USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Morristown > The story of a parish : the first Catholic church in Morristown, N.J. ; its foundation and development, 1847-1892 > Part 13
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the very many munificent gifts received. Its mem- bers will earnestly strive to show their appreciation by so deporting themselves as to reflect as much credit on the citizens as the new Association Hall does upon the buildings of Morristown.
" THOMAS J. O'BRIEN. " May 1, 1888."
Not content with the splendid reception given to the public, the Young Men added to their reputa- tion for hospitality by holding a reunion and com- plimentary reception for the members exclusively, and their friends of the gentler sex, on Wednesday evening, May 2. The rooms were newly decorated with flowers, and crowded with ladies and gentle- men in full dress, the whole scene under the brilliant electric light being one of rare beauty and life. Voss's orchestra furnished the music, and promptly at ten o'clock P.M., President and Mrs. Charles H. Knight led the grand march on the waxen floor of the main hall, in which almost a hundred couples participated. The festivities were of a varied character : dancing in the upper hall, music, singing, and recitation, mirth-provoking games, in the parlor. Patrick Sharkey served a tempting array of substan- tial viands in the gymnasium. The dawn had awakened the birds to their matin song when the members and their guests brought to a joyous close the crowning event of their history.
CHAPTER XIV.
IOCESAN Ordinances require that a Mission be given at least once every five years. In compliance with this law the Paulist Fathers Nevins, Doyle, and Wyman opened a two weeks' mission on Sunday evening, May 13, 1888. The usual happy results rewarded the zeal of the mis- sioners, and almost the entire adult portion of the congregation availed themselves of the extraordinary blessings which attend these exercises. The temper- ance feature of them appealed strongly, and many signed the cards which pledged the bearers to self- denial.
From year to year the hand of Death was stead- ily reaping the harvest and garnering many of the pioneers. Among these, conspicuous by years of faithful devotion and generous deeds from slender incomes, were Thomas Degan and his wife, Jeremiah Callaghan, and Martin Murphy. The first was one of the oldest Catholic settlers. He had hired a yoke of oxen from a townsman, who bore no love to our Church, but rather bitter prejudice ; and this man, to his great chagrin, saw the outfit employed in digging out the foundation for the first Catholic church. As for Jerry Callaghan and Martin Murphy, the mere mention of their names awakens memories of deep-rooted devotion and un- selfish toil for the welfare of the parish. No picnic
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THE STORY OF A PARISH.
was complete without them. It might rain torrents, the ardors of a fierce July sun might beat down upon them, they remained steadfast at their post. The removal by death of such men creates a void, and their absence suggests a feeling of lonesome- ness.
Hitherto much care and attention had been given to the young men; it was now time to show some consideration to the female portion of the parish, who by their free and willing, self-imposed labors had in the past made picnics, fairs, and bazars a financial success. The fine large room over the Hall in the School-building, fronting on Madison Street, was handed over to the Young Ladies' Sodality.
They set to work to make it something more than a meeting-room. They would have it for the young women of the parish what the building on South Street was to the young men. To enable them to realize their ambition a festival was held in the Catholic Association building August 29, 30, and 31, and with the proceeds furniture, rugs, shades, and a piano were bought, which transformed the room into an attractive parlor. The busy fingers of the members deftly plied themselves, and good taste and skill are revealed in the many little marvels of feminine fancy which adorn the tables, chairs, and the shrine of Our Lady.
The need of a church in the western section of the City which St. Margaret's supplied was
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ST. MARGARET'S SCHOOL.
succeeded now by the kindred necessity of a school.
Catholic families multiplied in the vicinity, and scores of little tots awaited the all-important epoch of each one's life-their first day at school. In the most favorable weather it was a long, weary walk, which in storm could not be undertaken.
It was determined to open a primary school, to continue during the fine weather. Some five-and- twenty little ones were seated in the Chapel on Tuesday, September 8, when Dean Flynn celebrated the Mass of the Holy Ghost for them. Misses Ella Kain and Ella Foley were successively the first teachers. The Chapel, as a matter of course, had to be used ; but what more fitting place to teach the little ones to love and lisp His praises than the lap of Him who said " Suffer little children to come unto me"-than the very house of their Father ? The good seed was sown early; the future will gather the harvest.
