USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > History of St. John's Church, Newark > Part 4
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
hand for any emergency. This is not cruelty. This is mercy; this is humanity. Anything that will put an end to the draggling of human blood across the whole surface of the country." The Archbishop's remarks on conscripting called forth considerable criticism in certain quarters and alienated many of his Southern friends and admirers. His mission to Europe was highly successful; and, on his return home, he was thanked publicly by President Lincoln, and the Congress of the United States also tendered him a unanimous vote of thanks.
In the name of the Bishops who attended the first Provincial Council of New York, Archbishop Hughes addressed a Pastoral to the faithful of the Province counselling dignity and patience during the Know-Nothing persecutions. At this time "Italian Unity" (sic) was attracting great attention. Some American papers following the wake of a corrupt British press that boasted, as if in derision, of being "the best possible public instructors," would "out-Herod" the malicious lies of the "London Thunderer," and print foul calumnies against the Papal Government. "Yellow Journalism" was in the saddle in those times. The second Provincial Council of the Bishops was convened by Archbishop Hughes and a Pastoral issue in which the Temporal Rights of the Pontiff-Sovereign were defended. Some American newspapers accepted the doctrine laid down by the Bishops in its entirety and recommended it to their readers. Copies were sent to European rulers, except Queen Victoria and King Victor Emmanual. The Pope had the Pastoral translated into Italian and distributed throughout Italy.
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Main Altar and Altars of Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph
CHAPTER VII
Founding St. John's Parish
St. John's, while not the first erected, was the first Church in New Jersey having a resident Pastor. Its history may be said to be the history of Catholicity in this State. In 1826, Rev. Gregory B. Pardow, of New York, was sent to Newark to minister unto the Catholics. In "The Story of the Cross in Newark," as told by the late Dr. James Elliott, in a lecture delivered under the auspices of the Young Men's Catholic Association, about fifteen years ago, he says : "It is a pity no Church records are in existence of the history of the formation of St. John's Parish-the primary efforts to build a Church edifice; the names of the original subscribers; the date of the laying of the corner stone of the first edifice, which comprised the central third of the present Church; and the list of pewholders. All that is known now was handed down from sire to son except in the official records in the office of the Clerk of Essex County, concerning the first steps taken to organize a Parish and purchase land for a Church site." These records show that on November 25th, 1826, a Roman Catholic Society was incorporated; that "The Trustees hereinafter named recite to the election of themselves as Trustees of the Roman Catholic Society of Newark, at a meeting of the said Society held in St. John's
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. HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
Church, in the Town of Newark, on the thirteenth day of November, 1826, and notice was given of such meet- ing according to the statutes in such cases made and provided." As there was no Church edifice in Newark then, what the Trustees meant by "a meeting of said Society held in St. John's Church" was evidently that they regarded the carpenter shop or one of the private houses where the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered as "St. John's Church" for the time being.
The first Trustees were Patrick Murphy, John Sherlock, John Kelly, Christopher Rourke, Maurice Fitzgerald, John Gillespie and Patrick Mape. Before the erection of the Church edifice, the Catholics of Newark and surrounding country used to meet for Divine Service at the Turf House, located at No. 40 Mulberry street (according to Pierson's Directory of 1836), near the Southeast corner of Durand and Mul- berry streets and occupied by Charles Durning, father of the late John C. Durning, who for many years was Clerk of the Essex County Grand Jury. Mass used also to be celebrated in the home of Martin Rowan, Washington street, near Rowan's Lane, and also in the homes of Christopher O'Rourke, John Sherlock, Jean Vaché, High and *Broad streets, and Anslem J. Fromeget, High street, and other old settlers. What was number 40 Mulberry then, is now number 60, the location of the present Lutheran Evangelical Church. Before the erection of St. John's, when the number of Catholics began to increase, Mass used to be cele- brated in a carpenter shop near the present location of the German Lutheran Church in Mulberry street.
