This pamphlet was conceived in enthusiasm by men and women who are bristling with PEP to build a Beautiful Church in St. James Parish. They are impatiently waiting: they are clamoring for action. They want YOU to know what they propose doing. They hope you will be with them. Don't look for a seat in the Grand Stand-People who do things move-the disinterested sit and watch -- Our Parish Big Drum is beating a marching tune – “LET'S GO."
Nov. 14, 1929
My dear Father O'Connor:
I have delayed owing to the stress of business making formal announcement to you of what I would gladly have done some time ago, namely that your work in the -- parish of Saint James has long since merited for you the position to which you are now formally appointed; that is, Pastor thereof, with all the rights, duties and emoluments of this office.
I remain with all good wishes for your success.
Sincerely yours,
(signed) JOHN J. GLENNON,
Archbishop of Saint Louis.
Rev. P. J. O'Connor,
Saint Louis.
The formal appointment which I have received from His Grace Archbishop Glennon to the Pastorate of St. James Parish adds nothing to the position I have the honor and privilege of filling during the past twelve years, except the Canonical title of Pastor.
As administrator of the parish I have enjoyed the same rights, privileges and revenue as I shall receive as Pastor, and the same consideration from His Grace, and my brother priests. From the parishioners I have received more, they have shown the Archbishop and the clergy that they have confidence in my leadership and by their generosity and magnificent enthusiasm they made possible the erection of a church that is in design and craftsmanship a credit to St. Louis.
I am happy in the knowledge that His Grace thinks my work has long since ent1tled me to be Pastor of St. James; his official approval of my administration is more appreciated by me than my official appointment.
During the seventeen years I have been in the parish I have endeavored to do my duty without hope of reward or fear of consequences. I worked as earnestly when I was assistant to Father Casey and later to Father O'Flaherty as I did when the whole responsibility was thrown upon myself; and when my well wishers became anxious about the permanence of my appointment I smiled at their solicitude because I felt confident that if my talents did not qualify me to care for the souls in this parish, the Archbishop would find a little place in the country where I would fit into the machinery of the Archdiocese and fulfill the designs of Providence just as well.
Canon Law does not consider the good of the man when making an ecclesiastic appointment; its chief concern is the best interest of religion and in this instance the Archbishop has decided the matter for me and you; hence I only hope that he has made no mistake and that your spiritual welfare will not suffer under my spiritual direction.
I am not unduly elated by my appointment. I realize I could be better quallfled than I am for the posttion. I am keenly conscious of my shortcomings and have little hope of making any noticeable alteration for the better in my character. I only hope that in your charity you will continue to be patient with my defects which I suspect will increase with the infirmity that comes with age and the irritations that accompany burdens.
For all the parishioners, I have nothing but goodwill and hope that the kindly consideration which I have received from you in the past will continue with me in the future and that your enthusiastic co-operation will enable me to complete the unfinished work of erecting a Convent and a Rectory suited to the requirements of the parish.
I am now glad to formally subscribe myself
Your Pastor in Christ,
Patrick J. O'Connor.
Father John O'Sullivan established St. James Parish January 1, 1861 and was its first pastor. He was also the founder of St. Malachy's Parish and its pastor until 1862 when he and Father John Bannon the Pastor of St. John's Parish resigned their charges and joined the Confederacy. Father O'Sullivan was a hot outspoken secessionist and accordingly he came in contact with the military authorities.
Father Myles W. Tobyn succeeded Father O'Sullivan at St. Malachy's and appears in the records of St. James Parish as the one who performed the first Baptisms and Marriages. He also organized a Confraternity of the Rosary, of which a list of members is still extant in the parish records. He died as Pastor of Sts. Mary and Joseph's Parish, Good Friday, April 21st, 1905. At his funeral the sermon was preached by Father D.S. Phelan who said. In part: "Father Tobyn was a man calculated to add to the gayety of nations. His was a sunshiny disposition. He always had a view of the bright side of life, and he never wished to make the burdens of his fellowman heavier than they were. He was the most genial man we ever had in the diocese. But, strange to say, Father Tobyn while not a grave man was a very serious man. I remember last summer at the annual priests' retreat during the time of recreation, Father Tobyn and I were talking together, and he said to me: 'Something tells me that this is my last retreat.' It was his last retreat and he was preparing then for the death he died."
