The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-05-22

cling companions would not stay, as
they were anxious to reach the sixty
| carts that were waiting for u.s. (Ann.
Prop. of the Faith. xxx, 1922 A
footnote states that the congrega
ton of est Claudius" consisted of
120 families.
From 1S61-1S63 the mission of St.
Cloud was visited by Father Clement
Staub, who made preparations to build
large church, but his transfer to ST.
Paul left the work for other hands
ST. Cloud saw days Cd excitement dur
ing the Indian outbreak of 1862. The
settlers fled from their farms into
town and although no hostile Indians
showed themselves, the pastor had his
hands full endeavoring to calm the
fears of the fugitives.
Father Clements successor was
Father Meinulph Stukenkemper, who
Immediately took up the work begun
by his predecessor and built the pres
ent church of the Immaculate COncep-
| ton, which is to this day one of the
most imposing churches of the county.
In 1864 fair was held in the court
house and the proceeds, 100000, were
| donated to the building fund. The
cornerstone was laid July 10, 1864,
| by Bishop Grace, of st. Paul, and the
i same prelate dedicated the church on
Dec. 10, 1865. 1t stands at the corner
OF st. German Street and Ninth Ave-:
its dimensions are 145x64 and the
| style is Gothic The foundation is
built of boulders and the superstruc-
| ture of red brick. The contract for the
brick work was awarded to Fuchs and
Co., of ST. Joseph. The whole cost of
building was about $4,000. 1t was i'm
n sible to raise such a sum at St.
Cloud those days; hence Father Mem
| ulph made tour of the eastern states
to solicit contributions. In July, 1867,
the steeple was completed.
The present parsonage was built by
Father Meinulph in 1868. 1t is brick
structure 4G by 65, two stories high,
| and was at the time one of the finest
residences of the city. 1t was finished
in 1869 and cost about $8,0OO.0O.
On February End, 1868, Rev. Gus
tave Mockenhaupt, son of one Of the
first members of the parish, celebrat-
ed his first Mass in this church. He
had studied with the Benedictine Fa-
theirs near st. Cloud, had finished his
theological studies at st. Francis SEM
mary, near Milwaukee, Wis, and had
been ordained priest on Jan. 3rd,
1858. His edifying career was very
short, for he died the same year, Sept
ember 26, at Centralia, ILL.,, at the age
of 81 years.
The church had already been fur
nished with large organ, built by S.
Stocking at st. Cloud. Daniel HUM,
the first school teacher, was also the
organist. The very first organ had
been bought many years before from
person in Sank Rapids, for 100000,
which sum John Tenvoorde collected
in the parish in single day
In June, 1872, Father Meinulph
was appointed pastor of New Munich
and was succeeded at ST. Cloud by Fa-
Their Benedict Haindl, whose venerable
appearance and unaffected piety made
him respected and beloved by all.
During this time there were generally
three priests at st. Cloud; two of them
were missionaries, who visited the
missions and stations in the southern
part OF Stearns and in the northern
part of Meeker county. On April 26,
Nof
silver jubilee, or twenty-f1fth anniver-
sary of his ordination For this occa-
sion the church was in festive attire;
the societies and school children es-
corted the jubilarian to the sanctuary,
where his religious superior, Rt Rev.
Abbot Rupert Seidenbusch, and
member of his brethren in the priest
hood had assembled to assist at the
celebration. In November, 1874, he
was transferred to New Munich and
received a successor in the person of
Father Alphonse Kuisle.
Father Alphonse was a man of con-
siderable ability and energy, but his
health was poor, and he generally re-
quired the services of an assistant.
On May 80, 1875, Bishop Rupert Seid-
enbusch was consecrated. in this
church and resided at this parsonage
for a year, until he purchased an epis-
copal residence Five months later
Abbot Alexius Edelbrock received alb
batial benediction in the same church.
The preparations for all these great
functions engaged much of the pas,
por's time. EARLY in 1876 he organized
a society for the support of the church.
It was called the st. Joseph Church
Society and it's first officers were:
President, Xavier Braun; vice-presi-
dent, J. H. Billig; treasurer, F. Bat
tenburg; secretary, G. Hagedorn. In
the meantime his superior had trans
ferred him to Richmond and had ap-
pointed as his successor, Father Sew
erin Goss, who assumed charge in
October 1876.
On July 21, 1878, Father SEVERN
celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary
of his ordination In March, 1879, he
bought two bells, which were conse-
Grated by Bishop Seidenbusch, on the
thirtieth of the same month. In Octo-
Der of the same year he bought a
tower. clock, which, to this day is the |
only clock of it's kind in the city. BY
the organization of the Cathedral par
ish in 1884, the congregation lost a.
1Ay@ re e. 1,,,% Z