USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > Lives of the clergy of New York and Brooklyn: embracing two hundred biographies of eminent living men in all denominations. Also, the history of each sect and congregation, Pt. 2 > Part 3
USA > New York > New York City > Lives of the clergy of New York and Brooklyn: embracing two hundred biographies of eminent living men in all denominations. Also, the history of each sect and congregation, Pt. 2 > Part 3
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JOHN MCCLOSKEY, D. D.
the altar he knelt devoutly, and remained for some time in silent prayer. Being escorted to the throne in front of the rostrum, the Bishops present ascended the steps one by one, and, on presenting themselves to the Archbishop, he tenderly embraced them, imprint - ing the kiss of peace on their left cheek. The priests followed in like manner, one at a time, and kneeling at the feet of their supe- rior, respectfully kissed the signet-ring on his right hand. He received the crozier, tiara, and other paraphernalia of the Archie- piscopal office in front of the altar. The grand Pontifical High Mass set down for the day was then performed, and the Archbishop made a most eloquent address.
The Archdiocese of New York comprises the City and County of New York, and the counties south of the forty-second degree of north latitude, except those on Long Island. The Roman Catholic Province of New York embraces the Dioceses of New York, Albany, Boston, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Rochester, Burlington, Hartford, Spring- field, Newark, and Portland, and includes the States of New York, New Jersey, and all New England.
Archbishop McCloskey has now been in the Archdiocese seven years. Great success had previously followed the efforts of his gifted and energetic predecessor, but quite as much has resulted from his own. There has been an increase of twelve churches, and nearly one hundred priests. The Catholic population of the Arch- diocese is between five and six hundred thousand, and of this num- ber between four and five hundred thousand are in the City of New York. The following are the statistics of 1871:
Churches 121
Asylums. 13
Chapels 24
Home for Aged Men.
1
Priests 229
Homes for Aged Women 2
Theological Seminary. 1 Hospitals .. 2
Colleges.
3
Religious Communities for Men .. . 8
Academies.
12 Religious Communities for Women 12
Select Schools 16 Ecclesiastical Students. 58
In about five years six hundred thousand dollars have been expended on the new Cathedral building in course of erection on Fifth avenue. One hundred thousand dollars had been previously expended, and one hundred and fifty thousand dollars in cash, recently subscribed, is now in the hands of the Archbishop for the work. At least two millions will be expended on the whole edifice. It will have ten or twelve chapels besides the main church, which is to accommodate ten thousand people.
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JOHN MCCLOSKEY, D. D.
Archbishop McCloskey has made four visits to Rome, the last when in attendance at the Ecumenical Council, when he was nine months in that city. His labors in the Archdiocese are necessarily very great; and it is but an act of simple justice to say that the results thereof are proportionately beneficent. Exercising a most commanding influence in his extended and increasing field of effort, as well on account of his high official position as for his prominent qualities of head and heart, he has already accomplished an incal- culable amount of good, and gives promise of greater usefulness in the future. The Church in him finds a zealous and efficient leader, and American citizenship a most noble and honored exponent. He is one of that class of whom Addison says : "Those men only are truly great who place their ambition rather in acquiring to them- selves the conscience of worthy enterprises than in the prospect of glory which attends them. These exalted spirits would rather be secretly the authors of events which are serviceable to mankind, than, without being such, to have the public fame of it."
He is above the medium height, sparely made, and erect. His head is of an intellectual cast, and his countenance, wlien increasing years are beginning to leave their unmistakable lines, is strongly expressive of amiability and benevolence. The features are finely moulded and uniform. About the mouth there is always an expres- sion of the truest kindness and gentleness, and the eyes are soft and sympathetic, while full of intellectuality. The brow is broad, over which the hair is parted, and carefully combed on either side. In any gathering of men he would be selected as a person distinguished for gifts of mind, and great goodness of heart. In his manners he is dignified, courteous, and kindly. A simple, easy dignity, natural to the man, as well as taught in the prominent stations which he has so long occupied, does not prevent a gentlemanly and friendly demeanor towards all who have intercourse with him. There is that calmness, thoughtfulness, and propriety which is becoming in one holding a sacred office, but the warmth of a genial, cheerful nature is as fully apparent in both words and actions. Kindred natures are instantly drawn to him, and all dispositions must in some measure respond to the influence of his fascinations. He is a ripe scholar, and a bold and devoted churchman. His eloquence is of the tender, deeply religious kind, uttered with fervent sincerity, and in language at once of simplicity and elegance.