One of the first acts of the Trustees was to provide a permanent place of worship. On March 2d, 1827,
* Clinton avenue was then a continuation of Broad street.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
ground was purchased from George Cross for three hundred and twenty-five dollars, on Mulberry street, the site of the present Church edifice, and the deed was recorded May 23rd, 1827. The corner stone was laid by the Very Rev. Dr. Power, of St. Peter's Church, Barclay street, New York. Work on the building was begun in 1827. When the foundation was finished, a difficulty confronts the Trustees-their funds are exhausted. They sent a committee to wait on Very Rev. Dr. John Power, to ask him to lecture in Newark for the benefit of the struggling Parish; and he, only too willing to aid the faithful, cheer- fully consented. But a new difficulty arises-there was no public hall in Newark at the time. At the sug- gestion of Dr. Power, the Trustees called upon the Wardens and Vestrymen of Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church and requested the use of that edi- fice for the lecture. The request was kindly and unanimously granted, and no charge was made. The Wardens were Caleb Sayre and John Rutherford, and the Vestrymen, Frederick Babcock, Archer Gifford, Joel W. Condit, Hanford Smith, Sheldon Smith, Henry W. Kingsland, Augustus W. Van Horne, Joseph Kingsland, Daniel Stansbury and Enos Wil- liams, most of whom held office in the year begin- ning Easter, 1826. Their Minutes are silent as to the action of the Board about the lecture of Dr. Power; probably things were done then as not infrequently they are done now, when the Wardens and Vestry get together informally after a service and decide a question. Besides the lecture by Dr. Power, an Oratorio was sung by the Choir of St. Peter's Church, New York. The Sentinel of Freedom, the precursor of the Newark Daily Advertiser and the Newark Star,
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
published a communication signed "A," as follows, on the date of the entertainment:
"The Catholic corporation of this Town, I perceive, are to give an Oratorio this evening at the Episcopal Church. Their efforts are truly laudable. Shall we condemn any sect or profession and deny them our patronage because they differ from us in religious opinion? I trust not. The contrary principle should be the boast of every liberal man, and such, I hope, is the case with the majority of our citizens. Never- theless, some have already declared themselves on that account hostile. Every person must be aware that the Catholics of Newark are very numerous, and a place of worship for their assemblage on the Holy Day is absolutely necessary, for such is their tenacity to their faith and their principle of religion, that to spend the Sunday in idleness is far preferable than to attend our places of worship. It is to be hoped, then, that the reflecting and zealous Christian will lend his aid from prudential motives at least.
"The musicians and lovers of music are referred to the bill as a sufficient inducement. Such a combina- tion of musical talent in this Town has probably never been witnessed and should not be neglected. May their endeavors be rewarded with the distinguished approbation of 'crowded house.' "
The late Jabez P. Pennington, a member of one of the most distinguished families of New Jersey, wrote, in reply to a letter of inquiry about Father Power's lecture and the Oratorio :
"James Elliott, M. D.
"Dear Sir :- I received your note requesting any information I may have relative to the use of Trinity Church edifice by the Catholics of St. John's Church
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Altar in Vestry which was Main Altar in Church before the extensions of the Sacred Edifice
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
in aid of that Church. It was many years ago, and I cannot call to mind any circumstances or incidents of interest, in that regard, beyond what you are probably aware of, or I would cheerfully aid you.
"The Church was used for that purpose I well recol- lect, for I was present and a listener to the lecture delivered by the Reverend gentleman named. I was not a Vestryman of Trinity at that date and had no knowledge of their proceedings. It had no doubt the approbation of the Vestry, but how it was brought about and who were instrumental in the arrangements made I cannot say.
"Not being a permanent member of the congrega- tion at the time and having no particular interest in the case I gave but little thought to the subject then or since. It was I think generally regarded as an act of courtesy and good will on the part of Trinity Parish towards a Christian society of a different denomination, just organized in its immediate vicinity.
"Should anything occur to me that would be of service to you I will write you.
"Very truly, "J. P. PENNINGTON. "Newark, December 22, 1885."
On April 29th, 1828, the lecture was delivered before a large audience-the church was filled. Every seat was occupied. Three-fourths of the audi- ence comprised Protestants, as the Catholic popula- tion then was very small and the people poor. The liberal and generous action of Old Trinity on that occasion has been and ever will be remembered by the Catholic citizens of Newark.
