USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Catholicity in northern Ohio and in the diocese of Cleveland from 1749 to December 31, 1900, Volume I, pt1 > Part 18
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"In your daily prayers, brethren, do not forget your Bishop. but beg of God that, like David, he may ever be a man after God's own heart; that all his thoughts and desires, all his words and actions may redound to the greater honor and glory of God and the salvation of souls. Amen."
Familiar as Bishop Horstmann was with the routine work of governing a diocese, whilst Chancellor of the Philadelphia diocese, he very soon familiarized himself also with his new surroundings, and took up the reins of administration. dropped in death by his predecessor. He adopted all the existing business methods and forms, and reappointed as his immediate official assistants those who had served in like position under Bishop Gilmour. Thus the affairs of the diocese received attention without any hitch or halt, that otherwise might have been expected under a new regime. Owing to Bishop Gilmour's long illness much work that could not be delegated had to remain undone. This work was now taken in
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hand by the new bishop and kept him steadily occupied for many months after his installation. Churches were established, others dedicated, confirmation administered and the large and varied interests of the diocese. both spiritual and temporal, administered by him, with greatest zeal and self-sacrifice.
On his episcopal visits throughout the diocese he was rejoiced to find an excellent spirit among the clergy and laity, whom he soon easily won by his kindness and genial manner, and by whom also he was received with filial respect and warmest welcome. He also found the diocese in most orderly condition. with an array of churches, schools and institutions that greatly surprised and pleased him.
One of Bishop Horstmann's first important official acts was to approve of the founding of a Preparatory Seminary for boys desirous of studying for the priesthood, as intended by Bishop Gilmour, who had commissioned his vicar general, Mgr. F. M. Boff, to collect funds among the clergy for that purpose. The money thus raised was largely augmented from the Bishop's private means, and invested in a site for the proposed building. It is located on Carroll street, Cleveland, near the Jesuit College, which, according to the plan proposed, is to furnish the young aspirants to the holy ministry their collegiate training. The site cost $12,700, but owing to lack of means the erection of the necessary building had to be indefinitely postponed. It is to be hoped that this laudable project of Bishop Gilmour, seconded by his successor, may soon be realized, so that the diocese may not further be obliged to send its young levites elsewhere to pursue their collegiate studies.
On December 20, 1892, Bishop Horstmann published a circular in which he ordered that throughout the diocese the De Profundis bell be rung each evening, either immediately after the Angelus, or at 7 o'clock p. m., to remind the faithful to pray for the poor souls in purgatory. The devotion struck a popular chord and soon became a fixed custoni.
In the same month and year Bishop Horstmann asked the pastors of congregations to send to the diocesan archives duplicate photographs of their respective churches. The same request was sent to the heads of all the religious and educational institutions.
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In a short time a most valuable array of photographs was collected, one set of which was mounted in two large albums, properly en- grossed and indexed. The other set was likewise mounted in a splendidly bound album and presented to His Holiness, Leo XIII, by Bishop Horstmann when he made his first official visit to Rome, in December, 1894.
In line with Bishop Gilmour's similar action some years previous, the diocese was again divided, in August, 1893, into five districts, each of which was assigned to one of the five orphan asylums located in the diocese. The sisterhoods were allowed to collect only in the district now assigned to their respective asylums, in order to make this annual call on the charity of the faithful as light a burden as possible.
At the suggestion of Bishop Horstmann, the Sisters of Charity, connected with St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum, Cleveland, commenced in 1894 the St. Vincent's Union, its membership being composed of the laity, who contribute as annual dues the sum of twenty-five cents towards the support of the Asylum. The sum total thus realized each year has proved of great assistance to the Sisters in their work of charity. The members of the Union share in many spiritual favors, and are also recipients of the well edited paper, published in December of each year for the benefit of the Asylum, under the name of "St. Vincent's Union."
