2016-2017 SMB OFFICERS President: Mr. Jim Wiesemann Vice-President: Mr. Steve Oswald Secretary: Mr. Donnie Morris Treasurer: Mr. Mark Schulz Marshall: Mr. Bob Geary Operations Manager: Mr. Mike Maier Board of Directors: Mr. Ray Metten Mr. Leroy Rhodes Mr. Charlie Allgeier
WHY THE SOCIETY BEGAN
Information for this article was taken from the St. Martin's Brotherhood Centennial 1972 Program The City of Louisville was names for King Louis XVI of France, and the first Catholic Church, under the patronage of St. Louis IX, King of France was situated at Tenth and Main Streets, Louisville, Kentucky. Built by the zealous Father Stephan Badin, it was dedicated on December 25, 1811. Because of the rapidly increasing population, the seat of the diocese was transferred from Bardstown to Louisville in 1841. The cornerstone of the Cathedral of the Assumption was laid on the site of the old St. Louis Church on August 15, 1849.
In the late thirties of the last century there was such a notable tide of Irish and German immigration to Louisville that in 1836 it became necessary to divide the Cathedral parish and erect St. Boniface Church on Fehr near Jackson streets for the German element and to organize in 1837 the Church of Our lady in Portland for the Irish and French Catholics.
In the short time, however, St. Boniface Church was not large enough to care for its four thousand members, and in 1842 another church had to be organized for the Germans living west of St. Boniface. It was placed under the patronage of Mary Immaculate by its founder, Father Carl Boeswald. Eleven years later in 1853 Father Leander Streber, O.S.F., a native of Bavaria founded St. Martin's Church for the German living east of St. Boniface. By this time one third of the population of Louisville was of German origin, and the boasted of ten German churches, seven of which were constructed for non-Catholic worship.
The influx of Irish, Swiss, and German immigrants had considerably swelled the ranks of Catholics in Louisville by 1854, when persecution broke out due to national and religious prejudices. It was in this uprising that due to the so-called Know-Nothing Lodge, the infamous Bloody Monday occurred. As these Know-Nothing Lodges spread, attacks continued to be made on Catholics in one form or another.
Samuel Morse, the inventor of the electric telegraph, followed his earlier writings against Catholicity with an attempt to show that Lafayette had warned Americans of the danger to be feared for their liberties from the Catholic clergy. Bishop Martin John Spalding of Louisville answered Morse with crushing force, and made it apparent to all men that the assertion was a mere fable. In his own episcopal city, however, the columns of the Louisville Journal were used to excite hostility against Catholics, especially those of foreign birth.
Before the election which was held on August 5, 1855 threats were openly made that all Catholics would be kept from the polls. When the fatal day came, which is known in Kentucky history as Bloody Monday, every Catholic and every foreigner were driven from the polls. Attempts to exercise their rights as citizens were crushed by organized force; and resistance was overcome by the use of arms, and, when the unfortunate men fled to their homes, they were pursued, their homes set on fire, and they were either shot down in their attempt to escape or perished in the flames. The scenes of this bloody riot were centered about Shelby Street, near St. Martin's Church and at Quinn's Row at Tenth and Main Streets. St. Martin's Church and the Cathedral were threatened, and were saved only by the prompt remonstrance of Bishop Spalding who induced the Mayor of the city to quell the riot.
In 1855 Bishop Spalding wrote: "We have just passed through a reign of terror, surpassed only by the Philadelphia riots. Nearly a hundred poor Irish and Germans have been butchered or burned, and some twenty houses have been fired and burned to the ground. The city authorities, All-Know Nothings, looked calmly on and they are now endeavoring to lay the blame on the Catholics." Many Catholics and other residents, among them men operating large business firms, at once, closed up their affairs and removed to safer homes in St. Louis, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and Chicago. As a result, the atrocity proved seriously injurious to Louisville as a manufacturing and cultural city.
