USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Trenton > History of Trenton, New Jersey : the record of its early settlement and corporate progress. > Part 23
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RT. REV. MICHAEL J. O'FARRELL.
Rt. Rev. M. J. O'Farrell, the first Bishop of Trenton, was born in the city of Limerick, in the year 1830, and made his early studies under the Christian Brothers, and in All Hallow's College, the famous missionary institute.
He finished his career as a student in the College of St. Sulpice, Paris, and became a member of the Sulpitian community, a body of priests solely devoted to the work of training young men for the priesthood. Being in possession of an intellect beyond the average, the future Bishop made a brilliant course, whose early promise was certainly more than carried out in his career. In the noted Church of Saint Germain des Pres he received major orders, but was not ordained priest until after his arrival in Canada. His su- periors sent him to their well-known seminary in Montreal while yet in Deacon's orders.
Upon his elevation to the high office of the priesthood he was ap- pointed to the chair of philosophy in the seminary, and filled it with dis- tinction, until sickness compelled his superiors to relieve him of a post for which his tastes and his training had well fitted him. He was then made pastor of the Church of Saint Ann, in the city of Montreal, a parish admin- istered by the Sulpitians. The people were Irish and the children of Irish .. settlers. It was thought that the change from the routine life of the professor to the more varied one of the parish priest would restore his CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART. failing health. He repeated as a pas- tor of souls the sueeess he had won in the chair of philosophy. He-built the fine schools which honor the parish of Saint Ann, and gave a new impetus to the spirit of his people. He showed great power as a preacher, and in a very short time became one of the popular speakers of the city, invited to speak on noted occasions and always listened to with interest. The measure of his popularity can be understood by the fact that he was chosen to deliver the funeral sermon over the remains of D'Arey MeGee, an address which called forth the bitter denunciations of those who applauded the assassination of McGee.
Father O'Farrell was well on the way to become a leader in Israel, when his superiors saw fit to remove him from his pastorship, and to send him as assistant to the parish of St. Patrick, where he remained in quiet obscurity long enough to determine his future course. He had become well known to the country at large by his career in Montreal, and the announcement that he had decided to leave the Sulpitian society and Canada at the same time, brought him invitations to enter more than one diocese.
He came to New York in 1867, and was appointed to Saint Peter's Church, in Barclay street, then administered by the late Vicar-General of New York, Mgr. Quinn. After six years' labor in this district he was made pastor of Saint Mary's in Rondout. His stay here was but a little over six months, because in the spring of 1873, the parish of Saint Peter's becoming vacant, Father O' Farrell was named its pastor in succession to Mgr. Quinn. It was an honorable and important position.
RT. REV. MICHAEL J. O'FARRELL.
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The Catholic people of the parish at that time were twenty thousand strong. There are few nobler parishes in the world, perhaps, than was Saint Peter's then. The work was severe, but laborers were not few. The chief anxiety of the new pastor was to secure good schools for the children, and in their interest he built the well-known schools of Saint Peter's, which have educated a generation, and have given priests to the Church and good citizens to the State. While attending to his parish, Father O' Farrell found time to indulge his love of study and to build up a reputation as a preacher and lecturer ; able, interesting and instruetive. It was not surprising, therefore, that at a proper time he should be chosen for the honors of the episcopate.
In 1881 he was named first Bishop of Trenton. He was consecrated on November 1st, 1881, by Cardinal McCloskey, and Bishop Ryan, of Buffalo, preached the sermon of the occasion.
Many things may be said of Bishop O' Farrell's ruling of his diocese ; but the greatest praise for him is that he was always the father of his priests and his people ; gentle, accessible, interested in their work, careful to make authority loved rather than dreaded. Although an easy-going man, he was possessed of great taet and of great forec of character. Perhaps only the few who knew him well eredited him with the latter, but a few notable instanees will show that the statement is not ground- less. In 1884 he made his visit ad limina to Rome, and I had the honor of accompanying him. What a pleasure it was to travel with a man of his sunny temperament and great historical learning can be supposed. The scenes of Europe took on a double interest under the light his knowledge shed on them. We passed through Ireland, then in the midst of political tumult, through the scenes of his student days, and eame at last to Rome. On the day of his audience with the Pope, to which I attended him as Secretary, he said that if he got an opportunity he would mention two matters to the Pontiff. One was the condition of Ireland, the other the appointment of a coadjutor Bishop for the diocese of Cork. He got the opportunity. For three-quarters of an hour he was closeted with Pope Leo, while I awaited my turn to sec the Pope in the ante-chamber. When I was finally sent for and Bishop O'Farrell introduced me to His Holiness, I saw that the Bishop had been overcome with emotion, and there were traees of tears on his cheeks. He told me the story afterwards.
