Kebr. State Historical Society
VOL. NO. LIH
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, HAY 13, 1937.
NO. 23
Investiture of Right. Rev.
Monsignor George Agius at
Most Rev. Louis B. Kucera, Bishop of Lincoln, Here to Con
fer Papal Honor on Veteran Priest of Diocese
Church is Packed for Ceremony.
COMMUNITY TRIBUTE PAID AT EVENING BANQUET
Event Brings Many Priests of
Old Friends of Monsignor Agius from Former
4 Charges McFadden Toastmaster
Sunday afternoon amid the impressive ceremonies of the
Roman Catholic church. Father George Ajrius of the St. Tohn's
church of this city was elevated to the rank of domestic prelate,
with the title of Rt. Rev. Monsignor, one of the high honors hat
the church confers upon its faithful servants.
The event brought a large number of priests from this section
of the state and many old friends of Monsignor Agius to pay him
honor and share in his recognition.
The investiture was held at 4
o'clock at the St. John's church,
which for the occasion was beauti
fully decorated with the lilacs and
ropes of the spring season and which
were arranged profusely on the altar
of the church. The throne occupied
by Bishop L. B. Kucera was also de
corated in an impressive mannner.
The large church auditorium was fill
ed to its capacity by the members of
the parish and friends of Monsignor
Agius from this city and southern
Nebraska.
The processional was accompanied
by the choral rendition of the ser
vice as the distinguished members of
the party entered the sanstuary of
the church and Bishop Kucera was
seated on his throne.
Very Rev. Monsignor Barnes, of
Lincoln, chancellor of the Lincoln
diocese, read the papal order that ele
vated the Plattsmouth priest to the
monsignori of the church, as well as
the letter of Bishop Kucera in which
he commended the selection and
praised the services of the recipient.
The impressive investiture was
made by the Most Rev. Louis B.
Kucera, the bishop of Lincoln, con
fering on Monsignor Aguis, the high
honors that the church has provided
for their priests.
It was a very happy note of the
service that Monsignor Agius had1
present an old friend of more than J
thirty-two years standing, , Father
Ed. D. D. Daugherty, of Waterloo, la.,
who came here on the mission to
preach the investiture sermon for his
old friend and to meet the Bishop of
Lincoln, who as a young priest had
served in his diocese in Iowa.
Father Daugherty took as his sub
ject that of Samuel and the prophets
and leaders of the Bible, carrying
the theme down through the years of
the old testament when God made his
wishes known through the prophets
and leaders of the people of Israel.
Then in the good time Christ was
sent to earth and through His pres
ence and teaching the carrying out
of the Christian faith was placed in
the hands of the priesthood of the
church and was unending as the
priests carried out the message of
the faith, the reward of the priest
was great in the service that he
might give, and it was this service
that had been given by Monsignor
Agius in his work in the posts to
which he had been called. Father
Daugherty paid high tribute to Mon
signor Agius as an old friend, for the
untiring and faithful serice that the
priest had given to his church, for
his deep humility and unselfishness
in his service to his people to whom
he had truly served as a spiritual
father as well as leader. He also
praised the fine work that had been
given by Monsignor Agius in the past
years when he was called to the post
of chancellor of the diocese of Lin
coin from 1902 to 1912 and which
service had still left its stamp on the
records and methods of handling the
affairs of the church.
Bishop Kucera toolc occasion in
his remarks to point out that the
Lincoln diocese was celebrating its
golden Jubilee, being created as the
South Platte diocese of the church
in 1S7 and the Most Rev. Thomas
Eonacum. named as the first bishop,
Monsignor Agius had come from
Rome to Lincoln to be the chancel
lor of the diocese in 1902 and his
St. John's Church Sunday
Lincoln Diocese as Well as
splendid work had been of invaluable
aid to the bishop and placed the dio
cese on a firm financial basis. The
church was honoring the memory
and services of Bishop Bonacum in
the naming of his secretary and chan
cellor to the monsignori of the
church, an honor well deserved and
for which the people and the priests
of the diocese felt very grateful.
