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 3
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Of the half-dozen fellow-harvesters all-the patri- arch Moran, the saintly Kelly, the tireless, jovial Rodgers, the impetuous O'Reilly, the venerable Father Balleis-all are gone save Father Senez, whose days may God lengthen to be for us a re- minder of His mercies to past generations, as a model to us of the present !
More could be said-more, indeed, should ; but humility bars the way. His is it to unlock those treasures whose silence makes it now impossible to divulge that which might dim the lustre of a crown won by labors for Christ, and partaking of the con- tumely of the Master.
The only fitting encomium to sum up his life and labor is that of the Gospel: Well done, good and faithful servant !
36
THE STORY OF A PARISH.
In the Springtime of 1844-45 good Father How- ell was tempted to sample the pastures and pure air of Morris County, and, combining business with pleasure, he baptized quite a number of children in Morristown, Dover, and Mount Hope. A Catholic woman married to a Protestant was denied the convenience of a carriage by her husband, and walked with her child all the way to Elizabeth to have it baptized, as it happened there was no priest then at Madison.
There is considerable dispute relative to the house where the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was first offered in Morristown. By some it is main- tained that it was in a house formerly on the pro- perty of Dr. Dodge, Morris Street ; by others, in a house on McCullogh Avenue ; again, by some, in the Thébaud house, which long ago stood on Mr. John G. Foote's farm ; and finally, by not few, that it was in the Johnson house on South a Street, on the way to the race-track, which was called by a subsequent Catholic owner Bellevue. Wherever it was, it is generally admitted that the priest sought and received the hospitality of Mr. John Rogers. John Rogers was among the earli- est settlers, and his home was looked upon as a headquarters for the clergy whenever they made a visitation.
In 1847, however, steps were taken to secure a lot to build the Church. The site on which the new Rectory now stands was bought from John
RT. REV. B. J. MCQUAID, D.D.
37
THE FIRST CHURCH AT MORRISTOWN.
Kennedy, of Philadelphia, for $400. At the out- break of the French Revolution, Father Senez re- signed the pastorate to return to his native land. Previous to his departure a "bee" was held to dig the foundations of the new church. Father Senez opposed the building of a basement, but finally yield- ed to the entreaty of Father McQuaid, and this feature was embodied in the plans. The honor of turning the first sod belongs to Patrick Cavanagh. Mr. Egsall built the masonry, and Mr. Muchmore did the carpenter work.
Before the walls were built, Father Senez left, and the work devolved solely on Father McQuaid. To Father McQuaid alone belongs the entire credit of building the first Catholic Church in Morris- town; and of paying, not only for the structure itself but for the land on which it was erected. Three different times has this honor been wrested from him and unjustly given to another. This may seem to some a matter of indifference; but for the Catholics here it is all-important to know to whom they are indebted for the Church which cost more sacrifices, more anxiety and care from both priests and people, than would, to-day, the erection of a cathedral. Father McQuaid appointed William Nevins trea- surer, and all the moneys passed through his hands. On the 15th of August the modest Church was entirely roofed, and Father McQuaid gave the Church the title of the Assumption in honor
· of the Blessed Mother of God, whose great
38
THE STORY OF A PARISH.
feast saw the culmination of the hopes and desires of the little handful of Catholics.
€
On Christmas Day, 1848, Mass was said for the first time in the new Church by Father McQuaid. Simplicity and poverty were everywhere apparent. The altar consisted of some planks laid on barrels. The little congregation of from forty to seventy made themselves as comfortable as possible without pews or kneeling benches. A fair number of Pro- testants was present, among them Mr. Bonsall.
" Now," said Father McQuaid, “ we depended on the goodness of God and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, and we are all right. Through frost and cold we have collected by five and ten-cent offerings the funds necessary to build and enclose the Church, and now we have everything except the pews."
There was little decoration and very little com- fort in the new Church, but there was great fervor. The poor exiles were full of gratitude to God that they had now a sanctuary in their midst where they might assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass ; reconcile themselves to Him in the tribunal of Penance; and bring their children to be baptized and instructed in their holy faith. Father Senez had borrowed the money to pay for the lot, but the people set themselves to work and rested not until they had paid back every penny of the loan.
Fortunate, indeed, it was for the Catholics of Morristown that Father McQuaid came among
39
FATHER MCQUAID.
them. As a student he was always in delicate health. It was long feared that the young Levite would fall a victim to consumption; and only a short time before his ordination Bishop Bayley, then President of Fordham College, saved his life, when seized with a severe hemorrhage from the lungs, by a timely application of one of his father's old- fashioned remedies.
