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 II, pt1 > Part 4
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He had a tender love for the orphans of his diocese. and frequently visited them in their respective asylums, entertaining them with anecdotes and instructing them by plain and fatherly explanations of Christian doctrine and morals. His visits to the orphanages were the delight of the inmates.
Bishop Rappe possessed remarkable business ability, and his work in this direction gave unmistakable evidence of his practical knowledge of financial affairs. He would have become a million- aire had he been a banker or merchant. He could see things clearer and more readily than some of the sharpest and keenest business men ; the result of his early investments proves this. The purchases of the Ursuline Convent property, the lots on which Charity Hospital stands, and the Seminary grounds on Lake street, were all made at times when ordinary business prudence would not have ventured to invest, but they have, long since, increased in value a hundredfold.
In disposing of his savings in his last will and testament, Bishop Rappe did not forget the Diocese of Cleveland. Charity Hospital, the Orphan Asylums, the Ursuline Convents of Cleveland and Toledo, and a number of poor churches shared largely of his . generosity now, as they had so often whilst he was their spiritual head.
H'e was great as a missionary rather than as a bishop, and excelled as a pioncer who explored and outlined, leaving to others to shape and consolidate. A lover of his native land, he gave not only his allegiance but his most ardent support to his adopted country. A true patriot, a Christian man, tolerant of dissent, con- ceding to others what he asked for himself-religious and civil liberty-he died at the ripe old age of seventy-six, thirty years of which he had spent as priest and bishop on the missions of Ohio. He died amid the tears of his people, and the respect of his fellow citizens, with the well-merited reputation of a life spent for God and the good of his fellowmen.
ET CARITAS
FIDES
THE RT. REV. RICHARD GILMOUR, D. D.
IN THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND. 27
THE RT. REV. RICHARD GILMOUR, D. D., SECOND BISHOP OF CLEVELAND.
Richard Gilmour was born in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, September 28, 1824. His parents, John and Marian (Callender) Gilmour were of the middle class, and in religious belief Scotch Covenanters. With a view to bettering their position in life they set out for America in the spring of 1829, Pictou, Nova Scotia, being their objective point. There they lived but a short time, however, as that part of the new world did not meet their expecta- tion. They then sought a home in Pennsylvania, which they found on a farm near the village of Cumbola, Schuylkill county, about five miles from Pottsville.
As soon as their son was of proper age they sent him to the village school, located on the hilltop, near Cumbola, where he showed more than ordinary proficiency in the branches taught. With his retentive memory and varied reading he soon outstripped his school companions, so that he longed for other fields of learn- ing to master. But lack of means on the part of his parents prevented him from realizing this desire. A kind Providence, however, opened the way to him in a direction unexpected, as will be seen later on in this narrative.
The Gilmour family had for their nearest neighbors the family of Michael Quinn, excellent Catholics, who soon were on intimate terms with them. Young Richard was a favorite in the household of Mr. Quinn, and felt as much at home with these good people as though he belonged to the family .* Mrs. Quinn, at his own request, taught him Catholic prayers, and often at her knees he recited the Lord's prayer, Hail Mary, and Creed. And this he did as earnestly and devoutly as any Catholic child, although, as he often related, he found it difficult for a while to properly bless himself.
As time went on he formed a strong attachment for one of the sons of the family, about his own age. This young companion of his, Bernard J. Quinn, invited him to accompany him to the nearest Catholic church, located at Pottsville, which the Quinn
*The facts in connection with Bishop Gilmour's home life were given to the writer by a member of the Quinn family: those of his college and seminary days were communicated to him by the Rev. Henry L. Wright, a life-long friend of the Bishop.
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family attended. Richard's first visit to the Catholic church of that town so pleased him that he gladly repeated it, not only once, but every Sunday for nearly four years, the two lads walking the entire distance, five miles, to and from Pottsville. Thus early did he show a religious turn of mind, and a desire to be in the House of God, though not a member of His household. In this connection it may not be out of place to mention this further fact of his boy- hood days, as related to the writer by one who knew him intimately then, that never was he heard to utter an improper word, nor was he ever seen to do an improper act. His deportment as boy and young man was at all times and on all occasions in strictest con- formity with good morals and propriety, which won for him the esteem of his youthful companions and his elders. His love for truth and abhorrence of deception, in whatever form, so notable in his later carcer, were strongly marked characteristics in him, at a time when these noble traits of character are often sadly wanting in thoughtless and flippant youth.