The troubles in various parts of the Church were resting heavily on the mind of the Pope, and he seemed to be glad of the chance to unburden his mind to the American Bishop. He spoke of the coadjutorship of Cork, which had not been settled, owing to difficulties springing from Irish politics. The one name on the list sent in by the priests of Cork, which would certainly be as acceptable to the people of Cork as it would be honorable to the Church and useful to the diocese, was the name of Dr. O'Callaghan, a Dominiean, then pastor of Saint Clement's Church in Rome. Bishop O' Farrell was well acquainted with the temper and sentiments of the priests and people of Cork. He asked the Pope if His Holiness cared to hear his opinion on the matter, as well as on the condition of Ireland. Leo gave him permission to speak freely. Bishop O'Farrell recommended the appoint- ment of Dr. O'Callaghan to the see of Cork, and gave his reasons : he then went deeply into the Irish question as he had seen and studied it both in Ireland and in America ; and made the Pope thoroughly understand the views of the Irish and the Irish-American people as to the only course to be pursued in securing the interests of the nation. The Pope was assailed daily with reports of so contradictory a character that it was refreshing to him to hear the opinions of an American, unbiased by any other interest than that of the people and the Church. He listened and questioned, and at the elose thanked the Bishop for his frank expression of views. It is impossible to say what influence this interview had upon the Pope. Leo expressed his deep love for the Irish and interest in their attempt to right the bad conditions of English rule. That was all.
But the next day eame the announcement that the Dominican O'Callahan was named coadjutor to Cork, to the joy of the Nationalists. On his way home, Bishop O'Farrell was present at the conseeration of Bishop Healy, of Sligo. After the ceremony at the cathedral, sixteen Bishops and one hundred priests sat down to a banquet in the town hall. It was still early in the history of the Parnell movement, and some, and not a few, at the feast were not in sympathy with the new Irish movement. Some were friends of the English rule, even. It was not, therefore, a slight task to address such a gathering with a eandor, the plainness of speech used that day by Bishop O' Farrell. He spoke with care and gentleness. He described his talk with the Pope, dwelt on the evident course which events in Ireland were taking, gave elear expression to the strength of American opinion, and closed by warning the assembled Bishops that they were holding their people in too
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tight rein-that to continue so meant serious danger ; they had always been distinguished as leaders of the people, first to show the way, but that a failure to understand and follow the signs of the times would end in their being left behind, while the people went on without them. I mention these incidents to show the taet, the courage, the ability, the gentleness with which the first Bishop of Trenton handled matters that might have brought a man of weaker character to grief.
He was a true scholar. He spoke French fluently, and was acquainted with Italian and German ; he had a solid and loving acquaintance with English literature, and was a reader of all literatures ; his chief study was history, and with his wonderful powers of memory he attained extraordinary excellence here. When Father Tom Burke was put forward to answer the English critic of Irish history, Mr. Froude, it was to the library of Father O'Farrell, at Rondout, and to its owner, that the great Dominican went for aid. Charles Dana, of "The Sun," had a warm appre- ciation of his learning and character, and often bore testimony in print and on the public platform to his esteem for both. He was a lover of children, a love that showed itself in his simple delight in their company, and in the deep and fruitful interest he took in true education. He died April 2d, 1894, and in his death we lost as true a man and as learned and upright a Bishop as the New York province has ever seen. - "Catholic Family Annual."
SAINT MARY'S CATHEDRAL.
RT. REV. JAMES AUGUSTINE McFAUL.
Rt. Rev. James Augustine MeFanl, D. D., Bishop of Trenton, came to this country from County Antrim, Ireland, in 1851. He had there been born the sixth day of June of the previous year. For four years he lived in New York City and then moved with his parents to Bound Brook, in this State. Here Bishop McFaul spent several years of his boyhood and young manhood. The schools of Weston and Mill- stone afforded excellent facilities for the acquire- ment of knowledge, and he made the best use of his opportunities.
The town of Bound Brook had not at that time a Catholic Church, and indeed but few of its inhabitants were Catholics. His devout parents, however, seldom missed attending mass, in the church at Raritan or New Bruns- wiek, and at these times of worship they invari- ably were accompanied by their son James.
