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

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DIAMOND ciples. The Sodality of the B. V. M. was also very popular among the students, and had added 53 new members the last semester. On April 18, the St. Thomas Literary and Debating Society presented Shakespearek 1iTwelfth Night,, under the direction of Reverend D. J. OTHearn, D. C. L. A week later the St. Boniface Literary and Debating Society gave its biennial entertainment, 11The Maccabees by Otto Ludwig. Reverend Wm. Metzdorf directed the play. Both plays were enjoyed by students and visitors alike. Through the generosity of Mr. Francis Egan of Dubuque, Iowa, a former student of the Seminary, Efty dollars was to be available each year, henceforth, as prizes for winners in what was to be known as the Douglas Elocution Contest. The first contest was held on May 23, 1907: Joseph Ryder received first prize $25k John Bott second prize $13 and Norbert HOE t$lOJ third prize. Students and faculty ex- pressed their sincere thanks and appreciation for the generous kindness of Mr. Egan. After the death of Mr. F. Egan, the prize money was continued by his brother, Dr. Gregory Egan, and the contest became known as the Douglas-Egan Contest. The Ordination class of this year numbered 28. Archbishop Messmer conferred Holy Orders at the Seminary on June 23. On the following day the Seminary closed for the summer vacation. During the past school year many specimens had been added to the museum through the generosity of Archbishop Messmer and others. On July 7, 1907, Dr. Lebl, professor of philosophy and exegesis, passed away. The funeral was held at the Seminary with Arch- bishop Messmer oHiciating. Father Schulze gave a brief eulogy touching on the learning, character, and priestly traits of the deceased. He also mentioned that His Holiness Pius X had conferred on Dr. Lebl a medal in recognition of services rendered the Papal Biblical Commission. Plans for the erection of the Library were steadily progressing. It was planned to build it south of the Seminary in the place where formerly the old TlBrothers, Househ stood. It was also decided to erect another building to contain a hall for general as- sembly purposes and a gymnasium for the classical department. Two hundred and eighty-five students registered at the Seminary on Sept. 10, 1907. The regular routine of boarding school life was soon in evidence again. The Right Reverend Rector, Monsignor Rainer, had returned from his stay in Europe and offered the Solemn High Mass for the success of the scholastic year. The Reverend Joseph Hemmer formerly secre- tary of the Right Reverend Bishop Fox had taken up his new duties as professor of Latin and Greek. He Racine. JUBILEE ?EL? also fulfilled the duties of librarian, and started to arrange a new and complete catalogue of the books. Early in September a meeting of the Bishops of the province of Milwaukee and the Seminary faculty was held to discuss important matters pertaining to the Seminary. Reverend H. Moeller, S. J., of St. Louis gave the annual retreat to the students. 1907-1908 Visits of Bishops were usually occasions for holi- days for the students. Most Reverend Archbishop Messmer of Milwaukee, Right Reverend Bishop Fox of Green Bay and the Right Reverend Bishop Schin- ner of Superior honored the Seminary with visits and as a result the students enjoyed holidays through their generosity. Monsignor Rainer received 44 new members into the B. V. M. sodality on the feast of the Immaculate Conception. New members were also received into the Sacred Heart League by Reverend Dr. D. J OTHearn, and into the Total Abstinence Society by Reverend J. F. Ryan. The picturesque wooden bridge across the ravine near the iiChapel-in-the-Wooclsh became unsafe and was removed. The ravine was filled with earth and a gravel path was built up to the Chapel. The iiBrother-housei a landmark of pioneer days, was moved to make room for the new library. The students favored by cold weather endeavored to take a little outdoor exercise in the form of ice skating but were disappointed when a snow storm and the customary ice harvest interfered with their sport. On Nov. 21, St. Cecilia,s Day was celebrated. A Solemn High Mass was oHered by the Rev. J. M. Kasel of Pio Nono College, assisted by the Rev. Joseph Lederer as deacon, and Mr. Joseph Barbian, acolyte, as subdeacon. In the afternoon the Blessed Albertus Magnus Literary Society under the direction of its president, the Rev. Joseph W. Berg, presented Schillefs JTDie Jungfrau von Orleans? In the midst of the semi-annual exams the students enjoyed the holiday on St. SebastianTs Day in honor of Arch- bishop Messmer. During the last semester an un- usually large number of visitors were welcomed at the Seminary. St. Francis is always proud When one of her alumni receives honors. The Rev. Joseph M. Koudel- ka as Bishop-elect of Cleveland and the Rev. Paul P. Rhode, who had been appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, were tendered the hearty congratulations of their Alma Mater. The new Salzmann library was under construction at this time and all looked forward to its dedication early in August. The Rev. A. Birkhaeuser, a former professor of the Seminary, died on March 3. At the time of his death he was Chaplain of St. CatherineTs Convent, He was buried at Calvary cemetery at 1:441