As in 1892 St. Joseph's and St. John's cemeteries, in Cleve- land, had become nearly filled with interments, it was of imperative necessity for Bishop Horstmann to secure a suitable tract of land for a cemetery which would serve the needs of all the Cleveland parishes. For six months he and a committee of city pastors made search for such land. Every available tract of land between Dover and Willoughby was visited and examined as to soil and accessi- bility. Finally the Leland Farm in Newburg township was con- sidered the best possible site, because located equi-distant between East and West Cleveland, and easily reached by the Broadway electric cars from all parts of the city. There was also a fair pros- pect that an electric line, along the west line of the Leland Farni, would soon be built from the city limits, near Broadway, to Akron. These facts, as well as the soil and beautiful landscape of the fifty acre tract of land, induced the Bishop to make the purchase in
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ST. MARY'S SCHOOLS, SANDUSKY,
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April, 1893. At once, under the direction of a noted civil engineer, assisted by a large force of men, about twenty-five acres of the land were graded for burial lots and single graves, macadamized drives built, and drainage provided. The farm was so transformed by autumn that its original owners could not have recognized it. On November 26, 1893, the graded part was solemnly blessed by the Rev. . Chancellor Houck, who had been delegated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop for that purpose. About ten priests took part in the ceremony which, in spite of the cold weather, was witnessed by a vast concourse of people. The new burial ground was given the name of Calvary Cemetery. At first considerable displeasure was manifested by many of the laity belonging to outlying parishes, but that feeling has nearly vanished, owing to the ease with which the cemetery can be reached, either by carriage or electric cars, the latter passing the main entrance to the cemetery. By the end of the year 1900. over 8,000 interments had been made in Calvary Cemetery. In 1900 Bishop Horstmann purchased an additional fifty acre tract of land, adjoining Calvary Cemetery on the east, thus making the entire cemetery site one hundred acres in extent. During the same year also an electric funeral car was introduced, which is rapidly growing in public favor.
Bishop Horstmann paid his first official, or ad limina, visit to Rome in 1894. He left Cleveland early in November of that year and returned on Christmas eve. He gave Pope Leo XIII a full account of the excellent condition of religion in his diocese. The Rt. Rev. Bishop was delighted with the long and interesting audience granted him by the Holy Father. On the same occasion he personally handed His Holiness the Peter Pence offering made that year by the Diocese of Cleveland.
Whilst Bishop Gilmour was ill in the Providence Hospital, at Washington, in November, 1889, he expressed to one of his priests, then visiting him, his ardent wish to inaugurate in his diocese the evangelization of non-Catholics, and hoped one or more of his priests, with taste for such work, would put into effect his long cherished plan. Owing however to long illness and constant press of duties in other directions, nothing was or could be done in the matter, so near and dear to his heart. It was reserved to his successor, Bishop Horstmann, to put it into effect.
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As the celebrated Paulist missionary, Father Elliott, was engaged in similar work, and therefore had experience, perhaps such as no other priest in this country had, Bishop Horstmann invited him to come to Cleveland and train one or more priests for that purpose. This he readily did. He came in September, 1894, and associated with himself the Revs. William S. Kress, John H. Muehlenbeck. Edward P. Graham, and Ign. J. Wonderly, and gave missions to non-Catholics in various parts of the diocese, with much success. The missions consisted of a series of lectures in public halls, or in any other available places to which the desired audience could be attracted. A special feature of the missions was the "question box," which soon became very popular. The fairness and patience shown by the missionaries towards their often unsympathetic hearers won the good will and attention of those that first attended with misgiving or deep seated prejudice. The result was that many embraced the Faith. In September, 1895, the present Cleveland Apostolate was organized, and is continuing the work, so well begun by Father Elliott.
One of the few legacies of trouble that came to Bishop Horstmann from his predecessor, and which caused grave public scandal, was the case of the Rev. A. F. Kolaszewski. He had been ordained for the diocese of Cleveland, by Bishop Gilmour, in July, 1883, and was appointed pastor of St. Stanislas' (Polish) congre- gation, in Cleveland. Between 1SS6 and 1890, frequent charges were made against the Rev. Kolaszewski. The investigation of these charges, and the bitter partizanship for and against the Rev. Kolaszewski. among the people of St. Stanislas' parish, caused Bishop Gilmour and the Episcopal curia a great deal of trouble. Besides, the Fifth Provincial Council of Cincinnati, the Primeau trial, and the death of the Bishop, were in the way of reaching definite results in the case of the Rev. Kolaszewski. Within two months after Bishop Horstmann came to the diocese, another grave charge was made against Rev. Kolaszewski. He was unable to disprove it, and so, on May 28, 1892, offered his resignation. His resignation was accepted by the Bishop, on condition that he leave the diocese, which he did. He went to Syracuse, N. Y., where he passed under the name of "Father Colly." After lie left Cleveland it was found that St. Stanislas' church had a debt of over
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$90,000, about half of which was unauthorized by the Bishop and therefore unknown to him. The Rev. Kolaszewski remained at Syracuse until May, 1894, when, regardless of his promise to Bishop Horstmann, he returned to Cleveland, and at once organized a schismatic congregation, composed of a considerable number of Poles who had been his followers while he was pastor of St. Stanislas' church. He purchased a tract of land on Tremont street, not far from his former church and pastoral residence, and on it built a church. This schismatic church he had "dedicated" on August 18, 1894, by a so-called "archbishop," named Vilatte.
