USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > History of the diocese of Hartford > Part 43
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Fifteen persons had been prepared to receive confirmation on this fatal day, but only two presented themselves after the accident, and were confirmed privately. They were Michael Thomas Cooney and Elizabeth Mead. On the Sunday following the disaster, May 11, the church having been cleansed, the Bishop celebrated early Mass, previous to which lie blessed the church, giving it the title of " Christ's Church." At the Mass which was celebrated at half-past ten, and said by Father McDerinot, the Bishop preached and administered confirmation to four persons, Margaret Finnegan, Margaret O'Leary, Ann Reynolds, and Bridget Toohey. Christ's churchi cost $3,000, and was without exception the most beautiful little Gothic church in New England. The debt at the time of the accident was $500, which the disaster increased. To encourage the disheartened congregation Bishop Fenwick donated $50 to the treasury.
The disaster, awful as it was, while it evoked the profound sympathy of the majority of 11011-Catholics, gave to some editors of religious journals an opportunity to display their fanaticisin. We extract the following editor- ial from The Jesuit, May 31, 1834 :
"Under the head of ' A Solemn Providence,' we find an article in Zion's Herald of May 21st, of this city (Boston), which purports to have been copied from the Religious Intelligencer, of New Haven, in reference to the distress- ing accident which occurred there in the breaking down of the organ gal- lery of the new Catholic church on Ascension day. While the cditors of the other papers of the city, one and all, as far as we have ascertained, expressed
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themselves on this melancholy event as they should and with much delicacy to the feelings of Catholics, who were the principal sufferers by it, he of the Intelligencer alone, in the true spirit of a fanatic, must come out with his 'Solemn Providence.' The article which he penned on that occasion com- mences thus : 'On the 8th inst. the Roman Catholic church lately erected in New Haven was to have been consecrated, whether to the Virgin Mary or to God we know not.' The fanatic! Why did he not inquire to which? There were enough present, even of his own people, to inform him correctly. Why did he not go himself to the church? The walk was but a moderate one ; he could liave there seen and read on the very frontispiece of it,
'CHRIST'S CHURCH,'
in characters sufficiently large, too, as to have been read, even without spec- tacles, at the distance of 200 yards, at least, to whom it was to have been ded- icated. But is it quite certain that the gentleman, the religious editor, was not there, and that he did not read the above glowing characters before he penned the article in question? . .. The least grain of his charity, let it be ever so cold, should have suggested to him the propriety of not bearing false witness against his neighbors, and of not throwing out a hint, without the least grounds for it, to induce the public, as far as he had any control over it, to believe that the Catholics were a superstitious race, who were in the habit of dedicating their churches to the Blessed Virgin instead of dedicating them to God."
In October, 1834, Christ's church was broken into, the altar stripped of its ornaments, and the crucifix and the silver chalice stolen ; but the Pro- testants of New Haven deprecated the outrage, and presented the church with a handsome silver chalice to replace the one taken.
A census taken in 1836 gave New Haven 300 adult Catholics; Derby, 25 ; Bridgeport, 100; Norwalk, 25, and Waterbury 30. On June 4, 1837, Bishop Fenwick administered confirmation for the second time at New Haven, and twenty-one males and twenty-three females were the recipients of the sacrament. The Easter communions of this year in New Haven were 301.
On June 15, 1837, Father McDermot severed his relations with the Cath- olics of New Haven, having been transferred to Lowell, Mass., all the New England States at that time being under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Boston. His successor was the Rev. William Wiley, who remained only until August 24th of that year. Bishop Tyler, Father Fitton, and Father Wiley received the orders of sub-deacon and deacon on December 21 and 22, 1827, respectively. Fathers Fitton and Wiley were ordained priests on December 23rd of the same year, while Bishop Tylor was ordained to the priesthood on June 3, 1829. Father Wiley died at East Boston on April 19, 1855, aged 51 years. The Rev. Father Haskins preached the funeral sermon, which we herewith append.1 It shows in the most graphic manner the trials and hardships