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QED OR a long time everyone connected with the Seminary as well as all the Alumni and friends had anx- iously looked forward to the cele- bration of the Golden Jubilee of St. Francis Seminary. The . students enthusiastically enjoyed . their celebration of this great i event on the fourth and fifth of T V June, 1906. The Right Reverend i. Rector, Monsignor Rainer, sang H ; i , ; a High Mass on the hrst day of i W M the student celebration and the Right Reverend A. F. Schinner, Bishop of Superior, preached the sermon. The afternoon was enjoyed with a program of songs, addresses and music. The second day a Solemn Requiem Mass was offered for the deceased former students of the Seminary. The celebration for the bishops and priests took place on June 26 and 27. His Grace, Archbishop Messmer, sang the Pontifical High Mass which opened the Jubilee celebration, and the sermon was delivered by the Right Reverend Thomas Lillis, Bishop of Leavenworth. On the same day a meeting of the St. Francis Seminary Alumni Association was held. Officers were elected and definite action was taken concerning the building fund for the con- struction of the Salzmann Library as a jubilee gift to the Seminary from the Alumni. The amount sub- scribed was to determine the size and features of the new building. On the second day of this great jubilee celebration a Solemn Pontifical Requiem Mass was celebrated for the deceased Alumni by the Right Reverend H. J Richter, Bishop of Grand Rapids, Mich. The sermon was preached by the Very Rev- erend P. M. Abbelen. Hundreds of priests, bishops and archbishops attended these festivities which commemorated the fifty years of existence and constant progress of this great ecclesiastical institution. The event was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Heads had grown gray, bodies were bent with age, and voices no longer had that youth- ful vigor, yet, the welcome of the old Alma Mater was so cordial and all embracing that youth at least in spirit returned to many a one as he trod again the familiar paths and corridors and visited again the scenes of boyhood days of long a o. The religious celebrations in the Chapel brought back old memo- ries of beautiful services and cherished melodies. The meetings renewed acquaintances that had been inter- rupted in many cases by a long span of years. St. Francis de Sales and the venerable and beloved SAINT FRANCIS SBMINARY 1906-1907 After Fifty Years founders of this institution surely looked down upon this gathering and blessed it; and besought God to favor this Seminary with still greater benefits that when another cycle of years had passed and another jubilee celebrated St. Francis Seminary would be as vigorous, as intellectual, and as spiritual as in the past, and that even greater progress might be made for the Glory of God. The students returned to the Seminary after the summer vacation on September 4. The total enroll- ment for this school year listed 278 students. In the absence of the Right Reverend Rector, Monsignor Rainer, V. G., who was on indefinite leave of absence for his health in Europe, the Vice-Rector, Reverend Frederick Schulze, besought Godls blessing on the year,s work in a Solemn High Mass. The annual re- treat was given to the students by the Reverend Wm. Engelen, S. J., of Prairie du Chien. Reverend F. Knoernschild celebrated a Solemn High Mass on the Feast of St. Cecilia. On the same day the Albertus Society with Reverend Henry Ries as Moderator pre- sented iWWallensteinls Tod , a tragedy in five acts by Schiller. The play was ably presented by the students and thoroughly enjoyed by a large group of visiting priests. The Junior St. Stanislaus Literary and Debating Society was formed in 1906 for the Polish students in the classical department. Reverend Casimir Ols- zewski was the first moderator. The Seminary old in experience but young in vigor and vitality entered upon the year 1907 with the same zeal that characterized both students and faculty in the past. St. Francis Day was celebrated with the usual great solemnity and happy spirit. Monsignor Kremer preached an eloquent and in- spiring sermon. Bishop Fox of Green Bay sang the Pontifical High Mass at which the Most Reverend Archbishop Messmer and the Right Reverend Bishops Schwebach, His, and Schinner of the Milwaukee Province were in the sanctuary. At a meeting of the Board of Directors it was decided to raise the annual tuition to 185 dollars at the beginning of the next scholastic year so that the increasing expenses could be met. The Provincial board of Examiners assisted at the examination of candidates for Holy Orders at Passiontide. Tonsure, Minor Orders, Subdeaconship, and Deaconship were conferred at this time. A Hourishing society among the students at this time was the St. Francis Studentsl Total Abstinence Society. Twenty-four new members were admitted and became staunch supporters of the Society,s prin- i432!

