USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > History of the diocese of Hartford > Part 16
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On the 18th of July, 1788, a priest arrived at New London under par- ticularly sad circumstances. He was from the Island of Guadeloupe, the Rev. Arnoux Dupré, Chaplain of a Convent of Charity. He left liis tropical home in search of liealtli, and was attracted to New London, 110 doubt, by the representations of the Frenchi, Spaniards and Portuguese, wlio flitted in and out of that harbor. He was far in decline when lie reaclied New London. Whatever the nature of liis illness, he did not long survive the voyage. He died on Friday, August 31, 1788. The day following liis remains were attended to the place of burial by a respectable number of the
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND.
residents of the city and decently interred.1 There was at this time in New London a considerable number of Catholics, both transient and permanent residents, who, no doubt, manifested their devotion to the priesthood by following the remains of Father Dupre to the grave, and by offering fervent prayers for the repose of his soul. Poor, lonely priest ! He came a stranger burdened with affliction, but there is reason to believe that he experienced the generous hospitality of the people of New London. His stay among them was of short duration, but they had learned to know his sorrows and to sympathize with his infirin condition. The notice of his death printed at the time breatlies an air of gentleness and sorrow for the sad fate of this servant of God, dying among strangers and far from the presence of his sacerdotal bretliren, who could administer to him thie salutary rites of the church, for which, no doubt, he ardently yearned. Did he say Mass during his six weeks' illness at New London? It is improbable that he did, though his heart must have craved the privilege botlı for his own and the spiritual welfare of his co-religionists. Nothing more is known of him. Diligent inquiries have failed to reveal the secrets that went with him into the grave, and his final resting-place is beyond identi- fication.
The most illustrious ecclesiastic to visit Connecticut during the colo- nial period was the Right Rev. John Carroll, D.D., bishop of Baltimore. The apostolic zeal of this great pioneer bishop carried him into every part of his vast diocese, saying Mass, administering the sacraments, preaching the Gospel, expostulating with the weak, encouraging all. In June, 1791, the Bishop visited Boston to investigate the conduct of the Rev. Father Rousselet, then pastor of the church of that city. The investigation resulted in the suspension of Father Rousselet from his ministerial functions and the appointment of the Rev. John Thayer as his successor. 2 Bishop Carroll left Boston on Thursday, June 16th, no doubt timing his departure so as to arrive at New London on or before Sunday, as he had probably heard that a respectable number of Catholics had there congregated. As it is improb- able the Bishop would undertake so long a journey unprepared to say Mass, at least on Sundays, we may infer that the Catholics of New Lon- don then enjoyed the rare privilege of assisting at the Holy Sacrifice and of partaking of the Bread of Angels from the anointed hands of their chief pastor.
Of his experience in Boston, Bishop Carroll thus wrote : " It is wonderful to tell what great civilities have been done to me in this town, where, a few years ago, a Popish priest was thought to be the greatest monster in creation. Many here, even of their principal people, have acknowledged to me that they would have crossed to the opposite side of the street rather than mieet a Roman Catholic some time ago. The horror which was associated with the idea of a papist is incredible ; and the scandalous misrepresentations by their
1 Connecticut Courant, Sept. 3, 1778.
? " Conn. Courant" and " Conn. Gazette," 1791.
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DIOCESE OF HARTFORD.
ministers increased the horror every Sunday. If all the Catholics here were united, their number would be about one hundred and twenty." 1
Bishop Carroll sailed from New London Monday, June 20, to New York, bound homeward.
Norwich was the next city of Connecticut to receive a visit from a Cath- olic priest: He was the Rev. John Thayer, a name synonymous with sacer- dotal energy and zeal for souls.2 Father Thayer was a native of Boston, and a convert from Congregationalism. He was ordained to the priesthood in the world-famed Seminary of St. Sulpice, Paris, in 1789. After his ordination he labored in Boston, and was the first priest born on the soil to labor in New England. In the beginning he had a co-worker in the Rev. Father Rousselet, but from June, 1791, he was alone until the Rev. Dr. Matignon began his ministry in Boston, August 20, 1792. At this juncture, Father Thayer, anxious for a larger field, began a missionary tour through New England. He visited all the principal towns in Massachusetts, preaching and strengthening the few Catholics he met. New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut also were the scenes of his zealous labors. It was during this tour, in November, 1793, that he appeared in Norwich. At the invita- tion of the Rev. Joseph Strong, rector of the First Congregational church of that town, Father Thayer preached a sermon to a large audience in which he essayed to establish the divine institution of the church. On the following Tuesday evening he delivered a discourse in the same place on the invoca- tion of the saints and the efficacy of prayers to them. In granting to Father · Thayer the use of his pulpit. Mr. Strong evinced a spirit of fraternal charity rare in those days. It was an exceptional act, a bright light amid the dark- ness of intolerance then so prevalent.