His interest in St. James Parish continued into the year 1868, as his name appears quite frequently in the records with those of Father Michael Welby, Father Ring and Father Constantine Smith. Father Smith and Father Welby apparently were assistant pastors at St. John's and St. Malachy's.
Father "Michael Welby took charge of St. James Parish as resident pastor in 1864 and resided with his brother whose hom was near Wade and Gregg Aves. He continued in charge until the end of the year 1866 when he was authorized to organize Holy Angels Parish and become its pastor. He remained at Holy Angels until February 16, 1869 when he was succeeded by Father Francis M. Kielty.
During the year 1867 St. James was attended from St. Malachy's by Father Myles Tobyn and Father R.S. Tucker and occasionally by Father Ring, Pastor of St. John's.
Father Thos. Manning was appointed pastor of St. James Parish in 1869, the last record he wrote is January 31, 1870. It is believed he went insane and died later at St. Vincent's Asylum. During Father Manning's administration there was a parochial school in St. James Parish in which he resided; it was taught by an Irishman named Thomas Conway. Mr. Jos. Robinson and Mr. Jim O'Gorman were pupils and recall how zealously the rod was applied. Among the families who resided in the parish, at that time were the O'Gormans, Siegfried Grosch the wagon maker, whose shop was at the northwest corner of Tamm and Clayton, the Ehles, the Merrimans, the Rooneys, the Gittens, Gratiots, later came the Gibbons, the Shields, some of these families resided in Forest Park before it was taken over by the city. The parish was established before the park, hence the keepers' homes in the park are in St. James Parish and the park territory is included as being within the parish boundaries. At that time there was a Public School at Graham avenue south of W. Park, the school teacher was an Irishman named Murphy; the late Miss Baum also taught in that school. It preceded Gratiot School and all the other Public Schools of this locality. The Five Mile House stood at Tamm and Clayton, probably on the site of the present drug store. East of there at Graham avenue and Clayton was Gratiot's well and Gratiot's farm and orchard covered the district east of Tamm to Hampton and south to the Rectory. The site of the old church was donated to St. James Parish by the Gratiot family whose old home still can be seen at 6135 Viotoria avenue. Mr. Ben Gratiot is now the oldest settler in this community. He is still hale and hearty and resides with his niece Mrs. James Blythe. His baptismal record goes back to the days when this territory was a part of the parish of Clayton. Other places of note were: Sulphur Springs Hotel, a fifteen room building at Manchester and Sulphur avenue. It was there the parish festivals were held. Leonarda Grove came later. An industrial district in Cheltenham established by Evans & Howard, Laclede-Christy, Winkle Terra Cotta, and Mitchell formed the industrial center around which the parish grew. For this reason St. James Parish was known as the Cheltenham parish. There were also surface coal mines and fire clay mines that gave a good deal of employment and attracted Catholics to the community.
Among these families were the Husseys, the Bradys, the Loftus, Voltz, Cahill, James Riley. Henry Hanrahan worked the quarry at Dale and Manchester, Mr. Peter Humes father to Mrs. Nixon had a farm across the tracks, the Blacksmith's shop was on Clayton road near Tamm and was conducted by Felix Boswith.
Father Henry Kelly was appointed to St. James Parish February, 1870 and was a man of outstanding character and great merit. He was much beloved by the flock and his memory is still preserved with affection. He was a tall stately man, kind, gentle, silent and sympathetic. For many years Mrs. John Brady was his housekeeper. He set about establishing a rectory as there was none in the parish up to this time. When he came to the parish the parochial school was not functioning and he made it his residence until he built a house. His death was caused, it is said, by an application of a rag weed plaster to a small sore on the recommendation of a parishioner. He is buried in the priests' lot in Calvary Cemetery. The inscription on his monument gives a correct idea of his character, "He was simple and upright, fearing God" Job. 1.1. He died in 1878, the last baptism he administered was that of William Johnson, January 7, 1878, the sponsors to which were Joe and Emma Ehle.
