.. S. B., was chosen by the Chapter of St. Bernard's abbey.
 Attended Parish School.
 Abbot Menges attended the parish school In the place of his birth until his fourteenth year. He then came to the United States, whther his uncle, who was then pastor at Huntsville, Ala. had preceded him. Feeling a vocation for the monastic life, he went to St. Vim cents abbey, Beatty Station, Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, the mother house of the benedictines in this coun- try, and there devoted himself to the study of the classics. After finishing his classical course, he entered the novitiate at St. Vincents In 1889 he made his l solemn vows.
 Having completed his studies at St. I Vincent abbey, he joined the newly erect ed abbey of St. Bernard, near Cullman l He was ordained a priest by the lam l ented Rt. Rev Jeremiah O'Sullivan bishop of Mobile, at Birmingham. After l lis ordination, he for some time taught | various branches in St. Bernard college then became pastor of the Sacred Heart of Mary church, Tuscumba, and after ward took charge of St. Michaers church l Ripley, Ohio remaining there for five years. At Ripley he evinced his Innate energy and ability, vigorously taking ir hand repairs and improvements on the | church and labored with great zeal foi the honor. and glory of God, and the wei | fare of those under his charge. In eoe he was appointed director of St. Bernard college, Cuilman, Ala He has beer directing the college to the present time 1 and under his supervision the institution | is f1ourishiny as never before.
 Reads Like Romance.
 The history of the monastery to the abbacy of which the Rt. Rev. Bernard Menges has been raised, reads like a romance. In the year 592, small but resolute band of benedictine monks under the leadership of the late Abbot Benedict Menges, arrived among the pine forests of Cullmau, Ala. Though few in num- her and almost penniess, they were in- defatigable in their efforts to carry into execution their only ambition, to fur ther the cause of religion and education in the. south. Without delay they set about the acquisition of plot of wood- cd land two miles east of the town of Cullman. Ala, upon which they immed- lately began their labors in earnest. Many were the nardships these self-sacrificing monks wers forced to undergo; priva- tions more rigorous than those of Amer ica's earliest settlers were theirs in flent1r Riit tiinir erernN nd raer-e n q