History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 91

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196

USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II > Part 91

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The Sisters feel a great reward in the gratitude of these children who visit the convent at frequent intervals. Mother Gertrude was, up to 1890, the much- loved Superior who came with the community and lived with them, directing them through the trying years of their foundation and the difficulties encountered in subsequent times. The people of Columbus and vicinity had learned to vene- rate the good Superior for her many qualities of heart and mind. It was no won- der, then, that her transfer by her superiors in March, 1891, was deeply regretted. Just realizing the fruits of a life of sacrifice and struggle, she meekly and cheer- fully obeyed the call and entered upon the more responsible duties of Mother Pro- vincial of the houses connected with the order in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The convent has a resident chaplain, the present one being Reverend F. Moitrier, who also attends to the spiritual need of Mount Carmel Hospital.

St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum .- Of all the charitable and educational institutions of the Catholic Church in Columbus only one is strictly diocesan, that is to say, directly controlled by the Bishop. The others are conducted by the individual religious communities to which they belong, subject, however, to the authority of the ordinary of the diocese. St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum is a purely diocesan charity, founded on the needs of the Church in the diocese. It is controlled by the Bishop. In a letter published in the Columbus Westbote, July 19, 1874, Very Reverend J. B. Hemsteger, Vicar-General at the time, said :

A Catholic Orphan Asylum has been a longfelt want in the diocese of Columbus. Cir- cumstances favor the foundation of such an institution at present. The Superior-General of the Sisters of St. Francis visited this city some time ago with the object of finding a refuge for her Sisters persecuted and exiled from Germany by Bismarck. Last year they taught 7.800 children. Their institutions extend as far as Brazil and Java. Right Rev. Sylvester Rosecrans has received them into this diocese and commissioned them to found an orphan asylum in this city. Thus the main point of this enterprise is determined. A suitable place for the institution has also been secured. Louis Zettler has sold to the Right Rev. Bishop his residence with surrounding grounds on East Main Street for the sum of $25,000. Of this sum he has sinee donated $10,000 for the benefit of the orphans. The residue of $15,000 is payable after ten years, with interest at five per cent. It will be easy to comply with these conditions if all the parishes of the diocese help generously. The Right Rev. Bishop has therefore ordained to have a collection made in all the churches of the diocese on Christmas Day for the orphans and to continue this collection as long as the institution shall be in need of it. The Sisters expeet to open the asylum next Christmas. As it is necessary to prepare the institution for the reception of the orphans we hereby request the Catholics of Columbus particularly to contribute towards furnishing the chapel and schoolrooms, the dormitories and the kitchen. A special committee will be selected from the different societies to represent their fellow members in the interest of the orphans.

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This letter introduces the Orphan Asylum and the plans by which it was begun and will be continued. Contrary to expectation, the institution was not formally opened until February 2, 1875, when the Right Rev. Bishop Rosecrans solemnly blessed it and dedicated it to the purpose for which it was intended. On this occasion the Bishop was assisted by Very Rev. J. B. Hemsteger, V. G., Rev. J. B. Eis, who was in temporary charge as chaplain and owing to whose exertions the asylum had its beginning ; Rev. J. Cosella, pastor of St. Patrick's, and Rev. M .. M. Meara, of the Cathedral. All the seminarians were present and the societies marched to the grounds in uniform and regalia. The opening was very auspicious.

In a few months Rev. John C. Goldschmidt was appointed the chaplain and director, Rev. Father Eis having been authorized by the Bishop to organize the new parish of the Sacred Heart. Father Goldschmidt has remained to the present time. Year by year the institution grew rapidly until additions were necessary to accommodate the orphans and to make their home comfortable and convenient. Father Goldschmidt has devoted his best energies to the good work, succeeding admirably in not only keeping up the running expenses of the institution but also in defraying the cost of new buildings and many great improvements. Four hundred orphans are now inmates, besides a number of Sisters who care for them with the solicitude of mothers. The revenues of the asylum are derived princi- pally from the Christmas collections throughout the diocese, the annual picnic and volunteer offerings of the friends of the institution. A new chapel to serve also as the church of the parish was dedicated some years ago and a very comfortable residence for the chaplain has been erected.

