USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > History of St. John's Church, Newark > Part 6
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Chief Justice Hornblower, of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, and he ridiculed the idea of anything like verdancy applying to him. Father Moran acknow- ledged this point and made a good natured apology. He and the Chief Justice became and ever after con- tinued to be warm personal friends. Father Moran possessed the happy faculty of presenting the sternest truths in his controversies without wounding the feelings of an antagonist. He was indeed severe but parliamentary ; like Sheridan :
"His wit in the combat, as gentle as bright,
Never carried a heart stain away on its blade."
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CHAPTER XIV
Phrenology a False Science
The story of Father Moran and the Phrenologist recalls to mind a discussion which the author had with the late Prof. Wells, of Fowler & Wells, Phrenologists, at their office in Broadway, New York city, in 1866. In 1859, Prof. Fowler and Prof. Wells, accompanied by Mrs. Fowler and Mrs. Wells, made a lecturing tour of Canada, and on the morning of November 12th were travelling by the old Bytown and Prescott Railway, from Ottawa, on their way home to New York. A newsboy who carried fruit in season and out of season sold an apple to Prof. Wells, and when he came through the train again with his basket of periodicals, one of the ladies of the party said: "Professor, this is the lad who sold you that apple." With an assumed severity and a solemnity worthy of a volume of the Pilgrim's Progress, the Professor shook his finger at the lad and said : "Don't you know that in the very core of that apple there was a live creature?" The train was at one of the stations. The newsboy immediately replied : "You ought to be satisfied, sir; sure I did not charge you any more for it;" and the entire car was convulsed with laughter. It was on the Professor. Afterward, the lad discovered that the purchaser of the fruit was the celebrated Prof. Wells,
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Very truly yours W. J. Richmond
Deacon of the Jubilee Mass
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
of New York. Seven years later the author, who was taking a course of philosophy in St. Francis Xavier's College, went one evening to hear Prof. Wells deliver an address before one of the Father Matthew societies which then flourished in New York. The professor had not as yet arrived, and some one must fill the gap. The author was intro- duced, and while addressing the audience Prof. Wells entered the hall and was next introduced. Before taking his departure, he shook hands with all of the gentlemen on the platform, "not forgetting the young Scotchman," as he expressed it. "You are mistaken, Professor, I am not Scotch." "English?" he asked. "No, sir." "American?" "No, sir." "Then what are you?" "I am Irish, sir, body and soul." "Thought you were Scotch when I heard you speaking." "Prof. Wells," said the author, "I had the pleasure of meet- ing you on a former occasion; but you don't remem- ber me." "Where?" He was told of the circum- stances of the sale of the apple in 1859 by the news- boy. "And are you that newsboy ?" and added : "I have told of that instance of ready wit more than twenty times in my lectures." The professor and the former newsboy were ever after warm personal friends.
In conversation one day the author said : "Professor Wells, Phrenology is a false science; your philosophy is a false philosophy. True philosophy will enable you not only to prove the logical effect from the cause but enable you to trace the cause from the effect. Phreno- logical philosophy will not enable you to do this. For example, if the skulls of the two thieves, who were crucified on Calvary with the Redeemer of mankind, were before you, the science of Phrenology would not enable you to point out which was the skull of the
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penitent thief to whom Paradise was promised by our Blessed Lord, or which was the skull of him who died impenitent. Both had lived sinful lives, were desperate criminals whose violation of the law was such as to merit for them an ignominious death by crucifixion. The bumps on their respective skulls, from the very nature of their lives, according to your philosophy, were evidently similarly developed. Your science, Professor, is a false science, because it ignores the grace of God operating in the soul; it does not take into account the free will with which Almighty God has endowed all mankind and of which even He cannot deprive His creatures. By the exercise of his free will a person who might have been a demon incarnate may become a saint in the twinkle of an eye, contingent of course upon his sorrow for his offenses and firm determination not to sin again; and, vice versa, a person who has lived a good life may fall and be lost forever-all through the operations of his own free will. By an act of his free will, however, a person cannot change the 'bumps' on his cranium; can he, sir?" Professor Wells did not attempt to con- trovert this line of reasoning; how could he? As well might he succeed, should he attempt to blow a bag of feathers against a hurricane.