Previous to the ordination of Father McQuaid, Bishop Bayley was appointed the Secretary of Bishop Hughes. One morning the stern Bishop, who would brook no interference with his plans if he were a little out of sorts told his Secre- tary to order Father McQuaid to report to St. Mary's Church, Grand Street, New York. With his knowledge of the delicate health of the young priest and the arduous labors which confronted him in the city parish, Father Bayley hesitated to notify Father McQuaid. One day, finding his Bishop in good humor, the Secretary told him he had not written to Father McQuaid. "Why not, why not?" said Bishop Hughes abruptly. " Be- cause," said Father Bayley, "the mission of St. Mary's will kill him." " Well," said the Bishop, " what will I do with him ?" " Send him to Morris County, where the air is pure, and where he will have plenty of out-door exercise."
Thus came the young priest, delicate, indeed, in health, but with a strong will, a clear conviction of duty, the zeal of an apostle, and a courage that
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THE STORY OF A PARISH.
nothing could daunt. He was ever at work. Be- hind his trusty mare he jogged along the road, the reins in one hand, his breviary in the other. Day after day he journeyed from Madison to the most distant part of his extensive parish. Wherever he heard of a Catholic his zeal sought him out.
One day he travelled as far as Franklin Furnace, where he heard a Catholic was working, and asked him for a subscription. With eloquent fervor he told his hearer the poverty of the Morristown mission, but in vain. The tepid child of the Church was untouched by the pastor's story.
Father McQuaid was on the point of leaving empty-handed as he came, when two Orangemen who were in the crowd put their hands in their pockets and gave him a dollar. Tired and hungry, he turned his horse's head homeward, and many hours after awoke in his carriage at Madison. Dur- ing the journey he had fallen asleep, and the faith- ful beast had carried him in the darkness and over the rough country road safely to his own home. He made his first start to collect funds for the Church in February, 1848, and did not rest until he had paid every cent of indebtedness.
His position was no sinecure, for his parish stretched from Milburn and Springfield through Morristown, Dover, Stanhope, Waterloo, and New- ton to the brick tavern opposite Milford, Pennsyl- vania, and back again by Deckertown, Franklin Furnace, Boonton, Hanover, and Whippany to
41
HOW OUR SCHOOL BEGAN.
Madison. Although separated by some miles from the little flock resident here, he never relaxed his vigilance over it. One Winter's night a party of the boys and girls was assembled in a building situated where the Lyceum now stands, and all were enjoying themselves with music and dancing, and, perhaps, other amusements of which the pastor did not approve.
Quite suddenly and very unexpectedly a stranger covered with snow stood in their midst. As he un- wrapped his muffler and removed his fur cap, Fa- ther McQuaid appeared before them. Without hesitation or waiting for a word from him whom they feared as well as loved, one and all disap- peared through doors and windows.
It seemed the more he had to do the more he accomplished. Recognizing the importance of Chris- tian education, he opened a Catholic school in Madison, and taught it himself for a whole year. Hardly had he set things aright when he started a Catholic school in the basement of the Morristown Church. The beginnings were humble, it is true, but the principle was established that the school was not of less importance than the church.
While abroad Father Senez purchased a set of candlesticks and a crucifix for the main altar. Father McQuaid, meanwhile, had not been idle. On his re- turn to Madison Father Senez saw many changes. A larger field awaited this indefatigable missionary, and his Bishop assigned him to complete the present St.
42
THE STORY OF A PARISH.
Patrick's Cathedral, Newark.
But what was to be done with the candlesticks ? The poverty of the good father would not allow him to donate them to the Church, and of church funds there was not a farthing. Mrs. William Collins and Mrs. John Rogers pleaded to be allowed to raise sufficient to pay the cost of these articles. Together they jour- neyed from house to house, from Morristown to Madison, to Whippany. Finally their persistent zeal was rewarded. They raised the sixty dollars, and the church ornaments remained in the Morris- town Parish. The crucifix still surmounts the taber- nacle on the high altar, and the candlesticks are used for Requiem Masses.
Strenuous efforts were made to complete the Church, put in the pews, and finish the sanctuary.
On Sunday, March 5, 1849, Bishop Hughes dedicated the Church. An interesting account ap- peared in the leading New York Catholic news- paper :
A NEW CHURCH.
MORRISTOWN, N. J., March 10th, 1849.
