Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-09-23
Brother stephen Passes Peace
fully Away After Long and
Useful Lite.
Made Happy Before Death by
BeRedictiOn From Holy
Father.
Was the Virtual Founder of
Famed st. Xavier's
College.
HERE over HALF A CENTURY

Old men, young men and boys
through the city and numbered in
the thousands, we're deeply grieved
though not surprised Tuesday when
they learned that Brother Stephen,
aged eighty-seven years and the oldest
member of the Xavarian Brotherhood
in the world, virtual founder of st.
Xavier's College in Louisville, and
one of the pioneer members of the
order in this country, died of the in
firmitfes of age at his room at the
college on Broadway, near Second.
His illness dated back to last June,
when he was prostrated by the heat.
Five weeks ago his condition became
so serious that he was forced to re-
linuuish his duties as Secretary and
Treasurer of the college. Brother
Stephen received the benediction of
Pope Plus Thursday from Mgr. Dio-
mede Falconio, upon the occasion of
the latter's visit to the college. He
had expressed the wish that he re-
sceive the Papal blessing from the
apostolic delegate before death.
Brother Stephen had been in Louis
Vile fifty-four years of the the fifty
six years he had spent in this country.
He was born April 6, 1925, at Atten-
dorm, near Muenster, Westphalia, Ger
many. He went to Muenster early in
life after having been graduated from
high school,, and there, while plying
the trade of tailor, conceived a
plan for the betterment of young
men a prey to the allurements of the
city. He associated himself with
Others in the work, organizing what is
now known as the Hoping Institute,
similar to the Young Mems Institute
in America. Soon the society ex-
tended throughout the German En-
pire, and to other European coun-
tries. Brother Stephen, his work ac-
complished, withdrew from the work
and Father Koping, for whom it was
named, too charge.
At the age of twenty-three years
Brother Stephen, or Adolph Sommers,
resolved to join the Xavarian Brother
hood, which had been founded nine
years before at Bruges, Belgium, by
Theodore Ryken. He was admitted
to the order December 8, 1S4S. Pre-
vious to his entrance he continued to
work as a tailor. He came to
America in 1856, after having per-
fected himself in the English language
in England. However, the brother
hood was undergoing a financial
crisis. and soon afterward the brothers
in America were recalled to Europe. |
Brother Stephen, with Brother |
Francis, decided to remain in this
country to fight the battle and in a |
few years their efforts were rewarded. |
Upon coming to Louisville Brother |
Stephen was installed at st. Patrick's
school, but the following year became |
a teacher at the school of the Church |
of Our Lady of the immaculate Con-
eeption, Eighth and Grayson streets, |
where he remained for number OF
years. He was appointed novice |
master of novitiate established here |
In 1860, when a colony of brothers
came to this country from Europe.
He rent to st. Mary's Industrial |
School in 1879, and subsequently be-
came a member of the faculty OF st. !
Xavier's Institute. now st. Xavier's
College. In 1898 Brother Stephen
celebrated the fiftieth anniversary OF
his entrance into the congregation OF |
st. Xavier. at the time being one OF
six brothers IN the world who had
spent fifty years Of their lives in the
work of the order. Brother Stephen
was one of the first directors OF st. 1
Xavier's College and was regarded as
It's virtual founder. Until fifteen years
ago he held the chair of German at
the college, at that time becoming
Secretary and Treasurer. Among his
pupils at st. Xavier's and at the
school at Eighth and Grayson streets
we're many prominent members of the |
clergy and laity of the city,
Brother Stephen was known to
thousands of pupils and graduates OF
ST. Xavier's School. He was a favorite
with them. Notwithstanding his ad-
Vanced age, until forced abed last
summer. he possessed unusual vitality
and walked erect as youth. His
memory was considered remarkable.
The body laid in state until
9 o'clock Wednesday morning, when
a reuulem, high mass was solemnized,
the Rev. Father Louis G. Deepen Of
fciated, the Rev. Father Andrew
Thome acting as deacon, the Rev
Father G.. A. Weiss as sub-deacon,
and the Rev. Father George W.
schuhmann as master OF ceremonies.
All Of the participants in the mass
we're pupils OF Brother stephen.
Members OF the Xaverian Brother
hood attached TO ST. Xayier's College
acted as pallbearers. the burial being
in st. Louis cemetery.
Brother Tsidore. of Baltimore,
Provincial OF the Xaverian Brothers,
and many clergy and former pupils
attended the funeral