The Catholic Church in New Jersey, Part 1

Author: Flynn, Joseph M. (Joseph Michael), 1848-1910. cn
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Morristown, N.J. : [s.n.]
Number of Pages: 726


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CATHEDRAL OF THE SACRED HEART, NEWARK.


The Catholic Church in Rem Jersey


JOSEPH M. FLYNN, M. R., V. F. Rector of the Church of the Assumption of the B. V. M., Morristown, N. f.


MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY MDCCCCIV


Allen County Public Library Ft. Wayne, Indiana


COPYRIGHT, 1904 By JOSEPH M. FLYNN, M. R., V. F.


PRESS OF THE PUBLISHERS' PRINTING CO. 32 AND 34 LAFAYETTE PLACE NEW YORK


TO OUR FOREFATHERS IN THE FAITH-


"The Dumbly Brave who did their Deed, and Scorned to Blot it with a Name"


-Bishops, Priests, and Laity ; AND TO THEIR


Successors, in Garnering the Harvest and Reaping where they have Sown; and to their Children reflecting all the Virtues of their Forefathers-Guarding well the Sacred Deposit of Faith-Illustrious by Righteousness and Good Works, this volume is


MOST LOVINGLY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR.



PREFACE.


IN presenting to the Catholics this chronicle of the planting and developing of the seed of Catholic faith in the State of New Jersey by their forefathers, most of whom have long since slept in the Lord and passed to the reward of their sacrifices and their constancy, I would apologize for the imperfections of this volume, which, owing to the short time allotted for its completion, were inevitable. It is lamentable that this work was not undertaken at an earlier date, when the facts might have been gathered from the lips of the actors and witnesses of this mighty and heroic struggle, and entrusted to an abler pen than mine. But the project was a flash which the approaching Golden Jubilee created, and the hope was cherished that this volume might appear on the anniversary of the instalment of our first bishop. There is a limit, however, to human efforts, and to gather all the facts connected with the progress of religion in our State from the close of the seventeenth century to the present, to cull the authentic from the fabulous, to verify apparently conflicting statements, and embody the whole into the present work, has required the constant, unremit- ting efforts and labor of the author for the last three months. Proprio motu he would have shrunk from the task, as he did when asked by the late Archbishop Corrigan to write the history of the Diocese of Newark. Yielding at length to the solicitation of es- teemed brethren in the priesthood, and unaware of the magnitude of the work, which grew on his hands day by day, at last he is able to present it to a kind and, he hopes, an indulgent public, who, in the full light of the above facts, will overlook any remiss- ness or shortcoming in its pages. Not the last in his encourage- ment to take up this work, nor the least in his efforts to assist by every means in his power to make a complete and finished record,


iii


iv


PREFACE.


was our worthy bishop, the Rt. Rev. John J. O'Connor, D.D., who was kind enough to write the following letter:


BISHOP'S HOUSE, 552 SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE, SOUTH ORANGE, N. J. September 12th, 1903.


VERY REV. DEAR DEAN FLYNN :


I most cordially approve of your undertaking to write a his- tory of Catholicity in the State of New Jersey for the Golden Jubilee of the Diocese of Newark which we are preparing to cele- brate, and I beg the rectors of the various churches and the su- periors of the different religious communities to supply you with all the information which you may desire from them, in order that this history may be as complete as possible.


Believe me


Very sincerely yours in Christ, * JOHN J. O'CONNOR.


To this an almost general and immediate response was made, not only by the priests of the diocese of Newark, but by a great number of the priests of the diocese of Trenton. It was deemed only fair to incorporate the history sent by them, as nearly as pos- sible, verbatim, both as a recognition of the labor involved, and at the same time shifting upon them the responsibility of the details. Furthermore, the varied style adds an additional charm to the nar- rative. But to none are we more obligated than to the venerable Bishop of Rochester, nor will the pleasant memory soon pass away of the delightful evenings spent in his rural home, amid his vines, with the forest at our feet, dipping down to the placid crystal waters of Hemlock Lake, and the melody of his voice ringing in our ears, as his marvellous memory recalled events and faces and facts of fifty years agone. Most of the early history is his nar- rative, and for many of the facts of the last score of years does he stand sponsor. To Mr. Stephen H. Horgan are we indebted for the admirable illustrations, many of which would have been unat- tainable without him. With reluctance, where all have been so kind and so painstaking, do I single out as specially deserving of my grateful recognition the Rev. Charles J. Kelly, D.D., who


