Daily Democrat, Volume 3, Number 165, Decatur, Adams County, 24 July 1905 — Page 1

VOLUME HI

GREAT IS THE REJOICING THEREOF

HONORS PAID A DESERVING PASTOR

Rev. H. Theo. Wilken the Guest of Honor

SILVER JUBILEE Solemn High Mass, Vesper and Reception Ren. Valentine. Heffner, Eberle and Assist in Conducting the Ceremonies of the Day. Yesterday, Sunday July 23, 1905, marked the twenty fifth anmver •ary of Rev. H. Theo. Wilken's arrival in Decatur The day was propitious and as Father Valentine said, it seemed as though the Great Father al>ove had smiled upon the fitting observation of the etent. A shower at eleven o'clock Saturday night dampened the outside deeoratons slightly, and the arder Os those who had labored for days in completing them, but the damage was slight and in no way spoiled the big celebration. It was a de lightful day, and the Catholics of St Mary's congregation will re member it as one of th j greatest in their history, no difference what may be in store in the future. At nine o'clock the bells announced the hour for solemn high mass and a great throng gathered in front of church to witness the parade. Over the center of the street in front of the church hung a beautiful silk American flag. About the church entrance had been constructed a beautiful arch of white suporting a beam upon which stood three crosses O'er the top were the words, “Our pasior’s jubilee, while on one side was the date 1880, the year Father Wilken came to Dscstur, while on the other side was the date 1905, all done in silver. In the center of the arch was a cross of electric lights. Father Eberle led the procession, followed by over a hundred school

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The Daily Democrat.

I girls, each dressed in a pretty I white dress At the rear of the i proces.-ion came Rev. Valentine. ftev. Heffner, Rev. Benzinger and Rev. Father Wilken. Proceeding into the church the school girls were seated in front while the priests and altar boys took their position* at the altar The interior of the magnificent edifice of worship was a scene of beauty, never to be forgotten. Suspended from the center of the room to five different points were garland ropes of oakleaves, 1100 feet in all; the chandeliers were trimmed with smilax while the altar and front of the church were adorned with palms, ferns and pretty flowers of every kind. As the procession entered the church the choir composed of about fifteen voices sang a beautiful anthem. Solemn high mass was then celebrated by Rev. i Wilken, the beloved pastor; assisted by Rev. Eberle of this city. Rev Max Benzinger of Hesse Cassel and Rev. Julius Heffner of St. Mary’s Home, New Corydon. This service, always so l>eautiful, seemed even more sacred than ever and the sacrifice of praise and propitiat.on, the offering to God of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, was devcurf'dly listened to. The sermon wbb delivered by Rev. Valentine. C., P-. of St. Louis, a I famous missionary, whose popularity here demanded his presence on this occasion. He said in part: - “It is needless to tell you that this is the day of jubilee. Every heart throb for many davs past has pro claimed it; the very beautifulness and jierfectness of the day itself announces the fact better than anyone can. It is a day for thought not for speeches and should I apeak what my heart aays. I feel we should all be in tear*. This is a great event. It is certainly a rare occasion for a pastor to remain twenty-five years with any congregation. It would mean much to any congregation, but it means more to this one. In my mission ary work over every state of this union, and even along the borders of Canada, I know of no place where the hearts are so closely

DEUATVH, INDIANA. MONDAY EVENING, JULY 21. 1905.

woven about the pastor and hi* work a* they are here in the St. Mary's church. It is bard to speak. As I stepped from the train Saturday afternoon, I felt the throlia of jubilee in the very air, I saw it in the countenance of everyone 1 met. Father Wil ken’s work and worth is known to every citizen of Decatur. Those outside the pale of the Catholic church appreciate him as a man, a brood minded, philanthropic citizen. W hat better record could any man desire? But to the members of the St. Mary's church, those who have come within closer touch, he has even a better record. They know his real worth, his earnestness, his success; they realize the earnestness of this jubilee and think of their pastor as a messenger of God, an angel in the flesh Priesthood is the greatest of all honors to man and the time shall come when they will rule the hearts of all the world. Father Wilken is a good shepherd, tud has made a noble record May this beautful city prosper and may thia silver jubilee serve the purpose of moulding together the hearts of pastor and peoples. *' Father Valentine then spoke in

