USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > History of St. John's Church, Newark > Part 2
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MCGUIRE, JAMES
164
MCKINNEY, JOHN
54
MCMANUS, REV. DR. MICHAEL A.
2, 28,
50
MCMASTER, JAMES A.
154
MCNULTY, WILLIAM, VERY REV. DEAN
152, 161
MCQUAID, RT. REV. BERNARD J., BISHOP OF ROCHESTER, 47, 51, 115,
123, 140, 152, 153, 159, 161, 176
NAPOLEON I
- 26
NARDIELLO, REV. JOSEPH M.
2,
68
NEIL, JOHN
- 203
NERNEY, B.
- 204
NORRIS, MR.
- 111
NUGENT, CHRISTOPHER
207
NUGENT, JAMES
- 206, - 206
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xxiii
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MCCLOSKEY, REV. FATHER
MCDONOUGH, REV. JAMES
MCENROE, PATRICK
- 203
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
NUGENT, JAMES R., CITY COUNSEL
PAGE - 206
NUGENT, JOHN -
42,
43
NEUMANN, RT. REV. BISHOP OF PHILADELPHIA -
- 86
NEWMAN, CARDINAL-ARCHBISHOP
- 129,
135
O'CONNELL, DANIEL
- 208
O'CONNOR, CHARLES
208
O'CONNOR, RT. REV. JOHN J., FOURTH BISHOP OF NEWARK, 2, 14, 62, 119, 153, 159, 160, 161, 164
O'CONNOR, REV. JOSEPH -
2
O'CONNOR, VERY REV. MARTIN
88
O'CONNOR, REV. MAURICE P.
2.
7.
8, 14
O'CONNOR, MICHAEL -
202
O'CONNOR, THOMAS
- 207
O'DONNELL, JOHN
- 205
OELKERS, JOHN B. -
- viii
O'FARRELL, RT. REV. MICHAEL J.
180
O'GORMAN, DR. GEORGE
54, 58
OLDHAM, THOMAS
- 203 32
O'ROURKE, JEREMIAH
- 118, 204
OSBORNE, REV. LOUIS SHREVE (TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH) - 118, 119
PARDOW, VERY REV. GREGORY B.
31, 37, 39, 90
PARDUE, TIMOTHY
204
PARKER, HON. CORTLANDT -
- 177, 198
PARKER, HON. RICHARD WAYNE, M. C.
- 119
PENNINGTON, A. C. M.
195,
208
PENNINGTON, JABEZ P.
34, 35
PENNINGTON, GOVERNOR WILLIAM
195, 208
PEPPIN, MR.
- 200
PEPPIN, ELIZA (A SLAVE) -
- 200
PEROTTI, REV. JOSEPH M.
3. 217
PETERS, MRS. 1
- 124
PFRAENGEL, O. S. B., RT. REV. HILARY
PHILIPS, MICHAEL
- 204
PLUNKETT, EDWARD -
-
204 2
POELS, REV. JAMES P., 3,
7, 14, 50, 62,
68, 76, 90
POPE PIUS VII - .
25, 26,
27,
28
POPE PIUS IX -
- 115,
174
POPE PIUS X
viii
POWER, VERY REV. JOHN
28,
33, 36
QUINN, EDWARD C.
95,
202
QUINN, FRANCIS
206
QUINN, JOHN
- 205
QUINN, MILES -
- 205
QUINN, MILES F.
7, 82, 119
QUINN, REV. THOMAS
-
176
RAFFERTY, REV. P. -
39
RANKIN, REV. MR. (PRESBYTERIAN)
74
REED, JOHN .
203
REED, PATRICK
- 203
1
27
POELS, REV. DR. H. A.
152, - 111
O'GORMAN, DR. WILLIAM
O'ROURKE, CHRISTOPHER
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
PAGE
REGAN, PATRICK
74
REGAN, THOMAS J.
74
REILLY, CHARLES
204
REILLY, JAMES -
118
REILLY, FARRELL
82
REILLY, ROBERT -
202
RICHMOND, DR. JOHN B.
