USA > Alabama > A Catholic history of Alabama and the Floridas Volume 1 > Part 2
USA > Florida > A Catholic history of Alabama and the Floridas Volume 1 > Part 2
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CHAPTER XXXIV.
Changes .- Claiborne, first American Governor .- He lectures the V. G .- Intriguing for the return of the Spaniards .- Claiborne's estimate of Padre Sedilla .- He forces him to take an oath of allegiance .- Bishop Peñalvert on leaving diocese gave no charge to Père Antoine. Would rebel against the United States .- Père Olivier complains to the V. G. in Cuba .- No redress .... 227
CHAPTER XXXV.
Bishop Peñalvert appoints Fathers Hassett and Walsh administra- tors of New Orleans diocese .- Padre Sedilla rebels .- Takes forcible possession of the Cathedral .- Placed under an interdict. -Vicar-General Walsh issues a powerful pastoral .- He speaks with no uncertain voice .- Death of Father Hassett .- Pastoral of Patricio Walsh, Head of the diocese .- Extracts .- Letter to the Moniteur
229
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Death of Father Walsh .- Deeply lamented .- Right of patronage transferred by royal cedula .- The Cathedral has a tenure of offering services for the founder .- We heard the silvery bells for half an hour, March 30, 1907 .- Letter of Bishop Carroll .- To Mr. Madison .- Mr. Chastillon .- Much infor- mation in contemporary Catholic literature about the schism. -Marriage .of Almonaster's widow .- Charivari .- Absurd ity .- Legal decision .- Bent on giving annoyance .- The
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clergy obliged to leave the parochial residence .- Insult to Father Perché .- Only two places where Mass could be said lawfully .- Abbe Olivier .- Father Sibourd succeeds .- Catholic population half a million 234
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Lord Culpepper .- The broad charter of equal rights for all as to religion emanated from the able mind of James II .- Father Sedilla evoked a spirit he could not quell .- Anthony Blanc, Archbishop .- Persecution of Father Perché .- Incident .- Adrien Rouquette .- Cessation of the schism 240
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Father Timon gives a mission .- Bishop Vandevelt prepares the way for his successor .- Grand celebration of the Battle of New Orleans in 1843 .- Share of Bishop Dubourg in establishing the Propagation of the Faith .- Pauline Marie Jaricot .- The trustees mostly freemasons .- They strike the name of God from their ritual .- Link between Versailles and the wigwams .- The Coast
never famous for mineral wealth.
· 244
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Denis Prieur's administration .- Father Sedilla died .- Who was he ?- Sent back to Spain .- An alleged attempt to introduce the Inquisition .- Alarm of Governor Miro .- Report of Miro to his Government .- Miro blamed .- (Andoyo's History.)- Nothing unpleasant happened the Friar .- Marguilliers want to mortgage the Bishop's property .- A masonic monument .- Not admitted to the Sacraments .- The Ursulines write to the Pope .- His kind, courteous reply .- Dr. Dubourg consecrated Bishop .- He gets four excellent priests from Rome .- Aid from the French King .- A frigate .- Goes to Natchitoches to administer the last sacraments to the grand-daughter of the Duke of Orleans .- Particulars .- Administrator-Apostolic .- Evil times .- Lakanal, the regicide .- First ice thrown into the river .- Water in Cisterns .- Dubourg plays an honorable part at he English invasion .- Story of the Battle .- Jackson asks for a thanksgiving service .- Pageant in the Place d' Armes .- O'Reilly's pageant over forty years before .- Gratitude of the
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Ursulines .- Visited by Jackson .- Our Lady of Prompt Succor. -" Thou art the glory of Jerusalem." . 247
CHAPTER XL.
Bishop Peñalvert promoted .- A subject of Spain .- Goes as Arch- bishop to Guatemala .- Sight sickness .- Natchez .- Foreign Colleges .- Commercial Gazette. 2 59
CHAPTER XLI.
