USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > Conewago in Adams County > Conewago : a collection of Catholic local history : gathered from the fields of Catholic missionary labor within our reach. > Part 17
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turn to France, where he died.
1844, May 13 -- Rev. Kyle came here from Phila., after the burning of St. Augustine's ; remained eight days. July 4, Madame Murphy died at Mc- Sherrystown ; she is the fourth uun dying there since its commencement. Aug. 5. Rev. Fathers Rey and Tuffer, Messrs. Earley, McGuire, McSherry, Lynch, Gillespie and Kreighton, Scholastics, arrived to spend vacation. They held services at the adjoining churches. Father Tiffer (or Tuffer) preached his first sermon at Paradise. Sept. 11, Bishop Kenrick arrived to give confirmation at our churches. Father Steinbacher used to be gone two weeks, attending the Mountain Church and doing missionary work in Nip- per's (also written Nippero's) Valley, probably somewhere along the South Mountains. The other Fathers attended McSherrystown, Littlestown, Get- tysburg, Paradise and the home church ; all preached English and German ; sometimes Father Steinbacher would preach English and German at one Mass at Conewago. Oct. Oth, there was a long letter from Father De Smet, from Lima ; he is in excellent health ; gives a very interesting account of his travels, and particularly when they discovered that he was a Jesuit ; since they had not seen one since the Suppression of the Society. Oct. 17, Revs. Curry and McCloskey called here on their way to McSherrystown ; will say Mass there in the morning. Oct. 22d, Mass was said for the repose of the soul of Father DeBarth, by Father Steinbacher. 23d, Father Ryder, Provin- cial, arrived. Will leave for Phila. on the 25th, where he is to preach a charity sermon, for the building of a small church near the ruins of St. Augustine's. Dec. 25, Father Steinbacher said Mass at midnight at McSher- rystown. 28th, He received a letter from Father Fenwick, announcing the death of Father Young at Alexandria. 1845, Jan. 1st. Wm. Detrick, aschool teacher, became a convert under Fr. Steinbacher. Jan. 9th, John Smith buried, Father Steinbacher played the organ. 15th, The Provincial, Fr. Verhagen, ordered Fr. Sacchi to Frederick to take the place of Fr. Vespre. who goes to Phila. Father S. left Feb. 7th with the stage to Balto., where he takes the cars to Frederick. Feb. 17th, Samuel Barber, S. J., arrived here in place of Fr. Sacchi. April 10, Fathers Provincial and Rey arrived, will go to Phila. April 24, sixteen men put up scaffolding to paint the church. 28. Messrs. Monachesi and Uberti here from Phila. to paint. April 30. Father Steinbacher left for Reading to lay the corner-stone of a new church. May 1st, an altar decorated in the school room, where Mass will be said during May, as the painting of the church prevents its celebration there. May 29th, Father Zocchi, from Taneytown, paid us a visit and took dinner. June 11, the painters finished and scaffolding taken down. 14, John Nippers and Bartholomee, Novices, arrived here from Frederick for a cow, which Father Steinbacher presented to the Novitiate. 28th, Brother Macarius, of the Trappist order, from Mount Mallory, County Waterford, Ireland, arrived here, he got $1000 in two weeks at Phila. ; he got about $70 at Conewago, $16 from the Boarders and $2.50 from the Mother. July 7, Rev. Galligher, from Brownsville, came to collect for his church. 14, Rev. O'Hara, of Chambersburg, stopped with us a few days. 27, Rev. Myers, from Washington, said Mass and preached. Oct. 9, Rev. Kendler left for Milwaukee ; Father Lynch came in his place. (He left for the College at Worcester, Nov. 24th.) Dec. 2, Father Provincial by order of the Father General, ordered solemn fast for suffering Jesuits in Europe. (Father Gib-
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bons' name now mentioned.) Dec. 12, 1845, Father Dietz went to Taney- town to give last Sacraments to Father Zocchi. He died on the 19th, and Father D. sang the High Mass at his funeral on the 20th. 1846, Jan. 15, Rev. McCaffry and McClosky paid us an agreeable visit. Feb. 28, 1846, Father Dietz took his departure ; ordered by the Provincial to Bohemia. (Gave the diary to Fr. Gibbons.) They were all sorry when he left, except Broth- er Quinlan who was laughing. March 15, Father Verhagen, Prov., said Mass and preached. 16, Fr. Tuffer " arrived here to take charge of the con- gregation." (He might have been Superior between Frs. Steinbacher and Enders.) April 2, Brother Patrick Carroll arrived fiom Georgetown. 4th, Bro. Quinlan left for Alexandria. May 24, Father " Vandevil " preached at Conewago, after the lapse of 21 years since his last sermon at the Chapel. June 10, " got an account of the death of Brother Quinlan, by letter from Father Coombs." 11, Father Samuel Mulledy preached a very eloquent ser- mon. July 12, Brother Marshall arrived from Georgetown. 14, Rev. Mr. "Curry," from the College, paid us a visit. Aug. 2d, Rev. Mr. "Vero " preached panegyric of St. Ignatius. There is mention of a Brother Leary at Conewago at this time. Aug. 20th, Messrs. McGuigan and O'Callahan, schol- astics, left here for Frederick. (This must have been the Father O'Callahan who was fatally injured on a vesssel during a storm.) Aug. 24th, Messrs. Duddy and Gillespie arrived from the College ; Rev. Messrs. Jenkins and Griffin, from the Seminary, paid us a visit. " It is learned that old Father Barber bas arrived safe at Georgetown College."
