Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-11-24
LOOKER-ON In IOWA j

| Rockwell, Nov. 24.-The history of
the present church trouble in this town
has involved more than appears on the
surface. 1t is virtually a clash of au-
thority between people and pulpit, and
the outcome may do something in the
way of establishing precedent. IN
fortunately the Catholic church build
ing here burned to the ground nearly
| year ago. Talk of rebuilding finally
developed into a church committee be-
ing appointed to decide upon cost,
plans and contracts. The church and
priest first appointed a committee of
five, to which two We're added soon
after. AS there was $4,000 insurance
money available this committee We're
Of the opinion a $4,000 church edifice
was all that was necessary or needed.
The Rev. l.. H. Burns was DESTROYS of
having a better building and to that
end made contract for a $4,000
church building, this without the
knowledge or consent of the church
before the reader the following from
the Rockwell Photograph. explain
themselves:
To the Members of Sacred Heart
Church, Rockwell, sowa:
On July End, 1905, your committee
Chosen to act in the construction of
the proposed new church building
made visit to Dubuque, and we here
with present copy Of the original
letter from Rev. r. Ryan, vicar gem
eral, the original being handed Rev.
j. j. Clune, for Rev. l.. H. Burns, by
the committee on July 3rd, 1905, and
delivered in accordance with the in
structions received from Father Ryan:
Rev. L. Burns. Dear Father: Some
Of the members of your congregation
have called here and explained that
you intend to build a church beyond
the means of the congregation. You
will not proceed in this matter any
further until there is an understanding
between yourself and the congregation
and the church authorities here as to
the amount of debt to be incurred.
r. RYAN, V. G."
An apparent complete ignoring of
the vicar generals orders as set forth
in the foregoing letter resulted in your
committee submitting the following
communication to the archbishop:
IIOGkNtIl, lOnd, oSps' ~, A"No'
Most Rev. J. j. Keane, Archbishop of
Dubuque.
Dear and Most Rev. Archbishop:
We, the duly elected committee OF
Sacred Heart congregation, OF thls
place, beg leave to submit the follow
ing statement for your CONSIDERATION;
In February, 1906, by request OF our
pastor a meeting was held for the pur-
pose Of electing u church committee
The election was by ballot, hfty-tour
(5D votes being cast.
.We were elected and acted; but at
the first meeting our pastor ana COM
nittee failed to agree as to the dl-
mansions and cost of a new chufch:
on that account our pastor mas fallea
to do business with us. The committee
want to build according to the WISH
es needs and means of the people OF
the congregation. We are TO presume
that your Grace is familiar with the
situation here. however, we will men
ton a few facts: Thirty-five families
that formerly attended church here
from the west side now have church
of their own at Swaledale, and come
here no more Ten families that for
merly attended church here IRON t'le
east side now go to church in Dough-
erty, and come here no more, leaving
only about SIS per cent of the former
number here. We further state that
when all the above and all the Catholic
people now here, came here, the Old
church was amply large/for all. We
will state further that a majority Of
the farmers belonging to this congre-
CATION are in debt, and are opposed toI
the building of a church that when
completed outside and inside, will cost
more than $4,000. A church substan-
TALLY built of good material, with al
seating capacity of 500 is large enough,
and is what the people want, and we
believe that $4,000 would pay the ex-
terror cost, and $4,000 would finish and
furnish it. The congregation would be,
pleased with such a church and would
cheerfully pay for it, and peace and
harmony would prevail.
On July 2, 1906, we went to Du-
buuue desirious of seeing your Grace
in reference to this matter. In your.
absence we had a talk with MonsignoreI
Ryan, whom we informed of the con-
ditions, and wishes of the people rel
garding the rebuilding of a church.
He kindly gave us letter for our pas
tor which we delivered. for which we
received most abusive treatment for