History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 36

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 36

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" I feel honored by my public introduction to the enterprising citizens of Lowell. To you, dear Sir, and to my esteemed friends, Doctor Hunt- Ington, Mr. Patch, Judge Crosby, Judge Washburne, Ex-Mayor Ban- croft, and the other gentlemen of the Committee, permit me to convey my grateful thanks for your kindness and courtesy ; and to Messrs.

Wright and Perry, agents of the Lowell and Middlesex Mills, and to Mr. Prince, of the Merrimack Print Works, for the high gratification I experienced in inspecting the Carpet Works, and visiting their splen- did factories, at which establishments I have been paid the politest at- tention and courtesy.

" I have the honor to he, my Dear Sir,

"Your devoted servant, " THEOBALD MATHEW."

The 27th of June, 1851, another much beloved and highly respected priest came to Lowell, Rev. Timothy O'Brien, an elder brother of Father John. A brief sketch of him, also, is given elsewhere ; suffice it here to say that he bravely encouraged and ably assisted his brother through the trying period of 1854 and 1855, in which latter year he died the 11th of Octo- ber, deeply regretted.

Since 1848 the Catholic children of Lowell had at- tended the public schools. Desirous of securing for them not only a secular, but also a religious educa- tion-a training of heart and soul as well as mind- the Rev. Fathers O'Brien by their united efforts es- tablished the Convent and Girls' School, the land and first frame building for which were donated by Rev. Father Timothy. The school was committed to the judicious care of the Sisters of Notre Dame, a com- munity of religious women devoted exclusively to teaching, which had been introduced into this country-at Cincinnati-about twelve years before; and into New England-at Boston-soon after, through the efforts of Rev. John McElroy, S. J.

The Sisters, five in number, sent from Cincinnati on the Lowell mission, under the direction of Sister Desiree, reached Boston, Friday, September 17, 1852. Having remained with Sisters of their order estab- lished there on Stillman Street until the following Monday, September 20th, they came thence to Lowell, accompanied by Rt. Rev. Bishop Fitzpatrick and Father McElroy, and were established in their little wooden convent on Adams Street. Two days after their arrival, the classes in the parish school were opened and three hundred children enrolled as pupils. In addition to the free-school, a pay-school was soon after established for the accommodation of those who desired to pursue more advanced studies.

In a Catholic Directory, at the beginning of 1854, we read of " An Academy and Free-School by the Sisters of Notre Dame in a spacious and handsome building erected near St. Patrick's Church, Lowell, by Rev. Timothy O'Brien. It is in contemplation also to build an hospital and asylum in connection with this establishment."

The boarding-school-a now flourishing institution numbering about one hundred pupils pursuing a high order of studies-had a very simple beginning. The mothers of many of the pupils of the parish school were obliged to spend the day working in the mills, which often necessitated the absence of the elder children to take care of the younger ones. In order that the former might not be deprived of school bene- fits, the Sisters opened a small and unpretending kin-

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dergarten for the little ones, the good results of which led their mothers to urge the Sisters to keep their little charges altogether. Permission was given by their superior, and went into effect the 2d of Novem- ber, 1854, when three applicants werc received as regular boarders, and St. Patrick's Boarding-School thus established.

This last event, however, somewhat anticipates events in the history of the church itself, which we now resume.

The successful development of Lowell industries having effected a marked addition to the population, a proportional increase in the Catholic congregations was the result, and in none more so than in St. Patrick's; so that the frame building erected 1830- even with its several additions since then-was inade- quate to their needs.

With a wise foresight, plans were then commenced by Rev. John O'Brien for the present splendid granite edifice, whose corner-stone was laid on the Fourth of July, 1853, by Rev. Timothy O'Brien, assisted by Rev. John and Rev. Michael O'Brien, the latter their nephew, and now the respected rector of St. Patrick's Church, who, from 1851 till his appointment to Low- ell, was an occasional visitor of his reverend rela- tives. From that time until October 29, 1854, when the church was dedicated, the work went steadily on, not- withstanding many threatening attacks upon it during the troublous times of that year, the two brothers, whose devotion to each other was only excelled by their devotion to their divine vocation, generously giving thousands of dollars to the noble task of erecting a suitable temple to the service of the Living God. Few calls for help in the work were made upon the congregation, who, at the time, were not much favored with this world's goods, seven thousand dollars being about the amount contributed by them, outside of their regular church dues. Probably, the most impor- tant assistance was rendered by the generous working- girls of the parish, many of whom deposited their savings with their pastors, with the understanding that they would accept no interest, but devote the latter to a co-operation with them in the good work.

