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 16
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"One hundred and fifty-three years ago the Superior of the Sulpicians, the Rev. Mr. Normant, sought in the city of Montreal means to resuscitate the institution founded in 1694, under the royal sanction of King Louis XIV. On the 30th of Octo- ber, 1738, Madame d'Youville, with three pious companions, rented a small house, laid the first foun- dation of a new religious order, raised aloft the sign of man's redemption, the holy Cross, and adopted as their motto the historic phrase, 'In this sign shalt thou conquer.'
" As usual in such matters, Madame d'Youville met with great opposition. She and hers were pub- licly hooted and pelted with stones. In derision they were called, from the color of their habit, the
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THE STORY OF A PARISH.
' Grey Nuns.' Later on this title of derision became a badge of honor and glory. No need to follow them through the century and a half of work for God. History tells of the devoted deeds of the Grey Nuns during the French and Indian and the French and English wars. Madame d'Youville lived to see Canada pass under the dominion of England, and died full of years and good works in the year I771.
" The work of Madame d'Youville has been bravely carried on. Her order has been approved by the Holy See, and, a few years ago, judgment was pronounced upon the heroic sanctity of her life. The special work of the Grey Nuns is the conduct- ing of hospitals, orphanages, and homes for the aged and afflicted. They are not a cloistered order. In- deed, one of their dearest tasks is visiting and care of the sick in private houses.
"A bright epoch in their history was the era of the Irish famine in 1847 and 1848. The traveller, after crossing the great bridge leading into Montreal, may notice a great bowlder resting on a pedestal in a small enclosure near the water's edge. The inscription on the stone tells the story :
"' To preserve from desecration the remains of six thousand immigrants who died of ship-fever, A.D. 1847-48, this stone is erected by the workmen em- ployed in the construction of the Victoria Bridge, A.D. 1859.' But it says nothing of the heroism of the 'Grey Nuns.' The chronicles of the Grey Nun- nery tell us that 'One day the Superioress, who had been to the hospital tents at the Point Saint Charles, summoned her Sisters to the community-room. She told them of the terrible scenes she had witnessed, of the poor strangers dying alone amid the most awful sufferings. "Sisters," she said, "the plague is
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THE HISTORIC ARNOLD TAVERN.
contagious. In sending you there I sign your death- warrants. But you are free to accept or refuse." In a moment the Sisters arose and as with one voice exclaimed : " I am ready." Their sacrifice was accepted. Numbers of them laid down their lives. But theirs was the victory, theirs the crown of mar- tyrdom, and the fruit of their labors the comfort and solace of the sick and dying.
" To-day the Grey Nunnery stands a monument to the energy of the Sisters of Charity. Under its roof we find a miniature city. All sorts of indus- tries are carried on. Hundreds of aged and infirm, of foundlings and orphans, there find shelter and pro- tection. No less than ten branches of the parent- house exist in Montreal, and their work is spreading throughout Canada and the United States.
"'But,' you say, 'of what interest is this to the people of this section?' I answer that it is of the greatest possible interest.
"In the course of a few months a colony of these devoted women, the Grey Nuns, will come to take up their abode in Morristown. Poor as their Mas- ter, they will come empty-handed. But if it be God's will that they ever abandon the field, they will return to the Mother-House no richer than they came. On Mount Kemble Avenue there stands a building rich in historic reminiscences. The old Ar- nold Tavern, removed some years ago from the square in Morristown, has long awaited a purchaser. This building sheltered General Washington in 1777. It was his first headquarters. There he spent several months with his chiefs of staff. This is to be the Morristown home of the Grey Nuns. The ball-room of General Washington will be turned into a chapel. The dining-room will become a hospital ward. The broad corridors that a century ago resounded with
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THE STORY OF A PARISH.
noise of spur and clank of sabre will take on new life, and be filled with the soft-falling footsteps and rustling garments of the gentle Sisters, there to nurse the sick and afflicted of all races, colors, and creeds. In the building at the rear of the main structure a home will be provided for the aged and the orphans.
" This institution will be the crowning effort of the life of Very Rev. Dean Flynn, Rector of St. Mary's parish. It is his intention to confine the work to the care of the sick and poor living in Morris and Sussex Counties. Humble in its begin- nings, it is his hope that the institution will grow and prosper with the growth and prosperity of Mor- ristown, and be a source of glory to God and of peace and comfort to the members of our Lord Jesus Christ, the poor, the suffering, and the af- flicted."
