USA > New Jersey > The Catholic Church in New Jersey > Part 54
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After successfully filling the office of president for one year, Father McQuaid was recalled to Newark to assume his old posi- tion as rector of the cathedral.
On July Ist, 1857, Rev. Daniel J. Fisher succeeded Father McQuaid as president of Seton Hall. He was educated at St. John's College, Fordham, and was a student in the seminary there
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Library and College.
Seminary of the Immaculate Conception.
Chapel,
SETON HALL, SOUTH ORANGE, N. J.
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while Bishop Bayley was president. In 1852 he went west to labor as a missionary among the Indians and scattered families of Catholics in Minnesota. He worked faithfully and laboriously for several years in this missionary field, but the rigor of the cli- mate and constant exposure so impaired his health that his physi- cians advised him to return east. He affiliated himself with the Diocese of Newark on October 30th, 1855. Bishop Bayley thought highly of his attainments and paid the following tribute to his talents: "He was a beautiful English scholar, preached well, and read the Gospel better than almost any one I ever lis- tened to." Dr. Fisher served as an assistant to Rev. Father Cauvin, at Hoboken, until appointed rector of Seton Hall. He was president for two years, and had associated with him as vice- president the Very Rev. William McNulty, of Paterson, N. J.
Prominent among the officers and instructors who were con- nected with Seton Hall while it was located at Madison may be mentioned : Rev. Lawrence Hoey, Rev. Father Cody, Rev. Father Brown, Rev. Father Gessner, and Rev. Father Gervais, Rev. Father Lovejoy, and Rev. Father Kehoe, Profs. Francis and Philip Ryan, Magui, Toland, and Brady, with Mr. T. J. Ryan, superintendent of the Newark Catholic Institute, as instructor of calisthenics and gymnastics. After resigning the presidency of Seton Hall College, Father Fisher resumed his missionary work in Minnesota, but subsequently returned to New Jersey and served as assistant rector of St. Mary's Church, Hoboken, until his death, which he met, with entire resignation to the divine Will, April 28th, 1869, in the hospital of the Sisters of the Poor, Hoboken.
The college at Madison had continued to grow and prosper, and already the original building was becoming too small to accommodate the demands of the growing institution. Father McQuaid began his second term as president July 16th, 1859, Bishop Bayley being unable to find any one who he thought could so acceptably fill the place and push to success the plans he had in view for enlarging the institution. Father McQuaid was also still retained as rector of the cathedral.
On June 29th, 1859, the third annual commencement of Seton Hall was held. Dr. Orestes Augustus Brownson gave the closing address. This distinguished man of letters subsequently served for a number of years as a member of the board of trustees of Seton Hall and also lectured at the college on civil polity.
Bishop Bayley and the board of trustees had for some time
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been contemplating the removal of the college to a site more ac- cessible to Newark, as Madison was found to be too far away from the cathedral for the convenience of a theological department of the institution; but it was not until 1860 that a site was finally determined upon, and then only after a careful survey of every desirable location. The venture at this time was thought very hazardous, the country being in a chaotic and unsettled state pend- ing the outbreak of the Civil War. The college had already be- gun to draw on the South for many of its pupils, and no one could presage what would be the outcome of the next four years; but "Hazard, zit forward " has ever been the watchword of Setonia, and success crowned the move.
One bright day in the early spring of 1860 Bishop Bayley and Father McQuaid were returning from a long drive over the Orange Hills from what had proved a fruitless search for a location for the new college; rather discouraged, they were driving slowly homeward over the South Orange and Newark turnpike, when Bishop Bayley's attention was attracted to a large white marble villa surrounded by superb grounds and stately trees. He turned to Father McQuaid and said, "Do you think that property can be purchased?" "I don't know, but we'll try," answered the young priest with assurance and ready promptness. For Father McQuaid to will was to accomplish, when he once set to work with a purpose in view, and despite several obstacles it was not long before the property was bought and the deed transferred to Bishop Bayley. Chief among the impediments that made it necessary to go slowly was the prejudice of the times, which made it difficult for Catholics, particularly churchmen in high authority, to obtain legal possession of real-estate. Mr. Michael McEntee, of Vailsburgh, N. J., a Catholic real-estate dealer, was therefore commissioned to make the purchase, and on April 2d, 1860, the formal transfer of the deed was made to Bishop Bayley.