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CHAPTER VIII
Dedication of St. John's Church
St. John's was dedicated in 1828-the Very Rev. Dr. Power officiating in the absence of Right Rev. Bishop Dubois. It was a very eventful day for the Catholics of Newark and environments. Joy filled their hearts, and in thanksgiving they raised their souls to Heaven. Their cup of joy was filled. At last they had a permanent place of worship which was their own, and in whose Tabernacle the Holy of Holies would dwell. The dimensions of the original building were fifty feet by sixty-five feet. Some writers describe St. John's "of old" as "a primitive" structure; say that "the walls were unplastered" and that "the seats were boards resting on stones;" that "the front and rear ends of the building were of rough boards, and not infrequently rain or snow was blown through the crevices on the worshippers." As the late Dr. Elliott remembered them, "the walls were very white and smooth; the seats plain but substantial and comfortable, and the interior properly arranged."
When Timothy Bestick, in the early history of St. John's Parish, came from Ireland, the Church was unfinished; and in after years he used to give very exaggerated accounts of the rough condition of the interior of the edifice: "boards resting on stones for seats;" "the snow storms, and rain, and hail, and wind, blowing in through the rough boards in front
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
and rear of the building;" "the swallows flying about the Church," and many other fanciful pictures. Bestick was a practical joker, and no doubt he gave some aspirant for "yellow journalism" a humorous story of some unfinished structure which had only a subjective existence-in his mind's eye. The late Dr. Elliott made a drawing from memory of the old Church as it stood before its enlargement by Father Moran and gave it to one of his sons. The drawing has been lost; but Michael Elliott says it was in no wise like the "old log cabin" which purports to represent the original Church building.
There never has been but one Catholic Church edifice erected in St. John's Parish-that which was built by Rev. Gregory Bryan Pardow, in 1827-8, and which was subsequently enlarged by Father Moran. Fifteen years ago Peter J. Leary, who was a boy when Father Moran came to Newark, got up a souvenir for the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Consecration of the Church. He desired to print a representation of the original edifice before the extensions and facade were added; and he got a friend to make a drawing of the "old Church" from his description. The sketch was made; and the result is that a drawing, which appears to represent an "old log cabin," has been imposed upon the credulity of the Catholics of New Jersey as a representation of "St. John's first Catholic Church, built by Rev. Gregory Bryan Pardow, 1828." This is the story of the origin of the "old log cabin" picture, as the author has learned it from the lips of him who had the drawing made. When Bishop Hughes visited St. John's to adjust "grievances" between the parish- ioners and Father Moran, who desired to enlarge the Church, he said: "With a single exception, yours
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
was the first edifice erected in New Jersey to bear aloft the emblem of salvation, the Cross." If there was another building, anterior to the present Church, such as the "old log cabin" drawing, a cross certainly would have surmounted it; and the edifice which Father Moran desired to enlarge could not have been "the first edifice to bear aloft the cross." But it is preposterous to think that Bishop Hughes could be mistaken. He knew whereof he spoke-always measured his words. The exception noted by him was the first Catholic Church in Paterson, the erection of which antedated the erection of the cross on St. John's Church, Newark, by five or six years.
Men from the quarries dug the foundation, con- tributed the material and did most of the work. A grave yard large enough for the wants of the time was laid out in the rear and to the Southwest of the edifice. Some of the bodies were subsequently removed to St. John's Cemetery on Belleville avenue, in the rear of the present St. Michael's Church. These removals were made necessary when the extensions to the Church were built; but many of those old pioneers, predecessors of ours-our Fathers in the Faith-still rest beneath the shadow of old St. John's.
The original Church was never torn down, and its walls form part of the present edifice. Father Moran enlarged it two or three times, being his own architect, designing the facade as it now is, and making most of the interior ornaments himself. The Main Altar, as it now is, is the work of his own hands. The hammer used by him in building the Altar is in the possession of the late Dr. Elliott's family, and through the courtesy of Michael Elliott, one of the sons, the author is privileged to present a picture of it from a photo.
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As the cost of the building exceeded the estimate by a considerable sum, it was deemed advisable to put the pews up at auction, and Daniel Elliott, a retail grocer, who settled in Belleville in 1822, and father of the late Dr. James Elliott and grandfather of the present County Physician of Essex County, bid in the front pew in the right of the middle aisle, and thereby became the first Catholic pewholder in New Jersey. By this sale a handsome sum was realized, and some of the more urgent bills of the contractors were paid. But there was still a large bal- ance of unpaid indebtedness. During the panic of 1829, the Trustees were sued for debts incurred owing to poor management. The creditors were non- Catholics. They got judgment and the Church edifice was ordered to be sold; but in this emergency Bishop Dubois came to the rescue. Through his friend Bishop Bruté, he secured a loan from the Association of the Propagation of the Faith. All the claims against the Church were then paid.
