USA > New Jersey > The Catholic Church in New Jersey > Part 29
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Another project of Father Gervais was the erection of a co- lossal convent. Upon this vast structure $50,000 was expended, but it would have cost $700,000 to finish it. Had he lived there is no doubt that his inflexible will and persistent effort would have carried the project through, but nature gave way under the stress laid upon it. His health was shattered, and he died July 24th, 1872, in the very prime of his manhood, aged forty-two years.
Bishop Bayley wrote of him, " A faithful, earnest, disinterested priest."
In January, 1873, the Rev. Patrick Cody was called upon to take up the herculean task inaugurated by Father Gervais. Father Cody in his boyhood was a protégé of Bishop McQuaid when he was pastor of Madison, and from him he received his first lessons in Latin. His classical studies were continued in St. Mary's, Wilmington, Del .; St. Vincent's, Latrobe, Pa., until he was sent to Rome, September 29th, 1860. He left the American College in Rome, August, 1863, and entered Seton Hall, where in the college chapel he was ordained priest, December 19th, 1863.
His first appointment was Prefect and Vice-President of Seton Hall, until the fire, January, 1866; and after he was successively assistant in St. Peter's, New Brunswick, and St. Peter's, Jersey City. He was appointed pastor of Hackensack and the adjacent missions, and finished the church in Hackensack, which was blessed April 19th, 1868. Thence he was transferred to St. Pat- rick's, Elizabethport, where he did efficient work from 1869 until his promotion to St. James's. The testimony of his long pastor- ate and of his unselfish devotion is the vast square of parish buildings, some begun by his predecessor, but all augmented,
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perfected, and adorned by Father Cody. His latest work is the beautiful rectory, which was commenced only after the realization of Nicholas Moore's hopes and Father Gervais's efforts and after a long period of suspended aspirations-the opening of St. James's Hospital. Many consolations have rewarded the unselfish gener- osity of the flock of St. James's, but none greater than that God has raised a child of the parish, John Joseph O'Connor, to the highest spiritual honor in the diocese, that of its chief pastor and bishop.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Montclair.
REV. JOHN HOGAN, the zealous pastor of St. Peter's, Belleville, began in 1855 to gather the Catholics of Montclair, then called West Bloomfield, also those from Caldwell, into a congregation, and to attend to their spiritual wants regularly every Sun- day in the old school-house, which stood near the corner of the Old Road, now Glenridge Avenue, and Bay Street, on the same spot where a new school had been built in 1879, which is at pres- ent a tenement-house occupied by Italians.
Father Hogan secured property on Washington Street near Elm Street, where he built a small frame church, the corner-stone of which was laid August 10th, 1856, and which was dedicated by Rt. Rev. James Roosevelt Bayley, November 29th, 1857, under the title "The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Montclair."
On the same day the bishop confirmed eighteen boys and thirty-eight girls.
From 1857 to 1864 Father Hogan or one of the Passionist Fathers from West Hoboken officiated on Sundays and holydays of obligation. Among the Passionist Fathers who attended Mont- clair frequently, at one time six months in succession, was the celebrated Albinus Magno.
On February 7th, 1864, Rev. Titus Joslin was appointed resi- dent pastor. He secured additional property on Elm Street, running from Washington to Fulton Street, and enlarged the church built by Father Hogan.
During his pastorate the township of Montclair was created April 15th, 1868. He was succeeded by Rev. Alphonse M. Steets, September 5th, 1874, who built in 1877 a handsome rec- tory on the corner of Elm and Fulton streets. He had as assist- ants in 1877 Rev. Joseph Ruesing, now Dean of West Point, Neb., Rev. B. H. TerWoert, and in 1878 Rev. F. O'Reilly,
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deceased. Father Steets also began in 1878 to have service in a private house once a month for the Catholics in Caldwell. He died March 16th, 1879, and was succeeded by Rev. Joseph F. Mendl.