There are many little details in the every-day life at Conewago, that would be interesting to many of our readers, but space forbids. Father Dietz's strong voice is playfully referred to It is said he could easily be heard down at the Church yard gate, while reciting the Introibo at the foot of the altar. When Edward Reily, Sr., died, Father Dietz came to the house and walked with the funeral to the church as the corpse was carried there.
Sunday, Nov. 22d, 1885 .- Spent a few days at Conewago. Last Sunday the mission cross erected by the great missionary, Weininger, about 35 years ago, was removed from the north side of the church to the rear of the grave- yard, and raised there, after having been reincased with boards. It is the intention to remove the priests from under the altar, and bury them around the cross. Many a prayer was said at the foot of the old mission cross. It was erected in 1857.
Father Finnegan, a yery old priest, has been at Conewago since 1870. He was a Maryland priest, born in Ireland, and ordained by Bishop Mare- chal in 1826. His mind was affected for some years, and now he is quite childish. There was some question about the validity of his ordization. He was a learned priest, and during the month of May, we remember while at school, he would sing the office of the Blessed Virgin every morning in his room. Every Sunday morning he would feel his way into the Sanctuary, a venerable looking little man with flowing white hair, and receive Com- munion. He seldom spoke to anyone. When the school boys did him any little service in his room, they would some times take advantage of the occa- sion to ask assistance in their lessons, which he would kindly answer in a very few words, but say nothing more. Poor Brother Donohue took great pleasare in assisting the boys with their lessons. for which he received many a severe scolding from Father Deneckere. Father Di Maria, another aged
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priest, spent a few years at Conewago about that time, and found great pleas- ure in taking part with the school boys in their play. He was a delightful old Father, smoking his long meerschaum pipe, and always looking for some fun. He put the weather-vane on the stable, which we believe is still there. He was fond of snow birds as a delicacy, and on the coldest day he might be seen with an old musket looking for these birds, and if he had hit all he shot at, few would have been left. Mrs. Strausbaugh, a very old Ger- man woman, lived below the hill at that time, and every day came up to the church to pray. Father Di Maria thought he would have some fun with her one day, and began telling her some wonderful story he had made up for the purpose. She listened earnestly. then walked off. saying, "Es kent sei, ovver ich glaubs net,"-It might be, but I don't believe it. The joke was turned, and the Fathers enjoyed themselves at his expense.
In looking over the old records, not much additional matter was found to note. Many of the names of the forefathers of the families now living in the valley, appear in baptismal, marriage and death records. Their publi- cation would be interesting to the generations now living at Conewago, and those to come. To prepare and publish them would necessitate great labor and expense. Nicholas Will died Jan. 1st, 1808. doubtless the great-grand- father of the present Wills ; so with the Overbaughs. Smalls. Lillys, Storms, Shorbs. and hundreds of the early settlers, on the different missions attend- ed from Conewago. Lorenz Gubernator has the title of organist after his death record. He must have conducted some kind of a choir in old times. John L. Gubernator played the organ in Father Lekeu's time. Father Stein- bacher changed organists, and Anthony Smith took his place Then John S. Brady had charge of the choir for many years. Father Forhan had a new choir organized, with David Smith as organist,-a son, we beheve, of the old organist.