The property consisted of a valuable tract of land covering sixty acres, on which were a farmhouse, stables, and the palatial residence already spoken of, which had been built at a cost of over $40,000. This building had been erected by two brothers who lived for some years under the same roof. The entire estate was sacrificed for the sum of $35,000, less than the marble villa had originally cost. This was naturally conceded to be a great bargain and a happy termination of the difficulties Bishop Bayley and Father McQuaid had met in determining upon a change of loca- tion for Seton Hall College.
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No more healthful or inviting site could have been chosen, situated as the college buildings are at South Orange, N. J., in full view of the Orange Mountains, on high rolling ground, one of the most elevated points between the Oranges and Newark, and surrounded with well-kept lawns and fine shade trees which afford charming fields for the pupils to enjoy recreation and practise athletic sports.
The corner-stone of the new college building was laid on May 15th, 1860, by Bishop Bayley, who addressed the assemblage of people. This building of brick was, in construction and architec- tural design, in accordance with the marble villa which was adapted for a seminary. Through the energy of Father McQuaid the new college was completed and ready for occupancy by the begin- ning of the scholastic year and was opened September 10th, 1860, with fifty pupils. On September 29th of this year Rev. Father Cody, who had been connected with Seton Hall since its foundation, sailed for Europe. At the seventh annual com- mencement he was awarded the honorary degree of Master of Arts.
About twenty acres of the grounds were set apart for recrea- tion purposes, and the students provided with a gymnasium, ball alleys, baseball and football fields. The remaining portion of the land was set apart for farming purposes, the products partly sup- plying the institution with milk and vegetables. Seton Hall grew in popularity after its removal to South Orange, and new names were constantly added to the roll-call, pupils coming from all parts of the country. The academic year then consisted of two sessions of five months cach, the scholastic year beginning the last Wednes- day in August and ending the last Wednesday in June; a vacation of ten days was allowed at Christmas and two days in May. There was no Easter vacation.
The officers and professors in 1860 were:
REV. B. J. McQUAID, President, Professor of Rhetoric.
REV. JANUARIUS DE CONCILIO, Chaplain and Professor of Logic and Metaphysics.
JAMES W. FITZPATRICK, Professor of Latin and Greek.
JAMES FAGAN, A.M., Professor of Mathematics, Chemistry, and Natural Philosophy.
THEODORE BLUME, A.M., Professor of Ancient and Modern Languages.
GEORGE F. KLINKHARDT, Assistant Professor of Languages.
LEO G. THEBAUD, Professor of French.
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WINAND WIGGER, A.B., Assistant Professor of Mathematics and English.
F. H. CUYPERS, Professor of Drawing and Painting.
WILLIAM A. S. SCHMIDT, Professor of Music.
T. J. RYAN, Instructor of Gymnastics and Calisthenics.
JAMES DONELAN,
P. G. DUFFY,
M. E. KANE,
Prefects and Tutors.
JAMES WARD,
PIERCE MCCARTHY,
LEONARDO A. GIRO,
. After Father De Concilio left the seminary, where he had been professor of theology, Rev. Henry A. Brann, D.D., who had been ordained in Rome on June 14th, 1862, was appointed vice- president of Seton Hall in September of the same year. He held this office for two years, when he was transferred to St. Mary's Church, Jersey City, in September, 1864.' Dr. Brann was also professor in the seminary, where he taught dogmatic theology and mental philosophy. The Hon. John D. Kernan, of New York, was the most conspicuous pupil in the college during those two years. In the seminary, among others, were the Rev. Michael Kain, who died pastor of Red Bank; Rev. Pierce McCarthy, who died pastor of East Orange; Rev. James F. Dalton, who died pastor of Bergen Point, now called Bayonne; and the Rev. Charles Reilly, who died pastor of St. Columba's Church, Newark.
A clever seminarian of those years was the Rev. James A. D'Arcy, who died young. He made a public defence in dogmatic theology, the first that had ever been made in the seminary, and sustained with distinction a number of theses against the Rev. Dr. McGlynn, the Rev. Dr. McSweeney, the Rev. Dr. Burtsell, and the Rev. Father De Concilio, later Monsignor, who all came by invitation to the college to object. Another seminarian of the time was the Rev. Sebastian Smith, D.D., who afterward became well known for his works on canon law.
