History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 40

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 40

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Interpreting the request as the will of God, Father John complied with it, and for.about seven years led a most laborious and self-sacrificing life, spending a considerable portion of his time on the road, going from one station to another, riding oftentimes many

1By Katharine A. O'Keeffe.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

miles to administer the rites of the Church to the sick and dying. Well might it be said of him, as of his predecessor, Father Whelan, " He traversed hills and mountains, through rain and shine and cold and heat; many a death-bed was cheered by his pres- ence, many a heart made glad, many a soul saved through his labors. Great and grand was his charity, sincere his life, and disinterested his sacrifices. . Though a stranger to us, in a strange country, his life's work challenges our admiration."

In addition to Martinsburg, Father O'Brien had the spiritual care of Winchester, Harper's Ferry and sev- eral other places. In a collection of sketches of the churches in that vicinity, we find the following, with regard to the former place : "For four long years they [the people of Winchester] had not the happi- ness of being present at the Holy Sacrifice. At last, in 1844, their dear Savionr had compassion on their loneliness and sorrow, and sent them Rev. John O'Brien, then stationed at Harper's Ferry, who visited Winchester once in three months, and offered the Holy Sacrifice for the half-dozen Catholics present. It was not until 1847 that things began to change for the better. In that year turnpikes were being built, on which many Irishmen and Catholics worked. A priest from Harper's Ferry now came regularly once a month.

Father John, as also his brother, always kept up a close intimacy with the Jesuits ; and it was by one of these, the venerable Father McElroy, that the Boston diocese was suggested to the former as a more fertile field for his pious labors. He, accordingly turned hither his steps in 1848, and was cordially welcomed to this diocese by Rt. Rev. Bishop Fitzpat- rick, who commissioned him to take charge of the Catholics in Newburyport, Chelsea and other eastern districts in this State, the former of which he chose as the headquarters of his mission. Father O'Brien's first visit is well and pleasantly remembered by many persons still in Newburyport. During his brief stay there, he did everything possible to advance the cause of religion ; his genial manner, cultured mind, pious zeal, and interest for the good of the general public, both Catholic and Protestant, being very powerful in softening the asperities with which those who differ from them in religion are apt to look upon the first Catholic priest that takes up his residence amongst thein. His superior abilities and marked success in Newburyport led to his being called to the more important pastorate of St. Patrick's Church in this city.

Of the good works he accomplished during his quarter of a century and more in Lowell, we have already spoken, but by no means done them justice, in our sketch of the church. Neither did we do so to the able assistance and unbounded generosity of his brother, Father Timothy, who joined him in Lowell, in 1850. As an account of one is incomplete without a brief sketch of the other also, we will here

digress to say a few words about this good priest, whose five years' ministrations in this city so endeared him to the people of Lowell, particularly to the Catholics of the older generation.

Timothy O'Brien was born in the year 1791, in Bal- lina, County Tipperary, Ireland. Having, at an early age, manifested a vocation for the priesthood, he was. educated with that noble endl in view; and, after completing a most creditable course in the classics, finished his theological studies at St. Patrick's Col- lege, Carlow. With the design of becoming a Jesuit, on the American mission, he came to this country in 1816, and entered the Jesuit novitiate at Georgetown, D. C., where he remained about two years; when, with the approbation of his spiritual directors, he laid aside his long-cherished desire of becoming a member of that society, and was ordained a secular priest in 1818, at Baltimore, by Archbishop Maréchal. His intention at the time, and theirs also, was that his en- trance into the Society of Jesus was to be simply de- ferred for a few years; and, though God appeared to will otherwise, he always retained his predilection for the Jesuits, to whose warrior-like spirit in fighting the battles of Religion, his own brave, zealous disposition seemed akin; while they, in turn, continued their in- terest in the earnest, devoted priest, so much so, that the Provincial Rt. Rev. Dr. Ryder had made ar- rangements that Father O'Brien should be received into the society even on his death-bed if he so desired.

His first mission was to St. Patrick's Church, Fell's Point, Baltimore; and he also for some time officiated at Carrollton Manor, where a church, St. Joseph's, had been built in 1820, mostly through the generos - ity of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, who gave the lot and a considerable portion of the funds for its erection. Thence he was transferred to Richmond, Virginia, but soon after absented himself from that place for about a year, having volunteered to minis- ter to the wants of the Catholics of Baltimore, who at the time were-priests and people-stricken with a plague.