The Banquet
The ladies of the St. John's parish
had arranged the American Legion
hall in a most artistic . manner for
the investiture and in which purple
was the color theme. The windows
were shaded with the curtains of
purple which also were used in the
decorations of the lights of the hall
and candles of the same hue were
used on each of the tables. The nut
cups formed as tulips were also of
the purple. Bouquets of roses and
lilacs were used on each of the tables.
The banquet was well prepared
and was served by the young girls
of the St. John's parish in a very
delightful manner. The menu was
as follows:
Fruit Cocktail
Celery - Olives - Radishes
Salted Nuts
Baked Virgina Kam
Cinnamon Apples
Fotatoes on Half Shell
with Parsley
Asparagus Tips
Rolls - Jam
Spring Salad
Angel Food with Strawberries
and Whipped Cream
After Dinner Mints
Coffee
During the banquet the high
school orchestra under the direction
of Lee Knolle, music supervisor, gave
a number of very much appreciated
selections to assist in the pleasant
ness of the evening. John Jacobs was
heard in the vocal selection, "The
Rosary" by Nevin, very beautifully
given.
Rev. Father E. C. McFadden, of
Syracuse, was the toastmaster of the
evening and was at his best in this
role, presenting very cleverly each
of the speakers of the evening.
It was regretted that Bishop
Kucera was called to Lincoln just
as the banquet was to open and ac
cordingly gave his message at the
opening of the evening. The bishop
paid high tribute to the church
leadership and the great statesman
ship, of Pope Pius XI and especially
in the cause of world peace and the
advancement of the church. He also
touched on the history of the Papacy
in the more recent years of the
church history. The bishop also
again complimented Monsignor Agius
on his elevation in the church clergy.
The official welcome of the city of
Plattsmouth was extended by Mayor
George Lushinsky, who congratulated
the guest of honor and expressed ap
preciation of the community for the
honor that had been bestowed on our
local priest.
The Rt. Rev. Monsignor Luke
Mandeville, of York, responded to the
toast of "The Holy Father" and in
his remarks traced the founding of
the papacy from the time of St. Teter
to the present day, lauding the pres
ent occupant of the papal chair for
his untiing efforts for the church
and especially his thoughtfulness for
the members of the faith in the lands
Continued on Page. Six.
Project Club
Tea Honors Cass
County Leaders
350 Women Attend Recognition and
Installation at Weeping Water
Tuesday Afternoon,
Mrs. Everett Spangler of Murray,
county group chairman had charge
of the program at the recognition
and installation service for the re
tiring and newly elected officers at
the Congregational church in Weep
ing Water Tuesday afternoon. The
project club tea was attended by 350
women representing the 51 project
clubs which have been active in the
county during the past year.
John B. Kaffenberger, president of
the Cass county farm bureau board,
was introduced by Mrs. Spangler.
Mr. Kaffenberger stated that the
rural population must cooperate and
be represented by efficient leaders.
Among the aims of the farm bureau
he mentioned increased incomes, rural
electrification, adjustment of tax
ation, farm legislation, better farm
to market roads, and cooperative bar
gaining. Miss Elsie Rockenbach took the
place of Mrs. John Fischer in direct
ing the Eagle women's chorus. The
group sang "Trees ana "i'rayer
Perfect."
History of Project Clubs
Miss Evelyn Wolph cf Nehawka,
state president of the Women's Fed
erated clubs, sketched the history of
project club work in Cass couny. She
mentioned that the first club was
organized In 1918 under the direc
tion of County Agent Snipes. The
group was composed of 100 women
who met during the summer months.
In 1921 individual groups were or
ganized under the direction of Mrs.
Nelson Berger, the first home agent
in this county. She paid a high
tribute to Mrs. Berger for her work.
Since 1928 Miss Jessie Baldwin, as
home extension agent, and D. D.