When only nine years of age Bishop McFaul received his first holy communion from a Benedictine Father, now Bishop Seidenbush, and a few years later confirmation at the hands of Archbishop Bayley. Shortly before this a Catholic mission was established at Bound Brook and he often assisted in serving mass. He spent three years of study in Saint Vincent's College, Beatty, Pennsylvania, and afterward entered Saint Francis Xavier's College, of New York City. After finishing the course offered there he had a thorough classical education and was fully prepared to obtain the greatest possible benefits from a philosophical and theological training. The famous Seton Hall College, of South Orange, New Jersey, counts him as one of its most illustrious alumni. He was graduated there in 1873, receiving the degree of A.M. In 1877 he was ordained to the priesthood. He was appointed to take the place of sick priests for short periods in Paterson and Orange, and was then assigned to Saint Patrick's Church, Jersey City, as an assistant priest. After two years spent there and in Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Newark, and
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RT. REV. JAMES A. MCFAUL.
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Saint Peter's, New Brunswick, he became assistant to Vicar-General Smith, of Saint Mary's Cathe- dral, in this city. When the see of Trenton was erected and the newly-appointed Bishop, Michael J. O'Farrell, had selected Saint Mary's as his cathedral, the Bishop naturally had abundant oppor- tunity to become acquainted with the young priest who was so faithfully discharging his duties as assistant. The Bishop soon found that he was worthy of greater responsibilities and larger oppor- tunities of usefulness. He appointed him his Seeretary and afterwards pastor of Saint Mary's, Star of the Sea, in Long Branch, New Jersey, in May, 1883, and for nearly eight years that difficult field was the seene of his able administration. He succeeded in erecting the Church of Saint Michael, at Elberon. Upon the death of Father Smith, Bishop O'Farrell called his young friend, Father MeFaul, rector of Saint Mary's Cathedral and Chancellor of the diocese, which was followed by his appointment as Viear-General.
From this high position he was chosen to succeed Bishop O'Farrell. Bishop MeFaul is beloved by all of the communicants of the Catholic Church in this city.
Saint Francis of Assisium grew from the Chapel of Saint Francis, which was located on the corner of Lamberton and Market streets. The members of the Roman Catholic faith who were of Celtie extraetion then creeted Saint John's Church, and the German Catholics had not sufficient strength to sustain a separate organization. Mr. Peter Hargous purchased the chapel, which had been elosed, and gave it to the Germans. In 1865, the congregation occupied the Methodist church on Front street, and in 1866 the new church was eonseerated. A parsonage was also ereeted in 1867. The new church on Front street was first named "Saint Boniface," which was, in 1868, changed to Saint Francis of Assisium. In 1869, the Francisean Sisters took charge of the paro- ehial sehool. The Rev. Joseph Thurnes is the present rector.
The enormous growth of the eity's foreign population has caused, within the past decade, the erection of the beautiful Church of the Immaculate Conception, which is upon Chestnut avenue. The Rev. Franeis Lehner is the reetor. On Randall avenue is Saint Stanislaus', of which the Rev. Felix Baran is pastor. Saint Joseph's Chapel, on Sherman avenue, has for its rector Rev. M. O'Reilly. The Polish Church of the Holy Cross is situated on the corner of Adeline and Cass streets, with the Rev. Valentine Swinarski, reetor, whilst Saint Mary's (Greek ) is upon the corner of Broad and Cass streets. The pastor is the Rev. Theodore Danjanoviez.
THE METHODISTS.
Methodism was introduced into Trenton in the year 1766 by Captain Thomas Webb, of the British army. The first years of the Methodist society's existenee were spent in purely missionary work. The Rev. Francis Asbury carly came to this city, as the eitation from his diary shows :
"May 7th, 1772-Went to Trenton, but as the court was sitting, I was obliged to preach in a school house to but few people, and as there was soldiers in town, I could hardly pro- cure lodgings."
