USA > Maryland > A Century of Growth [electronic resource] or, the history of the Church in Western Maryland > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17
Father Fridolin Luette came to take charge in 1853. He was pastor during the cholera epidemic which scourged Cumberland that summer. Father Luette, of Sts. Peter and Paul's, and Father Lenaghan, of St.
Digitized by Google
54 A CENTURY OF GROWTH.
Patrick's, were devoted friends; they were drawn together from that truest and deepest sympathy, the love of God and his suffering children. Father Luette, being a strong man, went through the epidemic with his robust constitution unharmed and his excellent health unimpaired; while Father Lenaghan, as has been observed, succumbed to the disease and was a delicate man ever afterwards. When Father Lenaghan went to the hospital, Father Luette, as the true priest of God, attended for a time to both congregations. Like Timothy, he was an example to all the faith- ful "in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, in chastity."
Rev. Father Van de Braak held the pastorate of the parish from 1854 to 1857. His administration was remarkably successful. He made an addition to the monastery at an expense of twenty thousand dollars. The students had by this time increased to thirty-five in number; theology and philosophy were both being taught in the monastery; and on all extraordinary occasions the students took part in the singing and church ceremonies. The community, at the close of Father Van de Braak's administration, numbered seventy members, including professors, su- periors, pastor, assistants, students and lay Brothers. The spiritual condition of the parish was also excel- lent, as the church records show an average of about ten thousand communions received yearly. The closing year of Father Van de Braak's pastorate was blessed by a visit from Rt. Rev. Bishop Neumann, of Phila-
Digitized by Google
1
.
STS. PETER AND PAUL'S CHURCH. 55
delphia. The venerable bishop was on his way to Cincinnati to attend the consecration of his coadjutor, Dr. James Frederick Wood. It was no doubt a great pleasure to Bishop Neumann to visit again the scene of his early labors. He expressed himself as sur- prised and delighted with the marvellous strides for- ward made by the parish in so short a time.
Rev. Francis Xavier Seelos became successor to Father Van de Braak, and governed the parish until 1863. "Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: let His praise be in the church of the saints. For the Lord is well pleased with His people, and He will exalt the meek to salvation." Father Seelos was a great and good man; a saint burning with ardent charity, whose
eloquent tongue spoke out of the abundance of his heart, and whose example was a perpetual edification. In appearance Father Seelos was a tall, slender, dig- nified man, with a kind, open, innocent face. He was by birth a Bavarian, and, although a foreigner, spoke English elegantly and fluently. He was remarkable as a most lucid catechist and a pulpit orator of great force. During his pastorate he delivered a series of lectures on "Revelation " and "The True Church," which were listened to by the most cultured people of Cumberland and the vicinity.
During the pastorate of Father Seelos the church was solemnly consecrated, August 1, 1858, by Arch- bishop Kenrick, of Baltimore. On the following day, the Feast of St. Alphonsus, His Grace confirmed
Digitized by Google
56
A CENTURY OF GROWTH. ·
102 persons, among whom were five colored slaves, " property of the Jamison family."
During the Civil War the good Redemptorist Fathers had a number of disagreeable experiences. On one occasion, when the Indiana Zouaves were encamped around Cumberland, they were informed by some mis- creant bent on mischief that weapons of war were concealed in the monastery ; a young and bigoted cap- tain took upon himself to storm the building, which he entered with armed men. The good Fathers peace- fully permitted the soldiers to search the whole house ; they, of course, found "nothing contraband of war." When the colonel heard of this outrage he apologized to the Redemptorists, stating that the captain had acted in the case without authority.
Soon after this occurrence the students were “on the walk," and being mistaken for Virginians, the city militia marched out against them. Three shots were fired, but happily no one was injured. Henceforth the students were excused from going on long walks.
The Fathers of the monastery, realizing that the laws which permitted the drafting of all strong citizens might, if taken literally, compel their students to bear arms or procure substitutes, delegated Father Seelos to visit the War Department and place a petition in the hands of President Lincoln. The President gra- ciously received the good priest and practically granted his request.
The Civil War greatly increased the work of the good Fathers. They were obliged to visit the hospi-
-
Digitized by Google
,
57
STS. PETER AND PAUL'S CHURCH.
tals and camps, catechising and instructing the soldiers, and administering the sacraments to them. Father . Anwander visited Colonel Mulligan's men, when the regiment was encamped at New Creek, now Keyser, and zealously administered to their spiritual needs. His charity was highly appreciated by the "boys in blue," who presented him with a purse of $200. Father Van de Braak, in one week, instructed and baptized fourteen soldiers, all of whom, it is said, happily persevered in the practice of the Christian life.
The Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Connor, of Pittsburg, wished Father Seelos to be his successor. The good Re- demptorist naturally dreaded so great a responsibility, and positively refused to permit the use of his name in this connection, even when he was requested to become the Rt. Rev. Bishop's coadjutor, or auxiliary bishop. The friendship between these two great men was warm and confidential; and one of the severest trials of Father Seelos' life came upon him when Bishop O'Connor began to show unmistakable indica- tions of softening of the brain, on account of which affliction Pope Pius IX permitted him to resign the See of Pittsburg. Father Seelos was sent to New Orleans in 1866, where, one year later, he fell a victim to the yellow fever contagion.
"Then there rushed, with lightning quickness, O'er his face a mortal sickness, And the dew, in fearful thickness, Gathered o'er his temples fair ;
Digitized by Google
58
A CENTURY OF GROWTH.
" And there swept a dying murmur Through the lovely Southern summer As the beauteous angel-comer Perished by that city there."
An edifying life of Father Seelos has been pub- lished by Benziger Brothers, New York.
Rev. Michael Muller was pastor from 1862 to 1866. During his administration the students were trans- ferred from Cumberland to Annapolis. It had be- come evident to the Superiors of the Congregation that the high altitude of Cumberland and the rigor of the mountain winters were injurious to the health · of their students, many of whom were suffering from weak lungs. Pulmonary consumption had already carried to the grave some of their brightest and most promising novices. The students were accordingly transferred to the more salubrious air of Annapolis. It was with deep regret that the Congregation saw them depart, and thenceforward the ceremonies of the Church were shorn of much of their pomp and grandeur. The old people say that "the church has never been the same to them since the students went away." Father Michael Muller is one of the best known American Redemptorists. He was a scholar, preacher and writer of ability.
The Provincial of the Redemptorists had his resi- dence in Baltimore, and wishing to have the Novitiate nearer to himself, made arrangements to sell the Cum- berland monastery. The Carmelite Fathers were at
Digitized by Google
1 -
59
STS. PETER AND PAUL'S CHURCH.
that time desirous of securing a convenient home in America, and, accordingly, they purchased the Re- demptorist property for $20,000.
Father Nicholas Joeckel was pastor in Cumberland at the time the property was transferred to the Carmelites. He is often called the "last of the Redemptorists." On the morning of October 17, 1866, the work of the Redemptorists was over in Cumberland and the REV. NICHOLAS JOECKEL, C. SS. R. last Redemptorist was gone. Naturally there were many tear-dimmed eyes and many heavy hearts among the people; because, coming, the good Fathers brought sunshine, and, going, they took a great deal of sunshine away.
ORIGIN OF THE PAULIST CONGREGATION.
Far-reaching and momentous, beyond the power of human intellect to reckon, have become the conse- quences of an evening's conversation which took place in the humble Redemptorist monastery in Cumber- land nearly fifty years ago. Fathers Clarence Wal- worth, Isaac Hecker, Augustine Hewitt and George Deshon were then four young priests burning with zeal for the conversion of America. They were joined
Digitized by Google
60
A CENTURY OF GROWTH.
by Father Baker in their evening walk. There they stood, five converts to Catholicity ; five English-speak- ing priests, young, strong and hopeful. They were Americans, all, and prided themselves on knowing America and knowing their American fellow-citizens. They were living, as Redemptorist priests, in a com-
1
REV. ISAAC HECKER.
munity the majority of whose members were foreigners and speaking a foreign language. They, no doubt, hoped for great things from the Congregation to which they had bound themselves; they thought, nevertheless, that their beloved society could be a little better adapted to their age and country. This thought they discussed, debated, deliberated on, and, finally, they resolved to make a request to their Superior that a
Digitized by Google
i
61
STS. PETER AND PAUL'S CHURCH.
novitiate be established for English-speaking novices. The proposal was neither received nor encouraged by the Superiors. Other quiet talks took place, new reso- lutions were adopted, the effect of which has been heard around the globe. Father Hecker took the matter in his own hands and, in the name of his associates, started for Rome. He left the monastery on August 5, 1857. His departure was considered a violation of the vow of obedience, and he was dis- missed from the Congregation August 29. The re- maining four, desiring to vindicate their cause, urged Father Hecker to appeal to the Propaganda and the Holy Father. They were released from all connections with the Redemptorist Congregation March 16, 1858, and, at once, with the approbation of Archbishop Hughes, of New York, they began the organization of a new society. Father Walworth, not agreeing with the others in all their views, withdrew and devoted himself to pastoral work as a diocesan priest of Albany. Father Hecker was chosen Superior. He and his three companions compiled a rule of life, which Arch- bishop Hughes approved "as thoroughly adapted to the circumstances of time and place, to the United States and the present century."
