The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-06-30
Hundreds of Catholics Participate in Ceremonies at
ST. Peter and Paul's Church During Yes
terday and Last Evening.
Parade Feature; Was Made Up of Number of SOcie-
ties, the Concordia and Second Regi-
ment Band of New UIm.

The participants in the parade num-
bered almost an even thousand. As the
column moved down Fifth to Warren,
it was headed by the Second Regiment
band which was followed by nun
dred little boys and hundred and fifty
or more little girls, all of whom the
bishop had confirmed that day. The lit
tie girls were dressed in white, and with
the flags they carried, made an exceed
ingly pretty appearance. Next follow
ed the carriage of the jubileers, four
aged members of the st. Peter and
Paul's church, who mad joined the same
when it was instituted, and had liv-
ed and worshipped as members of that
church throughout the fifty years of
its history. These were Philip Hodapp,
Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Borgmeier and Mrs.
Johanna Kron.
Then came three carriages filled with
ladies, each carriage with banner de-
Ladies' sodality and the Holy Family
society, respectively, of the congrega
ton. the Concordia band marched next,
playing enlivening tunes from time to
time. Then came the men from New
Ulm in two long single files, of about
seventy five men each one file being the
members of the Catholic Order of For
esters and the other the St. Joseph's
Benevolent society people. A group of
forty from Madison Lake, both Forest
ers and representatives of the Catholic
Benevolent society at that place, was
the next contingent. A goodly represen-
tation of the Ancient Order of Hibern-
ians, about forty strong, coming from
st. Clair, Madison Lake, Mankato and
North AIankato, marched next Then
followed twenty-four local Knights of
Columbus. The Kasota band marched
after these, and then came about TWEEN
ty st. Peter boys, members of the Boys
society of the Immaculate Conception
church of that city. Sixty members of
the Mems society of the same congrega-
ton followed. Fifty members of the
Young Mems society of the st. Peter
and Paul's church, a hundred and fifty
representatives of ST. Joseph's court of
the Catholic Order of Foresters, and
about two hundred members of the
Benevolent society constituted Manka-
to's principal contribution to the pa
rade. Last of all followed three car
riages, in which were most of the
priests, who were taking part in the eel
ebration. In the first carriage were
Bishop Cotter, Father Neustich, Faith
er Robert Hughes and Father Smalian,
the last-named being of St. Peter; in
the second carriage, Father Leonard of
Buffarl, N Y, Father Weis of Toledo,
Ohio, and Father Wocnner of Mankato:
and in the third, Father Haas of Man
kato and Madison Lake, and Father
HauluS OF MankaCO.
Crowds lined the crlrbs along the en-
tire route of march, and many wonder
ing comments were heard on the beauty
of the splendid procession, with its nu
merous banners of indispensable love-
illness. The parade followed along Fifth
to Warren, thence to Broad, and north
ward on Broad to Rock, thence up Rock
back to Fifth and to the church As
soon as the entire procession was again
on Fifth street, the various societies di-
vided their ranks and stood upon either
side of the street, facing towards the
middle, all with uncovered heads, while
the bishop and the priests rode between
! the lines, back to the parsonage. Shots
were fired in salute, as the church faith
ers returned.
| Scarcely did the parade begin to melt
away, before the throngs were seen
pouring into the school house, to get
supper. Many of the men fastened to
the back school yard, from dais,
erected for the occasion, City Recorder
Hodapp delivered in German stirring
and fascinating speech, recounting the
history of the first and largest Catholic
church of southern Minnesota
| After the address by Mr. Hodapp,
Bishop Cotter made stirring speech
to the crowd about the platform, de-
claring that he knew what dangers and
hardships the early settlers at Mankato
had endured. He had himself come up
the Mississippi as a boy and located at
st. Paul. While here he often met
Father Sommereisen, who told of what
the pioneers of the west were going
through. the bishop desired himself to
be counted among the jubileers on this
glorious occasion.
! In the evening the school hall was alb
solutcly packed. The little girls of the
school were to give an entertainment
and there were plenty of people eager
to see the results of the training they