USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > Loretto > Souvenir of Loretto centenary, October 10, 1899 : 1799-1899 ,Saint Michael's Catholic Church > Part 24
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Gallitzin said, too: In bringing the people where they will find homes, I am bonefiting the country: I am making of them useful citizens. The thousands and tens of thousands of people homeless in large cities are of little nse to Church or country, while on the rich farming lands of America they bo- come independent, honored citizens, the strength of the country as well as of Church. He thought, too: let me get them around me, away from the moral and religions perils of
ARCHBISHOP IRELAND ADDRESSING THE CROWD AT THE UNVEILING OF THE STATUE OF
FATHER GALLITZIN.
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cities, and I will, God helping, build up amid the mountains an ideal Catholic community, where Christian thought and Christian practice will dominate.
Sacrifices were to be made. Gallitzin was to cut himself off from the comforts of Eastern Pennsylvania, slight as they were, to live in districts yet overrun by savages, exposed to the bitter cold of the mountain winter, amid the poverty of frontier settlements. But the sacrifice itself made the task the more inviting to Gallitzin. This was one hundred years ago. And what do we see to-day: Thousands of men and women. happy and contented. enjoying beautiful homes. de- voted, intelligent children of the Church, honored, influ- ential citizens of the nation. A hundred years ago Gallit- zin wandered slowly over an Indian trail into this wilderness. He found here a few Catholic families forming the "McGuire Settlement." He set to work on the hill hard by, and he. t., whom the imperial palaces of St. Petersburg would have gladly opened their portals, built for himself a log hut four- teen by sixteen feet. Adjoining the hut he erected a little chapel. and on Christmas day of the year 1799 he sang out in the joyousness of his soul. "Gloria in Excelsis Deo-Glory to God in the Highest. ". He thought that he was now really doing something for God and for humanity; and there on that Christmas morning, with those few families surrounding him. Gallitzin was greater before Heaven than if he had com- manded the triumphant armies of Russia or Austria .- greater than if he had sung that Christmas mass under the domes of the Cologne or Mayence Cathedrals. And he had courage to continue his life for forty years in full accordance with that high ideal. It is not so difficult, perhaps, for men and women to grasp in a moment of exultation a great ideal, -not so diffi- cult to give one's self to that ideal for a few months or for a few years. But to devote to it forty-one years of one's life amidst all sorts of trials, persecutions, disappointments. never swayed by difficulties. never yielding to discouragement. al- ways steadily working for God-there we discover greatness of mind. there we discover nobleness of purpose. there we be- hold the power of grace working in frail man.
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: You have learned the traditions of your mountains, and you can without effort picture to-day to yourselves Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin-always the noble man, digni- · fied in manner and speech: always the scholar, fond of his books, and, as occasion afforded, displaying, in sermon or in writing, that power of mind which would have commanded armies on the battlefields or made illustrious the diplomacy of Europe; kind-hearted, gentle and patient: going from cabin to cabin, smoothing away the furrows and care-worn faces; coaxing the child to learn its catechism: counseling the aged in matters temporal and spiritual; journeying off through frosty fields fifty, sixty, seventy miles, at times in the dark- ness of night to visit the sick-always prompt to sacrifice himself for men and for God.
Some would say: But these are little things: what glory is there in teaching the catechism to children, in attending the dying, in encouraging the newly-come immigrant, in writing letters to the east to men searching information about the mountain wilderness? My friends, the nobleness of acting is not to be measured by the act itself: but by the purpose of soul in the act and by the greatness of the results that are intended to follow; and the smaller and the scem- ingly more indifferent the act is, the greater is the soul which for a great purpose can bend itself to small things. Gallitzin was so great that he saw in every little act of his ministry the priesthood of Christ Jesus; the work of saving sonis through the blood of Calvary; the lifting mp of his people to a standard of comfort and social happiness, which gave them influence for the good of country and the good of religion-and he never tired for forty-one whole years. Careful was he to instruct his people; the strong, intelligent faith deeply instilled by him into the minds of Loretto's early settlers lives in the minds of their children and their grandchil- dren. He put before his people the enduring principles of the Gospel, the life-giving dogmas of the Catholic Church. He built his people into strong Christians. He did not feed them, as is sometimes done, on mero incidentals of relig. on, which, unless clearly set forth in their merely relative
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importance are likely to draw the mind away from the essen- tials, and which, without the essentials, are as dreams and shadows. The books which he wrote, the memories of his sermons and of his catechism classes, tell what deep, thorough instruction he gave. Most, anxious was he ever to bring people to the sacraments; how he waited for them dur- ing long hours in the cold elmurch, never complaining. always finding his abundant reward if one soul came to ho refreshed in the blood of Christ the Savior.