A few more names of priests were found on the records, as sponsors : Rev. John N. Mertz in 1803, 4 and 5 ; Rev. N. Zocchi in 1804; Rev. Carr in 1808 ; Rev. D. Carolus Nagot in 1813 ; Rey. A. Marshall in 1817.
The first baptismal record by Father Enders is on Sept. 26th, 1847 ; and that of Father Manns in Sept., 1853. He was ordained at Frederick, June 17th. 1853. After a short stay at Conewago, he labored elsewhere until 1863,-since that at Conewago. He now attends the Sisters at McSherrys- town. His spare moments are devoted to the translation of some religious works in German in the original, and has quite a collection of manuscript copy. One of the Sisters aids him in the English translation. Father Her- man Richard attends Paradise and Oxford from Conewago. He is a very genial Father : born May 8th, 1834 ; entered the Society Oct. 1st, 1857.
Conewago, though not a classic land of artists and poets, has its charms, many of which are derived from its religion. " The palaces of Genoa and Venice, without their churches, would not compensate for their scorched and unhealthy marshes. The monotonous plain of Milan would be no delight- ful recollection without the thought of its Cathedral. The formal hills which border the pale and turbid Po at Turin, would inspire no interest if they were not crowned with that votive Church of the Superga. The low, sandy banks of the Arno would not arrest the pilgrim at Pisa, if there were not the soil of Calvary in the Campo Santo, the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Campanile. The vale and hills of Florence, with their famed but
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disappointing stream, are unquestionably surpassed in natural beauty by the English valleys of the Severn or the Wye; but art, inspired by the Catholic re- ligion, has raised that dome and tower in the Tuscan plain, and crowned the hills which encircle it with those beautiful convents which Michael Angelo used to regard with rapture. How hideous would be the range of the Ap- penines, if it were not for Camaldoli and Alvernia ! Who would be attached to Sienna, if it were not for its cathedral and Gothic towers ! and what pil- grim from the North would be attracted to Ancona by the scenery of that level shore of the Adriatic, if it were not for the hope of arriving at the house of our Blessed Lady." Though fair and fertile the Valley of the Conewago, it is surpassed in extent by that of the Cumberland, and in abrupt and ever- changing scenery by the valleys of the Potomac and the Shenandoah ; but the Church of the Sacred Heart fills the mind of the Catholic with thoughts of the early missionaries, and his own pioneer forefathers of the faith in days of Colonial hardships and persecutions ; it touches his heart by the dearest memories there cherished for time : and raising it to heavenly desires. car- ries him back over the pathway of the Catholic Church to the fountain-head of all that we have in this world or hope for in the next.
Though the fields may be green and the harvests rich ;- though man be in the enjoyment of all the comforts and pleasures of life, health and wealth ; there are times when his soul complains and will not be satisfied. " With- out an altar. not the shade of the lofty groves, not the soft meadows. not the stream descending from the rocks, aud clearer than crystal, winding through the plain, can satisfy the soul of man. Left in the presence of nature alone, it faints and becomes like earth without the dew of heaven : it is oppressed by the contemplation of that vast immensity ; it loses its tranquility and its joy. Mau in himself can find no rest or peace ; and how should he find re- pose in the works of nature, when these themselves are forever restless ? The fire mounts in a perpetual course, always flickering and impatient ; the air is agitated with conflicting winds. and susceptible of the least impulse ; the water hurries on, and knows no peace ; and even this ponderous and solid earth, with its rocks and mountains, endures an unceasing process of disintegration, and is ever on the change."
"Even to the mere poetic soul, what a delightful accompaniment to the silent hymn of nature, is that chiming of angelus bells which rises at even- ing and at noon, and at the sweet hour of prime, from all sides of a Catholic valley ?- bells that may well be termed of the angel ; that are not rung, as in other lands, by base hands, through love of sordid gain, to celebrate some occasion of sensual joy, temporal and vain, soon to change to mourn- ing as vain ; but by pious hands, through the devout intention of inspiring men with thoughts of prayer."
After all our efforts to arrange some kind of a history of Conewago, many things yet remain that might be worthy of preservation. Some ac- count could be given of the many humble and holy lives that were. passed unseen by the hurrying crowds of the world, but what cares the world for such ? Cold and ungrateful are even our best friends ; those who were near- est and dearest to the Fathers in life, it grieves us to say, are found most in- different to their memories after they have passed away. At most, it will only be a few years until others take our places. Life is too short and busy to have much thought except for the present. Why then any further record ?