Thomas Ambrose Butler was one of the most remarkable men amongst St. Louis priests in his day though he never attained any distinguished place in the church. He was a poet-priest and a book of his poems is in the library at the rectory, the most noted of which is "The Irish on the Prairies." He was born in Dublin, Ireland, May 21. 1837, he was educated in Maynooth, and ordained in Ireland, as were all the pastors who have administered to the flock of St. James. According to the well informed authoress or "Our Pastors in Calvary" he plunged into radical reforms to help the poor and oppressed in Ireland and his zeal brought him into conflict with the authorities so having friends in Kansas he came to America. He founded the first cooperative colony of any importance in the United States. It was composed of 600 men and women from Ireland, and the tract they settled upon was called Fort Butler. Now it is Butler City. It was his own great and original idea. Whatever may have been the cause of Father Butler's leaving his colony in Kansas, his reception in St. Louis, April 1875 was a hearty one. For three years he served as assistant to Bishop Patrick Ryan at St. John's and in 1878 was promoted to the rectorship of St. James Parish where he continued until 1884. Whilst there he organized St. Cronin's Parish and in 1882 took up his residence there, still administering to St. James. The records of his pastorate here are still retained at St. Cronin's Rectory. He died September 7, 1897.
Patrick J. McNamee who was pastor at New Madrid was appointed in 1884 to succeed Father Butler. His life at St. James is described as a continuous struggle for existence until he retired on account of his health in December, 1896: the church was burned in 1890 and he rebuilt the one that now stands and is known as the old church. He also built the present Rectory with the exception of that portion of it which is at the rear, an addition made by Father Casey. He died on May 3, 1897. Father Phelan wrote at that time, "Father Patrick McNamee for thirty years a priest of this diocese, died in Bement, Illinois, at the home of a sister, last week. For over a year Father MeNamee has been on the retired list of this diocese, having given up his parish of St. James in this city in order to seek health in a change of climate. Kindly by nature, he was charitable to a fault. He was much liked by his fellow priests."
Father McNamee was buried from St. Malachy's Church, and Father Thomas Butler, Pastor of St. Cronan's preached his eulogy. The last child he baptised was Henry Francis Delany, son of George Delany, on the 2nd day of November, 1896.
Rev. E.A. Casey, pastor of St. James, 1896- 1916, was a colorful character and one much beloved, who had an extensive acquaintanceship throughout the whole state of Missouri. As pastor of Montgomery City he became intimate with the late Champ Clark and they continued to be boon companions until Father Casey's death. Had Mr. Clark been elected president, there is no doubt but Father Casey would have frequently found a bed in the White House. He exercised a good deal of influence in local politics, which was always availed of to advance the interest of his parishioners. Through his endeavor many of them found their way into the police force, fire department and post office. His recommendation usually meant an appointment. He was a man amongst men, genial, humorous and playful. He was of fine physique and unusually handsome. He erected the parochial school and was responsible for the Dominican Sisters' coming to St. Louis. He was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus and the first State Chaplain. He organized the first branch of the Holy Name SoCiety in St. Louis and was always a hale fellow, well met amongst groups of men. In the latter years of his life he was infected with the Tubercular germ which he believed he contracted on a sick call. His illness necessitated his going west for a year. On his return, he had an acute heart attack which made the latter years of his life inactive. In his efforts to regain his health, he took an extended vacation returning periodically for a few months. On one of these trips he became ill and died at a sanitarium in Tucson, Arizona. His remains were brought back to St. Louis and interred in the family lot in Calvary Cemetery where his two sisters also are buried. Previous to his death, he contracted for a monument to be erected over his grave, a sculptored statue of Christ; and to perpetuate his worship of the Incarnation and of the Blessed Sacrament, he had carved under it, the following inscription, "Blessed be Jesus Christ, True God and True Man." As a memorial of his devotion the inscription is also carved at the entrance doorways, of the new church. This is a tribute given to him by Father O'Connor who was his assistant for four years.
