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 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24
216
CONEWAGO-A COLLECTION OF
Mattapany, afterwards the home of Charles, Lord Baltimore, was given to the Jesuits by King Pathuen, a chief of the Patuxent, Indians, but was relinquished by them a few years later in pursuance of a contract entered into by them with Lord Baltimore, in which they agreed not to receive gifts of land in Maryland directly from the Indians. The present condition and appear- ance of Mattapany have already been described in a recent letter to THE SUN. At Newtown there is an ancient church, supplied by Father Jenkins and the other priests of the Leonardtown mission, and a manor-house almost if not quite as venerable. The bell, which bears the date of 1692, and the library, one of the oldest in Maryland, were removed to Leonardtown some years ago, and are now at the parochial residence there. The house at St. Thomas was buined in 1866, and a number of valuable old records and documents destroyed. Six years later the manor-house at St. Inigo's, erected in 1705, together with the library and records, met with a similar fate. The present building, a small brick structure, occupies the original site, and is composed in part of material from the ancient edifice, which was built of bricks from the old Catholic church at St. Mary's, erected about 1644.
About two thousand acres of iand are comprised in the Jesuit estate at St. Inigo's, divided into farms, which are leased on libera! terms to tenants, who are selected with great care and usually remain on the property for long periods. The manor lands are owned by the Maryland- New York province of the Society of Jesus, and the revenue is applied to the support of Wood- stock College and the Novitiate at Frederick. The ground allotted for the support of the priests stationed at St. Inigo's is only about forty acres, and the impression which generally prevails that they have the resources of the entire estate at their command is therefore erroneons. The present superior of the mission, Father David B. Walker, who succeeded Father Livius Vigilante a few months ago, was formerly treasurer of Mt. St. Mary's College, Emmittsburg, and more recently of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. He is a gentieman of great energy and business tact, and has addressed himself resolutely to the task of restoring the dilapidated buildings and surroundings of old St. Inigo's. The house has been repaired and repainted, and the work of improving the garden, grounds and farm land attached to the residence will be commenced as soon as practicable. His assistant, Father J. P. Neale, has been stationed' at the mission about ten years, and is well known to the people of the entire county for his tireless activity and en- thusiatic devotion to his work. Father Neale is descended from the old colonial families of Neale and Pye, and cherishes a deep reverence for the local associations and traditions. Three thousand persons are included in the cure of the two priests of St. Inigo's, whose churches are scattered many miles apart, thus necessitating almost ceaseless activity. The parish church, which was built some sixty years ago, is situated about half a mile from the residence, and is a plain and unpretentious structure of brick. About six years ago a large frame struc- ture was erected on the river bank for the accommodation in summer of the scholastics from the Frederick Novitiate, and here for about three weeks every year the young men enjoy a de- lightful holiday, inhaling the fresh, pure breezes from the St. Mary's, and spending much of their time in boating, bathing and kindred diversions.
The Jesuits in This Country .- There are in North America twenty-two Jesuit establish- ments, and twenty-one of the Jesuit colleges are in the United States. Until a few weeks ago the Jesuits in North America were divided among five provinces, but this number has been reduced to four by the consolidation of the provinces of New York and Maryland The district which was called New York province includes New York State and British America, and at the latest count had 86 priests, 122 scholastics and 121 lay brothers. The oldest, province, Mary- land, which, in addition to the territory acquired by the late consolidation, embraces New England, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, had 207 fathers, 217 scholastics and 203 lay brothers. The province next in importance to Maryland is that of Missouri, which includes almost the entire Mississippi valley north of Louisiana. The fathers in these two provinces are all English-speaking. The third province is that of Lyons, with its headquarters at New Orleans and Mobile. The fathers there speak French. The fourth and last province, called Taurin, whose clergymen are Italian, is in California. There are also some German fathers at Buffalo, which is now in the province of Maryland. The head of the Mary- land province is Father Brady ; of the Missouri, Father O'Neill ; of the Lyons, Father Jourdan ; and of the Taurin, Father Varsi.
THEIR SUPPRESSION HERE.