Our Young Men now bestirred themselves to reduce their indebtedness, and with the efficient aid of their friends among the ladies opened a two weeks' fair in their building. The excitement of a presidential election gave spice and spirit to the undertaking. Everybody, irrespective of creed or party, was eager to show practical approval of the great work. The Fair Journal, issued every night, was replete with news, skits on the members, wit
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THE STORY OF A PARISH.
and wisdom. The net returns were a pleasant sur- prise, and exceeded by far the most successful fair ever held by the Catholics in Morristown. Twenty- seven hundred dollars were turned over to the Treasurer of the Association, Morris E. Condon.
October 24 brought the tidings that Bishop Wigger had honored the parish by making it one of the seven in the Diocese of Newark which ful- filled all the conditions for a permanent rectorship, and the pastor, by appointing him the first irre- movable Rector. Congratulations were not confined to the congregation, but came from other quarters. Among the foremost was the following from Arch- bishop Corrigan :
"NEW YORK, November 28, 1888.
" MY DEAR DEAN :
"I have noticed with great pleasure your ap- pointment as one of the Missionary Rectors of the Diocese of Newark. The news gives me so much satisfaction that I beg to tender you my congratu- lations, and to wish you every blessing and happi- ness in the future.
" I am, my dear sir, " Very truly yours, " M. A. CORRIGAN, Abp.
" V. REV. DEAN FLYNN,
" Morristown, N. J."
At his own request and for personal reasons the Rev. Eugene A. Farrell was removed, and the Rev.
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ST. VIRGIL'S RELIC.
J. J. Shannessy appointed assistant priest by the Right Rev. Bishop of the Diocese, in the month of November.
The Church was further enriched by the arrival of the precious relic of St. Virgil, which, through the kind offices of Franz Mayer, of Munich, Bavaria, was so graciously given by the Archbishop of Saltzburg. The document which accompanied this treasure conveys ample information of its character and authenticity :
" FRANCIS ALBERT,
"By the grace of God and favor of the Apostolic See Prince Archbishop of Saltzburg, Apostolic Legate, Primate of Germany, Doctor of Sacred Theology and Philosophy, etc., etc.,
"To all whom it may concern, by these presents attest and affirm, that, for the greater glory of God and His Saints, have reverently placed a portion * of the head of St. Virgil, Bishop and Confessor, and Patron of the Church of Saltzburg, in a silver case, shielded with glass, fastened with red silk thread, and affixed with our larger seal in wax, granting by the tenor of this document permission to retain it or give it to others.
* The case which enclosed the relic has the inscription " Reliquia ex cranio capitis S. Virgilii, Conf., Ep'pi. et Patroni Salisburg." It bears the seal of the Archbishop.
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THE STORY OF A PARISH.
" In testimony whereof we append our signature under our official seal.
" Given at Saltzburg, the 24th day of March, 1887.
" FRANCIS ALBERT, O.S.B.,
Archbishop.
" Seen and approved :
" WINAND MICHAEL, " Bishop of Newark."
We have thus come into possession of, perhaps, the only genuine relic of an Irish Saint on this continent. And thus, after the lapse of twelve centuries, this saintly prelate, a voluntary exile from fatherland for the spread of the Gospel, finds among the children of his exiled race, in a land whose existence he maintained almost at the cost of degradation from his high office, a new home, ar- dent worshippers, and devout clients. That God is wonderful in his Saints is still evidenced by the blessings, both spiritual and corporal, which have been so abundantly shed upon us. Gratitude to God demands more than a passing allusion to this manifestation of His power, as well to enkindle greater love and reverence towards Him as to strengthen the faith of the flock.
Miss M- for years was a sufferer from a se- vere disorder, and had tried vainly the skill of the local physicians and specialists of high repute. Hun- dreds of dollars had been expended in this fruitless search for health.
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A REMARKABLE CURE.
On the advice of Dr. J. H. O'Reilly, and ac- companied by him and her sister, she visited the most celebrated specialist in New York. A patient and searching examination convinced the physician that a perilous operation would be necessary, with the chances of surviving it greatly against her. Womanly modesty more than the fear of death made her shrink from the proposition.
On returning home, she began a novena to St. Virgil, and, as is usual, received Holy Communion on the morning of the ninth day. Dean Flynn read over her the prayers for the sick in the Ro- man Ritual and blessed her with the holy relic.
Full of faith and joy, she went home and an- nounced to her family that she was cured. The scrutiny of the New York physician, whom they again sought, after another diligent examination, could discover no trace of her disease. She was, indeed, entirely cured. Neither medicine nor physi- cian had any part in her instantaneous restoration to health, but the power of God, through the inter- cession of St. Virgil. To carry deeper conviction the brief history of the case, written by Dr. O'Reilly, is given in full :
"A SHORT CLINICAL HISTORY OF MISS M -.