A man of energy, and of sleepless vigilance in the discharge of
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JOHN MCCLOSKEY, D. D.
all duty, still he always seeks the most unostentatious manner of performing it. He provokes no conflicts, and he offends no opinions, but, with humility and prayerfulness, toils on in the sphere of his own duties. Hence the many monuments which he has reared to the usefulness and glory of his Church, and hence the spotless and honored name which he has given to the ecclesiastical history of his times.
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REV. JOSEPHI MCELROY, D. D.,
PASTOR OF THE SCOTCH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NEW YORK.
EV. DR. JOSEPH MCELROY is of Irish descent, and was born at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, December 29th, 1792. Ile was graduated at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1812, and subsequently studied theology with the distinguished Rev. Dr. John M. Mason, of the Presbyterian Church. He was licensed as a Presbyterian minister in June, 1816, by the Presbytery of Monongahela, and in November of the same year became the pastor of the First Associate Reformed Pres- byterian Church of Pittsburg, a new congregation organized under his own auspices. After holding worship in the Court House for nearly two years the congregation took possession of a fine structure which they had been enabled to erect. At the close of seven years service Dr. Mc Elroy removed to the city of New York, to become the suc- cessor of Rev. Dr. Mc Cloud, at the Scotch Presbyterian Church in Cedar street, formerly under the charge of Rev. Dr. John Mason and his son Rev. Dr. John M. Mason. This congregation was organized about a century ago, being composed of a body of seceders from the First Presbyterian Church. They were originally known as the First Associate Reformed Church, and later by their present title of Scotch Presbyterian. A new church having been erected on the corner of Grand and Crosby streets it was occupied in 1837; and this was given up in 1853 for a still more costly structure in Fourteenth street. The property extends from Fourteenth street to Fifteenth street, and with the church and a school-house in the last named street, cost over one hundred thousand dollars.
Dr. Me Elroy informed us several years ago, that but six of the families connected with the congregation, at the time of his entering upon the duties as pastor, now remain, and not one of the original male membership. On the other hand, to show the manner in which the congregation has grown within itself he states that a single family,
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REV. JOSEPH MCELROY, D. D.
increasing from generation to generation, from occupying one pew have come to occupy ten. The present number of members is about seven hundred. The Sunday school has about two hundred children, and a day school has over one hundred children. The day school is maintained by a fund of fifty thousand dollars obtained from cer- tain real estate bequeathed for the purpose by Alexander Robertson, a leading member of the congregation.
Dr. MeElroy received his degree of D. D. from Rutgers College about 1825. ITis publications are a few pamphlet sermons.
Dr. McElroy is of a tall, rather spare person, with a slight stoop in his shoulders. He has a head more long than broad, with uni- form features, now showing the contraction and other marks of ad- vanced age. His eyes are penetrating and intellectual, having also a particularly mild and benevolent beam. He is social in his nature, inclined to cheerful conversation, and on all occasions shows those impulses which best proclaim not only the truest manhood but the highest religious conscientiousness. You readily discover that he is a man of the utmost reliability in all things, as well as one of broad and substantial talents. His frank, generous, high-toned senti- ments-nay, his very tone and glance-impress you instantly with his sterling value of character. You contemplate him with that genuine and absorbing interest which exalted worth originates in the human bosom, and you listen to his words with little short of vener- ation. His manners are so simple and gentle that a child would be naturally drawn toward him, and his opinions are expressed with- out the slightest assumption of superior intelligence. There are those who claim a friendship for him going through an extended pe- riod of years. It is these, of course, who know him best, and it is these who say that his admirable traits of character, his delightful simplicity of manners, his pure-mindedness, and his lofty devotion to duty, are the things which have made friendship beautiful and pro- fitable, as well in its progress as in its beginning, as well in cloud as in sunshine. Humble-minded, noble-spirited, and devoted to Chris- tian works, neither circumstances nor time produces any impression upon him, save that of a higher and rarer development of personal virtues.