Bishop Dubourg .- Catholics pained at the rebellion of trustees .- Public opinion against them .- Farewell letter .- Oil painting from Rome .- John Mullanphy of Youghal .- A kind of Almo- naster .- Rosati .- Resignation of Bishop Dubourg .- Sad news. -" Calamity of his time."-F. Sedilla .- Bishop Dubourg helps to found the Sisters of Charity .- Wilhelmina Louise .- Schools. . 263 -Osage Indians .- Bishop of Olena
CHAPTER XLII.
Trésors in Europe .- Trustees again .- Much intercourse between the missions .- Order for the redemption of captives .- "The King's highways."-Spring Hill .- Jesuits take charge of Spring Hill .- East Florida detached from Mobile diocese, and added to Savannah. 269
CHAPTER XLIII.
Father Antonio. - Description. - From a pamphlet. - Grave charges .- The alms-giver .- His purse .- His Hermitage .- His obsequies .- " Masons of all branches " invited .- St. Anthony's Alley .- " Save me from my friends."-Opinion of Dr. Caste- lanos .- Sedilla's closing years .- " He was an eye to the blind and a foot to the lame."-" Come, ye blessed of my Father .-- Three thousand wax candles .- The people cut his cassock for souvenirs .- Buildings draped in mourning .- " The daily Journals .- Resolutions of political bodies .- The Courrier .- Religious services .- Opinion of Sir Charles Lyell, the English geologist .- Description of Antoine .- The date palm. ...
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CHAPTER XLIV.
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Oration by Edward Livingstone .- He adjourns the court ... . 282
CHAPTER XLV.
Celebrated Jesuits in the war .- The oldest survivor of the Jesuits that sailed from Marseilles, Father de Carrière, eighty-nine years. Father Cambiaso, a descendant of the Doge of Genoa. Spread of Religion .- The historic cities of the South .- Zealous priests change east of Florida .- Santa Elena .- The Spanish colors and the Harp of Erin .- " Forgetting the world and by the world forgot."-The Royal Hibernia Regiment .- Labors of the Irish priests in Florida .- Bishop England sends help .- A typical Catholic City .- The dip of the oar .- Consoled by the Communion of Saints .- Its fading splendors .- St. Augustine is flourishing to-day .- When her ship comes in .- A grand chapter in history yet to be written
284
CHAPTER XLVI.
Bishop England .- O'Connell's praise .- Bishop of Charleston, 1820. -Bishop England's sister, Sister Mary Augustine .- Her piety and zeal for the Church .- Gayety of the Southern Capital .- Slaves, the Bishop's first care .- His first effort to form a domestic priesthood .- His death .- Mourning in Baltimore .- Bishop Kenrick presided at his obsequies .- The graves of the first three Bishops of Charleston .- Spring Hill College .- Bishop Porlier .- Brothers of the Sacred Heart invited from France by the Bishop .- Alabama .- Father Rouquette. 292
CHAPTER XLVII.
Mobile a refuge for the Indians .- Destruction in the Apalache country .- Appointment of a resident Bishop of Florida .- The zeal of Bishop Fejada .- Oglethorpe laid siege to St. Augustine. -Bishop Fejada promoted to the see of Emenden .- Founded a refuge for penitent women in Spain .- The first mission is southern Florida .- Persecution of Bishop Morell .- First Mass said in Charleston (1786) .- Bishop Morell's arrest the subject of an oil painting in Havana Cathedral .- His death at Havana, 1768.
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CHAPTER XLVIII.
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Pensacola taken by Champmeslin, who set fire to the fort and town .- Ceded to the U. S., 1819 .- The Franciscans refused the return of their convent and mission .- Bishop Calderon's kindness to the Indians .- Education and polish of the Indian chief 310
CHAPTER XLIX.
The hospital at St. Augustine .- Rev. Father O'Reilly erects large church .- His death in 1812 .- Observatines recalled from Florida .- The work of Bishop Verst 313
CHAPTER L.
The Cathedral of St. Augustine .- Removal of Pensacola to its present site .- Derivation of the name .- Early history of the city .- The church history here .- Hostility of the trustees .- Building of high roads .- Education of the colonists .- The early priests 316
CHAPTER LI.