"In the Summer of 1889 Miss M- visited me in relation to certain troubles of which she had a long time complained. She gave the following his- tory :
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THE STORY OF A PARISH.
" Perfectly well until the age of nineteen, when she became very much run down on account of some internal disease. Sought the advice of local physicians without relief. Very reluctantly agreed to seek the advice of an eminent Newark specialist, under whose care for three years she gained in health and strength, but the internal trouble re- mained unimproved. The great expense and in- convenience of going to Newark induced her to seek my aid. Discovering the serious internal dis- ease, I placed her under the care of Professor Lusk, of New York, having in view the performance of a dangerous and radical operation. Receiving but lit- tle encouragement from the latter physician, she was informed that it was absolutely necessary to under- go severe surgical treatment. She was advised to return as soon as convenient with her family physi- cian.
"On October 15, 1889, accompanied by me, she again visited Doctor Lusk, but on examination Doctor Lusk exclaimed, with eyes full of wonder : ' Why, doctor, your operation is spoiled. You can see for yourself.' I knew nothing of what she had done until we had left the doctor's office, when she told me that she knew she was cured. She had made a novena to St. Virgil. 'I am feeling,' said she, 'altogether different.' At the present day I have absolute proof that her cure is permanent. What human aid and skill failed to accomplish was effected by some higher power.
" Signed : J. H. O'REILLY, M.D. " Morristown, N. J., January 14, 1892."
To enable the Ladies of Good Help to carry on their worthy mission during the approaching Winter,
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THE PASTOR'S PILGRIMAGE.
Dean Flynn gave an illustrated lecture on the Holy Land, Sunday evening, December 16, in the School Hall, which was followed on the succeeding Sunday night by Patrick Farrelly, who described "The First American Pilgrimage to Lourdes and Rome," of which he was a member.
The lantern views added greatly to the interest of both lectures, which netted a snug sum for the deserving charity.
Hardly had the New Year greetings of the Pastor died away than he bade them again farewell. Threatened with a total deprivation of vocal power, he was urged to seek treatment and repose abroad.
When the ocean divided him from his flock he determined to make his trip a pilgrimage, pressed to this course by the physician who treated him in Paris. In February, 1889, accompanied by the Rev. Walter M. Fleming, of St. Aloysius' Church, New- ark, he sailed from Marseilles, and after a voyage of four days reached Alexandria, Egypt. Thence he sailed for Palestine, and the dream of his life was realized. It was his high privilege to not only visit, but to say Mass in the Sanctuaries which mark the scenes of Jesus' life, woes, and bitter death.
When he returned again to his flock he brought with him and distributed among them as mementos of his pilgrimage rosaries, medals, flowers, and a large crucifix of olive-wood which was blessed and indulgenced in the Holy Sepulchre, and touched to all the places hallowed by our Lord's Passion.
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THE STORY OF A PARISH.
William Ryan, who as an exemplary Christian and trustee, had won the esteem of the parish and the confidence of two pastors, was called to his re- ward. Thomas F. Clifford was chosen to fill the vacancy caused by this death.
In November the entire Catholic Church in the United States was celebrating the centennial of the consecration of the first Bishop, Right Rev. John Carroll. Although Baltimore claimed and held the honor of holding the festivities in the primatial city, yet the occasion was of general interest. The main feature of the event was the first American Catholic Congress.
Seldom, if ever, in the United States, and never in any country beyond the seas, nor in any age, has been brought together such an aggregate of brains, money, and influence.
Lawyers whose eloquence and legal lore have made their names a household word ; journalists whose pens dash off the able leader, keen sarcasm, or incisive wit to instruct and move thousands ; millionaire bankers, miners, and railroad men from the East and distant West ; poets and historians ; brilliant scholars who add lustre to the names of Carroll, Bonaparte, and Willis; soldiers and sailors whose bravery and skill, under the blue or gray, have enshrined their names in the hearts of their countrymen and won for themselves the titles of colonel, general, commodore, and admiral; the free, high-spirited Caucasian; and the venerable Negro
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AN IMPOSING CEREMONIAL.
whose black face, framed in snow-white hair and beard, stood out in the Congress with the sharpness of a silhouette, a freeman to-day, a slave only a few years ago. Twenty-six hundred laymen, the cream of intelligent Catholicity ; eighty-four Bishops and Archbishops from the different Sees of the Union ; a Cardinal, five Archbishops, and six Bishops from Canada; two Bishops from Mexico ; representatives from the hierarchy of England ; the Pope's delegate, Archbishop Satolli; and priests, secular and re- ligious, without number, helped to fill the vast audi- torium of Concordia Hall. Every day brought ad- ditions to the assembled throng, until the hotels were, without exception, glutted, the hotel managers dazed, the hackmen and storekeepers happy; and apathetic and courteous Baltimoreans amazed.