The Rev. Gregory B. Pardow, the founder, was appointed Pastor of the Church in 1830, and was then the only resident Catholic Pastor in New Jersey. He labored faithfully with the Parish and, through his energy, zeal and tact, insured its success. He was succeeded by the Rev. Matthew Herard, October 7th, 1832; and on October 13th, 1833, the latter was suc- ceeded by the Rev. P. Rafferty, who administered the Parish three weeks.
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CHAPTER IX
Father Moran's Administration
The Rev. Patrick Moran, the fourth Pastor, was appointed November 3d, 1833. He was a man pre- eminently fitted for the post-possessing keen judg- ment of men and things, a refined and correct taste and a well-trained mind. Under his leadership and control, the affairs of St. John's advanced rapidly, despite the panic of 1837. The sterling qualities of their Pastor won the people's love and confidence and gained for the congregation the esteem of their non- Catholic neighbors. When the late Most Rev. James Roosevelt Bayley, D. D., Archbishop of Baltimore, was appointed first Bishop of the See of Newark, then com- prising the entire State of New Jersey, one of his first acts was to select Father Moran as his Vicar- General. Though this post of honor and responsibility brought new and arduous labors upon the Pastor of St. John's, parochial work did not suffer. Father Moran organized Church societies, literary, temper- ance and benevolent associations, and having begun a library society, he soon had eight hundred and fifty volumes in circulation-truly a great number in those days. To St. John's belongs the proud distinction of giving birth to the first Circulating Library in Newark. The Newark Library Association, "for the
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Baptismal Font built by Father Moran
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
establishment of a library with all proper conven- iences and appurtenances with the view to advance the interests of learning generally and better educate the youth of the City of Newark in science, literature and the arts," was only created by Act of the Legislature a body corporate in 1847, and opened in 1848, thirteen years after St. John's Library had been put in operation.
FIRST LIBRARY IN NEWARK.
St. John's Circulating Library was founded in the year 1835, and in 1858 contained 1,300 volumes, including the best standard Catholic works on religion and morality that were published in the English language; and also ecclesiastical and secular history, both ancient and modern-together with many interesting and instructive miscellaneous productions of eminent writers. Among the many benefits derived from the founding of the Library, it afforded the Sunday School Teachers the means of making themselves well acquainted with the subjects which they might have to teach the children for whose instruction they had volunteered their services. Then, the Library placed "within the reach of every member of the congregation an ample source of information and religious instruction, to which many, from their circumstances in life, could not otherwise have access." And again, "it furnished not only the Catholic but the sincere inquirer after truth, of every religious denomination in those days, with a correct, authenticated statement of the real principles of the Catholic Faith-in which every point of Catholic doctrine was very fully developed and explained in the most lucid and satisfactory manner." Thus it was, in a great measure, an effective antidote
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
against the virulent productions of bigotry and fanaticism, which in the shape of newly invented immoral tales, and antiquated calumnies, revised and modernized, were too frequently forced on the com- munity by irresponsible individuals whose chief object was to gain by the sale of their books, and who thus, regardless of evil consequences, hesitated not, under the pretext of pious zeal, to hurl the firebrand of sectarian bigotry and religious discord not only into the social but too often into the domestic circle. St. John's Circulating Library, then, was an insti- tution well calculated to advance the cause of Truth, Religion and Morality, to increase the means of use- ful knowledge, to check the pernicious effects of mis- guided zeal and hypocritical knavery, and to pro- mote and cherish the kind spirit of Christian charity and religious tolerance. It had certainly a strong claim on the liberal support of every well meaning Christian who desired light. "They shall know the truth, and the truth will make them free;" and the individual whose religious indifferences or apathy for self-improvement rendered him insensible to these objects, was not worthy to bear the name of Catholic.