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The birds sing the same among the trees this year as they did in the long ago. The seasons bring the same joys and pleasures as of old. Somne rejoice to-day. while others mourn. The bells ring as sweetly and toll as sorrowful- ly though centuries have elapsed and generations disappeared. The sound of song or the organ's peal may die out to some while first reaching the ears of others. Eloquent sermons, ceremonies most grand and imposing,-every- thing that pleases the eye or touches the heart, shall be heard until time is no more. The Church inspires man with the same lofty desires as she did in the days of the great Masters at the Cradle of Arts, and Literature may still find the Rise and Decline of Nations among the rich memories and everlast- ing beauties of an Ara Coeli. What matters it whether nations are unborn or buried ; one is the same as the other ; life is death and death is life, and though to-day be full of memories, to-morrow all will be oblivion. Why rehearse all that is dear to me in the Book of Memory ? Why turn its pages, and search for faded scrapsand treasured relics ; why look for the corners of bright leaves turned down, and drop tears over pages that are dark and stained with remorse ? Has the vulgar crowd nothing more to mock at ;- nothing less sacred for its amusement than the memories of the past ? Shall my farewells amuse them, while the hoary ferryman plys his oar ? Fate in- exorable ! Destiny eternal ! Never has man evaded thee, and mortal never will. " Unhappy guest at the banquet of life, I appear for one day and die ! I die, and on my grave no one will scatter flowers. Farewell, fields that I love ! and thou, sweet verdure ! and thou, smiling solitude of woods ! Sky, beauteous canopy for man ! admirable Nature ! for the last time, farewell !"
" Not always full of leaf. nor ever Spring ; Not endless night, nor yet eternal day : The saddest birds. a season find to sing ; The roughest storm, a calm may soon allay. Thus with succeeding terms, God tempereth all, That man may hope to rise, yet fear to fall."
THE OLD CONEWAGO CHURCH. 6
[Commenced in 1785, Enlarged and Improved up to 1886.]
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ENLARGEMENT OF CONEWAGO CHURCH IN 1850 .- From some memoran- da of an official report of Father Enders, Superior, made Feb. 20th, 1852, we glean some facts in regard to the enlargement of the Conewago Church in 1850. So many changes are constantly taking place in everything, that the surroundings of Conewago only this short time ago seem strange to us. This was the more forcibly called to our mind when a few weeks ago we overheard several middle-aged people before the Church at Conewago, re- calling to each other the changes that had taken place since they as boys had attended catechism there ; few of their companions remained ; the old Fath- ers were all gone, and marked changes on every hand impressed them with the flight of time.
In considering the enlargement of the church, one source of regret was the necessity of removing part of the walls of the old church and destroying some of the artistic decorations that had shortly before been executed. But the need of more room and accommodations was felt. and it was the will of the Bishop, Superior and the greater part of the congregation. that the old church be enlarged instead of building and maintaining a new church in some other part of the parish. The enlargement was effected by taking down the sanctuary and replacing it with transepts, making the building cross- form and the church fully as large again. As the old part of the church was painted in the very best style, there was no alternative but have the new part painted in harmony with the old. The title of the church is of the Sac- red Heart ; this was to guide in the choice of the objects represented. " It was our good fortune to find an artist who was fully equal to the task, hav- ing carried off the first premium in the historical art of painting in one of the best European Academies." The three wonders of divine love in the Re- demption, i. e., the Incarnation, Death of the Saviour, and the Institution of the Blessed Sacrament, form the principal subjects of the painting, to which correspond His coming from Heaven, His return to the Father. the Adora- tion of the Holy of Holies by Angels, in the ceiling ; the representation of the Blessed Trinity forming the center-piece, in a blind cupola of about 20 feet diameter, bordered with stucco leaves in gilt and bronze. In the Bless- ed Trinity the Son is represented in the bosom of the Father, receiving the Sceptre of Supreme Dominion, with the left hand, holding at the same time the cross, whilst the right hand is raised to bless ; the heart being visible ; the Holy Ghost appears in the form of a dove. This is a most imposing com- position, carried out with all the splendor that color is capable of imparting. In the left side against the wall is the Nativity, the Infant lying in the man- ger, the Blessed Virgin on her knees, whilst St. Josephi is prostrate in an act of adoration ; an Angel hovers on high, whilst the background presents a landscape, covered by the darkness of night ; close by the crib where lies the new-born babe on a pallet of straw, is a stall for cattle, which reach over to- wards the child, as if to impart warmth by their breath on the tiny body of the Creator of all Nature, now exposed to the cold and dampness of the man- ger at Bethlehem. Above this in the ceiling of the transept, is represented the Saviour, who was the expectation of the nations, descending from Heav- en, and as it were taking leave of His Father, returning with one hand the Crown of Glory, whilst the other hand is receiving from the Father the cross with the crown of thorns. Two Archangels are supporting the holy group, holding a scroll with an inscription. In the other transept against the wall,
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is the the Death of the Saviour, with which corresponds His Ascension into Heaven above in the ceiling, His entering into glory in contrast with the act of His deepest humiliation. Christ on the Cross, having already ex- pired, is masterly carried out in design and in its anatomical dispositions. At the right side are standing the Blessed Virgin with an expression of im- mense sorrow, and St. John also overwhelmed with grief; close by in readi- ness to support her. At the foot of the cross is Mary Magdalene on her knees, drying up with her veil the blood that flowed from the holy Victini.