A visitor to the building, a few days before its dedi- cation, described the "New St. Patrick's, on Adams Street," as a "most magnificent church. Its length, including tower, is one hundred and seventy feet, its width through transept, one hundred feet. Its style is Gothic of the thirteenth century. The arch through the nave is perfect ; the distance from the floor to the centre of arch is seventy feet. The arches on the sides are supported by fourteen large pillars. There is a large stained glass window back of the altar bearing the inscription, 'Contributed by ladies of Lowell to St. Patrick's Church, 1854.' The cost of the window was $1000. In its centre is a figure of Christ; on whose right appears Mary ; on left, St. Joseph. Around these are represented Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter and Paul. The

windows throughout arc stained glass. The church is calculated to seat two thousand persons. Its cost has been about $60,000."

The above are the dimensions of St. Patrick's at present writing, the only changes being in the win- dows, the ceiling, the altar and general improvement in the interior ornamentation of the church.

The ceremony of dedication, which, according to the Roman Catholic ritual, was most impressive, took place Sunday, Oct. 29, 1854, the ceremony being per- formed by Rt. Rev. Bishop Fitzpatrick, of Boston. There were present over two thousand five hundred people. Every available seat was occupied, and there were four or five hundred standing or kneeling in the aisles. In addition to the pre- late above mentioned, there was present Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Reilly, of Hartford, Conn., afterwards, in January, 1856, drowned on the ill-fated steamer "Pa- cific." There were also present eighteen other cler- gymen, in addition to all the priests of the city. Mass was celebrated by Very Rev. John J. Williams, then Vicar-General of the diocese of which he is now Archbishop, with Rev. Michael O'Brien, then of Ro- chester, N. Y., deacon; Rev. Thomas H. Shahan, then of Salem, now of Arlington, sub-deacon, and Rev. Nicholas J. O'Brien, since deceased, as master of ceremonies. The sermon on the occasion was de- livered by Rev. Dr. Moriarty, O.S.A., of Philadel- phia, who took for his text Hebrews i : 1-3 verses.

In the eloquent discourse that followed, the Rever- end Doctor congratulated those who had been the means, in the hands of the Almighty, in aiding in the erection of the beautiful temple which was that day dedicated to the honor and glory of the Most High.

At Vespers, in the evening, the church was again crowded. The sermon then delivered was by Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Reilly, after which the Sacrament of Con- firmation was administered to three hundred and twenty-five children by Rt. Rev. Bishop Fitzpatrick.

While this noble work in the cause of religion had been advancing to completion, religious bigotry-of all prejudices the most unreasonable, the most un- conquerable, the most degrading-was exerting its bitterest malice, in different parts of the country, against Catholics. As a writer, who has made a study of the subject, has said, "The Anti- Catholic agitation breaks out periodically in the United States, and the symptoms of the malady are the same from the colonial times down to our own." For two decades it had seemed an intermittent fever, whose worst stages were reached in the years '34, '44, and now '54, in each of which anti-Catholic delirium had fiercely ragcd, its haunting spectre being "the bug-bear Romanism, ready to glut itself with the blood of honest Protestants." Rev. Mr. Goodman, an Episcopal clergyman, said on the subject : " Con- gregations, instead of being taught from the pulpit to adorn their profession by all the lovely graces of the

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Gospel, by kind and affectionate bearing in the world, by earnest and ever-active endeavors to secure for themselves and others the blessings of peace, were annoyed with inflammatory harangues upon the 'great apostasy,' and upon abominations of the Roman Church."

The year 1834 had witnessed, "in the very part of the country which boasts most of its culture and self-com- mand, men who dishonored the religion they professed, preached falsehood against Catholicity, and hounded on their dupes to violence." It had seen a convent bnrned, its inmates, nuns and pupils, turned out homeless on the streets at midnight-one of them to die, thus adding murder to arson. It had seen whole neighborhoods of Catholics thrown into consterna- tion, churches threatened and the graves of the dead ransacked.

1844 had witnessed still greater devastation in va- rious places, noticeably in Philadelphia, the " city of brotherly love." The Episcopal clergyman before quoted thus summed up the vandalism in that one city : "Nativism has existed for a period hardly reaching five months, and in that time of its being what has been seen ? Two Catholic churches burned, one twice fired and desecrated, a Catholic seminary and retreat consumed by the torches of an incendiary mob, two rectories and a most valuable library de- stroyed, forty dwellings in ruins, about forty human lives sacrificed, and sixty of our fellow-citizens wounded; riot and rebellion and treason rampant on two occasions in our midst ; the laws boldly set at de- fiance, and peace and order prostrated by ruffian vio- lence! These are the horrid events which have taken place among us since the organization, and they are mentioned for no other purpose than that reflection be entered upon by the community which has been so immeasurably disgraced by these terrible acts."