The Germans seeking to adapt themselves to the new environment in a new country, clung to their religious convictions and found in them a source of unity, peace, and mutual helpfulness. The realization that in unity there is strength, caused them to organize Benevolent Societies, especially in the larger cities of the United States. The motives for the foundation of such organizations were not always the same. Some were established for the sake of associations, others of the sake of assistance in the days of sickness and distress. Hence, there arose all sorts of Benevolent Societies; societies for butchers, the baker, and the candlestick makers; societies for the Swiss and for the Irish, for the people of Bavaria and of Baden; for the High Germans for the Low Germans. National sectionalism was so strong in those days that marriages between the Low and High Germans were often considered mixed marriages, and caused bitter resentment between the relatives of the bride and groom. Thank God those days are past.
To counteract the danger of being ensnared in the meshes of anti-Catholic societies, the Catholic Mutual Benevolent Societies were organized in hope of offering the German Catholics a source of union and Catholic fellowships, as well as protection in case of sickness and death. Throughout the land there existed beneficial association whose social benefits were winning the immigrants into their lodges. Another vital reason for Catholic organizations arose from adverse circumstances which handicapped the arrival of the German Catholic in this country when Nativism, Atheism, and bigotry were rampant in some sections of the United States.
Among the earliest Benevolent Societies we find the Utica German Aide Society in New York in 1839, and the St. Joseph Benevolent Society of New York in 1845. In 1841, Cincinnati, Ohio had the German Catholic Benevolent Society, and in 1844 the St. Bernardus Benevolent Society was organized in Covington, Kentucky. In Louisville, the St. Boniface Benevolent Society was organized in 1848. This was followed by the St. Louis Benevolent Society, the Charles the Great Society in 1866, the St. Leopold's Society in 1868, the St. John Society and finally the St. Martinus Brotherhood in 1872.
The number of Catholic Benevolent Societies kept pace with the fast growing immigration. Almost all German Catholic parishes had the individual benevolent societies. They were not strictly parish societies but societies of Catholic men for the benevolent purposes. With the continued increase of these societies throughout the country, there was soon felt the necessity, as well as the advantage, of bringing all these societies under a united head by establishing a general office. This was the idea which led to the founding of the Central Verein at a time when hatred of foreigners and Catholics was being manifested in the Know-Nothing Movement in the United States. The Catholic Central Society of America united all the Catholic Benevolent Societies in order to withstand the attacks of the radical anti-Catholic elements and to safeguard the faith and rights of the German Catholics from the Know-Nothing Party. This central office was established in St. Alphonus Hall, Baltimore, Maryland on April 15, 1855, and was placed under the patronage of the Holy Family. At present, the office of the Central Verein is located in St. Louis, MO. In 1891, the society numbered 42,401 members and comprised 467 affiliated societies.
OUR CLUB BEGINNINGS
Father Leander Streber, O.S.F., pastor of St. Martin's Church, organized St. Martin's Brotherhood in 1872. The Founders were Eustace Reis, Carl Wissler, and Bernard Heil. Frank Schmitt, F. Malkmus, Carl Wissler, and Ben Heil were elected to be first officers. In 1873, the society roster of eighty members elected as Officers Christian Funk, F. Malkmus, Carl Wissler, and Carl Oswald.
The Catholic Glaubensbote of Louisville, gives the following news item under the date of July 24, 1872; St. Martinus Bruder Bund, under this name, a new benevolent society was organized in St. Martin's Parish fourteen days ago. This benevolent society distinguishes itself from the other societies in this that it does not oblige all members to attend "incorpore" the funeral of a deceased member. However, two officers of the society and the District Sick Committee must attend in a carriage furnished by the society. This society has a goodly number of charter members. The object of St. Martinus Brotherhood, tersely expressed in its charter in 1872 is to assist its members when sick and distressed, and to help the widows and orphans in case of death of a member. The Charter of membership is signed by the committee consisting of J.B. Nurre, Eustace Reis, Frank Schmitt, and Herman Epping. The original charter was recorded in Jefferson County Court on August 12, 1872, by C.M. Thruston, clerk.