Rev. Maurice O'Flaherty was appointed pastor of St. James in June, 1916. He had been for many years a visitor to the rectory, a friend of Father Casey's and, known to the parishioners; probably on this account he received his appointment and was transferred from the parish at Poplar Bluff where he had successfully assisted the Archbishop in establishing a Catholic colony at Glennonville. His long administration in country districts unsuited him to the strenuous exacting life of the city and had a tendency to upset his fine genial disposition and ended in his resignation. During his short stay in St. James he won the affection of the people by his gentle manhood and extensive knowledge. He is a Bachelor of Music and often regaled the parishioners with songs and selections on the violin. He has spent the past 11 years in and is now chaplain of St. Mary's Hospital, Cairo, Ill., and has manifested a proficiency in writing poems and composing music. One of his poems, Christmas Hymn, is produced in this issue.
Father O'Connor was ordained in Carlow College, Ireland, in June, 1907 for the Archdiocese of St. Louis. His first assignment was to St. Edward's parish, St. Louis, where he assisted Rev. E.J. Wynn until September 1. 1912, when he was transferred to St. James where he has been during the past 17 years, one time assistant, twice administrator and now pastor. He was appointed administrator on Father O'Flaherty's departure and has been assisted during that time by Rev. Norbert E. Pohl. Since he came to St. James he has been active in reorganizing the parish and constructing buildings. He added two rooms to the present convent, five rooms to the school and promoted the erection of the present church.
Christmas is spelled CHRIST-mas or the time of Christ. It is the major Christian festival that is hoary with age and immortal in spiritual tradition. The event it commemorates is one of tremendous and universal importance, and carries the mind back to an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes that lay in a manger in Bethlehem of Juda over 1900 years ago.
The child was God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, made man. "God so loved the world as to give His only begotten Son." John 3-16; an Angel announced to the shepherds that this child was the Saviour, "This day is born to you a Saviour who is Christ the Lord," Lu 2-11.
The message the Saviour delivered has lost none of its tremendous importance and should be delivered to each passing regiment of the human family: their eternal security and happiness depends upon it, shout it aloud! Make a clamor that will be heard to the ends of the earth! "Behold thy Saviour cometh," Is 62. 11. "Neither is there salvation in any other. for there is no other name under heaven given to men whereby we must be saved," Act 4. 12.
The claptrap of the huckster selling his wares and jingling his bells is drowning the voice of the Herald announcing the Saviour; the children have turned their whole attention to that clown in the marketplace that calls himself Santa Claus. He is a clever nickel-getter for the toy merchant and a big announcer for worldliness and wealth - a salesman in a clown's cloak who is also a robber. He has stolen Christmas from Christ, and has given it over to Big Business. The mails are packed with his parcels, he gets a commission on each one of them; he has the first page in the newspaper; his prosperous plethoric countenance greets us wherever we turn, it is plastered on blll boards, factory walls, fence posts and store buildings: he struts through the department stores a whole month before Christmas and shakes hands with the children and excites their cupidity to possess his tinsel and his toys; whilst he is patting their pretty curls he is appraising their mothers' pocket-book and contemplating the profits on his numerous transactions: he similates goodwill and prostitutes Christian sentiment. He is a popular hoax and charlatan who is difficult to displace and dangerous to tamper with though he is spoiling the whole Christmas pageant designed by Heaven, announced by angels, to usher in the Saviour.
He has evicted the Virgin and the Child for whom there was no room in the Inn, even from the desolate cave and forced them to fly to the desert. He has kicked out St. Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men and their camels; he has cleaned up the stable, thrown out the manger; and the ox and the ass he has driven into the wilderness. He has reconstructed the Christmas pageant and housed it in a palace. Big Business hates Christian poverty and a small purse, there must be rugs, luxurious setees, fine furniture, gorgeous trappings among which a well lighted Christmas tree will set pretty; and Junior must be properly thrilled at the right moment with electric trains, running through elaborate tunnels that curve around dangerous precipices where herd the reindeer, the mountain goat, a camel, perhaps, a souvenir from the wreck of the Christian tableau and a gesture of toleration towards Christian sentiment. There must also be guns and drums, fire engines and teddy bears and all that appeals to the natural instincts of childhood: and there will be whispers and confidences exchanged between mother and child, intimate and personal propaganda elevating Santa to the office of Supreme Judge of all junior's actions, the rewarder of the good and the punisher of the wicked; around Santa there will be in the child's imagination an aura of glory and a vista of delight, heraldic banners, charioteers. trumpeteers, a cavalcade of troubadors, and a triumphant approach from Greenland's snow-clad mountains to the chimneys of homeland; he will receive sincere worship and be the object of a cult with millions of children adorers; his religion is sufficient for childhood and in the estimate of Big Business and doting dotty parents will survive until discretion shall adjudge this and all other religions unnecessary to Big Business and Salvation.