V


PREFACE.


not only supplied me with valuable sources of information, but assisted me greatly in the onerous and responsible work of proof- reading, and the composition of the index; to the Rev. George W. Corrigan, M.R., who placed at my disposal his collection of memorabilia ; also to the Rev. Joseph C. Dunn, and the Rev. Patrick J. Hayes, the Secretary of the Archdiocese of New York, and the Very Rev. Dean Mulligan, M.R., for important docu- ments and generous aid.


The cover, perhaps, requires some explanation : the seal in the upper left-hand corner is that of Archbishop Bayley; and that on the opposite right-hand corner, of Archbishop Corrigan; the one in the lower left-hand corner is that of Bishop Wigger; and, in the lower right-hand corner, of Bishop O'Connor; all grouped around the seal of Seton Hall, which has been the one institution upon which all have lavished their tenderest care and solicitude. The seal on the reverse cover is that of the State of New Jersey. The cover, as well as the history, has been copyrighted.


Great pains have been taken with the clergy list, which, never- theless, is incomplete; but it is hoped in a second edition to fill the lacuna and correct whatever errors have crept in. The Cath- olics of our State have just reason to be proud of their history ; and, while they are thrilled with the tale of the sufferings, priva- tions, and generosity of those who have gone before them, they may take the assurance that they, too, are deserving of a large measure of praise, for the sacrifices they have made and are mak- ing, and for the splendid example they are giving to the world of virtue, and loyalty to Church and country, helping, on their part, to make the diocese of Newark peerless among all the dioceses of the country. May this volume give to all the same pleasure in reading it as the author found in writing it.


MORRISTOWN, N. J., January 7, 1904.


HEMLOCK LAKE, N. Y.


SOURCES OF INFORMATION


The following have been consulted and have proved valuable sources of information :


Narrative and Critical History of America Winsor.


England in the Eighteenth Century. Lecky.


Smith's History of New Jersey, a Reprint .. Sharpe.


Historical Collections of the State of New Jersey


Barber and Howe.


Old Order Book Morristown Headquarters


History of New York. Brodhead.


Laws of the Colony of Nova Caesarea.


History of New Jersey . .


Raum.


New Jersey as a Colony and as a State.


Lee.


Persecutions of Irish Catholics.


Moran.


The Battle of the Faith in Ireland


O'Rourke


The Story of Ireland


Sullivan.


A Child's History of Ireland


Joyce.


Irish Settlers in America.


McGee.


The Catholic Church in the United States


DeCourcy-Shea.


The Catholic Church in the United States. Shea.


The Life and Times of Archbishop Carroll. Shea.


History of the Catholic Church in New York.


Bayley.


Life of Montalembert


Lecanuet.


Principles and Acts of the Revolution


Niles.


Account of Negro Plot.


Horsemanden.


Life and Times of Archbishop Carroll.


Campbell.


History of Wyoming.


Miner.


Field Book of the Revolution.


Lessing.


Life of Mother Margaret Seguier.


Records of American Catholic Historical Society, Phil- adelphia.


Historical Records and Studies, United States Catholic Historical Society, New York


American Catholic Historical Researches. Griffin.


History of Sussex and Warren Counties, N. J.


History of Jersey City


A Century of Catholicity in Trenton, N. J. Fox. History of Mercer County


Story of a Parish. Flynn.


Life of Madame D'Youville Ramsay.


Register of Clergy (2 vols.), Diocese of Newark.


vii


V111


SOURCES OF INFORMATION.


Letter Book of Archbishop Bayley.


Letter Book of Archbishop Corrigan


Diary of Archbishop Corrigan.


Church and State in the United States.


Spalding.


Essays of History and Literature.


Fiske.


Historical Records of Morris County, N. J Green.


Memorial Address, the late Rev. John Rogers. O'Grady.


Historical Address, Sesqui-Centennial of Sussex County Swayze.


