USA > Maryland > A Century of Growth [electronic resource] or, the history of the Church in Western Maryland > Part 2
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A spiritual empire, a Catholic colony of vast di- mensions; was the bright vision that dazzled the ardent imagination and filled the whole life of the prince priest. And, to carry out his desire, Father Galitzin literally spent himself and all that he possessed. He died May 6, 1840, in the 70th year of his age. A grate- ful people recently honored themselves by honoring their great pastor with a becoming monument.
Murray's Church History informs us that when Father Galitzin established his permanent colony in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, several poor Maryland families, whose affection he had won, determined. to follow him, and in the summer of the year 1799 they took up their line of march. At least two Catholics, Peter Dugan and Patrick Burns, left Cumberland at this time and settled at Loretto with the colony of the prince priest.
Those who remained were visited occasionally by Rev. Felix Brosius, the priest who had come to America as the travelling companion of young Galitzin, and who afterwards became a renowned missionary of Mary- land and Pennsylvania. Father Brosius was stationed at Taneytown, in Carroll County, at the time he visited
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Cumberland. All the efforts, however, that were made up to this time were at best only isolated, or a kind of desultory warfare, in planting the cross. The few Catho- lics were scattered, ill-instructed in their religious duties, and more or less tainted by the non-Catholic atmos- phere around them. Here is a picture of life in those days painted by a literary artist : "Beyond the Blue Ridge everything was most primitive. More than half the houses were log cabins. When a stranger came the men built him a cabin and made the building an occasion for sport. The trees felled, four corner men were elected to notch the logs, and while they were busy the others ran races, wrestled, played leap frog, fought, gambled, drank and did everything then con- sidered amusement. After the notching was finished, the raising took but a few hours. The chinks were stopped with chips and smeared with mud. The table, benches and bedsteads were such as could be made with an ax, an auger and a saw. A rest for the rifle, and some pegs for clothes, completed the fittings."
It was not until the year 1819 that Archbishop Marechal was able to appoint in Cumberland the first resident pastor. This was the Rev. James Redmond, who for over two years labored in cultivating this vineyard. He organized the few Catholics into a per- manent congregation, and faithfully administered to their spiritual wants. He was called away in June of the year 1821 to labor in other fields. Immediately after the departure of Father Redmond, we find the name of Rev. Michael D. Young, a Dominican priest,
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inscribed in the church records. He came from St. Joseph, Ohio, and remained three months.
Murray's Church History informs us "that in 1805 four English Dominicans arrived in the United States." Two of them were afterwards deputed for missionary work along the old National Pike ; they accomplished much good by their zeal, eloquence and learn- ing.
For eight years Rev. Timothy Ryan had charge as pastor of St. Mary's Church ; although he resided so long in Cumberland, he is almost forgotten by the people. He is well remembered in Hagerstown, where he died, 1837.
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REV. HENRY MYERS.
After the departure of Father Ryan, an ex-Jesuit, by name Rev. Francis Xavier Marshall, came to Cum- berland and remained for five years. He is said to have been one of the most forcible speakers of his day, possessing all the command and dignity of an orator. Rev. Henry Myers was appointed pastor of the congregation in the year 1836. He at once began the erection of a brick church, instead of the small
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log structure, which had served the pioneer Catholics so long and so well. He also built a small but com- fortable pastoral residence.
Father Myers was born in Conawago, Pa., in the year 1806. He studied theology at St. Mary's Semi- nary, Baltimore, where he was ordained priest by Arch- bishop Whitfield in 1832. After leaving Cumberland he was stationed at Hagerstown, Pikesville, and St. Vincent's Church, Baltimore, where he died in July, 1873. His reputation was as pure as burnished gold.
Here ends what must be considered the period of struggle for existence of Cumberland's first church. We cannot refrain from sincere admiration for the self- sacrificing pioneer priests, who, in poverty and suffering, planted the first seeds of Catholicity in the wilderness of Western Maryland. May their names live in hal- lowed and everlasting remembrance!
" For us the long past ages have not flown ; Like our own deeds, they travel with us still, Reviling them we but ourselves disown ; We are the stream their many currents fill ; From their rich youth our manhood has upgrown, And in our hearts their hopes and loves yet thrill."
