Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 June 1895 — ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE.

The above is an accurate picture of St Joseph’s College, at which the fourth annual commencement exercises have just been held. It is not only the largest, and most costly building in JasCo., but also in any of our seven adjoining counties, except Lake and Porter. It was built in 1891 and opened'in September of that year, and in 1893 a large addition was built The building has a frontage of 228 feet, and is three stories and a basement in height It is of brick above the basement with stone trimmings. The institution stands on a sightly eminence about a mile south of and overlooking the town of Rensselaer. The location is healthy as well as sightly, and sickness among the students is almost unknown. It is conducted by the Fathers of the Precious Blood, a Catholic order, and it is open only to Catholic students. It is strictly a boarding school, no pupils being instructed who do not make their home within the building. While intended primarily for the education of dandidates for the priesthood, it is not reserved exclusively for them, and besides a classical course, a normal and a commercial department are also maintained.—The following branches are taught: Christian Doctrine, Latin, Greek, English, 'German, French, Literature, Rhetoric, Poetry, History, Geography, Book-keeping. Type-writing, Stenography, Mathemetics, Physiology, Natural Philosophy, Drawing and Painting, Writing and Music. Very Rev. Augustine Seifert is President or Rector, and Very Rev. Benedict Boebner, Vice Rector. The full faculty comprises 10 or 12 professors and instructors, The students now number 100. The college will accommodate 200 students. Directly opposite this college, and about 80 rods distant, is St. Joseph’s Normal School; an institution for the training of Indian boys. It is not connected with the college, although under the management of the same Catholic order. Rev. Father Schalf is the Superintendent. The Indian pupils usually number about 55 or 60. The Indian school building was erected through the liberality of the celebrated Kate Drexel, now Mother Katherine, of Philadelphia, but is largely supported by the annual government appropriation, for the support of Indian schools.