It is probable that during this missionary tour Father Thayer visited also New London, Hartford, New Haven and other towns in which it would be reported that Catholics resided.
There is an ancient tradition3 in Hartford that two French priests resided there between 1756 and the Revolution, one on the Bloomfield, the other on the Windsor road. Tradition further says that the Rev. Francis Matignon, D.D., of Boston, visited a French priest, who was residing on the latter road,
1 Apropos of Bishop Carroll's visit to Boston, the following items taken from the " Gazette of the United States " will be of interest : " Boston, June 4 .- The Right Rev. Bishop Carroll, of the Roman Catholic church, arrived in town a few days since, and he confirmed the baptism of a number of Catholics. This gentleman, justly esteemned for his piety, learning and benevolence, will preach to-morrow at the Roman Catholic church."-June 15, 1791.
" Boston, June 7 .- On Sunday morning the Right Rev. Bishop Carroll preached an eloquent and candid sermon at the Catholic chapel in School street. His Excellency the Governor, and Lady, and the Hon. Edward Cutts were among a crowded and very respect- able audience, who appeared highly gratified by the charity, thic benevolence, the piety which graced the discourse of the Right Rev. preacher."-June 18, 1791.
" " The Norwich Packet," Nov. 14, 1793.
" This tradition is well grounded. It was told to Very Rev. Dr. Shaban by Mr. Henry Barnard, who had received it from Admiral Ward. The Admiral heard it from his father, whose knowledge covered the period before the Revolution.
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND.
when he passed through Hartford in 1813. In 1796, a French priest paid a visit to New Haven, probably to gather around him the French refugees, who at the end of the eighteenth century were in great numbers in Connecticut. To make his presence known he inserted this advertisement in the Connecti- cut Journal, a newspaper published at New Haven :
NEW HAVEN, January 28, 1796.
The Roman Catholics of Connecticut are informed that a priest is now in New Haven, where he will reside for some time. Those who wish to make use of his ministry will find him by inquiring at Mr. Azel Kimberly's, Chapel street.
The printers of this state are desired to insert this advertisement :
" Les Francois sont advertis qu' il y a un Pretre Catholique en ville. On le deman- dera chez Monsieur Kimberly, Rue de la Chapelle, New Haven."
Probably this was the priest who resided on the Windsor road, and who published the following advertisement in the Connecticut Courant, March I and 8, 1796 :
"A' VENDRE.
"Une maison situe en Windsor vis a vis l'Eglise nouvelle, remote de la quatre vingt vergis, et de la rivière ea meme, accomode avec une grange et une maison de cabriolet avec un fort beau Jardin, il n' a tous sorts de commodities, les batiments sont tous nouveaux aud entièrement fini. Il y' est pas que sept milles de Hartford situe dans un voisinage fort agreable. Pour les conditions appliquez a Ricliard L. Sell demeu- rant sur les premises.
"Fevrier 20, 1796."
( Translation.) FOR SALE.
A house located in Windsor opposite the new church, distant from there eighty yards, and the same from the river. The place is provided with a barn and a carriage house, and has a very fine garden. There is every accommodation ; the buildings are all new and entirely finished. It is only seven miles from Hartford, and situated in a very pleasant locality. For terms apply to Richard L. Sell, living on the premises.
February 20, 1796.
The Rev. Jean Ambrose Sougé appears next upon the scene. A lifelong friend of the proto-Bishop of Boston, John de Cheverus, he shared with him the hardships of exile. Victims of the French Revolution, they sought an asylum in England in 1792, where they labored in the jurisdiction of the Bishop of London. With characteristic zeal and energy the Abbé Sougé discharged the various duties imposed upon him, but his thoughts ever reverted to the rising young nation of the west, where the harvest was great, but the laborers few. After five fruitful years on the English mission, he sailed for America in February, 1797, bearing the following letter to Bishop Carroll, of Baltimore, from the Bishop of London.1
"MY LORD: Monsieur L'abbé Sougé, Canon and Theologian at the Cathedral of Dol, who will hand or send you these lines, is on the point of setting off for America to be Chaplain in the family of the Vicomte De Sibert Cornillon, which family is settled near Hartford in Connecticut. . . . . He is a gentleman strongly recommended to me for his learning, piety and zeal, and he is intimately connected with Monsieur Cheverus, whom I recommended to your Lordship last Autumn. Mr. Sougé has been employed
1 " Amer. Hist. Researches," Oct., 1890.