7
RICHMOND, REV. WILLIAM J.
2,
88
ROGERS, REV. JOHN
176
ROLANDO, REV. FATHER
68
ROOSEVELT, PRESIDENT THEODORE
- 145
ROSATI, RT. REV. BISHOP OF ST. LOUIS
85
ROURKE, CHRISTOPHER
32,
202
ROWAN, LORD HAMILTON 1
202
ROWAN, MARTIN M. - -
32,
202
ROWE, MICHAEL
161, 203
RUNYON, MRS. CLEMENTINE B. -
198
RUNYON, THEODORE, AMBASSADOR TO THE COURT OF BERLIN
- 197,
198
RUNYON, FREDERICK THEODORE
198
RUNYON, JULIA B.
- 197
RUNYON, HELEN LOUISE
197
RUNYON, L. CHAUNCEY
198
RUSSELL, BERNARD
204
RUTHERFORD, JOHN
33
RUTTEN, REV. JOHN -
9
RYAN, JOHN
204
RYAN, MOST REV. P. J., ARCHBISHOP OF PHILADELPHIA
- 145,
146
RYAN, RT. REV. BISHOP OF LIMERICK
52
RYAN, PATRICK -
204
RYDER, REV. RODERICK
- 68
SALT, VERY REV. WILLIAM P. -
155
160
SAMPSON, WILLIAM
- 171
SANDERS, ARTHUR
- 202
SANDERS, WILLIAM
- 202
SAVAGE, JOHN -
48,
50
SAYRE, CALEB
33
SAYRE, MOSES -
213
SCOLLARD, REV. JOHN
176
SCOTT, EDWARD -
48
. SCOTTS, THE
203
SCHNEIDER, REV. LOUIS
67
SEEFRAGE, ROBERT
202
SENEZ, REV. LOUIS DOMINIC
51, 68, 88, 112, 113, 114, 115, 176
144
SHANAHAN, REV. JOHN
SHANLEY, BERNARD M.
- 206, 207,
88 208 206 206
SHARKEY, MISS ANNA L.
82
SHARKEY, ANNETTE
83
SHELDON, SMITH
33
SHEPPARD, V. G., RT. REV. JOHN A.
- 140, 161, 164
SHERLOCK, JOHN
- 32, 202, 209
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SETON, MOTHER E. A.
SHANLEY, JOHN F. -
SHANLEY, MICHAEL -
- 118, 164,
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
PAGE
SISTERS OF CHARITY -
-
- 114, 116, 217
SISTERS OF ST. DOMINIC OF PERPETUAL HELP
- 150
SMITH, ANDREW
- 204
SMITH, ANTHONY -
- 204
SMITH, HANFORD ʻ
33
SMITH, HON. JAMES, JR. - 111, 118, 119, 126, 161, 162, 164, 206, 208
SMITH, MRS. JAMES, JR.
206
SMITH, JAMES, SR.
206
SOURIN, S. J., REV. E. I.
127
STANSBURY, DANIEL
33
STARRS, EDWARD
- 204
STARRS, WILLIAM
204
ST. MARY'S ORPHAN ASYLUM
- 113
ST. MICHAEL'S HOSPITAL .
50,
117
TAAFE, JAMES -
118
TEELING, MISS KATHERINE M.
3
THORNE, G. WISNER -
140
TIGHE, REV. JOHN
88
TISSOT, S. J., REV. FATHER
78
TUBBERTY, REV. FATHER
68
TYLER, ROBERT -
208
VACHE, JEAN
32, 200, 201
VAN BUREN, JAMES
208
VENUTA, REV. FATHER
123
VITALI, REV. DR. ALBERIGO
- 216
WALDRON, EDWARD M.
74
WALDRON, SAMUEL P.
74
WALLACE, REV. THOMAS E.
68
WALSH, DR. JAMES J.
97
WARD, DR. LESLIE D.
118
WARD, GOV. MARCUS L.
205
WARD, GEN. THOMAS
111
WARREN, JOHN
204
WELLS, OF FOWLER & WELLS
64
WHELAN, REV. ISAAC P.