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CHAPTER XV
Father Moran's Successors
After Very Rev. Patrick Moran's death, the follow- ing Priests were successively appointed Pastors of St. John's: Rev. James Moran, a nephew of the deceased Pastor, November, 1866; the Rev. Louis Schneider, appointed November, 1867; the Rev. Thomas M. Killeen, who built the rectory adjoining the Church, appointed in November, 1868; the Reverend Patrick Leonard, appointed Rector in 1877. The Rev. Louis Gamboisville, who personally and with great care and labor rewrote the Church's record of births and mar- riages from the foundation of the Parish to his time, succeeded Father Leonard when the latter became the first Rector of St. Michael's, on Belleville avenue. Father Gamboisville was a good and holy Priest, and a learned man. He possessed one of the best private libraries in the State. He was stricken at the Altar while offering up the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass one Sunday morning in January, 1892, and breathed his last in the course of a few hours. Father Gambois- ville was the second incumbent of St. John's to die. Two years ago the Rector and laity of St. John's erected a monument to the memory of Father Gam- boisville in the Cemetery of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Sacred Heart and Holy Name Society decorated his grave and those of the Rev. Thomas M. Killeen and Father Leonard on the occasion of the Golden
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Jubilee of the Consecration of the Church .* Rev. James P. Poels, the present Pastor, has been Rector of the Church since February 27th, 1892; but in the interval between his appointment and the death of his immediate predecessor, the Rev. Thomas E. Wallace, Chancellor of the Diocese, administered the affairs of the Parish. The Assistant Rectors were the Rev. Father Gath, 1837; Rev. Roderick Ryder, 1838; Rev. Father Farrell, 1838; Rev. Father Bacon, 1838; Rev. Valentine Burgos, a Spaniard, to 1845; Rev. Francis Donahoe, July, 1845; Rev. John Shanahan, July, 1846, to May 9th, 1848 ; Rev. John Callan, May 18th, 1848, to April 19th, 1849; Rev. Louis D. Senez, Sept. 1st, 1848, to March, 1850; Rev. Father Conroy, 1852; Rev. Father McGuire, 1853; Rev. Father Tubberty, 1854; Rev. Father Casted, 1858; Rev. Father McCloskey, 1860; Rev. Patrick Byrne, 1861; Rev. James Moran, 1863; Rev. Dr. Wiseman, 1867; Rev. Father Rolando, 1867; Rev. Joseph M. Nardiello, 1876; Rev. Isaac P. Whelan, 1878; Rev. George W. Corrigan, 1879; Rev. Michael J. White, 1882; Rev. Patrick McGahan, 1892; the late Rev. J. A. Fanning, D. D., 1893 ; the late Rev. John A. Dooley, 1894; Rev. Charles F. Marshall, 1898; the late Rev. Joseph P. M. A. McCormick, D. D., 1899; the Rev. A. M. Murphy, O. C. C., 1899; and the Rev. Benedictine Fathers Benedict, Bernard, Louis and Fidelis.
* The grave of Very Rev. Patrick Moran was also decorated by the Society.
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Rev. Louis Kusters Sub-Deacon of the Jubilee Mass
CHAPTER XVI
The Heroic Treatment
The late Rev. Thomas M. Killeen, when Pastor, found it necessary at times to give lessons in heroic Christianity, and this example may be cited as evidence: After attending to his duties in the Con- fessional it was his custom to make the rounds of certain places every Saturday night and close them up before midnight. Returning to the parochial resi- dence one Saturday night, he was preparing to retire, when he heard the cry of "Murder !" He rushed to the front and rear doors, but all was quiet. He returned to his library, and soon after the cry of "Murder !" was again heard. Father Killeen recognized the cry as coming from River street in the rear of his residence. He rushed out, scaled the fence and discovered a big, burly fellow in a semi-state of intoxication beating his consumptive wife. He seized the fellow, who turned upon the Priest. They clinched, and wrestled, resulting in the Priest gaining the mastery, throwing his adversary to the ground and sitting upon him while holding his hands. He asked several times, "Have you enough, and will you treat your wife respectfully hereafter?" The fellow finally said he would, if Father Killeen let him up. The Priest then relaxed his hold, whereupon the burly fellow grasped him by the throat. Then muscular Christianity again
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asserted itself. Father Killeen forced his adversary to the ground and began pummelling him; and with each successive blow, he would exclaim "O you coward !" After receiving this treatment some time, the wife- beater finally acknowledged that he had received "enough," and he was profuse in his promises never more to abuse his wife. Father Killeen then started for the station house to have the fellow locked up, and on the way they met a policeman, who took the prisoner in charge. The culprit's sentence was thirty days in the County Jail. After five days imprison- ment he sent for Father Killeen, professed sorrow for his conduct, promised to care thereafter for wife and family, take the pledge and live for the remainder of his life as every good citizen should, if Father Killeen would only get him out of prison. The prisoner was liberated; and, during the six years ensuing that he remained in St. John's Parish, he was in very fact a model husband.