Rev. Sebastian Smith received the degrees of A.B. and A.M. from Seton Hall and was professor of metaphysics in the college. He evinced his affection for his alma mater by a remembrance in his will, whereby he left a sum of money to found a scholarship in Seton Hall.
· Father McQuaid was a rigid disciplinarian, insisted on prompt- ness and exactness in every detail, laying particular stress upon students returning to the college on the day and hour appointed.
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He was also the spirit of kindness and delighted in giving talks to the boys, and had a happy way of calling attention to faults without seeming to reprimand any individual severely, unless the occasion was one of grave importance, and then no one could be more severe than Father McQuaid. Always vigilant, no derelic- tion of duty ever escaped his keen eye, whether it occurred on playground, refectory, study hall, or chapel.
At the time Seton Hall was removed to South Orange the house chapel was large enough to accommodate the students and the twenty-five Catholics of the vicinity who were granted the privilege of attending Mass at the college on Sundays. The memory of this chapel is hallowed by the fact that it was there Bishop Bayley performed his first function of ordination, which was also remarkable from the coincidence that one of the candi- dates, Winand M. Wigger, was later called to become Bishop of Newark. The other candidate was Leo G. Thebaud, one of the first students of Seton Hall.
Catholicity in South Orange was fostered by the presence of a Catholic seat of learning in the vicinity, and it was not long be- fore the congregation had grown to such a size that with the con- tinued increase in the number of pupils the house chapel was no longer large enough. It was accordingly decided to build a new church, which would meet the demands of students and parish for many years.
The corner-stone of the present chapel was laid by Bishop Bayley on May 21st, 1863. The sermon of the day was preached by Father McQuaid; and Bishop, afterward Cardinal, McCloskey, honored the occasion by his presence.
At the annual commencement, June 24th, 1863, a gold medal was given in the class of philosophy for the best essay on the sub- ject, "A Refutation of Nominalism and a Vindication of Real- ism." This was awarded ex æquo to John D. Kernan and John V. Kerran. The honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred on Jeremiah W. Cummings, D.D., of St. Stephen's Church, New York City. This distinguished clergyman had been a frequent visitor of Seton Hall in the early days of the institution when it was located at Madison, and up to the time of his death he evinced the liveliest interest in the progress of the college. In 1865 Dr. Henry A. Brann, of Jersey City, gave a gold medal in the class of philosophy for the best essay on the "Immortality of the Soul," which was awarded to W. T. Tiers, of Philadelphia. Besides building the chapel, in 1863, a large stone building was erected
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for an infirmary and also as a residence for the Sisters of Charity, who have charge of the infirmary and domestic affairs of the col- lege. This house is of rough brownstone, is shaped like the let- ter T, with a frontage of ninety feet, and is harmonious in design with the other edifices located on the grounds. It is three hun- dred and two feet from the college building, and in case of an out- break of a contagious disease a perfect quarantine may be effected. The interior is bright, home-like, and cheery, and students who are ill receive the most careful nursing at the hands of the good Sisters of Charity. We cannot pass away from the infirmary without mentioning Sister Josephus, who was infirmarian for over thirty years and grew old in the service of Seton Hall. Her name will recall pleasant recollections to the old students, who will well remember her kindly ministrations to them during major or minor spells of illness. Sister Josephus was recalled to the mother house at Madison, the original home of Seton Hall, in August, 1893, for a well-earned rest after her long labors at the college. During the severe winter of 1894-95 there was sickness among the boys at St. Joseph's Preparatory School, conducted by the Sisters of Charity. The doctor, well knowing Sister Josephus's superior ability as a nurse, insisted that no one else could take care of two patients who were critically ill. The good sister will- ingly took charge of the case, but in her anxiety for the boys re- mained on watch over time, overtaxed her strength, caught cold, contracted pneumonia, and died in a few days.
July 18th, 1864, Bishop Bayley wrote to the Rev. William McCloskey, the rector of the American College, Rome: "You must send the Rev. Mr. Corrigan home. You need not mind sending Father Edward (Hopkins). Our finances are all going to the dogs, and the country with them-for a few years at any rate." Dr. M. A. Corrigan returned from Rome, September 5th, 1864, and was appointed by Bishop Bayley to succeed Dr. Brann as pro- fessor of dogmatic theology and sacred Scripture in the Ecclesias- tical Seminary of Seton Hall.