Clamoring for the Black-robes .- The Red sticks .- Military Com- panies in Spring Hill .- Great excitement on the secession of Virginia .- Boys go home .- Fortifications begun .- Federals take Mobile .- Epidemic in City .- Confederate Government organ- ized .- Jefferson Davis .- All communication cut off .- Mass wine from the scuppernong. - Salt from sea-water .- 89th Regiment furloughed .- College destroyed by fire .- New Col- lege begun by Right Rev. Bishop Quinlan .- Students at Grand Coteau. 325
CHAPTER LII.
Fort Marion .- St. Augustine .- George's St .- Under English rule. -Industries .- Cottages rented .- Many from the " American Isles."-The Sea wall .- The slave market .- Time did not stop for Ponce .- He had at heart the salvation of the Indians .- Wonnded by an arrow,-" A lion mightier in deed than in name."-An immense hostelry .- The old bell, 1872. -Rings out the morning, noon, and night, Angelus,-The real gold of Florida .- Fruits .- The Catholic missioners in 2
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advance of the explorers .- Memories mistaken for hopes. -Heroism of Father Lopez .- Conversion of the old Cacique. -Vicious Red men .- Captain Jonathan's journal .- Pious Indians .- School .- Life-saving organization destroyed by the English .- Moore seeking for towns to rob and Indians to enslave .- Burn church under the guise of friendship .- A religious war .- Three towns burned .- The Convent of the Franciscans perished .- The fine library burned .- Greek and Latin Fathers .- The Spanish monarch ordered the rebuilding of church .- Sends funds .- Dreadful tortures .- Father Miranda appealed to Moore to prevent such cruelty .- Burned at the stake .- A thousand Indians sold as slaves by Governor Moore. -The butcheries in Florida by a Christian Governor of a Christian State. 327
CHAPTER LIII.
The Wesley Brothers .- Exceedingly unpopular .- They failed in the South as Berkley did in the North .- Fictitious .- Sir Francis Drake a daring pirate .- One of the Blue Laws .- English pirates scour the Spanish Main .- Drake trying to rob Spanish Galleons and murder Catholics .- Queen Elizabeth was a smuggler and a slave-merchant .- Drake gave her a banquet on his ship, the Pelican .- She makes him a knight .- He plunders Fort St. John .- He excommunicates heretics and executes deserters .- " Aloft in awful state, The godlike hero sat."-The Pelican, a Protestant relic .- Drake "singed the Spanish King's beard " once too often .- His death, ....... 335
CHAPTER LIV.
The Chastang Brothers .- The Bluff .- Dr. Chastang marries a Slave .- Descendants Catholics .- Captain Finegan helps them to build to church .-- Over 200 Catholics .- Right Rev. Edward Patrick Allen makes a visitation .- Forty-six receive confirma- tion .- A woman of ninety .- Before the war .- A school at the settlement .- Morenos, or browns .- Nomenclature of Mobile streets .- Room for the working man .- " The song of the Lord in a strange land."-Sources of immigration .- McClary hoists the American flag .- Irish clergy .- Cemetery 200 years old .- Tombs .- Brick imported .- Seminoles .- New Cemetery .-
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Treaty-parties Count Arthur O'Neil, and Don Martin Navarro. -Long observed .- Anecdote 339
CHAPTER LV.
Annoyances from the Marguillers .- Federals and Confederates friendly to the clergy .- College .- Church property swept away in St. Augustine. Casa Episcopal given to Protestants .- Bishop Verot obtains Sisters of Mercy .- Their schools soon full .- Success with the Colored race .-- " I am a little Catholic."- With more vigor than beauty .- A new cemetery at San Lorenzo .- A Catholic Colony at San Antonio 345
CHAPTER LVI.
Deserted villages .- St. Stephen's-" Pushmataha love the white man."-The old earthworks .- The name of God excluded .- Dismal prophecy .- Incident .- The slowest to pay .- The Bene- dictines .- Colored Congregations .- A brave struggle .- The Blakely people Christians .- The old graveyard .- Lines of Dr. Stoddard on his wife, Lavinia .- Ruins of Cahaba .- Once a prosperous city .- No trace of cross or sanctuary .- " Is any one sick among you?" Good Father McGarahan .- His death hastened by the overthrow of Confederacy ..
