Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-06-11

two outside subscriptions of $4,000
each. ! succeeded III raising it to SD
coo The committee wanted to take adj
vantage of this anniversary to increase
the endowment to a size sufficient to
meet the diocesan expenses. | told them
that the plan would have my sanction
and also that ] would duplicate the
amount w-.ich they raised. There is lit
tie doubt now but that we will complete
the fund of $4,000. which is sufficient
for all purposes"
Sketch of Bishops Life.
Charles Chapman Grafton was born of
aristocratic parents in Boston on April
j.. 1890. He was educated at Harvard
university and was afterward admitted
to the bar, but soon turned his attention
to theology. He was ordained priest by
Bishop Nottingham of Maryland in
1859.
For several years Rev. Grafton was
curate of ST. Paul's church in Baltimore
and then went abroad. When III Eng
land, in company with Rev. r. NJ. Ben
son Of Oxford university, he founded the
Society of st. John the Evangelist, a re-
ligious order Of mission priests in Cow
ley, st. John, OXFORD. Returning to
America, he became rector of the Church
of the Advent in Boston, having as GU
rates members of the religious order
which he founded. He was instrumental
i'll bringing from East Grimstead. Eng
land, the Sisters Of st. Margaret. which
is now an affiliated house and an Amer
lean SisterhoOd.
The Sisterhood of the Holy Nativity
was founded by Bishop Grafton in 1888.
| This order now has II beautiful convent
in Fond du Lac, the sisters having been
transferred to this city from Providence,
X. l., few years ago.
Was Consecrated in 1889.
Bishop Grafton was consecrated bish-
op of Fond du Lac on April %, 1889
Bishop McLaren of Chicago, assisted by
Bishop Burga of Quincy, ILL.,, Bishop
Seymour of Springfield, ILL.,, Bishop
Knickerbocker of Indiana, Bishop Gil
bert of Minnesota, and Bishop Knight
of Milwaukee. all of whom are now
dead.
During the twenty years that Bishop
Grafton has been at the head Of this do
cese, great development has become no.
ticeable, as all of the reports submitted
at the meeting of the diocesan council
show. 1t is said that over 100000 has
been expended by the bishop alone in the
way Of building and improving churches
and other buildings connected with the
various parishes. One of the great works
accomplished by him and which will
stand as a monument to him is Grafton
hall a school for young ladies. The
building itself is not only a beautiful
structure, but the furnishings, paintings
and pieces of antique furniture are rare
works of art
In designing the cathedral garth. Bish-
Op Grafton kept IN mind the design OF
English church yards. Between build
ings, the spacious grounds are enclosed
by high solid-stOne wall, and the ciois-
for hptUnan tho choir Nf bn
thedral and what was once st. Monica s
school for young ladies, now Grafton
hall, is one of the most picturesque. A
churchman in describing the grounds of
st. PauPs said:
LET an Englishman attend a meeting
of the diocesan council and be placed
in the cathedral garth blindfolded, then
remove the blindfold, and he will i'm
agine that he is back in England. There
is no more charming sight than these
grounds in the month of June, and bish-
ops III their robes and clergymen in vest
ments, walking from one delightful nook
to another. complete the picture
The parish house, where the bishop es-
tablished a choir boys school, is not far
from the cathedral, and on the other side
of the city is the mother house of the
Sisterhood of the Holy Nativity. This
convent is located on one of Fond du
Laos most fashionable residence streets,
and is also the home of the bishop.
Although in his eightieth year, Bishop
Grafton still remains vigorous. He fire.
quently visits other cities in the diocese
for confirmation services or to preach
sermons. He lives in great simplicity,
and welcomes callers with the hospitali-
ty which makes the English gentleman
such q delightful host.
The concluding session of the diocesan
council will be held in the cathedral
Thursday morning and this will be fol-
lowed by luncheon given to the clergy
by Bishop Weller AT the morning
service Bishop Weller will sing the Cor
pus Christi mass.