USA > New Jersey > The Catholic Church in New Jersey > Part 45
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the wish that the Cahensly controversy should be excluded from the proceedings of the congress.
Bishop Wigger's wise words were disregarded. It is true not a word was said at the congress in favor of "Cahenslyism," but Dr. Schroeder, in speech and resolutions, ardently defended the purity and nobility of Mr. Cahensly's character, and vigorously denounced his assailants. The result became apparent in less than twenty-four hours. The New York and Newark journals, secular and religious, rang the changes on "Cahenslyism," con- demning Mr. Cahensly and all his works and words both loudly and deeply. The German priests were assailed not only as Cahen- slyists, but also for some of their national and personal habits, and, worst of all, some priests of the Diocese of Newark openly attacked their superior. Bishop Wigger, without any fault of his own, was in a difficult position. Though the leaders of the con- gress had rejected his advice, he felt it would be wrong to aban- don them now that their characters were assailed; for, however he differed from them on the question involved in Cahenslyism, they were personally spotless men and his friends. The bishop's loyalty to them left him no outlet. With the advice of the fore- most canonist of his diocese, he formulated charges against the R.ev. Patrick Corrigan, the protagonist of the opposition. When it was too late he recognized that the charges, as made, were a blunder, and he met defeat.
Father Corrigan had fretted under the indignity of his sus- pension years agone, and as this question was taken up by the press and discussed warmly on every side, unleashed from all restraint the pastor of Hoboken rushed on his prey. To his mind his bishop, the one who wounded him in his tenderest part-his honor-was the protector and adviser of these disturbers of the peace of the Church. His pen, always facile, now dripped with gall. He wrote a fierce article-descending to abuse and person- ality-and finally accused the Germans of treason.
Bishop Wigger felt keenly this attack.
"Father Corrigan's attack was entirely unwarranted. I have said or done nothing to him that could have given him the slight- est reason for so cruelly and publicly attacking me, accusing me of tyranny and ridiculing me."
Father Corrigan's friends had endeavored in vain to dissuade him from publishing the offensive article. His eyes gleamed with repressed, contentious indignation. An unnatural pallor over- spread his face, a striking background of the dark circles around his eyes, which told of the lengthened vigils and tense purpose. His pressed lips and set jaws bespoke the decision and determina- tion of a man whom none could move from his position. His
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former punishment gnawed at his heart and almost bereft him of his reason. His was the figure of a force, uncontrollable and irresistible, ready to break forth and shatter into atoms every ele- ment of opposition, at the cost of his reputation, even of his life.
When the summons for trial reached Father Corrigan, mutual friends of both the bishop and the priest intervened and labored to bring about a reconciliation, and put a stop to proceedings which intensified the spirit of discontent and discord day by day and was no little scandal to the flock.
Bishop Wigger's conditions are contained in the following letter :
According to promise I have, after praying and offering up Mass for the purpose, carefully weighed all the reasons pro and con in the matter of prosecuting the trial of Rev. P. Corrigan. I have always, I think, been a man of peace and I dislike any kind of contention or quarrel. I will discontinue Father Corrigan's trial if he publicly states, Ist, That as far as he knows the late German Catholic Congress of Newark said or did nothing treason- able or disloyal to the United States Government. (I cannot think of anything said or done that would indicate treason or dis- loyalty. If I had, I would have arisen at once and remonstrated against it, or condemned it.) 2d, That he believes that I have tried to be just in the administration of the diocese, and that he is satisfied that whatever mistakes I may have made did not proceed from malice. 3d, That he apologizes to Archbishop Corrigan and to me for what disrespect he manifested toward us in his publication. 4th, That he promises for the future never again to attack me or my administration of the diocese, or have me or my administration attacked in the public papers. (I cannot object and I do not object to any priest carrying any complaints he may have against me to my ecclesiastical superiors. Before the supe- riors I am always willing to defend my actions, or to acknowledge my mistake, and submit to whatever punishment they may deem it fit to inflict. It cannot, however, do any good to priest, bishop, or religion to ventilate such matters in the public journals. It will only do harm.) 5th, That Father Corrigan after New Year's - Day go on a two weeks' retreat.