After this period of heroic and self-sacrificing de- votion to his sacred calling, he returned to his charge at Richmond, and labored there faithfully and zeal- ously for nearly twenty-nine years. When he went to that city but few Catholics were to be found there, and they were unable even to provide a place of wor- ship. In no wise disheartened, however, Father O'Brien went to New York and elsewhere collecting for the benefit of his people, until, at last, through his untiring exertions, an elegant and substantial church-St. Peter's, now the Cathedral-was built. As the Catholic population rapidly increased, he became able to supplement this by other good works; and, accordingly, he built an asylum and a girls' school, both of which he placed in charge of the Sisters of Charity, who are still there. The school-house-a very fine one-he built from his own private means, at a cost of thirty thousand dollars.

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LOWELL.

At the appointment of Bishop McGill, in 1850, Father Timothy retired from Richmond, and carried out a long-cherished wish to spend the remainder of his life with his brother, Father John, in Lowell. Of his assistance and encouragement to the latter during the most trying period of his pastorate, and of his earnestness in the cause of education, we have already spoken. A scholarly man and an eloquent preacher, his abilities commanded universal respect, while his charity, his kind, genial disposition won him the affection of all who came in contact with him.

In March, 1855, he was threatened with pneumonia, but soon recovered and the warm weather found him apparently as well as ever. Early in October of that year his intense interest in the progress of the school, which he was building. led him to expose himself to cold and dampness, which brought on a fresh attack of pneumonia. He was confined to his bed the 6th, and died Thursday afternoon, the 11th of October, 1855, at the age of sixty-four.

Appreciation of his good work in Lowell and regret at his departure were expressed on all sides. The following is quoted from the Lowell Daily Journal and Courier, Saturday, October 13, 1855: " He has been in this city five years and has won the personal es- teem of all who have known him. He was a good and useful citizen, and in his death the community has met with a loss. Unchristian, indeed, must be the feeling that would withhold from such a man of any faith the posthumous praise due his character."

Extracts from a lengthy tribute in the Evening Ad- vertiser of Friday, October 12, 1855, are as follows : " For nearly five years past he has officiated in this city, nor has he been idle during this time. The new church on Adams Street, which is, perhaps, one of the finest in the country, was built partly through his exertions, and it stands a proud monument to his memory, and an everlasting testimony of his zeal in the cause of religion. While the Catholics of this city have, by his death, suffered the loss of one of the best and most tender Fathers, the community at large has been deprived of a good and useful citizen; one who took a warm interest in everything that concern- ed the public good.

"In all his acts he exhibited the true Christian; and, although he has passed from our midst, he has left behind him works that speak his virtues more el- oquently than any words of ours. In his intercourse with society he was mnost kind and affable, a bene- factor to the poor, a friend to the erring, and gener- ous to the afflicted."

Rev. Father Timothy was buried the Saturday following his death, after a Solemn High Mass of Requiem had been celebrated, at which Right Rever- end Bishop Fitzpatrick and about twenty priests were present. His remains were then buried in St. Patrick's Church-yard, where, in a few months, the Catholics of St. Patrick's Parish erected a monument, already described, in grateful commemoration of his virtucs.

To return now to his brother, Father John. From an address of welcome to his nephew, the present rector, several years afterwards, on his return from a visit to his native land, we copy the following tribute paid to Father Jolin's memory by one who knew him well and long, Hon. John Welch :- " How our thoughts returu to-night to the fast receding past, to the past fraught with events of so much importance to the parish and its people ! How we wonder when we reflect, that- not so many years ago, but that many in our midst cau recall to mind the time when the Church of St. Patrick's was the only Catholic Church in Lowell, and the Catholic people but a handful ! Where we now stand, stood a poor wooden structure, and where we are now numbered by the thousands, there were but a few hundred. Then it was that Father John was sent by a kind Providence. He was filled with the ardor and zeal of youth and religion, and soon, aided by the untiring efforts of Father Timothy, this noble structure towered to heaven. But was this the only monument he left to posterity ? Ask the unfor- tunate, the needy ! More lasting than pile of stone or brazen column is his memorial in the hearts of all ; for his great charity, like the circling sun, was for all without distinction. How his grand, stately form now looms up before our eyes ; how his earnest, kind- ly voice rings in our ears, as it was wont when urging his beloved people to 'love one another.' Deeply had he imbibed of the fountain of love from the lips of the beloved disciple whose name he bore, whose words he so loved to utter, and whose life he so strove to imitate. 'As a man lives, so shall he dic,' was his oft-repeated exhortation ; and in him, how truly was it exemplified. But shall we ever forget the grief that wrung our hearts when it was told us that 'Father John was dead,' that that pure and noble soul which had labored so indomitably for our welfare was gone from out of our midst! that that great and generous heart which beat with such affection and love for us was forever at rest! That was the saddest hour for us ever experienced, and the gloom that settled over the entire Catholic population was heavy and deep and dark indeed."