68, 115, 116
WHELAN, CAPTAIN
116
WHELAN, MRS. MARY
- 116
WHITE, REV. MICHAEL J. -
68
WHITEHEAD, JOHN W.
42,
195
WIGGER, RT. REV. WINAND MICHAEL, THIRD BISHOP OF NEWARK, 71, 149, 151, 152, 153, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160,
166
WILBERFORCE, MR.
135
WILLIAMS, ENOS
33
WILKINSON, E. ALVAH
- 197
WILSON, DR. WOODROW, PRESIDENT OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY - 98.
99
WISEMAN, CARDINAL-ARCHBISHOP OF WESTMINSTER -
135
WISEMAN, REV. DR.
68
WRIGHT, COL. EDWARD H.
43,
208
WRIGHT, SENATOR, WILLIAM
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43, 208
ZUCCARELLI, REV. JAMES
217
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List of Illustrations
FACING PAGES
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH (exterior view) -
Frontispiece
HIS HOLINESS, POPE PIUS X -
1
RIGHT REV. JOHN J. O'CONNOR, D.D. -
8
REV. JAMES P. POELS 14
INTERIOR VIEW OF ST. JOHN'S (double page) - 18-19
WINDOW OF OUR BLESSED LORD AND SAVIOUR 22
WINDOW OF THE IMMACULATE BLESSED VIRGIN MOTHER 24
HIS HOLINESS, POPE PIUS VII - 26
30
MAIN ALTAR AND ALTARS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN AND ST. JOSEPH ALTAR IN VESTRY, WHICH WAS THE MAIN ALTAR IN CHURCH BEFORE THE EXTENSIONS OF THE SACRED EDIFICE ʹ
34
BAPTISMAL FONT BUILT BY FATHER MORAN ʻ
40
HAMMER USED BY FATHER MORAN WHEN HE CONSTRUCTED THE ALTARS 44 48
REV. MAURICE P. O'CONNOR
REV. MICHAEL A. MCMANUS, LL.D.
50
REV. JOSEPH M. NARDIELLO
54
REV. MATTHEW J. FARLEY - 60
REV. WILLIAM J. RICHMOND
64
REV. LOUIS KUSTERS - 1
68
REV. JAMES P. LUNDY
74
REV. BERNARD MORAN BOGAN
80
MOST REV. JOHN M. FARLEY, D. D. -
86
RIGHT REV. RICHARD LUKE CONCANEN, D.D.
94
RIGHT REV. JOHN CONNOLLY, D.D.
102
RIGHT REV. JOHN J. DUBOIS, D.D.
110
MOST REV. JAMES ROOSEVELT BAYLEY, D.D.
140
MOST REV. MICHAEL AUGUSTINE CORRIGAN, D.D.
144
PAUL V. FLYNN
154
MILES F. QUINN
162
EDWARD GARRIGAN
168
DR. JAMES ELLIOTT
182
REV. DANIEL G. DURNING
194
BERNARD KEARNEY -
200
ST. JOHN'S RECTORY -
206
CONVENT OF SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH -
210
ST. JOHN'S PAROCHIAL SCHOOL -
214
MOST REV. JOHN HUGHES, D.D.
120
HIS EMINENCE, JOHN, CARDINAL MCCLOSKEY
130
RIGHT REV. WINAND MICHAEL WIGGER, D.D.
148
xxvii
Ricy P. X
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
CHAPTER I
Golden Jubilee of the Consecration
Sunday, May 10th, 1908, will ever be regarded as a Red Letter Day in the annals of Catholicity in the Diocese of Newark, because of the dual event-the Golden Jubilee of the Consecration of St. John's Church, in Mulberry street, Newark, and the Eighty- second year of the founding of the Parish. Then and now! What remarkable changes have taken place! How wonderful the progress made! How important the results achieved !