Dr. McElroy is a very effective preacher. Always possessed of a striking power of argument, and a ready and efficient means of reaching the emotions, he has gained greatly additional control over his hearers by the touching weaknesses of age. Once he stood erect,
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REV. JOSEPH MCELROY, D. D.
but now he is bowed; once his voice rung out with the force of young genius and ambition, but now it is sinking and husky ; once he was all energy, but now strength and life itself are in their fast decline. But, as we say, he never was more powerful in his pulpit ministra- tions. The olden religious enthusiasm is still upon him : his mind is enriched with the garnered learning of nearly three-quarters of a century, and the exposition of his faith still moves him to a tender eloquence. And then the bent form, the feeble voice, the brilliant flickering of the dying flame of energies, mind, and life, each and all give him added and even more irresistible powers. He preaches ex- temporaneously, but after diligent study. He states that he has not written more than five sermons during his ministry in New York. Of late years an assistant has discharged the chief duties of tlie pastorate.
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REV. EDWARD MCGLYNN. D. D.,
PASTOR OF ST. STEPHEN'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, NEW YORK.
EV. DR. EDWARD MCGLYNN was born in the city of New York, September 27th, 1837. He received his car- lier education in the publie schools and at the free college. In 1850, at the age of fourteen years, he went to Rome, and commenced his studies preparatory to the priesthood. At the end of seven years, he was graduated at the college of the Propaganda, with the highest honors. In 1860, he entered the priest- hood, and also received the degree of doctor of divinity. For a short time he was temporary vice-rector of the American College in Rome, when he was recalled to New York by Archbishop Hughes, and appointed assistant pastor of St. Joseph's Church, where he re- mained six months. Subsequently he was stationed for a brief period respectively at St. Bridget's and St. James'. He went to St. Ann's, as pastor, in December, 1861, remaining one year. In 1862, he was appointed by President Lineoln, chaplain of the military hos- pital in the Central Park, New York, where he served for three years. He was next appointed, in the latter part of 1865, assistant pastor to the distinguished Rev. Dr. Cummings at St. Stephen's. On the de- cease of that gentleman, in January, 1866. Dr. MeGlynn was advanced to the vacant pastorship, which he still holds.
St. Stephen's is one of the largest and most important of the Roman Catholie congregations of New York, numbering some twenty-five thousand people. In 1850, the first services were held by Dr. Cum- mings, in a small building on the recent site of the New Haven Rail- road depot, on Twenty seventh street and Fourth avenue. A large church edifice was erected on Twenty-eighth street, between Third and Lexington avenues, in 1854. This structure was enlarged, by being extended through the bloek to Twenty-ninth street, during 1865-6, at an expenditure of one hundred thousand dollars. Mag- nificent marble altars were erected, at a cost of fifty thousand dollars, and all the other improvements were on the same scale of liberality. Various paintings by Brumidi, cost twelve thousand dollars. For 346
REV. EDWARD MCGLYNN, D. D.
the year 1871, the receipts and expenditures of the church were over sixty-three thousand dollars. The amount received for pew rents was over fourteen thousand dollars. For seats at high mass, five thousand; door collections at early masses over seven thousand ; and plate collections nearly twelve thousand. The collections for charita- ble purposes were over ten thousand dollars; and the choir and extra music cost over five thousand dollars. Donations to the amount of about three thousand dollars were made to the " Orphan's Home," originated by Dr. McGlynn and connected with the church, and of about two thousand to the " Industrial Home," also connected with the church, for girls out of employment. Six priests beside the pastor, are regularly stationel in this parish, who, aidel by the Sis- ters of Charity, also visit Bellevue Hospital, which has some six thousand patients per annum. The Sunday school consists of about two thousand children ; and there are religious and temperance socie- ties of much numerical strength. The music is very fine, and the Sunday vesper and holiday services are largely attended by Protest- ants.
A few years since, Dr. MeGlynn spent a short time in Europe. He is constantly invited to different parts of the country to lecture, as he ranks among the most popular and instructive speakers of the day. Ilis style, at such times, is particularly pure, logical, and vig- orous; in some passages rising to the dignity of fervid and sublime eloquence. A lecture on " Public Education," giving in very argu- mentative and impressive language, the Catholic view of the Bible question in the public schools, which was published in the New York Herald, December 17th, 1871, attracted much attention. Both his sermons and lectures are delivered extemporaneously.