1 From the Freeman's Journal, June 2, 1855, copied from the Pilot.
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Father Wiley experienced in youth, and reveals his steadfastness in aiming at and reaching the holy priesthood :
William Wiley was born in the city of New York, in the year 1803 or 1804. He was deprived of both his parents during his infancy, so that he had no recollection of ever having seen either of them. His earliest recollections were of an aunt who had the charge of him, and who did not treat him well, and of a sister who was under the same roof. After having suffered much harsh treatment for, as it then seemed, a long time, he was at the age of five or six years placed in a Protestant Orphan Asylum. Here he was kindly treated, and here he went to his first school. At the age of ten or eleven years he was apprenticed to a shoemaker, who, unfortunately for the boy, was one of that class to whom parents would not entrust their children, and who are therefore compelled to seek their apprentices among friendless orphans. He proved a hard master, and when the boy, after having patiently borne many cruel whippings, at length dared to remonstrate, his master returned him to the asylum, as a stubborn and refractory child. A short time after he was apprenticed to another shoemaker, 150 miles from the city of New York. This new master proved even worse than the first. Poor William was nearly starved, and was reduced to almost a skeleton. He was but scantily clad with clothing, and what little he had was in tatters. Moveover he was covered with disease caused by neglect and want of food. So one morning, while all were asleep, he took his resolution and escaped from the house of his master, and walked a distance of fifty miles, stopping only to repose by the wayside, or to eat that which was given him by charitable housekeepers. He had now reached a town on the Hudson river, where he fortunately met a man who had seen him in the asylum, and who, when he heard his story, put him on board a vessel bound for New York, where he arrived the following day, and immediately presented himself at the door of the orphan asylum, and related the story of his escape. His story, and still more his wretched condition, his altered looks, his neglected and tattered clothes, corroborating every word of it, excited the pity and indignation of the guardians of the institution, and they received him at once, and clothed and nursed him until he was again strong enough to be apprenticed.
Then there came one day to the asylum a rich farmer in search of an apprentice. He selected William Wiley, and took him to his residence in Waterford, in the State of New York, where he faithfully served his new master for the space of about two years. During the week he labored on the farm, and on Sunday he drove the farmer and family to meet- ing, which he attended very devoutly himself; for, educated though thus far a Protestant, he firmly believed many of the truths of Christianity, and had an ardent desire to love and to serve God and gain heaven. At length by the mercy of God, he formed the acquaintance of a Catholic -- the first he had ever met. He was an Irishman-a devout and exemplary Christian-who conversed frequently with him upon Catholic doctrine, and lent him the " Poor Man's Catechism." This was his only book of study for several months. It was his constant companion after the labors of the day, and on Sunday he would sit for hours devouring its contents.
At length his master and mistress perceived the change that had been wrought in him, discovered the cause, seized the book, and concealed it, remarking that he should read no popish trash in their house. From that moment his existence was embittered. Ever after, when lie drove them as usual to meeting, they took every occasion to ridicule and abuse those who professed the Catholic faith, and on their return would regale each other with thanks to God that they were not worshipers of the Virgin, and that the min- ister had given them no popish mummeries. He forbore as long and as patiently as he could, and then determined to leave them. So one Sunday morning after he had driven the family to meeting, lic returned to the house, and first searched every place lie could think of till he had found his book-his beloved treasure-with which he immediately ran to the good Irishman in order to return it to its rightful owner. Next he scarched the drawers of his master's desk till he found his indentures, which he incontinently com- mitted to the fire. Then he made up his little bundle, which consisted of an old gray coat
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and a Protestant Bible, and in the middle of winter, on foot, he started off for Boston, because the Irishman had told him that there was a Catholic church and a Catholic bishop there. He walked as fast as he could for fear of being overtaken. He sold his Bible for seventy-five cents, but that was soon exhausted. One bitter cold day, as he was pelting through the storm, the stage-coach overtook hint. It was on runners ; and he looked for a chance to ride, and looked imploringly at the driver, for he was cold and hungry. The driver was a good-natured soul and stopped his coach and said: "Get inside, my boy," and he drove him to the end of his route, and then consigned him to the care of the next driver, and so lie miade a good piece of his journey. However, a benevolent old gentle- man in the coach perceived that the boy never got out at meal times, but always remained gathered up in a corner of the coach. So at length he suspected the true reason, and when all the passengers had gone in to dinner, he went back to the coach-this benevolent old gentleman-and asked the boy where he was going. "I am going to Boston," he replied; "to try if I can find my sister, or half-sister " (he never knew which). This was no falsehood, for he would indeed have been very glad to have found her, or any one else related to him, for he felt so lonely in the world. The kind old gentlenian was moved to compassion for the boy, and put his hand into his pocket and took out some silver and did not stay to count it, but thrust it into the boy's hand, and bade him go straight into the tavern, and call for whatever he wanted.