During the trying days of the Civil War, when so many insti- tutions of learning were obliged to close their doors, at least pro tempore, Seton Hall not only held its own, but through the per- sistent energy and able management of Father McQuaid the num- ber of students so increased that in 1865 the college building had to be enlarged to twice its original size. This building had hardly been completed before a cloud arose on the horizon.
Near midnight, on Saturday, January 27th, 1866, when the
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temperature was at the freezing point and sleet and snow lay on the ground, the college was roused by the cry, Fire! Fire! and in less than four hours all that was left of the once beautiful marble villa was a smoking mass of ruins. The fire originated in the third story of the seminary building. At first all efforts were bent toward saving the structure, but the flames spread rapidly to the roof, and it was soon evident that no means at hand could prevent the entire destruction of the building. Attention was then turned toward removing the furniture, books, and valuable papers. Priests, professors, and students set to work with a will, and through their bravery and activity some of the furniture and valuable books and papers were saved and the fire confined to the building in which it originated.
Father McQuaid faced the exigencies of the fire bravely, but when it came to the point of breaking the news to the bishop his courage failed and he showed unusual temerity for one of his calibre, which was portrayed in his countenance. It was evident that this thought was in his mind: "How shall I ever break the news to the bishop? The burning of the beautiful building will be a heavy blow to him. He may attribute it to some negligence on my part.". Father Doane having learned of the fire early the next morning (Sunday), drove in a sleigh to the Passionist Mon- astery, at Hoboken, where Bishop Bayley was making a visitation, and told him of the burning of the marble house at the college. Bishop Bayley and Father Doane then went to the college to view the ruins and to comfort Father McQuaid.
The bishop perceiving Father McQuaid's anxiety, his first question, after hearing no lives were lost or injury received, was, "Father McQuaid, did they save my grandmother's blue arm- chair?" When answered in the affirmative, he said, "That's good; we can build another college, but could not replace my grandmother's armchair." Reassured and encouraged by the bishop, Father McQuaid rose equal to the emergency and went to work with his accustomed energy. In a few days the following circular was issued :
To the Patrons and Friends of Seton Hall :
The ruins of the burnt building are being removed. Arrange- ments for rebuilding the new college are going on.
I would be the most faint-hearted of men if I were to hesitate one moment in going on with my work. The general cry is, " Give us something larger, grander, more suitable for college pur-
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poses." It is my intention, with God's blessing and your kind help, to do so.
A little plain talk with regard to my financial means will not be out of place. The new building will cost $50,000. My insur- ance amounts to $19,000; there are $4,000 worth of materials on hand. Bishop Bayley will order a general collection in all the churches of the diocese, which will amount to $10,000. The bal- ance I must find elsewhere. I can look only to those parents who appreciate the work Seton Hall is doing for their children; to the personal friends of Bishop Bayley, who deeply sympathize with him in the heavy and unexpected burden that has been placed upon him by this calamity; and to those friends that I have found in my labors in behalf of education, and who have felt kindly toward me for all that I have tried to do for the welfare of their children.
I therefore look anxiously and earnestly for the assistance that the well-wishers of Seton Hall may be able to render in this try- ing moment. Whatever they may be able to give or obtain from their friends, be it much or little, will be most thankfully and gratefully received. I need not add that all our benefactors will be earnestly remembered in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
B. J. McQUAID.
SETON HALL, February 2d, 1866.
The response to this appeal was prompt and generous; nearly $ 10,000 was subscribed.
These generous donations were supplemented by an amateur concert that was given in aid of Seton Hall, at Delmonico's, Fifth Avenue, New York City, April 18th, 1866, under the direc- tion of Ranieri Vilanova. The concert was suggested by Mrs. F. A. Bruguière and Mrs. J. J. Barril, who were untiring in their efforts to make it a success. Mr. Delmonico kindly donated the use of his elegant rooms, and among the patrons appear names of the most distinguished and aristocratic Catholics in New York. The handsome sum of $2,000 was realized from the entertain- ment and handed over to Father McQuaid. The collections in the diocese exceeded the most sanguine expectations, and Father McQuaid was enabled to begin the erection of a new building larger and handsomer than had at first been contem- plated.