The weather was beastly. Rain overhead and
mud under foot made walking unpleasant ; but the ardor and enthusiasm of the delegates were not chilled by these drawbacks. The brilliant and im- posing ceremonies of Sunday, commemorative of the consecration of John Carroll, the first Bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States, in which splendor of ritual was mingled with the thrilling eloquence of the Archbishop of Philadelphia, and the classic melodies of Handel and Gounod, were followed on Monday by a Solemn High Mass sung by Archbishop Corrigan in the Cathedral, at which all the prelates and clergy and the delegates to the Congress assisted. The sermon was preached by the
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THE STORY OF A PARISH.
Archbishop of Oregon, and never did orator stand before a more illustrious audience. The Mass ended, the delegates made the best of their way to Concordia Hall, and rapidly seated themselves in the places set apart for the different States and Territories, and marked on a placard for that purpose.
The first opportunity offered to the Catholic laity in this country to voice their loyalty as a religious body to our republic, their sympathy with Leo XIII. in his afflictions, and their allegiance to their bishops and pastors, drew together men illustrious in every rank of life: The Vicomte de Meaux, Chief Minister of Agriculture and Commerce in France; Premier Mercier, of the Dominion Parlia- ment ; the Hon. M. J. Power, Speaker of the Do- minion Assembly; Judges Daly and O'Brien, of the New York Supreme Court; Semmes, of New Or- leans; Carroll, of Little Rock; Kelly, of St. Paul ; Dunn, of Florida; Fallon, of Boston ; Generals Rose- crans, Lawler, of Wisconsin ; Tracy, of New York; ex-U. S. Senator Kernan, Gov. Carroll, Hon. A. Leo Knott, late Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Col. Don Piatt, J. Boyle O'Reilly, Daniel A. Rudd (colored) ; Chief Joseph, of the Montana Blackfeet, and White Bird, of the Dakota Sioux ; millionaires Francis W. Palms, M. W. O'Brien, of Detroit; Eugene Kelly, Joseph J. O'Donohue, and the Messrs. Hoguet, of New York; Mayor Grant and ex-Mayor Grace, of New York; and hosts of others conspicuous for talents and wealth in every city
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THE FIRST CATHOLIC CONGRESS.
of the Union. Acting Secretary Onahan, of Chica- go, who gave the Congress its initiative and impetus, called the delegates to order, nominated ex-Gov. Carroll, the great-grandson of the illustrious Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, temporary Chairman, and who later on by unanimous consent was made permanent President, and thus opened the great Catholic Con- gress.
Archbishop Ireland, of St. Paul, the well-known temperance advocate, wittily dubbed by Archbishop Ryan "the consecrated cyclone," opened the pro- ceedings with prayer. On taking the chair ex-Gov. Carroll made a speech which, had it not been fol- lowed by the brilliant, fervid effort of the silver- tongued Dougherty, would have gone on record as one worthy of the best days of forensic eloquence. While the usual routine of the formation of com- mittees was going on the President announced the Hon. Daniel Dougherty. His first utterance capti- vated his audience. From sentence to sentence he passed, rising in loftier heights of impassioned ora- tory, stirring to their deepest depths the hearts of his hearers; stilling them at one time to death-like silence, at another rousing them to tumultuous en- thusiasm which broke forth in repeated cheering, all with one impulse rising to their feet, the ladies shaking their pocket-handkerchiefs, grave and vener- able prelates mingling by the clapping of hands in this spontaneous outburst of homage to the sublime genius and power of eloquence.
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THE STORY OF A PARISH.
When he declared " the Roman Catholic laity of the United States, for the first time in Congress assembled, are here to proclaim to all the world that their country is tied to every fibre of their hearts, and no mortal power can shake their loving allegiance to its Constitution and its laws," Mr. Dougherty rose above his best efforts, and as he stood, his forefinger outstretched and his arm up- lifted to heaven, the mind instantly recalled the statues of Grattan and also his burning periods. A very tempest of applause burst forth ; the scene was simply indescribable. All felt that if the Congress accomplished nothing more, it was worth all the trouble, worriment, and expense of organization, all the wearing, tiresome journeying of hundreds and thousands of miles, to have brought out this splen- did tribute of affectionate loyalty and gratitude of Catholics to their country.
