The outstanding achievement of Rev. Renn’s pastorate was the erection of the present church building. The movement began October 21, 1907. Plans were adopted March 17, 1908, and the building committee ordered to proceed. The cornerstone was laid during the summer following. The building was erected under the supervision of A. B. Zimmerman, contractor, and cost, including organ and furnishings, about $14,000, a marvel of church financing. The opening service was held May 23, 1909, and marked an epoch in Kansas Lutheranism. During this pastorate the congregation adopted the historic Lutheran vestments for pastor and choir, and advanced in churchly worship. Rev. Renn resigned September 1, 1911. The Rev. Howard C. Garvic was installed pastor the first Sunday in March, 1912. No pastor of St. Marks surpassed him in zeal and energy for the upbuilding of the Lord’s kingdom. Day and night he labored in personal appeal and in teaching classes of adults and children. In a little more than two years 175 names were added to the church roll, constituting the largest growth of any pastorate. The death of the pastor in the prime of manhood in March, 1915, produced a profound impression upon St. Mark’s and the city of Atchison. The Rev. Robert L. Patterson. D. D., became pastor October 17, 1915. ST. BENEDICT’S ABBEY. St. Benedict’s Abbey, church and college, are conducted by the Benedictine Fathers. The first Benedictine father that came to Kansas was Henry Lemke, O. S. B., who arrived in Doniphan in 1855, where he laid the foundation of a monastery. He was shortly followed to Kansas by a number of brother workers, who were sent here by Father Boniface Wimmer, O. S. B., who founded the monastery of St. Vincent’s, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. They immediately opened a Latin school with a few pupils, but Very Rev. Augustine Wirth, O. S. B., soon discovered that Atchison would surpass Doniphan, and on this account the Catholic brothers transferred their home to Atchison in about 1859. The Rev. Augustine Wirth, O. S. B., came to Atchison from Doniphan once a month to hold religious services, which were conducted in the home of Charles Burnes, located on the southwest corner of Second and L streets. The following year Father Augustine built a frame parish church in which services were held for the first time on Christmas day. In this rude structure the faithful worshipped until about 1865, when the parish, having increased to such number, it became necessary to build a larger church. Under the aggressive leadership of Father Augustine, the parishioners concluded to invest in this structure $25,000. Francis George Himpler, now living in New York, and for many years a partner of the late J. P. Brown, was employed as architect. The work was pushed forward and instead of the proposed church, a magnificent Basilica was conceived, and the construction of it was carried forward with great earnestness.