St. Mary's of the Springs. - This academy for young ladies, situated northeast of the city, near Alum Creck, on the Johnstown Pike, is conducted by the Sisters of St. Dominic. This community of nuns is an outgrowth of the religious order of priests founded by St. Dominic in the thirteenth century. The Fathers came to this country at the beginning of the present century, the small band of them directed by Rev. Edward D. Fenwick. Bishop Carroll had then episcopal juris- diction over the entire United States and adjoining territory. Under his direc- tion the Fathers were sent to the West to engage in active missionary life.

In 1806 Father Fenwick purchased with his own patrimony land in Washing- ton County, Kentucky, and established thereon the first Dominican convent in the United States, naming it after the first saint of the Dominican order in America, St. Rose of Lima. From St. Rose's as a centre the Fathers extended their mission- ary labors in several directions, particular attention being given to Kentucky and Ohio. In 1818 St. Joseph's Convent, at Somerset, this State, was established by the Dominican Fathers on lands donated by Mr. Peter Dittoe, of that place. St. Joseph's was the Ohio centre for Catholicity. As the Fathers had now firmly established themselves, it was desired that the Sisters of the same order be founded in this country to assist in the work of education and charity. Rev. Thomas Wil- son was the Provincial of all the Dominicans in the United States and received authority from the Master-General of the order to establish the Sisterhood. When this became known a number of ladies applied for admission as candidates. The first convent of St. Catherine was erected about a mile from St. Rose's and soon gained prominence as a Catholic School. Miss Mary Sansberry, a native of Mary- land, was among the first to enter the community and under the name of Sister Angela became the first Prioress. The first mission from the convent was at St. Mary's, Somerset, near the vicinity of which the Dominican Fathers had founded a house. Four Sisters, by request of Bishop Fenwick, who was also Pro- vincial of the Dominicans, arrived at Somerset on February 5, 1830. School was opened in a small house in the April following with forty pupils in attendance.

M.S. Birgul

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CATHOLIC.

St. Mary's Convent increased in usefulness and popularity and additions were constantly made to the property. In the midst of its prosperity, during the year 1866, a disastrous fire destroyed all the buildings and rendered the inmates home- less. The Dominican Fathers tendered the Sisters the use of their novitiate, sending their novices to St. Rose's, Kentucky. In this building the Sisters con- ducted their school for two years. Shortly after the fire Mr. Theodore Leonard, of this city, learning of the destitute condition of the community, offered them a tract of land containing thirtythree acres, the present site of the Academy, and a munificent donation of building material if they would remove to Columbus. The proposition was accepted, and in the fall of 1866 the foundations for the new structure were laid. The building was 150 feet long by sixty feet in width ; its height was four stories of twelve feet each. The interior was arranged with the requisite conveniences for a large boarding school with accommodations for about two hundred pupils. On September 7, 1868, the building was ready for the school term which opened on that day, the Sisters having taken possession a few weeks previously. Mr. Engene Mageveny, of Memphis, Tennessee, supplemented the donation of Mr. Leonard with $10,000, much of which was used in furnish- ing the interior. Sister Rose Lynch, known in after years as Mother Rose, at present with the Dominican Sisters at Galveston, was the first Superior. Addi- tions have been made to the original building during the past twenty years, and the landscape so beautified by nature and art that St. Mary's of the Springs has become one of the most charming sites for an academy to be found in Ohio. Under the fostering spiritual care of Bishop Watterson the Dominican Sisters have greatly extended their influence as attested by the number of schools in the diocese supplied with Sisters as teachers, who own St. Mary's as their home. At present another large addition is being built, which, when completed, will give increased facilities for carrying on an institution of learning that our citizens will feel proud of. It is patronized extensively by non-Catholics and it frequently hap- pens that over half of the pupils are daughters of such parents. Mother Vincen- tia is at present Superior.