Various Parish Chronicles; History of Catholic Church in Paterson, Schreiner; Sketch of St. Joseph's Church, Swedesboro, Leahey; St. Mary's, Perth Amboy, Leahey; Story of Our Parish, Boonton; St. Mary's Catholic Church, Salem; A Half Century of Catholicity in Phillipsburg, McCloskey ; St. Nicholas's, Atlantic City ; Brief History of St. Paul of the Cross. Jersey City; History of Catholic Church in Bloomfield ; History of St. Agnes's, Paterson ; History of St. Patrick's Church, Chatham ; and St. Leo's, Irvington, N. J., Dunn ; Catholicity in Bound Brook; Seton Hall College : A Memoir; St. Mary's Church, Plainfield ; History of Catholicity in Lakewood; and, through the courtesy of Rt. Rev. Monsignor Stafford, the Records of the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception from 1868 to the present.


And newspaper files of The Truthteller, Metropolitan Magazine, London Tablet, New York Freeman's Journal, Catholic World, Catholic Mis- cellany, United States Catholic Magazine, Boston Pilot, Catholic Ex- positor, Sussex Register, Newark Advertiser, Newark Evening News, Jersey City Journal, Daily Times, New Brunswick; Catholic Messen- ger, Elizabeth ; Irish Ecclesiastical Record, and Catholic Directory (40 vols.), and various documents in the Newark Library and that of the New Jersey Historical Society, Newark.


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


CHURCHES


Cathedral of Sacred Heart. Frontispiece


Atlantic City, St. Nicholas's


331


Avondale, Our Lady of Grace


459


Bayonne, St. Mary's


358


¥


St. Henry's 543


Belleville, St. Peter's. IIO


Bloomfield, Sacred Heart.


465


Boonton, Mt. Carmel


191 461


Camden, Immaculate Conception.


333


Chatham, St. Patrick's


415


Cranford, St. Michael's.


441


East Orange, Help of Christians


514


Elizabeth, Holy Rosary


527


St. Mary's.


14I


¥ Sacred Heart.


414


St. Patrick's.


356


¥


St. Michael's.


257


Gloucester, St. Mary's


195


Greenville, St. Paul's. 366


395


Hackensack, Newman School. 372


Harrison, Holy Cross 373


Hibernia, St. Patrick's 370


532


¥ St. Joseph's


436


Sts. Peter and Paul's


534


Our Lady of Grace (Interior)


I71


" Our Lady of Grace 169


158


Hohokus, St. Luke's 378


Irvington, St. Leo's 456


Jersey City, St. Nicholas's 522 66 St. Lucy's 520


St. Anthony's. 519


ix


Guttenberg, New Church Old Church


393


Hoboken, St. Francis's.


First Catholic Public School.


PAGE


St. Mary's


357


Butler, St. Anthony's


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS X


PAGE


Jersey City, St. John Baptist


517


St. Bridget's


408


¥


St. Peter's.


99


First St. Peter's Church.


96


St. Peter's


96


St. Aloysius's School


547


66


St. Patrick's.


4II


St. Paul of the Cross. 405


St. Boniface 380


St. Mary's


363


St. Michael's (Interior).


345


66


St. Michael's (Exterior).


344


All Saints'


545


66 St. Joseph's


337


Kearney, St. Cecilia's


541


Lakewood, First Church


2 37


Lodi, St. Francis de Sales's


324


Macopin, St. Joseph's Church.


35


Madison, St. Vincent's


115


Mendham, St. Joseph's.


355


Montclair, Tegakwita Hall


310


Morristown, All Souls' Hospital


223


St. Margaret's.


217


Assumption 214


213


New Brunswick, St. Peter's


89


Netcong, St. Michael's.


475


New York, Old St. Peter's Church.


50


Newark, St. Bridgit's


531


St. Mary's Academy


594


Blessed Sacrament.


582 467


St. Aloysius's


473


St. Antoninus's


454


St. John's


73


St. John's First Catholic Church


68


St. Mary's


136


St. James's


305


St. Augustine's


452


St. Columba's


445


St. Philip Neri's.


551


66 Convent of Good Shepherd.


427


St. Joseph's.


