Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1909-06-09

1
order to get teachers, he sent his
Vicar General the Very Rev. Peter
Ekuillon, to France, with orders to
make a personal appeal to Brother
| Philippe, superior of the brothers Of
the Christian schools.
| He met very little encouragement,
but finally reaching Clermont, through
the influence of Brother Arteme, the
Visitor of the District seevral broth
ers volunteered to go to New Mexico
and establish there the work of st.
John Baptist de Las Sale. The broth
ers selected for this mission were
Brothers Hilarion, Germanius, Con
dulph and Galmier.
They set out in company with Vicar
General, the Very Rev. Peter Eguillon,
and nine ecclesiastics, including
priests, among these, the Rev. John b.
Salpointe. After brief rest in New
York, and. taking with them Brother
Optation, they proceeded on their long
journey by way of st. Louis and Kan
&ls City They crossed the plains il
a caravan, exposed to constant danger
almost the whole distance. They ar
rived at length in Santa Fe, October
81, 1859. The following day they
entered the establishment adjoining
the old chapel. San Miguel. When they
took possession of the buildings,
"they found" says the chronicle bare
walls"
Brother Hilarion, the first director,
opened the house for boarders. No
vember 8. 1859, and for day students,
in December the same year. From
1859 to 1871. the enrolment varied
from $50 to $50 pupils, boarders hard
| ly exceeding so during those years.
In February, 1862, Brother Hilarion
was called to France and Brother
Gondulph succeeded him. Brother
Domitian, on February Z, 1862, wae
named vice-president. The venerable
pioneer still acts as sub-director in the
novitiates at Glencoe. Missouri. and
seems to enjoy good health for one
over IS years of age.
Brother Gondulph, director, felt the
absolute need of having more broth
ers, hence he visited st. Louis, New
York and Montreal in 1865 for the pur-
pose Of obtaining help. He was for.
tunate in getting Brothers Junianus,
Filiberto and Meldan from New York
On reaching Fort Leayenworth, they
were Hospitality received by the Rt
Rev. Bishop Miege, who entertained
them for two weeks The little band
arrived in Santa Fe. August IA, 1865
Brother Germanius was appointed
successor to Brother Gondulph, Sep
temper TO- 1867. This Jealous broth
er resigned in 1869 and was succeeded
by Brother Domitian. On August IA
1867, Brothers Augustine Of Mary and
August came to Santa Fe. From
June, 1869. to November, 1870, the
outlook for these devoted teachers
was not very encouraging. Indeed,
correspondence was opened with
Brother Patrick, the Visitor of New
| York, for closing the school, and, ac-
cOrdingly, notices were sent out that
the institution was to be closed at the
end of the scholastic session, 1870.
Brother Patrick, however, advised the
brothers to keep up courage, and sent
to their assistance Brother Botulph
from New York. who took charge,
November 2, 1870. From this year the
progress of the College may be said to
have assumed the character of order
and steadiness which today distin-
guishes the institution as a model one
of its kind.
Brother Botulph looked over the
field Of his new activity and he saw
that the buildings would have to be re-
placed by modern structures. He i'm
mediately set to work and collected
funds throughout the Territory,
amounting to $5,OOO.OO. On April II,
1878, the cornerstone of the new build