1854 saw another anti-Catholic delirium agitate the country, and in no place did it run higher than in New England. The houses of Catholics were wrecked and their lives endangered; in nearly every city churches were threatened and many attacked, blown up and burned down; the lives of priests men- aced, and one of their number tarred and feathered and left for dead on the roadside.

In many instances these midnight orgies had been performed under the inspiration of Orange airs, and had been particularly active against Irish Catholics, indicating that the unrelenting hate that had driven them from their native land had pursued them to a country, one of whose fundamental principles is re- ligious toleration and equal rights to all. There were too many of these Irish Catholics in Lowell to allow them to pass unmolested. The bigots known as " Natives," in 1844, were, in 1854, known by the ap- propriate title of "Know-Nothings;" and showed that the same virulence actuated them under a differ- ent. name; they had " learned no truths and forgotten no fable."

A part of the programme of this attack consisted in employing " mad preachers to declaim against Popery in the public streets and squares, in hopes of provok- ing the Catholics, and especially the Irish Catholics, to resent their insolence." This was carried out to the letter in Lowell. The advent of one of these-a fanatic named Orr, who blasphemously assumed the name of the Angel Gabriel-was soon heralded. The Lowell Advertiser of Saturday, June 10, 1854, stated that Orr would come that evening "tooting a tin trumpet and talking to the rowdies in the streets." His coming, however, was delayed. The same paper stated, June 15th, "We have 'Know-Nothings' among us;" and Saturday, June 17th, "Orr, the tooting angel, arrived in town to-day with his tin trumpet." He had come that noon and gone to the Washington House. At seven that evening he went to the South Common, and there, mounted on a bar- rel, had harangued the thousands that had gathered around him, some through curiosity, some through sympathy, some through malice.

Nine o'clock Sunday morning-the day that should be a "Truce of God," a rest from earthly labor and turmoil, a feast of religious truth and brotherly love -once again saw him, “ a British subject on American ground," insulting the religion, ridiculing the race of thousands of Lowell's citizens, nearly half of whom were American born. However, much to his cha- grin, and to the disappointment of the "Know- Nothings," he did not succeed in stirring up any marked disturbance, notwithstanding the treasonable and insulting motto with which every discourse was prefaced : "Rule Britannia ! Hail Columbia! and Down with the Mother of Abominations ! " a motto which conclusively proved whence came the animus that dictated his utterances.

An editorial of the Lowell Daily Advertiser of Wed- nesday evening, June 21st, wrote thus of the attitude of the Catholics of Lowell during this exasperating episode : "Let us suppose that some native American Catholic should come in our midst, and, after sound- ing his horn, should gather about him an audience of thousands, and then proceed to harangue that audi- ence, composed of Catholics and Protestants-men, women and children-by calling the Protestants a race of cowards, blackguards and 'Mickeys.' Not content with this, let us suppose him to point out, per- sonally, a member of the crowd and ask the audience to 'look at his ugly mug.' Under such circumstances no one could deny that he was disposed to enjoy great freedom of speech, and if he was permitted to leave the grounds unmolested, great credit would be claimed for our Protestant population on the score of toleration and liberality. But when, added to all this, he should happen to be a foreigner, adopting for his motto the words : 'Rule Britannia!' we very much question whether the vigilance of our police, and the influence of all our clergy combined, could prevent a serious and bloody riot. But all this, and

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much more, the Catholics of Lowell have endured, and not for fcar, but because principle and respect for law and order guided their actions; and they are cn- titled to as much credit for their forbearance as Pro- testants would have been had they exhibited as much Christian virtuc under like circumstances."

The . moderation of the Catholics was, however, of little avail. Acts of violence must be attributed to them, whether or no. Most improbable reports be- came current to inflame the wrath of their Protestant fellow-citizens against them, if possible. Tuesday, the 28th of June, the absurd canard was spread that five Irish companies from abroad were expected to assist the "Jackson Musketeers"-a chartered mili- tary company of American citizens, mostly of Irish blood-in cutting the throats of the people of Lowell. Where these " Irish companies " were to come from no- body knew. They were to " come at scven that even- ing." It is needless to say that this spectre of a diseased imagination did not materialize. An anti-Catholic mob did, however, not long after, with direst menaces against every thing Catholic.

