The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-06-10
LETTER OF THE MOST
REVEREND ARCH
BISHOP.
TO THE PASTORS OF THE DID,
CESE OF ST. PAUL.
Reverend and Dear Father:

Reverend and Dear Father:
l beg leave to say word with re-
gard to the present financial situa-
tion of the new Cathedral, so far as
this word may be applicable to you
and your parish.
A number of the parishes of the
Diocese have already done their full
duty towards the new Cathedral, hav-
ing either paid up in full their assess
ments, or, at least, having forwarded
to the Secretary so much Of the as
sessment as was expected from them
for the year 1911. To those parishes
return my most cordial thanks. From
them no further attention to this let
ter of mine is required beyond the ac-
ceptance of the expression of my
gratitude and the enjoyment of the
very legitimate satisfaction they are
hidden to take to themselves in re-
ward of their prompt response to my
appeals for earnest cooperation in the
furtherance of the project to endow
the Diocese of st. Paul with a monu-
ment worthy of it's noble traditions
and of the oft-proven faith and zeal of
it's clergy and it's laity.
But there are not few parishes,
where there is room for more ener
getic action, for quicker resolve to do
their duty at once and without weary
ing procrastination. To those I ad-
dress myself, in the hope that l may
arouse them from their seeming leth-
argy, and obtain from them without
delay the help that must have, if
work on the new Cathedral is to be
much longer continued with the en-
couraging pace it is now entered upon.
/ speak of quick action. All-par-
ishes and pastors-Without an excep-
tion-profess willingness to acquit
themselves at one time or another of
their obligation to the new Cathedral;
all assure me they will be on the
golden list of builders and benefac-
tors, before the books are closed
This is much; the good will herein
implied cheers me along the rough
road | am struggling to travel over.
But why, 1 beg leave to ask, should
there be among the parishes of the
Diocese of st. Paul those that dis
pute among themselves the strange
honor of being the latest arrivals at
the goal of glory? Why should there
be those that vie with one another in
proving how slow they may march,
how tantalizing they may be to the
one on whom rests the heavy respon-
sibility of meeting month after month
the demands of contractors?
To precise the situation: Up to the
present date, money there has been,
sufficient to pay all bills. But beyond
paying bills hitherto due, there is
nothing today in the treasury to pro-
vide for future demands. Meanwhile,
work goes merrily on-at the rate of
twenty-five to thirty thousand dollars
per month. I am at the point when
must give warning-sound loud the
trumpet-call for further contribu-
tions, or bid granite-cutters and ma
sons drop for the season chisels and
trowels.
Granite was cut in the quarries dur
ing the whole of the past winter.
There is now nothing to delay the ma
sons, as was the case in 1910. Con
struction moves rapidly. Today the
walls around the whole building rise
to the height of forty feet above the
main f1oor-this, exclusive of the high
walls of the crypt. The chapels are
bedecked with their beauteous cornice
and in their completed form picture in
advance the magnificent structure
~,sI1 thn oc*c cfa q
is in place upon the towering lateral
walls-eighty feet above the main
floor. My ambition is to see those
walls completed before the close o1
the present season. But to realize my
ambition l must at once set friends
and benefactors into quick motion.
What I ask of parishes and pastors
is to do at once what they intend te
do later at somewhat indefinite date
Assessments will be paid at one time
or another-why not now? Should {
delay in making collections be abso
lutely necessary, a remedy is at hand
Let the parish borrow the amount re
quired to pay in full the assessment
with which it is charged, or at leas
so mucn OF IL as OuSHt III equity w
paid during the present year, 1911
This is what the more iberal-mindet
parishes have done or are preparin,
to do. The Cathedral assessment i
to be treated as any other debt fall
ing upon the parish; it is to be me
by similar methods-by some on.
method when other methods are no
available The burthen, distribute,
over the several parishes, is ligh
upon each one None should max
complaint None. am confident, vii
make complaint once the whole ques
tion of the urgent needs of the Cathe
dral has been properly discussed an
properly understood.