Trials came to him. We should not have known fully the grandeur of Gallitzin's soul if he had encountered no trials. if he had suffered no perseentions. Trials and persecutions came to him from his own people. God permitted such things that we to-day might know how truly great he was. He was proven in adversity, and in prosperity, more even in adversity than in prosperity. Settlers who had come under advice from him complained: they blamed Gallitzin if they did not become rich at once. They blamed him for the lone- someness of their hearts, for their pains in felling the forest tree. As he had conferred favors upon them, spending over $150,000 of money he had received from Europe, building mills and roads, making loans nover to be repaid, they blamed him all the more virulently. The man who is benefited, unless there is in him a noble soul. is always likely to hate the benefactor. So it was with Gallitzin. A few ovon there were who strove to drive him from Loretto, who so calumni- ated him that he had to go from boretto and appeal in the name of justice and truth to fair minded non-Catholics of Greensburg. Some there were who threatened attacks npon him when he was entering the chapel to celebrate mass. llis soul, however, rose above all trials; his courage and his consciousness of his righteousness affrighted all enemies: and after a few years opposition ceased -some leaving the settlement, others repenting of their ingratitude, and unit- ing with the faithful ones, who were always the greater mm- ber, in love and obedience towards him.
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Callitzin was ever ready, as a good pastor should be, to give counsel and aid in temporal matters. Many a poor strug-
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gling emigrant coming hither was put by Gallitzin in posession of a farm and told to pay for it in five, ten or twenty years- whenever he could. Many a plan Gallitzin framed to teach his people how to obtain the best market prices for their products. And while teaching them to be prosperous farmers and good Catholics, he taught them to be good citizens. Never did a foreigner come to America with a mind more capable of un- derstanding the grandenr and beauty of American institu- tions and a heart more ready to love them than Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin.
He was quickly transformed into a loyal son of the re- public. He wrote to friends that he loved America and loved its liberty. He did what he could to teach his people to love and serve their country, and when, in the year 1812, the armies of Great Britain were burning the Capitol at Wash- ington, and a son of old Captain McGuire had raised in Lo- retto a company of volunteers, Gallitzin gathered the new soldiers around his altar and celebrated mass for them, and promised them his prayers while they would be fighting on the eastern coast in defence of the Star Spangled Banner. Two of Loretto's soldiers became homesick and. wandered back to the mountains. One Sunday morning in front of the old chapel they stood amid a wondering crowd telling eloquently. of bat- tles which they had not fought, of great generals whom they had not seen. As Gallitzin advanced from his house, for- ward they went to make reverence to him. "No, " said he, "I never shake hands with deserters." In this there was Americanism, there was patriotism: in this there was an ex- ample to priests and to laymen of then and now. Men of Lo- retto, be ever as Gallitzin and your forefathers were, noble Christians and noble Americans. These titles are yours for which you must ever thank the great God of Heaven. You are Catholics to save your souls; you are Americans to enjoy the freedom of the flag and all the social happiness which abounds wherever it is unfurled.
Such was Gallitzin, the prince-missionary of the Alle- ghenies. His native country, Russia, is prond of him. In Russia the name of Demetrius Gallitzin is mentioned more
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frequently, I am sorry to say, and more gratefully than it is in America outside, of course, of Loretto. Russia is proud that such a man was one of her sons. Members of the Gal- litzin family are to-day ministers of state, eminent writers, commanders of armies; and they all know Loretto, where rests their great kinsman. Only three years ago your hon- ored townsman, Mr. (. M. Schwab, visiting St. Petersburg, was invited to dinner by a minister of state, and in the course of the dinner the minister said: "Tell me, Mr. Schwab, do yon know of a place in the United States called Loretto?" "I do," said Mr. Schwab with pride, "I was reared there." "Well," said the minister. "fifty years ago, no one knowing who I was or what I was doing, I rode on horseback from Philadelphia to Loretto to see there the grave of my great kinsman, Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin." America is proud of Gallitzin, prond that such a great man songht her shores and became one of her citizens, - prond that hor institutions captivated his mind and heart. When a man, such as Callit- zin, loves fondly America and the liberty of America. there is there a lesson for us, that, America deserves all the homage we can pay her.