The good Sisters did not escape from these maniacal threats and fiendish onslaughts. From one of them, then, as now, a resident of the convent, we received the following account :

"Almost two years had passed since the opening of the convent, when the peace was broken and terrifying rumors came to the ears of the lit- tle community. The lawless marauding of the Know-Nothings was theu rife in Massachusetts ; churches had heen mohhed and convents threatened, a band of the fanatics had even forced an entrance to our convent in Roxbury, then in its first days of existence, and the effect of these reports upou the sisters of Lowell was anything hut reassuring. Soon, to their terror, they heard that the enemy was upon them ; some of the hand had come to this city, and an attack upon church and con- vent was expected hourly. The sisters had dismissed the classes, telling the children to remain in the safety of their own homes. Then, gather- ing their few helongings, they bundled them together, and each sister was allotted her portion to carry, should they be compelled to flee. A watch was setin the church-tower, and one peal of the church hell was to let priests, sisters and people know that the godless haud was upon them. It had heen agreed, that, at the first warning, a hoard from the fence- that enclosed the convent yard was to he wrenched away, and the sisters were to escape through the opening thus made, and pass to a neighbor's house, until the work of destruction had heen wrought upon the de- fenceless little building they had called their home. Days passed in this state of suspense. The sisters held themselves ready for all emergen- cies, and listened from hour to hour for the hoding hell. Meanwhile, falthful-hearted friends gathered around them, and, after their day's hard labor, the factory girls congregated in the parlor, carrying stones for want of hetter weapons. Men came nightly to watch with the sis- ters, hiding in the cellars, and in a sturdy way declared that if a finger were laid upon the convent, there would be hard blows dealt in its de- fence. Just at dusk, one quiet evening, the ominous peal sonnded forth from the helfry. Fear and consternation in many hearts, hnt trustful . prayer in the little convont. The self-coustituted defenders stood with arms uplifted, ready to hurt their missiles at the first assailant. Yes, the Know-Nothings were approaching the church, hut they had not counted sufficiently upon Irish loyalty and vim. When just withiu sight of St. Patrick's, they were attacked hy some strong-armed Irish- meu aud women,-ay, women ; the latter led the attack. The march hecame a melee, and the street was completely filled hy the motley crowd. They reached the bridge that spans the canal just within sight of tho couvent. There was a halt, a splash, and a ringing cheer-a sinewy matron, unablo to restrain her indignation, had soized upon one of the leaders of the gang, and flung him over the railing, floundering into the water below. The rest of tho band made the hest of their way out of tho mob ; and, although the sisters were still in a state of anx- iety, yet tho attitude of their assailants grew less and less threatening.

" At last, on the fifteenth of Juno, came tho dreaded ordeal. Between oleven and twelve in the morning a carriage drew up before the convent, and five well-dressed men alighted, and sought admission. The sisters were just sitting down to dinner, when tho alarm of ' Know-Nothings !' was given ; and, according to previous directions, a speedy message was sent to Rev. Timothy O'Brien. While the sisters were still parleying with the new-comers at the entrance, the Reverend Father made his appearance, and in his fearless strength seemed an overmatch for the fivo intruders. 'What is your husiness in this houso?' asked the wor- thy priest. 'We wish to inspect the premises,' they answered. 'You may follow me, and see what is to be seen, hut I warn you not to lay your hand upon anything in this holy dwelling,' The su-called Com- mittee conformed strictly to orders and were led i through several community rooms. When' thoy reached the dormitory, the reverend guide paused, and informed them that the privacy of the sleeping apartments of the religious should be respected. To their insistings, he stoutly declared that they should not set foot within them ; and short- ly after they took their leave, much to the relief of the community."

This, however, did not end the annoyances and dif- ficulties of the Catholics of Lowell, either Sisters or people. The Know-Nothing fever had not yet reached its turning-point. "It would seem, indeed," says, Colonel Stone, a Protestant editor of the New York Commercial Advertiser, " as though these people had yielded themselves to this species of monomania, and from mere habit they give a willing credence to any story against the Roman Catholics, no matter what or by whom related, so that it be sufficiently horrible and revolting in its detail of licentiousness and blood." The elections of November, 1854, sent to the Legis- latures of several States many members of the new party whose influence was immediately felt. Massa- chusetts, in addition, elected a Know-Nothing Gov- ernor, Henry J. Gardner, of whose policy we . may glean an idea from the following extract from his inaugural address, delivered early in January, 1855 :

"The honor of the American Flag should he confided only to those who are horn on the soil hallowed by its protection : They alone can justly he required to vindicate its rights. One of my earliest official acts, then, will he, if sanctioned as the laws require, hy the advice and consent of the executive council, whom you will select, to dishand all military companies composed of persons of foreign hirth."