The movement to create a fund for the new Hospital was inaugurated November 29; in the afternoon the male pew-holders were invited to meet in Bayley Hall. Paul Revere was chosen Chairman ; John A. Carr and Richard F. Dempsey, Secretaries, and Eugene S. Burke, Treasurer.
In the evening the women rivalled the generosity of the men. On the following Sunday all without exception were called upon, and the sight of labor- ing men and servants handing in donations of money-ten, twenty, and even a hundred dollars- recalled the fervor which impelled the early Chris- tians to sell all they had and cast it at the feet of the Apostles.
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PERMANENT ORGANIZATION.
The parish was divided into districts, and a col- lector appointed for each district to receive the con- tributions of those who had been unable to attend the public meetings.
Steps were at once taken to organize a perma- nent association, the object of which would be to carry out the good work.
The following semi-official reports, printed in the local press, tell the story :
" THE NEW HOSPITAL.
"On Friday, December 18, the Right Rev. Bishop Wigger, the Rev. Rectors of the Catholic churches of Morris and Sussex Counties, and several prominent laymen of Morristown met in Bayley Hall to discuss matters pertaining to the new Hospi- tal. The Right Rev. Bishop occupied the chair, and the Rev. James H. Brady, of Netcong, was chosen Secretary.
"It was decided to establish a society to be called 'All Souls' Hospital Association,' with head- quarters at Morristown and branches throughout the various parishes. Every parish will be represented on the Board of Management. A Constitution and a set of By-Laws were discussed and approved for presentation at a general meeting to be held in Bayley Hall, Morristown, on Monday, January 4, 1892, at 2 P.M.
" The Right Rev. Bishop appointed as Committee on Organization, the Very Rev. Dean Flynn, Rev. Joseph Rolando, and Messrs. Paul Revere, P. Far- relly, and R. F. Hayes, with power to select a list of candidates for the various offices of the Associa- tion."
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THE STORY OF A PARISH.
"ALL SOULS' HOSPITAL.
"A well-attended meeting was held in Bayley Hall, Morristown, on Monday, January 4, at 2 P.M., to further the interests of the new Hospital. Repre- sentatives, lay and clerical, were present from the various parishes in Morris and Sussex Counties. Right Rev. Bishop Wigger was called to the chair, and the Rev. James H. Brady was chosen temporary Secretary. The Constitution and By-Laws were dis- cussed and adopted, the 'All Souls' Hospital Asso- ciation' organized, and the following officers unani- mously elected : President, Paul Revere, of Morris- town; Vice-President, Francis Kluxen, of Madison ; Recording Secretary, Rev. James H. Brady, of Net- cong; Corresponding Secretary, R. F. Hayes, of Morristown ; Treasurer, Eugene S. Burke, of Mor- ristown.
" The object of the Association is, to quote the Constitution, 'to assist the Sisters of Charity, known as the "Grey Nuns," to establish and maintain in Morristown, N. J., institutions for the care of the diseased, disabled, and infirm, and for such other charitable work as may be approved by the Board of Managers.'
" Membership, active or associate, is open to all who contribute each year at least one dollar to the support of the hospital. The payment of fifty dol- lars at one time makes the donor a life-member.
" The Board of Managers chosen at the meeting include the above-named officers and the following gentlemen : Very Rev. J. M. Flynn, and Messrs. P. Farrelly, A. H. Tiers, Thomas Clifford, P. Welsh, C. H. Knight, M. E. Condon, John E. Fennell, Thomas Malley, of Morristown ; T. J. Allen, Net- cong; M. Devaney, Newton; J. P. Dolan, Mend-
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FIRST GENERAL MEETING.
ham; T. F. Johnson, Dover; M. J. Hyde, Franklin Furnace ; John Finnegan, Mt. Hope ; Henry Hous- ton, Chatham; P. O'Reilly, Stirling ; Walter Cross, Morris Plains ; R. Dixon, Madison ; R. Coghlan, Whippany; J. McGurk, Hurdtown; D. Madden, Ogdensburg ; John J. Stanton, Deckertown. Three parishes are as yet unrepresented.
" After the general meeting a conference of the managers was held, and the following Executive Board was elected : Very Rev. J. M. Flynn, Rev. J. H. Brady, and Messrs. Kluxen, Dixon, Revere, Far- relly, and Hayes. Dean Flynn is Chairman and Rev. J. H. Brady is Secretary to the Executive Board and to the Board of Managers.
" During the course of the meeting several speech- es were made.
