SECTION IV EARLY HISTORY >From reliable sources, both of old settlers and from records, it can be positively stated that Rev. Louis M. Mollier of St. Joseph, Kansas, was the first priest to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in and around the territory which is now known as the Tipton Parish. The old men and women of Tipton, who were then (1873) the boys and girls in their teens, vividly recount the charming characteristics of Father Mollier. Although he was French by birth and origin, Father Mollier could speak the German tongue with considerable facility. These people laud the great kindness, cheerfulness, and compassion of Father Mollier. He made all his journeys from St. Joseph, a distance of some seventy miles, on horseback. He came every two or three months to the Catholics of Pittsburg Territory to celebrate for them the Eucharistic Sacrifice, to hear their confessions, baptize their children, and break for them the '1 Bread of Life". He cheered them in trials and difficulties, fortified their sometime faltering spirits3 promising them speedy rewards for their industry and hard work. Father Mollier said Mass for these Pittsburg settlers in a "dugout" from 1873 to 1875. This place of worship was the home of Nick Arnoldy, Sr., located one and one-half miles west of present-day Tipton. This spot of ground now belongs to George Streit. Not only are the old settlers witnesses of this fact, but also the "Baptismal Book" of St. Joseph, Kansas, St. Joseph Parish possesses to this day a baptismal book with this inscription on its first page, "Book of Baptisma for the Counties of: Clay-Cloud-Washington-Republic-Jewell-Mitchell-Ottawa- Smith--Osborne--Philips and Rooks." Mitchell is the county in which Tipton is located, and in this "Baptism Book" is recorded by Father Mollier the baptism of MARGARETH Arnoldy, born July 2, l874, daughter of Nicholas and Angela Arnoldy." This Nicholas Arnoldy was the same man who owned the dugout wherein Father Mollier celebrated Mass at the time. Also a Father Perrier, according to the first settlers, came in occasionally at this time and said Mass. After a few years, some of the settlers began to erect houses or places of business on the present site of Tipton. A photograph showing buildings erected at the site is still in existence. The buildings on the west side of Main Street. The first of these was a stone structure built of native rock, two stories, built and owned by Nicholas Arnoldy, Sr. The upper story of this building was the place where the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated after the dugout on the farm had been abandoned. It was here that Father Timphaus gathered together the faithful once a month, broke to them the "Bread of Life," admini­stered the Sacrament of Regeneration, pronounced the divine word of absolution, and preached to them the saving Word of God. This good Christian home of Nicholas Arnoldy served as the place of worship for the next year and a half; that is, from l875 to 1877. The other private structure that invites our attention and interest is a frame building which was used as a store by the Arnoldy Bros. This building had a spacious basement and here at times divine services were held by Father Timphaus. Neither of the buildings is now standing. The lots upon which they were built are in Block Forty three, lots one to six, of the present town site. It was here that Father Timphaus organized the Catholic settlers of this Pittsburgh Territory into a unit, known thenceforward, as the Account Book states, as the " Pittsburgh Catholic Congregation." It was here, too, that he appointed his first church trustees, "Franz Mergen, Nico1aus Reinert, and M. J. Arnoldy." And here it was that pastor and parishioners decided in assembly on the building of a frame church. From all indications of the minutes of the church trustees' meetings and the daily accounts recorded, M.J. Arnoldy must have been the motive power of the congregation. He seems to have been the great factor in creating the enthusiasm in the faithful for the construction of the church. Also, his donation to the first church structure was larger than that of anyone. Furthermore, it was he who recorded accurately all the minutes of the meetings and kept a neat, orderly, and exact account of receipts and expenses of the Pittsburg Congregation from 1877 to 1884. It seems that Father Timphaus and Father Clemens Nieman entrusted to him the bookkeeping of the parish. Mr. Arnoldy might be justly called the second founder of Pittsburg. Already in 1878, he was appointed, by request of W.A. Pitt, the second postmaster of the borough. He was a patriotic citizen and a loyal son of Mother Church. He became the trusted friend of the priests, the counselor of the town people, and their advocate when trials came upon them. He died in 19l4 