Richard was sixteen years of age when he first spoke to a Catholic priest, the Rev. James Maginn, at that time (1540) pastor of St. Patrick's Church, Pottsville. It was on the occasion of a procession in that town of the Father Mathew Total Abstinence Society, organized in 1840 by Father Maginn. The procession, widely advertised, drew many persons from the neighboring towns and villages. Among them were Richard Gilmour and his young friend, Bernard J. Quinn, who banteringly asked him to call on the priest, whom both had seen viewing the procession on the streets that day. Although Richard had heard the priest frequently preach in the church at Pottsville he never had mustered courage enough to call on him. To Master Quinn's surprise and pleasure he agreed to accompany him to Father Maginn, who received his young visitors very kindly, and at their request also administered to them the Total Abstinence pledge, to hold for five years. The good priest was in the habit of giving medals to those taking the pledge from him, but it happened that on this occasion his supply of medals was exhausted. He therefore asked Richard and his companion to call for them the following Sunday, as by that time he would have a new supply. Sunday came, and the boys called as asked, but the expected supply of medals had not arrived.
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Thus several Sundays came and passed before the priest was able to redeem his promise, but with cach visit Richard's first shyness diminished and finally disappeared. He took a fancy to the kind- hearted priest, which was reciprocated by the priest, and was the beginning of a friendship that lasted till the death of Father Maginn, in 1889. These meetings had also the effect of so setting young Richard's keen and enquiring mind on edge as to the teach- ings of the Church, that he read with great avidity, and unknown to his parents, all the Catholic books, especially those of a contro- versial kind, which came within his reach. Hence in a short time he was as fully equipped with arguments in defense of the Church as the best informed Catholic laymen thereabouts.
The Rev. Patrick Rafferty, an intimate friend of Mr. Michael Quinn, was pastor of St. Francis' Church, at Fairmount, at the time of this narrative (1842), a suburb of Philadelphia. He had for a number of years the very laudable practice of training in his own house a number of boys, with the ultimate object of a seminary course. To these he gave daily lessons in Latin, mathematics and English literature, for two or three years, as the needs of his students demanded, besides giving them free board and lodging. A vacancy occurring, he expressed his desire of taking another youthful aspirant for the priesthood. He was told that young Richard Gilmour had expressed himself desirous of becoming a priest, though not yet a Catholic; that he was well behaved, and had good talents. Father Rafferty at once consented to receive him. He wrote him to that effect, but the letter conveying this information failed to reach its destination as soon as was expected. Meanwhile another Protestant young man, who had applied to fill the vacancy which Richard was to fill, received the coveted place. When finally Father Rafferty's letter reached Richard he bade fare- well to his parents, who were unwilling their son should take this step. Arriving at Philadelphia, he found the vacancy in Father Rafferty's hospitable home filled. But kind Father Rafferty made room for him, even though at some inconvenience. Richard. thankfully appreciating the favor extended, at once set to work on his first Latin lessons, with his host as preceptor. His fellow- student was Henry L. Wright, who became his lifelong friend, and was received into the Church, with him, on August 15, 1842.
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Father Rafferty baptized them in the presence of Richard's mother, who had by this time become reconciled to her son's step, to become a Catholic and a priest .* Eighteen months were thus spent in Father Rafferty's house by these two young aspirants to the Holy Ministry. In the autumn of 1843 Bishop O'Connor, of Pitts- burg, called to see his friend, Father Rafferty. The Bishop was in search of students for his recently opened seminary, and on recom- mendation of Father Rafferty took Mr. Gilmour's offer to affiliate himself with the diocese of Pittsburg. His stay at Pittsburg was of short duration, however, as the Bishop was obliged to close his seminary at the end of June, 1846, for lack of support. Richard, nothing daunted, at once applied to the President of Mt. St. Mary's College, Emmittsburg, the following September, and was kindly received.
