The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-01-30

FIFTY YEARS A PRIEST
Came to Iowa to Take up Church
Work at Early Date and Knew
All Of the Pioneers
Hardships.

Iowa is called to mourn the ceatn
Of ;ts Oldest priest, says the Cedar
Iiapids Gazette, in its obituary OF
Rev. Clement Lowrey, who died in
Cedar Rapids Sunday at 1880 p. n.
TO have served over half CEN
tury in the priesthood falls to the iol
of few who have dedicated their hva'
to the service of christianity. Fatner
Lowry was known the length and
he came at an early age and suffered
all the hardssips, the snowstorms,
the wintry blasts and the privations
of the pioneer priest. He went aboSt
holding meetings in log cabins, call
ing the people to worship through
the medium of a circuit rider.
In August, 1887, at Pfckawav
county, Ohio, Clement Lowrey was
born. His ancestors came from Swift
zerland but had emigrated to this
country before the revolutionary war.
SO the venerable priest was real
son of America His father studied
to be a Lutheran minister, but just
previous to his ordination became a
convert to Catholicity. His father
was DR.. Daniel Lowrey who came tG
Lee county when Father Lowrey was
8 years old. Manifesting desire 20
study for the priesthood, he was sent
when a young man to the famous st.
Thomas seminary in Kentucky, the
first preparatory seminary In the
United States, where he completed
his studies for the priesthood. Fifty
three years ago Nov. "a, 1915, Father
Lowrey was ordained at the old
cathedral in Dubuque. Bishop Glenn
ent Smith confirmed him.
Following his ordination, Father
Iowrey was stationed at the cathed-
raj for a short time, and the sue
ceeding year was sent to minister
to the scattered flock Of Catholics
in northern Iowa and Minnesota. The
absence of railroads made the care
t of fourteen missions rather srenu-
| GUS work for the young priest He
continued in this fold for seven
/ wears. Some of the missions he served
were located at Waukon, Decorai
and Dewitt.
| It was in 1874 that Father Lowrey
came to Cedar Rapids, finding thirty
five Catholic families but no church.
He built the old Immaculate Concep-
,, ton church out of which has grown
the handsome new edifice. He also
built the hospital now IN charge Oh
the Sisters of Mercy. While attend,
ing to the Cedar Rapids flock, Father
Lowrey also had charge of missions
at Anamosa, Belle PLANE. Blairstown,
Marshalltown and Rock Island.
A few years after the arrival OF
Father Lowrey in this city he be-
came convinced that If the Roman
Catholic church was to fill its field
in Cedar Rapids, new building
would be necessary. 1t was prodi-
gious undertaking for the young
nriest, But with the spirit of devo-
ton calling him forward, Father
Lowrey proceeded with the project
and engaged Catholic architect to
draw the plans. The enthusiastic
parish members gave evidence of
their earnestness and their desire to
sustain their pastor and came in
from the country and from their
work in the town to help him with
the labor of excavation and to lay
the foundation. The building was
completed at a total cost Of only
sis O0O The erection was completed
and was ready for occupancy in 1877.
Under Father Lowrey's guidance
the parish of the Immaculate Con-
ception increased in membership I'M
til 1875 families were enrolled.
Father Lowrey remained IN Cedar