The Catholic Church of America is proud of Callitzin. I regret that the Catholics of America do not know, as they should, the full history of the parish of Loretto, do not know the full greatness of the man. whose statne is here to-dny unveiled. Dometrins Augustine Gallitzin is an honor, an in- spiration, to the whole priesthood of the Catholic Church. Oh, that we catch np something of the divine lire which conrsed through his soul, and that we do for fellow-men and for God something of what he did !
And what an honor to Loretto! Danghters and sons of Loretto, be prond that the name of vonr village was first spoken by Gallitzin, that your first priest was Gallitzin; bo prond of the traditions which have come down to you from his missionary labors among your fathers. Never forget his name, never forget the lessons of his pastorate. I rejoice to have to-day before me the evidences that you do not forget him. Your presence in thousands proves your gratitude to
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his memory. What has been done by two of Loretto's sons, Father Kittell and Mr. Schwab, proves that he is not to be forgotten by you. Father Kittell has made it the duty of his priesthood to gather together every souvenir of Gallitzin, and to reconstruct the old chapel in which Gallitzin prayed to his God. I shall never forget the emotion of my soul this morn- ing as I said mass in that old chapel, standing before the altar at which Gallitzin so often stood, and robed in the vestments worn by Gallitzin, made in Europe by the loving hands of his noble mother out of the rich silks in which she had been gowned on her wedding day.
And what shall I say of the generosity, of the ummiti- cence of Mr. Schwab in erecting to the memory of Gallitzin this noble monument. What shall I say of the glorious gift which a few moments ago he promised to Loretto-the home of Gallitzin, a temple worthy of Loretto and worthy of Gallit- zin? Mr. Schwab, Mrs. Schwab, I have no right to thank you in the name of the people; they will speak for themselves. In the name of the Catholic Church of America I thank you. In the name of the episcopate and the priesthood of Amer- ica I thank you. In the name of Demetrius Gallitzin I thank you. You have done more than you may think. You have erected a statue to Gallitzin; you will build a temple in the memory of Gallitzin. All this is not to be for Loretto alone: the statue will speak to all America, to the whole priesthood. to the whole laity of America; the church which you will build will be a holy shrine whither will pilgrim those, who in America love greatness of soul, devotion to religion, true and sterling citizenship.
A century has gone by since first he planted the cross on your mountains. What a change in America from 1799 to 1899! In 1799 Gallitzin's log church was the only Catholic Church between Lancaster to the cast and St. Louis to the west. To-day the continent terms with churches, convents and schools. There was then in America one bishop, there are now nearly a hundred; instead of a few priests there are nearly twelve thousand; the number of Catholics has grown from a few thousand to thirteen or fourteen millions, the
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whole population of America from three millions to seventy- five millions. What a change! In all his dreams, never conkl Gallitzin have imagined what was to come to America. But while America has grown to be so great, I put a question to give answer to which I leave to the angels of God --- Have men become better men? What high ideals given to us a con- tury ago by your Gallitzin in the clergy and your McGuire in the laity! Had wo to-day a thousand, a half thousand Gal litzins, their souls filled with great ideals, their hearts burn ing with divine love, ready for sacrifices, absolutely unselfish: had we tens of thousands of laymen such as the pioneer Me. Guire, so loyal to religion, so generous in defence of its works, how glorious the church would quickly become!
