USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > History of St. John's Church, Newark > Part 11
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"G. W. DOANE."
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CHAPTER XXXI
First Bishop of Newark
Most Rev. James Roosevelt Bayley, D. D., first Bishop of Newark, was Consecrated October 30th, 1853. He was promoted to the Archiepiscopal See of Baltimore, July 30th, 1872; and he died in Newark, N. J., October 3d, 1877. He breathed his last in the presence of the late Most Rev. M. A. Corrigan, D. D., his successor in the See of Newark; His Eminence James, Cardinal Gibbons, D. D., who was his Coad- jutor with right of succession; Right Rev. Bernard J. McQuaid, D. D., Bishop of Rochester; the late Right Rev. Mgr. George Hobart Doane, Rector of St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral; the Right Rev. Joseph M. Flynn, M. R., V. F., at present Rector of the Church of the Assumption, Morristown, but then an Assistant Priest at the Pro-Cathedral and Chancellor of the Diocese; the Right Rev. Mgr. Sheppard, V. G., Rector of St. Mary's Jersey City, then an Assistant Priest at the Cathedral, and the late Rev. Thomas J. Toomey, also an Assistant Priest, who afterwards succeeded Father Dalton as Rector of St. Joseph's.
The Newark Daily Journal of the date on which the Most Reverend Archbishop Bayley died paid this tribute to the dead Prelate-a tribute written by G. Wisner Thorne, who was then a writer for that paper but who is, in this year of our Lord Nineteen Hundred and Eight, a Vestryman of old Trinity
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Most Rev. James Roosevelt Bayley First Bishop of Newark and Archbishop of Baltimore
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
Protestant Episcopal Church, and one of the owners of the Sunday Call:
"At eleven o'clock this morning, the solemn tolling of the Cathedral bells announced the demise of Arch- bishop Bayley, who breathed his last about ten min- utes before that hour. The distinguished and revered servant of God whose useful life is now closed was well known to most people of Newark. Nineteen years ago he was a conspicuous resident among us. On all hands to-day one sees the fruits of his work here, in churches and orphanages, and schools. Up and down the State are similar monuments to the zealous and faithful discharge of the heavy duties which his high office in the Church imposed upon him. A man who thus stamps his mark everywhere about him need hardly be set forth in his life and character in the community which was the field of his labors. Those who knew personally Bishop Bayley knew a disciple of Christ, full of benignity, humility and loveliness, with a quiet dignity that always com- manded respect for him, and yet a measure of sympathy and tenderness that attracted all towards him as to a friend. They knew a Prelate endowed with wisdom, learning, high administrative ability and zeal for the propagation of the form of Christianity in which he believed, combined with all consistent tolera- tion of the faith of others; a gentleman of culture, with manners simple, refined and agreeable.
"It is not often that one meets a man who measures up closer to the common ideal of a well-rounded perfect character. For instance, he was bold and aggressive, like St. Paul, with convictions that mani- fested themselves in unceasing toil, despite obstacles and discouragements. The number of Churches which
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sprung up under his rule in the Diocese of Newark- Seton Hall College, the Convent School at Madison, the asylums for children, the hospitals, the schools in every parish-testify that he was 'in labors most abundant.' At the same time he was loving, like St.
John. He had a most charitable spirit. While a firm believer in the Catholic Church, he desired peace and friendliness with all Christians, disliked contro- versies and demonstrations likely to stir up bitter contentions. In all things he was conciliatory, when conciliation was not compromise. When he first came to Newark and began his work of establishing here the Catholic religion, no little opposition was excited among people who regarded the Roman Catholic Church as a foreign institution and a foe to liberty and enlightenment. He alluded to this in his sermon in the Cathedral on the day of the Consecration of the edifice two or three years ago, and gladly testified that this bitter feeling against him in time passed away, and that for many years had he found among Protestants many warm friends. It passed away because instead of meeting the outside opposition with polemical sermons or pamphlets, or showing in any way a belligerent spirit, he quietly went on with his official duties. He chose, by founding Seton Hall College for the higher education of Catholic youths, in St. Elizabeth's Academy at Madison, and other educational institutions, to make this answer to the charges raised against the cause which he represented.