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ARTICLE II.
ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH.
Among the many distinguished priests whose virtues and ability have adorned the Church of Western Mary- land, a high place must ever be given to the Reverend Leonard A. Obermeyer, a strong man of upright charac- ter, highest integrity, holiest aspirations and unimpeach- able honor. He was ordained priest in Baltimore by Archbishop Eccleston, in the year 1837, and four years later he was sent to take charge of Cumberland.
His pastorate of ten years was distinguished by the Church's marvellous growth and gigantic strides forward. Many causes, it is true, combined to bring about this advance. It had long been known that Allegany County was rich in coal and ore deposits, and that her future prospects were bright.
The George's Creek Coal Basin lies directly west of Cumberland. But even aside from coal, the county was known to be wealthy in fire-clay, cement, iron ore and sandstone, which is excellent material for the manu- facture of the finest glass.
Mining companies had been organized as far back as the year 1828, but no extensive developments had taken place. The long-felt want was transportation facilities. It is true that a small quantity of coal had been mined and shipped in flat boats, with the aid
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of spring freshets, on the Potomac river; but the method was slow, expensive, hazardous and disappoint- ing. About the year 1840, Cumberland began to fore-
REV. LEONARD A. OBERMEYER.
see the dawn of a brighter day, and to anticipate a long season of prosperity.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was moving west- ward; in the year 1842 it reached Cumberland. The majority of the railroad builders were young Irish-
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men, and their coming was the coming of Catholic prosperity. The Irish were not the only Catholic im- migrants; but Father Obermeyer found them the most active, energetic and devoted portion of his congrega- tion, and by far the most liberal in supporting himself and his undertakings. Eight years after this first flood of prosperity had inundated Cumberland, another wave of good fortune came in the completion of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. With the opening of the canal more Catholics came, and, naturally, what had been a little flock, rapidly increased into a large and flourishing congregation. Father Obermeyer was a providential man for his position; a man of zeal, prudence and foresight. His eagle eye took in at a glance the whole state of affairs-the present and even the future-and he proceeded to lay his plans accord- ingly. He first enlarged the church sufficiently to accommodate for the time his growing congregation. The work was hurriedly and roughly executed. He then unfolded to His Grace, Archbishop Eccleston, the plans which he had conceived, and afterwards, with His Grace's approbation, he laid them before the con- gregation. It was evident to the clear mind of Father Obermeyer that Cumberland had a brilliant future before her, and that one church would be unable to accommodate all of the Catholics. He pointed out, therefore, not only the propriety, but the unspeakable benefits of a separate congregation for the German Catholics ; and, as a mark of appreciation of his Irish supporters, he changed the name of the church's pa-
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tron, placing his congregation under the patronage of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland. He at once had the plans drawn for the present commodious and mag- nificent edifice. The style is Ionic, perfectly planned and faultlessly executed. The greatness of the pastor may be seen in every line of the noble and imposing structure.
In the year 1851, almost immediately after the com- pletion of St. Patrick's Church, Father Obermeyer was changed to St. Vincent's Church, Baltimore. He after- wards became professor of chemistry at Mt. St. Mary's Seminary, where he died March 16, 1865. Father Obermeyer was in his day one of the great priests of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He was a man of pro- found and exact learning. His personal characteristics were eminently social. He was a high-toned, courteous gentleman ; learned rather than refined ; admired rather than loved; popular, in a sense, with those who were not afraid of him ; reverenced as a good priest by all. He was very firm, and stood like a rock against every form of levity, and every encroachment of the spirit of the world on his congregation. Like most of the priests of his day, Father Obermeyer was a contro- versialist, manifesting at times great ability in argu- ment. The people were delighted when he took up an objection against Catholic doctrine, "and then came down on it like a sledge-hammer and pulverized it."
His remains rest in the cemetery at Emmitsburg, among some of the most illustrious dead that have honored the American Church.
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Father John Byrne succeeded to the pastorate of St. Patrick's after the departure of Father Obermeyer. He had been only a short time in Cumberland, when he was appointed to St. Matthew's Church, Washington. Father Byrne is remembered as a priest, pious and " scholarly almost to pedantry." But the whole truth is that very few remembered him at all.
