A History of the city of Newark, New Jersey : embracing practically two and a half centuries, 1666-1913, Volume II, Part 51

Author: Urquhart, Frank J. (Frank John), 1865- 4n; Lewis Historical Publishing Company. 4n
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: New York, N.Y. ; Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Historical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1136


USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > A History of the city of Newark, New Jersey : embracing practically two and a half centuries, 1666-1913, Volume II > Part 51


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* professing to believe in Jesus Christ, shall from henceforth be any waies troubled, molested or dis- countenanced for or in respect of his or her religion, nor in the free exercise thereof within this Province." A similar toleration act was passed in the colony of Pennsylvania, under the administration of William Penn, and thus the Catholics found a refuge in these two colonies, whilst they have been but tolerated and even persecuted by more or less penal laws in most of the others. But even in these two colonies, full religious liberty was granted to them only after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. It is owing to this circumstance that but few German Catholics were to be found among the first German settlers in this country. It is related that among the great throng of Germans that in 1709 arrived from the Palatinate


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in London, for transportation to America, there were four thousand Catholics. It was left with them either to become Protestants and thus gain further Royal protection, or to return to their native country. The latter alternative was chosen by three thousand five hundred and eighty-four in- dividuals.


The first Catholic missionaries who came to Maryland were Jesuits. This accounts for the fact that a Jesuit was chosen as the first religious head of the Catholic Church in this country; . he was John Carroll, first apostolic prefect, and subsequently bishop and archbishop of Baltimore. The Jesuits were also the first missionaries who came to Pennsylvania, where they found a number of Catholic Germans from the Palatinate scattered among the inhabitants of this colony.


The earliest account that we have of Catholics in New Jersey is in 1744, where we read that Father Theodere Schneider, a distinguished German Jesuit,-who had professed philosophy and theology in Europe and been rector of a university ;- coming to the American provinces, visited New Jersey and held church at Iron Furnace. This good missionary was a native of Bavaria. He founded the mission at Goschenhoppen in Berks County, Pennsylvania, about forty-five miles from Philadelphia. However, before his day New Jersey was visited by other priests, one of them John Ney, who began teaching school in Burlington in June, 1739, and remained there twelve months. After awhile he went to New York, where he celebrated mass in a room in the house of John Campbell. He became (although quite innocent) involved in the so-called negro plot in 1741, and was hanged, to- gether with four other whites, not because he was guilty of any crime, but for "being a priest made by the pretended see of Rome and of the Papist religion in general." The spirit of intolerance outlined in the instructions of Queen Anne, was very strong, and to be a Catholic was considered a crime. There seems to be a question if John Ney were really a priest. Bishop Bayley said he was a non-juror.1 Another missionary who visited New Jersey was the Rev. Ferdinand Farmer, whose family name was Stuss- meyer, born in Suabia, Germany in 1720. He arrived in Philadelphia in 1758, and from that time until his death in 1786, visited in New Jersey such places as Mount Hope, Macopin, Basking Ridge, Trenton and Salem.


One of the oldest and most interesting Catholic congregations in the whole State was to be found in Macopin. The first settlement was made here by two German families, some time before the American Revolution. They were a long time without seeing a priest, until at length an Irish priest, the Rev. Mr. Langley, paid them a visit. After this Rev. Mr. Farmer visited Mount Hope in the vicinity of Macopin, twice a year. He continued doing so for ten years, during which time the revolution took place.


The Catholics were often persecuted in the colonies. Bigotry and religious persecution were here as great as in Europe. The exceptions were Berkeley and Carteret, two so-called Lord-Proprietors of New Jersey, who agreed upon a constitution, that by its broad liberty, especially in matters of religion was calculated to attract settlers. Later this was changed, and in the first general assembly held at Elizabethtown, May 26th, 1668, William Douglass, the member from Bergen, was excluded because ne was a Catholic, and two years later he was arrested as a "troublesome person," sent to New York whence he was banished to New England and warned not to come again into the Duke of York's territories.