At last, however, there came along a surly driver, who declared gruffly, that he wasn't going to drive boys that didn't pay. "So get out here, boy, and goalong on foot." Poor William obeyed, of course. He had no other alternative. He walked on till he came to Bennington in Vermont. Here some kind person took him in and kept him for a day or two ; and then he started off again, inquiring the way to Boston. It seemed to him as if he were going around the world, the journey was so long. At length, hungry, weary and penniless, he reached Boston, and continued to walk about the streets, till by repeated inquiries he found Franklin street and the Catholic church. He contented him- self with merely looking at the outside of it, not feeling himself worthy of entering so holy a place. Walking up Broomfield Lane, now called Broomfield street, he discovered a stable, which he entered and asked for employment, offering to work for his board and lodging. But the proprietor refused him, and with others who stood by jeered at him and called him some runaway thief. William made no reply, but burst into tears, and was walking quietly away, when the stable man relented, and called after him and took him to his house, and took the kindest care of him for several days, during which he went frequently to an intelligence office, to seek a situation and means of support. One day while standing among a crowd of other applicants, a venerable-looking man came in and asked for a boy, and engaged William Wiley. This gentleman was the late President Kirkland, President of Harvard University. He lived with the president till the latter broke up housekeeping, when lie recommended Willian to a friend of his in Boston, Benjamin Fessenden, Esq., with whom he remained several months, and was then en1- ployed by a Mr. Hill. While with Mr. Fessenden he called on Father Larrisey, the first and only priest he had ever yet seen. By him he was instructed, baptized and received into the Catholic church. In August of the year 1820, he was confirmed by Bishop Cheverus, and made his first communion the same month. He was then about 16 or 17 years of age. It was at this time that he first conceived the idea of studying for the priesthood, though he revealed his intention to no one. He immediately commenced tak- ing lessons in private in Latin of Master Pemberton, the distinguished teacher of the Boston Latin School. He also applied himself to the study of the French language and read all the books he could obtain. Many of the old Catholics of Boston still live, who remember well how constantly and piously he assisted at Mass every day of the week in the Cathedral Church at this time.
All his thoughts were now upon the holy ministry. He felt himself called to consecrate himself without reserve to God ; but how to accomplish it was his great em- barrassment. He fervently prayed to God for light and to his blessed Mother for aid. At length, hearing that Dr. Jarvis, Protestant Rector of St. Paul's Church, was about
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making a tour to Europe, he offered to go with him in the capacity of a servant, in order, as he had candidly avowed, that he might get into France and study for the priesthood, under the Rt. Rev. Dr. Cheverus, who was at that time Archbishop of Bordeaux. Dr. Jarvis received his application with due consideration and kindness, and applied to the Rev. Mr. Burns, then stationed at the Cathedral, for the character of the young man, and informed him of Mr. Wiley's application and intentions for the future.
The Rev. Mr. Burns at once informed Bishop Fenwick of the nature of Dr. Jarvis's interview, and the bishop immediately sent for Mr. Wiley, and after an interview with him in which he was perfectly satisfied of his vocation, offered to receive him as a student of theology, which he did at once, and placed him to board in the family of Mr. Thomas Murphy, who occupied a portion of the episcopal residence.
With a zeal and industry characteristic of himself he pursued his studies, and in December, 1827, was elevated to the priesthood. There are many thousands living who can attest to the fidelity and charity with which he discharged its duties, and many more who have departed will rise again on the final day and call him blessed. Many a broken heart has he healed ; into many a wound has he poured the balm of consolation ; many an orphan's tear has he dried ; and many a widow's heart has he made to sing for joy.
