Gartner, C.PP.S. Father John Mary, Mariastein, Ohio, to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1876 March 25

Since Father Bernard Austermann, C.PP.S. received Purcell's letter expressing the wish that Gartner leave the diocese he feels impelled to write to Purcell and explain his conduct. Born 1829, Gartner served in the Austrian army, then studied at Innsbruck. He was received into the diocese of Milwaukee and served as professor in the seminary until Bishop John Martin Henni placed him in charge of the Poles and Bohemian immigrants in the Western states. Bishops Thomas Grace, Michael Hoiss, James Duggan, Joseph Melcher joined with Henni in making him procurator for the Slavonian Missions and their vicar general. As procurator he established over 50 congregations and schools. In 1872 he want to Europe to procure Slavonian missionaries. In Rome he met various personages whom he mentions and had several audiences with Pope Pius IX. He conducted a public way of the cross against the wishes of the police in the lent of 1873. Cardinal Patrizi gave him a collection of relics of the Passion. He collected also other relics. At Venice he obtained through the Austrian Ambassador other relics. For the particular relics and in general he has a faculty of exposing these relics in any church and for that does not need any bishop's permission. The following summer after getting 18 priests for the missions he returned to America going first to New York where he stayed with the Redemptorists and received the protection of Archbishop John McCloskey and later of Archbishop John Martin Spaldin g and James R. Bayley . It was suggested that the relics be deposited in one church as an object of pilgrimage. At the request of Father J. Helmpraecht, C.SS.R . he exhibited them in Baltimore and called back to Milwaukee he also exhibited them there. He discussed 4 places for this shrine which he mentions. He wrote to Rome for further relics to be brought by Bishop Joseph Dwenger, C.PP.S . In 1875 he decided to go to Cincinnati to show his relics, but learned from Father Francis X. Weninger, S.J. that Purcell did not approve. Purcell received him and took away his objection. Gartner then told Purcell that he intended to settle in Mercer County and Purcell gave him faculties and a written permission to exhibit in the diocese. He went to the Precious Blood Fathers at Mercer and announced his intention to stay there. The superior was doubtful of his project and they agreed to let the success of the project determine the will of God in the matter. He then went to Milwaukee to resign his post. Then he left Milwaukee for Mariastein, intending to go to Stearns Co., Minn. where the Abbot promised to receive him as the Precious Blood Provincial had apparently changed him mind. However, at the request of the Congregation of St. John he planned to build a shrine at Mariastein until, going to Cincinnati, he met the displeasure of Purcell. He will leave the diocese. He sends the receipts for the $1300 he has expended on the chapel. If he is to go Purcell is to return the money to St. John's congregation, or Purcell must let him stay and complete his project, or let him appeal. Purcell notes that he answered and said that he never authorized him to take money for anything. :: II-5-f A.L.S. 20pp. 12mo. 15