1 Hist. of Catholic Church on Island of New York, p. 46.


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The German Catholics in Newark have organized five parishes: St. Mary's the oldest, founded in 1841; St. Benedictus, in 1854; St. Peter's, one year later, founded by Father Prieth; and, then, after quite a time, St. Au- gustine's in 1874; and finally, St. Anne's Church, the cornerstone of which was laid in 1888. Connected with each of these churches is a school. St. Mary's school has about three hundred children and is in charge of Sister Superior Bonifacia Stader of the order of St. Benedict. Another member of this order, Sister Superior Edeltrant, has charge of St. Benedict's school with its six hundred and fifty children. The school of St. Augustine's parish with two hundred and seventy children, has been, for thirty-one years, in the charge of Sister Superior Seraphina of the Order of Sisters of Christian Charity, while the large school of St. Anne's parish, with five hundred chil- dren, is presided over by Sister Superior Maria Josephine of the Order of St. Dominic. St. Peter's Church has the largest school, with almost eight hundred and fifty children. There are fourteen sisters employed as


teachers, under the direction of Sister Superior Maria Severina of the Order of Notre Dame. Besides the school, this congregation supports a large orphan asylum. This St. Peter's Orphan Asylum, now situated in Clinton, is a work of noble philanthropy and charity. The task, which the ever-to-be-re- membered Rev. Father Prieth set himself in his zeal to relieve the suffer- ings and misery of his fellow-creatures,-the development and growth of which enterprise he had watched with devotion for many years, under im- mense difficulties and hardships, has been continued in the spirit of its founder, by his successor, the Rt. Rev. Father Stecher. The institution was opened in a small wooden building on Livingston Street on December 6th, . 1869. It was a small begnning of a difficult work. From the very first its immense success showed how thoroughly such an institution was needed and very soon the building proved to be too small. The adjoining lots were therefore purchased, and the Orphan Asylum and Home for the Sisters took possession in October, 1872. Connected with the Orphan Asylum is also a so-called "Kindergarten," where the mothers who have to work, may put their little ones under the care of the sisters during the day, on payment of a small sum. The Orphan Asylum has been greatly improved in the course of time. The Rev. Father Stecher acquired a farm in Lyons Avenue for the purpose of obtaining more space and better air for the orphans. During the year 1897, the new St. Peter's Orphan Asylum, a superb structure, was erected there. It is located in a wide, open country, overlooking it in every direction. In 1903 an extensive structure was erected, for the exclusive pur- poses of the school. The average number of the orphans is two hundred or more. Out of these about one-half stay in the city and the other half in the country. The aggregate number of orphans since the foundation of the asylum, comes well up to five thousand. Besides the church members in general, the Young Men's Orphan Association and the Young Women's Orphan Society have particularly rendered great service, and substantially contributed to the support of the Orphan Asylum; and many men and women, non-Catholics as well as Catholics.


At the close of this short sketch of the Orphan Asylum, a few words of praise are due for the Sister Superior Maria Severina. Since 1864 she was active in St. Peter's parish, and, if ever heart and soul were in a cause, in joy and sorrow, in progress and prosperity, they were those of Sister Superior Maria Severina. Thousands of children and orphans owe their education and success in life to her wise care and guardianship, and they will ever bear her in faithful and grateful memory.


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From the sanctuary of St. Peter's has gone forth one of the highest dignitaries of the church in this country, the Most Rev. Sebastian G. Messmer, D. D., archbishop of Milwaukee, and the present parish priest, the Rt. Rev. Father Stecher, who has been honored with the purple by Pius X. as a de- served reward for this great work. Among the German priests in Newark, have been three abbots of St. Benedict's abbey,-Father Zilliox, Father Pfraengle and Father Helmstetter, of whom the first and last named were born in Newark, and the Rt. Rev. Bishop Wigger, a son of German parents, born in New York.


The German Catholic Associations are flourishing, and during recent years, especially through a compact organization which includes almost every State of the Union, they have become a factor of great importance. The German Catholics recognized the necessity of uniting for the purpose of mutual assistance in case of sickness or death, but, already in early days there existed German Aid Societies in connection with many German organ- izations of pronounced character, which admitted only Catholics to their membership. In 1854 several of these societies became aware of the neces- sity of uniting closely in an alliance, and the next year (upon a previous invitation ) seventeen of these societies met, from St. Louis, Missouri, Roch- ester, New York, Buffalo, New York, Washington, District of Columbia, Alleghany, Pennsylvania, Birmingham, Pennsylvania, Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, and Baltimore, Maryland, and formed a central organization of the German Roman Catholic Aid Societies. In this manner came into existence the "German Roman Catholic Central Association." "Deutscher rom-kath. Central-Verein"). The original aim of this organization was-besides the strengthening of Catholic feeling-above all things, the mutual material aid and assistance of the associations. This programme was extended later, it having been declared the duty of this central organization to intervene in behalf of all Catholic interests in accordance with the spirit of the Catholic Church, and to define its position with regard to all the important issues and topics of the day, and especially to assert its influence in social spheres.