Santa Claus is filling the suckling bottles with an adulterated sentiment concerning Christmas and the fountains of living water are being abandoned even by Christian parents. The fine old Christian traditions and religious practices are no longer associated with the Christmas home life and folk lore; children are being feasted in material fats and are being spiritually starved. There is no great emphasis attached to the Christ Child, mothers have lost the religious sentiment that invents the pretty tales that give continuance to the Christian tradition and that bequeath to children the rich harvest of religious emotion that makes Christmas in Christian lands an annex of Heaven and a feast for angels and men.
The Christmas card with its religious paintings and sentiment has become secularized; religious mottos such as God Bless Our Home are neglected, the crib is not given a place in the Christmas decorations in the home and even in our Catholic Schools the religious play and Christmas carols are discarded for some mummery and presents given by a prodigious and irreligious Santa Claus.
Before Santa came to the United States he was Saint Nicholas in Bishop's robes. the forerunner of the Infant Savior, and came all the 6th of December preparing the chlldren for the Christmas celebration, and bringing them gifts from the Infant. He never punished children, but was always the kind gentle patient Bishop. He had an escort however in Austria who is known as "Krampus." Sometimes this assistant is dressed like the devil, if the children must be punished the bad man with Santa Claus must do it. As for this country the Dutch brought Santa over with them to New Amsterdam. It seems that it was right here in America that Santa was given his change of clothes, his new costume being, the early Dutch costume and that of red. People who try to be Christians without accepting Christ were shocked at anything resembling a good old Catholic Bishop entering their homes on Christmas eve, and so there had to come another one of those protests. A man-made benevolence takes the place of the charity God loves, says a writer in Columbia.
We would not destroy Santa Claus, his spirit is that of the church and it is dear to the hearts of the little ones. He is now only a burlesque of what he was. If he must have a place in our custom let him still be the escort for the Christ Child making it evident to the little ones that it is Christ and His love that has made Christmas and that Santa Claus is only the instrument and not the God.
Recently there was a parade in the park where Santa Claus and Mayor Miller shook hands with the children and ingratiated themselves with the parents and the little ones. It was very kindly of the Mayor to be so considerate of the children, they distributed a number of booklets that have pretty rhymes about Santa Claus but never a verse about Jesus the Lover of children. Our plea is, do not eliminate the Savior and the manger from tableau at Christmas and make Santa Claus God.
Mrs. Wm. Kirby, 6156 W. Park Ave., is a patient in St. Anthony's Hospital where she recently underwent a major operation.
Mrs. John Godfrey, 1100 Louisville Ave., had an internal tumor removed on Armistice day at the Missouri Baptist Sanitarium. She is convalesclng.
Mrs. Pat Dolan, 6127 Victoria Ave., fell a few weeks ago and had her hand broken. She is carrying it in a splint.
Mr. Wm. Volz, 6153 Victoria Ave., who was delirious for over a period of three weeks and was in a most precarious condition, is now on the way to recovery at St. John's Hospita1.
Mrs. Sarah Ritchell, 6106 Wilson Ave., has been ill at her home during the past six weeks and is in a chronic condition of poor health.
Mrs. Joseph Wiss, 6645 Wise Ave., who it was announced was a patient at St. John's with a broken hip, is slowly recuperating, and is expected home.
Mrs. Joseph Capelli, 6454 Lloyd Ave., continues to be very ill and has the deep sympathy of all her neighbors.