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CHAPTER XVII
Best Route to San Francisco
Another case showing the characteristics of Father Killeen is evidenced by a man who was not a parish- ioner, and who had not approached the Sacraments for nearly ten years. He was a friend of the author and connected as ticket agent in Newark with one of the important railway lines. Time and again he would say, "I wish I had courage to approach the Tribunal of Penance." Arrangements were made whereby he promised to go to the Church of St. Francis Xavier, New York, to attend a Retreat, given for the Alumni Sodality, the practice of whose members is to receive Holy Communion in a body on the Sunday within the Octave of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception each year; but when the time came he lost courage. Four days before the ensuing festival of Christmas, Father Killeen's atten- tion was called to the case. "Get him down here," said the Priest, "and I will attend to the rest." The Reverend Father was told to write a letter of inquiry, as to the shortest and best route to San Francisco, which he did. He inquired whether through passen- gers could have stop-over privileges either way at Omaha and Salt Lake City, stated that there were friends going, and he desired the information. This letter was handed to the agent, and he wished to send
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his office boy to see the Priest. This the author said would not do, because if the Priest desired to see the office boy he would come in person instead of writing the letter of inquiry. Whereupon the author endorsed the document "Respectfully referred to- -- who is the authorized ticket agent in Newark for the railroad and its connections for the West."
It may be explained that at that period ticket agents were allowed five dollars commission on every through ticket to San Francisco sold from Newark or New York. The ticket agent proceeded to the parochial residence and was directed to go to the Vestry where he would find the Priest. Father Killeen was in the organ gallery, came down and engaged in conversation with the agent while they walked back to the rectory. The visitor was ushered into the library, and the Priest locked the door, as related to the author by his friend, who had wished to break the ice but had not the moral courage so to do without assistance. Then, as he related, "Father Killeen went into his room off the library and soon returned wearing a stole. He asked, 'When were you at confession last?' 'Nearly ten years ago,' was the reply. 'I want you to go to confession now,' said the Priest. 'I will not,' said the agent; 'when I was learning my catechism I was taught to make preparations before approaching the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion.' 'Do you mean to teach me my duty?' asked the Priest. 'Down upon your knees, and I will hear your confess- ion.' 'I will not! was the determined reply. Then rising in the fullness of his majesty, Father Killeen, his right hand pointing Heavenward, said 'In the name of God I command you to go down upon your knees and make your confession.' When he thus addressed
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me I sank to my knees, and after getting through, he offered me a glass of wine. Paul, give me your hand; you are the best friend I have in the world." The penitent gave evidence of his sincerity, and dili- gently complied with the Ordinances of the Church for several years. He has been called to render an account before the Tribunal of Justice; let us hope that on the last Great Day he may be numbered with the elect.