The convention of delegates annually held by this Central Association, became of ever increasing importance, as gradually the majority of the Ger- man Catholic Societies joined with this Central Association and its convoca- tions, following the example of the "Katholiken Tage," of the "General Assembly of the Catholics of Germany," took the form of a grand manifesta- tion of the German Catholics of this country, at which the most important topics of the day were thoroughly discussed. One of these conventions took place in Newark, September, 1910. The Central Association deserves great credit for the maintenance of the German language and German character. It was greatly strengthened too, by the forming of "State Associations" in recent years. In most states of the Union, where a greater number of Ger- man Catholic Societies are to be found, the latter have been united in "State Associations," which are represented by delegates at each convocation of the Central Association, and are, therefore, closely connected with each other. According to the latest official statement the Central Association numbered nearly two hundred thousand members, distributed over thirty one States of the Union. In addition there are in existence in several large cities of the country, such as Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Buffalo, New York, etc., separate Unions of German Catholic Societies. Besides these Aid Societies there are in connection with many German Catholic Churches, Young Men's Literary, Dramatic Societies and similar associations, giving the members appropriate entertainments at special meetings. Great efforts have been made in more


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recent times to bring together the German Catholics of our country-after the example of the "Peoples' Union" (Volks-Verein) of the Catholics of Germany, in a great "People's Union," the principal object being to encourage its members in the study and understanding of social questions, so as to enable them successfully to participate in the solution of these-so eminently important-problems of the day.


The first step for the organization of the State Association was taken during the '"Catholics-day" in Chicago in 1887, by Adolph Weber, of Racine; Nicolaus Gonner, of Dubuque, and John B. Oelkers, of Newark. Their work was immediately taken up by Catholics all over the country, so that soon State organizations were created in the states of Wisconsin, Illi- nois, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa, Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, California, Connecticut and Arkansas. These state organ- izations became important factors in the Central Verein, and did good work in the interests of the German Catholic parish schools and the Catholic Church in general. After Mr. John B. Oelkers' long and faithful services as president of the State organization, Mr. John B. Brasser took his place. Plans for the forming of a city organization are now being developed.


Among the Catholic Societies organized for mutual aid rank first the Catholic Benevolent Legion, which has fifty-seven councils in New Jersey with a membership of about four thousand two hundred. In Newark there are seventeen councils with about twelve hundred members. The councils with German membership are: St. Gottfried Council, Eagle Council, St. Aloysius Council and St. Rupert's Council.


This flourishing state of the German Catholics of our country deserves all the greater credit, because it certainly was not made an easy task for them to obtain, and then maintain it up to the present time. At the outset they had to struggle with a great scarcity of German priests, as well as with the deepest poverty: many of the greatest Catholic organizations and institutions have grown out of small beginnings, and had to overcome the greatest difficulties. Many of them would not have been able to hold out without the assistance of the missionary societies. The German-American Catholics with their numerous churches, parish schools, higher educational institutions, hospitals, orphan asylums, societies and newspapers are form- ing such an important and influential part of our German-American popula- tion that every drawback among them will necessarily exert the most disad- vantageous influence upon the whole of the German population of the country. But for their own sake they should carefully guard, not only their Catholic interests, but, also their German-American interests, because the greater and stronger the influence of the German-Americans in our country, the firmer and more secure will become the position of the German Catholics.


CHAPTER VIII.


THE JEWISH IMMIGRATION INTO NEWARK.


GERMAN-JEWISH IMMIGRATION DURING THE LAST CENTURY-THE ORGANIZATION OF THEIR TEMPLES AND THEIR GREAT AND MANY CHARITIES-ENORMOUS DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS OF THE JEWISH RACE.