The master-piece was reserved for the Sanctuary,-The Last Supper and the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The Sanctuary forms a half circle, presenting a surface of some sixty feet in breadth. Little less than half of that space is taken up with the picture proper, the rest in decoration of the grandest style. The artist chose the moment when Christ consecrated the bread, holding it with the left hand, whilst the right is raised to bless it, and the eyes to Heaven. The twelve Apostles are around the table in the most reverential attitude, and with expressions of the deepest interest and devo- tion. Above in the ceiling is the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, which is surrounded by myriads of angels, intoning in full chorus the Tantum Er- go, Sacramentum, accompanied by music on various instruments. The rich- est decorations surround these scenes ; vines encircle the whole Sanctuary, over gilt columns with arches, where clusters of grapes are ranged, and the root or main stem of the vine proceeds from a chalice in the hands of a figure of our Saviour. Stars are shining in the blue sky background of the paint- ing in the ceiling, and the full moon rises in the east on a background of the shades of night in the Last Supper. All these paintings are done on the plastering of the walls. The same artist painted the death of St. Francis, on canvas, which is now over his altar, and the Fourteen Stations, of four by six feet, which adorn the walls. " If the latter bear marks of hurry, the former is elaborate, and succeeded perhaps best of all." " All the paintings, which bear the stamp of originality, and genius, are of brilliant colors and present a most imposing view ; and whilst they are attracting numbers of the curious, they fail not to contribute to the edification and instruction of the faithful."
After the completion of the improvements, the church was first used for the celebration of the half-centennial Jubilee, which was held in most of the congregations with a retreat,-at Conewago, March 16th to 23d, 1851. Two Fathers of the Tertianship conducted the exercises at Gettysburg and Lit- tlestown. The next event was the solemn consecration of the Church, Aug. 15th. While the ceremonies were going on inside the church, one of the Fathers preached in German to the assembled crowd outside. Sunday fol- lowing the solemn benediction of the graveyard took place, which in conse- quence of the enlargement of the church, had to be extended. It has been several times since enlarged, and now almost reaches the public road pass- ing back of the church. Many changes were made in the outbuildings, stables, fences, and gardens, at that time. The priests' house was enlarged, so as to throw the kitchen farther away from the church. A large cistern was dug near the new kitchen ; the old carriage house was turned into a bake and wash house ; the stables were removed farther down ; the gardens and yards enlarged and fenced in, and a high stone wall built between the garden and the graveyard, separated before by a " slight plank fence."
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Among the letters of the Fathers, there are few that add anything to the history of Conewago. There is some correspondence between Father Enders and Rosalie Stecker, Innsbruck, Austria. about some paintings. Francis Stecker painted the Conewago Church, and executed several paintings pre- served there. What relation between them, we cannot say. There is a let- ter from Thaddeus Brzozowski. St. Petersburg, to Father Adam Britt, June 20th, 1800. One from Ehl, Ehrenbreitstein, Prussia, to Fr. N. Steinbacher, (of whom the writer was a former student,) Aug. 10, 1837. Circular letter from Pope Pius VII., (Savona,) Aug. 25th, 1809, to Cardinal Caprara, Arch- bishop of Milan, about the state of religion. Encyclical letter issued at Dub- lin, 1810, III Kalends of March, by the General Assembly of Bishops of Ire- land, in reference to the state of the Church.
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