The year 1852 finds that remarkable man, Father Matthew O'Keefe, holding the position of assistant pastor at St. Patrick's. He was then, as now, a hard worker. His working motto is " per aspera ad astra," and he would probably translate it with the Texas editor : "The hustler gets to heaven."
Father O'Keefe is now pastor of the flourishing parish of Towson, editor of the Catholic Mirror, and super- intendent of the parochial schools of Baltimore. His life has been most picturesque and varied. He has gone through epidemics of contagious and infectious disease; built churches and schools; delivered hun- dreds of lectures; in controversy, like Saul, "he has slain his thousands," and it is a debatable question as to whether he has yet overtaken David in "slaying his tens of thousands." He has written books, one at least of which, " The Christian Sabbath," has reached a phenomenal circulation; and the wonder in Father O'Keefe's life is, not that he has been able to perform so many good works for God's glory and man's better- ment, but that he has performed them all so well ! The century will close finding Father O'Keefe strong and active, and, in appearance at least, a comparatively
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young man ; his eyes are as bright and his disposition as sunshiny as fifty years ago.
An interesting and lovable character is the Reverend Peter B Lenaghan, who was pastor of St. Patrick's Church from the year 1853 to 1855. The old people of Cumberland, many of whom are now grandparents, very kindly remember Fa- ther Lenaghan as "a sweet singer, a good preacher, and a very charitable priest." During his pastorate this good priest saw his beloved flock deci- mated by a frightful epidemic of cholera. Unusually heavy rains of many days' duration REV. PETER B. LENAGHAN. caused Wills Creek to overflow its banks, in- undating all the low lands of the city. The rains were immediately followed by extreme heat, which generated poisonous exhalations. The cholera became epidemic at once in Cumberland, and quickly spread to the suburbs and surrounding neighborhood. Whole families were stricken, and Cumberland mourned as many as eight or nine funerals a day. Faithfully and unsparingly did Father Lenaghan minister to the wants of his stricken
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people. As a martyr of charity, he exposed his life to every danger, until he actually fell a victim to the dire contagion. For many a weary week he hovered between life and death. For nearly two years he was confined to a hospital in Georgetown; and when he had suf- ficiently recovered to renew the work of the missions, his health was so impaired that his superiors deemed. it prudent to appoint him to a mission in the more salubrious climate of Southern Maryland. There for nineteen years, he labored assiduously in preaching the gospel; and afterwards for twenty years he evan- gelized the neighborhood of Texas, in Baltimore County. He died while in charge of this latter mission, in the year 1896.
Father Lenaghan was born in Ireland, and unto his death, retained many of the sweet social traits of the Irish character. When he was pastor of St. Patrick's, he was quite young and of impressive personality ; he had at least a fair share of talent and administrative ability. He was not an orator in the strict sense; but he possessed much of the Irish oratorical tem- perament, with an ever-ready command of simple, clear, precise, idiomatic English. Those who knew him best and admired him most, say that "Father Lenaghan was never the same man after he had the cholera."
His remains rest in the cemetery of Texas, beneath a pretty monument, affectionately erected to his memory by a grateful congregation. But the worthiest monu- ment, one more lasting than marble, to perpetuate the
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honored name of Father Lenaghan, will ever be his own fidelity to duty, when as a strong young priest he offered himself to God and his people, as a noble martyr to Christian charity.
"Servant of God! Well done! Rest from thy loved employ ! The battle fought, the victory won! Enter thy Master's joy !"
During Father Lenaghan's absence at the hospital the parish was attended by Reverend Fathers Slattery, Carney and McNally. During the years sketched we find the names of Reverend Bertrand S. Piot and Reverend John P. Donlon registered as assistants at St. Patrick's.