at the age of sixty-three and now rests in St. Boniface Cemetery among his departed contemporaries for whom he labored so loyally. >From its very origin the boundaries of St. Boniface parish were always confined within the limits' of southwest Mitchell County. Its limits are now the same as they were in 1875. More specifically, the parish is coterminous with Pittsburg Township. The parish was never a unit of another parish. In other words, from its beginning it always has been an independent mission or parish. It was a mission attached from 1873 to l875 to St. Joseph, Kansas; from 1875 to 1879 to Beloit, Kansas; from 1879 to 1884 to Cawker City, Kansas. The parish boundaries, now as in 1872, are: north, six miles; east, about fifteen to twenty miles; south, to the county line; west, about ten miles. The parishes and missions that border this parish are: Cawker City Parish on the north; Glasco and Beloit, east; Lincoln, south; and Osborne on the west. The approximate area of the parish is six hundred twenty-five square miles. In the full sense of the term there never was another parish or mission connected with this parish. St. John, seven miles southwest, is a part of the whole and was only a quasi-mission. The parish priest was accustomed to go to this place weekly, on a weekday, to celebrate Mass there and to give instructions to the children after the Mass. The school there was looked upon as a branch of the parochial school of the parish. Otherwise, in all respects, it was always an integral part of St. Boniface Parish. It goes by the name of St. John's Church and the place is referred to as "Holy Corner". It was so named, presumable, in honor of Rev. John E. Walleser, who built there a combination church-school in 1902. It received the name of "Holy Corner" from the fact that the people living in its proximity were so loyally devoted to attendance at the weed day Mass, and were most punctual in sending their children to religious instruction. The people say that Father Walleser originated the name, "Holy Corner". Before Father Walleser's time, Fathers Abel, Wenzel, Epp, and Loehrer, of whom we shall learn more later, were accustomed to say Mass and give instruction there at certain times of the year. Apparently, after the completion of the new parochial school at Tipton the custom ceased. SECTION IV THE PASTORS As has already been mentioned, the first priest to celebrate Holy Mass in and around the territory which is now known as the Tipton Parish, was Rev. Louis Mollier. Mention also has already been made of some of the characteristics of this zealous pioneer missionary. The old settlers describe him as an angel of peace, of consolation, of cheerfulness, and of compassion. He served the settlers as priest from the time of the first Mass celebrated here in 1873, until 1875. The next priest that ministered to the newly settled community was Rev. Anton Timphaus (February, 1875, to January, 1879). As stated, Father Timphaus had his residence at Beloit, Kansas. He came once a month to the Pittsburg Catholic Community and held services for them. It was he who began holding the ser vices in the stone house belonging to Nick Arnoldy, Sr. This stone house stood where Fischer's Restaurant now (1938) stands. Father Timphaus was a keen, shrewd, business-like man. He was well versed in the ways of secular affairs. He seemed to have been profusely gifted with administra­tive abilities and had a special knack for organization. He is described as a stately and a sedate gentleman, as an individual who was very sympathetic and kind-hearted toward the settlers. His ambition and high aim was to settle the virgin plains with sturdy, industrious, and thrifty farmers of the Catholic faith--men who had the will to work, the ambition and the courage to endure the hardships of pioneer life. His ardent desire was to see the plains of Kansas dotted with many Catholic churches and schools, with vigorous and healthy Catholic Communities. He was most zealous and energetic in the instruction of the children in Christian Doctrine. He established the first parochial school in the parish in 1878, placing it under the care of a lay teacher, Mr. Gabriel Kirsch. It was during his incumbency that the first church structure was built and later on enlarged. He gave form and life to this Pittsburg Mission. There is no question that he left "his foot-prints on the sands of time". The next priest to minister to the spiritual needs of the new community was Father Clemens Nieman. His place of residence at the time was Cawker City. He attended once a month, later, twice a month. According to Adreas' History of Kansas, Father Clemens was supposed to have organized the Pittsburg Parish in 1879. This statement is not correct, as shall be seen from the minutes of meetings to be quoted below. The church record book