Archbishop Corrigan was called upon and shown the letter of Bishop Wigger. He too was anxious for peace. So far as he was concerned he needed no apology from Father Corrigan, for Father Corrigan could not insult him. As to the charge of treason against the government the Archbishop declared that the United States authorities might with safety be entrusted with a matter which concerned them chiefly. This eliminated the grave obstacles to the apology which was demanded, and Bishop Wigger
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declared that he would be satisfied with a personal apology made to himself, a statement from the priest that the bishop had not been tyrannical or unjust in the administration of the diocese, and a promise that in the future Father Corrigan would bring his grievances before the proper tribunal, and refrain from publishing them in the press. All this was agreed to. And the Christmas festivities were celebrated with a deeper realization of the mes- sage of peace and good will.
This peculiar "ism " first cropped out when Monsignor Bedini visited this country, and his Relatione, submitted to the Holy See, contained these words :
It is enough to reflect that no Englishman, American, or Irish- man learns German, and that every German seeks earnestly to ac- quire the English language. The rising German generation speaks and understands English wonderfully, so that mothers complain that they cannot understand their children when they converse together. (Rome, July 12th, 1854.)
The wisdom of these words is indicated in our day. In almost all the German parishes sermons are preached and announcements made in English. And the same is true of the children of other races, who grow up entirely incapable of understanding or speak- ing the language of their forebears. It would seem under these circumstances a mistake to make provision for the various nation- alities which flock to our shores, unless with a view of temporary assistance, and ultimately throwing open the churches to Catholics irrespective of their native tongue, as the time must come when all will speak and understand, and they themselves will desire to be addressed in, the language of the country.
In the spring of 1892 the Holy See chose a priest of the dio- cese for episcopal honors and appointed the Rev. Sebastian G. Messmer, J.U.D., bishop of Green Bay, Wis. Doctor Messmer was born August 27, 1847, at Goldack, in the diocese of the old Celtic monastic foundation, St. Gall, Switzerland. His prepara- tory studies were made at St. George's and his theology in the Jesuit College at Innsbruck, where he was ordained July 23, 1871. He taught theology, Sacred Scripture, and canon law in the dio- cesan seminary from 1871 to 1884, when on the death of Father Prieth, his old friend and countryman, he was made rector of St. Peter's Church, Newark. When the Catholic University of Washington was opened, Doctor Messmer was called to the chair of canon law. March 27th, 1892, he was consecrated Bishop of
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Green Bay by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Zardetti, then Bishop of St. Cloud, Minn.
Bishop Wigger thought it fitting that the priests of the dio- cese, especially his old pupils, should recognize in a substantial way this promotion of a member of the diocesan body.
"I think," he wrote, March 7th, to one of Doctor Messmer's old pupils, "you told me, some few weeks ago, that you were one of the first students of Bishop-elect Messmer. Would you, there- fore, consent to open among the priests of the diocese who studied under him, a subscription list for a purse to be presented to him ? In case you consent you may put down my name for $200. This, of course, is on the supposition that no list has yet been opened."
Fifty priests of the diocese contributed a purse of $1,000, which together with an illuminated address was presented to Bishop Messmer at Seton Hall. The address was as follows:
RIGHT REVEREND BISHOP MESSMER: The pleasing duty has been assigned to me to present to you from your friends in the ministry of the Dioceses of Newark and Trenton a slight testi- monial of the esteem in which you are held by them, and to give expression to their good wishes and congratulations in the new dignity which has just crowned your learning and piety. One and twenty years ago, if I mistake not-it does not seem so long, but we are growing old-you came among us. I well remember your youthful, even boyish appearance. It did not take long to impress the seminarists that in the new professor they had a staunch, sympathetic friend. Your door was always open to us ; the bright, cheerful glance from your honest face assured us that we were welcome. It seemed of little account to you whether by the minute or hour we purloined your valuable time. That readi- ness to be of service to your students was not confined to the class-room and the seminary, it followed us out in the mission. Nor were your labors restricted within the narrow limits of the seminary. I can see you now, in the bitter cold of winter, in the scorching heats of summer, like Chaucer's pastor,
" Always afoot-"
wending your way, either to serve the orphans or to aid the flock of a brother priest who had grown feeble in the ministry.