The parish of Montclair was divided in June, 1879. The Catholics of Bloomfield obtained permission from Bishop Corrigan to build a church and secured a resident pastor. The church in Montclair was only a few blocks from the Bloomfield township line, and as the town began to grow rapidly toward north and
TEGAKWITA HALL, CATHOLIC PUBLIC SCHOOL, MONTCLAIR, N. J.
west the majority of the Catholic population had quite a distance to walk to the church, and it became evident that a more central site had to be secured for a new church. Bishop Corrigan had given permission to buy property for that purpose in 1880. Various difficulties delayed the intended purchase, and in 1881 Bishop Wigger, who had succeeded Bishop Corrigan, withdrew the permission. In 1881 a parochial school was opened with six classes. Six Sisters of Charity from Madison, N. J., took charge of the school. Seeing the absolute necessity of locating church and school eventually in a central part of the town, and in order to avoid useless outlays for new buildings on a property destined to be abandoned sooner or later, the basement of the church and
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a part of the rectory, which also served as a dwelling for the sis- ters, was fitted up temporarily for school purposes. After re- peated remonstrances Bishop Wigger finally yielded in 1892 and gave his consent to buy a site for church and school more con- venient for the great majority of the people. In the mean time the church debt had been wiped out and a large sum had accumu- lated in the treasury. About an acre of land was bought on the corner of Fullerton Avenue and Munn Street, only one block from Montclair Centre, in 1892. The corner-stone of a new church was laid October 21st, 1892, by Bishop Wigger, and the basement dedicated by him, May 30th, 1893. Services were held in the basement only on Sundays and holydays until 1899, whilst the school still remained on the old church property.
The old cemetery was condemned by the authorities in 1895, and thirty-five acres for a new cemetery were bought on the cor- ner of Mount Hebron Road and Grove Street. The new ceme- tery was blessed by Bishop Wigger, May 29th, 1895.
In 1896 an acre was bought on the corner of Lorraine and In- wood avenues, Upper Montclair. On that ground the corner- stone of a mission chapel, with the title "St. Cassian's Catholic Church, Montclair, N. J.," was laid by Very Rev. William McNulty, May 10th, 1896, and dedicated by Rt. Rev. W. M. Wigger, July 4th, 1896. This chapel was attended for a few months from Seton Hall, and then until 1899 by the Jesuit Fathers from Jersey City, and from 1899 to June, 1903, by Rev. Benedict Boeing, O.F.M., from Paterson, and now by the assistant of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Rev. William F. Carlin.
In 1897 the Munn property was bought, intended for a con- vent for the Sisters of Charity having charge of the parochial school. The property comprises a frame building and the whole front of the block on Munn Street between Fullerton Avenue and Cottage Place.
In 1898 a new rectory was built on Fullerton Avenue adjoin- ing the basement of the new church.
In 1899 ground was bought on the corner of Munn Street and Cottage Place, and the same year the stately parochial school was erected named "Tegakwita Hall." The laying of the corner- stone took place May 16th, Monsignor George H. Doane officiat- ing. Rev. Henry Van Rensselaer, S.J., preached on "Christian Education." The building was dedicated by Rt. Rev. W. M. Wigger on August 22d, and the school opened the first week in September.
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Additional property : The "Sandford lot " adjoining the school was acquired in 1899, and again the "Sigler lot " in 1902.
The old church property was bought by the Sisters of Charity of Madison, N. J., in 1898, who made a dwelling of the old church and opened St. Vincent's Foundling Asylum for the Diocese of Newark on August 15th of the same year.
The Catholic people of Caldwell were regularly attended once a month from Montclair. Mass was celebrated in a private house, and the children were instructed occasionally on week-days until a resident priest was appointed in 1886.
Thus within twenty-five years two new parishes were created from the original church of Montclair-Bloomfield in 1879, Cald- well in 1886, besides St. Cassian's Mission in Upper Montclair in 1 896.
The Church of the Sacred Heart, Mount Holly.
OVER a century ago, as these pages have already shown, there was a considerable number of Catholics in Mount Holly; but, as happened in other localities, the descendants of the old Catholic French families have not been able to withstand the isolation from their clergy and have succumbed to the allurements of alien churches. Not until 1849 was there any inducement for the priest to attempt to cultivate this fallow field. In that year Father Mackin visited the few Catholics recently settled there, and from time to time offered for them the Holy Sacrifice. The erection of the church is due to the efforts of the Rev. Hugh Lane, born August 15th, 1821, died April 5th, 1902, the pastor of St. Teresa's Church, Philadelphia. The building was 65 by 25 feet. After Father Lane came the Rev. Hugh P. Kenney, who became one of the pioneer priests in Nebraska in 1858. The Rev. Benjamin F. Allaire who followed is still held in loving mem- ory for his gracious and winning manner.