contains the following notice of a meeting of the Congregation: " Pittsburgh, February 18, 1877. Today, after Holy Mass, Rev. Timphaus had appointed Franz Mergen, Nicolaus Reinert, and M .J. Arnoldy as church trustees of this Congregation." Again, on March 3, 1877, there was a meeting of the congregation, the result of which is recorded in the following words: "In assembly of the congre­gation and church trustees, it was decided to make an effort, whether sufficient money and subscription could be raised in order to build a church." From these two authentic quotations from the minutes of the said meetings, it is clearly evident that, as early as February 18, 1877, a well-organized congregation existed at Pittsburg. If additional evidence is desired it can be found in the same source. Thus, the minutes of another meeting held March 28, 1877, read: " N. Reinert and M.J. Arnoldy were commissioned to go to Russe1l to make arrangements for the lumber, i.e., for the building material of a church." These minutes also show conclusively that Father Timphaus had already at that time a fully organized congregation ready to begin the construction of a church building. Consequently, according to the above-mentioned facts, the Pittsburg Catholic Congregation was fully organized by Father Timphaus. Father Clemens Niemann may have given greater impetus to the life of the congregation or mission, but he cannot correctly be termed the founder or organizer. According to the old settlers, Father Niemann had been a member of the Fathers of the Most Precious Blood. He was most beloved by the people. Father Clemens, as he was solely known by them, was their ideal of a priestly character. He associated himself intimately with them and made his own all the trials, sufferings, sorrow, hardships, joys and rejoicings of the first settlers. In his way he won their affection and their confidence which have so much influence over the hearts of men. He was a very spiritual man, prompt and exact in his spiritual duties. The fourth priest to be associated with the Pittsburg Mission was the congenial and pleasant Rev. Frederick J. Schalk, C.PP.S. He was in charge from May, l884 to August, 1886. Father Frederick Schalk was the first resident pastor. Rt. Rev. Louis M. Fink, Bishop of Leavenworth, appointed him pastor early in the year 1884. Father Frederick was not in good health. Nevertheless, he was most active and unsparing of himself in the performance of his duties. He was most conscientious and assiduous in the instruction of the children. According to the "Church Account Book" , he collected, in 1885 and 1886 all the money necessary to build the parish house. In the spring of 1886 he began the construction of the same. The structure was a frame building and its shape was that of a capital letter (T). The total cost was $l,304.04. Father Frederick did not live long in the new rectory; for in August of the same year (1886) he was changed and his brother, Father Frank Schalk was appointed as his successor. One thing that deserves special mention before we leave Father Frederick is that he organized a first rate church choir. Father Frank Schalk, C.PP.S. served the parish from August, 1886 to May, 1888. In the temporal affairs of the church, Father Frank seemed to have added little. He beautified the interior of the church, acquired all accessories such as vestments, stations, confessional, and sacred vessels. This priest was a noted preacher and brought to the congregation a deep religious spirit and devotion. Father Frank Schalk was succeeded by his confrere, Andreas Kunkler, C.PP.S. May 1888, who remained in charge to November, 1889. This man had been a noted missionary in the earlier days of his priesthood. His short pastorate of one year and a half was full of apostolic zeal and activity. The old settlers speak of him as a living saint. He was a great apostle of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On the seventeenth of January, 1889, he petitioned the Bishop of Concordia, Rt. Rev. Richard Scannell, for the faculties to erect a Sodality of "SS. Cordis Jesu," as the following will show: "Ego infrascriptus desiderio motus promovendi ac dilatandi devotionem erga SS. Cor Jesu humiliter ab Ill. ac Rev. Amplitudine Vestra, ut benigne precibus annuens Sodalitatem SS. Cordis Jesu erigere ac erectam declarare in Tipton, Kansas et praecise in Ecclesia St. Bonifacii ad altare St. Josephi statuta approbare et parochum (rectorem) dictae Ecclesiae eiusque successores it provisores designare in confraternitatis directores cum facultate subdelegandi, itemque litteras testimonia-exhibere dignetur, ut aggregori posit Archiconfraternitati Romi existendi, ad effectum participandi bonis spiritualibus, ac 1uxxxndi indulgentias, quibus ditata est Archiconfraternitatis. mae Summa, qua par est, reverentia permaneo, Ill