Those who were privileged to listen to it will never forget it. The ringing, silvery voice, the well- balanced periods and graceful gestures of the orator, the profound emotion, manifested by the tears, silence, and deafening applause of his audience, made a scene rarely witnessed in the cycle of man's life.
The speech of Judge Dunn, removed from the Supreme Court of Arizona by President Grant, was also a remarkable effort. His theme was the state
and education. In conversation at the close of the Congress President Carroll declared he had never heard a speaker who infused more enthusiasm into
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PAPERS AND RESOLUTIONS.
an audience. Although each speaker was limited to twenty minutes, the delegates would not allow Judge Dunn to stop until he had spoken over an hour Mr. Charles J. Bonaparte, of Baltimore, read a paper-"The Independence of the Papacy." Time cuts queer capers. A descendant of the great Napo- leon, who imprisoned Pope Pius VII., in masterly, forcible, and merciless logic demonstrated the abso- lute impossibility of the Sovereign Pontiff, the spiri- tual ruler of millions in every country and under every form of government, being the subject of any king or parliament. "We do not ask for him honors or rank, least of all money-but freedom. It is not for a parliament of yesterday to confer a patent of honorary precedence on the successor of the Fisherman."
The papers read by John Gilmary Shea, the his- torian, on "Catholic Congresses"; by the Hon. Honore Mercier, Premier of the Dominion Parlia- ment, on " The Attitude of Canadian Catholics"; by Mr. T. O'Sullivan, on "Young Men's Catholic So- cieties," brought forth unstinted and well-merited praise.
The Hon. Morgan J. O'Brien, Judge of the New York Supreme Court, Chairman of the Committee on Resolutions, read the report, which was unani- mously adopted. Other papers on temperance, church literature, church music, lay action in the church, etc., were read and printed in the report of the Congress. With a few words of admonition
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THE STORY OF A PARISH.
from Archbishop Ireland, and resolutions of thanks to the committee of preliminary arrangement, to Cardinal Gibbons, the people and press of Balti. more, and to the presiding officer, ex-Gov. Carroll, the great Catholic Congress was at an end.
On Monday evening a reception to the prelates was given, attended by the delegates and by the élite of Baltimore and Washington. The red robes of Cardinals, the purple cassocks of the Bishops, Generals in their uniforms, the French Admiral in full dress and decorations, the varied and elegant costumes of the ladies, the buckskin dresses and feathers of the Indian chiefs, made a brilliant pic- ture. Between three and four thousand were present to greet the Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops. Archbishop Elder, of Cincinnati, replied on behalf of his brethren in the Episcopacy to the address of Wm. F. Morris, of Washington, in a speech replete with historic reminiscences, wit, and feeling allusions to his work when the yellow fever devastated Missis- sippi, and the generous North sent money, pro- visions, and aid to their unfortunate brethren in the South.
The cathedral, churches, schools, hospitals, or- phanages, and very many private dwellings were brilliantly illuminated. The headquarters of the Catholic Benevolent Legion was conspicuous for the gorgeous array of gas-jets, its badge and other beautiful designs emblazoned in light.
On Tuesday evening the rain and mist, which re-
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A BRILLIANT SPECTACLE.
called English weather to those who have experi- enced it, and were calculated to make everything and everybody miserable, ceased, and a few stars peeped at the gathering hosts with torches and lan- terns, through banks of sombre clouds.
From every quarter came the different societies, and as the eye ranged along Baltimore Street, with its undulating surface, it looked like a ribbon of kaleidoscopic hues. Torches, lanterns, lamps; red, white, and blue umbrellas with branches of lights underneath ; floats, cavaliers, whose suits of armor and prancing steeds recalled the Crusaders ; Negroes, studies in black and white, their chapeaux decked with long white ostrich-plumes, to the number of nearly two thousand; cadet-corps ; fife and drum corps of men and boys; the splendid band of the New York Protectory Boys ; and the unequalled and unique Marine Corps Band of Washington ; and so they passed, lighting up the route with rockets and Greek fire, hundreds and thousands, for almost three hours; until the brain whirled with dizziness, and the eye was wearied with the sight of the thirty thousand who took part in the most gorgeous pa- geant Baltimore has ever witnessed. The midnight hour tolled from the Cathedral tower, and the throngs of sightseers and participants still filled the streets; and the Catholic Centennial went out in a blaze of glory.
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