In 1856 the Rev. J. D. Bowles, of Burlington, visited Mount Holly once a month, until the appointment of the Rev. James J. McGahan as the first resident pastor. Father McGahan during his incumbency bought land for cemetery purposes, and in- fused among the little flock a spirit of energy and sacrifice which enabled his successors to accomplish great things. For a brief period it became attached again to Burlington, until the Rev. Thaddeus Hogan was assigned as second resident pastor. Under Father Hogan's pastorate the corner-stone of the new church was laid on West Washington Street, 1872. His successors were
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the Rev. S. J. Walsh and the Rev. Hugh J. McManus, who was appointed in 1875. Father McManus was born in Ballyshannon, February 13th, 1841, and made his preparatory studies in Killbarr, Raphoe, St. Charles's, Maryland, and his theological studies in Seton Hall, where he was ordained priest June 7th, 1873. He spent two years in St. Patrick's, Jersey City, with the Rev. P. Hennessy as assistant. He was a simple, kindly, God-fearing priest. Under him the church was finished and blessed. It is a beautiful Gothic structure, with a seating capacity of 500. Arch- bishop Corrigan dedicated it October 19th, 1879. The next year Father McManus hoped to recruit his health by a visit to his native land. He had worked hard, but none dreamed that he bore within him the germs of a fatal malady. Before his eyes were gladdened with the sight of the green hills of Ireland he was prostrated, and died only a few days after reaching the home of his childhood, June 25th, 1880. His death was a great loss to the parish, where he is still remembered for his untiring devotion to the welfare of his people. His remains are interred in an old Cistercian abbey, built in the thirteenth century, where the dust of his people has lain for centuries past. In addition to Mount Holly, Father McManus had charge of Moorestown and Jobs- town, where he built a church, which awaited his return for dedi- cation. The Rev. Robert E. Burke was his successor, and his labors continued until 1884. The Rev. D. J. Duggan, the Rev. James Reynolds, the Rev. J. M. O'Leary, the Rev. M. J. Bren- nan, the Rev. Joseph Keuper, and the Rev. Stephen M. Lyons were successively pastors until the appointment of the Rev. Peter J. Hart, October, 1900.
The Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Moorestown,
attached to the Mount Holly Mission during Father Hogan's ad- ministration, is now a flourishing parish, which was detached and made a separate mission by Bishop Corrigan. The Rev. James McKernan, formerly an oblate of Mary Immaculate, and incar- dinated into the Diocese of Newark, 1873, was the first resident pastor, March 15th, 1880. The present rector is the Rev. John W. Murphy.
St. Andrew's Church, Jobstown,
is another mission in which the zeal of Father McManus was dis- played. The little church started by him was completed by Father Burke. The congregation is small in numbers, but, owing
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to the faith and generous character of the people, it has always been a satisfactory and successful charge.
The removal of factories has diminished the flock at Mount Holly, so that at present there are no more than three hundred souls-about half what it was twenty years ago. But the flock has always been noted for its truly Catholic spirit, which never wavers in its duty, loyal in its adherence to Catholic practice, prompt in cooperation with its pastors, and enshrined in the esteem of the non-Catholic element of the community. The con- gregation is represented in the priesthood by the Rev. Francis A. Foy, of St. Joseph's Church, Jersey City, and the Rev. John Graham, Metuchen.
St. Joseph's Church, Newton.