mai Dominationis Vestrae Va1de Submissus Andreas Kunkler, C.PP.S. in Ecclesia Bonifacii die 17th mensis Januray 1889." On the twenty-first of January, 1889, His Lordship, Richard Scannell, granted the required faculties. "Visis precibus Nobis Oblatis, auctoritate Nostra ordinaria erigimus Sodalitatem, de qua et sicuti in precibus, eius statuta a Nobis revisa approbamus, eam Nobis ac Successoribus Nostris subjicientis ac subjectam declarantes iuxta Constitutiones fel. rec. Clementis VIII. diei 7, Dec. 1604 re incipit Quaecumque, Volumus autem, ut quam primum ab Archiconfraternitate, aggregatio obtineatur proprivilegiorum, indulgentiarum, ac spiritualium bonorum participatione. Ricardus Scannell Ep us Concordiensi Datum Concordia die 21 mensis Jan. 1889." (Seal) The existence of this activity in the parish accounts for the fact that St. Boniface Church is in possession of a large and beautiful statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Father Andreas was truly a spiritual man. He was a priest who threw all his energies and talents into the work of the sanctification and salvation of souls. He loved human souls as Christ, his Master, had loved them. His motto seems to have been, "Greater love than his no man hath than to give his life for his friends." He was the Good Shepherd that ever protected his sheep. He was removed from Tipton parish in 1889 and died some time afterward while conducting a mission in the Leaven­worth Diocese. The seventh pastor of St. Boniface Parish was Rev. Anton Abel, who had formerly belonged to the Jesuit order. He served the parish from November 1889 to October 1893. Father Abel was already an elderly man when he came to Tipton. He was tall and slender and had pleasant, gentle features. His long white beard gave him a venerable appearance. During his incumbency the parish made great strides. To him goes the credit of putting the parochial school in charge of religious teachers, namely, the Sisters of St. Joseph, from Concordia. Mother Antoinette was the superior and first teacher on this mission. Father Abel's enthusiasm for a Catholic School was so great that, in order to accommodate the Sisters, he gave up the rectory for their use and he himself lived in a small sacristy. This parochial school continued throughout his pastorate. Father Abel also made an addition to the church costing $667.00. It was he who had suggested that a brick factory be started at Tipton for the purpose of making bricks for a new church structure. The venture, as already noted, proved a sad failure Father Abel was thee first priest to introduce Corpus Christi processions at Tipton. This feast and the procession became a solemn annual event. The entire village was decorated -in a most elaborate manner. The procession made the circuit of the entire village. People, both Catholics and non-Catholics, came from great distances to participate in or to witness the beautiful service. For the occasion, all the girls were dressed in white, the banners of various societies were carried, and the Tipton Band marched in procession and played sacred hymns. Father Abel showed great earnestness in religious instruction. During weekdays in wintertime he made his way to the different public schools in the vicinity and held an hour or more of catechetical instructions. The years 1889-91 were years of crop failure and Father Abel lived in great poverty and want. Yet, it is said of him that if he had one dollar he gave it to the poor and needy. After leaving Tipton, he went to Schoenchen, Kansas, and later retired to Witchita, Kansas, where he spent his remaining days. Father Abel's successor was Rev. William Wenzel. His pastorate extended from October 1893 to January 1896. Father Wenzel came here as a young priest, at the age of twenty-eight, and was full of apostolic zeal and earnestness. He was one of the first priests to be ordained for the Concordia Diocese and was a very unique character--unique physically, psychologically, and logically. Physically, he was of gigantic proportions. He balanced the scale at three hundred pounds and his waistline measured five feet. His features were coarse, his look piercing, his voice clamorous, his laugh so boisterous that it almost rocked the house. Though his physical features were anything but attractive and charming, this outer casement housed a noble soul--a soul full of candor and sincerity, of affability and cheerfulness, of sympathy and kindliness. Father Wenzel followed and practiced a singular psychology. He was trained in the old German school in which physical force rather than gentle persuasion was the predominant factor. The rod and the strap were most in evidence. The pupils conned their lessons by rote, not because they were interested in them, but because they feared the rod. It was even used profusely in the teaching of