398


St. Benedict's


350


St. Peter's ..


329


St. Mary Magdalen's 542


St. Rose of Lima 539


St. Lucy's 538


462


First Church


St. Michael's


X1


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


PAGE


Newark, Mt. Carmel


537


66 St. Stanislaus's.


535


St. Patrick's Pro-cathedral. 199


Newton, Old Church


314


Present Church


317


Orange, Our Lady of the Valley


448


Mt. Carmel


576 323


Passaic, St. Nicholas's


327 326


St. Joseph's


575


Assumption.


474


Paterson, St. George's


St. Bonaventure's.


St. Mary's


435


St. Joseph's 401


St. John's 76 254


23


Plainfield, First Church


249


St. Mary's


250


Princeton, St. Paul's.


182


Rahway, St. Mary's


187


Ridgewood, House of Divine Providence.


596


Rockaway, St. Cecilia's


369


Roselle, St. Joseph's.


444


Salem, First Church.


179


" St. Mary's


180


Shadyside, Sacred Heart.


446


Stony Hill, St. Mary's.


189


South Orange, Our Lady of Sorrows.


Seton Hall College


Summit, St. Teresa's.


Swedesboro, Second Church.


339 387


St. Mary's Cathedral.


384


St. Francis's


234


St. Francis's


173 526 351


Vineland, Sacred Heart


382


West Hoboken, St. Michael's. ¥ St. Joseph's


241


Westfield, Holy Trinity.


438


Weehawken, St. Lawrence's. 524


Whippany, Our Lady of Mercy 325


Wyckoff, St. Elizabeth's 379


370


Trenton, Sacred Heart.


529 599


Union Hill, St. Augustine's


" Holy Family


240


St. John's


First Church


5II 460


St. Boniface's


Philadelphia, Old St. Joseph's


xii


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


MISCELLANEOUS


Academy of Madame Chegarry (Old Seton Hall)


278


Academy, Old St. Elizabeth's


285


Bayley, Most Rev. James R.


Brownson, Orestes A 266


I47


Bulger, Father.


37


Carroll, Archbishop


39


Cauvin, Rev. Anthony


15I


Corrigan, Most Rev. M. A


207


Consecration Procession of Bishop O'Connor.


554


D'Arcy, Rev. James


120


Doane, Rt. Rev. George H


198


Dubois, Rt. Rev. John


79


Farmer, Father.


25


Geiger's House.


178


Hogan, Rev. John


III


Howell, Rev. Isaac P


142


Hughes, Most Rev. John. 84


Jubilee, Golden. 201


319


Kelly, Rev. John.


97


Kraus, Rev. D 38 1


591


Mass in the Woods.


I17


Mackin, Rev. John.


61


Madden, Rev. Michael A.


119


Messmer, Most Rev. S. G


497


McFaul, Kt. Rev. J. A 177


McGovern, Rev. P 216


McGorien, Rev. Francis


I74


Mckay, Rev. James 322


McQuaid, Rt. Rev. Bernard


202


O'Connor, Rt. Rev. John J


553


O'Connor, Consecration of Rt. Rev. John.


200


O'Farrell, Rt. Rev. Michael J


95


O'Reilly, Rev. C 360


Pardow, Rev. Gregory Bryan 68


Pitcher, Molly


44


Power, Very Rev. John, D.D 49


Prieth, Rev. Gottfried. 330


Revere, Gen. J. W 232


Rogers, Rev. John. 91


Senez, Rev. Louis D 83


Shea, John Gilmary, LL.D .. 149


Sheppard, Rt. Rev. J. A 346


Sisters of Charity, Mother House 589


Sister Mary Catharine Nevin. 592


Sister Mary Agnes O'Neill 593


PAGE


Kilpatrick, Gen. Judson


Mother Mary Xavier Mehegan.


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


X111


PAGE Smith, Rev. Anthony


385


Tighe, Rev. John J.


192


Venuta, Rev. A


338


Von Schilgen, Rev. Albert.


258


Ward, Old Mansion (Newark)


274


Wigger, Rt. Rev. W. M.


