Benedictine College - Raven Yearbook (Atchison, KS)

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,fq!e21.J,-62-A ff 1 f R 2 4 lx C N A!! , . J' XE I cz? - X -x 0 !,!J f. l - J f 1, History M- f Ng' Q .f ,-.xa-'JJ x'x....,:a2 X P THE PRESENT and Class-room addition, were erected and about sixty acres of ground were added to the campus. Nor was this all. In time, St. Benedict's College had so expanded that it was necessary to separate the grades from the High School and College proper. The institution formerly known as Midland College, situated at the south edge of Atchison, was purchased and five more: build- ings were added to St. Benedict's. This new school is known as Maur Hill. On October l8, 1922. the Almighty called Rt. Rev. Innocent Wolf, O.S.B., from his long and fruitful career. He was succeeded by Abbot Martin Veth, O.S.B., S.T.L., LL.D., who became the sixth president of St. Benedict's. Very significant and important steps in the progress of St. Benedicts, have been made under Abbot Martin's administration. Within the last four years two new edifices sprang up on the College Campus. The year 1924 witnessed the completion of a new and modern Gymnasium, one of the largest and best equipped in the middle west. The other is St. .Ioseph's Hall. a modern rooming building for College students. These two buildings alone point to the rapid growth of the College department. But the story is only partly told. We can see into the immediate future and discern greater and even more important advancements. There is at present an urgent need for more buildings, a larger faculty and many other improvements to keep pace with the increasing number of College students. How all of this will be brought about remains to be seen. That it will come is certain. At present a new Monastery is being planned: then will follow a Library, Chapel, Rooming Building and many other improvements, necessary even at the present time. The History of St. Benedict's may be told in many different ways. But all point to the one word, PROGRESS, true progress, with its three great marks which are part of the Spirit of St. Benedict's, prayer, work, and study, that in all things God may be glorified. Twenty-eight

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QC?-lb X N. --qsfggfzlig fx A f ' ' N x , . Af I 2 A ,mf ff I 7 '- , '.- N ix f 'X , hxFvQV-ty'-X Qi X, - X- 1f...v..kx,g5',.t ,Ni--'li-j E555-Hi ' THE PAST who followed Father Lempke to Doniphan, opened a boarding-school at his parish house in September, 1857, with an enrollment of four students. But, Atchison appearing to be a more promising location for St. Benedict's, Father Augustine moved here in 1858, and began the erection of the first College building, later known as the Old Abbey. This two-and-a-half story brick structure still stands, a tribute to the founder of our institution. The following fall fourteen students registered for the year 1859-1860, the first to be educated at Atchison. But, founding the College was only the first step in the progress of St. Benedict's. There began immediately a great movement of expansion. In 1859, a small frame church was erected, In 1860, Kansas was visited by a long and terrible draught. In spite of this plague the progress of the College was not checked. From every quarter people journeyed to Atchison, and gathered at the gates of the Monastery with appeals for assistance. There was no work to be had in the vicinity. In order to aid the people in their pressing needs, Father Augustine resolved to provide them with employment, and in the year 1861, a three-story wing was added to the College. Additions were then made rapidly to accommodate the increasing enrollment of students. During the first nine years the College maintained only a High School or 'College Prepara- tory. On June 28, 1868, however, the College was incorporated under the Kansas Laws and empowered to confer degrees and acedemic honors. During this period the magnificent church now standing, was completed. Theelection of the Rt. Rev. Innocent Wolf, O.S.B., D.D., as first Abbot and fifth President of St. Benedict's, marked the beginning of a period of more rapid progress in the College. During his term of Presidency, three new buildings, the Monastery, Administration Twenty-seven QQ M! k 7 !i 7 O m 0 X 1 H1 L Qi, f x Cv f ll fl if -11 7 J if X M Q Q Y I if

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