St. John's Church never presented a more gala appearance. From the towers and apex of the sacred edifice floated the Stars and Stripes. The Papal Colors, Irish flags and Dutch flags, had also a prominent part in the beautiful decorations. Upon the front were draped American flags. The Papal Coat of Arms was hung over the main portal of the edifice and on the left of the entrance were the figures "1826," and on the right of entrance "1908"- representing respectively the year of the organization of the Parish and that of the Golden Jubilee of the
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
Consecration of the Church. The Rectory, the Convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph and the School buildings were also beautifully decorated. Many of the homes of parishioners, not only in the vicinity of the Church but throughout the Parish, were decorated with American flags. The Celebrant of the Jubilee Mass, the Officiating Priest at Vespers and the Preachers were natives of St. John's Parish and had the regenerating water of Baptism poured upon their heads at the Baptismal Font which had been designed and constructed by Father Moran. The Deacon of the Mass was also baptized at this Font.
Solemn High Mass, coram Pontifice, was celebrated by the Rev. Matthew J. Farley, of St. Joseph's, Jersey City; assisted by Rev. William J. Richmond, Rector of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Newark, as Deacon; Rev. Louis Kusters, of the Diocese of Seattle, Sub-Deacon, and the Very Rev. Father Ernest, O. S. B., of St. Mary's Abbey, Master of Ceremonies. Right Rev. John J. O'Connor, D. D., Bishop of Newark, occupied the Throne, and he was attended by Rev. Maurice P. O'Connor, Rector of Holy Cross, Harrison, as Arch-Priest; Rev. Joseph M. Nardiello, M. R., Rector of the Sacred Heart, Bloomfield, and Rev. Michael A. McManus, LL. D., Rector of St. Aloysius, Newark, were Deacons of Honor; and Rev. Joseph O'Connor, of the Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall, was Assistant Master of Ceremonies. In the Sanctuary were Very Rev. Dean Cody, Rector of St. James; Very Rev. Francis A. Gaffney, O. P., S. T. L., Rector of St. Antoninus; Rev. H. A. Poels, D. D., of the Catholic University, Washington, D. C .; Rev. J. W. Melody, D. D., of the Catholic University, Washington; Rev. Eugene P.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
Carroll, Rector of St. Bridget's, Newark; Rev. Joseph M. Perotti, Rector of St. Lucy's, Newark; Rev. E. A. Degnan, of St. Columba's, Newark; Rev. Father Fidelis, O. S. B .; Rev. Father Charles, C. P., and Rev. James P. Poels, the Rector of St. John's. The musical programme was rendered by the regular Choir of St. John's assisted by the Mazzi Orchestra; and the organist was Miss Katherine M. Teeling. The programme was as follows:
PRELUDE Lauda Zion Lambilotte
KYRIE, GLORIA, CREDO and AGNUS DEI
Capocci
VENI CREATOR
Decis Monti, with violin and organ, Mrs. E. Maloney
sung by
Ave Maria-Gounod, with flute obligato,
OFFERTORY sung by Mrs. E. Maloney
BENEDICTUS and SANCTUS Giorza's Fifth Mass
POSTLUDE March Militaire Schubert
FATHER LUNDY'S SERMON.
The sermon was preached by Rev. James A. Lundy, of St. Patrick's, Elizabeth. He pictured the social world as it existed in the time of the Rome of Augustus-the highest period of her martial splendor : "Her standards were floating over every land and the universe in reverential awe acknowledged her its mistress. From every point of the compass luxuries and wealth were pouring in. But her greatness was not confined to material grandeur or military prowess. The intellectual refinement of Greece had come to polish the rugged vigor of the Latin mind. Every department of learning was glorified by names that even today seem immortal. The poetry of Horace and Virgil was the theme of every tongue. Plato and Aristotle, the twin giants in the world of philosophy, had brought forth their massive conceptions, that after two thousand years rank among our choicest treasures. Men then living had their youthful ears
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
pampered by the sonorous majesty of Cicero's eloquence. In a word, material and intellectual greatness had attained a supremacy never before rivaled. But, besides the world of clay and mind which belongs to time, there is another and a higher, born for eternity-the world of soul and morals. Let us see how it stood there.