St. Joseph's Academy. - This wellknown institution, situated on East Rich Street, between Sixth and Seventh streets, was founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame at the earnest solicitation of Bishop Rosecrans and a number of prominent citizens. It is a day school for young ladies in which all the branches of a thorough academic course are taught. The Sisterhood of Notre Dame was insti- tuted in France in 1751 and introduced into this country in 1840 by Most Rev. Archbishop Purcell, of Cincinnati, who engaged them in several schools of his diocese. From Cincinnati a small community of the Sisters was brought to Columbus in August, 1855, by Rev. James Meagher, pastor of St. Patrick's Church, where they were employed in teaching the parochial schools. Thus they were the first Sisters to establish a home in this city. Their first residence was on Oak Street, between Fourth and Fifth. The cornerstone of the present academy was laid by Very Rev. J. B. Hemsteger, V. G., on April 15, 1875, Rev. Fathers Eis and Goldschmidt assisting at the ceremony. The building was erected as rapidly as possible and on September 6, 1875, opened with an encouraging number of pupils. From that time on the attendance has steadily increased, necessitating additions to the building until it is now one of the largest and most popular of the edneational institutions of our diocese. Music and the fine arts receive par- ticular attention, and the young lady that graduates either in music or the English course has indeed earned the honors. The Sisters of Notre Dame belonging to this house teach in the parish schools of St. Patrick's and Holy Cross.

Cemeteries .- The Catholic Church consecrates the ground in which are placed the remains of its faithful members, and wherever it can possibly be done land is

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set aside for that purpose alone, and wherever there is a Catholic Church there is also a Catholic burial ground. Prior to 1845 the Catholics of Columbus, consti- tuting only one congregation, that of Holy Cross, had no cemetery of their own. The priest accompanied the remains to the graveyard and blessed the grave. In January, 1845, Samuel Brush conveyed to Peter Ury and wife a tract of land con- taining three acres and a quarter, situated in the northeast part of the city and now known as the " Old Catholie Burial Ground." The consideration was six hundred dollars. This property Mr. Ury held in trust for the Catholies until September 11, 1848, when he deeded it to John B. Purcell, Bishop of Cincinnati, for the same consideration of $600. The burialground was at that time just within the city limits ; in time, however, the cemetery was nearly filled and the City Council, moreover, prohibited by ordinance further burials within the cor- poration. This measure, long anticipated, urged the Catholics to the purchase of other grounds for cemetery purposes.

Calvary Cemetery .- Through the agency of John F. Zimmer, a tract contain- ing twentyfive acres, lying some distance beyond the city limits, on the Harris- burg Pike, was purchased in 1865, and additions thereto in 1866 and 1869. The parties conveying the property to the Bishop were Jacob Gall, Philo N. White and John F. Zimmer. The ground is slightly undulating and has been vastly improved by shrubbery and the erection of handsome monuments. The cemetery was opened for burials in 1867 and np to the time of its solemn consecration November 2, 1874, over fourteen hundred interments had been made. The great privilege of placing their dead in consecrated ground had by necessity been denied the Catholics of Columbus. But now the time had come when they were possessed of ground free of incumbrances and prepared to receive consecration. A procession of all the Catholic societies moved from St. Joseph's Cathedral to the cemetery, where an immense erowd of people had gathered to witness the imposing ceremonies so filled with consolation to those whose beloved ones' remains were there reposing. Previous to the consecration Bishop Roseerans, from the foot of the large cross erected in the centre of the ground, addressed the people a few words in which he dwelt upon the very solemn character of the ceremony about to be witnessed and exhorted all to pray for the dead without ceasing. In the sacred function the Bishop was assisted by Rev. N. A. Gallagher, Rev. G. H. Ahrens, Rev. H. Anderson, Very Rev. J. B. Hemsteger, Rev. J. Casella, Rev. J. Bauman, Rev. M. M. Meara, Rev. J. B. Eis, Rev. H. B. Dues, and a number of seminarians and altar boys. The ceremony occupied some time and at its conclu- sion the pontifical blessing was given.

At the time of the abandonment of the old burial ground the remains of the dead were removed by friends to the new cemetery and efforts were made to dis- pose of the property. The title of the land has been contested by Peter Ury's heirs who claim it by reason of its ceasing to be used for burial purposes. The inferior courts have decided that the Bishop holds a clear title and can dispose of the property. The ease has been appealed to the Supreme Court, and it may be some time before the final decision is reached.