349
CHAPTER LVII.
Ursulines in contact with all sorts of persons .- Laussat .- Thomas Jefferson .- James Madison .- Brackenridge .- Monroe .- Clai- borne .- The nuns turn their schools into hospitals after the battle .- Jackson's friendship for the Sisters .- 200 Sisters since the beginning .- " Under such influence woman must become what she should be."-The Visitandines in Mobile the pride of Alabama as the Ursulines are the pride of Louisiana. .. 353
CHAPTER LVIII.
Bishop Dubourg and the grand-daughter of the Duke of Orleans. -Details .- Father Margil .- San Miguel at Adayes .. 358
CHAPTER LIX.
Mother Seraphine Ray governed the Ursulines nearly thirty years. -Bishop Portier announces Mother Seraphine's election in a
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voice of thunder : " une voix de tonnere !" Mother Seraphine receives two sisters made homeless by the burning of their Convent, Charleston, Mass .- Monday night, Aug. 11, 1834. Sister McClare de Costa, and Mother Augustine O'Keeffe .- Death of Sister de Costa .- Of Mother Augustine. 360
CHAPTER LX.
Touching details of an early explorer of Alabama .- As far as Ten- nessee, with parts of Florida, Tristan de Luna .- Dissensions on his ship .- The discontented in the majority .- In Holy Week, 1561, a reconciliation was effected. Brothers Salaçar and Annunciation labor to secure peace .- Solemn scenes .- Humility of the Governor .- He deplores his fault .- The dangerous office of peace-maker .- Anecdotes .- Brother Do- mingo Annunciation accompanies de Luna to Florida .- His holy life for nearly a century .- (" From the Spanish Settle- ments, 1513-1561." By Woodbury Lowery, New York and London, 1901.). 362
CHAPTER LXI.
Bishop Portier favors Mobile .- His character .- But one Visitation Convent in America .- He selects the Foundress, Madame . D'Arréger .- The first flock .- Sister de Austin Barber, the famous teacher .- The children, the grand-children, the great- grand-children of the first pupils .- The sites of College and Convent are in the country .- The site of the Cathedral given in the administration of Galvez .- Mobile peculiarly fortunate in her chief pastors .- Bishop Quinlan .- " Pray for his immortal soul !" Bishop Manucy .- Bishop O'Sullivan .- Right Rev. Edward Patrick Allen .- The Visitation nuns found many kind friends in their troubles of fire and water. 366
CHAPTER LXII.
The extraordinary indulgence of the Portiuncula .- Attached to the Ursulines' Chapel in the Eighteenth Century by the Capu- chines. The Chapel of Our Lady of Prompt Succor is the seat of an arch-confraternity. Most Rev. Archbishop Perché when chaplain of the Ursulines. 370
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PREFACE.
This history is due chiefly to the inspiration of the eminent Bishop of Mobile, Right Rev. Dr. Allen, who has taken a deep interest in the work, and placed at our disposal the Registers of the ancient Parish of Mobile, and his valuable library. Despite his numerous avocations, he has always found leisure to encourage the writer, and aid her with many judicious Apostolic suggestions.
His Excellency, Most Rev. Archbishop Chapelle, Apostolic Delegate, gave the writer much encourage- ment to undertake this work. His illustrious succes- sor, Most Rev. James Hubert Blenk, made interest with his clergy to procure us special assistance. From this source we obtained information not otherwise pro- curable, especially from Right Rev. Monsignor Laval V.G. and Rev. Father Chambone. Right Rev. Bishop Heslin, who has long honored us with his friendship, kindly allowed us access to many valuable letters and diaries connected with the important diocese of Natchez.
To John W. Fairfax, Esq., we owe many privileges as, admission to public records and files of old papers in New Orleans. This gentleman has taken a steady interest in our work, and given us valuable aid in many ways.
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PREFACE.