June 19, 1859, the corner-stone of their church was laid and dedicated to St. Paul the Apostle. The Congregation has done excellent work in America, especially among Protestants. They have been re- cently preaching missions to non-Catholics in various dioceses of the country. They have also done wonder-
Digitized by Google
62
A CENTURY OF GROWTH.
ful work along the lines of the "apostolate of the press." Their publications are a quarterly magazine called the Missionary and the Catholic World. They have done a great deal of good in the cause of temper- ance and Catholic sobriety. Their community has
REV. AUGUSTINE HEWITT.
increased rapidly, so that at present it numbers many learned priests ..
Father Walworth, who left the Paulists very soon after their organization, has written, as his chief work, " The Gentle Skeptic." The Catholic World says of his book : "It has the solidity and elaborate finish of a work executed with care and diligence by one who is. both a strong thinker and a sound scholar."
Digitized by Google
63
STS. PETER AND PAUL'S CHURCH.
Father Hecker, the first Superior of the Paulists, is the author of "The Aspirations of Nature" and " Questions of the Soul." He is an original thinker, a strong writer, a ripe scholar, a diligent and fearless searcher after truth, and, having found it, he embraced it with all the fervor of his manly soul.
Father Hewitt, the second Superior of the Paulists, holds a high place in the Catholic literature of America as an editor, biographer, reviewer and controversialist. He has written " Problems of the Age," "The King's Highway" and "Light in Darkness." He has also edited the " Works of Bishop England." His lighter and more popular books are "The Life of Father Baker " and "The Life of the Egyptian Aloysius." Father Hewitt is always of a philosophical turn of mind, generally deep; sometimes, owing to the depth of his thoughts, he seems a little heavy, but he always shows good taste and sound judgment.
Father Elliott, another distinguished Paulist, a mis- sioner of national reputation 'for his eloquence, learn- ing and zeal, has written "The Life of Father Hecker." This work, or the French translation of it, has stirred up so much controversy that the Sovereign Pontiff, Leo XIII, in his wisdom as chief Pastor of all the Churches, has deigned to address a most kind, paternal letter to his American children "on true and false Americanism." How strange and providential! The dream of the great, earnest Father Hecker, in his quiet monastery at Cumberland fifty years ago, was "Americanism." He knew America well and he knew
Digitized by Google
64
A CENTURY OF GROWTH. .
God's Church well, and the one longing of his great soul was to bring them closer together. Fifty years have passed away; the century in which Father Isaac Hecker wrought so potently is closing. Rome has spoken. Americanism, in its true sense, has been ·de- fined and approved; Americanism, in its false sense, has been defined and repudiated. Father Hecker, like the prophet and law-giver of old, has led a great nation within sight of the Promised Land, and though, from the high mountain of his own gigantic intellect and strong faith, "he saw all the land," he died before the people "crossed over" to enjoy its blessings.
"() the depth of the riches, of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are His judgments and how unsearchable His ways!"
THE CARMELITE FATHERS AT STS. PETER AND PAUL'S.
From the year 1866 to 1875 the Rev. Fathers of the Carmelite Order had charge of the German Catholics. The word Carmelite is evidently derived from Mount Carmel, referred to in the Holy Scripture in con- nection with the life of the holy prophet, Elias. We learn, from Church history, that during the Crusades, those religious wars waged by Christian Europe to recover the Holy Land from Moslem desecration, a pious Crusader named Berthold, on the eve of an important battle, made a vow that if God, in His mercy, kindly permitted him to come forth from the battle victorious, he would consecrate the remainder
Digitized by Google
65
·
STS. PETER AND PAUL'S CHURCH.
of his life to penance as a hermit. The victory was won, and Berthold became a monk in Calabria. It is said that, soon afterwards, the prophet Elias appeared and made certain revelations to him, in consequence of which he moved to Mt. Carmel and took up his abode there. This holy hermit is therefore said to be, in a sense, the founder of the Order of Carmelites. It seems certain, however, that when Berthold went to Mt. Carmel he found other hermits already living there. This has given rise to the assumption that holy men had continued to live on Mt. Carmel, in an unbroken chain of succession, since the time of Elias, and that, as a consequence, the prophet Elias may be considered the real founder of the Carmelite Order.