IN 1753, as the increase in population of the northern part of Morris County seemed to warrant it, Sussex County was formed, which extended on the northeast to the boundary line between New York and New Jersey, and likewise included what is now known as Warren County. Twelve years later we discern the footsteps of that holy missionary, Father Ferdinand Farmer, who braved the perils of the sea- sons, the Indians, and ban- dits, who infested the few trails which followed the courses of the streams, and frequently plundered and OLD ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, NEWTON. murdered their victims. Nothing daunted him, and as every recurring spring and autumn came around he ventured out in search of his scattered' flock, through Hunterdon, Warren, Sussex, and Passaic counties, visiting, as his baptismal records show, Changewater, in Oxford Township, Warren County ; Long- pond, now Greenwood Lake, Ringwood, both at that time in Sussex County, and Mount Hope in Morris County. These records will be found in the Supplement at the end of this work, and the reading of it will show both the zeal of the de- voted pastor and at the same time the considerable number of
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Catholics living then in the northern section of New Jersey. Many of the names are German, many Irish, some English and French. The iron works attracted them and afforded them em- ployment. The Gossenshoppen records show that some of the Germans went to Reading, Pa., doubtless to spend the closing days of their life with old friends and to have their bones laid beside them. In sixteen years the number of baptisms in Ring- wood was one hundred and sixteen, and in Long Pond, in nine years, eighty. That these families did not live far apart is evident from the dates of his entries, for we find him one day in Ring- wood and the next in Long Pond, and we also see the names of families living in one place acting as sponsors for those who lived in another. In both places are found one hundred and eighty-one distinctive family names, and if we multiply this by four, it will give us an inadequate idea of the number of Catholics who then lived in Sussex County. Families then were larger than they now are, so that it is safe to say that from 1770 to 1780 there were more than seven hundred Catholics living in that neighborhood. The popu- lation of Sussex County in 1771, including Warren County, was 8,994, so that the Catholics were not less than one-tenth of the population. Naturally the question arises, What has become of them? There is no answer. Some of the names are still borne in Morris and Sussex counties, but the bearers are not of the faith of their forefathers. An examination of the files of the oldest news- paper, The Sussex Register, gives us an occasional gleam of one of the lost tribes: November 7th, 1814, Hugh McCarty was convicted on five separate indictments and sentenced to thirty years' im- prisonment. March Ist, 1816, Kathleen Hunt was married to Charles McCormick. August 20th, 1819, an Irishman, lately landed, in the employ of Benjamin Strong, died from drinking too much cold water. In 1820 Patrick McMahon advertises for a weaver; and in 1821 John and Luke Feeney enter into a partner- ship. In 1825 Dr. Francis Moran hangs out his sign, and in 1827 we hear of Major Francis Donleavey, attorney-at-law. So the records run, until we come to the fifties, when, no longer trusting to conjecture, we are able to learn from the survivors of to-day who they were who drifted into old Sussex and many of whom drifted from the faith. There were Dennis Cochrane, Edward McCormick, John McCormick, Charles Harold, Timothy and Thomas Farrell, Martin Ward, Thomas English, and Redmond O'Leary. Redmond was a man of parts, and so taught school in Vernon and later became Squire O'Leary. John Gaffney was
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another, who was called "Webster " because he sold dictionaries. Some of the "greenhorns " who reached Sussex, although they did not know the difference between calico and muslin, were started on their way throughout the county with their packs on their back, and many of them achieved success. In 1854 two sons of Poland came to Newton to swell the little Catholic colony, Anthony Burhardt and Francis Graey.
A charming sketch of Catholicity from this period onward was written by the Rev. Michael A. McManus, which is here reproduced :
Prior to 1854 the Catholics of Sussex County had only very rare opportunities of gathering together for public worship, for up to that date they were entirely dependent for spiritual minis- trations upon visiting clergymen. These came, as necessity would demand or convenience allow, now from Dover, again from Madi- son, or from New York, or points still more distant. Father John Callan, stationed at Dover and exercising his zeal through much of Morris County, often penetrated into Sussex on his sacred mission. Father Senez, still hale and active as the rector of St. Mary's Church, Jersey City, was in those times pastor at Madison; in addition to his home duties he often managed to visit the scattered Catholics of this district.
The present Bishop of Rochester, the Rt. Rev. B. J. McQuaid, succeeding Father Senez at Madison, imitated him in his zeal, and by his repeated trips became acquainted with every nook and corner that gave shelter and a home to Catholics. And, indeed, in every quarter of the county Catholics were to be found. Deckertown had its quota. Wawayanda was not without many holding to the old faith. In Montague a happy cluster always welcomed the priest; while Hamburg, Vernon, Ogdensburg, Franklin Furnace, Stanhope, Andover, and Newton each had a fair Catholic representation to receive and appreciate periodical visits of the early missionaries.
On the occasions of the visits of the priest Mass was said and other acts of Catholic worship were performed in private houses or, when opportunity offered, in public buildings.