To the Editor of the Freeman's Journal :
DEAR SIR : Last Sunday was a happy day for the Catholics of Morristown. On that day the Church which, by hard struggling, they have been enabled to erect, was dedicated to the service of Almighty God. Now at length, within sight of their own homes, they have an altar around which they may gather in humble adoration of their
. 2444
----
1. THE OLD SCHOOL-THE FIRST CHURCH.
2. INTERIOR VIEWS BEFORE REMOVAL TO NEW SCHOOL.
43
THE DEDICATION OF THE FIRST CHURCHI.
Maker. Now, at their own doors, they have a temple within which they may hear the same truth their Saviour taught, and soon in the basement of that Church they will have a school for their chil- dren. For this great favor they do not fail to thank most heartily the good God who has been pleased to grant it. And not a little of their suc- cess in its erection they ascribe to His Holy Mo- ther, under whose invocation it is placed, with the title of the "Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary." The Church is a plain frame building, with the basement under its whole extent. It is 58 by 38 feet, and will seat about 300 persons. The sanctuary is sufficiently large and spacious; on one side of it is the vestry, and on the other the con- fessional. On the steps back of the altar were six large silver-plated candlesticks and six more of a smaller size; on columns at each side were sta- tues, one of the Virgin holding the Infant, and the other of the Angel Guardian leading a boy. Though the interior of the Church was not quite finished, yet its whole appearance on the day of dedication was neat and chaste, and I am sure that before long the Catholics of the town will complete in good taste what they have so well begun. At half-past ten Right Rev. Bishop Hughes began the dedication, assisted by the Pastor of the Church, the Rev. Mr. McQuaid. Mass was then celebrated. After the Gospel the Bishop preached for about an hour. The Church, and principally its distinguish- ing feature of Unity, formed the matter of his dis- course. It was in his usual clear and forcible style, and whilst plain to the humblest mind in that large audience, the most intelligent and best edu- cated must have felt as they heard coming from the preacher's lips, not the mere figures and flowers
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THE STORY OF A PARISH.
of rhetoric, but the solid arguments of reason, that they were in the presence of their Master. The pews and aisles were fairly crammed, while many had to remain round the doors and windows and hear as best they might. I need not say that all were pleased-the Protestants to hear so eloquent a divine and the Catholics to see their Bishop, who had so kindly come to bless them and the Church. The Bishop preached again in the afternoon. Much the greater part of his hearers were persons
not belonging to the Catholic Church. They heard explained how Catholics maintained what was so absolutely necessary for their corporate existence, the Spirit of Unity, and how Protestants managed to split and resplit into a thousand and one differ- ent and opposite sects. Morristown belongs to the mission of Madison, one of the most interesting of the diocese. Mass had been celebrated here before there was a Bishop in New York, and when St. Peter's was its only Church.
The first Catholics settled near Madison-then and until a late date known by the name of Bottle Hill-towards the close of the last century. They had been obliged to fly from the French West In- dia Islands, at the breaking out of the Revolution in France.
Vincent Boisaubin was the first settler, around whom several families soon located themselves. In one of their houses, in the year 1809, the holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered up by l'Abbé Vienet, who came out here from New York. The congregation consisted of about twenty-five persons. Previous to this time, the Catholics had been in the habit of going to New York to attend to their re- ligious duties. The settlement was afterwards visit- ed by Father Malou. Somewhat later, Rev. Mr.
THE MADISON CHURCH AND ITS OFFSPRING. 45
O'Donahoe officiated here regularly every month. After him, the Rev. Father Power attended it. At first, Mass was celebrated in a private house ; then the upper part of the Academy was hired and fitted up with an altar, etc. In 1833 Rev. Mr. Herard became the resident pastor. A house was pur- chased which served the two purposes of a chapel and dwelling. In 1839, at a time when bigotry was rank and prevalent in these parts, and when the scandalous tales of Maria Monk and other aban- doned characters were devoured most greedily ; when the ladies amused themselves at their tea- parties by piously narrating the horrid doings of the benighted Papists ; when the ministers ranted and the newspapers were filled with scurrilous abuse of what their editors were ignorant of, the Catholics of Madison and neighborhood thought it not a bad season for erecting in the midst of all this bigotry a church in honor of God, and as a proof of the strength and vitality of that body of men which almost everybody was so busy calum- niating.
They cheerfully gave as far as their means would allow them, but had it not been for the extreme generosity of two sons of the first set- tler, they would never have had the really beautiful Church which now adorns the village of Madison. It is considered by all as one of the best-finished country churches in the diocese.