religious theory and practice. Father Wenzel was also a singular logician. He misconceived the principle of authority, and this led to not a little failure in the instruction of the young and management of the parish. Perhaps it is more correct to say that he mistook autocracy for authority. The independent or self-derived power--"sic volo; sic jubeo"--"the master's will is the law of the school," was his guide. He substituted himself for the objective principles of law and duty and adopted autocracy in place of authority. Though gone many years he is still dreaded by some of his earlier disciples to this day. During Father Wenzel's pastorate, the parochial school was discontinued. The reason for the cessation of the school cannot be definitely accounted for. Some serious misunderstanding seemed to have taken place between the pastor and teachers. Whether this occurred during Father Abel's time or Father Wenzel's is not quite clear. The fact remains that Father Wenzel had the Catholic School under the tutelage of lay teachers. Mr. Gottschalk, Margareth Mergen, and P. J. Arnoldy were among the teachers of the school from l893 to 1900. Father Wenzel looked askance at the idea of constructing a new church. Apparently he preferred to follow the line of least resistance. The next priest to follow was Rev. Leonard Epp. His pastorate extended from January 1896 to June 1898. There was a great and marked contrast between the characters of the new pastor and his predecessor. Father Epp was a congenial and sociable priest, winning the hearts of the parishioners with his great affability, gentleness, and tact. The sterling virtues of this kind and sympathetic priest overflowed in his countenance, in his words, and in his actions. He was described to me by some of the old parishioners as "mitis et jumilis". Father Epp began anew to create interest and enthusiasm in the people for the building of a new church. Yet, the actual work of constructing one was destined to fall to the lot of his successor, Father Robert Loehrer. Rev. Robert Loehrer who succeeded Father Epp held the pastorate of St. Boniface from June 1898 to September 1901. It was during this period that the present church was constructed. The building was dedicated in 1899. Father Loehrer not only built the church but he also collected all of the funds used. He was systematic and orderly and coupled with these qualities, had a happy faculty of persuasion. He was a priest of deep spirituality and devotion. Rev. John E. Walleser was next appointed pastor of St. Boniface Church by Bishop Cunningham and had charge of it from September 1901 to June 1907. He was unquestionably one of the most energetic and active priests that ever graced Tipton parish. He used to refer to himself as a "Swobe", and was a product of the famous University of Freiburg. It seems that as a student at the University he did not profit much from the lectures given there. He always remained a "Swobe". Father Walleser was of a happy and friendly disposition and very sociable. His features showed signs of hard labor and hard knocks. He was a plain but blunt character a genial companion to his brother priests. The record books of the St. Boniface Parish show plainly his energetic activity and accomplishments. Among these accomplishments might first be mentioned the fact that he reopened the parochial school in 1901 with Sister Boniface in charge as superior. A note in the record book reads: "St. Boniface School, Tipton, Kansas, 1901-1902. John Walleser; Sisters of St. Joseph, Concordia; Sister Boniface, Sr. Loyola, Sr. Alberta." The enrollment at the opening was eighty. In 1902-1903 Sister Boniface again taught and the enrollment was seventy-nine. Father Walleser's heart and soul were in the up-keep and development of the school. He also managed to have the school at St. John's and the "east school" in full swing. He visited these two country schools regularly and held an hour of Christian instruction each time. Bishop Cunningham used to say of Father Walleser: "Father John is the best instructor for the children in Christian Doctrine that I have in the whole diocese. The children in his parish always know their catechism." Father Walleser was also most active in the spiritual upbuilding of the parish. He endeavored to achieve his aims by establishing different sodalities and societies, in the parish, according to the record book, entitled "Book of Sodalities" we find that the following organizations were established. The Sodality of Mary for the young ladies; the St. Aloysius Sodality for the young men; the Society of St. Anna for the Christian Mothers; and the St. Boniface Society for the men of the parish. Each of the Societies enumerated above, had its respective banner which was carried in procession on solemn occasions by one of its members. Again, it was