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DIOCESE OF HARTFORD.
here, viz., at Dorchester, an antient Bishop's See, though now a village in Oxfordshire, and has testimonial letters for your Lordship from Mr. Charles Leslie, Missionary at Oxford.
As he setts sail from London, I have given him all the necessary faculties for the Sacred Ministry, till he can apply for the same at Your Lordship's.
Presuming on Your Condescention to Your Lordship's Friend and Brother in Jesus + JOHN DOUGLASS. Christ,
Castle Street and Holborn, London, February, 1797."
The Rev. Dr. Matignon of Boston added the weight of his testimony to the commendation of Bishop Douglass. He informed Bishop Carroll that Sougé was conversant with the English language, and had done much good by his preaching and in the direction of souls.
Immediately upon his arrival at New York he applied to Bishop Carroll for the faculties necessary to discharge the duties of his sacred ministry in Connecticut. The Abbe Sougé was associated for a brief period at Hartford with the Abbé J. S. Tisserant, who became the spiritual director of the saintly Mother Seton, the foundress of the Sisters of Charity in the United States. Father Cheverus wrote to Mrs. Seton of the Abbé Tisserant that he was "a most amiable and respectable man, equally conspicuous for his learning and piety."
There is no record of the duration of the Abbé Sougé's labors in Hart- ford. It is presumed that he remained with the Cornillon family until 1801, for in April of that year we find him at St. Joseph's, Talbot Co., on the eastern shore of Maryland. In Bishop England's Diurnal, mention is made of a Rev. Mr. Sujet. Of Locust Grove, in Georgia, the bishop writes : "First Catholic Congregation in Georgia. It was fixed in 1794 or '5 by the settlement of Mrs. Thompson's family and others from Maryland. Bishop Carroll sent Rev. Mr. Le Mercier to attend them. After 18 months he went to Savannah. Mr. Sujet remained 17 months, and returned to France."
This Mr. Sujet, probably, was our Sougé, as there was no other priest at that period in the United States with a name resembling his. Sujet was the euphonic spelling from hearing the name pronounced.
After his return to his native land, the Abbé Sougé became the Cure of Notre Dame, Mayenne, where he died, October 31, 1823. Bishop Cheverus, who had returned to France but a short time before to assume charge of the Diocese of Montauban, and was on a visit to his native city, Mayenne, preached the funeral serinon. The biographer of Bishop Cheverus thus speaks of his last tribute to his friend: "The Cure of this parish (Notre Dame, Mayenne) had died the preceding Friday. This Cure was Mr. Sougé, the friend of his childhood, and his companion in exile when he left Mayenne, and for some time in England. He wished to honor his memory by pronouncing his funeral oration. The subject of his eulogy was a Priest, distinguished alike for virtue and talent, and he spoke his praises with all the interest that such a subject was calculated to inspire, and all the sensibility of the most affectionate heart-expecting to embrace his friend, but finding only his cold remains."
The departure of the Abbé Sougé for the Maryland mission synchronizes with the close of the eighteenth century. In 1813 Rev. Francis Matignon,
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND.
D.D., of Boston, on his way to New York, arrived at Hartford on a Saturday, and, as a law1 then in vogue prohibited traveling on Sunday, he remained perforce till Monday. The Rev. Dr. Strong, the rector of the Congregational church, upon learning of Father Matignon's presence in town, cordially invited him to occupy his pulpit on the morrow. Dr. Matignon accepted the proffered hospitality. But tlie liberal-minded minister either did not count the cost, or, knowing it, dared to be courteous. On Monday his worthy, but wrothy deacons, in solemn delegation, stoutly protested against the presence in their pulpit of a "popish priest," and formally censured their pastor for his act of courtesy to a Christian gentleman of another creed. But Dr. Strong felt that liis course would receive the sanction of a strong element in his con- gregation, and to the remonstrants made answer : " Well, gentlemen, do your best, and do your worst ; make the inost of it. I have the ladies on my side."