One thing I must not forget which shows to me as much as anything else he may have done, Gallitzin's frne grandem of soul. In the carly part of the century, over thirty years before Father Theobald Matthew was heard of, Gallitzin an nonneed in Loretto that he was a total abstainer, that he never drank wine or liquor, drinking only milk and water. He had seen the evils of intemperance: he had wished to teach his people by example, and had promised to drink only milk and water. God reward Gallitzin for his noble example of total abstinence, so much needed in America. And God reward his present successor in Loretto, Father Kittell, for his stern devotion to the beverages which gave to Gallitzin health and strength --- milk and water.
May I toll of the influence of another of Gallitzin's good works upon my own personal labors? Some twenty-five years ago I did a good deal of Catholic colonization work in Minnesota :--- and the inspiration to my work in Minnesota came to me in great part from what I had known of Gallitzin's work in Western Pennsylvania. And as [ read of Gallitzin's trials in the early days of Loretto, I easily nuderstand them. Human nature is mnch the same to-day, or, was to me twenty years ago, as it was with Gallitzin a century ago. It looks to me as if the whole story of Gallitzin's colonization difficul- ties was reproduced in mine, oven to the establishment by some colonists of a rival village. Only I did not have the pa-
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tience that Gallitzin had-I usually ended the troubles nich more quickly than he did. And I had an advantage which Gallitzin had not; I lived a hundred miles from my colonists, and when they were too obstreperons I simply kept away; while Gallitzin lived with his colonists and had to meet com- plaints and frowns cach day, morning and evening. I am sure he must often have said to his, as I often said to mine: "I permit you to curse me, you will enrse me whether I per- mit you or not: I merely announce to you that in five years .you will bless me." When I now go among my colonists I some times ask: "Where are those who were willing to curse me?" And they are not to be found.
I bid farewell to Loretto. I speak ito farewell to Gallit- zin. His memory will ever live in my heart.
At different points in the Archbishop's address his ro- marks were greeted with lively applause; and the narration of his experience with his Minnesota colonists caused consid- erable merriment. When he conelnded, the enthusiastic cheer that went up from the crowd showed that his address, an entirely extemporaneous one, had tonched a tender cord in the hearts of his hearers, and would long be remembered.
Father Kittell then introduced Governor William A. Stone, a synopsis of whose remarks, taken from the Altoona Times of the following day, is here given:
He said: "I have been so deeply impressed this day with all that I have seen and heard that anything I said would be but a repetition. It does not become me to speak of the priestly character of Father Gallitzin after what Archbishop Ireland has said. I can only express my gratitude at being present at the honor paid to the man who made Loretto."
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The Governor eulogized Mr. Schwab as "a young man going out, without name and without money, coming back to honor the town of his boyhood." He wished we had more such men. "We are long on politicians"-and here he was interrupted by laughter and applause- "but short on Schwabs.
"I am greatly impressed with the history of Father Gal- tzin. I know of no sacrifice like his made in this country.
HON. W. A. STONE, GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA.
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There was no inducement for a young man, wealthy and edu- cated, to come to these bleak hills, where no one lived. There must be some influence greater than man to produce such a miracle. There must be some higher power to lead a man to such sacrifice. He has left the mark of his character on Church and on this grand old State.
"No man in building up this great State has done greater- wonders than Gallitzin. He Christianized and colonized the western part of Pennsylvania and did for it what Franklin and Gallatin did for the eastern part.
"He worked for the future, lived for the future. These hills would not be peopled by this loyal people were it not for Father Gallitzin. He came here to build a Church and State and he succeeded. To such men as Gallitzin we owe all our wealth and power to-day.
"This country has grown beyond the expectation of the- pioneer. The late war with Spain has shown what we are as a nation. The countries of the world are beginning to realize our standing among the nations. We owe it to such men as Gallitzin. We are strong because we were planted right. In our infancy we were properly nurtured, and now no country can compete with this nation.
"We have no longer a bloody chasm between the North and the South. To-day we are united, a great nation to set the pace in morals and religion for the world. So we go on growing great and powerful while we are becoming more numerous.
"No one in this great State will shout with greater ap- plause for Gallitzin than myself."
The address of our chief magistrate was well received and heartily applauded. It was the first time in its long his- tory that Loretto had been honored by the presence of a Gov- ernor of the State. and his reception on this occasion left nothing to be desired.