Our historical sketch ends here. As this is the first compilation of the history of the Catholic Church in this city except the very creditable attempt in Studer's History of Columbus, the writer feels that some inaccuracies may, in the light of further investigation, be found in the course of the sketeh. If such there be, he will feel grateful to have them indicated so that proper correction can be made in the future. To Mr. Alfred E. Lee the author feels under obligations for per- mitting recourse to compilations of church news made by that gentleman in the preparation of this great work. To the clergy and superiors of religious com- munities thanks are returned for favors. Studer's Columbus and John Gilmary Shea's History of the Church in the United States have furnished some important items connected with the early history of the Catholic Church in this city.

CHAPTER XLIII.

BAPTIST.

BY OSMAN C. HOOPER.

There are nine Baptist churches in Columbus, five of white and four of col- ored membership. The former, in the order of their organization, are : The First Baptist Church, the Russell Street Baptist Church, the Hildreth Baptist Church, the Memorial Baptist Church, and the Tenth Avenue Baptist Church. The organ- izations of colored Baptists, considered similarly, are the Second Baptist Church, Shiloh Baptist Church, Union Grove Baptist Church and Bethany Baptist Church. All of these organizations trace their history back to February, 1823, when Elder George Jeffries came to Columbus from Marlboro, Delaware County, Ohio. He had received ordination as an evangelist in the church at Marlboro and, after his location in Columbus, began preaching in his own house. As a result of these ser- vices Sarah Garrison and Alpheus Tolle professed conversion and were baptized. Eight other persons who had previously been converted to that faith and had moved to Columbus were found, and it was resolved to organize a church.

At the request of Elder Jeffries and his fellow-Baptists, a council met in Col- umbus, May 15, 1824, to consider the propriety of instituting a church. The members of that council were : Elder Jacob Drake, Deacon Leonard Munroe and Brethren Daniel Nettleton and Charles Watters, of Liberty Church ; Elder James Petters, Deacon John Swisher and Brother William D. Hendren, of Bethel Church ; Deacon John McLeod, of Harlem Church, and Elder Pleasant Lemay, who was invited by the others to a seat. The council organized by clecting Jacob Drake moderator and William D. Hendren clerk. The reasons for the establishment of a Baptist Church in Columbus were stated by Elder Jeffries to the satisfaction of the council which adopted a resolution that those who desired to become members of the church should present their letters. Those who responded and thus became the original members were as follows: George Jeffries, who presented a letter from the church at Marlboro; Elijah Tolle, from Maysville, Kentucky ; William Whittimore and his wife, Leah Whittimore, from Daughty Fork, Coshocton County, Ohio ; Patty Booker (colored), from Petersburg, Virginia; Mary Brod- erick, from Washington, Kentucky ; Lydia Jones (colored), from Kentucky (name of church not on record) ; George Butcher (colored), from Petersburg, Virginia ; Rosanna Bolin, from Virginia (church not stated); Sarah Garrison and Alpheus

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Tolle, of Columbus, both of whom had been converted and baptized under the ministration of Elder Jeffries.

After due deliberation, the council resolved to " fellowship the above named brethren and sisters as a church of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ." Elder Jeffries, having been appointed as a representative of the new church, answered the necessary questions put by the moderator. Elder James Petters addressed the church and gave the right hand of fellowship, and Elder Jacob Drake followed with remarks emphasizing the importance of the engagement into which they had entered. The council session closed with a prayer and praise service opened by Deacon John MeLeod. The timestained record of the proceedings is concluded with this sentence: " We can but hope the Lord was with us and that He will bless this little vine and cause it to become a thousand."

The organization was called " the First Baptist Church of Columbus ; " a covenant and articles of faith were adopted and the little church of eleven mem- bers, three of whom were colored, began its career, which was for some years of doubtful outcome. Meetings were held at the houses of various members and Elder Jeffries from the first performed the duties of pastor, though he was not formally called to the pastorate until April, 1825. Communion service was observed quarterly, but how often there was preaching is not certain, since Elder Jeffries had engagements to preach elsewhere. On July 31, 1824, nine other per. sons bad been admitted to membership, and the first election of officers occurred. Daniel Huddleston was chosen Deacon, and Elijah Tolle Clerk and Treasurer. At this meeting also, application was made by the church for admission to the Colum bus Baptist Association. Eller Jeffries was chosen to write the church letter and at a subsequent meeting this letter was approved and Elder Jeffries, Alpheus Tolle and Elijah Tolle were selected to bear it to the Association.