In the oldest province, Maryland, the Jesuits were established early in Colonial history, but in 1773 were practically suppressed, together with all the remainder of the order except that part of it which existed in Russia, by a brief of Pope Clement XV., who was forced to take that step by the hostile stand made against the followers of Loyola by France, Spain, Portugal, Parma, Naples and Austria. Prussia remained friendly to the order, and so did Russia, whose sovereign, Catharine, although a member of the Greek Church, manifested the warmest admi- ration for the Jesuits and kept them within her dominions because she believed that such a conrse was the best she could take for the cause of education. Her son, Paul, grandfather of the present Czar, was also a strong friend of the Jesuits, and some notable writers express the belief that bnt for his early death the Greek Church would have been reconciled with Rome.
Under the papal brief, the property of the order was confiscated, although in most countries the members received annuities and were allowed to live privately. It has been a mooted ques- tion whether the utterance of Pope Clement was a real suppression of the Jesnits, in accordance with the laws of the Church, the argument, having been advanced that a bull would be required to suppress the order and that its abolition could not have been effected by a simple brief. In 1801, however, Pope Pius VII., after confirming the Russian branch of the order, under the head of a Vicar General, granted permission for the Jesuits in the Province of Maryland to resume their establishments upon condition of being considered as joined to the Russian branch, and in 1814, immediately after the fall of Napoleon, tho same Pope re-established the order under its old form.
THE HEAD OF THE PREACHERS,
Father Maguire, who is to lead the mission that begins to-day at St. Edward's, is one of the ablest priests in his order. He was born in Ireland, and came to this country when very young. His mother died in Frederick, Maryland, leaving him apparently friendless and without re- sources. Father McElroy, of St. John's College, Frederick, took a fancy to the bright lad, how- ever, adopted him, and put him to study. While a scholastic at that institution he proved an
217
CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY.
unusually excellent teacher of the junior students, and he had not been ordained priest a year when he was taken from the pastorate of Gonzaga Church, Washington, and made president of Georgetown College. His success in that position was remarkable, but his oratorical powers proved the cause of his removal from the presidency in order that he might, be made head of the missionaries. In person he is tall and slim, with iron-gray hair, and, although having an ascetic expression of countenance, possesses a magnetic geniality. He would seem to be sev- enty years of age, but is not more than sixty-one. The ceaseless labor that has proved so effective has made its mark upon him, and yet he was never more eloquent than now and never undertook a task with greater energy. Whenever he preaches the building is denseiy thronged with people, and the crowd is by no means made up entirely of those professing the faith he teaches.
St. Edward's Church, of which the Rev. Edward Sullivan is pastor and the Rev. John Mellon assistant priest, was formerly an Episcopalian place of worship. It stands close to the place which was the headquarters of Washington at the time of the battle of Germantown. Upon the conclusion of the mission at St. Edward's the three Fathers, reinforced by two or three others of their order, will begin a mission at the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul .- From a sketch published when the Jesuits gane a Mission in Philadelphia, about eight or ten years ago.
Toleration in Maryland .- At a meeting of the Maryland Historical Society, several years ago, Gen. Bradley T. Johnson read a paper on the foundation of Maryland The paper recited the three theories of the origin of religious toleration in Maryland : First, that it was adopted by Lord Baltimore to attract settlers This is the theory of Lodge and Dovle. the latest writers on the sub- ject. Second, that he founded a Catholic colony as a refuge for Catholics, and declared freedom of conscience, moved by the teachings of the church. This is the theory of Cardinal Manning and Catholic writers generally. Third, that the Protestants were in the majority, and thus adopted and enforced it because it was the principle of their religion. This is the position of Mr. Glad- stone and Protestant authors. Gen Johnson contended that none of these is correct.
Lord Baltimore, satisfied that free institutions were about to perish in England in the reign of Charles I, formed the deliberate purpose of founding a State in which all the rights, liberties and franchises of Englishmen should be enjoyed, secured by all the guarantees of magna charta .- Many facts made known in 1878 by the publication of the "Records of the English Province of the Society of Jesus," preserved at Stonyhurst, prove this purpose of Lord Baltimore.
The original colony was organized by the appointment of Leonard Calvert governor and Je- rome Hawley counsellor, Catholics and Capt. Thomas Cornwallys, Protestant. The colony was largely Protestant, and was undertaken under the advice of Mutius Vitelleschi, general of the So- ciety of Jesus at Rome, and of its provincial, Father Richard Blonnt, of England, who sent out two Jesuit priests with the expedition The emigration of all Christians was encouraged by the promise of freedom of conscience by his proclamation in 1634.
