Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 8.djvu/815

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LA CROSSE


735


LA CROSSE


complete each other: Foisset dealing with the outer life as de- tailed ia the above art., while Chocarne telk the wonderful story of his mortifications and spiritual trials; Montalembert. Le Pire Lacordaire (Paris, 1862; tr. London, 1863); Idem, Le Testament du F. Lacordaire (1S70); RiCARD, Lacordaire (Paris, 1888): D'Hausson\^ille, Lacordaire (Paris, 1895): Sainte- Bedve, Causeries du Lundi. I (Paris, 1852); Nouveavx Lundis. IV (Paris, 1885) — these articles are written with all the skill and discernment of the great critic, who had once been on inti- mate terms with Lacordaire ; MacNabb, Lacordaire, 1802- 1861 (London, 1890); Lear, H. D. Lacordaire (London, 1882). T. B. SCANNELL.

Jean-Thkodorb Lacordaire, a distinguished French entomologist, brother of the famous preacher of the same name, b. at Recey-sur-Ource, Cote-d'Or, 1 Feb., 1801; d. at Liege, 18 July, 1870. As a boy he was very fond of natural history and especially the study of insect life. Family circumstances, however, made it necessary for him to adopt a mercantile career; he was sent to Havre, and at the age of twenty-four sailed for South America. He soon after began to de- vote himself to the study of zoology. Visiting South America four times between the years 1825 and 1832, he travelled on foot through extensive districts in order to study the rich insect fauna, particularly the beetles. He also undertook a journey to Senegambia. Intervening years were spent at Paris, where he made the acquaintance of the foremost contemporary French zoologists and devoted himself entirely to scientific studies. In 1836 he was appointed professor of zoology and comparative anatomy in the Univer- sity of Liege, a position which he held until his death, more than thirty years later.

He was a deeply religious man, particularly in his declining years, and one of his daughters became a nun. His scientific activity was conspicuous, un.sel- fish, and uninterrupted, and he was honoured with membership in many learned European societies. His principal works, which he began to publish in 1834, show independent and thorough research, and a full command of the extensive literature of entomology. While his first work, " Introduction h I'Entomologie" (2 vols., Paris, 1834-38), relates to the whole science of entomology, the subsequent volumes deal exclusively with beetles (Coleoptera). In 1842 was published "Monographic des Erotyliens"; in 1845-48 (Paris, 2 vols.) "Monographic des Coleopteres subpentameres de la famille des Phytophages", published also in the " M^moires de la Society Royale des Sciences de Liege ". But Lacordaire's principal work is "Histoire naturelle des Insectes", with the sub-title, " Genera des Coleop- teres" (Paris, 1854-1876, 12 tomes in 14 vols.); it con- tains a detailed description of all the then known genera of beetles, numbering about 6000. Although Lacordaire devoted the last eighteen years of his life to this work, he could not finish it. The last three vol- umes were written by his pupil, F. Chapuis. The te.xt of this great work is accompanied by an atlas of 134 plates.

Chapuis in the preface to vol. X of Genera des Coleoptlres (Paris. 1874): Kneller, Das Chrislentum und die Vertreter der neueren Naturwissenschaft (Freiburg, 1904).

Joseph Rompel.

La Crosse, Diocese of (Crossensis), erected in 1868, included that part of the State of Wisconsin, U. S. A., lying north and west of the Wisconsin River. In 1905 the establishment of tlie Diocese of Superior subdivided this territory and reduced it to the Comi- ties of .\dams, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Dunn, Eau Claire, Grant, Iowa, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Lafayette, Marathon, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Richland, Sauk, Trempealeau, Vernon, and Wood; an area of 17,299 square miles. It is suffragan to Mil- waukee. At the establishment of the diocese there were ministering to the scattered Catholic population twenty-two priests, who had to care for twenty-three churches and about fifty stations. Besides the En- glish and German congregations provision had also been made for Poles and Italians. Franciscan sisters


and lay teachers had charge of six parish .schools. The Very Rev. Michael Heiss, then he:i(l uf St. Francis's Seminary, Milwaukee, was elected as the fir.st bishop, and coiLsecrated 6 Sept., 18()S. He was born at Pfal- dorf, Bavaria, 12 April, 181S; in 1835 he entered the University of Munich, where Mohler, Dollinger, and Gorres were professors, intending to study law, but changed liis mind, took a course in theology, and was ordained at the age of twenty-two. Knowing the need of German priests in the United States, he ar- rived in New York 17 December, 1842, and was affili- ated to the Diocese of Louisville. Two years later he moved to Milwaukee at the invitation of Bishop Henni, and in 1S40 erected the first parish church in that city, his charge extending over an area of fifty- two miles. He opened a seminary in a private house, which was sub.sequently merged into the Seminary of St. Francis, of which he was president. During the twelve years of his administration in La Cros.se, he built several churches, including the cathedral, and the episcopal residence. While president of St. Francis's Seminary he published in English "The Four Gospels Examined and Vindicated on Catholic Principles" and a Latin essay " De Matrimonio ". As a priest he took part in the Councils of Baltimore in 1.S49 and 1866, and Pius IX made him a member of one of the four great commissions of bishops engaged in the prepara- tory work for the Vatican Council, 1869-70. On 14 March, 1880, he was appointed coatljutor with right of succession to the Archbishop of Milwaukee, and suc- ceeded 7 September, 1881. He died at La Crosse, 26 March, 1890.

Kilian Flasch, second bishop, was born at Retz- stadt, Bavaria, 16 July, 1837. His parents took him to the United States when he was ten years old, and settled near Milwaukee. He made his academic studies at Notre Dame LTniversity, and his theological course at St. Francis's Seminary, where he was or- dained 16 September, 1859. With two brief inter- missions he spent the subsequent years as professor and rector of this seminary until he was selected as the successor of Bishop Heiss and was consecrated Bishop of La Crosse, 24 August, 1881. During his adminis- tration of ten years he laboured zealously to increase the churches and the schools of the diocese, and died after a long illne.ss, 3 August, 1891.

James Schwebach, his vicar-general, succeeded him as the third bishop, and was consecrated 25 February, 1892. He was born at Flatten, Luxemburg, 15 Au- gust, 1847. He made his early studies at the college of Diekirk, and in 1864 emigrated to the United States, where he completed liis course at the Seminary of St. Francis, Milwaukee, and was ordained 17 July, 1870. Soon after, appointed rector of St. Mary's Church, La Cros.se, he built two schools and two churches there, under Bishops Heiss and Flasch. The latter appointed him vicar-general and administrator of the diocese.

Religious communities in the diocese. — Men: Jes- uits, Dominicans, Fathers of the Holy Ghost, Mission- ary Fathers of the Sacred Heart. Women: Francis- can Sisters of the Perpetual Adoration, Sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic, Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, School Sisters of Notre Dame, Sisters of St. Dominic, Franciscan Sisters of Ch:irity, School Sisters of St. Francis, Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi, Sisters of St. Benedict, Polish Sisters of St. Joseph, Sisters of the Society of the Divine Saviour. Priests, 177 (26 re- ligious); churches with resident priests, 126; missions with churches, 86; stations, 6; chapels, 24; college, 1; students, 225; academies for girls, 2; pupils, 292; high schools, 2; parish schools, 76; pupils: boys, 4874, girls, 5044; orphan asylums, 2; inmates, 180; total young people under Catholic care, 10,468; hos- pitals, 5; Catholic population, 112,400.

Official Catholic Directory, 1S69-1910; Catholic Family Al- manac (New York, 1892); Bcnziger's Almanac (New York, 1888,