"As a preacher Archbishop Bayley was effective and pleasing. His imposing presence would have fixed upon him the attention of a congregation, though his address had been less engaging. Of full height, with a well-rounded but not heavy figure, a massive,
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handsome head, a forehead broad and high, from which the hair was brushed back, a face fine in every feature and pleasing in its expression of mild dignity, goodness of heart and intellectual strength, he was commanding in person, whether in plain broadcloth or wearing the rich canonicals, with the Mitre upon his head and the Golden Crozier in his hand. In direct and often plain language he gave vigorous expression to his thoughts. His discourses might be beautiful in diction; they were sure to be forceful and instructive. In delivery he was intensly earnest, and yet calm and easy, for culture ever tempers and moderates. Rage, as some one has well said, is vulgar, and even vehemence, it may also be stated, is not characteristic of men of refinement and high attainments. None the less, though, is their address impressive. Surely the people who were accustomed to hear Bishop Bayley's voice from the pulpit of St. Patrick's Cathedral will testify that quiet as it was, its tones penetrated not into the ears only, but into the inmost heart. * * * The world and especially the city of his home, is better because of the life of James Roosevelt Bayley. And his work is not yet done, for his holy influence shall long hold sway over the hearts in which the memory of his blessed life shall be treasured."
After Solemn Requiem Mass had been celebrated for the repose of his Soul on the following Friday, the body of Archbishop Bayley was forwarded to Baltimore, accompanied by Bishop Corrigan and many Priests of the Newark Diocese. Solemn Mass of Requiem was celebrated in the Cathedral of Baltimore, October 10th, and the body of Archbishop Bayley was taken to Emmettsburg, Md. "In the centre of the Sisters' God's Acre is a mortuary chapel
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near the front of which is a marble slab bearing the inscription :
'SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF 'E. A. SETON, 'Foundress."
"Here," adds Mgr. Flynn's history, "side by side, the saintly Bayley, the sainted Mother Seton-aunt and nephew-await a glorious resurrection."
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M. AGargan Second Bishop of Newark and Archbishop of New York
CHAPTER XXXII
The Second Bishop of Newark
The second Bishop of Newark was the Right Rev. Michael Augustine Corrigan, D. D. He was Conse- crated by Most Rev. John McCloskey, Archbishop of New York, in St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral, on Sunday, May 4th, 1873; promoted to the Archiepiscopal See of Petra October 1st, 1880; and succeeded to the Archiepiscopal See of New York, October 10th, 1885. March 4th, 1886, he was solemnly installed as the third Archbishop of New York. Archbishop Corrigan celebrated his Silver Jubilee as a Priest September 27th, 1888. He died May 5th, 1902, at the Archiepiscopal house, New York. The Pontifical Mass of Requiem for the repose of his soul was celebrated by His Eminence, Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore; and besides Archbishops, Bishops, Mitred Abbots and Monsignori, there were nearly one thousand Priests and about seven thousand of the laity in attendance. President Roosevelt sent a wreath of flowers from the White House with a card attached inscribed simply "The President."
Most Rev. P. J. Ryan, D. D., Archbishop of Phila- delphia, preached the panegyric. It was he who occu- pied the pulpit of St. Patrick's Cathedral when Arch- bishop Corrigan was formally installed Archbishop of New York. Among other things he said: "We often hear men of the world say nowadays that the
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day of merely ascetic Bishops and Priests has passed away;" that "asceticism was all well enough in the Middle Ages," and "we want the sterling public man." "But," he continued, "the truth is we want the com- bination of both, the combination of the ascetic with the public man, but the larger element of asceticism in that combination. Such was the departed Arch- bishop of New York-the three Archbishops of this See represented these features of the human character. The Most Rev. John Hughes repre- sented courage, fearless courage at a time, too, when it was needed. Cardinal McCloskey represented marvelous prudence that won without fighting. The late Archbishop might be regarded as belonging to the class of Cardinal McCloskey, yet when a principle was at stake the lamb became a lion, and he was found fearless as was ever Archbishop Hughes. The Arch- bishop was himself as a rock gently yielding, mossy on the surface, but beneath all the gentleness, strength and power and immovability of principle were found. The late Cardinal McCloskey told me that Archbishop Corrigan did all that he could that his name should not be sent to Rome as Coadjutor, with the right of succession to this See. He was afraid of the responsi- bilities. * A newspaper of this city of high literary standing has said of the late Archbishop that 'as the perfume of the virtues of St. Francis of Assissium still remains amongst men, after so many centuries, so shall the perfume of the virtues of Arch- bishop Corrigan survive amongst his people.'"