Gen. Johnson referred to the code of laws prepared by Lord Baltimore and the early history of the proprietary government in support of his proposition. After the battle of Naseby had decided the fate of the English monarchy, in 1645, Lord Baltimore was obliged to reconcile the condition of affairs in his colony with that in England. In July. Angust and September, 1648, he counseled with Father Ilenry More, provincial of Jesuits in England, as to the proper measures to be adop- ted to reconcile Puritans and Roman Catholics-the Jesuits and his government in Maryland.
Father More was a great grandson of Sir Thomas More, Lord Iligh Chancellor of England, who was a martyr for his religion He was historian of the Jesuits, able, pious and learned. He prepared and proposed to Lord Baltimore the scheme which he adopted, to wit : That he should appoint Protestants to govern the province ; that he should bind them by official oaths to disturb no one on account of his religion, especially no Roman Catholic; that he should forbid the Gover- nor assenting to any law concerning religion ; that he should issue new conditions of plantation. enforeing the statutes of Mortmain, and he prepared a code of sixteen laws, which the proprietary assented to beforehand, and which he stipulated must be adopted within twelve months without amendment or alteration. The first one of these sixteen laws was the act concerning religion- the Maryland act for religious toleration.
The terms of the settlement were sent to Maryland. The Assembly in 1649 adopted seven of the sixteen laws, first among them the toleration act, and in 1650 adopted the other nine of the proposed acts Thut it is shown that the act concerning religion was but a part of the mature purpose of Lord Baltimore to found the State on the institutions of magna charta, and it was drawn up and proposed to him as part of a general scheme of compromise and settlement for Pu- ritan and Catholic in the colony by Father Henry More, the provincial of the English province of the Society of Jesus.
Among the Jesuits .- Yesterday was the feast of St. Ignatius, the apostle of the Jesuits, and was fittingly observed at the church of that name in Baltimore. To-morrow the celebration will be continued by a grand high mass at eleven o'clock and a sermon by one of the most dis- tinguished members of the order in this country. In the evening there will be solemn vespers, followe ? by benediction of the sacrament and another sermon. As usual on St. Ignatius' Day, the appointments and changes for the year were announced. Rev. Edward A. McGurk, who has been president of Loyola College, adjoining the church, for eight years, was transferred to the rectorship of Gonzaga College, Washington. This change was not unexpected, since it rarely happens that any Jesuit ever remains longer than three years at one college. Yet, Father MeGurk had so endeared himself to all his parishioners that not a few of them hoped he would be continued here at least another year. No priest in the history of the order in this city has done so much for Loyola College and St. Ignatius' Church as Father McGurk. It was mainly through his indefatigable work that the interior of the church was recently made one of the handsomest in the city, and the college one of the leading institutions of learning. Besides this, he labored hard to reduce the debt on the property, and succeeded in doing so by many thousands of dollars. His successor will not be named for a few days, but he will probably be Rev. Francis A. Smith, S. J., at present stationed at Loyola, now in New York on a visit. In the meantime, Rev. Fater Dougherty, who last year taught the poetry and rhetorie classes here, is acting president. Afterward he goes to Washington to assist Father McGurk.
Prof. E. Spillam bas likewise been transferred to Washington. Prof. M. Cunninghanı, who had charge of the preparatory department. of Loyola, has gone to Jersey City to replace Prof. J.
218
CONEWAGO-A COLLECTION OF
Hann, who comes to Baltimore. Professors Morrison, Quigley and Van Rensslaer will go to Woodstock, the theological seminary of the order. Professor Woods, of Fordham University, and two members of the Woodstock scholasticate, will be stationed in Baltimore during the coming school year. Rev. D. Daly will be minister of Loyola next year. Changes at Woodstock and Frederick will be announced to-day. Loyola, as well as Woodstock, Frederick. Gonzaga and Georgetown Colleges are within the precinets of the New York-Maryland province, in charge of Very Rev. Robert Fulton, S. J., provincial, although he has no power to make chan- ges or appointments. These are regulated by Father General Becks, through his vicar, the Very Rev. Anthony Anderledy, who, since the banishment of the Jesuits from France, has resi- ded at Fresole, near Florence, Italy. New York, recently consolidated with the Maryland pro- vince, was formerly annexed to the Canadian province, which in turn has been consolidated with the province of England. The New York-Marvland and Canad an provinces are the only provinces in America. The former embraces, besides those two states, the territory of Penn- sylvania and Massachusetts. Missions have been established in New Orleans, Buffalo, Califor- nia, New Mexico, and in the Rocky Mountains.