Wainscott, county agent, have direct
ed a continuous growth, working
quietly to enrich the life of rural
women. As an expression of appre
ciation, a gift was presented to Miss
Baldwin by the club women.
Mj'rs. J. R. Reeder directed the
Plattsmouth Chorus in the songs.
A Love Dream," "Stars of a Sum
mer Night" and "Allah's Holiday."
Mrs. Henry Goos accompanied.
Urges Fight on Grasshoppers
"This county is literally alive with
grasshopper eggs" stated D. D. Wain
scott, county agent, "and unless we
have cold, hard rains within a few
weeks, we will have a serious situ
ation."
He urged the women to get behind
a ngnt on the grasshoppers, lie
stated that the board was meeting
this week to formulate a program
for fighting the threatening pest.
P. H. Hornbj', county agent of
Sarpy county, was introduced.
He also spoke of the grasshopper
situation and told of the Dodge coun
ty solution. The county has ordered
52 tons of bran for the fight.
Mrs. Karl Grosshans, county group
chairman of Sarpy county, was also
introduced. Miss Baldwin has also
given lessons in that county during
the past year.
County President Introduced
Mrs. Elmer Sundstrom, president
of the Cass county federation of
Women's clubs, was introduced. She
stated as the purpose the club work,
education for better living." She
also expressed appreciation that so
many clubs had joined the feder
ation.
Mrs. Ralph Creamer directed the
Elmwood rural chorus. They sang
"Over the Summer Seas" and "Sweet
and Low."
Recognition Service
Miss Jessie Baldwin took the stage
during the recognition and installa
tion service. Mrs. Roy Haslam ac
companied at the console. The tall
white candle representing the var
ious agricultural organizations was
lighted hrst. rom it, Mrs. Everett
Spangler lighted the candle repre
senting the county chairman. Nest
to light their candles were the group
chairmen, Mrs. George Sheldon of
Nehawka, Mrs. Will Stroebel of Elm
wood, Mrs. Sterling Ingwerson of
Plattsmouth, Mrs. Ralph Keckler of
Weeping Water, Mrs. A. J. Tool of
Murdock, Mrs. William Core of Louis
ville, ani Mrs. Turley Wahl of Eagle.
A leadership pin was presented to
Mrs. Spangler. Corsages were given
to each of the group chairmen in
honor of their service.
Presidents of project clubs during
the past year next lighted their
candles and the project leaders from
the clubs were called to the front of
the room. Words of appreciation
were spoken and each was presented
with a corsage. Recognition was
also given to the leaders of the coun
ty chorus groups.
Installation
New group leaders were called to
the stage to receive the lighted
candle from their predecessors. Only
two are new for next year. Mrs.
John Woest takes the place of Mrs.
Ingwerson and Mrs. Bert Lytle will
take the place of Mrs. Wahl.
The new presidents then took the
lighted candles from the presidents
of the past year and the new project
leaders were called to the stage. The
installation pledge was repeated in
unison. At the close of the meeting
another gift was presented to Miss
Baldwin by the Cass county farm
bureau board.
Lunch and Program
Students of Janet Munkres of
Weeping Water gave a group of tap
dance numbers as the ladies were
served. Donna Mae Philpot gave the
"Essence of Virginia" to the tune of
"Comin' Thru the Rye." A quartet
in crepe paper costumes presented a
waltz clog to "Sidewalks of New
York." Dancers were Mary Jo
Schmitt, Ruth Ann Hinds, Patsy
Wainscott, and Janice Joyce. Mrs.
Roy Haslam accompanied.
Mrs. George Sheldon and Mrs. A. J.
Tool poured during the first service;
Mrs. Will Stroebel and Mrs. Turley
Wahl, during the seoend; and Mrs.
William Core and Mrs. Sterling Ing
werson, during the third.
Paving of High
way 24 Promised
for June Letting
State and Federal Authorities Promise
That Gap in High-way Pav
ing to Be Closed.