Bishop Horstmann referred the case of the Rev. Kolaszewski to the Apostolic Delegate, Monsignor Satolli, who sent him, on May 20, 1894, from Trenton, N. J., the following letter in reply. It was published in the Catholic Universe of May 26, 1894:
"Church of the Sacred Heart, Trenton, N. J., May 20, 1894. "Rt. Rev. I. F. Horstmann, D. D., Bishop of Cleveland :
"Rt. Rev. and Dear Sir-With the deepest regret I have learned what has taken place recently in Cleveland on the part of the priest, Kolaszewski, and a certain number of Poles, who asso- ciated themselves with him. Father Kolaszewski's action, and all that he dared say in regard to forming a Polish congregation in Cleveland, deserves the greatest reproach: I reprobate and con- demn it most energetically and with my full authority. Moreover, I protest most earnestly against his allegation that I have author- ized him, or given him the least encouragement as regards his going to Cleveland. He has not my authority for any religious act which he has performed, or which he will perform in the future. He has not even permission for saying Mass. He is a disgrace to the priestly character, and is leading the poor people who confided in him, because he is a priest, away from the flock of Christ. Therefore, the only thing that remains for him to do is: to leave Cleveland immediately and to betake himself to some place, in order to do penance for his sins, and to atone for the great scandal he has caused to the faithful.
"It is my wish and order that all the Poles of Cleveland should be informed and enlightened as to the falsity of Father Kolaszews- ki's statements, and the sacrilegious character of his actions. They should no longer have any relations with him as a priest ; they should be faithful and obedient to their Bishop, the only one who has the right of governing the Catholic Church in Cleveland;
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no act of worship exercised against his will can be lawful, or in any sense Catholic.
"With my best regards, I remain, yours in Christ,
¡FRANCIS, ARCHBISHOP SATOLLI, Delegate Apostolic."
I, the undersigned, a notary public in and for Cuyahoga County, Ohio, hereby certify the above to be a true copy of the original letter, read by me this 23d day of May, A. D. 1894.
(Seal)
P. J. BRADY, Notary Public.
The Rev. Kolaszewski paid no heed to the Apostolic Dele- gate's letter, but continued in his course of disobedience. Bishop Horstmann also had sent him, on May 11, 1894, a letter of warning to desist from exercising any priestly functions in the diocese of Cleveland. This warning, with its embodied prohibition, also remained unheeded. The Bishop then published on June 20, 1894, the sentence of excommunication against the Rev. Kolaszewski and a warning to his misguided people. Both documents appeared in the Catholic Universe, on June 23, 1894. Following is their full text :
SENTENCE OF EXCOMMUNICATION PROMGULGATED AGAINST THE REV. A. F. KOLASZEWSKI.
Cleveland, O:, June 20, 1894.
Considering that on the 11th day of last May we had a per- emptory notice served on the Rev. A. F. Kolaszewski, forbidding him under penalty of excommunication, to be incurred ipso facto, to celebrate Mass, or to exercise any priestly functions in the diocese of Cleveland, or to do anything toward establishing an independent congregation ; considering that in total disregard of this order he notoriously celebrated Mass in public, in the city of Cleveland, and established an independent congregation, under the title of the "Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary ;" con- sidering, moreover, that we sent him two letters inviting him to come and see us personally, that we might appeal to him and induce him to abandon his evil and scandalous course-both of which letters of invitation he disregarded; considering, finally, that we had a peremptory summons served on him to appear before us in court, in our Episcopal residence, on Wednesday, June 20th inst., at 10 o'clock a. m., ad audiendum sententiam declaratorian) excommunicationis, unless he would show cause why such sentence should not be pronounced, and that he failed to appear at the time and place appointed ;
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We therefore and hereby do declare and pronounce that the said Rev. A. F. Kolaszewski has incurred major excommunication, and we decree that his excommunication be published.
Given under our hand and seal, at our Episcopal residence,
date and place as above. ¡IGNATIUS FREDERICK, Bishop of Cleveland.
By order of the Rt. Rev. Bishop of Cleveland, G. F. HOUCK, Notary.