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Q2? Racine. He had been a professor at the Semi- nary from 1863 to 1868 and from 1875 to 1884. In him the Seminary lost a loyal friend and an ardent supporter of its great work of educating young men for the priesthood. On April 18, the St. Thomas Literary and De- bating Society presented 1Louis XV under the direc- tion of the Rev. D. J OlHearn, D.C.L. On the eve of the Annunciation eight new members were received into the B. V. Sodality by Monsignor Rainer. During the month of May two more plays were given. The St. Stanislaus Debating and Literary Society pre- sented 8Prezor Paulinowl, tPrior of the Paulistsi di- rected by the Rev. B. Goral, and the St. James Society presented the 11Merchant of Venice directed by the Rev. J. F. Ryan. On June 2, 1908, the second annual Elocution Contest for the Douglas prize was held. 1908-1909 Among the recent visitors at the Seminary were the Rev. Joseph Khatchadourian, an Armenian priest. On May 21, he celebrated the community Mass in the Chapel according to the Armenian rite; and the Right Rev. Augustine Henninghaus, S. V. D., Vicar Apostolic of South Shantung, China, and his sec- retary, the Rev. Peter Dschang, a native Chinese priest. The Rev. Casimir Olzewski, a professor, resigned, and the Rev. Dominic Szopinski of Chicago was ap- pointed to succeed him. On Sunday, June 28, Bishop Schinner of Superior ordained three young Levites at St. Marys Church, Milwaukee. Two were graduates of St. Francis Semi- nary. In the past semester 24 students had received Tonsure and Minor Orders at the Seminary; 7 had been ordained for the Milwaukee Diocese and 21 for other Dioceses in the middle west. Mr. Peter Johnson of Oconomowoc who had graduated from philosophy was assigned to study theology at the American Col- lege in Rome. The Total Abstinence Society ended the year with a meeting at which they enrolled 22 new members. A program was presented and music was furnished by the 11Venetian QuartetteK composed of Joseph Brasky, August Ziesel, Joachim Ryder, Edward Fleege, Peter Beschta, Joseph Ziebarth, John Haeusler, and Joseph Ryder. Progress was being made on the new Salzmann Library Building at this time and it was hoped that it would be ready for the students at the opening of classes in September or very soon after. The school year was opened with a Mass to beg the Holy Ghost for a successful year. Shortly after the beginning of this term a retreat was given for the students by the Very Rev. Clement Splinter, O. R, an alumnus of the Seminary. I451 SAINT FRANCIS SEMINARY ..:.. menarmmu The elevation of the Right Reverend Monsignor Rainer, V. G., Rector of the Seminary, to the dignity of Protonotary Apostolic brought great joy to the Seminary, the alumni and a host of his friends. Monsignor Rainer was now privileged to pontificate. The faculty presented him with a beautiful set of Gothic vestments. The Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee of His Holiness Pope Pius X was fittingly celebrated at the Semi- nary. Msgr. Rainer offered a Pontifical High Mass and Monsignor P. M. Abbelen preached the sermon. He presented Pope Pius X 01 as the ideal semi- narian and the grandest product of seminary educa- tion within the last fifty years, and 122 as the warm- est friend and the most enlightened and energetic pro- moter of seminary education. In the afternoon a program was presented in honor of Pius X and speeches were given in English, German, Latin, French, and Polish. A change was made in the teaching staff at this time which ought to be noted. The Rev. B. Goral re- signed as professor and the Rev. Eugene McCart . late Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, accepted the post of professor of philosophy and mathematics. The Blessed Albertus Literary and Debating So- ciety presented the drama llDer Letzte Held von Marienburgiz directed by the Rev. J. Berg. Monsignor Rainer again received members into the B. V. Social- ity to the number of 41 on the feast of the Immacu- late Conception. The Rev. Director D. J. O,Heam enrolled 33 new members into the Sacred Heart League. The Total Abstinence Society added 23 to its roll and now had 72 active members. The Rev. James Ryan was the moderator. The Seminary entered the year 1909 with much the same quiet, calm determination to achieve its end that had always characterized this institution. The patron feast day on January 29, was very appropri- ately celebrated. Monsignor Rainer offered a Pontifi- cal High Mass and Archbishop Messmer preached a practical sermon on the priestly virtues of St. Francis de Sales. The Right Rev. Bishops Schwebach, Eis, and Fox of the Milwaukee Province were in the sanctuary. On the same day the Seminary board, consisting of the Bishops of the province and the Rector and Procurator of the Seminary, met and de- cided to raise the tuition to $200 beginning with the following September. The board expressed its satisfaction with the new Library building. It was also decided that one of the faculty hereafter should have the discipline of all departments as his exclusive duty. On Washingtonk Birthday and on the centenary of Abraham Lincoln the students were given holidays