Downtown in St. Louis, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

First Conference, Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

1845 - 1945

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 12, 2017

1. First Conference, Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Marker

Inscription. The First Conference of The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in the United States was organized here at this venerable cathedral one hundred years ago. The delegates of the Society in convention assembled, Oct. 1, 1945 place this tablet to commemorate the centennial of the foundation.

Erected 1945 by The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1845.

Location. 38° 37.432′ N, 90° 11.234′ W. Marker is in St. Louis, Missouri. It is in Downtown. It is on Walnut Street east of Memorial Drive, on the left when traveling east. Marker is a large metal plaque, mounted above eye-level, directly on the right-front wall of the Old Cathedral - Basilica Of Saint Louis, King Of France. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 209 Walnut Street, Saint Louis MO 63102, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Church Domain (within shouting distance of this marker); Basilica of Saint Louis, King (within shouting distance of this marker); Rue des Granges (within shouting distance of this marker); An Explosion Saves The City

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(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Commercial Beginnings (about 400 feet away); One Day, Three Nations (about 500 feet away); Eero Saarinen (about 500 feet away); KMOX (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Louis.

Also see . . .
1. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul History. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul began in Paris, France, in 1833 when a young law student at the Sorbonne, Frédéric Ozanam, was challenged during a debate to demonstrate what he and his fellow Catholic students were personally doing to help the poor in Paris. Twelve years later, in 1845, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul crossed the ocean to St. Louis, Missouri, where the first American conference was formed. To this day, St. Louis remains the Society's national headquarters. (Submitted on August 29, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in the United States. The Society’s first Conference in the United States was established in 1845 in St. Louis, Missouri, at the Basilica of St. Louis King of France, or "Old Cathedral". Fr. John Timon, CM, had learned of the Society while visiting

First Conference Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Marker (<i>tall view showing position on wall</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 12, 2017

2. First Conference Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Marker (tall view showing position on wall)

with his Vincentian superiors in Paris. From Dublin, Ireland, he brought to St. Louis copies of the SVP Rule. On November 16, 1845, Bishop Peter Richard Kenrick dedicated the new St. Vincent de Paul church on South Eighth Street and invited Timon to preach. Timon discussed the Society in his sermon, in the presence of prominent laymen who took hold of the idea and held an organizational meeting on November 20, 1845. (Submitted on August 29, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

First Conference Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Marker (<i>wide view showing Cathedral front</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 12, 2017

3. First Conference Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Marker (wide view showing Cathedral front)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 28, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 566 times since then and 29 times this year. Last updated on October 15, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1. submitted on August 28, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3. submitted on August 29, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.