The Jewish immigration into our State began about the middle of the last century. In 1840 there were but five or six Jewish families in Newark and this number had grown to about sixty in 1848. They nearly all came


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from Germany and most of them were peddlers, who carried their goods in baskets or bundles from house to house and often went far out into the surrounding country. At that time Newark had about 35,000 inhabitants and trade and opportunity were small and those first immigrants often had a hard struggle to make a living. But they succeeded, thanks to the persever- ance, hopefulness and energy, the great qualities which distinguish the Jewish people. These first Jews held their services in private houses, then in a few halls. The first synagogue, that of B'nai Jeshurun, was built on Washington Street, between Market and William Streets, at a cost of $5,500; later, in 1868 the present temple was erected in the next block to the south of the former location, which had cost about $75,000. The congregation B'nai Jeshurun recently bought the property on the corner of High Street and Waverly Place for $50,000 and is erecting a splendid new temple at a cost of $200,000. Rev. Solomon Foster is now the Rabbi. In the year 1855 the congregation B'nai Abraham was organized. Their new temple is now standing on the corner of High street and Thirteenth avenue. Rev. Julius Silberfeld is the rabbi of that congregation. In 1860 the third congregation was organized, that of Oheb Shalom, whose temple is on High street, near West Kinney street and whose rabbi is Rev. Charles I. Hoffman. The organ- ization of the fourth main congregation, Anche Russia, in West Kinney street, took place about 1903. It is served by the Rev. Hyman Brodsky. Besides these congregations there are in existence synagogues of the following con- gregations: Agudas Achim, Ahawas Achim, Anche Israel, Anche Romanin, Eien Jacob, Linas Hazedeck, Mishnayes, Toras Emeth. Besides these,


services are held in a number of halls, schools and private houses. It is said that at times, even in the workshop when men must work on the Sabbath, one of their number will read the Jewish service during a pause in the work. All together, there are about twenty-four congregations with over 200 heads of families. (Jewish congregations are not counted by the number of persons of either sex belonging to them, but usually by the heads of families.) Besides these congregations there are Talmud Torah associations (societies for the study of literature and Jewish customs) and even some lodges hold regular services. The entire Jewish population of Newark numbers from about 45,000 to 50,000; over one-half have come from Russia.


THE HEBREW ORPHAN ASYLUM.


The noble trait of the Jewish character, its great charity, is shown by the large number of well-conducted charitable institutions and organizations in Newark. The greatest of them is the Hebrew Benevolent and Orphan Asylum Society, with a large orphan asylum on Clinton avenue and with an annual income of $24,000. It is, indeed, a proof of the really magnificent philanthropy of the Jews. The institution was built through the efforts of the Hebrew Benevolent and Orphan Society, which, on January 2, 1861, proceeded from the organization having the name of "Men's Philanthropic Society." In January, 1862, Isador Lehmann became president; Simon Scheuer, treasurer, and S. Lagowitz, secretary. In 1876 the name of the society was changed to the "Hebrew Benevolent Aid Society" aud a charter was procured, in order that it might become the lawful and authorized guardian of orphans of the society. As early as April 23, however, the name was changed to the Hebrew Benevolent and Orphan Asylum Society, and at a mass meeting held in the old Academy of Music on June 11, 1875, $3,000 were subscribed for the building of an orphan asylum, after a forceful and touching speech by Rev. Joseph Leucht. The society was then caring for a


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number of orphans (one of the boys, Moses Gries, has in the meantime become a rabbi in Cleveland), but they had to be placed in private families. After a fair had netted over $11,000 and some legacies had come to hand, the house and land at 232 Mulberry street were bought for $10,500 in October, 1886, and were dedicated on October 25, 1887. In 1896 Mr. Bernard Strauss was chosen president. A large fair netted $30,000. A year later a piece of land on Clinton avenue, between Seymour avenue and Hedden terrace, with a frontage of 150 feet and a depth of 1,200 feet, was bought, and on October 28, 1898, the cornerstone for the new home was laid. The Arion Singing Society gave a concert for the benefit of the institution, which brought $457, and on October 18, 1899, the new orphan asylum was dedi- cated with impressive ceremonies. This handsome building, which bears such laudatory testimony of the charitable disposition of our Hebrew fellow- citizens, cost $34,000. The officers of the association at the dedication of the building were: President, Bernard Strauss; vice-president, Reuben Trier; secretary, Gabriel H. Kempe; treasurer, Joseph Goetz. The directors were: Bernard Strauss, Joseph Isenburg, Simon Scheuer, Jacob Holzner, Reuben Trier, Philip Lowy, Samuel Froehlich, Gabriel Kempe, Emanuel Abeles, Salomon De Jonge, Aaron Berla, Louis Plaut, Joseph Goetz and Isaac Lehman. The members of the building committee were: Joseph Isenburg, Moses Strauss, Joseph Goetz, Aaron Meyer, Louis Plaut, Reuben Trier, Samuel Froehlich and S. Scheuer. The untiring efforts of Rabbi Joseph Leucht and the Hebrew Ladies' Orphan Aid Society, founded in 1889, greatly helped the success of the work. The officers of this great charitable organization for the year 1913 are: President, Joseph Goetz; vice-president, Abraham Rothschild; treasurer, Louis Plaut; secretary, David Longfelder. The directors are: Louis V. Aronson, Joseph Goetz, Martin M. Goldsmith, Adolph Hollander, Levi Weingarten, Louis Krieger, David Osterweil, Jacob Roth, Abraham Rothschild, Julius Abeles, Louis Bamberger, Edward Blau, Leopold Jay, Nathaniel King, Benjamin P. Lissner, Morris Rachlin, William S. Rich, Selig Scheuer, Emanuel Abeles, Joseph Fisch, Max Hertz, David Holzner, Isaac Lehmann, Philip Lowy, Aaron Meyer, Louis Plaut, Lewis Straus, Elias Berla, Rabbi Solomon Foster and Louis Schles- inger.