The paving of the stretch of gravel
road on highway No. 24 from near
Elmwood east to Weeping Water, is
to be among the lettings at the June
contracting by the state highway de
partment, assurances have been re
ceived here from the state highway
department.
The paving of this section of road
way will add to the all paved high
way to the west and through Lincoln
and Hastings.
The highway is one of the prin
cipal east and west roads through
this part of the state and is a part
of federal highway No. 34 from Chi
cago, all paved to Glenv.ood and
leaving only a small section unpaved
to the Missouri river.
The paving has been expected since
the last of year and it is a very great
pleasure to the residents of this sec
tion of the state to learn that it is
being made possible in the June let
ting. TUITION BILL IS SIGNED
It remained for Fred L. Carsten of
Avoca to put thru the legislature, of
which body he is a member, the much
Introduced measure to require the
state to pay tuition of sons and
daughters of men in the service of
the army in this state. It has been
a common legislative topic in recent
years. Opponents claimed that it is
up to the government not the state
to pay such tuition.
Carsten not only saw his bill suc
cessfully thru the several stages to
passage, but was in the governor's
office Tuesday when the executive
gave final sanction to 502. The latter
appropriates $15,000 for purposes
outlined. Schools of Bellevue, Craw
ford and Omaha will participate.
In addition to Senators Carsten,
Harry Gantz and Ernie Adams, the
following were in the executive office
at approval time: President Freeman
of the Bellevue board of education
and these board members: Messrs.
Larson, Bacheldor, Phelps; Mrs. Ben-
net, also board member and School
Superintendent Bell.
Subscribe for the Journal.
JUDGE TEFFT HOLDS COURT
Judge C. E. Tefft of Weeping Wa
er, held his first hearing on the coun
ty court bench Monday afternoon
when three fishermen were arraign
ed before him on the charge of vio
lating fishing regulations.
The men were from Omaha and
Fred Placek and J. J. Miller, were
charged with fishing in the state lake
at Louisville without the proper li
cense, while A. H. Bartly was charged
with having too many hooks on his
lines.
The three defendants made a plea
of guilty and were given a fine of
$5 and costs which was paid.
The complaining witness was John
J. Tooley, a deputy state game war
den. TO UNDERGO OPERATION
George P. Meisinger of this city,
was operated on Tuesday at the St.
Joseph hospital at Omaha following
an illness of some duration. Mr. Mei
singer sometime ago underwent a
preliminary operation and yesterday
was given the major operation. His
condition is reported as very good
and it is hoped he will be fully re
stored to his former good health.
Aschenbrenner
Funeral Today a
Military Burial
Requiem High Mass at Holy Rosary
Church and With Service at the
Grave by American Legion.
From Monday's Daily
A large group of the relatives and
old friends of Frank J. Aschenbren
ner, world war veteran and a life
long resident of this city, attended
the last rites at the Holy Rosary
church this morning.
The escort at the church was com
posed of the color guard of the Amer
ican Legion and the firing squal of
the 17th infantry at Fort Crook and
who also participated in the cere
monies at the grave.
The requiem high mass of the
church was celebrated by the Rt.
Rev. Monsignor Adolph M. Mosler, !
pastor of the church and who gave j
the sermon in both English and Eo
hemian. In his remarks the pastor
pointed out that man was not born
to die, but through the original sin,
death had been brought to the here
tofore immortal man, but through j
the forgiveness of Christ was ever- (
lasting life promised to mankind by!
the side of God. Death was uncertain .
and none knew his time and that to
combat the foe of death was to live
in the keeping of the commandments
of the Lord, that man by his living
could prepare the way to live for
ever in the presence of God.
The choir of the church assisted
in the singing of the mass most im
pressively. The body was laid to the last rest
in the Catholic cemetery with the
prayers given by Monsignor Mosler
and the ritualistic services of the
American Legion by H. L. Gayer,
commander, and R. J. Larson as chap
lain. The salute to the dead was by
the firing squad from Fort Crook and
taps by W. R. Holly.