The sad event here referred to took place the eve of the festival of All Saints, Saturday, October 31, 1874. A few years previous, in 1870, realizing that he had reached his " three-score years and ten," though, ap- parently, little enfeebled by them, he had resigned the charge of the parish to his nephew, Father Michael. For some time after, he seemed almost as energetic, and, to the end, remained just as interested as ever, his departure being most sudden. It was All Saints' eve, and some of the oldest of his parishioners were gathered, where they had so often been for over a quarter of a century on similar occasions, around his confessional, and there they had kept him the greater part of the afternoon occupied. His duties, therefore, had probably amounted to an over-exertion, and he entered the dining-rcom of the pastoral residence at

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

six o'clock greatly fatigucd. Seated at the table, however, he rallied, and was conversing frecly with Fathers Michael O'Brien and McManus, who were present, when, suddenly, raising his hand to his head, he complained of being ill, and, with a few words, in reply to his alarmed companions, he fell back in his ehair. Father McManus immediately ad- ministered the Sacraments to him ; and in a few mo- ments he breathed his last. The cause of his death was supposed to be apoplexy.

As soon as his death became known, the streets leading to his residence became crowed by his parish- ioners and others anxious to learn whether or not the sorrowful news was true. The next day, Sunday, the sad event was touchingly announced in all the Cath- olie churches of the eity ; and when, at one o'elock, the remains were laid in the parlor of the parochial residenee, it was estimated that over five thousand persons came to pay their last tearful tribute of respect to their deceased friend and pastor. Members of the O'Connell Literary Institute acted as ushers.

At a special meeting of the Lowell City Govern- ment, held Monday evening, November 2d, to take action upon the invitation extended by Rev. Michael O'Brien to attend the obsequies, the following com- inunication from the mayor was presented :

"MAYOR'S OFFICE, Nov. 2, 1874.

" Gentlemen of the City Council :

"I have called you together at this timo that you may take such action on the invitation which I have this day received, for the City Council to attend in a hody the funeral obsequies of the late Rev. John O'Brien, as you may think just and proper under the circumstances.

"The Rev. John O'Brien, who was taken from this to the spirit world, without a moment's warning, was one of our old and respected citizens, who had performed his part well as a citizen; and, as a preacher and minister, has endeared himself to his parishioners by his kind acts of benevolence ; and their kind hearts are made sad hy this sudden dispensation of Divine Providence.

" FRANCIS JEWETT, Mayor."

On motion of Alderman Huntoon, the invitation was accepted. Alderman Crowley, in seconding the motion, addressed the board as follows :

"I would that the pronouneing of a proper eulogy upon the life and character of the beloved deceased were left to some one in this board beside myself. I have known Rev. Father O'Brien from my boyhood, and have sat under his ministrations since that time as a Catholic. He was a warm-hearted friend, and much loved the city of Lowell and its people. A year ago he received an invitation to visit Ireland, the land of his birth, and to view the seenes of his ehildhood once again. He declined the invitation in fear, as he expressed himself, that he might dic there; for he desired to die in Lowell, where he had so many ties of interest. He was a friend to me in boyhood, and an esteemed and beloved counsellor at all times."

At the conclusion of Alderman Crowley's remarks, he moved that a committec, consisting of the mayor and Alderman Huntoon, and such members of the Common Council as might join, be appointed to take

action with regard to attending the funcral. The motion was adopted.