The most important college in the province is at Woodstock where theological studies are pursued. The number of candidates is alwa s large notwithstanding the very rigid course of studies and discipline. Great discrimination, however, is used in the choice of candidates for membership. Some circumstances or qualities form absolute impediments to admission ; such as membership even for a day in another order, or notable weakness of intellect. Less serious impediments like ill-temper, obst'naev, injud cious enthusia m or visionary devotion, etc., may be compensated for by other redeeming qualities and circumstances. The first pro- hation consists of a period of some weeks spent in a house of the society where certain ques- tions as to habits are asked and answered. The second probation consists of two vears given up to spiritual exercises. At the end of this time the novice pronounces the simple vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, with a formal promise to enter the society at a future day. Then two more years are spent in the study of the Latin and Greek languages, after which three years are devoted to mental and moral philosophy and the sciences. Every six months the scholastic undergoes a searching examination before four sworn examiners. After this he is sent to teach in a college both for the purpose of enabling him to apply his acquired knowledge and to train him to the science of governing men. Three years later he is elevated to the prist- hood. But few Jesuits rise to a position above the priesthood, as the order provides against all honors .- Baltimore paper of August 1st, 1855.
Keenan .- The late Father Keenan, of Lancaster, Pa., whose death occurred on Monday, the 19th ult., was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and came to Philadelphia in 1820 with Bishop Con- well, second Bishop of Philadelphia. He was ordained in 1821 and went to St. Mary's College, Emmittsburg, Md., where he remained until the death of Father Holland, the pastor of St. Mary's, Lancaster, which occurred in 1823. He was then appointed to his tirst and only parish -St. Mary's, whose congregation then worshipped in a small stone edifice which still stands next the present church. Father Schenfelder, who was then assistant at Lancaster died shortly afterwards ; and from that time until 1852 Father Keenan labored at Lancaster alone Priests were then few and far between, and Father Keenan had to attend at Columbia, Harrisburg, Lebanon, Elizabethtown, Coldbrooke, and other places. During the progress of State works he was frequently called to at- tend the sick thirty and forty miles The construction of canals and railroads was begun and large numbers of poor Irish laborers were employed on them. His life runs parallel with that of the celebrated Rev. Father John McElroy, S. J., who was ordained in 1817 and who took charge of the little church in Frederick City in 1822, a year before Father Keenan settled in Lancaster, whom he yet survives.
Close by St Mary's new church, a handsome brick church, built by Father Keenan in 1852, stands the old church in which the Catholics of Lancaster and many miles around heard Mass for many long years It is of stone, and well built, and has stood since 1762 "The first church was a log structure, built in 1745, located on Vine street, near Prince. In 1760 it was destroyed by fire. and was replaced by This building, which was then reputed "a very commodious structure." 4 It incident of its erection recalls the days of the primitive Christians, for the wo'nen mixed the mor- tar, and the men, after gathering stones in the fields, helped the masons to lay them.
Only think ! Thirty years before Independence Bell rang out the glad tidings of freedom to the land, when Catholics were few and poor, scattered and unpopular, when the Penal Laws were still unrepealed, a Molineaux, a Farmer, a Schneider, Pellentz, Ailing, Brosius Hellron, Rossel- ler, Stafford, Geissler, Hamm, Montgrand, Fitzsimmons, Lewermond, Janin, Entzen, Coleman, Egan (afterwards Bishon of Philadelphia), De Barth, Becher, Stocker, O'Connor, Byron, and llo}- land-all true priests : some Jesuits, others seculars ; some Irish, some German-successively la- bored and toiled in the spiritual vineyard, and kept alive the faith in Lancaster and a wide circle of country.