The following extract from the celebrated sermon preached by Dr. McGlynn, on the occasion of the reception of the Rev. J. D. Bradley, an Episcopalian Minister, into the Catholic Church, fully reveals the profound theological knowledge and large-hearted Christian charity of the preacher :-
"I say to you in this assemblage who are not of our faith, that I do not wish to be so misunderstood, that because I yearn to have all men stand where I stand, I must necessarily believe that you and such as you, are altogether wrong ; that you possess no part of the true faith, and that you are inevitably excluded from heaven. This is not a tenet of Catholic Theology, although it has been thousands of times so misrepresented. I believe that if you sincerely follow the light as it is given to you, by the grace of God, you will not be condemned ; and I trust that your hearts will be still further warmed by the love of Jesus Christ. While, like Paul, I wish you were all as I am, 'save these chains,' my many imperfections, I would not be mis-
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REV. EDWARD MCGLYNN, D. D.
understood as condemning you for what you are. If you are honestly prepared to follow the Saviour ; if you can say from your hearts : 'Lead thou on, O Lord ! and I will follow,' I am ready to to take you by the hand and wish you God-speed, and pray that grace may lead you where you must knock for admission to the Cath- olic Church. If you are not as I am, I thank God that you are what you are. If you are an Episcopalian of the more Catholic type, I thank God that you practice so much that is Catholic. If you are a member of the Low Church, I thank God that you have advanced even so far as you have. If you believe in Christ's divinity, I thank God that you possess so much Christian truth. If you only think of Christ asa friend, a patron, a leader, I thank God that you do so. I, a Catholic minister of the Gospel, teach from this altar that the most approved Catholic Theology is, that while we must all follow the truth, those who, through no fault of their own, are not fully informed, are naturally excused from the fulfillment of precepts, which they do not know, and will not be condemned for their ignorance. It is necessary for all men to have the grace of Catholic communion ; but if any man in perfect honesty fails to see the necessity, he is not to blame.
"If any man should come to mne, and ask to be admitted into the Catholic fold, I would say : 'No, unless your conscience approves of the step ; much less if your conscience forbids.' I, a Catholic Priest, declare that you must obey the behests of that inner tribunal of your own souls. Nor can I permit you to become a Catholic while a doubt still remains. I will tell you to go and pray, think over it, seek in- struction, and only come back when your conscience fully approves of every Catho- lic dogma. This is the only faith I hold and profess, so help mne God !
"Such a declaration ought to silence with you the taunt about exclusive salvation. " Who will deny that it is necessary to obey the will of Christ, if he neknowledges the Saviour as his Lord and Master? The only excuse is ignorance of his precepts. "If, on the last day, you can say : 'Lord, I did not know these precepts ; what I did know I fulfilledl to the best of my ability; and if I transgressed, I have repented.' He will not condemn you, although, perhaps, he may chide you for not having come to Him and asked for knowledge through prayer. But if any man wilfully shuts his eyes to the light when God wishes to show him the light-if he doubts and does not take every means in his power to remove the doubt-if he does not want to know God, is he not culpable even though he can truly say he is ignorant. It is not a sufficient excuse for a man to say -- 'I did not know ;' he must be able to say, 'I did not advert that there was any obligation in me of making further enquiries after the truth, as I believed that I posessed it.'
"I am only too happy to say with these reservations, that I thank God that you are as you are. I pray him to bless and sanctify your souls, to bring them all into communion with His own sweet heart, and to forgive all the faults of your ignor- ance and education, and that great fault of this century and especially of this country, prejudice against every thing Catholic, which is the woeful inheritance of past bad days."
Dr. McGlynn has a tall, large figure. He stands and walks erect in the perfect embodiment of manly grace and health. His head is also of large size, with a full, round face. The brow is bold and handsome; the eyes are small and brilliant, while the whole expres- sion affords that blending of the moral and intellectual, which makes the human countenance most interesting. ITis manner ; are courteous, bland, and self-possessed. He is never anything but the priest, at the same time that he is naturally the courtly gentleman. Devoutness.
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REV. EDWARD MCGLYNN, D. D.
and graceful ease of both speech and manners, characterize him on all occasions. He is quick and ardent in his feelings, and bold and persevering in the execution of his plans.