Be this as it may, the assertion can neither be suc- cessfully substantiated nor successfully refuted. It is certain that St. Simon Stock was elected Superior of the Order in the year 1245, and it is said that our Blessed Mother appeared to the saint and gave him, in his vision, the scapular of Mt. Carmel. Thence- forward the Carmelite Fathers wore the brown habit, with white scapular and cloak. Many distinguished men have worn this holy habit, and have adorned it by their sanctity and learning. There are not many communities of this Order in the United States. In the year 1864, a small community of Bavarian Car- melites, with the Very Rev. Cyril Knoll as their Su- perior, came to America and took up their abode at Leavenworth, Kansas. Two years later they moved to Cumberland, and the same Father Cyril became 5
1
Digitized by Google
66
A CENTURY OF GROWTH.
pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul's Church, and continued in the position for nine years.
During his pastorate he built the present comfortable school, erected the convent, and brought the Ursuline Sisters to Cumberland to take charge of the parochial schools. He next built the large sacristies, and em- bellished the whole church property, thoroughly reno- vating and improving the monastery, at a total expense of more than $20,000.
The material improvement of the parish did not exhaust the zeal or consume all of Father Cyril's time. He introduced a number of excellent devotions, and fostered them with all the energy of his own fervent soul. Among the most noticeable of these devotions was the novena to St. Joseph, as patron of a happy death. This consisted of the consecration of nine suc- cessive Wednesdays to the foster father of our Blessed Saviour. Solemn High Mass was chanted in the morning, at which time every opportunity was given to the faithful to receive Holy Communion. In the evening an edifying and fervent instruction was de- livered on St. Joseph as a model of all the virtues, and the day was fittingly closed by the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
Very naturally, devotion to the Scapular of Our Blessed Lady of Mt. Carmel held a conspicuous place among the spiritual exercises of the Congregation during the Carmelite administration. The feast of that name was celebrated with all the pomp and splendor of the highest class feasts. The whole octave
Digitized by Google
67
STS. PETER AND PAUL'S CHURCH.
was observed with all possible solemnity, High Masses, sermons, prayers, hymns and acts of consecration taking a prominent place in the exercises. It must be said, to the praise of the good Carmelites, that their devo- tion to the Blessed Virgin Mary was lucid, earnest, childlike. In the in- structions given the theology of the devo- tion was clearly ex- plained to the people. Father Cyril himself was a good instruc- tor, not merely pos- sessing learning, but endowed with that still more blessed gift, the power of im- parting his knowl- edge to others.
Another intensely Catholic devotion on VERY REV. CYRIL KNOLL. which great stress was laid by the good Carmelite Fathers is the prac- tice of praying for the dead. The pious custom of visiting the graveyard on the afternoon of All Saints was introduced in the year 1867. It was an edifying spectacle to see the whole congregation journeying to the cemetery, chanting and reciting fervent prayers for the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. At the head of the procession was their devoted pastor,
Digitized by Google
68
A CENTURY OF GROWTH. .
fervently praying that eternal rest and perpetual light might be granted to all the deceased.
Father Cyril was born near Ratisbon in 1813. Our present Sovereign Pontiff, Leo XIII, was just three years old when our venerable Carmelite was born ; and Father Cyril, although approaching his ninetieth year, is still in the harness, laboring in the hard missions of Kansas.
" Jesus crucified before him ; True zeal burning in his breast ; For a moment let the noisy turmoil cease ; As the century is closing, he is drawing near his rest. Lord, lettest Thou Thy servant go in peace."
Of Father Cyril we may say: "Amiable, he won all; intelligent, he charmed all; zealous, he loved all ; and going away, he saddened all."
STS. PETER AND PAUL'S UNDER THE CAPUCHIN FATHERS.