Father Walleser who furnished the interior of the church. He collected all the money for the three altars, pews, organ, etc., and purchased the same. As already indicated, he took a keen interest in the St. John's Mission, i.e., the quasi-mission to Tipton. He built there a church structure which was used both for school. Last, but not least, it may be stated to the great credit of Father Walleser that during his pastorate there were more religious vocations among the girls of the parish than during any other period before or since his time. In June, 1907, Father Walleser was replaced by Rev. Herman Regensburger. The latter's stay was short, lasting only till December, 1907. During this time the Sisters' house was built Rev. John Walleser had collected much of the money necessary for the undertaking and had already made plans for the commencement of the work in the fall. When Father Regensburger was placed in charge he pressed matters and the building was completed during his stay. Rev. Raymond Dress, a former Franciscan, was the next pastor. He guided the parish from December, 1907 to March, 1910. Father Dress might be said to have been of the ordinary run-of-the-mine type of pastor. He did nothing out of the ordinary. He collected money, paid off the debts on the Sisters' Convent, and performed most conscientiously his priestly duties. Rev. Charles Menig was the next priest appointed to the St. Boniface Parish. He assumed charge on March 10,1910. Of all the priests that ever had charge of the parish, this shrewd little man ranks first in many ways. He was first in number of years as pastor, his pastorate having extended from March 1910 to August 1935, slightly more than a quarter of a century. He ranks first also, in the efficient yet mild manner in which he administered the parish. Again, he ranks first as a builder of the parish. Father Menig is of slender build, small of stature, and barely balances the scale at one hundred fifty pounds. The features of his face are gentle and delicate. His head is round and bald. The eyes are rather large and almost prominent, but mild. There is nothing secretive in their gaze. His carriage is erect and his gait is quick. His whole deportment and external behavior is that of a scholar. He is very courteous but keeps himself somewhat apart from the "profanum vulgus". His personal characteristics are an indomitable will power and a keen and penetrating mind. He is a man of high aim and of a daring courage and pluck. As stated above, Father Menig holds first rank in length of time of service in the Tipton parish. This fact speaks of the high accomplishment of the man. To govern a parish successfully for a quarter of a century and at the same time to accomplish great things, is more than a little unusual. It shows a thorough grasp of the art of government. To be sure, these years were not all spent in unperturbed quiet bliss, as some extant correspondence indicates. But no matter what the difficulty that showed itself at times his keen and balanced judgment always enabled him to resolve it to the general satisfaction of all. There is another important factor that enters into the picture and which aided Dr. Menig's success. During his pastorate at Tipton, the country was generally prosperous and knew nothing of the lean and bleak years. As a result, financial matters were not a particular bother. And after all, it is these that frequently render the government of a parish exceedingly difficult. Father Menig used these prosperous years of plenty for the upbuilding of the parish. The words of Brutus in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar may be true here: "There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries." This brings us to the second fact wherein Father Menig ranks first. He was barely acquainted with the spirit of the parish when he began at once to repair and to decorate the interior of the church. During the first year of his pastorate, 1910, he collected $2,087.25 for this purpose, and, with the written permission of the Ordinary, secured J.V. Mueller, artist, for the work. The pulpit of the church was also purchased the same year. In 1912, he made an addition to the old school bui1ding, at a cost of $720.85. He added, for the devotion of the faithful, an artistic Nativity Crib at the cost of $l0l.85. In 1913, he collected money and purchased church bells. The cost of these was $526.38. In this same year, he erected the present rectory, one of the finest and most modern, at the time, in the diocese. The contract for this structure called for an expenditure of $6,425.00. $3,850.00 was paid that year. In the year l9l5, he enhanced the interior of the church by adding costly and artistic Stations of the Cross and several stained glass windows. In the two following years, 1916 and 1917, he paid off the entire