In that "nursery of bishops" Richard Gilmour showed much of that force of character which marked his priestly and episcopal career. The college superiors soon recognized this trait in him and appointed him prefect of the college boys, at best a thankless position, though one of responsibility. Acting in this capacity he was not long incurring the displeasure of some of his fellow students who disliked his decisive mode of enforcing rules and tolerating no injustice or deception .. With such he was not "popular," but he cared not for popularity that had to be purchased at the cost of dereliction of duty imposed.
Unable to pay the tuition and board fees, he asked to be allowed to teach some classes, besides attending to his own. This he felt competent to do as he was considerably in advance of many of the students in mathematics, history and English literature. His offer was accepted and he was pleased thus to refund to the college by teaching what it gave him as a student. That he was kept busy doing double duty, as teacher and student, is selfevident. To keep up with his classes he had to "burn the midnight oil" during all of his college and seminary course of studies. But he never lagged in them. Before entering the seminary proper he passed his examination for the degree of Master of Arts, which he obtained in 1848.
While attending to the duties of prefect he was taken seriously
*A few years after the ordination of her son, Mrs. Gilmour became a Catholic. Her husband did likewise shortly before his death, about 1860.
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ill with pneumonia, which left him in a very precarious condition. As soon as he could be removed, for better medical care than the college could afford, he was taken to his first preceptor and kind friend, Father Rafferty, in whose house he was made welcome. Regaining by slow stages his former strength and health he occu- pied his leisure time taking lessons in French from a competent master, and very soon he was able to speak and write that language with considerable ease. Nor did he neglect his seminary studies, so that when he returned to Emmittsburg he found his absence from class had not left him much behind his fellow students. With indomitable zeal he resumed his studies, completing the pre- scribed course at the end of the scholastic year, June, 1852. During the following vacation he set out for Cincinnati, for which diocese he had been received by Archbishop Purcell a few months previous, and by whom he was ordained subdeacon and deacon. August 30, 1852, he received priesthood at the hands of the Most Rev. Archbishop Purcell, who a few days after sent the young priest to Portsmouth as resident pastor, with charge of Ironton, Gallipolis, Wilkesville, and a number of stations in Northeastern Kentucky and West Virginia. His zeal found plenty to feed upon in that vast and to a great extent undeveloped field of labor assigned him. At Ironton he found it necessary to build a church, but had no means with which to do so. He was obliged to seek outside aid and was thus enabled to put up a chapel of planks ; not even planed boards could his poor people afford. His carnestness of purpose and frankness of character soon won his way for him among his people, and prospects brightened. As his work grew his energy kept apace with it. At Portsmouth he at first found strife, but fair, firm and kind in his dealings, he quickly put an end to contention, arising largely from a spirit of nation- alism, to which he was ever a foe. He taught his flock to be Catholic first and then thoroughly American.
In April, 1857, he was promoted to the pastorate of St. Patrick's congregation, Cincinnati, made vacant by the consecra- tion of the pastor, the Rev. James F. Wood, as coadjutor to the Bishop of Philadelphia. Here again his administrative qualities and priestly zeal had full sway, and well did he realize the expecta- tions of Archbishop Purcell. During his pastorate St. Patrick's
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grew and flourished as never before; a well appointed school was built, the parochial school system was brought to a high degree of perfection, and all else pertaining to the spiritual and temporal interests of his charge was done with most gratifying results. During this time he translated his well-known and now widely circulated Bible History, the original being in French, which he greatly improved and amplified. He also arranged a book of school hymns, known as "School Recreations," whose circulation reached far beyond St. Patrick's parochial school. so popular did it become. Feeling the want of suitable readers for Catholic schools, he offered to compile a series if the Catholic publishers securing his manuscript guaranteed to do their part, so as to make the readers, in point of print, paper and binding, equal to the best of readers used in the public schools, at no greater cost, however, than these. His offer was accepted by Messrs. Benziger Bros., who fully complied with their part of the contract. The result has been that the Gilmour "Catholic National Readers" at once sprang into public favor. They soon reached a very wide circulation, each edition excelling the previous one in contents, arrangement and mechanical perfection.
