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CHAPTER IV.
THE RIGHT REV. JOSEPH DWENGER, C. PP. S., D. D.
THE SECOND BISHOP OF FORT WAYNE.
[Page 38]
H. Dwenger and his wife, the parents of Bishop
Dwenger, emigrated from Aukum, Hanover, in the diocese of Osnabrueck, to
the United States in the spring of 1837. They bought forty acres
of land in Mercer county, Ohio, near the present town of St. John.
Having cleared a spot of the huge oak trees, they built a log hut, which
became their home. In this humble abode, Joseph, the future Bishop
of Fort Wayne, saw the light of day, on September 7, 1837. When in
after years the Bishop referred to his birth place, he would say:
"I was born between four big oak stumps, in a dense forest of Mercer county,
Ohio." There were indeed four and more oak stumps around the log
cabin of his birth. On the morning after Joseph's birth, the father
hailed a neighbor passing his dwelling, saying to him: "Last night
God sent us a little bishop!" The memory of this strange remark after
seventy years, still lives with older members of St. John's parish, in
Mercer county. What could have induced the father to speak thus to
his neighbor? Was it a prophecy!
Joseph was about three years old, when Providence
visited the happy family with a severe affliction. The father, whose
strong arm protected and supported the mother, Joseph and his two older
brothers, was removed from their midst at the call of death. The
sorrow-stricken widow was left in destitute and helpless condition.
In the hope of finding support for herself and children she went to Cincinnati,
and became a member of Holy Trinity parish. When of age Joseph attended
the parochial school of Holy Trinity, where, owing to his talents and industry,
he made rapid progress in the elementary branches of education.
In the early summer of 1849, we find the widow
and her son Joseph again occupying the log cabin in Mercer county.
Why she should leave a comfortable home and her two older sons in Cincinnati
and with Joseph alone return to the woods [39] in Mercer county, is an
incident in Joseph's life full of significance, inspired by heaven; as
the sequel shows. The cholera of 1849 spared the mother and her son;
but in October of the same year both were prostrated on a bed of sickness,
and, in the case of the widow, of death also. Rev. Andrew Kunkler,
C. PP. S., the pastor of St. John's was called, and he found her at death's
door. He administered to her all the helps of religion, and every
comfort human consolation can give. But, the poor mother was much
troubled. She pointed to the little cot, on which lay her son Joseph
sick and unconscious, saying: "I am willing to die, but what will
become of my dear Joseph, when I am no more?" Father Kunkler, ever
ready to console and assist the afflicted and needy, promised he would
take upon himself the care of the boy. Such are the ways of Providence.
Contented and with a smile on her countenance, the widow Dwenger departed
this life, on October 25, 1849. Joseph, now an orphan, was not homeless,
for Father Kunkler carried him on his arms into the priest's house and
cared for him. The boy soon recovered and waxed healthy and strong.
Joseph knew well the desire of his mother,
often expressed, to have him become a priest, and could easily perceive
that his protector Father Kunkler, would have him become one of the Fathers
of the Precious Blood. He considered seriously and prayed earnestly.
At last, in 1854, after five years of probation, he became a member of
the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood. Shortly after the Provincial,
Very Rev. Francis Sales Brunner, sent him to Mount St. Mary's Seminary
at Cincinnati, for the study of philosophy and theology; of which Revs.
Rosecranz, Quinlan and Barry were the professors. At the seminary
Joseph was known as the "Western Ohio student." He made rapid progress
in his studies, and being punctual in all matters of discipline, endeared
himself to his professors and his superiors, as well as Archbishop Purcell.
He received tonsure and minor orders on December 19, 1857. On August
20, 1859, he was ordained subdeacon and on the day following deacon.
Priesthood was conferred on him by Archbishop Purcell, on September 4,
1859. Father Dwenger celebrated his first Mass on September 8, 1859,
in St. John's Church, not far from the place where he was born.
The seminary of the Congregation of the Most
Precious [40] Blood, which had been transferred from the diocese of Cleveland
to that of Cincinnati, in 1859, was located at Himmelgarten Convent, near
St. Henry, Mercer county, Ohio. Father Dwenger was appointed its
rector and also filled the office of a professor. This location however
of the seminary was neither convenient nor satisfactory. Father Dwenger
was empowered by the Society PP. S. to purchase at Carthagena the so-called
"Emlen Institution," which for a time had been a manual labor school for
colored children, but had been abandoned and was then the property of a
John Smith. With the assistance of Christopher Schunk, Father Dwenger
effected the purchase in March, 1861. Mr. Smith was under the impression
that he was selling the property to a Protestant minister. In May,
1861, the building just purchased was remodeled and repaired and the seminary
installed here, with Father Dwenger as its rector and professor.
Father Dwenger was physically an imposing figure full of vitality and health.
He devoted himself to the discharge of his duties with his whole soul,
and great and not unfounded were the hopes entertained with regard to him.
He was of an impulsive nature and at times would appear too harsh but "after
a little harmless explosion of his patience, the next moment all was serene
again; he would never harbor any grudge in his heart." In the seminary
he was a strict disciplinarian and he would not tolerate a lazy and careless
student; whilst the diligent student always found in him a kind father
and teacher. He filled the position of rector and professor at the
seminary during three years.