In the graveyard near rest many of the faithful ; in the church-the old, dilapidated, plain edifice, now abandoned-once ministered the Most Rev. John Carroll, D. D., first Archbishop of Baltimore, and first Bishop consecrated for the United States.
In the old graveyard are monuments to the Flvnns, (a very large handsome one near the road) Hoovers, McGranns, Donnellys, Thomsons, Stockslegers, Hooks, MeConomys, Lachlers, Dalys, &c .- Standard, March 10th, 1877.
Frederick, Md., Sept. 12, 1877 .- The venerable Father John McElroy, of the Society of Jesus, died this morning at the Novitiate in this city, aged 95 years, having been born in the town of Innis Killin, province of Ulster, and county of Fermannangh. Treland, in the year 1782. At the time of hie death he was in the sixtieth year of his priesthood, and was the oldest living member of the Society of Jesus. Till within one year he had remained at his priestly duties, Ins practical retirement being enforced by blindness. For a short while in his early life he engaged in com- mercial pursuits, but soon entered the Georgetown College, where he was treasurer of all the teni- poralities of the institution for eight or nine years, studying during his leisure hours for the min- istry. He was ordained in Georgetown College Chapel by Most Rev. Leonard Neal. Archbishop of Baltimore, on the 3d of May, 1817. at 35 years of age. During his ministration here he built the large and elegant church of Saint John, and also a large portion of the building now known as the Academy of the Visitation.
219
CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY.
The Mexican war having broken out, President Polk called upon the Bishops for a chaplain for the army, and Father MeElroy had the honor of being selected by them, with Father Rav, to accompany the troops. These were the only two chaplains in the army. Father MeElroy took a very active part in the campaign, and had charge of the sick and wounded at Metamoras. After the war he was stationed at Boston, Mass., where he built the Church and College of the Immac- ulate Conception. As an evidence of his Influence and the estimation in which he was held by his people. a single instance need be referred to. While the Washington branch of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad was being built a riot broke out among the laborers, and the military had to be cal- led on to suppress it. Father McElroy hastened to the scene, and it was wholly due to his influ- ence over the rioters that bloodshed was prevented.
Father MeElroy lost the use of his eyes about the year 1868: still he remained active enough to attend to his essential duties as a priest, and these he continued to perform with all the fidelity that marked his earlier years. On the 2d of January. 1876, he preached his last public sermon in Saint John's Church. An immense congregation assembled to hear him, among whom were many Protestants. The scene as this man of God was led into the church by two attendants Was deeply impressive, and many eyes were suffused with tears as they gazed upon his sightless orbs. trein- bling steps and long flowing hair, whitened by the frosts of more than four score winters. He was still a man of splend'd physique, and as he sat nttering words of wisdom to his attentive auditors he reminded one of the patriarchs of old. In Frederick, where he lived more than twenty years ng pastor, he was much beloved by all denominations, and his name is held in benediction. His funeral will take place Saturday. The sermon on the occasion will be preached by Father Mo- Guire, of Pittsburg, and a number of prominent priests will be present.
Rev. Angelo M. Paresce, S. J., one of the most learned and distinguished member of the Jesuit Order in Maryland, died at Woodstock College, Howard County, on Wednesday, the 9th inst., in the 62d year of his age.
Deceased was a Neapolitan by birth, but his long residence in this country Americanized him to such a degree that the closest observer conld scarcely tell he was of foreign birth.
In 1845, when the late Dr. Ryder was seeking recruits of voung Jesnite in Italy for the pro- vince of Maryland, Father Paresce was Professor of Chemistry and Natural Sciences in the College of his Order at Benavento. He agreed to accompany Dr. Ryder to America. Arriving here in 1846, he prosecuted his studies in theologv, and was ordained priest in 184S. Immedi- ately on his ordination, he was appointed minister of Georgetown College under Dr. Ryder, where he continued in charge of the internal economy of the institution until 1851.
His zealousness and executive ability won the appreciation of his superiors, and he was anpointed to the government and direction of the younger members of the Order in the Novi- tiate at Frederick. Here, as at. Georgetown 'College, he was eminently successful in the dis- charge of the duties assigned him, and in 1861 he was appointed provincial annerior.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.