To Whom it May Concern :
As the Rev. A. F. Kolaszewski has been publicly excom- municated by us, we hereby publicly and officially warn all the faithful under our jurisdiction, under penalty of grievous sin, not to disobey these our commands, viz. :- They must not become members of the schismatic congregation, established by the said Rev. A. F. Kolaszewski, and incorporated under the title of "The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary," and those who are members thereof must cease to be such. They must not render aid or support to the said schismatic congregation. As for those who are acting as trustees or officers of said incorporated congre- gation of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we declare that unless they immediately resign their trust and positions, they will incur excommunication, ipso facto, and that reserved to ourselves.
All the faithful must know that the said Rev. A. F. Kolas- zewski can not validly impart absolution in the sacred tribunal of penance, and is absolutely forbidden to administer the sacraments; also that they are strictly prohibited from applying to him for any sacrament or receiving from him any sacrament. Should they do so they commit mortal sin. They are also forbidden to attend services in the church of said congregation, or to receive any religious ministrations from, or hold any religious communication with, the said Rev. A. F. Kolaszewski.
WVe direct that this notice be publicly read at all the Masses in all the churches of our diocese on the Sunday after its receipt.
¡IGNATIUS FREDERICK, Bishop of Cleveland.
By order of the Rt. Rev. Bishop,
G. F. HOUCK,
Chancellor Diocese of Cleveland. Cleveland, O., June 20, 1894.
The grave scandal given thus far by the action of the Rev. Kolaszewski did not, however, cease, but continued in even graver form. But as the excommunication placed the recalcitrant priest
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outside of the pale of the Church, nothing further was or could be done in his case by the Church authorities. In December, 1897, the Rev. Kolaszewski became seriously ill, and asked to be received back into the Church. As Rome reserved his case the Bishop could do nothing for him, unless he accepted the conditions imposed upon him, viz., to retract, to submit, to do penance, and to promise that as soon as he was physically able to go to Rome, he would do so and there seek absolution. This he refused to do, and with his refusal the question of reconciliation ended. Up to the present writing, December, 1900, he has continued in his course, and with it the scandal to religion remains. The Rev. Kolaszewski secured, through a Canadian agency, a $25,000 mortgage loan from Eng- land, in 1897. This has enabled him to continue his schismatic congregation, which is constantly diminishing in size. It is to be hoped that the remainder of the misguided people will, with their misguiding leader, be brought to a' realization of their hopeless condition, and return repentantly to Mother Church.
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CHAPTER VII BISHOP HORSTMANN'S ADMINISTRATION. (CONTINUED).
BISHOP HORSTMANN PUBLISHES A PASTORAL LETTER IN REFERENCE TO THE GOLDEN JUBILEE OF THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND-CELEBRATION OF THE DIOCESAN GOLDEN JUBILEE AT TOLEDO AND CLEVELAND, IN OCTOBER, 1897-EXTRACTS FROM SERMONS PREACHED ON THE OCCASION-FULL TEXT OF BISHOP DE GOESBRIAND'S LETTER IN CONNECTION WITH THE JUBILEE -SUNDAY FUNERALS ABOLISHED-PHOTOGRAPHS OF PRIESTS COLLECTED FOR THE DIOCESAN ARCHIVES-RESUME OF THE HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE-TABLE SHOWING NUMBER OF CHURCHES, INSTITUTIONS, ETC., ON DECEMBER 31, 1900.
T HE vear 1897 marks an epoch in the annals of the diocese of Cleveland-its Golden Jubilee as a diocese. On October 10, 1847, the missionary of the Maumee Valley, and first resident pastor of Toledo, the Rev. Amadeus Rappe, was conse- crated the first Bishop of the newly erected diocese of Cleveland. It was therefore most fitting that the 50th anniversary of his con- secration, as also of the completion of the first half-century of the Cleveland diocese, should be duly commemorated. With this in view the Rt. Rev. Bishop Horstmann published a letter on October 1, 1897, in which he ordered a solemn celebration of these two events, on Sunday, October 10, in every church having a resident pastor. A special public celebration was also arranged for Cleve- land, to take place on October 13, 1897, in order to make it possible for the invited prelates and priests from outside of the diocese to attend. The Catholic societies of Cleveland and its neighborhood were also invited for this occasion.