He served the Cathedral parish for several years, and it was here that I had the hap- piness of first forming his acquaintance. I was at that time a Protestant myself, but called at the bishop's house to find a priest to assist a poor woman who was very ill. The Rev. Mr. Wiley answered the call. I can never forget this, my first interview with a Catholic priest, nor the eloquence, earnestness and unction with which he extolled the beauties of the Catholic faith, and portrayed the horrors and deformities of heresy and schism. He compromised nothing. When I asked him if lie did not think that I could be saved as an honest and sincere Episcopalian he answered that it was impossible. That there was no possibility of salvation out of the Catholic church-that there was but one Lord, one Faith and one Baptism-that the believer would be saved, and the unbeliever damned. This was my first lesson in Catholic doctrine, and I never forgot it. It made so strong an impression upon me that when I left the house I made a vow, which was registered in Heaven, that I would faithfully examine and diligently seek the truth, and that if I found it where Father Wiley said it was, I would at any risk embrace it. And thanks-eternal thanks-to God, I kept that vow. It was Father Wiley who found me wan- dering about, and lost in the mazes of falsehood and error, and speeding fast to my eternal ruin, and kindly warned me of my danger, and took my hand and led mne into the paths of peace and safety. Oh, my Father, my Father ! I shall see thee no more. But I do fervently ask for the gift of thy mantle, that I may live as the just man, and my last end be like this.
The Rev. James Smyth, who had been ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Fenwick on October 17, 1835, came to New Haven from Waltham, Mass., as successor to Father Wiley, on August 24, 1837.
Father Smyth enlarged Christ's church, of which Thomas Darcy McGee wrote on August 30, 1843: "Whilst speaking of churches, I begin to bethink me of New Haven. This well-known and admired model of neatness has been enlarged, through the laborious zeal of the Rev. Mr. Smythi, its pastor, and now stands in the form of a perfect cross. Its dimensions are 85 by 75 feet, and both interiorly and outwardly, it is just now a unique piece of church architecture, yet the fairest in the diocese."
The following letter, written by Father Smyth to Bishop Tyler, will throw some light upon a portion of his extensive parisli.
NEW HAVEN, April 15, 1845.
MY LORD :-
The number of marriages in my mission in 1844 was 30, and of that number three were from Waterbury and two from Derby. I registered all the baptisms under the head
.
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of New Haven ; the total number for 1844 was 104. As near as I can ascertain there are in Waterbury adults, that is men and women, married and single, about 100, and about 90 children. There are thirty-four married couples; about the third part of that number came there the past year. Derby, about 90 adults and about 90 children. I have not got the land for a church in that place as yet. I hopeto get it ere long. I have got the land in Waterbury; it cost $275; it is paid for and the deed taken out as you directed. We have about $60 collected after paying for the land.
On Sunday night, June 11, 1848, the Catholics of New Haven experi- enced a severe loss in the destruction of their beautiful church by fire. It was supposed at the time to be the work of an incendiary. The church was valued at between $8,000 and $9,000, and was insured for $5,500.
After eleven years of arduous and faithful labor in New Haven, Father Smyth was transferred to Windsor Locks in July, 1848, where he died on May 16, 1874, aged 87 years. His successor was the Rev. Philip O'Reilly. After the destruction of the church divine services were held in a tent until December of that year, when the building occupied by the Congregationalists on Church street was purchased from Sidney M. Stone. After being suitably fitted up for Catholic worship it was dedicated under the title of St. Mary's on Decem- ber 18, 1848. Of this ceremony the Journal and Courier the following morning said: "The Catholic society assembled for the first time at their place of worship which they purchased some months since. Rt. Rev. Bishop Tyler officiated. At the close of the ritual, Bishop Tyler addressed the as- sembly, congratulating them on the auspicious circumstances under which they were again permitted to meet after having been scattered by the disas- trous fire which reduced to dust the beloved temple of their faith. The cost of the edifice was $13,000, of which sum there yet remain to be raised $700." Two entries in Bishop O'Reilly's Journal indicate a numerous congregation in New Haven at this time and disclose as well the zeal and activity of the Bishop. "1851, February 4th: Arrived at New Haven, where I heard confessions the remainder of the week from 6 A. M. to II P. M., and preached each evening. "gth : Made a visitation of this congregation, confirmed 671, gave Holy Communion to over 1000 and preached five times."