Very Rev. Father Girardey, C.SS.R., to whom we are indebted in ways innumerable, found time to read our manuscript. Despite his almost incessant toil, he gave us useful suggestions from his wide experience as a writer and publisher of excellent works.
We have sought information wherever it could be found, though, in the interest of conciseness, authori- ties are frequently mentioned as they occur in the text.
Among the works consulted are: Shea's Histories, Colonial Mobile, The Colonization of the South, and The Anglo-Saxon Border, by Peter Joseph Hamilton, Esq., of Mobile, Cretineau Joly, (especially Vol. 2.), Gayarre's works, and many works on Alabama and Florida by Pickens, Campbell, etc.
We are deeply indebted to the Ursulines of New Orleans and the Visitandines of Mobile, for informa- tion not to be found elsewhere.
It is a pleasure to us to mention Mr. T. P. Thomp- son, of New Orleans, who placed his unique private library at our disposal; and Mr. Hamilton of Mobile, who did us a similar favor. Also, the Public Libraries, as the Howard, etc., in which we were received with unvarying courtesy by the officials.
Though unable from want of space to mention all from whom we have received favors, we shall ever cherish the memory of their kindness. Nor should we omit from our benefactors the name of that sterling Catholic gentleman, Thomas Fitzwilliam, Esq., of New Orleans.
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A CATHOLIC HISTORY
OF, ALABAMA AND THE FLORIDAS.
CHAPTER I.
THE history of Alabama goes back further than the histories of most other States of what is now the American Union. Not to speak of the aborigines who, though often powerful, and skilled in savage warfare, kept no records, this history begins with the invasion of its broad plains by the renowned Spanish Cavalier, (1540) Hernando de Soto, a native of Xeres. This Hidalgo had already had his baptism of fire in the New World. He had been the companion of Pizarro in the conquest of the incas in Peru, and was celebrated on two continents for his extraordinary valor.
It was thus, according to a cherished tradition, that Alabama received its name. A band of Indians who quitted Mexico during the upheavals consequent on the arrival of the famous ship-burner, Cortez, wander- inging eastward in search of a new home, reached the noble river now known as the Alabama. Their chief- tain, charmed with the wondrous beauty of the forest scenery, gave the signal to halt, and drawing up under the shade of a magnificent oak, struck his spear in the ground, and exclaimed, with enthusiasm :
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A CATHOLIC HISTORY OF
" Alabama! " which being interpreted, means: " Here we rest !"
The motto on the great Seal of the State of Alabama is : " Alabama !" "Here we rest !"
It is also said that this State takes its name from the tribe of Alibamons: "Soft is thy name, Alabama ; and sweet is thy flower-laden gale."
Alabama, said by an Indian scholar to mean " vege- tation gatherers," was applied to those who cleared the forest for crops.
From successful fighting in South America, De Soto had returned to his native land, a man of high renown, as a soldier of fortune, and of fabulous wealth. After tasting of all the honor and glory Spain could bestow on her distinguished son, De Soto, athirst for greater fame, besought the powerful Em- peror, Charles V. to allow him to seek fresh laurels in the lands beyond the sea, and to fight, at his own expense, for the opulent cities and splendid empires which his vivid imagination saw scattered over the arid plains and mountain fastnesses of the New Continent.
The Emperor, full of admiration for the brave soldier, willingly granted his request and showered honors and dignities upon him. He created him a Knight of the Military Order of St. Iago, and made him Captain-General of Cuba, and perpetual Adelen- tado of Florida. The Emperor, indeed, made it a chief condition of his grant that "De Soto should carry and bear with him the Religious and priests who shall be appointed by us for the instruction of the natives in our holy Catholic Faith."
De Soto's army was one of the most splendid that ever set out by the Water Gate of Seville. It in-
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ALABAMA AND THE FLORIDAS.
cluded more than two hundred horses, animals which the Indians had never yet seen. His star had long been in the ascendant, and now reached its zenith.
He was accompanied by his newly married wife, Isabella de Bobadilla. They set sail, April 6, 1538, and stopped for fresh provisions at the Canary Islands. In due time the expedition reached the harbor of Santiago de Cuba.