In Franklin Furnace the ballroom over the hotel was fre- quently offered for these purposes through the courtesy of Prot- estants. The storeroom too over the old-time store of Oakes Ames & Co. often beheld the solemn celebration of the Holy Mass. In Newton a building on the present site of the Levi Longcor residence, on Spring Street, occupied by Mr. Edward McCormick, repeatedly gathered beneath its humble roof the assembled Catholics of the surrounding districts. And the Blackwell house on Church Street, then serving as dwelling and harness shop for Mr. Francis Graey, is memorable as opening its doors for divine worship. Thus matters continued until the fall
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of 1854. About that time Father McMahon was appointed to the parish of Sussex County. If he had any headquarters at all, they may be said to have been at Newton. Like his missionary prede- cessors, he travelled from place to place, carrying with him the consolations of religion and strengthening the spirit of faith in the minds of his children While other points in his charges were diligently cared for, Andover demanded and received special attention.
In those days Andover was a thriving village with larger ex- pectations and higher ambitions than any of its neighbors. The mines, musical with hammer and drill, attracted busy hundreds of working-men, and when Father McMahon made his first tour of the mines he was pleased to discover that the majority of the employees were members of his Church and subjects of his young parish.
A church edifice was now felt to be a necessity, and the great question was as to its whereabouts. The pres- ent seemed to demand its erection at the industrial centre, Andover; the future called for its building at Newton. At length Father McMahon, prudently consid- ering the uncertain character of the mining industry and rightly judging the eventual stability of Newton, decided upon raising the edifice in this latter district.
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, NEWTON.
The foundations were laid in the fall of 1855. Vigorous work pushed the enterprise to a successful issue, and in the follow- ing spring the gladdening cross surmounted the cupola, and began its still-continued task of throwing its shadow upon one of the pleasantest grassy knolls in the town. Pewless and unplastered within, thinly painted and rough-boarded without, it possessed within its walls the attractive charm and comforting influence that a Catholic church always has-be it ever so modest or ever so massive-for the children of that faith.
Limited means hindered the entire completion in its interior appointments, and it was in this unfinished condition when in the spring of 1857 Father McMahon was removed to another field of labor.
Succeeding him, with the interval of five months, came Father James McKay. He took up the work, material and
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spiritual, where his predecessor had been forced to discontinue it. What with the contributions of his own people and with assist- ance from other parishes through the diocese, he shortly com- pleted the church in all its details, and found ample time to instruct and console his flock at home and abroad. The rectory, too, that nestled so snugly in the meadow close to the church, was the result of his activity and zeal, and this, be it remembered, when Catholics had anything but plethoric purses.
Father Mckay's residence in Newton was productive of the greatest good. While entirely loyal and true to his own Church, he had consideration and toleration for views opposed to it, and thus, while winning the confidence and love of his own people, he secured to himself the respect of non-Catholics. In July, 1861, his superior removed him to Orange, N. J., and among those who regretted his departure were numbered the respectable members of every church in the town.
His place was taken (I may say entirely filled) by the Rev. Edward McCosker. He came fresh from the ecclesiastical semi- nary, with the oils of ordination yet damp upon his brow. He carried, therefore, to his spiritual harvest fields a zeal and a love that nerved him to heroic work. Buoyant in disposition, perse- vering in determination, winning in manner, and blessed with a constitution of vigor and activity, Father McCosker had all the invaluable requisites as well for a mountain missionary as for a home rector. All these served an excellent purpose.
With an eye to the outlying districts, in 1863 he purchased a lot of land from the Fowler estate for a future church edifice. Subscriptions were raised with little ado, and in the following year the church was built and dedicated by the Rt. Rev. J. R. Bayley, under the title of the Immaculate Conception.
Later on the same zeal led him to erect churches at Hacketts- town and Oxford Furnace, in Warren County.
The crowning material work of Father McCosker's adminis- tration was the location of the present excellent and ample brick church fronting on Halsted Street; its corner-stone was laid in the summer of 1870. A man less courageous than Father McCosker and less trustful in the blessing of God upon his work never would have presumed to enter upon this large task. But his people were generous even beyond their means, and many and respectable contributions from different parts of the country found their charitable way to the building fund. Thus the work went bravely on, and was gradually carried to an elegant finish.
The imposing scene of the church's dedication was witnessed the Ist of September, 1872. And in quick succession then sprang into existence a handsome and commodious rectory convenient to the church.
All this is only the material and tangible; great though it be, yet greater (because higher its aim) work was done in the spiritual order.
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