" This noble example to your class you gave, That first you wrought, and afterwards you taught."
The tender thoughtfulness as your feast days came around we have not forgotten. Shall I allude to the precious mementoes which greeted us as we advanced step by step from tonsure until the holy balm of priesthood was fragrant on our hands? There is a charming monotony of benevolence in your career of the last
-
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two decades. It is like the monotony of Nature. In grace, beauty, and fragrance she is ever the same. It is the generations which come to admire, and which pass away to permit others to gaze upon her splendors. It is not for us to say how much we owe to you; not for us to measure the influence exerted by your clustered virtues on our lives. In you we have seen mirrored all the virtues which should adorn a priest; in you we have seen that it is possible to combine the life of a student and an apos- tle; and in you we have seen how much singleness of pur- pose and devotion to duty may accomplish.
The same spirit of self- denial and zeal in God's serv- ice which prompted you years ago to break away from the ties of home and friends, to turn, perhaps forever, from the sweet charms of home and kindred, and to conse- crate your talents to the no- blest of noble tasks, the moulding of the Levite unto the perfect priest, that same spirit bids you now to bow your head to the authority of the Supreme Pontiff, and to assume a dignity from which your modesty would have you shrink, and a burden for which your piety and learn- ing eminently fit you.
In the difficulties of your new charge may God strengthen you! May His angels lighten your burden ! May the flock which is priv- THE MOST REV. SEBASTIAN G. MESSMER. ileged to have you as Chief Pastor recognize your worth and virtue! And may the richest fruits here and hereafter at- tend your efforts !
Accept, then, Rt. Rev. Bishop, this slight token of our friend- ship, and accept, likewise, the assurance of our esteem and grateful appreciation.
Bishop Messmer made a touching reply; but he treasured the memory of this testimonial of affectionate gratitude so highly that after taking possession of his new See he sent to his Newark friends this additional pledge of his appreciation :
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When you surprised me with that beautiful address and purse at our last meeting at Seton Hall I was too much moved to say all that was in me. The address has come to hand all right, and I take this occasion again to thank you and through you all who took part in that manifestation of old love and affection.
Will you kindly tell them when you meet one or the other, that my episcopal residence here in Green Bay will always be wide open for any of my clerical friends in New Jersey ; in particular- as I need not specially say-to every one of my Setonian pupils ?
In the month of September the Rev. John J. O'Connor, the director of the diocesan seminary, was named by Bishop Wigger vicar-general. This appointment was hailed with joy, particularly by the younger clergy, most of whom had made their theological studies under him.
The fall elections in 1892, in the State of New Jersey, resulted in a Democratic victory, the governor and the majority of both Houses representing that party were to control the destinies of the State, and mark an epoch in its history. The Very Rev. Dean Mulligan, of Camden, was at that time pastor of the Sacred Heart Church, New Brunswick. He was on intimate terms of friendship with Mr. Miles Ross, the political leader of Somerset County and a citizen of New Brunswick, a prominent lawyer, and a former State Superintendent of Schools. Dean Mulligan, one of the most progressive and determined priests of the Trenton diocese, had often talked over with his legal friend the injustice Catholics labored under by the necessity of support- ing their own schools and at the same time paying taxes for the support of the State schools. His friend, thoroughly versed in the school laws of the State, informed the dean, as the result of his investigation and experience, that there was no reason why a law could not be framed which would make the parish schools additional public schools, and by securing for the teachers State support, remove the injustice under which the Catholics labored and against which they protested. The bill was carefully drawn, and Mr. Ross's advice sought. If the influence and support of the Democratic leader of the northern part could be secured, he declared, he saw no reason why the bill should not pass. Dean O'Grady and Father Mulligan called on the aforesaid leader, and sought his influence in support of the bill. At the same time he was informed of the attitude of Mr. Ross. Time was asked that he might submit the bill to Mr. Thomas N. McCarter, the acknowledged leader of the Newark bar, and one of the ablest
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lawyers in the State. Mr. McCarter declared as his opinion that the bill was thoroughly constitutional, and the priests were dis- missed with the assurance that every possible support would be given to the bill, and they were, furthermore, urged to rally to its support the priests of both dioceses.