This was indeed a deserving tribute to a Prince of God's Holy Church. Looking back to his childhood and boyhood days in St. John's Parish where he was born, at whose baptismal font his soul was regenerated
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in whose schools he received his primary education and drank in lessons of piety and love from the lips of his saintly mother, well may the parishioners of this day rejoice that one so deserving received such honors. When Dr. Corrigan was consecrated Bishop of Newark he was thirty-four years old. Bishop Mc- Quaid preached from the text: "Go teach all nations, and behold I am with you all days even to the con- summation of the world." Nearly every American graduate of the American College, Rome, was present in honor of Bishop Corrigan, who was one of the most talented graduates of that institution. In the evening of the day of his Consecration Bishop Corrigan gave audience to the members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and other prominent laymen, when Paul V. Flynn read an address, from which these excerpts are taken :
"In common with our fellow Catholics of this important Diocese, we bewailed the departure from amongst us of that eminent and well beloved Prelate whose piety and learning reflected so much lustre not only on the exalted order of the Priesthood to which he belonged, but also on our whole community. 'Powerful in work and word,' he was our conso- lation and our strength. Deeply did we grieve when he was taken from us, although called to a higher Pontificate, and constituted Primate of the Catholic Church in these United States.
"We were not, however, doomed to suffer an irreparable loss. On hearing the glad tidings that, in the appointment of a successor to the illustrious Bishop Bayley, the choice of the Holy Father had fallen on a member of the Priesthood so well known and so highly esteemed as you have so long been, Right Reverend Bishop, our sorrow was changed into joy. Well might we rejoice when it was announced that learning and piety were to be honored once more amongst us-that an ecclesiastic distinguished by ability and acquirements, no less than by sanctity of life, was selected by the Chief See, "the Mother and Mistress of all the Churches," to hold rule over us-to feed the sheep together with the lambs of our portion
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of the Fold. * We rejoice to reflect that you, Right Reverend Bishop, possess the learning, the talent and the zeal which will prompt you and enable you to hold up the torch of true science before the proud intellect of the age which boasts itself superior to Divine Revelation and everything that flows therefrom. You will bear its light into the darkest places; and thus, in due time, will be broken the bonds of all those whose tendency is to love righteousness and abhor iniquity.
"As children of the Celtic race, we delight more than words can express to behold you, Right Reverend Bishop, entering on a career which, it is our firm and well-founded hope, will be no less successful, no less fruitful in great and abiding results than were the labors of the renowned Apostles of our people. Not your zeal only, your learning and your ability, but, at the same time also, the progress of past years, so consoling to us all, and the wide and varied field to which you have been so wisely called, encourage us to believe that the long days (multus annos)-may they be many-of your Pastoral life, will be blessed a hundred fold-will be crowned with such labors of love and such abundance of Apostolic fruit, that succeeding generations, as they pass, will point to this time as an epoch not less glorious in the annals of the Church of the New World than was that of Columbanus in Gaul and Lombardy, that of Columba among the Celtic and Pictish tribes of both Scotias, or of the Holy Aidanus in the midst of Saxon Northumbria."
Bishop Corrigan, as reported by the daily press, "very feelingly replied, thanking the members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for the expression of good wishes toward him. Their flattering words were no doubt prompted by kindness of heart. No other delegation of the laity, he said, could it give him greater pleasure to receive than that of St. Vincent de Paul-on account of its works of charity among the poor and lowly. He encouraged the members to persevere and in all things he would be with them. The Bishop then paid a well deserved tribute to Most Reverend Dr. Bayley, and after giving his Blessing he retired."
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Rt. Rev. Winand Michael Wigger, D. D. Third Bishop of Newark
CHAPTER XXXIII
The Third Bishop of Newark
Right Rev. Winand Michael Wigger, D. D., third Bishop of Newark, was consecrated by Most Rev. Michael Augustine Corrigan, D. D., Archbishop of Petra, in St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral, on the Feast of St. Luke, October 18th, 1881. He was born in New York city, December 9th, 1841. His parents were natives of Westphalia. The future Bishop made his classical studies in the College of St. Francis Xavier, and was graduated in 1860, receiving his A. B. degree, and, in 1862, the degree A. M. was also conferred upon him by that institution of learning. His theological studies, which were begun in Seton Hall, South Orange, were finished in the Collegio Bregnole-Sale, Genoa; and on June 10th, 1865, he was ordained Priest by Archbishop Charres, of Genoa. Returning to the Diocese of Newark, Doctor Wigger was attached to St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral four years as assistant to Father Doane, "where," quoth Mgr. Flynn's The Catholic Church in New Jersey, "he gave edification as a pious, zealous, faithful Priest. His zeal never flagged, and in his devotion to the sick and afflicted he never wearied."