The calling of Elder Jeffries to the pastorate did not have the result of contin- ing his ministrations to the Columbus Church. He continued, as did other minis- ters in the association, to visit other churches and preach. This arrangement was in accordance with a resolution adopted by the Association and approved by the Columbus church, the necessity being due to the small number of ministers and the meager support that any of the churches was able to give to a pastor. The poverty of the Columbus church is shown by the minutes, in which it is recorded that after several ineffectual efforts to get from the members a definite statement as to the amount to be given the pastor for his services, four members responded at the meeting of December 7, 1825, with promises to give twentyfive cents each monthly. At this meeting, too, the first proposition to buy a lot and build a church edifice was made and the members were asked to consider the matter and decide on a course of action. Elder Jeffries, in the following August, reported to the church that he had found a suitable lot, but, although all seemed desirous of having a meetinghouse, there were not enough responses to justify definite action. In April, 1828, he made another report to the church to the effect that he had bought a lot which might become the property of the church, if the members would assist in paying for it. This proposition met with no better response than the preceding one, but the pastor was undaunted and erected a small building for the church, on the south side of Mound Street between High and Front streets. The minutes of the business meeting of January, 1830, show that eleven persons contributed $4.93 and 22 days' work " toward fixing the school house built by M ... Jeffries for the purpose of having meeting in." The effect of being provided with a regular place of worship seems to have been quite as good as Elder Jeffries had expected. In the following April, he was requested to devote the whole of each Sabbath to the services of the church and he consented, withdrawing all appoint- ments at other places.

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BAPTIST.

On March 31, 1831, the church resolved to buy lot number 222 on Front Street just north of Monnd, and Elder Jeffries, E. Davis, S. M. Martin and D. Green were appointed a committee to attend to the purchase and secure subscriptions to the purchase price. On April 30, this committee reported that they had bought the lot for $175, paying $60 in cash and two of them giving their notes for the remainder to run for three years, with interest. It was decided to build and a build- ing committee was appointed. A year was consumed in the work and the new building was occupied for the first time on May 6, 1832 This structure still stands, though it was long sinee abandoned as a house of worship. It is a plain

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FIRST BAPTIST MEETING HOUSE, ERECTED IN 1831.

onestory brick building and after the church bad abandoned it in 1837, it was used My Doctor Curtis as a medical college and later as a residence. The capstone bear- ing the inseription, The Regular Baptist Meeting House, Erected A. D. 1831, Was taken down when the building fell into other hands and is preserved as a relic in the present structure of the First Baptist Church. At the first meeting in the new church, Rev. O. Owens and Rev. Mr. Jewett, of Granville, and Rev. M. Petter, of Canaan, were present and preached, morning and evening. The occasion was further signalized by one admission to membership, whereupon the church "imme- diately repaired to the water where the candidate was baptized before a large and

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orderly congregation." On June 2, 1832, the church considered for the first time as far as any record can be found, a proposition to establish a Sabbathschool, and decided to inaugurate that kind of effort on June 10. There is no record of the organization of the Sabbathschool, but it is probable that it was organized and that the Sabbathschool work of the First Baptist Church dates back to that time. The record of the meeting of December 1, 1832, shows that the time of holding Sundayschool was fixed at two o'clock in the afternoon.

The organization of the Baptists had no formal legal recognition until February 13, 1833, when the legislature passed a bill, granting to George Jeffries, James Turner, William A. Morse and their associates the right to incorporate the First Regular Baptist Church of Columbus, and constituting the men named the first Board of Trustees, to serve until their successors were regularly elected according to the constitution of the society. The act is signed by David T. Disney, Speaker of the House, and Samuel R. Miller, Speaker of the Senate.

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History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 91

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1196

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196