87


Wimmer, Arch Abbot


1 38


Women of Elizabeth Defend Church


145


Young, Rev. Alfred, C.S.P


183


THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW JERSEY


Colonial Period.


THE Cross erected by Columbus on one of the Bahamas, in the year of our Lord 1492, was, under the Providence of God, to be the harbinger of blessings to countless generations, driven by the mighty forces-even at that time shaking Continental Europe to its very centre-to seek a refuge and a home, free from tur- moil and conflict, in a virgin land. The fifteenth century wit- nessed kingdoms and the church of the living God tottering to destruction. The spirit of revolt, emboldened in its successful attack by Luther and his colleagues on the sacred deposit of dogma, was soon to assail in its citadel one of the most cherished of Christian traditions-the divine rights of royalty-and the head of a Charles I was to fall under the executioner's axe by the order of the Protector of the Commonwealth. In France, a sect was to feel the mailed hand of power, and after paying with tor- rents of blood, the best testimony of their good faith, was driven forth to seek in foreign lands that freedom denied them in their own. Fire and sword had swept over fair Ierne, and the discov- ery of a new world saw a nation prostrate and a people in chains.


Let us turn again to Columbus and his crew, clustered around the Cross-the wondering natives standing afar-with what fervor from a heart overflowing with gratitude went up to heaven the prayer of the saintly captain, which has come down to us: "O Lord, Eternal and Almighty God, who by Thy sacred word hast created the heavens, the earth, and the seas! May Thy name be blessed and glorified everywhere! May Thy majesty be exalted, who hast deigned to permit that by Thy humble servant Thy sacred name should be known and preached in this other part of the world !"


And forth from their hearts burst the great Ambrose's hymn -"Te Deum Laudamus," i.e., We praise Thee, O God-forget-


I


2


THE CATHOLIC CHURCH


ful of their past dangers and perils on the broad and trackless waters of the Atlantic-whose echoes were again to be taken up, like a theme in music-to be borne along the ages in full and fer- vent harmony by the sons of the Cavalier and Roundhead, by the impulsive Celt and sturdy Saxon, by the children of mighty Rome, and by the sons of the fierce Goth, who had spoiled of all its glory the city of the Cæsars.


Was it chance or was it providential that among the crews of Columbus were to be found both a Saxon and a Celt, representa- tives of two races through whose activities the new world by its progress, ingenuity, political complexion, and industrial initiative were later on to startle and amaze the older world? Winsor, Narrative and Critical History of America, says: The list of the companions of Columbus in his first voyage to the new world in 1492 shows among them an Irishman, "Gulliermo Ires, natural de Galwey, en Irlanda " -- that is, William Herries, a native of Galway, Ireland (ii., p. II).


The story of the acquisitions of the different sections of the newly discovered land by exploration or by conquest has been so often told that it does not come within the scope of the present work. Although the voyage of Cabot, in 1497, had established the English claim, yet it was not until Sir Humphrey Gilbert, in 1759, and Sir Walter Raleigh, in 1584, had landed the one as far north as the mouth of the Kennebec, and the other in Virginia, that any serious attempt was made by Raleigh to establish a colony in the new possessions.


Notwithstanding the patent Queen Elizabeth had given Ra- leigh and his heirs, to discover and possess forever, all such coun- tries as were not then possessed by any Christian prince, King James, in 1606, granted a new patent of Virginia, in which was included what is now known as the New England States-New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland-to Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Somers, Richard Hakluyt, Clerk, Edward Maria Wingfield, Thomas Hanham, Richard Gilbert, Esqs., William Parker, George Popham, Lord Chief Justice of England, and others. The land extended from the thirty-fourth to the forty- fifth degrees of north latitude, with all the islands within one hundred miles of the coast. This patent was divided into two districts, called North and South Virginia, the latter vested in the Company of the London Adventurers; and the former, granted to Thomas Hanham and his associates, was called the Plymouth Colony.


3


IN NEW JERSEY


But the Dutch, although proverbially slow, in that day swept with their fleet the waters of the globe, and one of their vessels, the Half Moon, manned by an English captain and fitted out by the East India Company, entered Delaware Bay, August 28th, 1609. On account of the shoals navigation was difficult, and Hudson set sail again, hugging the eastern shore of our State, and anchored September 3d, 1609, within Sandy Hook. He sent a boat ashore for the purpose of exploration and of taking sound- ings. His men penetrated some distance inland, in the woods of Monmouth, where the Indians they met received them kindly and offered them green tobacco and dried currants.