BETH ISRAEL HOSPITAL.


Another example of Jewish charity is the hospital erected at High and West Kinney streets. In 1891 the present Beth Israel Hospital Asso- ciation was organized from the members of the Newark Hebrew Hospital and Dispensary Association and the Daughters of Israel Hospital Associa- tion. Both associations, having been united, worked diligently and unself- ishly, until the hospital was opened on January 29, 1908.


The hospital has a corps of trained nurses; there are eighty beds, sixty- five of which are free, while fifteen are reserved for private patients. Eight private rooms have been fitted out, for which the founders each gave $2,000. The founders are: Charles J. Basch, in memoryof his wife; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Goetz, in memory of their parents; Adolph Hollander, in memory of his parents; Louis Krieger, in memory of his father, Samuel; L. S. Plaut & Co., Mrs. E. Plaut, L. Plaut, M. Plaut and O. Michaels; the L. S. Plaut Memorial Room, which was endowed by Miss Blanche Plaut and Miss Hor- tense, daughters of Mrs. E. Plaut; Moses and Louis Plaut, who endowed the David Plaut Memorial Room, in memory of their father, and Simon Scheuer. Three rooms are still available for other founders. Four beds at $500 each


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were endowed by Mrs. Louis M. Frank, in memory of her parents; one by Morris Rachlin, in memory of his parents; one by Mrs. Bernard Strauss, in memory of her husband, and another by the "True Friend Association." Jacob Lissner gave $500 for a votive tablet. The annual income of this hospital is about $35,000.


JEWISH SISTERHOOD.


The leading ladies' charitable society is the Jewish Sisterhood. This association was originally the Ladies' Temple Association. Then it devoted its labor to supplying the Temple B'nai Jeshurun with all the necessities. When this ceased to be necessary the Jewish Sisterhood was organized at the suggestion of Rabbi Leucht. In 1905 it included the ladies of the whole community. Rabbi Leucht and Rabbi Foster worked out the plans and scope of the new society. This organization maintained a day nursery and neighborhood house in a very fine new building on Seventeenth avenue and Livingston street. It also conducts settlement work. The officers of this association for 1913 are: President, Mrs. Solomon Foster; vice-presi- dent, Mrs. Abraham Rothschild; second vice-president, Mrs. Louis Schles- inger; treasurer, Mrs. Ferdinand Rauch; recording secretary, Mrs. Charles Hood; financial secretary, Mrs. Gustav Mayer. Board of trustees: Mesdames Jacob Roth, Morris Alexander, Carrie S. Stern, Jacob Walter, David Wolff, Nathaniel King, Harry Schlesinger, Nathan Weinberg, David Hirschberg, Charles I. Hoffman, Marcus Heller, Louis Schlesinger, Bernard Strauss, Louis Lippman, Julius Silberfeld, Louis Plaut, Samuel R. Walter, Selig Scheuer, David Schwabacher, Bertha Blumgart. Honorary members: Mrs. Caroline Lehman and Mrs. Felix Fuld. Advisory board: Rabbi Solomon Foster, Rabbi Julius Silberfeld, Rabbi Charles I. Hoffman, Rabbi Hyman Brodsky, Jacob L. Newman, Jacob Roth, Lewis Straus, Nathaniel King, Charles Michaels, Felix Fuld, Nathan Myers and Louis V. Aronson.




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