The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-11-23
OLD TIMERS
BANQUET ENDS
CELEBRATION
Proves Fitting Climax to Gold.
en- Jubilee Conducted by St.
Mary's Parish
$50 PEOPLE ARE PRESENT
Bishop Wehrle, Judge Burke
and Father Stag Are Prin.
\ cipal Speakers

As a fitting climax Of the three.
day Golden Jubilee celebration con-
Quoted this week by the members
Of st. Mary's parish, the "old tim.
ers" banquet at St. Mary's auditor
ium last evening was q most en-
joyable and successful affair. Din
ner was served at z o'clock to about
$50 people by the Sewing Circle,
one Of the church organizations, fol-
lowing which q program Of talks
and musical numbers was given,
with DR.. F. B. Strauss, q native Of
Bismarck, presiding as toastmas-
ter. Il n I:
The principal addresses were Civ
en- by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Vincent
Wehrle, Bishop of Bismarck; Judge
John Burke, former North Dakots
governor, and Father John Stag
pastor 6f St. Mary's. Telling o1
the early history Of Catholicism il
North Dakota and Of some of the
hardships which the early priests
encountered, as related to him by
Father Chrysostom Foffa, the first
resident priest here, the bishop was
listened to attentively by the large
audience.
Tribute to Pioneers
Judge Burke spoke entertainingly
of the states early history, and paid
q tribute to the men and women
who had the courage to leave their
homes in the east and come to the
prairies Of North Dakota to estab-
lish new homes. "They displayed
a higher degree Of courage than
was ever shown on field Of battle,
and it was their energy and zeal
that laid the foundation for state
hood and for these beautiful build
ings which now make up st. Mary's
parish" the Judge said.
Commenting Bishop Wchrle Tor
his services as q missionary in the
early days and his work since that
time, and praising Father Stag for
his untiring efforts in behalf Of the
parish and the community, Judge
Burke spoke words Of encourage
ment for the future. "As the coun-
try grows and prospers, the church
will continue to grow and prosper =
he said, contending that North Da-
kota has already gone through a
period Of depression and will soon
get back into normal conditions.
bismarck has had hard times IN
it's early history and too much credit
cannot be given to the early priests
and the 'old timers for the steady
growth of st. Mary's parish" said
Father Stag after he had been in
troduced as the man who made pos
sible the Golden Jubilee celebration
and made it SO successful. eve are
only reaping the fruit Of what they
have sowed," he continued. s'The
success Of a parish should not be
judged by q few new buildings, or
the credit be given to one man. The
foundation on which the parish has
been built was laid years ago and
that made it easy to have this cele-
bration, the success Of which was
measured by the large attendance
at all the services"
Comments on Harmony
Thanking all members Of his par.
ish for their assistance in the jubi.
lee celebration, Father Stag also
expressed his appreciation Of the
charitable spirit and fine harmony
shown by the people Of other de-
nominations in Bismarck and re-
marked about the true fraternal
spirit which he has encountered
here.
Appealing to his pari:hioners e