The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-07-29

Electric wiring and fixtures. 100000
Total NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 64, $4,000
This debt has been gradually liqui-
dated, and at the time of writing,
June, 1922, there is still balance of
$500.
Knights of Columbus.
Billings Council No. 1883, Knights
of Columbus, was instituted on the
25th day of August, 1907, with a char
ter membership of 81 members; the
preliminary organization work was
handled by committee composed of
Thomas M. Kehoe, Joseph Roche and
Frank J. Havelick, acting under the
direction of Joseph R. Jackson and
State Deputy c. E. Meagher, both of
Butte. The charter list was composed
of the leading Catholic men of Billings
and vicinity and of Red Lodge. Paul
Mccormick, ST., Montana pioneer,
was chosen the first Grand Knight of
the new council. Since it's organiza-
ton, the council has taken an active
part in all matters having to do with
the advancement of the Catholic
Church in Billings. The Billings
council has enjoyed a steady, healthy
growth; access to it's ranks having
brought it's membership up to 200.
First Assistant
AS the congregation increased and
the work multiplied in the parish, the
need was felt of an assistant priest
and this want was supplied by the
Right Reverend Bishop sending Rev.
c. Truemper, whom he had ordained
in Great Falls month previous.
March II, 1907 Father Truemper ar
rived in Billings in April and the fol
lowing year he was assigned as first
rector of the new Mission at Laurel.
Rev. w. P. Phelan succeeded him as
assistant to st. Patrick's in the fall
of 1908. On February 10, 1910, Rev.
G. Pauwelyn was changed from Glen
dive to st. Patrick's parish, with the
title OF administrator or temporary
rector
ParochiaI School.
Right Rev. M. G. Lenihan, D. D., in
vited the Sisters of Charity of Leaven-
worth to take charge of a parochial
school at Billings. The Reverend
Mother General promised to send two
Sisters in the fall of 1911 to open the
school. The old church, was parti-
toned into three class rooms and all
things made ready for the new school.
On August 20. 1911, st. Patrick's paro-
chial school was formally opened, with
Sisters M. Louise and Mary Barbara
as teachers. Forty-eight pupils were
enrolled on the first day and the num-
Der steadily increased up to 80 at the
end of the first year. In 1912, anoth-
er Sister was added to the teaching
corps and the sixth and seventh
grades taught. In 1916, fourth class
room was opened in the north side
sacristy of the church, and a fourth
Sister had class IN the building.
Several priests have succeeded one
another as assistants at st. Patrick's s.
Rev. William Raymond has the dis
of having been assistant long
er than any one in the history of the
parish.
The census taken up in the year 1916.
showed that there were $50 families,
nearly 1,300 souls, in Billings.
CathoIicity Increases.
The growth of the Church in Mon
tana kept pace with it's increase of
population. In 1880, Montana terri |
tory was divided into IL counties, with
4 total population of 39,159. The CEN
.ers OF activity of the Church were
lew. Priests had residences in Hell |
ena, Virginia City, Ft. Benton, Deer |
Lodge and Missoula for the whites, |
ind st. Peters, ST Ignatius and st. |
Marys for the Indians. The Jesuit |
Fathers of Helena attended to all the
Catholics of the territory east of the |
rocky Mountains. In 1885, after the |
diocesan priests were ordained for
he new diocese, they were put in
;harge of these Missions, and Father |
!. Guidi, S. j., who had~been styled
he travelling missionary, was with
lrawn from Helena. In 1887, new