Renard Gruner, 6448 Wise Ave. underwent an operation at the Alexian Brothers' Hospital and had one of his eyes removed. He is maintaining a fine genial disposition and is very heroic.
Sister Gabriel who has been out of school for the past 3 weeks is now back in the class room. Her condition has been aggravated because she is too zealous to work.
Rita Ward had her tonsils removed at the Missouri Baptist Sanitarium and had an extensive hemorrhage.
Before the Mass - The Infant Jesus . . . Pietro A. Yon (2 choirs-chtrnea)
Proper of the Mass . . . A. Edmonds Tozer
Kyrie . . . Loesch
Gloria . . . Loesch
Offertory - "Venite Adoremus" . . . Gilsium (3 choirs)
Sanctus . . . Loesch
Benedtctus . . . Loesch
Agnus Dei . . . Loesch
Communion -"Adeste Fidelis . . . Norello
After the Mass - Hour Eucharistic King" . . . K. Vannah
Appropriate music at all Masses on Christmas Day.
CHRISTMAS CONFESSIONS
Confessions on the Eve of Christmas from 3:30 until 6 and after supper until all are heard. There will be three confessors. Children and all others who are free should go before supper.
FAST DAYS AND DAYS OF ABSTINENCE
The Quarter Tense, which are fast days and days of abstinence, occur the 18th, 20th, and 21st of December.
The Eve of Christmas is a strict day of fast and abstinence when meat is not allowed even to workingmen.
Masses on New Year's Day, the same as on Sundays.
MIDNIGHT MASS
Midnight Mass cannot be had in the parishes of St. Louis without the special permission of the Archbishop. It has many undesirable features and is hard on priests and people as well as on the choir. The local pastors which include the Immaculate Conception in Maplewood, St. Luke's, and St. James have come to an agreement not to ask for permission this year, hence there will not be a midnight Mass. but there will be a Solemn High Mass at 5:30 at St. James Church.
...........................
A book rack is being utilized in the vestibule of the church and is under the direction of Miss Frances Doering. A plentiful supply of the latest and most interesting booklets will be displayed thereon and the parishioners are exhorted to patronize it.
THE PARISH NOTE
The parish note has been met, the amount
was $6.875.00. There was also paid.
$560 on the Sisters' salary
$500 on the coal bill
total $7,935.
This depleted the parish treasury
and there is still to be met:
December salary for teachers, $280
6 months' salary for pastor, $600
salary and board of Assistant, $300
Catholic High School, $300
Orphans. $350
Cathedraticum, $275
bill for making Wade Ave., $222
the Seminary, $350
total, $2.677.
The contributions of the parishioners during the past 6 weeks have been in most instances consistent and generous but there are a number of wage earners from whom no notable contribution has been received during the year.
All are asked to be mindful of the parish obligations and to give a generous offering especially at Christmas.
INSTRUCTION CLASS AT RECTORY
The following have completed their
instruction at the night class which has been held in
the Rectory during the past few months and
have made their First Communion:
Mildred Duffner, 6722 Mitchell Ave.
Clara Klein, 6734 Plateau Ave.
Bertha Bond, 1107 Louisville
Bernice Martha Bond, 1107 Louisville
Cora Elizabeth Bond
Mildred Jones, 2603 Ecoff Ave.
Wilbert Joseph Napier, 6934 Noonan Ave.
Elizabeth Stahl, 1333 Hughes Pl.
Another class has just begun and non-Catholics and adult Catholics who have not been confirmed are invited to register at their earliest convenience at the Rectory.
Non-Catholics who attend these classes are under no obligation to join the church.
St. James Parochial School Football Team has been scored upon only once in their contests in the Forest Park Division of the Muny League. They have run up big scores against St. Lukes, St. Margarets and St. Francis Xavier school teams. Joe Pilla the goal keeper has defended the net with admirable skill and Billy Corbett is responsible for most of the scores.
The Dolan Real Estate Football Team in which seniors are playing have so far met with no defeat. The boys and young men are to he congratulated on their athletic prowess.