The Brotherhood has as its patron saint, St. Martin of Tours, who was a model of faith, humility, and charity. Bon in Sabaria, Hungary, in 316, Martin received his education in Pavia, Italy, and enrolled in the Roman army at an early age. Amiens in France was the scene of the famous incident of St. Martin sharing his military cloak with a cold beggar. This generosity was followed by a heavenly vision which led to the Saint's conversion and baptism. After his release from the army, he assisted St. Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers, France. In 371 he reluctantly became Bishop of Tours. It is related that when he heard of his appointment he endeavored to escape the honor by hiding in a poultry house, but the gabbling geese did not welcome the visitor and created such a barnyard disturbance that St. martin's hiding place was soon discovered. For this reason some artist depict St. martin with a goose at his feet. After a life of piety, zeal, and charity, he died in 397. Today his tomb is a national shine in Tours, France.
In the Catholic Glaubensbote of November 11, 1897 we read, next Sunday, November 14, the St. Martinus Bruder Bund will celebrate the patronal feast at Seven O'clock in St. Martin's Church, and members will receive Holy Communion at this Mass. Those who fail to attend the anniversary feast will be fined one dollar ($1.00), Signed Julius Holzknecht, President, Henry Strothman, Secretary.
The name St. Martinus Bruder Bund was changed to St. Martin's Brotherhood during World War II, since the name Bund had become unpopular and misleading in the United States. In 1922, St. Martin's Brotherhood celebrated its Golden Jubilee at St. Martin's Church. On Sunday evening, October 8, 1922, the Commemorative Banquet was served to the members at The Louisville Old Inn. Among the guest speakers invited were the silver tongued Father Charles Raffo, Hon. P.H. Callahan, K.S.G. Benedict Elder, Joseph Zahner, and the Benedictine Fathers Rev. Raymond Greweling and Rev. Aemelian Heimerl. Chairman of the Golden Jubilee Committee was George A. Buehner.
St. Martin's Brotherhood commemorated its Diamond Jubilee on November 9, 1947. The Jubilee High Mass was celebrated in venerable St. Martin's Church, and in the evening banquet was served for the members of the society.
The original charter was amended in July 1942, when a new constitution and by-laws were framed by a committee consisting of John G. Guenthner, E.J. Keiran, Matthew Mueller, B.J. Koenig, and John S. Rottman. In the constitution, we notice that only practical Catholic men are eligible for membership, and that it matters not whether they be of English, Irish, Swiss, or German descent. A;; Catholic men are welcome to the ranks of the Brotherhood. However, the candidates for membership must be of unblemished character, free from al body and mental affliction and not younger than 18 years, nor older than 40. All must be willing to act on the sick committee, consisting of six members for the three city districts. If a sick member is reported to the committee, the members of the sick committee are obliged to visit him within three days.
In July 1962, the constitution and by-laws were revised by a committee consisting of Norb Wiesemann, Leo Wiesemann, Don Pendleton, Norb Schulz, Joe Pendleton, John Rottman, John Guenthner, R.J. Zaepfel.
In May 1967, an amendment to the constitution to allow social members over 40 years of age to be admitted was proposed by Leo Wiesemann, Norb Wiesemann, Robert Karrer, Edgar Martin and Kenneth Martin. This amendment was passed in June, 1967. October 1967 saw the initiation of the first social member, John Hettinger.
February 1971, an amendment to allow 50 year members to be paid up for life was proposed by Alfred Allgeier, Ronald Edwards, Paul Allgeier, Norb Schulz, and Ed Williams. In April 1971, this amendment was passed and became a part of our constitution.
In September 1971, the centennial committee was formed to organize the 100th celebration in November 1972. In October 1997, a 125th celebration was held.