The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-03-11
Foeelgn Representatives
SMALL SPENCER, BREWER
Oncorporated
CHICAGO NEW YORK Bo6TOl

A4UCO4VOI8U80l
CHICAGO NEW YORK Boston
Priest, Builder, Citizen, Frien,
In the death Of Very Rev. John A
Stag, rector Of st. Mary,s procathed
raj, Bismarck loses an outstanding
citizen and builder; most Of our cit
iSens lose . warm and understanding
friend, and the church for which HI
labored loses q faithful servant.
The news Of his death was all the
more shocking because OF the nature
and character Of the man. Strong
vigorous and aggressive, he seemed
the very epitome Of human energy
His ready smile. his unfailing chez,
aud keen mind made him 50 vital q
force In the daily affairs Of Bismarck
that Il = difficult to think Of him q
stricken in his prime.
Yet he who has done much for the
city he loved, returns to US today q
corpse. The utmost skill Of science
failed to save . Life which was con.
spicuous for its usefulness during the
last 10 years and which was Just
coming to the peak Of It's powers. It
= loss from which Bismarck viii
not soon recover.
Born and reared in Europe, Father
Stag came to this country only Il years
ego, yet his life here was IN example
Of fine citizenship. Did something
need to be done for the community:
Father Stag always was more than
willing to do his share. Did justice
Or common sense need IN unflagging
champion: he was always ready to
step into the breach.
Did the faint-hearted need some
one to give them courage: Father
Stag had more than his share.
There could be no better iuustra.
ti6n Of this mans work than his
achievement In adding q $4,000 ad-
dit3on to his church last year. Some
said 1t was impossible to do 1t. Others
thought 1t inadvisable. But the needs
Of . growing congregation had to be
met and Father Stag met them. BY
dint Of his own personal effort he
raised the money necessary to make
the enlargement. At the end Of the
year It was complete and not . penny
had been added to the church debt.
Some might marvel, but not his
friends. They knew the result was
due to the personal zeal and mag
netism OF this man: to his persistence
and courage In the face Of obstacles
which would have daunted many.
In Bismarck's civic affairs Father
Stag always was the prophet Of .
brighter. bigger and better city. It
was he who was largely responsible
for the present beginnings Of . beau
uful park system. It was his energy
and devotion which gave Bismarck
one Of the most beautiful cemeteries
In North Dakota, where Protestant,
Catholic and Jew lie side by side in
eternal rest. He was one Of the men
who gave unselfisaly Of their time
and money to the promotion Of the
boy scouts, that American boys might
grow into sound American men.
Nothing was dearer to his heart
than the youth Of the city and this
desire to help the coming generation
was one Of the things responsible for
the untiring energy which he dis
played As superintendent Of st. Mary,s
school.
Handicapped by lack Of funds and
Of adequate facilities, be devoted him
self to this problem and the result
today Is one Of the finest parochial
schools in North Dakota, . school
whose students need not Be ashamed
in any company.
Probably no other Bismarck citi.
zen had achieved 20 much Of benefit
70 his community In % short Q time
as this sterling citisen, ut his ma
te--ial requests aEs the least q the
L ctes which he leaves 70 u.
TO all who knew him he leaves the
sense q having been the better for
that contact. Everywhere hs spread
the Christian virtues Of Faith, Hope
and Love. more By example than By
peecept.
There Win y tributes b him In
plenty. but ~ w1ll b inadeqnate =
Dxpsso III feeling e dep les wltch
oa1le into to hsaste & oathelie anA
ysee1se1nt aim q IT, nsws q III
paaplnG.
~. sealoos woe1er for his church
thongh ~ NJ, Yath1r Stag counted
= myriad friends among persons q
uthef. ereedG Their respect and af-
fectton Tor him was rtyajled only b.
~ ~ W paxiebiaQgck ! 1es