The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-02-29
REV. ELSKAMP DEAD !
Continued from page u

IlrSt tnlng In lie was the advancement
of the eaurch and the cause of humanity
and his last conscious moments were
taken up with talking over plans for
the church and his people. He was
close to- the people and their every in
terest interested him. In his death St
George congregation has felt a terrible
loss. His kindly sympathy and love for
Jail, his advice tempered always by
considerations of mature manhood par
| ticularly fitted him for the work of a
rector.
The Rev. B. Elskamp was native of
Borken, in the diocese of Muenster,
Germany, where he was born Jan. 9,
{ 1S49. From earliest boyhood his life
had been consecrated to the church and
he was educated for the priesthood in
the schools of his native province. He
was ordained a priest in the diocese of
Muenster Aug. 5, 1874, and for a short
time was connected with the church
work in Germany. In 1875 he came
to this country and for three years he
was teacher in Pho Mono College at
lSt, Francis. His work in this institution
attracted the attention of the leaders
of the church in Wisconsin at once
and he was called to st. Francis SEM
mary, where for thirteen years he was
engaged as a teacher. Father Elskamp
was man of high educational attain
ments and his scholarly bearing made
him invaluable to the church. During
his long term at st. Francis he was in
charge of the important work of teach
ing the doctrines of the church, his
chair being that of EsMoral and Dog
matte Theology He also had the
Ichair of Latin and Greek in the insti-
tuition during much Of the time he re-
manned there. Father Elskamp desired
to give at least part of his life to
the actual work of the priesthood and
in September, 1891, he asked that he be
transferred from the seminary to the
work of some congregation and he was
sent to the Holy Trinity church at
NeWbug, and after a short pastorate
there he was sent to the st. Mary S
church in Port Washington. In 1898
following the death of the Rev. Joseph
Dreis, who had been pastor of st.
George church in Kenosha for many
years, ne was sent to Kenosha and he
has since been in charge of the church
work here.
Father Elskamp came to Kenosha
practically unknown to the members of
the parish, but within a few months
he had taken such hold on the congre-
cation that he has been declared to
have been one OF the most popular mon
lever in charge of the large eongrega-
ton. He took an interest in every feat
ure Of the work of the church. He or
ganized the men and the rwOmen, the
young men and the children and he
brought to the church the most active
years of it's history. During his pas
torate other parishes have been organic
ed in Kenosha and he has given his
aid to all Of these organizations.
Among the members of the clergy in
Kenosha Father Elskamp was hailed
as patriarch and his advice was al
ways sought IN great movements af-
fecting the future Of the church.
Many Pay Tribute.
Thousands Of people Of the city paid
silent tribute to the memory Of the
late Father Elskamp on Sunday and
during the entire day members of st.
George congregation, other congrega-
lions IN the city, and non-Catholics
visited the church and stood for few
minutes gazing Oh the features of the
well loved priest. Many of them
brought floral tributes and early in the
day the casket was almost completely
covered with flowers. Many touching
tributes were paid to the dead priest
by the crowds which thronged the
church during the day and many peo-
pie fingered to shed tears of sorrow.
At all the services held in the
church on Sunday and at services in
other Catholic churches Of the city
special reference was made to the
death of Father Elskamp and tributes
paid to his work for the church.
At the eight clock service at ST.
George church the Rev. Nicholas Mas
was in charge. Members of st.
Michaels Young Mems Society attend
ed the service in a body and Father
Mas made especial mention OF the
death of Father Elskamp and told of
the great loss the congregation has sus-
tanned in his sudden death.
At high mass at ten . clock the
Rev. Charles Goetzinger of King
Fisher, Oklahoma, was in charge and
he gave a sermon in which he touched
on the work of Father Elskamp as a
man and as a priest. He spoke es-
pecially Of his devotion to the work
of the church and of the parish and
told Of his many qualities Of heart and
brain which had made him popular
with the people. He spoke Of his I'M
firing efforts in building up the con-
gregation and its various organizations
and many times during the sermon
when the priest referred to special in
cidents of the work of Father Els