Father Moran's soul was permeated with the spirit of the Master, and he took prompt measures for the establishment of Catholic or Parish Schools. He first secured a two-story frame building at No. 168 Plane street, near Market street, where he opened a Parochial School and arranged for the free education during the evenings of such as could not attend day schools. The first floor was used for male pupils and the second floor for females. The first Principal was John Nugent, a graduate of Maynooth College. He entered as a law student with the late John White-
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
head, and after serving two years as Principal of St. John's School he resigned to practice law. He after- ward became Private Secretary to United States Senator William Wright, father of Col. Edward H. Wright, one of the present Directorate of the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company. While in Washing- ton, Mr. Nugent was correspondent of the New York Herald. Subsequently he became the editor of the New Jersey Vindicator. He afterward went to California where he established the San Francisco Herald, fought two duels and became widely known. Mr. Nugent was succeeded by Bernard Kearney. In later years Father Moran purchased ground in Mulberry street, nearly opposite the Church, and erected thereon a building for Parochial School purposes. The first teacher in the female department of the school in Plane street was Miss Love. She was succeeded by Miss Quinn, who afterward became the wife of David Ledwith, for many years Auditor of the Emigrants' Savings Bank, New York. The school was supported in part by weekly contributions of two cents for every adult person-man or woman known to be Catholics; and, for the purpose of making these collections, the entire Town was divided into districts. While collectors went the rounds of their respective districts and made collections weekly, they only made returns to the Pastor once a month. The late Dr. James Elliott was appointed one of the collectors and served with remarkable zeal and fidelity. These collectors were nicknamed "Father Moran's Beggar- men," by our separated brethren. Father Moran's chief source of pleasure and pride was in his Sunday School, which he raised to a high degree of excellence. Bernard Kearney was President of the Sunday School
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
Society. Connected with this Sunday School was a Teachers' Association which was a model of its kind. The President of that Association was John J. Mooney, the father of the present John J. Mooney ; and when he died-the result of an accident-led by Father Moran, several hundred children followed his remains to St. John's Cemetery, where the inter- ment was made.
During Father Moran's Pastorate he was called away for a year or more to be President of an educa- tional institution in New York State. In his absence, Father Farrell, a zealous and eloquent Priest, administered the Parish. Returning to Newark Father Moran resumed charge. The Church was then too small to accommodate the many immigrants daily arriving in Newark and Belleville. In 1838, he resolved to enlarge the edifice by extending the rear. This was opposed by persons who had relatives buried in St. John's graveyard, because the improvement would encroach upon ground devoted to burial purposes. Bishop Hughes was called to settle the matter, and the improvement was made. Soon after ground for St. John's Cemetery on Belleville avenue was purchased.
Typhus fever followed in the wake of the famine in Ireland in 1846, and Asiatic cholera followed in the wake of the fever and raged throughout the land. Thousands upon thousands were stricken down, and thousands of others, who could, emigrated to America. From 1846 to 1849, it is estimated that more than one million of her people left Ireland. The exodus from Ireland added to the Catholic popula- tion of Newark, and more church room is necessary. In 1846 Father Moran resolved upon another enlarge-
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The Jeweler's Hammer used by Father Moran when he constructed the Altars
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
ment of the Church. This was vigorously opposed by many of the oldest members of the Parish, who desired to build a larger Church. A meeting was called to oppose any more alterations of St. John's and to start a subscription for a new edifice. It was held in the Church after Vespers. A chairman and secretary were appointed; they were engaged writing down names of subscribers and amounts of subscriptions to the new fund, when Father Moran appeared on the Altar steps, denounced the gathering as illegal and demanded an immediate adjournment. The Church was vacated at once and the meeting adjourned to the Parochial School rooms at No. 168 Plane street. A committee of twenty-one was named and directed to wait upon Bishop Hughes and state grievances. On the following Sunday, the Bishop was at St. John's. At the close of the first Gospel he ascended the Altar steps, read the Gospel for the day and preached. The sermon concluded, the Bishop came directly to the question of a new Church edifice and the enlarging of the old. He said: "You have, my dear brethren, a model Pastor. Appealing from him to me in this parochial matter, is like appealing from me to myself. Your Pastor has ever manifested a zeal for religion and the best interests of his Parish that has met my entire approbation. With regard to the contemplated improvement of your Church I cannot understand why you should not cheerfully co-operate with your Pastor. Financially considered it will not be a very serious undertaking, and your Pastor's plan will beautify very much the appearance of your Church. With a single exception, yours was the first edifice erected in New Jersey to bear aloft the emblem of salvation, the Cross. For the honor of religion it
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