The Holy Name Minstrels are well pleased with the attendance at their Minstrel Show and are anxious to get returns from all who used tickets. The general estimate of the show is that it beats the customary standard and that many of the players especially the young men were exceptionally proficient. Returns can be made to Mr. Bernard Brady, 6235 Victoria Ave., or to Mr. Ed. Pierce.
Automobiles should not be parked in front of the entrances to the church. Should the custom continue we will be compelled to apply to the City Hall for a restriction.
Heaven upon us smiled --
The Son of God is born!
And now we greet the Child
Upon this Christmas Morn:
Dear little stranger boy!
O mighty Lord divine!
Sweet Sorrow's holy Joy!
O Jesus Savior mine!
Promised from of old --
Full many years are past --
By prophet lips foretold;
Behold! He comes at last!
A Virgin doth conceive,
And doth bring forth a Son!
By this we now believe
That all we lost is won!
Heaven doth drop down dew
Upon the sterile Dust;
The Earth it doth renew;
The Clouds rain down the Just!
o Lord, 'tis all so dear --
To save us Thou wast born!
Dear Lord, Thou'rt welcome here
This blessed Christmas. Morn!
Refrain (after each stanza)
Glory to God in the highest!
With heavenly hosts we sing.
Glory to God in the highest!
Hosanna to Christ our King!
Rev. M. O'Flaherty, Cairo, Ill., Nov. 25, 1926.
The card parties which were being given on Fridays to raise funds to install an automatic coal feed on the Convent furnace, have been discontinued because they were not profitable. The prizes which were left over from the Carnival are being retained for another occasion because they represent actual money that was paid to the department stores for the material. It has been estimated that the prizes given at the last two card parties cost, apart from the work, $140 and the receipts so far reported are not more than $200; even with this little margin of profit there was a constant clamor that the prizes were too small. We wish the ladies would become more practical and say something about the small price of admission.
The automatic coal feed has been installed in the Convent at a cost of $290 and is working satisfactorily. Payment for same must be made before the end of the year.
Mary Catherine Howard, 1318 Tamm Ave.
Rosemary Manestar, 1422a Tamm Ave.
Regina Marlyn Reppell, 1025a Central Ave.
Catherine Charmaine Donnelly, 6484 Dale Ave.
Margaret Joan Reese, 1233 Childress Ave.
The late James Gallaher, who was killed in an automobile wreck in Chicago and buried from St. James Church in St. Louis on November 11, was probably the most ideal alumnus of St. James School.
He was always a practical Catholic and possessed a charming personality, kind, genial, unobtrusive, silent, manly and respectful. He possessed a high sense of duty to God, home, country, and was ever respectful to his fellow man.
His wife, children and parents have the deep sympathy of the whole community. May he rest in peace.
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Blythe recently returned from an extensive trip to Europe. Some of their impressions are here given: The coast of Ireland looked beautiful as seen from the ship when it lay at anchor in Queenstown harbor. In Liverpool every house has a garden in which there are flowers and shrubs; the house has the name on the piers at the entrance. London has more busses to the block than any city in the world. England is green and very beautiful. In Scotland the people are red-faced, healthy and polite. Amsterdam, a city built in swamp land, has boats running between stores. Berlin, a city of polished granite, looks as solid and clean as a monument. Switzerland presents a country of magnificent rugged grandeur. In Italy, the land of culture, art and historic monuments, the men are the most beautiful in the world; the soldiers rival Napoleon in dress. Rome, the most attractive city in the continent, appears the center of all that is beautiful in Christian civilization. The Holy Father is the most impressively spiritual being in the world.