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CHAPTER XVIII An Irish Immigrant's Sacrifice
From consideration of these examples, it is pleasing to turn to the story of an Irish immigrant who arrived at Castle Garden in the early Forties, and who was strong in the Faith and made heroic sacrifices to assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It was the privilege of the author to make the acquaintance of Patrick Regan, father of former Collector and Tax Commissioner Thomas J. Regan, forty-one years ago. On his arrival at Castle Garden, Regan met the Rev. Mr. Rankin, then Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, at Basking Ridge, Somerset County, who desired to engage the services of a stone mason-an avocation followed by the immigrant. The Dominie engaged Mr. Regan to construct a stone wall around the church yard and cemetery of the Presbyterian Church, at Basking Ridge, and that wall still stands. An extension was added in 1907; the contractors were the brothers Edward M. and Samuel P. Waldron. When Regan arrived at Basking Ridge, sleeping apartments were assigned to him in a barn near the parsonage. The following Saturday he inquired of Dominie Rankin where he could hear Mass the follow- ing day. He said he had never wilfully missed atten- dance at the Holy Sacrifice. The Dominie informed him, "there is no Mass hereabouts, Patrick, but there
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Rev. James P. Lundy Preacher at the Jubilee Mass and Celebrant at Vespers
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
is a Catholic Church in Mulberry street, Newark." "Well," replied the Irish immigrant, "in the name of God I'll start for Mass early in the morning." Accordingly, he arose at two A. M. and began his journey on foot to Newark, a distance of nearly thirty- five miles. He arrived at St. John's Church in time for the 10.30 o'clock Mass, the first Mass in America at which he assisted. After Divine Service, he retraced his journey to the old Colonial village, and arrived at the Presbyterian parsonage shortly after eight o'clock in the evening. During the time of his employment by Dominie Rankin, he continued to hear Mass with regularity every Sunday at St. John's, making the journey on foot. The Rev. Mr. Rankin often mar- veled at the heroic Christianity and sturdy Celtic faith of the young Irish stone mason.
What a lesson for the Catholic people of the Twentieth Century is not the living faith of which the Irish immigrant has given evidence? He was neither a feather bed soldier of the Cross nor a skulker in the ranks of the great army of the Church Militant. He professed a lively faith and ever gave evidence by example of his professions. Would that all had imitated his example. If they had, many who have strayed away would have been saved to the Church.
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CHAPTER XIX
Father Poel's Good Work
The present Pastor of St. John's is an Irremovable Rector. He possesses keen financial and executive ability. He left Boonton in 1892, where he was greatly beloved by the people without regard to religious or racial predelictions, and came to St. John's whose parishioners received him with a genuine cead mile failte! His people have never had reason to repent the confidence first reposed in him. He won their hearts and possesses them fully to-day. Prior to the panic in the early Seventies, vast improvements were made in the Church property. The new rectory was built, the Church, old rectory and school house reno- vated. When the new rectory was completed at a cost of $20,000 the old building South of the Church was fitted up as a residence for the Sisters of St. Joseph who were brought from Chestnut Hill, Phila- delphia, and installed teachers in the Parochial Schools. These improvements were necessary, and when they were begun, times were prosperous. When the financial panic came, business throughout the entire country suffered. There was a large debt upon St. John's Parish which could not have been fore- seen, and this confronted Father Poels when he took possession of his new charge.
One of his first acts was to take the parishioners
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into his confidence. He called a meeting in the school hall and plans were fully discussed by Priest and people, by which the debt could be liquidated; and, through the Rector's keen financial ability and the renewed generosity of the people, this has been accomplished. The Church property has been entirely renovated and improvements made, until to-day the Parochial buildings without exception are in perfect condition and free of debt. The old Church has been beautified within and without, and is the pride and glory of the Parish. These developments in the tem- poral order, it is to be sincerely and earnestly hoped, have been eclipsed by the growth in the spiritual order. The Pastor has ever been a faithful shepherd of his flock, and he and his people are one. Exhorting in season and out of season, by his example and constantly unfailing kindness and charity he has renewed the spirit of his people. His school is his pride, for it shows in its results the fruits of his unceasing care. His work has been blessed and has prospered. In a word, the affection of his people is his, for he has ever shown himself their father, counsellor and guide.
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CHAPTER XX
The Parochial Societies
It would be the esteemed and very pleasing duty for the author to write of the labors and virtues of the Rev. Fathers Benedictine who have from time to time been "helpers" to Father Poels, and especially Father Fidelis, the present eloquent preacher and zealous worker who is laboring to win souls to God. But this pleasure must be omitted, for to sing the praises of those who drink inspiration while meditat- ing at the foot of the Cross and whose daily life is a continual sermon, might wound their humility and add to their manifold tribulations.