" Very Rev. Dean Flynn spoke of the general objects of the Association, and gave a history of the buildings to be used for the Hospital, a part of which were formerly known as the 'Arnold Tavern,' on the Morristown Green, which are rich in Revo- lutionary memories.
" Rev. Father Hall, of Mt. Hope, made some pertinent remarks concerning ways and means, and a general discussion then followed on the best methods of securing sufficient funds annually to meet the expenses of the institution.
" Father Brady made a speech in his usual happy vein, full of humor and good sense, in which he congratulated the meeting on the successful begin- ning of the enterprise, and prophesied for it a most successful future.
" Mr. Revere stated that the object of the Con- stitution adopted was to make a permanent Associa- tion, which ought to number from fifteen hundred to two thousand active members. This, even at the
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THE STORY OF A PARISH.
small dues of one dollar a year, would make a sub- stantial sum annually, and from the liberality already shown and the well-known interest of the people of this vicinity in all charitable work, would doubtless be largely increased beyond this amount. There was no doubt of the successful operation of the institu- tion, and that it would be heartily sustained by per- sons of all denominations. The institution is for the benefit of all in the community interested, who may need it. All who pay dues, either as active or as- sociate members, should look upon it as a kind of insurance against accident or disease, inasmuch as every one may have need of it, and would feel more at liberty to make use of the benefits of the institution if they had contributed even small amounts to its support.
" Mr. Dixon, on behalf of those outside of Mor- ristown, extended cordial thanks to the people of Morristown, who had already so generously contri- buted.
"The Right Rev. Bishop congratulated the Asso- ciation on the excellent beginning of the work, and bespoke earnest effort in the future.
" Mr. Revere moved that the thanks of this meet- ing be heartily extended to Dean Flynn for his efforts in instituting this important work, for which we should be the more grateful as it is no part of his parish duties, but done out of the sole desire to benefit the people of Morris and Sussex Counties. Also we owe a debt of gratitude to Bishop Wigger and the clergy, who have approved and earnestly sustained the suggestions and plans of Dean Flynn.
"The motion was carried with an enthusiasm which showed that the meeting fully appreciated and sustained the sentiment expressed.
"All those who contribute before the Ist of
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PRAYER AND PROMISE.
March will be enrolled among the 'Original Mem- bers' of the Association.
" Donations may be handed to any of the Rev. Rectors or to any member of the Board of Mana- gers, who will transmit names and money to the Treasurer. Mr. Burke reports over $6,500 already subscribed. At least as much more will be needed to place the institution in the hands of the Sisters free from all encumbrance."
So, as we write the closing chapters of our His- tory, the day is almost at hand that will witness the opening of All Souls' Hospital. The name has not been chosen at random. On the way to Montreal the subject had been discussed by Dean Flynn and Father Brady. Dean Flynn proposed the name of " All Souls." It was within the octave of the "Day of the Dead." Standing in the porch of the Grey Nunnery the two priests promised a number of Masses for the Suffering Souls in case their mission should succeed. Their offering was accepted.
The historian of the future may write the chroni- cles of the new institution. Here you have the narrative of its foundation. The seed has been planted, the showers of Christian charity will water the tender nurseling, and God in His infinite good- ness will give the increase.
CHAPTER XVII.
N the great national conflict which divided the North and South, in 1861, members of our parish were found under both flags. The roll is an illustrious one. On the battle-field, in the prison, in rank and file, the children of St. Mary's gave ample proof of courage and patriotism.
Among all names there is one conspicuous above the rest-General Joseph Warren Revere. Descend- ed from a French Huguenot family, his grandfather was Colonel Paul Revere, of Revolutionary fame.
At the age of fourteen young Revere entered the United States Naval School at New York, and be- gan a long career of service on sea and land in al- most every portion of the globe. In his sixteenth year he sailed for the Pacific, and was attached to the squadron employed in suppressing the African slave-trade. After narrow escapes from disease, wreck, and mutiny he was detailed to the European squadron, and visited every country of Europe, and the Mediterranean shores of Asia and Africa. His knowledge of many languages secured him a favor- able position through which he met the most dis- tinguished personages of the day. He was an eye- witness of the Carlist War, and served with the Mosquito fleet on the coast of Florida during the Seminole War. In 1838 he sailed in the first Ameri- can squadron which circumnavigated the globe.
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GENERAL JOSEPH WARREN REVERE.
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JOSEPH WARREN REVERE.
When in India he saved the British man-of-war Ganges from shipwreck, and was presented for his service with a sword of honor by the Governor-Gen- eral.