"Everywhere except among the Jewish people, who had God's Revelation to guide them, uncertainty and the grossest errors prevailed in regard to truths most important to man, and which form the basis of intellectual and moral life. Only one nation adored the true God; in every other part of the world men bowed down in adoration before the stars, plants, animals-and rendered homage to the gods of wood and stone they had fashioned with their own hands. Even Greece and Rome, famous for their art and literature, cultured and skilled in learning, had their idols of gold and silver and wood and stone; they worshipped even their vices, for every crime had its own god. And we know that public and private morals were in keeping with such a worship. Man, forgetting the dignity of his origin and the grandeur of his destiny, lowered himself to the level of the brute, or, in the delirium of his pride, raised himself to the rank of the gods. Morality having no foundation, men lived shameless lives in imitation of the gods themselves. Separated from the one true God, man and woman had lost the appreciation of their natural dignity, and had fallen under the despotic empire of their senses. They had made themselves after the image of the gods created by their own passions. From their brow had fallen the crown of glory which the Creator had placed there;
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
blinded by the mists of passion, they had seated themselves in the dust, forgetting what they were, forgetting what they should be; they ceased to realize their true worth. And hence arose in Pagan antiquity man's universal contempt for his fellow being and himself. Men were so accustomed to the cruel and depraved morality of the day that neither philosophy nor history uttered a protest against these things that made man lower than the beasts. We need only read the history of those ages to see how awful and how utter was the moral corruption of the world; the bitterness of desolation and despair overshadowed all.
"When then Christ came unto men and founded His Church there was a new factor for the world to deal with. He was presented to the minds and hearts of men as a question they had to answer- a problem they had to solve. They had either to accept what Christ brought or refuse it; they had either to embrace Christ or reject Him-but they could not be indifferent to Him; they could not ignore His claims. His Church was built upon a foundation which the world laughed at and scorned, based upon the doctrine that God, the Infinite, Omnipotent, Eternal God, had become man and had suffered death to redeem a sinful race. And this doctrine was to be taught; this Church was to be spread throughout the world by twelve poor men, ignorant of letters and unskilled in art. Well might the foolish world mock the idea that anything great or lasting could come of such procedure! Well might the wise ones of earth shrug their shoulders and smile at the very thought of these men going forth in their ignorance and crudeness to preach a new doctrine, a new code of morality to the Pagan world; a doctrine
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so strange, a code of morals so utterly opposed to all the systems of religion then in demand. But nothing daunted, these noble souls went bravely on their mission; they knew that the Gospel they preached was the truth, they were certain God was their guide -and if God was with them who could be against them? And so, little by little, slowly and gradually, as the tiny shoot breaks forth through the earth in Springtime did the infant Church begin to show its power to the world. Soon Paganism realized that this new teaching must be reckoned with-that it could not be laughed and smiled away."
The Right Rev. Ordinary of the Diocese, in honor of the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Consecration of the Church, granted an Indulgence of fifty days to all the faithful present at the Solemn High Mass, and imparted the Papal Blessing.
6
CHAPTER II The Pastor's Greeting
After Divine Service, dinner was served in the rectory-the Right Rev. Bishop, the Very Reverend and Reverend Clergy being the guests of Rev. James P. Poels, Pastor of St. John's. The laity was represented by former Trustee John B. Richmond, the present Trustees, Miles F. Quinn and Edward Garrigan, the Parochial Master of Ceremonies, John J. Mooney, and the author. Rev. Maurice P. O'Connor was a splendid Toast Master. Father Poels in extending "The Pastor's Greeting to His Guests" spoke substantially as follows:
"GENTLEMEN : I consider it my very pleasant duty to thank you for your presence here to-day. This being Sunday, you have made considerable sacrifice to leave your own Parishes, in order to celebrate this event with the people of St. John's; and we appreciate your presence, therefore, all the more. This is, indeed, a Red Letter Day in the history of this Parish, the Golden Jubilee of the Consecration of our Church in the Eighty-second year of the Parish; and, if this is a proud day for the Mother Parish of the Diocese, it is, I think, a most pardonable pride. The mustard seed sown here has indeed grown to magnificent pro- portions, and the small acorn planted here by the pioneer Catholics of the. city has become a sturdy oak -spreading its branches far and wide, not only over
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
the Diocese of Newark, but over the entire State of New Jersey. We are to-day reaping the fruits of the sacrifices made in the early days by those pioneers, Priests and laity, who founded this Parish and Church-who laid its foundation deep, solid and well and cemented it with a strong unwavering faith that overcame many and great obstacles in those early days. This, then, is truly a day of joy for the Mother Parish; and indeed the entire Diocese may well share in this Jubilee, for at the present day the Mother is surrounded on all sides by her fair and beautiful Daughters, bejeweled with their magnificent educa- tional and charitable institutions. In looking back over the history of the Catholic Church in the State of New Jersey since the formation of this Parish to the present day, we surely find many reasons for Thanksgiving. May I then ask you, Gentlemen, to raise your glass with me and drink to the future prosperity and success of the Diocese of Newark."