The pall bearers were Legion mem
bers and old time friends of the de
parted, W. R. Holly, Peter Grado
ville, Julius Kalasek, C. E. Ledgway,
Frank Smith and Fred Lug3ch.
CEMETERY BOARD ORGANIZES
The Plattsmouth city cemetery
board met Tuesday for their reor
ganization for the coming year and
to receive as a member of the board,
Edward G. Ofe, appointed to take
the place of James C. Comstock, re
signed. The board re-elected WT. F. Evers
as the chairman and Leslie W. Niel as
the secretary-treasurer.
The other members of the board
are Fred H. Sharpnack, Judge A. H.
Duxbury, George A. Kaffenberger and
E. G. Ofe.
The board has arranged a very
efTicient and business like conduct
of the affairs of the cemetery and
expect to have it kept in the best of
shape all year round and assuring
the lot owners that their lots will be
well cared for by the superintendent
of the cemetery.
RETURNS FROM THE WEST
Byron Golding, who has been en
joying an outing on the Pacific coast
in the Los Angeles and Long Beach
vicinity, returned home-Sunday from
a visit with relatives and old friends
in that part of the west.
Mr. Golding had a very delightful
time and was able to meet many of
the old time Plattsmouth people who
are now located on the west coast
and the renewal of old times was
most pleasant.
He was also a guest of his sister-in-law,
Mrs. Daniel Golding and
family while in the west.
Labor Troubles
on River Project
East of Union
Some Nineteen Men Quitting as Work
Brings Capt. H. B. Loper in
Charge of Work to Union.
From Wednesday's Dolly
Captain H. B. Loper, of Omaha, in
charge of the Missouri river improve
ment work from Kansas City to Sioux
City, was at Union today to investi
gate labor troubles that have occur
red on the project east of Union and
which work is being handled by the
McGeorge Contracting Co.
There has been reports of dissatis
faction on the work by the men em
ployed and who allege inability to
get along with the men that have di
rected their work and which has led,
it is claimed to some nineteen of the
men quitting their work in the past
few days.
The men claim that they are un
able to do the work to satisfy the
directors of the various jobs on the
river program and the foremen have
been dissatisfied with the manner in
which the work is done and the
amount of time that the work ha3
taken.
The McGeorge company is on the
last of their project in that section
of the river and it is expected that
two or three weeks will see the work
completed.
The representative of the war de
partment will look into the situation
and hear the representatives of the
men and the company as to the
causes of the dissatisfaction.
CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS ELECT
The local court of the Catholic
Daughters of America met Tuesday
evening at the St. John's school for
their regular business meeting also
to take up the matter of the elec
tion of officers.
The officers named were as fol
lows:
Grand Regent Mrs. Katherine
Mullen.
Vice Grand Regent Mrs. Diana
Bennett.
Prophetess Mrs. Josephine Swa
tek. Historian Mrs. Agnes Walling.
Financial Secretary Mrs. Pauline
Webb.
Treasurer Mrs. Mary Creamer.
Monitor Mrs. Hermie Svoboda.
Lecturer Mrs. Mary Rea.
Organist Mrs. Esden Doody.
Sentinel Mrs. Anna Zitka.
Trustees Mrs. Josephine Swatek,
Mrs. Marie Kalina.
The court selected as the dele
gates to the state convention open
ing at Lincoln on Sunday, Mrs.
Katherine Mullen, with Mrs. Diana
Bennett as alternate.
FUNERAL OF JOHN TIDBALL
Sunday afternoon the funeral ser
vices for the late John L. Tidball
were held at the First Presbyterian
church of which he had been a
member for the years of his resi
dence in this community.
Dr. H. G. McClusky, pastor of the
church, brought the message of the
life everlasting in his remarks and
which served as a comfort to the
members of the family circle.