Reverend Charles W. O'Reilly was in Cumberland for nearly two years. He is remembered as a man of many eccentricities, free in expressing his views, fear- less in denouncing sin, even bitter in attacking heresy. Opinions savoring of the neutral tint, or even nicely graded expressions, were to Father O'Reilly an abomi- nation. In speech he was dramatic, emotional, often abusive, sometimes very abusive. He seemed unable to realize that there may be honest error or invincible ignorance. Every non-Catholic was to him an insin- cere fiend ; and all heresy was a notorious, scandalous, diabolical, infamous and infernal lie, and as such he continually pictured it and relentlessly denounced it. From St. Patrick's he was transferred to St. Bridget's Church, Baltimore.
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It would be hard to find two men more unlike than Father O'Reilly and his immediate successor, the plain, pious, benign George Flaut. This good priest was born in Pennsylvania. He had been, like St. Joseph, a carpenter by trade. He labored for a number of years in that capacity at Mt. St. Mary's College. The venerable Abbe du Bois noticed the sterling virtue of the young man, and recognized in him unmistakable evidence of a vocation to the religious life. Mr. Flaut accordingly entered the seminary, pursued the studies of philosophy and theology with success, and after his ordination did very good work on the Maryland Mis- sions. He died soon after leaving Cumberland.
Father Edward Brennan! The most beloved name in the history of St. Patrick's parish! Other pastors wrought earnestly and faithfully; he threw his whole heart and soul, his very life, into the building up and maintaining of St. Patrick's congregation. Cumberland had just gone beyond ten thousand in population, and had been incorporated into a city; the people were rejoicing in all the pride of youth and progress; the railroads, canal and rolling mills were so many pul- sating arteries of prosperity, when His Grace, Arch- bishop Kenrick, of Baltimore, appointed young Father Brennan pastor of St. Patrick's. It is one of the glories of human nature that heroism is as contagious as evil, that good example is copied almost as eagerly as bad example; accordingly, the enthusiasm of the young paston soon began to glow in the members of his congregations The kind disposition of Father Bren-
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nan quickly won the admiration and affection of his people; greater union, and its consequent greater strength, began to show themselves. The congrega- tion became more and more closely united in the bonds of Christian charity, and more and more eager to pro- mote religious interests. Father Brennan paid off the remaining debt of $4,000, built a magnificent pastoral residence, constructed the graceful church spire, pur- chased and dedicated the cemetery, erected St. Edward's Academy, brought the Sisters of Mercy to Cumberland to take charge of the girls' schools, and the Brothers of Mary to conduct the boys' schools. He had the church solemnly consecrated with all the gorgeousness and pomp of the ritual. But this was, after all, only the material side of his work; this, grand as it may seem, was only a means to the end. The great work, the ultimate end of the priest's life, is to save souls. Twenty-six years, with sleepless energy, he watched and prayed and labored for the salvation of souls. All classes found a place in his zeal. The children loved him as a father; the parents, as a hero; the poor, as a protector; the sinner, as a guide; and all, as a friend.
Edward Brennan was born in the County of Kil- kenny, Ireland, April 19, 1827. He studied his classics at St. Charles' College, and philosophy and theology at St. Mary's Seminary of Baltimore. He was ordained priest in June, 1858. He became pastor of Cumber- land the following July, and died in Baltimore in the 58th year of his age. In person Father Brennan was
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tall, graceful and of a commanding appearance, a little nervous in movement, self-possessed in repose ; his face was delicate in outline, thoughtful and serious in ex- pression ; humorous in social moments, dreamy and
VERY REV. EDWARD BRENNAN.
often sad. There was nothing in his countenance to indicate the hard, calculating business man of affairs, yet he was very successful as parish administrator and financier. He had a rich, melodious voice, which at times was so plaintive that he moved the congregation to tears. He sang well; his preaching was always
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interesting, on some occasions, as at funerals, really eloquent. As a scholar, he had more than an ordinary knowledge of books, and he knew men well. He was was appointed dean of Allegany, Garrett and part of Washington Counties, by Archbishop Spalding. This honor made him ex officio president of the clerical con- ferences, in which position he gave proofs that he was at least well informed in dogmatic and moral theology, and all other branches of ecclesiastical learning.