Right Rev. Bishop O'Connor replied for the Diocese of Newark. He congratulated the Pastor and people upon the success of the Parish, and paid a high tribute to the earnestness and zeal of Father Poels. The Jubilee of the Consecration brought joy to the parish- ioners of St. John's; but it also caused the hearts of their coreligionists throughout the Diocese to rejoice and feel glad.
The Venerable Dean Cody said that he and Father Moran were intimate friends; and he related many interesting reminiscences of the fourth Pastor of the Parish. He extended the warmest congratulations to Father Poels; and in this he was heartily seconded by Rev. Dr. McManus, Rev. Maurice P. O'Connor and all the other Priests.
8
Bishopy Newark
CHAPTER III Vesper Service
At the Solemn Vespers in the evening, the Rev. James A. Lundy officiated, assisted by the Rev. Father Francis, O. F. M., of Paterson, and the Rev. John Rutten, and Rev. Matthew J. Farley as Master of Ceremonies. Gregorian Psalms were sung alternately by the Choir and The Sacred Heart and Holy Name Society, and the Young Ladies Sodality; the O Salutaris and Tantum Ergo-Gregorian-Choir and Congregation; Te Deum (O Holy God) ; Priest March-Mendelssohn. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Bernard Moran Bogan, Rector of St. Mary's, Plainfield, his text being: "And behold I am with you until the consummation of ages."
FATHER BOGAN'S SERMON.
"All during this happy day," said Father Bogan, "your minds have been going back over many a year that stretches far in remotest memory through the life of the Parish now joyously celebrating the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Consecration of the Church. Distant friends have come to be your guests to-day, and to them you proudly point to the restora- tion of this historic structure whose foundation was laid eighty-one years ago. On this brilliant occasion you fittingly close with all the ceremony of religion, a day of solemn and joyous festivity. Your
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worthy Pastor has accepted in your name the con- gratulations of our Bishop and his fellow-Priests, and he is justly proud of the splendor seen in the restora- tion of dear old St. John's. How naturally the mind goes back through those golden years, recalling the trials and the triumphs of our holy religion. To our present generation, the generation of the former seems lost in the glory of the latter, for our Faith has triumphed. From fifty years back, it is but a span to the century mark of history. What is a hundred years of passing in America? A hundred years ago saw us scattered along the Coast line thirteen insig- nificant Colonies; a hundred years, and we assist at the formation of every known form of government in the Western Hemisphere; and across the ocean, the hand of history leads us through varied national changes, Republics following upon the heels of Empires, Kingdoms yielding to the claims of disputing dynasties, human monuments (builded to defy the intrigues of men) crumbling at the touch of time. What means the memory of nineteen hundred years? It means that the line of historic search leads us through deeds of war. Why, to follow the line of historic research, deeds of war, the decimation of nations, and the scourges of ambition lead us through the vanishing centuries.