Father Gilmour felt the need of some respite from his inces- sant strain in connection with pastoral work, done unremittingly since his ordination. He desired also to devote some time to literary pursuits, so congenial to his taste. Hence, to realize this double object, he asked for and obtained a professorship in Mt. St. Mary's Seminary, Cincinnati. But his valuable services as a pastor were not long to be dispensed with, as he remained at the seminary but little more than a year-from April, 1868, to July, 1869. He was called to fill a vacancy in the important and at the same time disturbed parish of St. Joseph's, Dayton. His prudent manage- ment and business tact soon brought things to rights in this new field of labor, so that when he was called, in 1872, to wear the mitre, he left his congregation in a most prosperous condition.
On April 14, 1872. he was consecrated Bishop of Cleveland, by Archbishop Purcell, in the Cathedral of Cincinnati, his appoint- ment to that See having been made by Pius IN, on February 28, 1872. About two weeks after his consecration he took possession of his Cathedral church at Cleveland, thus relieving the Very Rev.
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THE "GORDON" MITER. (PRESENTED TO BISHOP GILMOUR IN ISAS. )
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IN THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND.
Edward Hannin, who had filled the office of administrator of the diocese since the resignation of Bishop Rappe, in August, 1870. Cares, difficulties and trials were again his lot, but in a greater degree and of graver form than during the years of his priesthood. Within his sphere of office he had contentions to meet and opposi- tion to encounter, that were of much the same character as those which saddened the life of his predecessor, Bishop Rappe. From without he was considered with disfavor by the non-Catholic friends of his predecessor. This disfavor was intensified when he published his first pastoral letter, in February, 1873. In it he fearlessly discussed and defended the political rights of Catholics, who had till then been looked upon as "hewers of wood and draw- ers of water," and seemingly took that position, rather than that of equals of their non-Catholic fellow citizens. In the same letter he also explained and defended the parochial school system, and made it incumbent on the parishes of his diocese to establish and main- tain parochial schools when at all possible, and to make them at . least equal to the public schools. In this he but continued his line of action, begun by him when a parish priest. As a promoter and defender of the Catholic parochial school system he now gained, and ever after had, a national reputation.
For his pastoral letter he was fiercely attacked by the local press and pulpit, as well as by the press at large. But in spite of assault, calumny and misrepresentation, he pursued the path of duty as he saw it and forced the public to at least acknowledge that he cared not for its opinion, if it ran counter to what he considered himself bound to do and say.
Recognizing the power and influence of the press, and desir- ous of giving the large and influential Catholic body of Northern Ohio a defender of Catholic thought and rights, as also to meet the almost daily assaults and insults of an antagonistic press, notably those of the Cleveland Leader, which the Hon. Senator B. F. Wade had bluntly, but fittingly characterized. the Bishop established, and · supported at great personal sacrifice, the Catholic Universe, its first issue appearing July 4, 1874. The Rev. T. P. Thorpe was its first editor. Mr. Manly Tello succeeded him in September, 1877. and remained in charge till July, 1892, when he resumed his former profession as attorney-at-law.
Meanwhile the strain of incessant work, worry and care told VOL. II
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on his constitution. On June 24, 1874, while attending the com- mencement exercises at St. Mary's Academy, Notre Dame, Indiana, he fell seriously ill of nervous prostration. For two years he was unable to attend to the affairs of the diocese, and for months was at the brink of the grave. His physicians ordered him to take absolute rest, and in compliance with their direction he went to Southern France, for the benefit of his shattered health. On June 1, 1876, he returned to Cleveland, to the great joy of his people, who received him with an ovation of welcome. Though not fully restored to health, he resumed his Episcopal duties by degrees and gradually regained his former strength and vigor. In 1877 he began to systematize the business affairs of his diocese. He had all the deeds of church property indexed and plats made of every parcel of land. Blank forms and registers covering all the details of diocesan and parochial affairs were also introduced, so that within a few years the Diocese of Cleveland took front rank with the best regulated dioceses of the country for its thorough system and order.