At this time Connecticut was under the jurisdiction of the diocese of Boston, whose bishop was John de Cheverus, D.D. This apostolic man was tireless in bringing the graces of the Mass and the sacraments to his widely- scattered children. In 1823 he visited Hartford and preached in the old State House. Besides Hartford he paid visits to East Hartford, Vernon, New London, saying Mass, preaching, catechizing, encouraging his flock, and administering the sacraments. Records of baptismns administered in this visitation will be found in the history of these places.
There is a tradition that the famous convert, Rev. Virgil Barber, S. J., inade a missionary visit to Hartford some time between 1823 and 1828. The tradition furthermore says, that he remained there for several days and said Mass in private liouses.
The construction of the Enfield canal brought to the neighborhood of Windsor Locks a respectable number of Irishmen, who proved loyal to the faith, though they had no opportunity of performing public acts of worship. In illness the thought that overrules all others is the earnest, heartfelt desire for the priest. A Catholic, either from perverted choice or from necessity, may live without the ministrations of the priest ; but at the approach of death, or even in serious illness, the recollections of othier and holier days crowd in upon him ; his faith is re-animated and rises grandly supreme over all other forces, and he calls upon God's anointed for the sweet consolations of
1 " Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That every assistant in this Colony, and every justice of the peace, within the limits of their authority, are hereby impowered and directed when they shall have plain view or personal knowledge thereof, either with or without a written warrant, to cause all persons unnecessarily travelling on the Sabbath or Lord's day to be apprehended, and to examine them, and if need be to command any person or persons to seize, arrest and secure any such person unnecessarily travelling on the Lord's day as aforesaid, and them to hold till judgment may be had thereon. And every sheriff, constable, grand juryman and tything man, are hereby impowered and directed without warrant to apprehend and carry before the next assistant or justice of the peace all persons trespassing said law as aforesaid, provided they be taken upon sight or present information of others and to command all necessary assistance." "Act of October, 1751. Public Records of Conn.," vol. X., p. 45.
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DIOCESE OF HARTFORD.
religion. And the sturdy laborers of Windsor well illustrated this truthi. They were, by the fault of no one, deprived of the presence of a priest, but when one of their number was stricken with illness in August, 1827, they despatched a messenger to New York for one to hasten to their suffering comrade. And a priest then, as now and always, promptly responded to the summons. He was the Very Rev. John Power,1 Vicar-General of New York. Learning in this manner of the presence there of a goodly number of Catholics, the zealous priest returned in October of the same year, said Mass and preached for them, thus stimulating their faith and infusing into them new courage to overcome their spiritual difficulties and new determina- tion to persevere. It was on one of these occasions, probably the latter, that Father Power said Mass for the Catholics of New Haven. He had arrived there from Windsor Locks after the boat had sailed for New York, and, as it was Saturday, he remained over Sunday, greatly to the joy of the faithful little band. The building in which Father Power officiated on this occasion is said to have been No. 5, Long Wharf.
The Rev. R. D. Woodley, a young priest, now enters the field. In 1828 Bishop Fenwick assigned to him Rhode Island and Connecticut as the theatre of his labors with his residence at Providence. In November of this year he visited Hartford, and no doubt exercised his ministry in other places where Catholics were known to be located. In the following year, July 9, we find him again at Hartford, whence he carried the divine message to the laborers on the Enfield canal. He visited also New Haven and New London, the former on July 13 and 14, 1829.
We have thus traced the presence of every priest who entered Connecti- cut from the historic occasion when the saintly Druillettes pleaded in vain for his red children before the Commissioners of the United Colonies of New England in 1651. If others came, there is no accessible record of the fact, nor even a vague tradition of their presence. The ministrations of those who came, brief and widely separated though they were, were not unproduc- tive of good. Some of the seed sown fell upon good soil, as is evidenced by thie stately tree that has grown up, beneath whose peaceful shades two hun- dred and fifty thousand faithful souls find shelter. They planted, Apollo watered ; it was God who gave the increase.