UNCLE HENRY'S LETTER
Dec 1, 1929.
dear Charlie:
thanksgiving day didnt mean much to sum peeple this year, like the l's that was hooked in the stock market crash or got laid off from there work on acount of there boss milked his business of the capital it needed; in an effort to hide an error in judgement behind additional margin. about the only thing they have to be thankful for is the fact that it is all over. an they cant be hurt eny worse than they have been.
father O'Connor has sumthin to be thankful for, on account of he just received word that the Archbishop has appointed him Pastor of St. James, an he no longer has to refer to hisself as administrator. i dont suppose he will have eny more authority or less responsibility than he has had, but the appointment indicates His Grace is satisfied with the way things has been handled, an i know the parishioners are.
at its next meeting the Holy Name Society will elect officers for the coming year, and my retirement brings with it a feeling of thankfulness for the two years i have had the privilage of serving as president. my efforts have not been crowned with as much success as i would have liked, but i have had many pleasant associations, and the hearty co-operation of a number of fine fellows who gave unsparingly of their time and labor.
wel, Charlie, i guess you are getting ready for the annual spend-fest, an make a fool of yourself like the rest of us, by spending a lot of hard earned money for junk to give to sumbody that you dont care enything about, just because you are afraid they will give you sumthin, even though you know darned well they dont like you a hit. anit it silly?
wen you sit back and analyze this gift exchanging habit in cold logic and without eny sentimental embelishments it boils down to a lot of unseasoned apple-sauce. an just think of all the embarassrnents it brings about. wen your wife runs into Mrs. so-and-so an recognizes her as the lady she met at a tea sumware last summer, an mrs. so-an-so wants to know what size shoe your wife wares on acount of she has to get sumthing for a friend that has about the same size foot, your mrs. figgers that mrs. so-and-so is going to give her a pair of silk stockings or boudoir slippers, so on Christmas morning she sends one of the youngsters over to mrs. so-and-so with a lovely piece of silk lingerie an the poor woman is all flustered an the youngster returns with a hand-painted shoe-horn an a explanation that the genuine linen buffet scarf which mrs. so-and-so bought for your wife was soiled and has to be exchanged. about that time the mrs. recognizes the shoe horn as the same one she gave mrs. Whosit four years ago.
it about evens up though, because sumone else unexpectedly sends your wife a lovely gift an it is your wife's turn to be flustered an the shoe-horn again changes ownership, with the same kind of an explanation it brought from mrs. so-an-so. the only one that benefits is the stores that propagate the crazy idear and the fat guy that wares a red suit trimmed in cotton an has a soft job for a few weeks standing around ringing a little bell an telling lies to the kiddes.
sum-one has suggest that the custom was introduced by the Wise Men when they brought gifts to the Infant Christ, an that it was adopted by the Jews, an i wouldn't be a bit surprise becaus the Jews have certinly capitalize the idea an make the most of it.
you an me are doing all we can to keep the silly, deceitful practise alive for future generations by living the Santa Clause lie for several months before Christmas. "dont do that", we tell the children, "the brownies are lookin in the winder". they believe it for a few years, an then pretend to for several more for fear you might not spend as much on em if you find out they know better, an i often wonder what passes through their minds wen they realize what liars they picked out for parents.
instead of the "brownies" why not tell em "listen you, i was figgerin on buyin you a toy sum time this month, but if you dont behave i'l1 give you a pair of shoes instead, an get your mother a box of cigars and let her have the money to buy me a new dress. old man sentiment would feel terrible i know, but it might protect em sum day from having hard feelings with mrs. so-an-so.
an instead of spendin all of your spare time on an elaborate lay-out of mountains, lakes, tunnels, forts, drill ground, and train tracks as a setting for your "tree", couldnt you entertain the kiddos and demonstrate your ability just as effectively by spendin your evenings on a reproduction of the little town of Bethleham with the "Eastern Star" blinkin in the sky overhead an the "three wise men" coming down the side of the mountain toward a little crib with the Holy Family grouped around and imitation candles burning along side the manger.
what all this holiday hokum has to do with the fact that the Lord was born on December 25th nobody knows, but sumbody started it, an we all have to keep it up, but ain't it silly?
your pertickler friend & uncle
HENRY
Mrs. Bovard has $15 accumulated through a rummage sale for the School Children's Christmas Party, which will be given at 3 o'clock on Friday, December 20th, and she is ready to accept donations to swell the fund. The school will close on the 20th and reopen on Thursday, January 2nd.
BACK TO LET'S GO, 1929
BACK TO LET'S GO, 1925-1932
| HOME | DOGTOWN |
| Bibliography | Oral history | Recorded history | Photos |
| YOUR page | External links | Walking Tour |