Wednesday morning, the funeral services took place in St. Patrick's Church, which the Sisters of Notre Dame had draped in mourning. The beloved re- mains, vested in elerical robes, lay in a handsome casket before the altar in the main aislc. At the right of the altar were seated the members of the so- dalities of the Holy Family and of the Blessed Vir- gin, each with appropriate mourning badges ; while beyond, in the recesses of the school-room of the convent, between which and the church the sliding doors had been opened, might be seen the Sisters of Notre Dame and the children of the school, whom Father John had cared for so tenderly. The Sisters of Charity were also there, accompanied by nearly fifty orphans, towards whom his fatherly heart had ever been most kind.

The Catholic organizations of the city formed the line of march on Market Street about nine o'clock, with Mr. D. J. Sullivan as marshal, and Messrs. John Grady, John Sullivan, Patrick Lyneh, P. J. Court- ney, J. McLoughlin and J. Healy as aids, and marched through Central, Merrimack and Suffolk Streets to the church, the bands accompanying the different organizations playing, meanwhile, their sol- emn funeral dirges. At Merrimack Street, the mem- bers of the City Council were received at the City Government Building and escorted to the church, where they were given the seats reserved for them. The venerable Dr. Theodore Edson, fifty years pastor of St. Anne's Protestant Episcopal Church, and an old friend of the deceased, also occupied an honored place in the congregation. The church was crowded to its utmost eapaeity.

All the societies having been seated, at ten o'clock the clergy entered, and the Office for the Dead was intoned, the principal ehanters being Revs. A. Sher- wood Healy and John Delahunty-both since de- ceased-while five bishops and over one hundred priests occupied places in the sanctuary. At the Solemn High Mass of Requiem which followed, in presence of Rt. Rev. Bishop Williams, with Revs. William Blenkinsop and E. H. Purecll as deacons of honor, the eelebrant was Very Rev. P. F. Lyndon, Viear-General of the dioecse; deacon, Rev. Jamies A. Healy, then of Boston, now Bishop of Portland ; sub-deaeon, Rev. J. B. Smith, of the Cathedral, Bos- ton ; and masters of ceremonies, Rev. A. J. Teeling, of Newburyport, and Rev. J. J. Gray, of Salem. The choir was under the efficient direction of the organist of the church, Mrs. James Marren.

At the conclusion of the Mass, Rt. Rev. Bishop Williams, D.D., spoke as follows :

" BELOVED PEOPLE :- It is a sad duty we are called upon to fulfil this morning, to pay our last respects to the remains of your beloved Father John. You had all hoped that ho would have been long spared to pro- side over the parish and enjoy the fruits of his work, but a satisfied God called him suddonly to his reward. We cannot recall him ; wo can only mingle our tears with yours, for the sorrow you foul is common to all.

-+4/4.

Michael OBrien

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LOWELL.

Of all the clergy, none was more endeared It wasa recreation to listen to his genial conversation, his humor without gnile, to enjoy his gener- ons hospitality. He lived with you a quarter of a century, aud worked with yon and for your good. and where he labored his su- perior felt no anxiety. All know what he found here-what he left. The old church, built when Catholics were few, was theu standing, and he determined to erect oue equal to the best. He did not begin ai once; he saw around him the immediate want of religious instruc- tion. He therefore called faithful women about him, who might teach, not only the science of the world, but the science of Heaven. Relying ou God aud your generosity, no one ever heard of money for his church, no building weut up with so little noise-so few collec- tious. All that came to him was put into this house, and it was only after finishing it that the old pastorate was changed for the uew.

We had hoped he would have been spared to enjoy it-to see his good work carried on. God willed otherwise, and he was taken frour you suddenly. Too often had he said Eternity, to be found unpre- pared himself. Those who knew him in Retreat, knew that no call, however sudden, could find him uuprepared. You will not forget him, you will pray for him. As you remember Father Timothy, re- member Father Juliu. As you prayed for oue, kneel uow aud pray for both, who will look upou you and bless you. You have been blessed with two such men ; pray that their successor, Father Michael, may be spared to carry on the good work, aud, like them, to fight the good fight. Pray that the mercy of God will perunit you to join them in Heaven for all eternity."