The monks of the Capuchin branch of the Franciscan Order came to Cumberland in June, 1875, to take charge of the German Catholics, and have since re- mained. there, successfully laboring for God's glory and man's salvation. Their coming recalls stormy days in Europe and the bitter struggle known in history as the "Kultur-Kampf," or the battle in the Germanic empire between the Church and State on the question of education. The Franco-Prussian war was over, and France lay practically prostrate at the
Digitized by Google
69
STS. PETER AND PAUL'S CHURCH.
feet of Germany. Prince Bismarck, " the Iron Chan- cellor," the "man of iron and blood," was of opinion, or at any rate pretended to be of opinion, that all the sympathies of the Vatican were with France, that the Vatican was the most powerful enemy existing against the empire, and that it was the part of prudence to protect the empire against the supposed encroachments of the Pope. The great idea in the mind of Bismarck was to bring the education of the German Catholics under the control of the State, and to make the State supreme over every form of religious teaching in Germany. Bismarck was a wily, subtle statesman, with a capacity which has hardly ever been surpassed. It has been said that "no other man of the century had the art of uttering striking truths with such a degree of appropriateness and artistic perfection as Bismarck." His attack on the Church was vehement. It is true that he was magnificently opposed by strong men on the other side. Windthorst, the leader of the Catholic party, was one of the ablest debaters in any European parliament. His ability was acknowledged by the "Iron Chancellor; " but, whilst Windthorst had the arguments, Bismarck had the guns, and the oppressive May laws were passed. Many of the Capuchin monasteries were dissolved as a consequence. The monks were not exiled, but priestly functions were forbidden, and monastic privileges were so re- stricted by legislation that prosperity could hardly be expected, and even bare existence threatened to be- come living martyrdom. In view of this deplorable
Digitized by Google
70
A CENTURY OF GROWTH.
state of affairs, two Capuchin monks of the West- phalian Province of Muenster turned their face towards America. The two monks were Fathers Anthony Maria Schuermann and Francis Wolf. When the wandering Capuchins arrived in New York, hearing that the Carmelite Fathers, on account of their grow- ing missions in the West, were willing to vacate the Cumberland monastery, they immediately set out for the hills of Western Maryland. In consideration of $21,000, the Carmelite Fathers deeded the monastery to the Capuchins, the latter taking possession of the parish July 17, 1875. The venerable strangers, find- ing themselves blessed at last with a comfortable retreat, began to welcome to their new home as many holy monks of their Order as desired to cast their lot in America. The community increased rapidly, and the Church services were again rendered solemn by the sonorous strains of the liturgical "plain chant." The offices were again sung in choir, and, as in the days of the Redemptorist Fathers, the people of Cum- berland heard the midnight musical chants floating out from the old monastery, "Ad te clamamus exules filii Evae." During the twenty-five years of Capuchin administration the parish has been governed by eight pastors : Fathers Anthony Maria, Francis, Felix, Hya- cinth, Herman, Didacus, Charles and Peter.
Pope Pius IX "kindly granted, December 12, 1875, per- mission for the canonical erection of a monastery and novi- tiate at Cumberland, Md., under the immediate depend- ency of the Provincial of the Province of Westphalia."
Digitized by Google
71
STS. PETER AND PAUL'S CHURCH.
The Rev. Capuchin Fathers very wisely avoided changes in the running regulations of the parish ; the novena in honor of St. Joseph, which the Carmelites had introduced, was continued, as also was the visita- tion to the cemetery on All Saints afternoon.
The "Third Order of St. Francis" was early estab- lished at the monastery under the Capuchin - adminis. tration. The status of the " tertians " was established by St. Francis as a sort of middle way between the world and the cloister. The members, both men and women, " bound themselves to dress more soberly, fast more strictly, pray more regularly, hear Mass more frequently, and practice works of mercy more system- atically than ordinary persons living in the world." This is about the meaning of the Society as it exists to-day. In the past the Third Order has numbered in its ranks many great saints, conspicuous among whom may be mentioned St. Louis of France and St. Elizabeth of Hungary.
The Capuchins introduced the solemn celebration of the Feast of Portiuncula. That we may not be mis- understood in relation to this exercise, it may be proper here to give a brief explanation. It must be borne in mind that the Capuchin Fathers are a branch of the great Franciscan Order. The name comes from the word "capuche," or cowl, often called a hood, worn by this special branch. In the sixteenth century a dispute arose in a few monasteries of the Observantine Franciscans concerning the shape of the cowl worn by St. Francis of Assisi, some asserting that the original
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.