The Dickinson press., 1910-04-16
BISHOP IS
APPOINT TED

Rt. Rev. Vincent Wehrlc APP
pointed by Pope. Will Remain
as Head of Richardton Abbey.
He is Worthy of the Honors.
Archbishop Ireland of St. Paul an
nounced last Saturday the appointment
of Rev. Vincent Wehrle. abbot of the
Richardton Monastery, as head of the
newly designated bishipric of Bismarck.
Bishop Vincent Wehrle of the Bis
marck diocese is native of Switzer-
land and is now in his fifty-fifth year.
He attended the famous college of
the Abbey of Einsiedein. Switzerland.
entered the Benedictine Order in 1876
and in the next six years carried on his
philosophical and theological studies,
preparing himself for the priesthood to
which he was ordained in 1882. De-
voting himself to the missionary work
he came to the United States immedi-
ately after his ordination, and labored
in Arkansas and Indiana until 1887
when he came to Yankton and took up
the work of teaching among the Indians
For year he was in the Indian school
at Yankton and Stephan, S. D.
In January. 1894, Pope Leo XII ap-
tproved of establishing a mission at
Devils lake and Father Vincent was
appointed canonical prior. In 1898
Father Vincent was sent by his ordinary
to give a mission at Richardton. He
gained the confidence of the people
there, and the bishop of Fargo requested
him to move the monastery from Devils
Lake there and this was done in time.
The great in-rush of non-English
speaking settlers made it necessary that
the work of the church should be carried
on with zeal, and Prior Vincent under
took it. Here the success attained in
the nothern part of the state was even
surpassed and now the monastery at
10 lOCOSuIACu ltlC VOAI Iu
over.
The monastery began at Devils Lake
in 1898 with two priests and one lay
brother, and has now over twenty-five
priests. twelve professed clereies,
twelve professed laybrothers. and is
with the novices, community Of fifty
four. Around Richardton nine new
congregations have been formed within
the past ten or twelve years, and in
stead of the sod building which was at
first used as church at St. Elizabeth S.
there is solid stone church of great
beauty.
The present abbey at Richardton is
building that is admired by all visi-
, tors. while the parochial school has
, membership of over $50. Since coming
to North Dakota the Benedictines have
, organized twenty-nine churches.
Abbot Wehrle is particularly fitted
for the work as head of the Bismarck
diocese. He is church builder, a man
of great power. careful financier. a
: fine pulpit orator and it is believed that
he will prove to be the right man in
the right place.
The Bismarck Tribune has the follow
ing editorially of the new bishop
The nomination of the Right Rev.
Vincent Wehrle. O. S. B.. to the newly
created see of Bismarck is compliment
to man of religion who has achieved
much in promoting the development of
the state of North Dakota and recoe-
milton of the sterling virtues that con-
stitute the highminded and right think
ing Christian.
A member of religious society Bishop
Wehrle has had the capacity to apply
himself to the strenuous life with such
excellent judgment and rare and intelli-
gent energy as to profoundly impress the
community in which he has labored.
He is essentially builder. in a ma
terial as well as a spiritual sense. and
here on the outposts of the church he
has done work that has not gone un-
noticed of the central body of the great
church organization to which he belongs.
The great good accomplished by
Bishop Wehrle in promoting the sub
stanial as well as spiritual and moral
progress of the western part of the state
augurs we'll for Bismarck and its am
plification is those essentials which 20
to make the modern and advanced COM
munity.
In congratulating the Abbot of St.
Mary's on his elevation to diocesan
honors The Tribune voices the senti-
ments of some thousands of Catholics
who know and appreciate the work he
has done in a less exalted sphere. -
Rev. Timothy Corbett of the
Cathedral of Duluth has been named
as bishop for the Minnesota diocese
with headquarters at Crookston.
The appointment of Bishop Wehrle
is very gratifying to f'r. T. L. Rabstei-
mex and other friends in this city. The
Bishop attended the feast at St.
Joseph's church last month.