Final absolution was then given by Rt. Rev. Bishop Williams, assisted by Rt. Rev. Bishops Lyneh, of Charleston, S. C .; O'Reilly of Springfield, Mass .; Hendricken, of Providence, R.I .; and Conroy, of Al- bany, N. Y., after which the remains were borne to the tomb in the church-yard, on the shoulders of the lay pall-bearers, Dr. Plunkett, and Messrs. Richard Comerford, P. Dempsey, James Collins, James Owens, and Patrick Lynch ; while the following clerical pall- bearers immediately followed : Revs. John O'Donnell, V. G., of Nashua, N. H .; Peter Blenkinsop, S.J., of Woreester ; E. H. Purcell, of Pittsfield; James Mc- Glew, of Chelsea ; Bernard Flood, of Waltham ; P. Crudden, of Lowell; Wm. Hally, of Salem; T. B. McNulty, of North Bridgewater, and John Delahunty, of Roxbury.

Rt. Rev. P. T. O'Reilly, Bishop of Springfield, Mass., blessed the grave, and the casket was lowered into its final resting-place by the sideof Father Tim- othy, amidst the tears of thousand of his parish- ioners and friends who stood around. The monu- ment which Father John had erected to the memory of his brother now serves for both. Standing as it does in the heart of the parish, in sight of all, it will prove a constant reminder of his great labors and a perpetual claim upon their prayers. During the hours of the obsequies, business seemed suspended ; it appeared as if the greater number of the inhabit- ants of Lowell had gathered in the church or around the church yard as mourners ; and the whole city bore the appearance of having sustained a deep loss.

The press of this and neighboring cities teemed with tributes of respect and esteem for the venerable departed pastor of St. Patrick's. The Boston Pilot announced " with the most sincere regret the death of one of the best and most beloved clergyman in the diocese of Boston." A friend who had known him well from his coming to Lowell wrote of him,

" Father Jolin was greatly beloved for his genial, warm-hearted cordiality, as well as for his zealous, priestly character, He was the courteous Irish gen- tleman, and a truer, warmer friend it would be hard to find;" and the Lowell Daily Courier testified : "For his liberality, his goodness of heart, and his many other virtues, deceased will ever be held in cherished memory as a eitizen, and as a priest he was universally beloved by both the Catholic and Protestant people who knew him."

REV. MICHAEL O'BRIEN,1 permanent rector of St. Patrick's Church, Lowell. Were it not that more than half the sacerdotal life of Rev. Michael O'Brien, permanent rector of St. Patrick's Church, Lowell, was passed in most eventful service elsewhere, there would be but little to mention concerning him out- side of her successful and edifying record ; for, as is true of every faithful priest, his history is indentical with the history of the church committed to his eare, his life is dedicated to her welfare and advanceinent. Already eighteen years a priest when he came to Low- ell, however, there is much honorable mention of lim to be selected-more, indeed, than we have spaee to give-from the records of other churches, where his career was signalized by the same earnest but unos- tentatious piety, executive ability and generous devo- tion to the interests of religion that have marked it in this city.

He was, as has been already stated, nephew of Rev. Fathers Timothy and John O'Brien, and was, on both the paternal and maternal sides, an O'Brien, his mother, Bridget, being their sister, and his father, John, a member of a different branch of the same family-a family that has given a remarkable number of priests and nuns to the service of God. Of these, in addition to several deceased, and also a number still living in Ireland, there are in this country . at present, besides Father Michael himself, eight priests, holding various important and honorable positions in the Church. Four of these are his nephews-Rev. Michael Bonfield, and Rev. Michael O'Brien in the Chicago dioeese ; Rev. Martin A. Cul- bert, in the Buffalo diocese, and Rev. Danicl J. Glee- son, in the Boston diocese, at Lowell. Four are his cousins-Rev. Michael O'Brien, in the diocese of Peoria, Ill., and his brother, Rev. William O'Brien, in the Boston diocese, at Centralville, Lowell; Rev. Martin O'Brien, at Newton Upper Falls, and his brother, Rev. William M. O'Brien, at Winchester, both also in the Boston diocese. Of the many mem . bers of the family, here and in Ireland, who have be- come nuns, there are still living in this country his sister, Madame Ellen O'Brien, a member of the order of the Sacred Heart, at Manhattanville, N. Y., and three nieces-Madame Julia and Bridget Gleeson, in the same order at Kenwood, near Albany, N. Y., and Margaret Culbert, (in religion, Sister Thomasina), of

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 40

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