In 1864, he was appointed pastor at Wapakoneta
and of St. Mary's, Auglaize county, Ohio, having charge at the same time
of the parish at Glynnwood. He began the erection of a new church
in St. Mary's, in 1866. The parish was small in number and poor;
but owing to his intense activity he collected funds near and far, so much
so that when the new church was dedicated on November 19, 1867, $12,000
had been collected and the structure was free from every indebtedness.
Having been most successful as the rector and a professor of the seminary
and also as a pastor and a church builder, Father Dwenger was now assigned
to the work of giving missions. He was engaged in this work from
1868 to 1872, giving missions in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and in other
States. Sometimes he [41] was accompanied by one priest or other
of the Community, but generally he did the work unassisted. He was
successful in his work owing to his great earnestness and popular style
of preaching.
Father Dwenger was befriended by Archbishop
Purcell, who chose him as his theologian and secretary at the Council of
Baltimore, in 1866. The Archbishop frequently had him as a companion
on confirmation trips through Mercer and Auglaize counties. On one
occasion, while at dinner, one of the Fathers present asked His Grace,
whether he could not delegate Rev. Joseph Dwenger to drive out and administer
confirmation. The Archbishop answered: "Of course I might,
but I am afraid he would impart too severe a blow." Father Dwenger
attended the Second Council of Baltimore representing Very Rev. Andrew
Kunkler, the Provincial of the C. PP. S. It can be said truthfully
that he was a ruling spirit in all the transactions of the Congregation,
to which he belonged. The Provincial had the utmost confidence in
his prudence and business tact; so much so that he had Father Dwenger to
preside over nearly all the meetings. On the other hand, Father Dwenger
was most devoted and attached to his benefactor and was ever ready to do
all in his power for the benefit of the Community. It may be mentioned
here that when Father Joseph was deliberating whether to accept or decline
the mitre he wrote Father Kunkler a most affectionate letter asking him
for direction. He concluded the letter with these words: "I
shall always remain your Joseph."
The See of Fort Wayne having been made vacant
by the death of Bishop Luers, Pope Pius IX appointed Father Dwenger Bishop
of Fort Wayne. He was consecrated in the Cathedral of Cincinnati
by Archbishop Purcell, assisted by Bishops Toebbe and Borgess, on April
14, 1872. Without any delay the new Bishop repaired to the future
scene of his labors, and began by investigating the condition of his diocese.
He found the diocese somewhat involved financially, but as we have seen
he was not a novice in finances, and in the course of time wiped out the
existing indebtedness. On April 28, 1874, Bishop Dwenger addressed
a circular to his clergy, from which we quote the first sentence:
"Conscious of the awful responsibilities of my Holy Office, and my own
weakness and imper-[42]fections, I leave Fort Wayne the 10th of May next,
to make a pilgrimage to Lourdes, and to the shrines of the Apostles, hoping
thereby to obtain some special graces from God for the salvation of my
poor soul; to obtain for myself and my diocese the blessing of our venerable
and saintly Pontiff, Pius IX, and to obtain other benefits for my diocese."
This was the first American pilgrimage to Rome and Lourdes. Should
any of our readers enjoy the happy privilege of visiting the Grotto of
Lourdes, let them, on entering the magnificent basilica look to the left,
and among the many votive offerings with which the wall is covered, they
will perceive a beautiful American flag with its red, white and blue and
with its stars and stripes, left there by Bishop Dwenger, leader of the
pious band of pilgrims, venerating Mary Immaculate at her holy shrine.
What will, among other acts of his, keep the
memory of Bishop Dwenger in benediction, is his care of the orphans.
The asylum near Rensselaer, for both boys and the girls, had become inadequate,
and the location undesirable. In 1875, Bishop Dwenger purchased fifty
acres of land near Lafayette, on which he erected a four story brick building
at a cost of about $30,000. This new institution known as the St.
Joseph's Asylum and Manual Labor School, is devoted to the care of the
orphan boys.
His pastoral and missionary work had
convinced Bishop Dwenger of the importance and necessity of a parochial
school in every parish. Hence he insisted not only that pastors must
provide these schools, but he also established a Diocesan School Board,
in 1879, consisting of ten priests, to whom he entrusted to supervision
of the parochial schools of the diocese. The members of this Board
were obliged to visit and examine all the parochial schools in their respective
district, at least once a year, and to report to the Bishop concerning
the condition of these schools. The same system has been adopted
in many dioceses of the country.
In 1883, Bishop Dwenger on his way to Rome
to make his official visit ad limina, again visited Lourdes. At Rome
he received deserved recognition, for his labors in the distant American
diocese. Surrounded by his clergy and laity and with heartfelt wishes
for an administration "ad multos annos," [43] Bishop Dwenger celebrated
his Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee in 1884. In November and December of
the same year the Bishop attended the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore,
where, among the thirteen Archbishops and seventy Bishops he was the nineteenth
in rank and seniority. In March, 1885, he again visited Rome, this
time in the interests of the Council and as the representative of the American
Hierarchy. While in Rome he was the guest of the American College,
where he spent seven months. During this time the decrees of the
Council of Baltimore were presented by him to the Propaganda, and were
approved. He was in Rome on the 4th of July, which the American students
were anxious to celebrate. However it was thought inadvisable to
display the American flag in such close proximity to the Quirinal.