indebtedness of the parish, the greater part of which was due to the erection of the parish house. In 1919, 1920 and 1921, Dr. Menig concentrated all his energies on the erection of a new grade and high school. The project was completed in the early part of 1921 and is the "Monumentum perenne" to the zeal, devotion and genius of Father Menig. The structure is easily one of the largest, most modern, and best equipped in the Concordia Diocese. The cost thereof, i.e., of the building with complete equipment and furniture was $93,000.00, as indicated by the church ledger. The remainder of the years of Father Menig's stay at Tipton were dedicated to the up-keep and progress of this institution and to the work of fixing up and of beautifying the cemetery. The cemetery up to that time had been a neglected spot. Dr. Menig put order, shape, and beauty into it. He began by raising sufficient money to put a cement curbing around the entire north and east side. An iron fence with an iron arching and four gates to match it was erected on the north side. In the arching is the inscription in large letters, "ST. BONIFACE CEMETERY." A majestic and artistic Crucifixion Group is set in the center of the cemetery with an appropriate inscription at the base, "REDIMISTI NOS, DOMINE, IN SANGUINE TUO". This cemetery is now the pride of the faithful. To one who knows Rome it recalls the "Campo Santo" there. Dr. Menig's last crowning work was the erection of a large and beautiful Grotto of Lourdes which now graces the Church's grounds. There is no question that Father Menig was an ingenious administrator. And it was this prerogative that distinguished him more than all else from his predecessors. Somehow, all the priests before him never fully succeeded in uniting the parish into an organic whole. The relation between parishioner and parishioner and between parishioner and pastor was always in some measure a strained one. Discontent, unfriendliness, and petty rivalries repeatedly cropped out and even the whole-hearted cooperation of pastor and people was not always to be found. Discontent and estrangement periodically cropped out and a change of pastor was necessitated. But, as stated, Dr. Menig succeeded admirably in this parish. His personal virtue, his benevolent character, his calm reasoning and judicious utterances account much for his success. His modesty and amiability always tended to keep him in the background, and yet he was the dynamic force that set the souls of his parishioners into motion for united and concerted action. He ruled the parish without ruling. This may seem a paradox, still it is an undeniable fact. He is like the great English Dramatist, Shakespeare, who always hides behind the actors and lets them play their parts; he himself never intrudes. There is another fact that should not be overlooked in this regard. Father Menig was always a model priest in his spiritual duties and intercourse with his people. His priestly virtues attracted and captivated them. In a word, in all his sacerdotal duties, he was to the people an exemplar and an inspiration. He was always sociable, cheerful, kind, friendly, but he never became familiar and intimate with them. He was kindly and sympathetic. He knew the parishioners' weaknesses and met them with tenderness and compassion. He was most patient. Indeed, it seemed that his patience was inexhaustible. His countenance never changed. He bore with their contentions and petty rivalries, ambitions, and slowness of cooperation. He never lost his temper or his perfect equilibrium. The words of Isaias seem to be applicable here: " He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax." There are some persons that always do the right thing at the right time and in the right manner. Father Menig was one of these. That he could do so much is not surprising to us. It was the logical result of the virtues of regularity, punctuality, and exactness that characterized him. Father Menig left his personal impress on the St. Boniface Parish of Tipton. The list and time of tenure of office of the pastors of the Tipton parish is the following: Rev. Louis Marie Mollier-1873-l875; Rev. Anton Timphaus--l875-l879; Rev. Clemens Niemann-1879-1884; Rev. Franciscus Schalk, C.PP.S.--l886-l888; Rev. Andreas Kunkler, C.PP.S.-1888-1889; Rev. J.A. Abel--1889-l893; Rev. William Wenzel-l893-1896; Rev. Leonard Epp--1896-1898; Rev. Robert Loehrer--1898-1901; Rev. John E. Walleser--1901-1907; Rev. Herman Regensburger--June-Dec. 1907; Rev. Raymond Drees-1907-1910; Rev. Char1es Menig--Ph.D.- 1910-1935; Rev. Michael P. Dreiling--l935-l939; [added later, perhaps by Jim Heinrich, JimHeinrich_AT_direcway_DOT_com : Rev. Charles Menig, Ph.D.-1939-1947; Rt. Rev. Edgar D. Weigel--1947-June 1968; Rt. Rev. Francis J. Senecal V.F.--June 12, 1968-June 1970; Rev. Emmett Coler--June 1970- ]