All this section of the State was attended from Madison. In 1847 a Church was built at Dover, by Rev. Mr. Senez, and another at Boonton Falls; in 1848, one at Morristown. And now, within the one county of Morris, we have four churches. Is there not here an increase, and has not God blessed this mission ?
46
THE STORY OF A PARISH.
Should you judge this sketch at all useful, it is at your disposal. Yours most respectfully,
A. C. P.
According to Father McQuaid's estimate in 1849, the Catholics belonging to the Morristown mission, stretching out for miles into the country in every direction except towards Madison, numbered, in- cluding babies in arms, about one hundred and twenty souls. The first efforts of the priest were necessarily directed to the salvation of those al- ready within the fold of the Church; but even at this early period conversions were not unfrequent.
In 1843, William Fulton was received into the Church by the Rev. Dr. Ambrose Manahan ; and the first convert baptized by Father McQuaid was Mrs. Laurence Johnson.
In 1850 the first festival, or tea-party, as it was called, was held by a few of the ladies of the con- gregation in what is now Farmer's Hotel in Market Street, then owned by Nathan B. Luse, and used by Isaac S. Runyon for a private school, another floor by the Odd Fellows and Freemasons, and the upper story as a hall.
The brass band of the town furnished the music. There was no dancing. About one hundred and fifty dollars, clear of all expenses, were realized, and Father McQuaid was overjoyed with the result, be- cause it enabled him to pay each of three creditors the fifty dollars he owed.
The first sexton was Mr. William O'Toole, whose
47
A BIT OF NATIVE-AMERICANISM.
weekly salary was fifty cents. In September, 1850, Father McQuaid opened the first Catholic school in Morristown, with Mr. Tracey, from New York, as teacher. He was one of the old school of hard taskmasters whose theory and practice ran on the line of Solomon's injunction : "Spare the rod and spoil the child."
One Antoine, a Frenchman, brutally murdered his master and his wife, for which he suffered the death penalty. This incident provoked an intense hostility to all foreigners, and, as a matter of course, the Irish were the first victims.
Two poor laborers were driven by threats from their homes and compelled to seek refuge in Mr. Ford's woods, there to linger until the passion of the rowdy element had cooled down.
The Irishmen who worked in Mr. Vail's Speed- well Works were attacked, and more than one scrimmage took place; but the Irish succeeded in defending themselves. This condition of things continued until Mr. Vail took sides with his Irish employees, and gave their shopmates to understand that he would tolerate the question of nationality no longer, and that the persecution must be stopped.
Mr. Vail was not only a thorough mechanic but an upright man, who aided the worthy and defend- ed the weak. Hence it is not surprising to find an endorsement of his policy by those employed in the works conducted by Messrs. Whelpley and Can-
48
THE STORY OF A PARISH.
field. The following card appears in the Morris- town Banner of current date :
"THE TEN-HOUR LAW.
"To Ed. W. Whelpley, Esq., and B. O. Canfield, Esq. :
" The undersigned, some of whom have worked for the above twenty years, desire to express their satisfaction with the number of hours they work and wages received.
J. A. Berry, Foreman, Patrick Doyle, Foreman,
James Murphy, Lawrence Welsh,
Bernard Welsh, Bernard Timothy,
John Doyle,
Dennis Foley,
Michael Kinsella,
B. W. Berry.
" MORRISTOWN, N. J., October 31, 1850."
The fire of charity may grow dull but rarely dies out, unless by an overt apostasy. The habit of faith revives when the Spirit of God again broods over it and awakens it into activity. The priests found many who, through no fault of theirs, had not approached the Sacraments for years; and how touching was their joy when the coming of a priest enabled them to rid their conscience of guilt by confession, and to receive into their heart their Lord and God! Such an one was old John McGowan, who for forty years had not knelt to a priest. Father McQuaid shrived the good old man, and the fervor with which he received Holy Com- munion edified every one.
MOST REV. JAMES ROOSEVELT BAYLEY, D.D.
THE BEGINNINGS OF SETON HALL COLLEGE. 49
In 1853, New Jersey, separated from New York, was raised by the Holy See to the dignity of a diocese, and the Rev. James Roosevelt Bayley was appointed Bishop. This was an important event, not only in the history of the diocese, but in the history of our Parish. Very soon after taking pos- session of his See, Bishop Bayley purchased the Chegarray School and opened Seton Hall College, with the Rev. Bernard J. McQuaid as its first president. This promotion to a field for which his executive ability admirably fitted him necessitated the severing of the ties which held Father McQuaid to parish work, that he might concentrate his time and talent on the creation of a home where Catho- lic youth would be thoroughly grounded in know- ledge and religion, and where a clergy for the growing needs of the Diocese might be trained under the eye of the Bishop.
