The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-10-04
WATERFOWL Catholics Building
One OF Finest Edifices
In the State.
ADDRESS BY THE BISHOP
re. Rev. Father o'Gorman, Of Sioux
Falls, Addresses Assembly Of 5000
People and Dictates NJ I'm
prsssivs Ceremony.

watcftown. =. D.. Oct. 3.--ln the
presence OF between 1000 and 1000
people Sunday afternoon. Rt. Rev. FIR.
O'Gorman. OF Sioux Falls. bishop OF
the eastern diocese OF South Dakota.
laid the corner stone OF watertown's
new $4,000 Catholic church. He was
assisted by Rev. Father O'Mcarn. or
watertown; Rev. Father O'Neiii. OF
Bercsford: Rev. Father Bonnetcre. or
Clark: Rev. Father Hanson. OF kranz-
burg: Rev. Father Twohig. OF Esteriy.
and Rev. Father Kettler. 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
semblagc In part as follows:
Men and Women OF WATERFOWL: IL
is with pleasure that I arm In your city
today TO assist In laying the corner
stone Of the beautiful and costly builds
ing that In soon TO adorn your streets.
And as I look out over your beautiful
city I believe I catch n glimpse OF your
future. WATERFOWL Is In race with
four cities for the pre-eminencc I'm
iastern South Dakota-Sioux Falls.
Aberdeen. Mitchell and WATERFOWL
and OF the three that Sioux Falls has
reason TO fear losing her prestige TO. 1
ann inclined TO think she has the most
to fear from WATERFOWL. What with
your Ideal location. your natural re-
sources OF native wealth. your possl-
Utilities 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 n great city. But am glad that
you are not growing alone commercial
ly, but that your churches share In the
general prosperity of the community.
And how well this In shown by this
Catholic church I arm addressing to-
day.
when I came 20 South Dakota ten
years ago there were but thirty famil-
les connected with the Catholic church
Of WATERFOWL. Today there are no less
than 100 families OF the congregation.
Then your priest had 10 divide his
time between Ave stations. while to-
day you demand the entire time or
your resident priest. besides the &C.
casional assistance or n second. But
this ~ only typical OF the work over
the whole state. Ten years ago tho
whole state was I'm one diocese with
only forty-flve priests. Today the state
in divided by the Missouri river into
two dlocesCs, while In the one east OF
priests serving $50 churches whose
membership includes no less thHa $4,000
families
This Is wonderful tribue To the
loyalty and fidelity OF the Catholic
clergy OF the heroic young state OF
South Dakota. And these costly edlhces
that are now being reared all over
this fair state TO the honor OF Almighty
God attest the generosity and sincerity
OF her sons ana daughters. All ideals
OF men we seek TO embody In monu-
mental form. The majesty ana pow
er OF the nation Is expressed In the
national capitol. the authority OF the
state IL shown In the state hoEse. the
county In the court house. Your busi-
ness institutions are housed I'm build
ings that indicate their soundness and
integrity. So this church stands for a
divine ideal. an expression I'm stone and
brick OF Gods dwelling among men. In
this building Will be carried on Gods
Business by his authorized agents.
Here Gods truth VIII 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 Il as well as
you have begun. ON my next visit To
WATERFOWL I hope To dedicate this
building to Almighty God. and for His
glory. for the sake of WATERFOWL. and
for your own honor. let u be dedicated
free OF debt.
Again let me say am glad for this
day. and may we all be glad and re-
joice. 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
tn tell To your children and grandchil-
dren that here, on the last day OF Sep
TENDER. In the year OF our Lord 1906.
you saw the bishop walk ground the
walls of this foundation and bless them
that church might rise here that viii
ever point the people OF this city &C
the God who watches over them and
blesses them"
The church n TO be built of Les
Moines vitritied brick. with Kasota lime
stone trimmings. The ground dimen.
sions are so by lis feet. with a provision
for a 2S-foot addition to the length of
that. IL will be In the RomanesquC
style. having a square tower ~ feet m
height. The seating capacity will be
between GOO and 200.
The building will cost $50. 000 making
u one OF the costliest churches I'm the
state. Work will he rushed on Il so
that II Will be all enclosed before cold
weather sets In. IL In the expectation
now to have II completed ready for ded.
ication next Easter Sunday.
Rev. Father O'Mearn is the energetic
pastor OF the parish. and one of the
most brilliant men In the Catholic
church In the state.
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