Bishop O'Farrell had already given to it his unqualified ap- proval, and promised to do everything in his power that his flock might be relieved of this oppressive and unjust burden; but he was somewhat timid of declaring publicly his position until the Metropolitan had spoken. An active campaign was begun by the priests of both dioceses; meetings were held, and at one held in New Brunswick a resolution was passed that before any action be taken the bill be submitted to the Apostolic Delegate for his perusal and that his decision should be awaited. A committee of two, Dean O'Grady and Dean Flynn, were requested to lay the matter before Archbishop Satolli.
On Washington's Birthday, February 22d, 1893, the committee placed the bill in the hands of the Delegate in the University, Washington. His Excellency carefully read over the bill, and wrote the following letter of approval :
I, the undersigned, Apostolic Delegate of the Holy See in the United States of North America, testify that I have read the bill entitled, "A Supplement to an Act to establish a system of public instruction, approved March 27th, 1874." And I am of the opinion that it will bring great good to the Catholic Church in this State [New Jersey] if, perchance, the bill passes. Hence, I desire, in order that it may have a happy issue, that it may be commended and furthered prudently both by the bishops and priests and by the Catholic laity. I desire to inform every one without reserve that this will meet with the approval and assent of His Holiness, Leo XIII FRANCIS, ABP. SATOLLI,
Deleg. Apost.
On their return the bill was submitted to Bishop Wigger, who after reading it and the letter of Archbishop Satolli promised to do what was in his power, and to write to the political leader. The text of bill 416 is as follows :
A SUPPLEMENT TO "AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A SYSTEM OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION " APPROVED MARCH 27, 1874.
Be it enacted, by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, in order to increase the public-school accom- modations and to carry out more fully the provisions of the Con- stitution of this State, wherein the Legislature is empowered and
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commanded to provide for the maintenance and support of a thor- ough and efficient system of free public schools for the instruc- tion of all the children in this State, between the ages of five and eighteen years, that whenever any private-school corporation in- corporated under the laws of this State, having an average yearly attendance of forty-five or more pupils within the school age, shall file in the office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and in the office of the County Superintendent of Schools, in which said private-school corporation is located, a certified copy of incorporation, together with an agreement signed by the officers of said corporation to maintain their said school a free public school, according to law, it shall be lawful for, and the duty of the County Superintendent of Public Instruction of the county from which application is made, to appoint within a reasonable time the president, secretary, and treasurer of the said corporation, a board of school trustees, of which the secretary shall act as clerk and discharge the duties of district clerk, now required by law.
And be it enacted, that said board of school trustees shall be vested with all powers and privileges and subject to all the condi- tions, requirements, duties, and penalties contained in an act en- titled, "An Act to establish a system of public instruction " ap- proved March 27th, 1874, with the supplements thereto and the acts amendatory thereof, excepting such parts of said act referring to district public schools as are not applicable to said additional free public schools herein provided for.
And be it enacted, that no person shall be employed as a teacher by such board of trustees, unless he or she holds a regular teacher's certificate in full force and effect, according to law at the time the engagement is made; and any contract entered into between any teacher and said board of trustees shall not be valid unless the teacher has fully complied with the law.
And be it enacted, that it shall be the duty of said board of trustees, through the clerk of said board, to make all the school reports within the time now required by law, and to make the additional report, duly verified to the State Superintendent and the County Superintendent, aforesaid, on or before the first day of April of each and every year hereafter, with the name, age, name of parents or guardians of all the pupils residing within the city or school district in which said additional free public school is located, taught in said school or schools, during the school year, together with the average yearly attendance.