Throughout the Mexican War he was on the coast of California. At Sonoma he raised the first American flag north of San Francisco. Soon after this he resigned, and was employed by the Mexican government in reorganizing the artillery services. At the outbreak of the Civil War he offered his services to the general government and received a commis- sion as colonel of the Seventh New Jersey Volunteers. The brilliant record of this gallant regiment, second to none in the service, has been largely attributed to the severe discipline it received under General Revere, whom General Hooker pronounced the best disciplinarian in the service. He was in all the bat- tles of the Peninsular Campaign ; was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, and commanded the Second New Jersey Brigade until after Fredericks- burg. He was assigned to the command of the New York Excelsior Brigade; and at Chancellorsville Re- vere's Brigade led the van in the desperate struggle after the rout of the Eleventh Corps, when How- ard's men retreated before the impetuous onslaught of Stonewall Jackson. Censured by General Sickles for his conduct in this battle, Revere was for a time deprived of his rank; the opinion of his troops, and of Generals Meade, Sedgwick, and other high officers, held him innocent of any offence. Presi-
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THE STORY OF A PARISH.
dent Lincoln declared that he had been unjustly treated and restored to him his rank, and he was subsequently named brevet major-general. It was after the Peninsular Campaign that one day, in Washington, brooding over the severe losses his regiment suffered from the terrific struggle, he was led almost unconsciously to a Catholic church. On the moment he felt the impulse, or rather inspiration, to become a Catholic. For years he had carefully studied religious matters, and consequently, when he presented himself to the priest and asked to be bap- tized, he was found thoroughly instructed in the principles of the Catholic Church. He received holy Baptism October 19, and his first Holy Communion October 26, 1862. Some years later he was con- firmed by Archbishop Bayley, in our own Church. During the period of well-merited repose in his de- lightful home he published in 1873 Keel and Saddle, a retrospect of his stirring life, and various maga- zine articles. The picture of the "Espousals of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph," which hangs in the Church in our Lady's aisle, attests his artistic ability. He died April 20, 1880. One of his sons, our re- spected townsman, Mr. Paul Revere, was received into the Church some years after his father.
Patrick Cavanagh, enlisted August 30, 1861, re- enlisted 1864, in Company C, Eighth New Jersey, was engaged in all the battles of the Peninsular Campaign, Seven Days' fight in the Wilderness, An- tietam, Gettysburg-in a word, all the battles of the
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WAR RECORDS.
Army of the Potomac until the close of the War. He was wounded in the hip at Salem Heights, and was also severely injured in the back while assisting in the building of a bridge. He served throughout as a private, and died of apoplexy in Morristown.
Edward Cavanagh, son of the above, enlisted, when considerably under sixteen years of age, in the spring of 1863, in Company B, Second New Jersey Cavalry. He took part in no regular engagement, and died of typhoid fever in the hospital at Colum- bus, O., January 24, 1864.
Peter Carroll, enlisted in Company A, New Jersey Volunteers.
John Cody, enlisted September 1, 1862, in Com- pany I, Twenty-seventh New Jersey. This was a regiment of nine months' men, and one of the larg- est mustered into the United States service. It did good work at Fredericksburg, in Kentucky, and also in the Gettysburg Campaign, although its term of service had already expired. He died September 21, 1881.
Patrick Coughlan, enlisted in the Fourth New York Cavalry, and died in Morristown, New Jersey.
John Darcy, enlisted February 24, 186-, and after serving five months was discharged. He died of consumption in Orange.
Bartholomew W. Dempsey, enlisted in Company K, Seventh New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, Octo- ber 2, 1861, and re-enlisted December 26, 1863. The obituary notice in the Banner says of him :
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THE STORY OF A PARISH.
"Tall in stature, fair of face, slight in form, scarcely sixteen years of age, was that manly, quiet, unobtrusive boy when he signed the muster-roll of Company K. How often and how well he fought the twenty-six battles in which his regiment and brigade were engaged ! And yet the brave boy never re- ceived a scratch or wound."
Captured June 22, 1864, in front of Petersburg, Corporal Dempsey was immured in the death-pen at Andersonville, Ga. Here he lingered ten months. During this frightful period he was thoughtful enough to keep an exact record of the name, company, regiment, date and cause of death, and number of the grave, of all the New Jersey soldiers who, dur- ing that time, succumbed to the horrors of the place and the brutality of its custodians. One hundred and forty-eight names appear in his diary, with the sad details of their death. Although he survived long enough to be released, April 21, 1865, and to return to his native city, he carried with him the germs of the disease which eventually brought him to an early grave. He died of consumption in Morristown, N. J., March 20, 1879, aged thirty-four years.