"But in it all and through it all, one Throne survives-the Throne of the Fisherman. The Church of Jesus Christ has alone come through the desolation, and the fire, and the blood-shed of persecutions, of calumny, and all the destructive powers arrayed against her. Crushed, buffeted and beaten, she walks as Queen among men, lifting the prostrate forms and rebuilding society from the wrecks that lay strewn
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
along the shores of time. Men, in many instances the unconscious emissaries of the evil one, have bent their energies to destroy her influence; yet perhaps the saddest page in her history records not the malevolence of her enemies but the treason of her friends. It has never been the custom of the Church to hide her shame from the scrutiny of her enemies. Christ Himself, in appointing His human representa- tives, bestowed no angelic qualities of immunity, but left them free to reject Him or to remain with Him loyal through their life, that merit would be the result of their allegiance. If among the legion of the faithful representatives of Christianity some have been faithless to the trust imposed upon them, it but emphasizes the claim of Divinity as the ground- plan of Christianity. For, if Governments, planned by the wisest statesmen, to stand the test of time, have yielded to the changes of custom and the varied claims of succeeding generations, the one Society that has grown with the years and has arisen from every form of persecution stronger and more valiant must indeed have the principle of Divine strength as the only hope of its preservation and ultimate perpetuity. Looking back through the centuries, the student of history following the bent of unprejudiced research sees in the Catholic Church-and in the Catholic Church alone-the evident work of God. Naturally proud of the record of Catholicity, we are prone to place our confidence for the future in the record of the past.
"And yet, dear Brethren, the more we know of our Holy Faith, the narrower becomes the road that leads to our personal eternal destiny. The Church of Christ has come, it is true, through the centuries,
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
bearing in her hand sacramental strength for our weakness, restorative for the day of our failure, and the Word of God as the hope for our forgiveness. With these Divine institutions meeting us at every crisis of our pilgrimage, they are of themselves power- less to help us-for neither Pope nor Priest can save the soul that does not bend its energy to accept the proffered hand of sacramental helpfulness. What mean the mysteries of the Sacraments to the instructed Catholic but God's divine condescension in extending the value of Calvary to every time and to people of every class and clime? What means the Sacrifice of the Mass but the presence of the unbloody yet real Sacrifice of Calvary for the children of men? And yet, for its application and its worth to the individual, personal, earnest co- operation is an essential requisite. And why, dear brethren, do these sacred mysteries appeal so readily to the Catholic mind, yet cast no ray of hope within the darkened heart of him who rejects the Son of God in this continued scheme of our redemption? Our holy Faith! The Faith that hears the echo of the commission of Christ to His Apostles. The Faith that sees through nineteen centuries the upper room whence came on the first Pentecost morning, Andrew and James, and John and the other Apostles, to carry the message of the Eternal Father transmitted through His Son to all the willing children of the human race. How naturally our hearts go out in gratitude for this priceless unpurchasable gift of Faith. It is the one note that sounds clear and heavenly in all the harmony of this happy Golden Jubilee of the Consecration of St. John's.
"Fifty years, oh, what glory for the cause of truth,
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
have come with them to this day of joyous culmination ! Whilst our hearts go out in gratitude, we face the future in trustful dependence upon the grace of God for the happy fulfillment of our Apostolic work. Whilst you are not commissioned, as were the Apostles, to preach the Word of God on every street corner, yet by a more convincing eloquence yours it is, my dear brethren, yours the solemn duty to preach by a higher standard of moral living that Christ actuates your endeavors, still lives in this year of grace, fulfilling His words of encouragement : 'Not by your own virtue, not by the influence you may accidentally exercise among your fellows, nay, not even by your natural virtues are you to lead men to Me, but because I am with you.' This is the secret of this celebration, and this the Divine Call that sounds with no uncertain note in the conscience of every Catholic: 'By the grace of God, I am what I am.' May this heritage, transmitted to our own generation with such splendid results, be passed to our successors with a prayer of humble confidence in Him from Whom all graces flow. The long night has passed. The gloom of apprehension has faded before the rising sun of American fairness. See to it, my brethren, that you so present the cause we celebrate to-night that Christian credentials will convince the honest inquirer who will see in your lives that Christ has kept his word: 'Lo, I am with you' and none other 'until the consummation of ages.' "
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