With the departure of Father Woodley we enter upon a new era, an epoch
1 Very Rev. John Power, D.D., was born in the County Cork, Ireland, in 1792. He was educated at Maynooth, where he was a classmate of Archbishop McHale of Tuam, and Father Mathew, the apostle of temperance. He arrived in New York in 1816, and was made pastor of St. Peter's parish. On the death of Bishop Connelly he was ap- pointed Administrator of the diocese, which position lie occupied until the installation of Bishop Dubois. He was then appointed Vicar-General, which office lic retained until his deatlı. A contemporary said of him : "He was a man of great learning, picty and talent; as a scholar he was pre-cminent, being intimately acquainted with the Greek, Latin, French, Spanish and Italian languages; as the zealous defender of liis faith, as a writer lie had but few equals and no superior. Great benevolence and sweetness of dis- position won for him the affection of all." He possessed great controversial powers, and as an orator he excelled in extempore discourses. His death occurred on April 14th, 1849.
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND.
destined to become glorious by reason of the splendid achievements it was to accomplish in music and painting, in sculpture and architecture, as well as by the beneficent works of mercy and charity, of education and religion that are its joy and its crown ; this era is ushered in with the advent of the Rev. Bernard O'Cavanagh, who, under the guidance of the indefatigable Bishop Fenwick, laid strong and deep the foundation of the first parish in Connec- ticut.
THE BISHOPS OF THE DIOCESE.
" The Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." -- ACTS Xx. 28.
RIGHT REV. WILLIAM TYLER, D.D., FIRST BISHOP OF HARTFORD.
R IGHT REV. WILLIAM TYLER, the first incumbent of the See of Hartford, was descended from a family distinguished alike for the heroic sacrifices it made for religion and for its subsequent splendid services in the cause of Christ. Converts all to our holy faith, they brought into their new life renewed spiritual vigor, increased love for God and His church, and an intense desire, which nothing could overcome, to devote themselves unreservedly to the service of the Master. Reared amidst the chilling influences prevalent in the early days of this century, their hearts yearned for something better, higher and nobler ; for that which would unite them in love with their blessed Saviour ; for something more substantial, more supernatural, than that which cold, formal, rigorous and barren Puri- tanisın afforded. Their souls craved the full light of Christ's teachings, their hearts hungered for the Real Presence of their Redeemer. "I know that my Re- deemer liveth," perhaps could each one say ; but for him He was a far-off Being, ever enveloped in ineffable inajesty and dwelling in light inaccessible, an inexorable Judge clothed always in the prerogatives of His justice. He reigned amid the thunders and lightnings of Sinai or amid the devastation that will attend the world's destruction. Of the mneek and lowly Christ, but still infinite God, how limited was their knowledge! Apparently unfamiliar with the sad yet ever-consoling story of Calvary; as though oblivious of the transcendent words: "Many sins are forgiven her because she hath loved much," or "Son, thy sins are forgiven thee," or "This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise;" unmindful that Christ came to call a poor, sin-stricken race, not the just, to repentance, they longed to know the Christ as He is, and not as a narrow, distorted theology portrayed Him, and to live in intimate union with Him; therefore, casting away the trammels of rigorisin that held them captive to earth, they soared into the clear atmosphere of Christ's love.
Yours sincerely in Christ x Now Tyler 3h. of Han ford
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DIOCESE OF HARTFORD.
The Rev. Virgil Barber, a minister of the Congregational, and later of the Episcopal church, was the first to enter the Catholic church. His wife and five children, one son and four daughters, shared with him the hardships of the sacrifice, for their conversion meant not only the deprivation of emolu- ments, but the loss also of social recognition. His father, also a clergyman in the Congregational and Episcopal denominations, the Rev. Daniel Barber, followed him in proclaiming allegiance to the ancient faith. His devoted aunt, also, Mrs. Tyler, with her husband, four sons and four daughters, illumined by the light that shone round about them, yielded cheerful obe- dience to the divine call. Nor did the sacrifices which these families made for conscience sake go unrewarded. In His mercy God bestowed upon all the members of Virgil Barber's family the exceptional grace of religious voca- tions. By special dispensation the husband and father became a priest of the Society of Jesus. The wife and mother entered the Visitation convent at Georgetown, District of Columbia, and died a holy religious after forty-three years in the service of her divine Master. Their only son, Samuel, followed in his father's footsteps and became also a Jesuit priest. Of their four daugh- ters, three became Ursuline nuns, one at Boston, another at Quebec and the third at Three Rivers, Canada, while the fourth became a Visitandine nun at Georgetown. Of Mrs. Tyler's family, one son received a vocation to the priesthood and was subsequently elevated to the episcopal dignity, while the four daughters retired from the world and within the peaceful cloisters of a convent at Emmittsburg served God as gentle, patient and faithful Sisters of Charity. 1
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