John Edwards, enlisted in the Fourth New York Cavalry and was killed in battle.
Timothy Fitzgerald, enlisted February 26, 1865, took part in the battles around Petersburg, and was discharged July 22.
Cornelius Hally, enlisted in Company A, Thirty-
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VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR.
fifth New Jersey, February 24, 1865, and was dis- charged August I.
Peter M. Kain, enlisted October 6, 1862, in Com- pany K, Seventh New Jersey, and served through- out the War. He took part in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac; he was wounded at Get- tysburg, and was with Grant when Lee surren- dered.
Patrick Kating, enlisted February 24, 1865, was discharged in August, and died in Morristown.
Edward Kenny, enlisted June II, 1862, in a New Jersey regiment.
John J. Kenny, enlisted August, 1862, in Com- pany K, 176th Regiment, New York Volunteers, and served as a private eighteen months. He was en- gaged in the battles of the Army of the Southwest, and was wounded in the chin at Brazier City. He died November 19, 1891, of consumption, in Morris- town, N. J.
Bernard Lynch, enlisted in the Navy, was one of the crew of the U. S. Ship Oneida, sunk by a British ship, and was drowned.
Thomas Lynch, enlisted in the Fall of 1861, in Company K, Seventh New Jersey, was engaged at Yorktown and Williamsburg, where he was wound- ed. After a long illness was discharged from the Army; but he enlisted in the Navy, and in the frigate Niagara saw service with the European squadron. After the sinking of the Confederate privateer Alabama he returned home. He served
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THE STORY OF A PARISH.
less than a year in the Army, and about two years in the Navy. He died in Dover, New Jersey, 1886.
Thomas H. Murray, enlisted March 10, 1865, in Company D, Thirty-fifth New Jersey. He was with General Sherman in his march through North and South Carolina.
William Murphy, Fourth New York Cavalry, was killed in battle; also John W. O'Donnell; and of John Lonergan, enlisted in 1862, and Thomas Fin- ney, Company C, Seventh New Jersey, and Patrick Finney, enlisted January 17, 1864, there are no records.
Michael McLaughlin, Patrick McShane, Patrick Morrissey, and Charles Mclaughlin enlisted in Cap- tain Revere's Company, Fourth New York Cavalry.
George Rooth served seventeen months in the same company and regiment, and died in Morris- town, January 12, 1867.
James Shadwell, enlisted in the Seventy-ninth New York Regiment, and died in Morristown.
James Sweeny, enlisted in 1862, in Company H, Eleventh New Jersey, was wounded at Malvern Hill, and was discharged from hospital.
In the Confederate service David W. Smith, born in Morristown and the first boy to serve Mass in the old Church, enlisted in the Fifth Company of the Washington Artillery of New Orleans. He rose to the rank of sergeant and served until captured towards the close of the War.
William Condon went South before the War and
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THE CONFEDERATE SERVICE.
settled in North Carolina. When hostilities broke out he enlisted in an infantry regiment of the Tar- heel State and was captured at Gettysburg. Efforts were made to have him take the oath of allegiance and return to his family in Morristown. This pro- posal he indignantly rejected, saying he preferred to stick to the Stars and Bars, and even die in its defence. He died South after the close of the War.
CHAPTER XVIII.
HE sands of my " Story" have run out. Lit- tle remains to record, except the generosity of those who have contributed so much to the beau- tifying of our Church.
An oversight to mention in its proper place a signal example of exceptional liberality is now noted. When Father Sheeran made known his in- tention to build a Church, the first to come forward with a donation was a little Italian boy, rescued from the cruelty of a padrone, John Roman. His gift was five dollars, made up of pennies and nick- els! Larger amounts were given, but they did not cost the sacrifice of this offering.
The windows in the Lady Chapel have already been mentioned.
The Father Sheeran Memorial bears above the symbol of the pelican, and beneath the inscription :
"To the memory of Rev. James Sheeran, who crowned a life of zeal, energy, and labor by the erection of this Church. Rich in good works, he slept in the Lord April 3, 1881. Merciful Jesu, grant him eternal rest. Amen."
To the left are the beautiful cherubs to the memory of
"John Carr, died November 27, 1876.
" James Carr, died June 16, 1878."
These are the gift of John A. Carr.
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MEMORIAL WINDOWS.
On the right of Father Sheeran's window is that of St. Henry and St. Agnes, with the emblem, an anchor. This is the gift of Mrs. Agnes Kelly, and bears the inscription :
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