In mental capacity and crudition, he is one of the strongest men of his church and the day. Vigor, depth, and originality are the peculiarities alike of his study and teachings. He goes in no narrow groove ; he follows no beaten track ; but he is one who rises to the highest action of personal genius and virtuc. He has been brilliant in every position as the scholar, and grandly successful in every re- lation as a clergyman and public man. An enthusiast in religion, still to the fervor of the devotee he adds that wide, searching, and grasping intelligence, which lays hold of every living issue of prin- ciple among men for ends of his own. He does not hide away in scholarly seclusion, but he loves to stand in the blaze of the sunlight to uphold his faith and join in the battle of good against evil. He is an American, thoroughly indoctrinated with republican principles. and having an abiding confidence in the glorious future of his coun- try. Consequently, he is the earnest ally of progress and enlighten- ment, holding that the Catholic Church will gain its greatest ascend- ency through these agencies. In many particulars his views are very liberal, and while his opinions, always sincerely and boldly expressed, have attracted no little remark within his own seet, nevertheless they have been too sensible and practical to be refuted.
In his pulpit he speaks with the solemn authority of the priest, united with matchless powers as an orator. About him are architect- ural grandeur and church appointments in their greatest splendor, and before him is the vast multitude who hang almost breathless upon his lips. No priest and no orator can want more to inspire him. But this man rises to preach with a mind profound in study and daily observation, and a heart aglow with feeling. Moved by these impulses of his own, he utters language which shows the grasp of this mind, and the tenderness of these emotions. With sentences which are as terse as if written, though extemporaneous; with a majesty of reasoning which quickly bends the hearer to its power, and with a music of voice which can thrill and then melt, he proclaims his mes- sage of religion. Tall in stature, he becomes even more command- ing, and the fluent tongue is aided by the beaming eyes and expres- sive gestures. When the great throng hear the last utterance of the sermon, they are touched and subdued as are probably few other con- gregations of the city. Faith has been made vivid to the commonest understanding, and eloquence has won a new garland.
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REV. JOHN N. MCJILTON, D. D., 1
LATE RECTOR OF MADISON STREET EPISCO- PAL MISSION CHAPEL.
EV DR. JOHN N. McJILTON was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and is over sixty years of age. His father was a Methodist preacher for over forty years, and the son, having been raised regularly in that faith, became an active member of the church at eighteen years of age At nineteen he was a Sunday School Superintendent, and for many years he was one of the most prominent and popular workers in the Sunday School cause in Baltimore. If a Sunday School was to be started in a difficult place, or a declining school to be revived. the appeal was always, "Send MeJilton." For five years he walked six miles every Sunday morning to school and home in the evening, without missing once. At fourteen he was manager and speaker of a Juvenile Society ; at twenty-two vice-president of the Young Men's Missionary Society, president of the Young Men's Teacher's Aid Society, and delivered addresses before both societies, that were published. He was led by accidental circumstances to read the Episcopal Prayer Book, when he became greatly interested in the doctrines and forms of that church. After serious consultation with different Episcopal divines, he became convinced of the autho- rity and propriety of the orders of the church, and eventually began to study for the ministry. He was ordained as deaeon of the Pro- testant Episcopal Church in St. Peter's Church, Baltimore, and one year later to the priesthood in St. Paul's Church, Baltimore, by Bishop Whittingham. When ordained he was teacher of Male Pub- lic Grammar School No. 1, of Baltimore. He first officiated as as- sistant minister of Christ Church, Baltimore, under the Rev. John Johns, rector, and now Bishop of Virginia. IIis active energies were soon engaged in raising a subscription for building a church for a missionary congregation and Sunday School, in which he fully succeeded. The congregation and Sunday School were organized in
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Respectfully
illon -
REV. JOHN N. MOJILTON, D. D.
the upper story of a cooper's shop, and in eight months a church edi- fico was duly completed. The building was paid for when com- pleted, and consecrated by Bishop Whittingham, whose rule was and is to consecrate no church in debt. During the period of study and while a candidate for orders, he had charge of St. James' Afri- can Church, of which he was the rector for seventeen years. He now entered upon the rectorship of St. Stephen's, also, in which he continued for a number of years. Ile had the old building of St. James, taken down, and a new gothic building erected, with a base- ment for a Sunday School, which was always crowded with pupils, both adults and children.
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