1913 Yearbook
Source URL
Title
1913 Yearbook
Description
Laymen and St. Ambrose.
That a representative of the Laity or the of Diocese of Davenport, in the person of the undei signed, constituted one-half of the first
corps of professors of St. Ambrose College, is a rather unusual thing to record in the annals of a Diocesan institution. Back in 1882, however, the clerical laborers in the vineyard of the Lord in Southern Iowa were limited in numbers, so that the first President, now the honored Very Rev. Dean Schulte of Iowa City, alone represented the clergy on the teaching staff. Funds for an endowment were also lacking, and it was in a borrowed upper room of the Cathedral Parish School that in September, 1882, the St. Ambrose College humbly began its educational career. However, such a goodly number of pupils was enrolled at the start, that another room was placed at the disposal of the Reverend President, enabling the College faculty to boast at the very beginning of a room apiece for their individual
classes.
Rt. Rev. Bishop McMullen, who gave the college its name, was on his deathbed
at the time the first commencement was due, and passed away the following month
to his eternal reward. Rt. Rev. Bishop Cosgrove, his successor, gave to Father Schulte
and his worthy successor, Rev. J. T. A. Flannagan, powerful financial support, erecting
building after building as the student body grew, and now the beloved third bishop of
Davenport, Rt. Rev. James Davis, although having continued the policy of his predecessor, still finds no limit reached to the expansion of the institute, under its able president, Rev. W. P. Shannahan, and the efficient corps of professors in charge of the
various departments.
The undersigned, looking back in the year of grace, 1913, to the pioneer days of 1882, cannot but feel that Divine Providence inspired the happy thought in the mind of Davenport's first Bishop, that has attained such magnificent fruition in the St. Ambrose of today. This prompts me to add a few words as to the reward of the pioneer patrons on the institution. Of those whose sons entered the sacred ministry I need not speak. Theirs is a reward beyond the power of mortal utterance to describe. As a layman, however, I have taken a special interest in noting the success of the sons of those patrons, the boys of then, the men of the present.
That a representative of the Laity or the of Diocese of Davenport, in the person of the undei signed, constituted one-half of the first
corps of professors of St. Ambrose College, is a rather unusual thing to record in the annals of a Diocesan institution. Back in 1882, however, the clerical laborers in the vineyard of the Lord in Southern Iowa were limited in numbers, so that the first President, now the honored Very Rev. Dean Schulte of Iowa City, alone represented the clergy on the teaching staff. Funds for an endowment were also lacking, and it was in a borrowed upper room of the Cathedral Parish School that in September, 1882, the St. Ambrose College humbly began its educational career. However, such a goodly number of pupils was enrolled at the start, that another room was placed at the disposal of the Reverend President, enabling the College faculty to boast at the very beginning of a room apiece for their individual
classes.
Rt. Rev. Bishop McMullen, who gave the college its name, was on his deathbed
at the time the first commencement was due, and passed away the following month
to his eternal reward. Rt. Rev. Bishop Cosgrove, his successor, gave to Father Schulte
and his worthy successor, Rev. J. T. A. Flannagan, powerful financial support, erecting
building after building as the student body grew, and now the beloved third bishop of
Davenport, Rt. Rev. James Davis, although having continued the policy of his predecessor, still finds no limit reached to the expansion of the institute, under its able president, Rev. W. P. Shannahan, and the efficient corps of professors in charge of the
various departments.
The undersigned, looking back in the year of grace, 1913, to the pioneer days of 1882, cannot but feel that Divine Providence inspired the happy thought in the mind of Davenport's first Bishop, that has attained such magnificent fruition in the St. Ambrose of today. This prompts me to add a few words as to the reward of the pioneer patrons on the institution. Of those whose sons entered the sacred ministry I need not speak. Theirs is a reward beyond the power of mortal utterance to describe. As a layman, however, I have taken a special interest in noting the success of the sons of those patrons, the boys of then, the men of the present.
Date
1913
Rights
St. Ambrose University, 518 W. Locust St., Davenport, IA 52803
Identifier
http://cdm16810.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16810coll2/id/3796