Heaving anchor, Hudson continued his voyage up the noble river, buttressed by the Palisades, to which was given his name. Claiming to have purchased the chart Hudson had made of the American coast, and having obtained a patent from the States, in 1614, to trade in New England, the Dutch founded a settlement on the island of Manhattan, which they called New Amsterdam. They built many forts in their new possessions, among them one near Gloucester, N. J., which they called Fort Nassau; and made a settlement in Bergen in 1617.


King Charles I, however, regarded this occupation as an inva- sion of his territory and an intrusion on the part of these early Knickerbockers, and determined to dispossess them.


Charles I, in 1632, granted to Sir Edmund Plowden a grant of land embracing New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Mary- land, and this despite the grant of Maryland to Lord Baltimore two years previously. Under this charter, in 1634, Plowden, granted 10,000 acres to Sir Thomas Danby on condition that he would settle one hundred planters on it, but not to suffer "any to live there not believing or professing the three Christian creeds, commonly called the Apostolical, Athanasian, and Nicene."


The Earl Palatinate visited his vast domain personally in 1642, sailing up the Delaware River-which two other adventurers had named the Charles-and found at Salem City, N. J., a settle- ment of seventy persons who had come hither from New Haven to continue their avocation as whalers. Their officers did not hesi- tate to swear allegiance to him as governor.


Owing to his retirement to Virginia, the execution of Charles I, and the advent of Cromwell with his Commonwealth, he lost grip of his possessions which fell into other hands, and although his grandsons, Thomas and George Plowden, came to America to assert their claims to New Albion in 1684, little seems to have


4


THE CATHOLIC CHURCH


come of it. One Charles Varlo purchased one-third of the char- ter, and in 1784 came with his family, as he says, "invested with the proper power as governor to the Province," going even so far as to enter suit in chancery, but defeat sent him back to England, and the claim of the Plowdens, and the name New Albion, passed into oblivion.


The region between the Hudson and the Delaware rivers, of which little was known beyond the few hamlets near Manhattan, was called " Albania." It offered the greatest attraction to emi- grants, because it was "the most improveable part of the province, in respect not only to the land, but to the sea-coast and the Dela- ware River, the fertility of the soil, the neighborhood of Hudson's river, and, lastly, the fair hopes of rich mines."


Charles II issued a patent to his brother, the Duke of York, in which were included among other lands the provinces of New York and New Jersey. The Dutch, totally unsuspicious and un- prepared for war, capitulated to Sir Robert Carre, after articles of agreement had been mutually accepted which secured them in the possession of their property and in the practice of their relig- ion. The Duke of York on his part, thus having secured posses- sion of this vast territory, in consideration of a competent sum of money, granted and conveyed unto Lord Berkeley, baron of Stratton, and Sir George Carteret, of Saltrum, "all that tract of land to the west of Manhattan Island and Long Island, and bounded on the east part by the main sea, and part by Hudson's river, and hath upon the west Delaware bay or river, and ex- tendeth southward to the main ocean as far as Cape May, and to the northward as far as the northermost branch of the said bay or river of Delaware, and crosseth over thence in a straight line to Hudson's river, which said tract of land is hereafter to be called Nova Cæsarea, or New Jersey."


This document bears the date of June 23d and 24th, 1664. Berkeley and Carteret, being now sole proprietors of New Jersey, agreed upon a constitution, which by its broad liberality, especially in the matter of religion, was calculated to attract settlers. Article seventh declares: No person qualified, as aforesaid, shall at any time be molested, punished, disquieted, or called in question, for any difference in opinion or practice in matters of religious con- cernment ; but that all and every such person and persons may, from time to time, and at all times, freely and fully have and enjoy his and their judgments and consciences, in matters of religion, throughout the said province, etc., etc.


5


IN NEW JERSEY


While the Dutch were in power in New York, no laws adverse to Catholics were enacted, the bigotry afterward dominant being of English origin.




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