In 1876 and 1877 he tested before the courts what he con- sidered the unjust taxation of the parochial schools of Cleveland. Although the Supreme Court of Ohio had decided the question in. the celebrated Purcell-Gerke suit, that Catholic schools were not taxable, one of the Cuyahoga county auditors (Mr. Benedict), regardless of this decision, placed the Catholic schools of Cleveland on the tax duplicate. The Bishop entered suit of restraint, the Common Pleas, Circuit and Supreme Courts, successively, decid- ing in his favor.
. Above it was stated that Bishop Gilmour was held in disfavor by the non-Catholic citizens of Cleveland for his public utterances. This soon became thoroughly changed. Until 1881 he never had an opportunity offered him of addressing his fellow citizens as such. His first appearance in public as a citizen was on the occa- sion of the Garfield meeting held in the Public Square, July 4, 1881, when the citizens of Cleveland assembled to give expression to their sympathy for the assassinated president, then at the point of death. To most of that vast audience the Bishop was a stranger. After his speech, most eloquent and patriotic, Bishop Gilmour gained and ever after held the esteem and respect of Cleveland's
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IN THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND.
citizens. At the congress of churches, which held its sessions at Cleveland, in May, 1886, he was invited to speak. The subject assigned to him, "Religion in the Public Schools," was treated in a thoughtful and masterly manner, and he held the undivided atten- tion of his immense and varied audience. The address was copied fully, or in part, by the leading journals of the country. After 1881 he was called upon repeatedly to speak in public, always receiving a most respectful hearing, even .on the part of those who dissented from his views. 1648433
In the Church he also held the position of a thoughtful and prudent prelate. In the IV and V Provincial Councils of Cincin- nati, he took a prominent part in the deliberations. In fact, at the request of the bishops assembled in the latter Council (May, 1889), he wrote their Pastoral letter. He was also a conspicuous figure in the III Plenary Council of Baltimore, held in 1834. In the summer of 1885 he was delegated by the Archbishops of this country to go to Rome in the interests of the decrees of the Council, sent there for review and approval. He went there at his own expense. As he had no means to defray his expenses to Rome and return, he was obliged to borrow the money. He had been there three years previous on his official visit in connection with his administration of the Diocese of Cleveland. He was, therefore, no stranger to the Roman authorities, who now, as then, received him most kindly. The above mentioned mission, performed in connection with two other bishops who had preceded him to Rome, was most successful.
Owing to overwork, lack of proper exercise, as also to great mental strain, caused by dissensions and trouble in the diocese, as recorded in Vol. I, Chapter V, of this work, Bishop Gilmour became seriously ill in July, 1890. For eight months he was a patient in Charity Hospital, under the skillful treatment of Dr. Reuben A. Vance and the careful and attentive nursing of the Sisters in charge. He rallied sufficiently, it was thought by his physician, to undertake the long and tedious journey to Florida, there to escape the rigorous winter of the lake region, and under God's providence to recover his old time health and vigor.
But Almighty God had ordained otherwise. This was to be the Bishop's last of his many journeys in life. He arrived at St.
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Augustine, Fla., on March 18th, 1891, very much weakened, and took to his bed, from which he was never again to rise. For over two weeks he suffered intense pain, but was always full of courage, and hoped he might yet rally and finally recover. During all of his illness and pain he never showed signs of impatience, but frequently gave expression to his perfect resignation to God's will. The whispered words : "Thy will be done," were constantly heard from his lips.
On Easter Sunday, March 29, he had another severe attack, which he took as an admonition that the end was near. He sent for his confessor, the Rev. Father Camillus, O. F. M., and for his secretary, the writer. Both reached him the following Friday and found him at the brink of the grave, but his mind as clear as ever. Having attended to his spiritual and temporal affairs, and having received the last rites of the Church he loved and served so well, the dying Bishop said he was now ready to meet his Judge. He repeatedly thanked God for the grace of having been called to His Church and altar, saying: "This call was worth immeasurably more to me than all I have suffered from calumny, assault and mis- representation, while honestly trying to serve God, religion and the diocese committed to my care. I forgive all as I wish God to forgive me for any error I may have committed. I tried to do my honest best. It may not have been the best, but it was the best I could do with the lights and talents God gave me." One of his oft-repeated prayers was: "I rejoice that God has sent suffering to me here. I rejoice that this is sent for the atonement of my faults and sins. I suffer gladly in union with my Redeemer."
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