Father O'Reilly's pastorate ended on May 12, 1851. His removal from St. Mary's was the subject of no little comment at the time and evoked the following correspondence:
" NEW HAVEN, June 20, '51.
"TO THE EDITOR OF THE CELT :
"The Right Rev. Dr. O'Reilly has been in town for some days past, making arrangements for the immediate commencement of another Catholic church, which is to be located on Grand street, in the lower part of the city. It is to be built of stone, and in the Gothic Style. When completed it will be one of the largest Churches in the State. It will be the endeavor of the entire Catholic population of this city to make it an orna- ment to the city, and a structure as near worthy, as their means will allow, of the great object to which it is to be dedicated.
"Owing to the removal of Rev. Mr. O'Reilly, our former Pastor, from this diocese, the Bishop has appointed the Rev. Mr. O'Brien pastor, with the Rev. Messrs. Sheridan and Tevin as assistants. To Mr. Sheridan is committed the superintendence of the building of the new Church."
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This communication brought out the following letter :
NEW HAVEN, June 30, 1851.
Dear McGee-I have noticed in the last number of the Celt that your informant from our city has led the many readers of it astray, by stating that Rev. Mr. O'Reilly was removed from this diocese, which I am happy to inform you is not the case. That Rev. Mr. O'Reilly has resigned the pastoral charge among us, is alas, too true ; a circumstance which has caused extreme regret among his friends here, who wish him God speed wher- ever Providence shall see fit to place him. A FRIEND TO TRUTH.
About sixty-two years ago the first Catholic school of New Haven was opened. An humble beginning it was, in very truth, but then were laid the foundations of a school system that has no superior in Connecticut, and which is the joy and pride of its devoted adherents. In 1834 Peter McDermot, a brother of the first pastor, opened a school in the sacristy of Christ's church. He was followed by Mrs. Rosanna Toole, who gathered her pupils at her house, on the corner of Fair and Wooster streets. Her school was afterwards moved to Church street. In 1838 a schiool was conducted in the vestry of Christ's church by a Mr. John Smith. In 1848 a Mr. Looby and Miss Elizabeth Meagher took charge of the school, which had been opened on the ground floor of St. Mary's church. On September 19, 1849, Patrick Morrissey, a name held in veneration in New Haven, began his career as a teacher here. He was "then a vigorous young man just from Tipperary county, Ireland, who in his career of twenty years has taught the greater part of the young men of New Haven, some of them priests to-day." The status of the school conducted by Mr. Morrissey and Miss Meagher, who became Mrs. Morrissey, was defined in a " report of the Board of School Visitors of the First School Society of New Haven, at the annual school meeting, held at the Lancasterian school-house, October 5, 1850."
" The board have twice," said the report, " within the last three months visited the two schools, one for boys and the other for girls, of the Catholic denomination, which are under the general supervision of Rev. Mr. O'Reilly, and which are kept beneath the audience room of the Catholic church. The committee were, of course, aware that they had no legal rights there, but they doubted not that they would be kindly received and afforded every opportu- ยท nity desired for such observations as would either gratify their curiosity or afford them information. The superintendent expressed himself not only will- ing to comply with our request to see his little flock, but was highly gratified that we had made it. Our first visit was so satisfactory that we obtained tlie consent of Mr. Lovell, of the Lancasterian school, to unite with us in a second and more thorough examination. We found the higher classes in both of the schools to be in a most excellent condition and far surpassing our expecta- tions. In grammar, reading, spelling, speaking and defining there was throughout the exercises great promptitude and surprising accuracy. One little girl, between four and five years of age, took lier station at the maps and passed most triumphantly a close examination in geography, answering cor- rectly for some fifteen or twenty minutes icarly every question put to her. The teacher of the girls' school is Miss Eliza Mcaglier, and the teacher of the
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