A Joint Committee representing St. Patrick's, St. John's, St. Mary's, St. James', St. Peter's, St. Joseph's, St. Columba's, St. Augustine's, St. Antoni-
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nus', St. Michael's, St. Aloysius' and St. Benedict's Parishes of Newark, and St. Pius', of Harrison (now Holy Cross), was appointed by the respective Pastors to present an address on behalf of the laity to the Bishop in the evening of the day of his Consecration. The late Right Rev. Mgr. G. H. Doane selected the author for Chairman. The address was illuminated by the Sisters of St. Dominic of the Perpetual Adoration, and the names of all the members of the Committee were attached. All the Parochial Societies turned out, the greater number bearing torches. The New York Freeman's Journal stated that there were five thousand people assembled in Bleecker and intersecting streets and on the house tops in the vicinity. From the address these excerpts are taken :
"We, representing the lay portion of your flock, joyfully seek your presence on this auspicious occasion, and, with thankful hearts, offer to you our warmest congratulations. It appears to us to be of the most happy augury that the Diocese in which you are by Divine appointment called to exercise in its plenitude the sublime office of the Christian Priesthood, and in which within a brief period of time we have witnessed most exalted honors conferred by the Holy See upon your illustrious predecessors resembles in a most important respect the varied world in which it fell to the lot of the great Doctor of the Hebrews to fulfill the duties of his Apostleship. This circumstance, although it may not be without its difficulties, any more than was the position of the divine St. Paul, will elicit and cause to shine forth and enlighten mankind the true Pastoral Spirit, the untiring zeal, the inexhaustible charity of the Apostle- ship. Paul was a Hebrew and at the same time a Roman citizen. He was highly educated, and yet the rude barbarian was the same to him as the refined Greek. He was specially the Apostle of the Gentiles; but he knew not Jew from Gentile. All who received the heavenly message from his lips were, without distinction of nation- ality, his most dear children in Christ.
"We, the laity of the Diocese of Newark, various as we are in race and origin, recognizing in you, our Right Reverend Pastor, the true Apostolic Spirit, approach you as one united people-united by a stronger tie than that of blood or nationality-and claim you
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as our common Father whose noble destiny it will be to rule over us as the children of one family.
"We cannot conclude without congratulating our newly conse- crated and Right Reverend Bishop on the happy circumstance that he is called to hold rule over a body of Priests whose piety and proficiency in all ecclesiastical learning are so well known. The study of Canon Law is also now more in honor than in the earlier days of the Church's growth in the United States. This will also facilitate the labors of your Episcopate. It may indeed, be neces- sary on occasions-may they be few and far between !- to call into action the full measure of that power with which they are entrusted who 'are called to rule the Church of God.' But, where sound learning and good will exist so extensively, such cases can hardly be supposed. The Reverend Clergy understand full well the two- fold bond which binds them to their Chief, and their Chief to them -'Obedientia et Dilectio.' So it will be given to the Right Reverend Pastor of the Diocese to obey the dictates of the piety for which he is distinguished and rule, like a tender parent, over his children, or as an elder Brother on whom has devolved the care and government of the juniors of the family: 'Primogenitus inter multos fratres.'"
Replying, the Right Rev. Bishop said in part :
"The Clergy of the Diocese have from the beginning been kind enough to testify their good will and to express their confidence in the success of my administration. And now you, gentlemen, repre- senting the thousands of Catholics of this great city and Harrison, come to assure me of your respect, your good will and of your confidence in me. This encouragement on the part of both Clergy and laity is a great consolation to me-a consolation that is deeply felt and deeply appreciated. It gives me reason to hope that I may in some manner be able to continue the successful work of the first Bishop of this Diocese-the great and saintly Bayley-and of my immediate predecessor, the pious and learned Archbishop Corrigan. * You have been kind enough to refer to the piety and proficiency of the Clergy of the Diocese. I am very happy to be able to endorse this good opinion. The fact of many well conducted Parochial Schools alone speaks volumes in their favor. The laity certainly deserve great credit for their generosity and liberality in this matter, but we must not forget to give full measure of praise to the Clergy. My relations with them, I am sure, will be of the kindest and most friendly; for this nothing is required but good will on both sides. I have practical proofs that it exists on
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the part of the Reverend Clergy, and I am certain that it is not wanting in me."