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German a te# momenta for the benefit of the pioneers of the church and community, who best understand the mother language. He closed by asking that Father Wilken pronounce upon him and the audienoe his solemn blessing. The address was a splendid eulogy to a deserving priest, and the hour he spoke passed rapidly. At two o’clock in the afternoon solemn vespers were conducted, in which special music, sacred songs were a feature, and closed by the entire congregation singing the Te Deum. From three to seven o’clock a grand reception for Father Wilken was held in the school house yard, and hundreds attended. The grounds were decorated with flags and bunting and the happy throng enjoyed every moment. Refreshments, including ice cream, cake, I lemonade and cigars were served free and each guest was presented with a souvenir book ana tickets to the entertainment at the opera house tonight. The book is a his story of. St. Mary’s church from 1837, when Henry Dicrkes, Henry Minter, Anthony Kohne and Bernard Holthouse, the first Catholics came to Decatur. It is dedicated to Father Wilken and also contains the various church societies, their oflloei., and a complete program of the various events of the silver jubilee. The event, so far a public entertainments are concerned, closes tonight, when the entertain-

m<-nt at the opera house occurs. The splendid success of the jubilee is due more than anyone else to Father Etierle. the modsst, young assistant to Father Wilken His efforts have been unceasing ami he has ptoven himself a capable gen eral Rev. Lawrence A. Elierle, assistant pastor of St Mary's copgrega tion, was born in Peru, Ind., in March. 18«5. He received bis early education in the schools of Peru, and when fourteen years of age he entered Kankakee college. He was at this institution two years and then entered Renssaleer college to begin his studies for the priesthood Here he studied for five years and then went to Mt St Mary's college at Cincinnati, where he remained foe another five years. After a course of twelve years’ study he 1 >a* ordained a priest of the CathoI lie church by Bishop Alerding, at Fort Wayne on the 21th day of Mav, 1903. His first charge was Mishawaka, where he remained two years, when he wa* sent here i as assistant.

Though Father Eberle has lieen a resident of this city but a short time, he has en- ■ dearwl himself in the hearts of every citizen with whom be has ioomein contact His happy smile and cheering words are a source of pleasure to many, and it is no idle prediction that the future years will see many good deeds at his hands He is a valuable assistant.

and the success of the silver jubilee is an achievement be may well feel proud of. Rev. Herman Theodore Wilken, in whose honor the silver jubilee lis being held is in his sixty first year, his birth having occurred Octobe 19, 1844, in the village of I Soegel, Kingdom of Hanover, GerI many, the name of his parents I being Benedict and Thecla (Volmaring) Wilken. In 18*50 his parents came to America, locating at Cincinnati, Ohio, where the folI lowing year the father died. The j subject of this sketch was the ionly son, and upon his young shoulders devolved the task of oaring for and supporting the widowed mother. Though but seventeen years old, he performed the task bravely and well. He learned the cabinet making trade and secured employment in a chair factory at Cincinnati. In 1864 he was employed as a govern ment carpenter at Nashville, Tennessee, this fact proving his competency. In the latter part of the same year, 1864, he entered the Jesuit, college at Cincinnati with the purpose of preparing himself for the priesthood, graduating from that institution in 1870, He then attended theological seminary of Mount St. Marys, and on Novem her 9, 1872, was ordained to the priesthood by the most reverend Archbishop Peroell of Cincinnati. He was sent to Fort Wayne. Indiana, and was assigned to the pas-

torate of St Patrick's church at Arcola. While pastor of tnnt church his duties also extended over a circuit including Monroe ville, Bluffton ami Montpelier. He uas transferred to this city July 23. 1880, and immediately took charge of the St. Mary's parish. Since that day, twenty five years ago, yesterday, he ha* been a faithful, earnest worker for the interest of his church, a patriotic, progressive citizen, who ha* up built his eburen spiritually, financially, and in doing so has assisted materially in up building our beautiful city. His friends are by no mean* confined t > hie congrega tion. but include jieople of every denomination He is a friend of I all. rich and poor alike, and his ' pleasant face is a familiar one. always wgfajtW 111 *ny part of Decatur. He is a thorougu gentleman, and is deserving of all the re- ! sped shown him on this occasion.