Bishop Bayley was far more timorous than Father McQuaid when it came to drawing plans for the new Seminary of the Im- maculate Conception; he feared to incur too heavy a responsibil- ity, while Father McQuaid felt, from the encouragement already received, that he was prepared to cope with the emergency and was ambitious to erect a building worthy of the institution; but it was
.
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only by innocent conniving with the architect that he was enabled to secure for Seton Hall the present handsome seminary edifice with a façade of 134 feet, with a depth of 50 feet, and complete in all its interior appointments. Seeing that Bishop Bayley was dis- posed to move slowly he took this means of effecting his purpose; he first had the architect draw plans of what he proposed to make the centre of the building. Bishop Bayley naturally thought the height too great for the width. Father McQuaid agreed with him perfectly and took the plans to the architect for alteration. Little by little the plans were modified and enlarged to suit Father McQuaid's ambitious ideas until the drawing of the present struc- ture was approved and work on the handsome Gothic building of dressed brownstone was immediately begun. This edifice is three stories high and more than double the dimensions of the marble villa which was burned; it contains fifty-four rooms finished in walnut and ash, with a flooring of Georgia pine, and is principally devoted to the use of seminarians. The erection of the seminary involved a large outlay in those days when materials were expen- sive and the price of labor high, but Father McQuaid was not to be daunted, the work was pushed forward, and early in 1867 the building was ready for occupancy.
In July, 1866, the seminary lost one of its most earnest and steadfast friends in the Very Rev. Patrick Moran, V.G., who went to his eternal rest after a long and laborious life spent in the ser- vice of God. As the deeds of good men live after them, he left a testimonial by which his name was forever to be perpetuated at Seton Hall. Besides donating his valuable library to the semi- nary, he bequeathed the sum of $6,000 as a permanent fund for the support of ecclesiastical students. This has since been known as the Moran Burse. His dying wish was that others might emu- late his example and a fund be provided whereby many students could be educated for the priesthood.
Rev. Louis A. Schneider was admitted to the Diocese of New- ark in November, 1866. After serving for a time as rector of St. John's Church in that city he went to California, and soon after his return, in 1867, was appointed professor of dogmatic and moral theology in the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception. He served in this capacity for three years, until he was named rector of St. Nicholas's Church in Passaic. Father Schneider was be- loved by the seminarians. He had a genial, happy disposition, and, while exacting in recitations, he often enlivened the class- room with appropriate stories. His knowledge of theology was
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most profound. On August 15th, 1884, his busy and useful life was brought to a close.
On May 19th, 1868, Rev. M. A. Madden, a member of the original board of trustees and one of the earliest friends and bene- factors of Setonia, died suddenly.
Hardly had the new seminary building been occupied when he who had labored so long and well, who had done all the hard work from the outset-in laying the foundation of the Seton Hall of to- day, and to whose energy, toil, and tact the institution owed its life and strength-the first president, Rev. B. J. McQuaid, was called in 1868 to leave the quiet shades of Setonia and go forth to labor in another vineyard, the newly erected See of Rochester, N. Y. He was consecrated first Bishop of Rochester on July 12th, 1868; there he found ample field for his talents as an organizer and worker.
Dr. M. A. Corrigan, who was vice-president, was appointed by Bishop Bayley to succeed Bishop McQuaid as president of Seton Hall College. Father Corrigan was hardly twenty-eight years of age when he was placed in the important position of president of one of the foremost Catholic institutions in this country. On October 8th, 1868, Father Corrigan was further honored by Bishop Bayley in being named Vicar-General of the Diocese of Newark.
He expended the first year $5,000 in the construction of roads and walks, improving the drainage, and extending the gas and steam apparatus. During his term of office he also made many repairs, purchased sacred vestments, refitted class-rooms, and finished cer- tain portions of the college theretofore incomplete. About this time Bishop Bayley donated to the college library two hundred volumes of books and a valuable collection of coins. Monsignor George H. Doane, who succeeded Bishop McQuaid as rector of the cathedral, was on June 24th, 1868, elected a member of the board of trustees of Seton Hall. During his term of office Dr. Corrigan had associated with him as vice-president at different times Rev. William R. Callen, Rev. Pierce McCarthy, and his brother, the late Rev. James H. Corrigan.
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