And be it enacted, that it shall be the duty of the board of trustees to maintain and furnish for the use of said additional free public schools all suitable school buildings with the necessary ap- pliances as now required by law, at the expense of said corporation and free from all cost or expense to the State therefor, and to maintain said schools free from all sectarian instruction during the school hour or school sessions.
And be it enacted, that said additional free public schools so established, whether in city, town, or rural district, shall be under
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the superintendency and inspection of the county superintendent of the county in which said school or schools are located.
And be it enacted, that the county superintendent of the county in which said additional free public schools are located shall in- clude the said additional free public schools in making his annual apportionment of public-school moneys for the free public schools of the county.
And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for and the duty of the county superintendent as aforesaid, in making the yearly apportionment of school moneys, to assign to the said additional free public schools, from the State school money due any city or school district, the same amount per child residing in city or dis- trict and attending said additional free public schools, that it cost the State, in the preceding year, for each child taught within the school age, determined by the yearly average attendance in the State.
And be it enacted, that the county collector, in and for each county, shall be and is hereby authorized to deduct from the State school moneys due any city, town, or school district, in which said additional free public schools are located, the portion of State school moneys to which said additional free public schools are entitled.
And be it enacted, that the county collector in each county shall be the custodian of, and shall hold in trust, all such moneys as are apportioned to said additional free public schools, and he shall pay them out only on the order of the county superin- tendent.
And be it enacted, that the county superintendent shall, upon the warrant of the board of trustees of said additional free public schools, duly signed by the clerk and at least one other member of the board, draw a school order or orders upon the county col- lector, in favor of the teacher or teachers in the said additional free public schools and for the payment of such incidental expenses as the law allows for public schools.
And be it enacted, that all such school orders shall be endorsed by the person or persons entitled to receive said money, and that the purposes for which payment is demanded shall be stated in each order.
And be it enacted, that it shall be the duty of the county super- intendent to withhold aforesaid school order or orders on county collector whenever the provisions of this act, and the act to which this is a supplement, are not fully complied with in good faith.
And be it enacted, that all acts and parts of acts, general, spe- cial, or local, as far as they are inconsistent with this act, be and the same are hereby repealed.
And be it enacted, that this is a public act and shall take effect immediately.
The consternation of the politicians was pitiable. To their credit be it said that the most manly and courageous of the legisla-
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tors were the non-Catholics. Had it not been for a well-known factor in politics in South Jersey-not a Catholic-the bill would never have emerged from the Erebean darkness and deep dam- nation of the committee-room. It did, however, see the light, but the leaders resolved in caucus to kill it.
It was read and referred to Attorney-General Stockton for an opinion. As he afterward declared to the rev. promoters of the bill, "that it was customary when the legislators wished to shunt the responsibility of passing a bill to refer it to the attorney- general. There are two ways of regarding every piece of legis- lation : giving it a broad and liberal construction, or confining it to a strict interpretation of the Constitution. By the applica- tion of the latter method there is not a single law that is passed which might not be declared unconstitutional. I knew what I was wanted to do, and I did it."
The bill was declared unconstitutional. The priests were chagrined, men and women breathed more freely, for the prayers of many had been heard.
It was perhaps unfortunate that the militant pastor of Hoboken was considered its protagonist, in view of his still-remembered attacks on the Germans, which alienated them from any move- ment with which he was connected. The whole credit of the agi- tation is given to Father Corrigan in a garbled mass of misstate- ments in what purports to be history-the " Battles of Trenton," pages 119 et seqq. That such an opinion was held by others was clear when the bill was attacked by the Priester-Verein assembled at Harrisburg, Pa. Some of those who were foremost on that occasion in denouncing it met Dean Mulligan later, and rallied him on the defeat of his pet project. Upon being asked if they were familiar with the bill, they were compelled to confess that they were not; and when given a copy of the bill to read, they admitted that they had been in the wrong and regretted that they had not given it their support. Dean Mulligan did not propose to give up the fight, and had a second bill drawn up, to which the following correspondence refers :
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