COURT NEWS A Partition Suit Filed This Morning The Kirchner Will Probated Requested Property to Wife During Her Life. i Attirnev Shaffer Peterson filed a I __ - i new case this morning entitled Benj jamin W. Sh >lty vs Sarah E . Mary, j Ollie and Jessie P. Leßrun. It is a ! partition suit, the real estate in l question being twenty acres in i Kirkland township — 1 The last will and testament of 1 William R Kirschner was filed at i the clerk's office. He bequeathes [ ♦SOO and all real and jiersonal prop- [ erty to his wife, providing however ’ that at her death it shall be divided I as follows: A sixty acre farm in Kiikland township to his son Mar > tin Kirchner, he to pay <ISOO to the estate in five equal payments of j |3OO each, the first to be made one year after the death of deceased ■ wife; his forty acre farm in Kirk- ■ land township to his son Henry, he I to pay |3OO on same terms as stated. His son John gets a house and I lot in Preble aud 1200; a daughter, I Pauline, gets 1100, and another I daughter Mary Beiberich one sixteenth of the entire estate. The rest of the estate is to be divided equally among the other seven children. The will was written September 2, 1904. and was witnessed by Dr. J. C. Grandstuff and John Schurger. the latter appearing as probate witness MOTHER A HERO Carrying Two Babies She Leaped Twenty Feet to Safety. By United Prese News Association. Cleveland. July 24—Carrying in her arms two children, one six months and the other four years old, Mrs. Maud Burnett, having been aroused by fire, today made her way through smoke and leaped twenty feet to safety on the roof of an adjacent building. Her heroism saved all three Ilves. ONE INDICTMENT Will be Returned in Cotton Scandal Investigation. Special Teletram To The Democrat Washington. D. C., July 24-It was said outside the District Columbia grand juty room, where an investigation of the cotton scandal was begun his afternoon, that at < leist onejindrctment would be re, i turned. The charge jwill be con < spiraoy.

NUMBER 165

WAR NEWS • Czar and Kaiser Wilhelm Met Today Holding Conference on Baltic SeaKaiser Advises Czar as to Future Course. — • Special Telegram To Th* Democrat i Chicago, July 24—Baron KomuIre, Ja|«anose peace envoy, arrived at nine o'clock this morning from St. Paul, enroute to Washington. He wa* met by well known Chicagoans atd members of the Japanese Consulate here. When asked wbat he thought of Kaiser Wilhelm's meeting with the czar k this afternoon in the Baltic seas, he said be had only just read of it, ' but thought it probably pertained more to t Norwegian matters than to Russia-Japin situation. ,

Special Telsgrirti To Th* Democrat Bargo, Finland, July 24—Later —lt develops that the czar recently wrote the kaiser asking for the meeting. Wilhelm answered that he would be pleased. Anthorative information Is now given out that Wjlhelm also advised the czar to seek peace and spend the coming years raising the yoke of bondage from the Russian people. Emjieror Wilhelm also told the czar that the only way to [do this would be by ' reforms He went into the conference prepared to lay before the czar his ideas how Nicholas could make a name forever by granting these reforms. All the world seems vitally interested in today's conference, which i* as imp irtant as it is universal. •pedal Telegram To The Democrat Bargo, Finland, July 42—The imperial vachts Polar Star and Hohenzollern met this afternoon some distance off this port. The czar boarded the kaizers’ yacht and the conference began at once. The presence in this locality of the two powerful potentates enlivened discussion. Cable inquiries are pouring in her,- tor .the imperial visitors. The best information is that Emperor Wilhelm wished to discuss the Scandinavian difficulty, believing the czar willing to join him in supporting Sweden in putting down the Norwegian independence, especially if Norway becomes a republic. The czar has little interest in the Morrooooan discussion. and it is not believed at all that the meeting is for that purpose. The first action of the czar after his return to Peterhoff will probably speak for itself, as a result of the conference with Wilhelm. MAKES SPEECH Primer Balfour’s Statement in House of Commons.

By United Preaa News Association. London, July 24—Premier Bal four announced in the House of Commons this afternoon that his cabinet would not resign. The announcement was eagerly anticipated the galleries and floor being crowded. Balfour continued speak ing, telling the future steps he will take. Special Telegram To The Democrat London, July 24—Balfour cited instances in the great Gladstone s ministry where in important defeats had not caused the ministry to resign. He declared tba t the ministry still enjoys the confidence of the House of Commons and [that if the opposition didn't believe it, opportunity to prove it would ba given shortly.