Father McQuaid was succeeded by Rev. Father Madden. The wide field of the Madison mission still remained unchanged, and tested to the utmost the physical endurance and zeal of the priest. Fa- ther Madden was equal to the rigorous demands of both. It is safe to say that in the three years of his administration the faithful were not neglected, the spiritual wants of the flock were well attended to, while the temporalities were carefully and pru- dently watched over.
Good Father Madden was forced, as his prede- cessor, and alas! his successors, to the unpleasant
50
THE STORY OF A PARISH.
necessity of holding picnics for the purpose of sup- porting his mission. One of the veterans tells us : "We had a picnic for the children, suggested and conducted by Father Madden. The lunches were all prepared at Mrs. Rogers's, as there was no priest's house here then. The children all met at the old Church and marched in a body down the Mountain road to Mr. Collins's woods, now Mr. Foote's. There were all kinds of games for the boys and girls, and all had an enjoyable time at these picnics." Father Madden, who loved athletic sports, engaged with zest in the amusements, and always carried off the palm in the jumping con- tests.
From the Baptismal Record it appears the care of the Parish was entrusted at times to the Rev. L. Hoey; and occasional entries indicate that the Rev. Alfred Young, now of the Paulist Fathers, to- gether with the Very Rev. Dean McNulty, and, now and then, the Rev. D. J. Fisher came from Seton Hall College-now the old St. Elizabeth's Convent-to say Mass, catechize the children, and administer to the wants of the congregation. The Morristown Catholics held Father Young in high esteem. His genial manners made him friends everywhere. The young flocked around him. At the sick bed his charm of manner never failed to cheer, and his tender message of patience plucked out the thorn of suffering and substituted the holy calm of Christian resignation.
5I
FATHER MCNULTY.
Father McNulty displayed then as now the burn- ing zeal which no obstacle could stay or hinder. The heat and cold were alike a matter of indif- ference when it was a question of duty. Were a carriage convenient to help him in his round of duty, well and good. If not, like Chaucer's worthy Pastor,
" On foot, and in his hand a stave, This noble example to his flock he gave: That first he wrought, and then he taught ; Out of the Gospel he that lesson caught."
CHAPTER IV.
HE Rev. L. Hoey, who was appointed to the new Mission of Morristown, cut off from Madison in 1860, was the first Priest to reside per- manently here. He stopped at Mrs. Rogers's eleven months, during which time he labored hard and zealously for the erection of the priest's house. His ability as a mathematician attracted the atten- tion of his superiors, and secured for him a pro- fessorship in the new college.
The first picnic organized by the newly-appointed Pastor is best described by one who was there :
" On July 4th, 1857, Father Hoey held the first grand picnic in the woods. Bright and early that morning Mr. Collins, Mr. Patrick Dempsey, and Mr. Degan were ready to carry the things to the picnic grounds, where the willing ladies had gone ahead to prepare the tables. Mass was celebrated at nine o'clock, at which all the Sunday-school were present and as many of the congregation as could be. After Mass, headed by Father Hoey, the children, followed by the adults, marched to the grounds. The music was supplied by a fiddler and an Irish piper, and the most prominent features were the breakdowns by the old folks. The enjoyable fun was not to last long, for about four o'clock dark clouds began to gather, and as fast as the provisions could be packed in the wagon they were taken to Mr. Collins's barn, a short distance from the woods. The teams had barely reached shelter when down
52
REV. L. HOEY.
53
THE FIRST RECTORY.
came the rain. All hastened to the tent which had been erected on the grounds, and under its protec- tion dancing was again resumed. The fun was un- der good headway when down came the tent on the picnickers' heads; and the white dresses of the ladies were marked with the labelled stamp of the tent-maker. When the storm ceased, the men hung their coats on the limbs of the trees and danced till they were dry. At this picnic chances were given out for the first time. Mrs. J. Doyle had given a cake beautifully iced, which the ladies did not know how to dispose of till Father Hoey came up and started it at ten cents a chance, and in a short time thirty-seven dollars were realized. At the breaking up that evening, all volunteered to return the next night to Mr. Collins's barn and finish the refresh- ments and dance. The piper was brought in, the cows turned out to the lots, but the horses were left in their stalls to share the fun, and the motto was, 'Drink, dance, and be merry.' And so every- body did. This ended our first picnic."
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