The corner-stone of the first Methodist church in this eity was laid by Bishop Asbury, April 22d, 1773. This meeting- house was located on the corner of Broad and Academy streets, the deed requiring that preaching be had in this meeting-house " crery week day evening, every week, and every morning at fire o' clock, as well as upon Sundays." During the Revolution, the First Methodist Meeting House society became weak in numbers, and the meeting-house was used as a stable. In 1807, a briek building was ereeted, which was used by the Methodists until sold to the Orthodox Friends in 1837. In that year, the old "Greene Street Church" was built, and here is to be found the sum and substance of all later movements of Trenton Methodism. In time this building became too small and too plain for modern ideas ; in consequenee, the eongrega- tion decided to build their present superb church edifice. This building was dedicated May 26th, 1895, and is now known as the First Methodist Church. The project, while long talked of, has been carried out during the successful pastorate of the present minister in charge, Rev. John Handley. Its suceess has been largely due to his efforts and to those of the efficient Building
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Committee, Judge William S. Yard and Messrs. William P. Hayes, Joseph Y. Lanning, Israel Howell, P. J. Kite, Richard P. Wilson and Sena- tor William H. Skirm.
Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church dates its origin to the Front Street Methodists, who were organized in 1846. They obtained control of the old Dutch Reformed Church. In 1866, this church was sold to the Roman Catholics, and the Front Street Methodist Church became Trinity Methodist. After worshiping in various places, finally in a plank building on Academy street, the Perry street site was purchased in 1868. Various additions have since been made to the building. The present pastor is the Rev. John H. Boswell.
The Warren Street Methodist Episcopal Church was organized on Pennington avenue in 1847, in a Sunday-school mission sent out from THE OLD GREENE STREET M. E. CHURCH. old Greene Street. On May 8th, 1859, in view of this movement in that part of the city, a frame chapel was erected on Warren street. A society composed of thirty-four of the Greene Street Church members organized in 1860. In 1876, the present structure was built. The pastor is the Rev. Joseph Garrison.
State Street Methodist Episcopal Church was another child of old Greene Street Church. Organized in 1859, its first place of worship was Temperance Hall. In 1860, the present brownstone church was built, and in 1866 the parson- age was erected. Within the past few years, the church has been entirely renovated and handsomely decorated. The pastor is the Rev. Joseph E. Smith.
Central Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1864, and during the next year the congregation occupied their new building on the corner of Broad and Market streets. The church was dedicated in 1868, and its present pastor is the Rev. James E. Moore.
The development of our suburbs has led to the most widely spread missionary projects upon the part of the Methodist Church in this city. Some of these churches are now of marked influence. Upon the corner of Broad street and Chestnut avenue is Broad Street Church, whose pastor is the Rev. Joseph F. Shaw. Wesley Church is located on Centre street, between Federal and Cass, and its pastor is the Rev. Charles H. Elder. On the avenue of that name is the Clinton Avenue Church, whose pastor is the
FIRST M. E. CHURCH, DEDICATED MAY 26TH, 1895.
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, ERECTED IN 1860.
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Rev. C. S. Miller. On Hamilton avenue is a church of the same name, with the Rev. Edwin R. Brunyate as pastor. Saint Paul's is located on Spring street, and is a handsome edifice. Its pastor is the Rev. S. K. Hickman. During 1895 a mission church was established at Broad Street Park, under the pastorate of the Rev. Joseph C. Kulp.
Two African Methodist Episcopal churches are at present erected in this city. Mount Zion, which is located on Perry street, was built in 1819 and rebuilt in 1858, and Saint Paul's, on Willow street, is of more re- cent development.
THE LUTHERANS.
The German Evangelical Luther- an Trinity Church grew out of the un- selfish labors of the Rev. A. J. Geissen- haimer, of New York, who, in 1851, -
CENTRAL M. E. CHURCHI.
HAMILTON AVENUE M. E. CHURCH.
came to Trenton and preached in the German language to the German colony. Mr. Geissenhaimer eventually came to Trenton, purchased a lot on Broad street and in 1852 a small brick church was dedicated thereon. A small school-house was also erected. In 1856, the congregation became incorporated, and in 1857 they purchased their church property. The church was enlarged in 1865, and in 1877 the present brick structure was built. The pastor is the Rev. Rudolph Gerlach.
The Evangelical Lutheran Christ Church was organized in July, 1869, the members worshiping in the German Lutheran church and in the Court House. In 1873 a stone church on the corner of Greenwood avenue and Conover street was built. The Rev. A. B. Killinger is the pastor.
The German Lutheran Church of the Advent is located on the corner of Broad and Malone streets, and was erected to supply the demands of the Germans of Chambersburg. The pastor is the Rev. John J. Heissler.
THE BAPTISTS.