That the executive council did consent, and more- over added that " admission of an adopted citizen into a military company would deprive that company of the bounty of the government," we have testimony from the Boston Atlas, bearing date January 11, 1855, which contains the order of Henry J. Gardner, Gov- ernor and commander-in-chief, ordering that the Co- lumbian Artillery, Webster Artillery, Shields Artil- lery and Sarsfield Guards, in Boston (respectively, Companies B, F and H, of the Fifth Regiment of Artillery ; and Company C, of the Third Battalion of Light Infantry), Jackson Musketeers in Lowell (Com- pany A, Fifth Regiment of Light Infantry), Union Guards in Lawrence (Company G, Seventh Regiment of Light Infantry), and the Jackson Guards of Wor- cester (Company D, Eighth Regiment of Light In- fantry), all of either " foreign birth " or extraction, be disbanded.

The Jackson Musketeers manfully determined not to obey this order, considering themselves " a mili- tary company of American citizens, organized pre- cisely like any other military company, that had done

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no act as a company, nor as individuals, unbecoming soldiers, good citizens, or gentlemeu of the nicest honor."

In this determination they were encouraged, per- haps led, by the colonel of the regiment, Benjamin F. Butler, who wrote the following letter :

" HEADQUARTERS 5TH REGT., LT. INF.

" LOWELL, Jan. 22, 1855.

" General: At night, on the 20th instant, 'Brigade Order, Numher 2,' transmitting 'Division Order, Number 3,' with a copy of 'General Order Number 2' and ' Conncil Order advisory thereto,' was received.

"I am therein charged with the duty of dishanding Co. A of this Regiment. Upon consideration, I am of opinion that the order is one not required or anthorized by law, and therefore respectfully decline to execute it.

" I have the honor to be

"Yonr obedient servant,

"BENJ. F. BUTLER, " Col. Commanding 5th Reg. Lt. Infantry.

" To BRIG. GEN. JAMES JONES, JR.,

"Commanding 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, M.V.M."

On the 1st of February, Col. Butler was removed from command by the Governor's order, without having officially served on the company the order to disband; hence, when, on the 15th, the armory of the Jackson Musketeers was broken open, and the musk- ets seized by order of Gen. Stone, they were still -- which made the act more glaringly unlawful-a reg- ularly organized company.

Having uttered various protests, the members, at last convinced that neither the Chief Executive nor Legislature of Massachusetts, as then constituted, would give them justice, allowed the matter to rest, and did not again attempt to resume arms until six years after, when their country needed them for the preservation of the Union.

March 29th, 1855, saw the convent once more in- vaded. Again we quote from the Sister's account :

"Nearly a year had passed since the terrible days of threatened attack from the Know-Nothings. The sisters still spoke of those hours of dread they spent during the eventful June of fifty-fonr, and prayed God they might never know the like again. All seemed peaceful, when lo ! the clouds gathered threatening as before. The report reached Lowell that another band of fanatics was making raids upon convents ; and under the name of 'Smelling Committee,' had appointed to them- selves the task of dragging dark secrets forth to the light of day. They had already visited the convent of onr order in Roxbury, succeeding in putting the sisters to great annoyance. Now, they announced their in- tention of making a thorough search of the Lowell convent. Back to the minds and hearta of the sisters came the terror that had harrowed their very sonls just a year before ; but their brave defender, Father Timothy O'Brien, bade them be of good cheer. 'For,' said he, 'they shall not harm a hair of your heads, the black-hearted villains.' He counseled the sisters not to let one of them in, until he arrived. Soon the expected committee came, seven in number, accompanied hy some Lowell officiala, and headed by no less a personage than the Mayor of the city. According to the pastor's instruction, the sisters refused them admittance until they saw Father Timothy, who escorted the Committee through the house, asking them whether they met the extraordinary sights they had expected. They insisted npon all the closets heing opened for their inspection, which was accordingly done ; the children's dormitories were visited, and lest anything should escape observation, the worthies raised the spreads, and examined the heds. When, how- ever, they were abont to enter the dormitories of the religious, the Rev- erend Father forbade them to cross the threshold as they valued their own safety. They desisted, and in taking their leave, expressed them- selves satisfied with the result of the visit. Neither Mayor nor commit- teeman made his appearance at Notre Dame again."

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 36

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1226

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226