St Francis Minor Seminary - Via Yearbook (Milwaukee, WI)

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DIAMOND JUBILEE 8I856 THE MOST REVEREND MICHAEL HEIss, D. D. ffirxt CRector of St. Francis Seminary 18561868 6Bishop of La Crone Coadjutor CBishop of Milwaukee 1868-1880 1880-1881 Second archbishop of Milwaukee 1881-1890

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sis upon the able Dr. Joseph Salzmann who acted in this position until his death in 1874. During his first year of Rectorship, it was realized that the Semi- nary building was becoming too small to accomodate the many aspirants to the priesthood. An addition was built. This addition is what we now know as the north tClassicsj wing. It was completed toward the end of December in 1868. Today the wing still contains the two study halls and the two large dormitories. From the following description of the study halls, we note that they were anything but comfortable. 71 can vividiy recall? says Msgr. Gerend, 8the old study hall with its primitive outfit, consisting of a number of home made desks, an-old wood-burning stove, and a dozen or more kerosene lamps, with an occasional picture on the wall showing scenes in China, Japan, or other missionary countries . 1870-1874 Among the many problems that demanded the Churchis attention in 1870, was the famous Roman Question, the settlement of which was finally brought about in 1929. At the very outset the students showed their sentiments by sending an energetic protest to Rome against the unjust occupation of the Papal States by the Piedmontese Government. Four years later there occurred one of the sad- dest events in the life of the Seminary. On January 14, 1874, Dr. Joseph Salzmann breathed forth his spirit to God. In that group of men that stood about the cradle of the Seminary and reared it into vigorous manhood, Dr. Salzmann was foremostealways its true father and defender. He was the first to die when the work was accomplished. His remains lie in SAINT FRANCIS SBMINARY a vault facing those of Archbishop Heiss, on the left of the Seminary Chapel. Though not an author, he was a profound theo- logian and historian, and a far-famed pulpit orator; though not of noble birth, he, nevertheless, posses- sed a charm of manner and a buoyancy of spirit that made him attractive and winning in society. That he was a capable business man may be seen from the Seminary accounts. At times the boys relied pretty much on the Procurator for everything, and he does not seem less great because he bought and sold such articles as neckties, towels, shirts, shoes, stockings, slippers, and coats. Nearly every student purchased a cincture and surplice from him and many a cassock, an item that then cost only $6.00. Besides his duties at the Seminary, he maintained a special interest in the general welfare of the Catholics cause in Mil- waukee. He helped to establish the iiSee-Boteii in 1852 to counteract the anti-Cathoiic press of the time, whose unchristian spirit was brought to the fore through the publication known as the iil'llugblaetterfi. Dr. Joseph Salzmann, frequently the special object of their attacks, won vindication by his dignified yet aggressive defense. He was the champion of Catho- licity in this area and has made an undying name for himself as defender of the Church. With this ends the Civil War period. Truly, a period filled with many hardships; but hardships that were to turn into blessings, blessings the more ap preciated because they bore the consciousness of many struggles and worries, for it is human nature to prize and value such blessings more than those gained with ease and comfort. LEONARD T. BUSCH, B. A. 1271

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QED 1874-1879 SAINT FRANC IS SEMINARY The Silver Jubilee Period wHIS PERIOD OPENS with the Rectotship of the Rev. Christ- opher Wapelhorst in the year u 1874. For five years he success- Lhihb :: fully carried on the traditions of $3; the Seminary and then resigned to round out his useful career 1 in the hidden activities of the Joy rode on the wings of time with the coming of the year 1875. tudent body joined in the nation- wide celebration of the honor conferred on the United States by the nomination of the first American Ca:- dinal, Archbishop John McCloskey of New York. Nor did the jubilation pass off with this event, for the Diocese of Milwaukee was elevated to the rank of an Archdiocese, and the Pallium was conferred on the venerable patriarch of the Northwest, Arch- bishop John Martin Henni. At the end of the month of May, Rev. J. Rainer was sent to Pittsburg by his bishop to accompany the Papal envoys to Milwaukee. From Chicago to the Wisconsin metropolis they traveled on a steamer. When the ship hove in sight of the Seminary it received an enthusiastic welcome from the students gathered on the shore. Needless to say all the professors and students took a joyful part in the ceremony of conferring the Pallium, which took place in the Cathedral of Milwaukee on June 3. The merited fame of this humble Seminary had spread afar. Indeed, so far and wide did it become known that the original edifice, founded through the singularity and integrity of Dr. Salzmann, was now inadequate to meet the growing needs of the time. The Seminary heads, therefore, urged the construc- tion of a much needed addition. The plan became- the reality and on December 16 the Most Rev. Arch- bishop of Milwaukee blessed the new south wing which had been added to the original Seminary building and was to accommodate the students of Philosophy and Theology. Three bishops assisted at the ceremony, the Right Revs. M. Heiss of La Crosse, Francis X. Krautbauer of Green Bay, and Rupert Seidenbusch of St. Cloud. The students, however, did not move into their new spacious quarters until January 28, 1876, on the eve of the Seminaryis patron feast. Indeed, the fragile seedling implanted and cared for by Dr. Salzmann now had become a stalwart tree bearing fruits of wisdom and priestly character. The first general reunion of students took place in July, 1877. The native beauty of this season of the year lent added charm to the joyous exchange of the happy reminiscences of the past. On the first day of the reunion a solemn Pontifical High Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Henni, during which the former beloved Rector, Bishop Heiss of La Crosse, delivered a very touching and instructive address to his former pupils in which he stressed their admir- able fidelity to this their Alma Mater. The patron feast of the Seminary, January 29, 1878, was celebrated with extraordinary solemnity. It was to commemorate the joyful event of the elevation of St. Francis to the rank of iiDoctot Ecclesiaeii. Nine bishops and a great number of priests came to St. Francis that day to share the joy and pious exaltation of the sons of St. Francis. On the eve of the festival the Right Rev. Bishop Heiss delivered a very learned and eloquent dis- course on the reasons why St. Francis .had been accorded this signal honor and distinction. On the feast itself Most Rev. Archbishop Henni pontifl- cated in the presence of eight bishops and an un- usually great number of the clergy. The bishops were: Right Reverends Dwenger of Fort Wayne, Foley of Chicago, Heiss of La Crosse, Krautbauer of Green Bay, Borgess of Detroit, Mrak of Marquette, and P. Ryan, Coadjutot Bishop of St. Louis. The latter delivered one of his most eloquent sermons. After the Holy Sacrifice the choir sang the Latin hymn in honor of St. Francis, composed by Rev. Rainer and set to music by Mr. J Singenberger. In the evening the great drama of Calderon, iiThe Great Prince of Fezii, was enacted with much success and applause. Ere many more days passed the Seminary wit- nessed a solemnity of a different nature: the solemn obsequies on February 9 for the great Father of Cath- olic Christendom, Pius IX, whose death occurred on February 6. But a few days later, on the twenty- second day of the same month, the veil of mourning was put aside for the joyous trappings of jubilation in the election of Pius worthy successor, Leo XIII. All these years the Seminary had felt the need of an adequate supply of good drinking water. With what joy must the new artesian well have been re- ceived! After two months of day and night labor the possibility of securing a fresh, cold stream' of water on the fourth Hoot was realized on November 27, 1879. The 8wellii will be remembered as the source of a pure and healthy mineral water carried by its own force in the first years but later drawn by pump. i291