The close of the Revolutionary war marks the initial movement of the Baptist faith in this city. In 1787 the Rev. Peter Wilson preached in the First ward, and on the fourth of March, 1788, five persons were baptized in the Delaware CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH, river. The doctrines of this denomination spread rapidly, and in 1803, on the twenty-sixth of November, a inceting-house was dedicated. This was upon land deeded by Colonel Peter Hunt. In 1805 an organization was effected which became the First Baptist Church. This continued prosperous until the separation by a later pastor, the Rev. William Boswell, who, in 1823, established the " Reformed General Baptist Church." This separatist con- gregation lasted until about 1835. Their house was sold to the Second Presbyterian Church. Again in August, 1843, the Rev. John Young resigned and formed the Second Baptist Church, which building was later occupied by the Central Baptist Church. Upon July 26th, 1860, the present edifice was erected, and in 1861 the name "The First Baptist Church of Trenton" was adopted, the old name being "The Baptist Church of Trenton and Lamberton."
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In 1868-69, a mission was erected in Chambersburg, and in 1870, a similar project was success- fully attempted in the Sixth ward. The present pastor is the Rev. M. Penfield Fikes.
The Central Baptist Church was organized on the thirtieth of April, 1854, which new body corporate occupied the building of the extinct Second Baptist Church. The church, after altera- tions and improvements, was rededicated March 3d, 1864. In 1867, the Perry Street Chapel was erected, and a mission school was established in East Trenton. In 1872 and since, the church has been thoroughly repaired and renovated. The pastor is the Rev. A. W. Wishart.
The Perry Street Chapel of the Central Baptist Church is the parent of the Clinton Avenue Baptist Church. In 1873, the latter church was organized with thirty-two con- stituent members.
The present structure, one of particular beauty, was first occupied in February, 1876. The pastor is the Rev. Judson Conklin.
The growth of the old borough of Chambersburg led to the establishment of Calvary Baptist Church, at Clinton and Roebling avenues. The pastor is the Rev. A. P. Knowles. The chapel is located on Mulberry street, at the corner of New York avenue.
The Fifth Baptist Church, of which the pastor is the Rev. James P. Hunter, is located on Centre street below Landing.
The Berean Baptist Church (colored) was organized in 1880, with sixteen members.
Messiah's Church, on the corner of Front and Mont- gomery streets, was organized February 9th, 1854, by the Rev. D. I. Robinson. The first church occupied by this congregation was on the corner of Clay and Market streets. On the first of June, 1873, their present church edifice was dedicated. The Rev. S. F. Grady is the pastor.
Har Sinai Hebrew Congregation was organized circum 1860, the corporators being Simon Kahnweiler, Isaac Wyman, Henry Shoninger, Herman Rosenbaum, Marcus Aron, L. Kahnweiler and David Manko. The congregation met on South Warren street, and afterward in the old Chancery building. In 1872, the Montgomery street synagogue was purchased from the Lutherans, who had used it as a chapel. The rabbi of Har Sinai is Joseph Gabriel, the President being Isaac Lowenstein and the Secretary J. L. Herold.
A Polish Hebrew Congregation has also been organized on Union street.
CLINTON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.
CHAPTER XXIV.
TRENTON IN THE REBELLION AND HER NATIONAL GUARD OF TO-DAY.
THE CITY'S ATTITUDE UPON THE OPENING OF THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES-THE OLD MILITIA SYSTEM-THE COMPANIES WHICH LEFT FOR THE FRONT-WAR TIMES IN TRENTON-THIE NATIONAL GUARD AND THIE NAVAL RESERVE.
HE SPIRIT of patriotism which animated Revolutionary Trenton in sending to the ranks of the Continental line and the State militia the best of her citizens, did not fail when the call for men announced the opening of the war between the States. In supplying men to fill the quota of the State, and thus obviate the draft, Trenton enjoys an enviable record. Not only the men, but the women, the latter in the organization of relief eommittecs and in forwarding goods and clothing to the "Boys in Blue," responded nobly to the call of duty.
In the organization of the volunteer companies of infantrymen which from New Jersey went nobly to the front, it is not casy to say that this company or that was composed exclusively of Trentonians. The breaking out of the Civil war found the military organization of the State of New Jersey under the old militia system. Trenton was represented by the Mercer County Brigade. It was the days of the "Jersey Blues," the "South Trenton Rifles," the "Sarsfield Guards," the "Irish Volunteers," the "Stockton Artillery," which had succeeded the "Phoenix Company," the "Flying Artillery" and similar military associations.
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