Mention must be made, however, of Father Fidelis' zeal in promoting the spiritual wants of the men of the Parish, most of whom are enrolled in the ranks of "St. John's Sacred Heart and Holy Name Society." During a Mission conducted by Fathers Tissot and Hickspiel of the Society of Jesus, (May 30th to June 15th, 1874), a Sacred Heart Society, with a member- ship of sixty-three, was instituted; but, after Father Killeen had been transferred at his own request to St. Mary's, Bergen Point, the organization was disbanded. Father Poels revived the Sacred Heart Society; and it continued some years with more or less success. When Father Fidelis became a "helper," the Pastor appointed him Spiritual Director
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of the "Sacred Heart Society," and since then its career has been one of prosperity. In response to the Circular-Letter issued about two years ago by the Right Reverend Ordinary of the Diocese to the Very Reverend and Reverend Clergy, in which they were earnestly exhorted to establish a Society of the Holy Name in their respective Parishes, a branch was formed in St. John's and merged with the Sacred Heart, under the title of "St. John's Sacred Heart and Holy Name Society." In the public parade of the Holy Name Society in 1907, some ten thousand Catholic gentlemen marched through the streets of Newark; and, of this number, about two hundred represented Old St. John's. Similar demonstrations were made in Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth and other important sections of the Diocese, to the edification of thousands of our separated brethren who were loud in their praises of the Roman Catholic Church for thus publicly protesting against the profanity, blasphemy and immorality of the age. A few Protestant gentlemen took part in the procession in this city, including Police Justice David T. Howell. Individual members of the Holy Name Society have another duty to perform besides taking part in parades, approaching the Sacraments at stated times and refraining from blasphemy and profanity- when walking along the highways and byways or employed at their daily labors, let them uncover their heads whenever they hear the Name of God taken in vain or the Holy Name blasphemed, raise their hearts to Heaven and say "Blessed be the Name of God," or "Blessed be the Name of Jesus," as the occasion requires. Thus will they offer a slight reparation for the insults of blasphemers. This was
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the advice which that renowned Missionary Priest, Father Smarius, of the Society of Jesus, imparted nearly forty-three years ago when giving a Retreat for the students and professors of the College of St. Francis Xavier, New York; and the author has ever remembered that lesson. The humblest member of the Holy Name Society can exercise influence for good; and this is an example: Seven months ago a respected Protestant of this city, a professional man, was with a party of friends in a public café enjoying social amenities when the author entered and was invited to join the circle. The Protestant resumed the relation of a story which he had been telling and embellished the tale by blas- pheming the Holy Name and profaning the Name of God. It would seem as though the devils in hell possessed him. The diarrhea of blasphemies rolled fast from his lips. When he was taken to task, he excused himself on the plea that he gave the matter no consideration; but he finally promised thereafter to hold himself in check. Four months later we met on the public highways. Said he, "I have not joined the Holy Name Society as yet; but you have done one good thing in your life. I promised you that I would guard the tongue, and since that night I have not cursed or swore or blasphemed the Holy Name or taken God's Name in vain. I am determined never more to relapse into that bad habit. When I think of the profane habit now, how loathsome is it not to me!" We have since met, and that Protestant has the same good report to make; and not only has he avoided cursing, swearing and blaspheming, but he is breaking himself of the habit of relating filthy stories. "Sometimes," said he, "I forget myself, but when I
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Rev. Bernard Moran Bogan Preacher at the Vesper Service
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
think of the Holy Name Society I stop short; so you see I am not such a bad fellow after all."
Many other examples might be cited, but one or two will suffice. While spending an evening with the late Bishop Wigger twenty-four years ago, at Seton Hall College, the author called his attention to the case of a certain Catholic friend who was prominent in municipal and State politics, and to whom viola- tions of the Second Commandment seemed to be a second nature. "The poor fellow," the Bishop was told, "says he tries hard to break off the habit, but he can't help it because he is so forgetful of his good resolutions." Bishop Wigger replied: "Say to him that every time he swears or blasphemes let him fine himself-take ten cents out of one pocket, put it into another and give the money to the poor. Let him do this and he will soon break himself of the habit, for there is nothing which appeals to the heart and con- science of some men and tends to refresh the memory like touching the pocketbook." This remedy was suggested to the Democratic politician and he accepted it with beneficial results. The second case is that of a wealthy Protestant, a Newarker, with whom the author had business relations. He, too, was profane from habit. The Bishop's antidote for profanity was suggested to him and he promised to apply it. The next time we met, he profaned the Name of God five times in rapid succession ; whereupon the author, with extended hand, requested, "fifty cents, please!" The silver coin was handed out, and on the following Sunday, it helped to increase the basket collection taken up in Old St. John's. The exaction of the fine worked like a charm; and from then until now, a period of seventeen years, that man is not known to
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