The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-10-05
LAY CORNER STONE
FOR $4,000 CHURCH
Watertown Catholics Building
One OF Finest EdifIces
in the State.
ADDRESS BY THE BISHOP
at. Rev. Father o'eornaan, OF Sioux
Falls Addresses Assembly OF 3,coe
People and ofsiciates at I'm
pressive Ceremony.

.,
People and OfFiciates at I'm
pressive Ceremony.
Watertown, S d, Oct 3-In the
presence of between 2,0o0 and 1900
people Sunday afternoon. ri. Rev FIR
OGorman, of Sioux Fails, bishop of
laid the corner stone of Watertowns
new 100000 Catholic church. He was
assisted by Rev Father OMeara, of
Watertown: Rev Father ONeill, of
Beresford Rev. Father Bonnetere, of
Clark; Rev. Father Hanson, of kranz-
burg; Rev. Father Twohig of Esterly,
and Rev. Father lSettler, of Watertown
With his own hands the venerable
bishop laid the mortar to hold fast the
huge block bearing in bas relief the let
tiers. "Church of the immaculate Con-
ception, 1906" After the stone was set
the bishop blessed the walls of the
foundation and then addressed the as
semblage in part as follows:
Men and Women of Watertown: 1t
is with pleasure that | am in your city
today to assist in laying the corner
stone of the beautiful and costly build
ing that is soon to adorn your streets.
And as ] look out over your beautiful
city 1 believe 1 catch Il glimpse of Your
future. Watertown is in race with
four cities for the pre- emnence in
eastern South Dakota-SiouX Falls,
Aberdeen. Mitchell and Watertown--
and of the three that Sioux Falls has
reason to fear losing her prestige to,
am inclined to think she has the most
to fear from Watertown. What with
your ideal location, your natural re-
sources of native wealth, your possi-
bilities of created wealth, from your
four great railway lines that center in
your city with more coming, your fine
public buildings, and last, but not least
the native ability and determination of
your citizens. you have the foundation
for great city. But l am glad that
you are not growing alone commercial
ly, but that your churches share in the
general prosperity of the community.
And how we'll this is shown by this
Catholic church i am addressing to-
day.
.'When 1 came to South Dakota ten
years ago there We're but thirty famil-
les connected With the Catholic church
Df Watertown Today there are no less
than $50 families of the congregation
Then your priest had to divide his
time between five stations while to-
day you demand the entire time of
your resident priest, besides the
casional assistance of a second. But
this is Only typical of the work over
the whole state. Ten years ago the
whole state was in one diocese With
only forty-tive priests. Today the state
is divided by the Missouri river into
two dioceses, while in the one east of
the river alone there are ninety-five
priests serving $50 churches whose
membership includes no less than 10000
families.
This is wonderful tribue to the
loyalty and fidelity of the Catholic
<,f =, .
South Dakota. And these costly edifices
that are now being reared all over
this fair state TO the honor of Almighty
Sod attest the generosity and sincerity
Of her sons and daughters. All ideals
Of men we seek to embody III monu-
mental form. The majesty and pow
er of the nation is expressed in the
national capitol, the authority of the
state is shown in the state house, the
county in the court house. Your bus-
cess institutions are housed in build
nSs that indicate their soundness and
Integrity. SO this church stands for
divine ideal. an expression in stone and
orick of Gods dwelling among men. In
his building will be carried on Gods
business by his authorized agents.
Here Gods truth will be proclaimed
and here his grace will be dispensed
to man from the cradle to the grave.
You have done a good thing today in
the laying of the foundation for this
church. May you finish it as we'll as
Natertown l hope to dedicate this
building to Almighty God, and for His
glory, for the sake of Watertown. and
for Your own honor, let it be dedicated
free of debt.
Again let me say am glad for this
day, and may we all be glad and re-
ioicc. and you younger ones who are
here before me today may you grow
to manhood and womanhood under the
kindly shadow of this church and live
to tell to your children and grandclil-
dren that here, OH the last day of Sep
You saw the bishop walk around the
walls of this foundation and bless them
that Il church might rise here that will
ever point the people of this city tic
the God who watches over them and
blesses them"
The church is to be built of Des
Mones yitriffed brick, with Kasota lime
sons are so by lis feet, with provision
for 2S-foot addition to the length OF
/ that 1t will be in the Romanesque
style, having square tower 81 feet in
height. The seating capacity will be
| between $50 and 1G0
The building will cost 100000, making
it one of the costiest churches in the
state. Work will be rushed on it SC
that it will be all enclosed before cold
weather sets in. 1t is the expectation
now to have it completed ready for det
ication next Easter Sunday.
Rev. Father O'Meara is the energetic
| pastor of the parish, and one of the
+, most brilliant men in the Catholic
church in the state.
HURON COLLEGE OPENS.
Huron, S. D.. Oct. 3-The fall tern