The following is taken from Bishop Horstmann's letter, above mentioned, and gives in succinct form, and graphic language, the history of the diocese, and honorably mentions those who helped to make that splendid history :
Reverend Brethren of the Clergy and Dear Children of the Laity:
St. John in his sublime vision tells us that "All the angels stood round about the throne," and they fell before the throne
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upon their faces and adored God, saying: "Amen. Benediction and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, honor and power and strength to our God, forever and ever. Amen." Apoc. vii., 11-12. Such is the hymn of praise and thanksgiving in heaven to God and His Son Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain for our salvation. Such also is our hymn of praise and thanksgiving here on earth to our God and to His Son Jesus Christ, now that we commemorate the golden jubilee of the foundation of the diocese of Cleveland. On Sunday, October 10, 1847, the pastor of St. Francis' church, Toledo, the Rev. Amadeus Rappe, was consecrated the first Bishop of this diocese. It is an event which deserves special commemora- tion-an event which should fill the hearts of all our devoted children of the faith with joy, praise and thanksgiving to the Most High, for His manifold mercies and blessings, showered down upon this diocese during the last fifty years. Gratitude to God for His innumerable gifts to us is a solemn duty. The Lord exacted it of the Jews, commanding them to make an annual commemora- tion of His special favors to them. Our Holy Mother, the Church, does the same in her various festivals and holy days of obligation. God reminds us constantly, to be thankful to Him, for His graces bestowed on us. Of the few complaints that came from the Sacred Heart of Jesus during His life on earth, that of ingratitude to Him is the most prominent. "Were there not ten (lepers) made clean? and where are the nine? There is no one found to return and give glory to God but this stranger." Luke xvii., 17-18. And how many causes we have to rejoice and to give praise and thanks to God! When Bishop Rappe was consecrated, there were in the whole diocese only 42 humble churches, and of these only 13 had resident pastors. Now there are 246 churches with 172 resident pastors. Then there were 21 priests within the limits of the diocese. Now there are 244. The city of Cleveland had then one priest, the Rev. Maurice Howard, who had charge of the only church in the city, St. Mary's on the Flats. Now there are 34 churches in the city, many of them magnificent structures. In Toledo, St. Francis de Sales was the only church. Now Toledo has eleven. In 1847 the estimated Catholic population of the diocese was about 10,000. Now it is certainly 300.000. We have a diocese thoroughly equipped for its work, with parochial schools in almost every parish and mission, with hospitals and asylums for every suffering, with homes for the aged, with academies and a college, in a word. a great diocese. And what are all these grand churches, schools, homes, hospitals and asylums but public mani- festations of the faith and self-sacrifice of the children of the faith ! Let us then praise God, give Him honor and glory and thanks- giving, for all that He has done for us. No doubt during these
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fifty years we have lost many souls through want of priests to attend the families scattered sparsely over two hundred miles of territory. Many have made shipwreck of the faith through indif- ference and worldliness: many through imperfect knowledge of their holy religion ; many through ignorance of its eternal truths, of its sacraments and practices of devotion ; but thank God, many, very many, remained steadfast and handed down the faith of our fathers to their children intact, and they to their children, even to our day. We have entered into the fruits of their labors. We can say of them, both priests and people, in the words of the Psalmist, "Going they went and wept, casting their seeds, but coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their sheaves," Ps. 125, 6-7; or in the words of our Divine Lord to His Apostles: "It is one man that soweth and it is another that reapeth. I have sent you to reap that in which you did not labor ; others have labored and you have entered into their labors." John iv., 37-38. And who were these laborers? First of all that noble band of pioneer French mission- aries, to mention only the names of Rappe, Machebeuf and De Goesbriand, who all became glorious bishops in the Church. One of them still survives, the venerable Bishop of Burlington, Bishop De Goesbriand, who, I am sure, rejoices with us today and who would certainly be present did his age and strength allow him to make the long journey. Then let us not forget that humble, zealous and devoted congregation of the Precious Blood, which for nearly sixty years has cared for the spiritual welfare, especially of the Germans, in the western and central portions of the diocese. The name of Father F. S. Brunner, their Provincial, should ever be held in benediction. I recall the names of the Rev. Peter McLaughlin, who purchased the lots on which the Cathedral now stands; of the Revs. J. H. Luhr and J. J. Doherty. And how much the diocese owes to the various religious communities of devoted Sisters who have cared for the Christian education of the young-foremost amongst whom must be mentioned the Ursulines. We thank God for their labors. We have entered into the fruits of those labors. It is our duty to praise them; for the Holy Spirit tells us it is good and praiseworthy to do so. "Let us now praise men of renown, our fathers in their generation. These were men of mercy whose godly deeds have not failed. Their bodies are buried in peace and their name liveth unto generation and generation. Let the people show forth their wisdom and the Church declare their praise." Eccli. xliv. For twenty-three years Bishop Rappe labored incessantly in building up the Church of God entrusted to his care. His name will go down in history as that of the missionary Bishop of the diocese.
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