Father Kittell then stated that several weeks previously he had addressed a petition to the Holy Father, requesting three favors. First, the apostolic blessing for himself, his parishioners and all who would assist at the ceremonies of
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the Centenary; second, a special blessing for Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Schwab for their generosity to the parish; and lastly. ; that the Most Rev. Apostolic Delegate be delegated to im- part these blessings at the conclusion of the ceremonies of the day, in the name of the Holy Father himself. He then read the following letter which contained the announce- iment of the granting of the petition:
S. CONGREGATION DE PROPAGANDA FIDE. ROME, September 15, 1899.
REVEREND SIR:
The information given me in your letter of recent date concerning the festivities with which the Centenary of the foundation of your parish will be celebrated on the 10th of next month affords me great pleasure. The Holy Father. graciously acceding to your request, has granted to Mon- . signor, the Delegate Apostolic, the faculty to impart on that occasion the papal blessing, and I have already written to him on the subject. Moreover, this Sacred Congregation be- stows the tribute of special and well merited praise on Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Schwab, who, as von relate, are such gener- ous benefactors of your parish.
M. CARD. LEDOCHOWSKI, Prof.
It was expected that Monsignor Martinelli, vested in full pontificals, would impart this blessing from the front door of the church, but it was judged impossible to pass through the dense crowd that ocenpied every foot of space between the stands and the sacred edifice, and that part of the pro- gramme had to be omitted. Consequently, when all at the request of the pastor had knelt down, the Apostolic Delegate amid intense silence intoned the Papal Benediction, and all arose comforted by the reflection that the Holy Father, by blessing those present, had worthily crowned the great Con- tenary of Loretto.
The Cathedral Choir then sang a grand Te Deum, the audience joining in the chorus; and with the last prolonged note the celebration came to an end. As the distinguished guests left the stand they were surrounded by throngs of ardent admirers who desired to do them honor and to show
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them reverence; and their passage to the pastoral residence was slow and difficult. The crowd lingeringly dispersed, as if loath to leave a spot forever consecrated by such hallowed memories; yet by nightfall the old town had relapsed into its customary state of quietude, undisturbed by the world-wide renown conferred upon it by the day's celebration. And al- though the crowd present was estimated at from tive to eight thousand souls, it was noticed as a subject for congratulation that no sign of disorder was visible, not the slightest accident occurred, and every part of the programme was carried out without a hitch. It was truly a day long to be remembered, and Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Schwab, who made it so, have no need to be assured of the warm affection and lasting grati- tude of the members of St. Michael's parish.
LORETTO NOTES.
(From the Alteona Times, October H. 1899.)
Altoona was represented by nearly 200 persons at the celebra- tion.
The Duquesne Band of forty pieces rendered excellent music. Mayor Giles and Postmaster Wilson were among the partici- pants.
W. A. Wills. formerly of Altoona. but now of Homestead, was with the Loretto Club.
Road Supervisor James Collen. of Spruce Creek, and his fam- ily were mong the participants.
Leman Bros. Orchestra. of this city. was very much in evi- dence in the excellence of its music.
D. J. MeCarthy. Commissioner of Allegheny County. was among the prominent visitors at Loretto.
Miss Mollie Dunphy and Mr. John H. Conrad. of the Sacred Heart Choir. were among the singers.
Miss Carter, organist at the Cathedral. Pittsburg. officiated in that capacity at Loretto yesterday.
The large attendance was admirably handled on the trains and other conveyanees to and from Loretto.
It is estimated that there were abont 900 conveyances. mainly buggies and carriages of all kinds. at Loretto.
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P. H. McGuire, of Homestead, Grand Secretary of the Young Men's Institue. was with the Loretto Club yesterday.
W. Fitz Cullen. of Spruce Creek, was very highly compliment- ed, as was also Herman Myers, of Ebensburg, on his singing.
A free day was given in several of the public as well as paro- chial schools in that vicinity, to afford the families an opportunity of being present.
Miss Lulu Fyan, of Bedford. and Miss Venie Hartzel, of Som- erset, were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Spigelnyer and fam- ily, of Braddock, at the celebration yesterday.
Mrs. Peter O'Neill, the only surviving member of the choir of Father Gallitzin, was an interested participant in the celebration yesterday. She is past 70 years, but is still very active.
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