During the services Frank A. Cloidt
gave the lovely old hymn, "Sometime
We'll Understand," Mrs. H. F. Goos
playing the accompaniment.
The body was taken to Crete for
the interment, the Sattler funeral
home of this city having charge.
The pall bearers here were John
Alwin, S. S. Davis, H. F. Goos, R. W.
Knorr, H. A. Schneider and L. O.
Minor. At Crete a number of the old
friends laid the body to the last red.
Phone news items to Ho. 6.
Chancellor
Philips Visits
Local Mason
Worshipful Master of Nebraska Ma
sonry Honored Guest of Lodge
No. 6, A. F. & A. M.
From Wednesday's Daily
Flattsmouth lodge No. 0, A. I". &;
A. M. last evening had the pleasure
of having as the guest of honor at
their meeting, Chancellor Phillips,
of Cambridge, the worshipl'ul master
of the Nebraska Masons, tlie first of
ficial visit of the master to the local
lodge.
The occasion was doubly gratify
ing in not only the welcome to the
official head of the state Masonry
but also in the fact that it was in
the nature of a homecoming for Mr.
Phillips, who was for some time here
with the First National bank and
also had been married in this city.
Anderson Lloyd, senior warden of
the lodge presided and presented the
various numbers on the program.
The Masonic quartet composed of
Frank A. Cloidt, R. C. Cook, II. G.
McClusky and R. W. Knorr gave
two very splendidly rendered num
bers, "The Bells of St. Mary's" and
"Home on the Range," E. H. Wescott
accompanying the quartet at the
piano.
Mr. Cloidt gave a vocal solo. "The
Old Refrain" by Kreislcr with Mr.
Wescott being the accompanist.
Mr. Phillips received the honors
of his office from the assembled
lodge and gave them a very inspiring
address ou the trip that he recent
ly made to Charleston, South Caro
lina, where was observed the L'OOth
anniversary of Masonry of the grand
lodge of South Carolina. Mr. Phil
lips told of the great part that Ma
sonry had played in the history of.
that state and the nation and the
many notable addresses on the work:
of Masonry that had been given a,
the anniversary and which was par
ticipated in by many of the grand
lodge representatives from the var
ious part of the United States u)
well as England and Canada.
The address was very inspiring f
the members of the order and wlu
appreciated very much the fine con
tribution of the evening in the story
of the southern trip.
The evening was closed by tiie
serving of refreshments by the lodce
members and the reception and ier
sonal greeting of the grand master.
Mr. Phillips also entertainply told
of the many beauty spots of Charles
ton, the water front and historic Fort
Sumter, located in the harbor and
where the first shot of the civil w:.r
was fired. He also described tie
quaint streets of the oldt-r section f
the city and the many beautiful
southern colonial homes and the
buildings that had been erected in
the colonial days.
PLATTSMOUTH GIRL
PLAYS IN PIANO FESTIVAL
Miss Jean Knorr will be among
the pianists which are to play at
the second Nebraska Piano Festival
to be held at the Coliseum in Lincoln
Saturday evening at S:l. Four hun
dred pianists and a mass chorus of
900 voices will take part in the pro
gram which provides an impressive
climax to the 19th annual convention
of the Nebraska Music Teachers' as
sociation. Registration has swept far beyond
that for the festival of 12H6. Si:.ty
pianos will be played by the folic w
ing groups: Senior high school. CO.
Junior high school, 120. Juven.le.
100. young men, 23; adult, 40; ac
companists, CO. In the last numlr,
the Pilgrims' chorus from Wagner's
"Tannhauser," the 0 pianos will ac
company the mass chorus, which is
made up almost entirely of pujiils in
the senior and Junior high schools of
Lincoln.
RETURNS FROM OUTING
George F. Swatek returned home
Saturday from a th vacation
trip to the west coast and which has
taken him through prr.ctically all of
the coast from California to the
Pacific northwest. With a friend
from Lincoln the trip was made by
car and gave a fine opportunity to
view the many 'points of interest.