The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-07-17
GOOD ABBOT BENEDICT
SKETCH or CLERGYMAN BURIED
FRIDAY At CULLMAN.
A Man whose Precepts and Practices
Alike sre Inspirations to NAM
kfnd-Many Noted Priests
Pay Him Tribute.

erat years and was buried at the COL
iege one mile east of Cullman yester-
day morning at 8 o'clock was one OF
the best known and most beloved MEM
bers Of the Catholic clergy in the coun-
try. The funeral was attended by
prominent churchmen from almost ev-
cry State in the South and Middle
West.
He was a man above creed prejudice.
and was loved by all who knew him.
In his work at st. Bernard he has en-
deared himself to the people OF Gull
man. He founded this college in 1872
and has been its able president ever
since. He has made 1t one of the best
and host popular of the kind In the
country and it's popularity is constantly
growing.
The funeral was very impressive,
and though 1t was in Latin and lasted
over two hours, the people continued
with patience and betting reverence.
There was no funeral sermon, as Rt.
Rev. Leo Had, o. s. B.. d. D., or
North Carolina, who was TO nave
preached this sermon, could not attend
on account OF sickness.
The funeral ceremonies opened with
the Pontifical Requiem. conducted by
Rt Rev. e. P. Allen, celebrant. This
was followed by the chanting of the
ofiices of the dead by the members OF
the community together with visiting
dignitaries and fathers. Then begun
| the mass proper with the absolut1on
ceremonies by visiting abbots and res
ident bishops. Those offciating In the
absolutions were Rt Rev. Edmond,
Abbot of Gethsemane, KY; Ri. Rev.
| Nepomusene, Abbot of Chicago, ILL.,; Rt
Rev. Innocent, Abbot Of Atchison, Kas.;
Rt. Rev. Peter, Abbot of Minnesota.
Final absolution was given by Rt. Rev.
| Bishop Allen of Mobile. Ala.
Some of the prominent visitors pres
| ent who took part in the ceremonies
/ were: Rt. Rev. W. q. McClosky. ID.
| D., Bishop OF Louisville; Rt. Rev. e. p.
| Allen. d. D., Bishop of Mobile; Rt.
Rev. Thomas Hesslin, d. D., Bishop or
Natchez, Miss: Rt Rev. Peter Engel,
| O. g. b.. Phi. D., of Collegeville, MIMI
Rt. Rev Edward Robrecht of Gethsem-
ane. KY; Rt. Rev. Nepomucene var
| ger. O. 8. b., of Chicago: Rt. Rev. In
nocent Wolf of Atchison, Kas.; very
Rev. John B. Morris. 8. T. L. v. G.,
renresenting Bishop Byrne of Nash
vile: Very Rev. Joseph Keller, repre-
| senting Very Rev. Archabbot OF 81.
Vincent Monastery of Pennsylvania
Rev. Eugen Egan, o. s. B.. represent
ling Rt, Rev. Leo Haid. o. b. b., ~. ~,
of North Carolina; Very Rev. r. ;.
Gleason of st. Joseph's Church or Nash.
Vile; Rev. Dennis Savage, ID: ", OF
MONTGOMERY,
O. q. B.. of St. Benedict's Church. Cow
ington. Tenn; Rev. Fred Hart. Lake
side. Ill: Rev p. Theodose, o. s. b..
Ripiey. O.: Rev, Ambrose Roger OF
Corbin. XIV: Rev. SEVERN Lamfenberg,
| Cullman. Ala; Rev. p. Robert, BrooK-
side, Ala; Rev. P. Paul, y. .. D., 'e,-
Iico. Tenn; Rev. P. Vincent, -. O.
stonega. Va; Rev. P: augustus, Ia -
B., ST. Florain. Ala; Rev. father non
/
rather Benedict Menges's successor
as Abbot of st. Bernard Monastery ana
president of st. Bernard College Will
he elected on next Wednesday, July ~,
by the charter members OF the com
munity, which numbers thirty. Wneh
your correspondent made enquiry as 70
who would be the probable successor,
mas told that 1t was impossible to
forecast
u Rt Rev. Benedict Menges. o. s. b..
ahhot of St Bernard Monastery, ana
nresident of st. Bernard College for the
mast ten or twelve months had peen
closely confined to his room, ana cleo
Monday morning. July IL, at lo:4S' sur
rounded by a number of the priests ana
oIerics Of the community Father Ben
edict. as he was widely known. had
been an invalid for some time, but
only within the past few months had
his condition become critical. his
death was not unexpected by the COM
munity or by those who knew his con-
dition, yet 1t was blow to all, Tor by
his death not only st. Bernard's. but
also the entire State-the world at
large lost a father, a brother, a citi-
zen whose generosity of spirit, whose
untiring zeal for the salvation of souls,
whose unselfshness Of character made
him beloved, honored. revered by
young as well as old. rich as woll as
poor, Catholic and Catholic.
Rt. Rev. Benedict Menges. o. s. B..
was born at Obermehr. Rhenish- Bava-
ria, July 81. 1910. He received his pri-
mary education in the government
schools of his native province and at
forwards continuing his classical stud
les under private instructors. From
childhood days, Father Benedict was
imbued with the holy desire to be a
priest of God, and when about 25 years
old, came to America with the deter
mination to become a Benedictine. With
this intention he entered st. Vincent's
College, at Beatty, Pa. soon after his
arrival into this country. Having COM
pleted his Novitiate and admitted to
the profession of Simple Vows. he fin
ally made his Solemn Vows, September
II, 1869. and was ordained to the priest
hood. December 81, 1872. His first
charge was as assistant at st. Joseph's
Church in Chicago. Ill. 1t was during
the great Chicago fire that he came
foremost in offering words OF consola-
ton. as we'll as material aid. to the
homeless and disheartened people--re-
gardless of creed or opinion.
Shortly after this disaster he was
transferred to st. Mary's Church at
Allegheny. Pa. where he remained for
four years, thence directed by his SUI
periors to take charge of the missions
in Northern Alabama. Here 1t was
that Father Benedict showed how deep
ly he was filled with his Masters love
for the spiritual welfare of mankind.
With but a few years interruption, be-
ing made superior of the Benedictine
House in Carrolltown, Pa, and Cow
ington, KY. for nineteen years the good
people of Huntsville and st. Florian.
Ala, felt the influence of his fatherly
care, and even in those very hard
times the cause OF his church prosper
ed under his ministrationa. Frequently,
filled himself with malaria, he was
called to attend the sick and dying
laborers at Mussel Shoal of the Ten
nessee river. The rides through the
virgin woods, enough to deter healthy
man, were not sufficient to keep back
the Father of the Flock. Never will
his zeal and love for humanity be for
gotten by the people of Huntsville.
When she, like many of her sister cities.
was visited by yellow fever in 1878.
and all were fleeing from the place,
LNk ~. n