At this juncture Bishop Dwenger stept forward, and commanded in a way that
could not be misunderstood: "Boys, hoist the American flag!"
Instantly the Stars and Stripes were floated on high, and the American
students sang: "Hail Columbia." When the Italian government
intended to confiscate the American College in Rome, Bishop Dwenger hastened
to WAshington protesting in his own name and in the name of the American
Hierarchy that the College was American property. At the instance
of Secretary Blaine the Italian government gave assurance that the College
would not be confiscated.
In 1886 the Bishop gave another evidence of
his love for the orphans by erecting, on the twenty-five acre lot within
the limits of the city of Fort Wayne, a magnificent structure to serve
as an asylum for the orphan girls. The Bishop made his fourth and
last visit to Rome in 1888, more for the sake of his health, than to transact
any important business. Anxious to do still more for Catholic education
the Bishop induced the Fathers C. PP. S. to establish what is now known
as St. Joseph's College near Rensselaer. The College was opened in
September, 1891, but Bishop Dwenger, whose health was declining, was unable
to assist at its dedication. The Community of the Precious Blood
has redeemed the land where the College now stands, and which was a great
swamp, by spending on its improvement and on the construction of the buildings
a sum of over $100,000.
While enjoying good health Bishop Dwenger
was truly a [44] good shepherd of his diocese. He frequently visited
all the parishes for confirmation and other episcopal functions.
When however his health failed him more and more and became enfeebled by
constant exertion he succumbed to a severe attack of heart trouble.
His last effort to improve his health was a visit to New Mexico, which
visit had little or no effect. Returning he resigned himself to what
was evidently God's will and prepared for the end, which came after a lingering
illness of nearly three years, on January 23, 1893. The funeral obsequies
took place on January 26th. The Pontifical Requiem Mass was celebrated
by Archbishop Elder. The prelates present in the sanctuary were:
Archbishop Katzer of Milwaukee, Bishop Foley of Detroit, Bishop Horstmann
of Cleveland, Bishop Janssen of Belleville, Bishop Maes of Covington, Bishop
Rademacher of Nashville, Bishop Richter of Grand Rapids and Bishop Vertin
of Marquette. Besides these dignitaries over two hundred priests
attended. Members of the C. PP. S., to which the deceased Bishop
belonged, present were: The Very Rev. H. Drees, Provincial; Rev.
F. Nigsch, Procurator; Revs. Dickmann and Seifert, Consultors, and sixteen
other Fathers. Bishop Rademacher delivered the funeral oration, selecting
for his text I Macabees, Ch. V, 19-21: "How is the mighty man fallen
that saved Israel." The preacher dwelling on the character of the
deceased Bishop said: "Bishop Dwenger as all who have had the pleasure
of knowing him will admit, was cast by nature in what we may call a grand
heroic mould. Physically he was at least in the prime of his vigorous
life--a perfect specimen of manhood. His powers of endurance and
his capacity for hard work were simply marvelous. Even when by the
labors of his long ministry, his powers began to wane, the long sickness
which he endured also attested the wonderful strength and vitality of his
constitution. In that vigorous body there dwelt a soul, equally vigorous
and highly gifted; and we may truly say that his strong constitution, and
especially his strong and expressive countenance, were a faithful index
to the strong and expressive countenance, were a faithful index to the
strong soul that dwelt within and ruled that body. His mind was clear
and logical, and he was eminently practical. His memory was prodigious--both
faithful and retentive. His will was strong and unbending, when he
believed himself in the right, and especially when he defended what he
considered right and just. As for his heart, it was true as steel,
and noble, world-wide and generous in its sympathies, as Holy Church itself.
As for his love of the country it is strange that it should ever have been
called in question. As he said himself, he was born under an oak
tree, that is to say, in poverty; but the roots of that oak tree were not
struck deeper and more firmly into the soil than the love of his country
had struck its roots in the heart of the great Bishop. As for his
love of the Church, it amounted simply to loyalty and chivalry. He
was indeed in every sense a most devoted son of the Church, and he was
a most true and model son of his country."
All that is mortal of Bishop Dwenger rests
in the Crypt of the Cathedral, between Bishop Luers and Bishop Rademacher.
The Diocese of Fort Wayne, 1857--Sepember 22--1907, A Book
of Historical Reference, 1669-1907. By the Rt. Rev. H. J. Alerding.
Fort Wayne: The Archer Printing Co. 1907.
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+ TABLE
OF CONTENTS +
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PAGE
CHAPTER III.
The Right Rev. John Henry Luers, D.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 30-37
The First Bishop of Fort Wayne.
CHAPTER
IV. The Right Rev. Joseph Dwenger, C. PP. S., D.D. . . . . .
. . . . . . . 38-45
The Second Bishop of Fort Wayne.
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