During the Civil War Father Brennan had a num- ber of painful experiences, the most painful of which was the execution of a young soldier with whom he became acquainted in his capacity of spiritual director. In July, 1864, Francis Gillespie, of the Fifteenth New York Regiment, was hanged near Rose Hill Cemetery, after trial by court-martial. The circumstances in the case were such as to excite sympathy for the soldier, but not sufficient to excuse or extenuate the horrible deed of which he had been guilty Gillespie had been charged with violating some army regulation, and his lieutenant, William Shearer, had given orders to "hang him up by the thumbs." The soldier was left hanging in excruciating torture until he was almost dead. He swore vengeance on the lieutenant; and when the regi- ment was travelling from Parkersburg to Cumberland, Gillespie deliberately shot Shearer dead. Father Bren- nan was summoned to prepare the young man for death. It is said that Gillespie ascended the scaffold without the twitching of a muscle, whilst Father Bren . nan was in a state of total collapse.
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The condemned soldier had intrusted to Father Bren- nan tokens of affection to be delivered to near relatives ; and " there is a tradition among the Cumberland people that the night after the execution Father Brennan heard . the military tread of a soldier in the hall, and opening the door, he was confronted by his dead penitent, who rebuked him for being too slow in carrying out his promise."
There is one trait in the character of Father Brennan which we must not overlook, because not to notice that trait would mean to miss much of the beauty and grandeur of his whole character; as an Irishman he had an innate love for Ireland, for her greatness and for her glory. Like all other Irish patriots, he hoped to go home some day and see Ireland free and prosperous. His friend, the late Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Sullivan, told an interesting incident, which illus- trates this characteristic of Father Brennan. When Father O'Sullivan was pastor of Westernport, when visiting Cumberland, on a certain occasion, and hear- ing that the Dean was ill, called to see him.
"I was sitting by his bedside," the bishop said; "we were conversing about general topics, when my eyes fell upon an unopened newspaper lying on the floor. I picked it up, and opening it, I noticed the headline, 'Dawn on the Coast of Ireland,' by John Locke." The good bishop then explained the circum- stances of the poem: A poor Irishman, who had been roaming through the West for thirty years, was
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returning to the land of his birth. As he stood on the deck of the ship, the sun broke in splendor over the hills of Kerry, and with its first morning rays illuminating and transfiguring the tear-stained face, the old man advanced to the rail with outstretched arms, exclaiming:
"Oh, m'anam le Dia! but there it is, The dawn on the coast of Ireland !
God's angels lifting the night's black veil From the fair, sweet face of my sireland. Oh, Ireland, isn't it grand you look, Like a bride in your rich adorning, And with all the pent-up love of my heart I bid you the top of the morning.
"See, see! upon Cleenar's shelving strand The surges are grandly beating ;
And Kerry is pushing her headlands out To give us the kindly greeting. Into the shore the sea-birds fly On pinions that know no drooping, And out from the cliff's a million of waves With welcomes charged come trooping.
" And I wonder I don't hear Shandon's bells ; Ah! maybe their chiming's over, For 'tis many a year since I began The life of a Western rover. For thirty years, a stor me chrce, Those hills I now feast my eyes on Ne'er met my vision save when they rose Over memory's dim horizon.
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" Now fuller and truer the shore line shows ; Was ever a scene more splendid ! I feel the breath of the Munster breeze, Thank God that my exile's ended ! Old scenes, old home, old friends again ! The vale, the cot I was born in! Oh, Ireland, up from my heart of hearts, I bid you the top of the morning!"
"While I was reading it," said the bishop, "Father Brennan made several outcries of admiration. Again and again he interrupted me with his commendations; and when I left him, he had the paper grasped tightly in his hand as if endeavoring to memorize every word of it." Then the good bishop added : "Poor man, he was a strange mixture of fervor and frailty. May God rest his soul."
On account of Father Brennan's long residence in Cumberland, his priestly bearing, his patriarchal ap- pearance, his universal kindness and charity to all classes, Catholic and non-Catholic, he became well known and actually venerated, not only by the people of Cumberland, but by all Western Maryland; and when the sad and unexpected news came from Balti- more that Father Brennan was dead, all felt "that they had lost something rare and sweet."
" The heavens will still be bright with stars, and younger men will never miss the radiance, which they never saw. But for those who once watched for his light, there will always be a spot of special darkness 3
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