When the Bishops of the Province of New York were about to assemble for the purpose of consider- ing the selection of a successor to Bishop Corrigan, who had been created an Archbishop and appointed Coadjutor to Archbishop McCloskey, with the right of succession, the Right Rev. Bernard J. McQuaid, of the See of Rochester, stopped off the train at Paterson en route to New York, and called upon his old friend, Dean McNulty, Pastor of St. John's, that city. In reply to the inquiry of the Bishop: "Who is the fittest man in the Diocese to succeed Archbishop Corrigan?" the venerable Father McNulty answered : "There is only one man worthy to be chosen, and that one is Doctor Wigger of Madison."* Doctor Wigger was the second choice of the Bishops for the See of Newark and their first choice for the new See of Trenton which was about to be created by the Holy See. The first choice of the Bishops for Newark was the Rev. Michael J. O'Farrell, Pastor of St. Peter's, Barclay street, New York, who was a scholarly man and one of the best historians in America. They thought the best interests of Seton Hall College would be conserved by his selection. His name was placed at the head of the list for Newark. But when the Papal Bulls were received, it was found that Father O'Farrell was named for Trenton, and Doctor Wigger for Newark. In his history Mgr. Flynn says :
"The contraposition of the names then caused considerable dis- cussion and various groundless causes were alleged therefor.
*The Catholic Church in New Jersey.
From another source, however, the author learns that Father McNulty answered : "There are several very worthy Priests in the Diocese who possess the requirements for a good Bishop. What do you think of the little Doctor in Madison ?"
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The truth is that among the Cardinals to whom the choice was referred was Cardinal Franzelin. With that racial loyalty which is characteristic of the German family, His Eminence perceiving that Doctor Wigger was first on one list for Trenton and second on another, contended, and successfully, that the more important Diocese should be assigned to him."
The ways of Providence are indeed wonderful- often mysterious, viewed through finite spectacles. How often does not Almighty God make use of the meek and the lowly that He might confound the proud and the mighty? And was not the appointment of Dr. Wigger as Bishop of Newark strongly in evidence of this truth? Measured by the standard of greatness which the world has raised for itself, he was not a great man. He was not endowed with a giant mind. He was not profoundly learned in the sciences; but in the Science of Religion, the knowledge of God, he was truly well grounded. He was not the polished, scholarly man, like Bishop Bayley, Bishop Corrigan and Bishop O'Connor, but he combined distinguishing traits which have shone forth resplendently in the lives of these illustrious Princes of the Church. With him the performance of duty was paramount. He was a man who weighed well before acting; but reaching a conclusion he stood like unto a rock. His humility of heart, child-like simplicity and widespread charity were universally recognized. Prior to his elevation to the Episcopacy, Doctor Wigger gave a dinner to Cardinal McCloskey, Archbishop Corrigan, Bishop McQuaid and others, including a prominent layman- one of the parishioners of St. Vincent's, Madison. At the dinner, Bishop McQuaid asked the prominent lay guest : "How do the people in Madison like Dr. Wigger?" The answer came: "We like him very well indeed; but he has one great fault-he never
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calls upon his wealthy parishioners; he goes around all the time visiting among the poor."
Right Rev. Bishop Wigger was a manly man. He achieved greatness, like unto the Saints. In the early years of his Episcopacy, his path was not strewn with roses; and the first thorn in his Mitre was the selection of his Vicar-General. He first thought of appointing the Rev. Januarius De Concillio, a learned theologian, to be his alter ego. A few of the Irish- American Priests held such a selection in disfavor, preferring one of their own nationality. The late James A. McMaster, Editor of the New York Free- man's Journal, sent this message to Bishop Wigger through the author, who was then the Newark correspondent of that paper: "Say to Bishop Wigger," said he, "that the Freeman's Journal is most desirous that his administration, like unto the administration of his illustrious predecessors, should be successful in the highest degree; that we desire him to make no mistake in the selection of a Vicar- General; that we have no individual interest to subserve, that we have no one in particular to recommend; but that it would be an egregious, a stupendous blunder, should he appoint Father De Concillio. There are many priests in the Diocese of Newark," added the Abbé McMaster, "any one of whom would fill the office of Vicar-General with credit. If any of the older Priests are not considered, the Bishop will make no mistake by selecting a young Priest who will grow old in years and wisdom with himself. The hope of the Church is in the young Priesthood; in the natural order, 'the old must die, and the young may die.' One by one the old Priests will pass away; and the young will take their place
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