The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-08

| Marty and Father Richard visited Far
60 held meetings and finally decided to
establish a church in the community
Sometime during that month a church
building was purchased from the Meth
odists-a little frame structure which
was moved TO lot north of the Great
Northern depot. This depot stood on
the west side OF Broadway. With a
few minor changes to the interior the
little building was completed on Sept.
s of the same year and In il Father
Richard said the first mass in st.
Mary's parish. 1t is a notable fact
that this little church building Is still
in existence, being used as carpenter
shop by Thos. Powers. 1t stands on
Seventh street near the Great North
ern tracks. Small as IL was, and poor,
this little building served until the
erection Of the present magnificent ca
thedral--a monument to the perser-
verence of the Catholics Of North Da-
kota
Building of the Cathedral.
The present cathedral was built by
the late Rt. Rev. John Stanley, bishop
Of Fargo, in 1899 In 1889, when the
territory of Dakota was divided into
the two states of North and South Da-
kota the vicarate apostolic OF Dakota
territory was also divided into two Sees
1.-THE diocese of jamestown and the
diocese of Sioux Falls. That same
year Bishop Stanley was consecrated
bishop of jamestown He retained his
residence In Jamestown until 1891 when
he came TO Fargo and the name OF the
diocese was changed to the Diocese OF
Fargo.
When Bishop Stanley decided to
move from Jamestown to Fargo a fund
Of something over s11 900 was raised
and presented to him to be used as he
wished. This money was expended by
the bishop In building the basement of
the cathedral. This basement was com
plete when the great fire OF June z,
1898 swept over the city. This fire ana
the hard times which followed soon
after, not only In North Dakota. but
throughout the United States. delayed
the completion OF the cathedral until
1888. Through the efforts of Rev.
Father Lemieux, then pastor Of Fargo
q loan was secured in 1898 and the
dedication Of the cathedral as 1t stands
today was held on May 30. 1899
The Priests Of the Parish.
There have been seven priests in
charge of st. Marys parish since the
time 1t was organized in 1880. Father
Richard, who opened the little frarns
cnurch in that year remained In charge
OF the parish until the advent of FatheE
who came on Sept 80, 1883,
and who remained until June 20. 1884
After this Father Stephen was In
charge for a short time. He was sue
ceeded by Father Maddox, who took
charge on May 4, 1884. Father Collins
again came to Fargo and took charge
Of the flock on Feb. Of that year, and
remained until in January, 1884. on
July Is he went to Mandan He Was
succeeded by Father Lernieux. who
took charge six months after the de-
parture Of Father Collins and remained
until Sept. 1 1907. when ne resigned
and Father Egan, the present pastor.
took up the work OF the parish.
ST. Mary's Sunday School.
st. Mary's cathedral maintains 4
Sunday school which has an average
Of $50 pupils. This SUNDAY
school Is under the direct charge of
The priests, who are assisted bv the
sisters from Sacred Heart academy
and two lay teachers. At 9 o'clock
every Sunday morning there Ii d spec
Ial mass for the children Of the par
are not allowed ct this
mass. This Sunday school il 4 most
one.
III addition there are societies for the
younger members Of the congregation.
These societies are the League N the
CONTINUED on Page SIX,