My Genealogy Hound

Ver. Rev. P. Wolfgang Schlumpf, the present very worthy prior of St. Benedict Monastery, was originally from Canton Zug, Switzerland, where his birth occurred on January 20, 1831, and is the son of Philip and Christina (Hotz) Schlumpf, the father dying when Father Wolfgang was but a boy. The latter was sent to Schwitz College, thence to France Rufach, still higher college, and afterward returned to Zug, where he attended school for some time. From there he went to Einsiedelen, entered the monastery at the age of twenty-two, completed his studies for the priesthood, and was ordained at the age of twenty-six years. After his ordination he was made professor of the gymnasium of the monastery. In 1862 he emigrated to America and stopped at the monastery at St. Meinrad, Spencer County, Ind., where he assumed the duties of a parish near St. Meinrad for two or three years. In March, 1878, he, with two lay Brothers, came to Arkansas, and for the first time set foot on the soil of Logan County. This pioneer Father immediately took possession of Section 11, Township 7, Range 25, for the use and purpose of the new monastery. A dilapidated log-cabin was the only building on the apportioned lands; there was no visible being around to cheer and encourage the Father and his two companions. All was bleak enough, and certainly, judging from a mere human point of view, the outlook was not very encouraging. But this valiant man, had back for a thousand years or more, the history and acts of his Order before his mind’s eye, and was not the one to be discouraged. Sturdy monks know not the word fail, and in the wilderness, amid strange surroundings, was founded what is now known as the Monastery of St. Benedict. Around that old log cabin has grown the above-mentioned institution, and numerous churches and schools, among the most prominent of which is the convent of St. Scholastica, at Shoal Creek. After St. Scholastica, congregations were formed at Morrison Bluff, St. Anthony’s Church, at Caulksville; the Church of the Sacred Heart, at Charleston, Franklin County; St. Joseph’s Church at Paris was founded in 1880, and other churches founded by this Father were St. Edward’s Church at Little Rock; St. Boniface Church at Fort Smith; another St. Boniface at Dixie, Perry County, and St. Elizabeth in the same county, which are attended by Benedictine Fathers from the monastery of St. Benedict. Later four more congregations were placed under the jurisdiction of the Benedictine Fathers by the Bishop: Altus, Hartman, Coal Hill and Clarksville. These congregations are ministered to by the Benedictine Fathers, missionaries sent from St. Meinrad and Einsiedelen, there being now ten Fathers, fourteen fraters, nine lay brothers and three novices. The College of St. Benedict, founded by our subject, was organized and held its first session in 1887. At that session there were eight students, and this number has been increased each succeeding year. Many of these students enter the college with the object of becoming priests, and are so educated. The course of study as laid down here is very comprehensive. In the elementary course are reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, grammar, geography, physiology, drawing, United States history and the Christian doctrine. In the commercial course students are instructed in book-keeping in addition to continuing their studies in the common branches, higher mathematics, physics, rhetoric and ancient history. Students desiring to enter the priesthood are required to take Latin in the commercial course. In the classical course students continue English, higher mathematics, world’s history, church history, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, theology and all the branches accompanying a thorough theological course. Since acquiring the 640 acres of the monastery grounds, they have purchased 160 acres near Paris in the southwest quarter of Section 5, Township 7, Range 25. The college building is 25x50 feet, two stories high, and is situated about 100 yards from the monastery. It was remodeled in 1888 for a college, and now forms a very important part of the buildings of St. Benedict. In 1888 was laid the foundation for a stone chapel, on the heights, back of the monastery, 21x42 feet, with a 16-foot ceiling and a 40-foot spire. The present monastery being too small for the requirements, it is the intention of these Fathers to build in their new home a monastery of solid stone which, like their own old faith, will be lasting and enduring; a college, too, worthy of the name and fame of a distinguished order, will surely follow. There is also upon the grounds a parish school conducted by Sisters of Charity.