The young couple having had to leave Spain hur- riedly, celebrated their nuptials in Havana, with balls, tournaments, banquets, and games. By spring all was ready for the voyage to Florida. He installed Doña Isabella, Gouvernante of Cuba, bade her a tender farewell, and, embarking in his flag ship, sailed out into the bright waters of the Mexican Gulf. Messages were cxchanged, as opportunity offered, between De Soto and Isabella.
After a voyage full of variety and adventure, the Adelentado found himself, with one thousand picked soldiers, and all the munitions of war within the limits of the State of Alabama.
Mobile,1 the oldest and most historic of Alabama's towns has a name which sounds strangely in European ears, and seems to suggest a shifting city. It is not, however, derived from anything connected with mo- bility, but from a tribe of Indians whose lands stretched from the coast far into the interior. Near a bluff on the Alabama, stood their most important town, Mauvila, the strongly fortified residence of their
1 The Chatats, a small tribe residing near Mobile, later embraced the Catholic religion, as did also the Thornez. They, with the remnant who survived the invasion of De Soto, were called by the French, to whom they were devoted, " Mobile Indians." They worshipped the true God. -Du Pratz's Louisiana.
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A CATHOLIC HISTORY OF
Emperor, Tuskaloosa, the black warrior. From this powerful cacique, who made a desperate stand against the invaders, and perished, while defending his an- cestral domains, a former capital of Alabama, Tuska- loosa, (The Druid City) is named. Mauvila was fortified with block houses and palisades.
The historian, Garcilasso de las Vegas, says that the Mauvilians lost, in the conflict, nearly 11,000 warriors. Their name is perpetuated in the Gulf City, a name suggestive of martial daring and heroic deeds. It became Maubila in the mouth of the Spaniards, who sounded v as b, a pronunciation lately condemned by the Spanish Academy. From the French we have Mobile.
The awful battle between the ferocious soldiers of the proud and cunning giant King, Tuskaloosa, and the pale-faced strangers, raged all day, October 18, 1539, fire being added to its horrors. The city be- came a smoking ruin. So dreadful was the slaughter that Bancroft writes: "I know not if a more bloody Indian fight ever occurred on the soil of the United States."
Eighteen Spaniards were killed, and one hundred and fifty wounded, while thousands of natives were left dead on the field. Several lesser fights followed, for the Indians were implacably hostile. The Span- iards required some time to recuperate. But, as an ancient King of Epirus said of a triumph that cost him much: "One more such victory, and I am un- done," the Captain-General might have said when he looked at the broken ranks of his once magnificent army, all but annihilated by various causes, some time later.
The site of De Soto's great battle has not yet been
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ALABAMA AND THE FLORIDAS.
accurately located. It is commonly thought to have been fought near Choctaw Bluff, on the Alabama, though some place it on the Tombigbee, and even on the Mobile River.
In an interesting pamphlet, Mrs. Henry C. Semple, who is well acquainted with the topography of these regions says, p. 21.
" A late historian locates the old Indian city of thirty or forty thousand, within three miles of our house on the Alabama River, at " Frenche's Landing," the same that was destroyed by De Soto, leaving few to tell the tale. A Spanish settlement was made in Clarke County, one hundred years before the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock."
Mrs. Semple was one of the first Catholics in Clarke County. She writes : "I was baptized, received Holy Communion, and was confirmed, by Bishop Portier of Mobile, 1851, for which I have thanked God ever since. I was married, November 22, 1848, by Father Rampon, a Catholic priest. Mr. Semple was received into the Church one year before our marriage." " No- where are there more beautiful watercourses than in Clarke County."
"On one of our fishing excursions we saw men in their beaded costumes, spearing the fish when the water was so clear, that shoals of them could be seen near the surface. The banks were lined with wild flowers that came out early in spring. Indian mounds abounded." 1
1 Reminiscences of my Early Life.
Mrs. Semple says, incidentally, that there was a Spanish Settlement in this place, (Clarke Co.) one hundred years before the Pilgrim Fathers landed on Plymouth Rock, the traditional Blarney Stone of New England.
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