USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > Loretto > Souvenir of Loretto centenary, October 10, 1899 : 1799-1899 ,Saint Michael's Catholic Church > Part 3
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He was most fastidious about the sanctuary and all things used for the service of the altar, and gave to them his personal care. Vestments and altar cloths were folded and put away without crease or wrinkle, and every article had its place. The materials were of the finest, and almost every- thing he used was made and sent to him by his mother and friends in Europe, and a handsome painting, "The Adoration of the Magi," received from the same source, still hangs over the chapel altar at Loretto. '
He was fond of books and gathered together quite an imposing library for those days, and his thorough education, together with a fine command of his mental resources, ren- dered him formidable in argument and a controversialist of no mean ability.
It was as a controversial writer that he earned such fame that his pamphlets have been translated into many languages and are still in circulation. Much of his eloquence in such lines was drawn forth in answer to attacks on the Catholic Church made by Protestants ignorant of its doctrines and prejudiced by religious and political feeling. But it was the age of violence in print, and the intolerance of those who assailed the Prince and his Church, expressed in unmeasured
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terms, was, contrary to the example set, met with extreme moderation in language but with masterly force lightened with touches of quiet sarcasmn.
The controversary between Father Gallitzin and the Protestant ministers of the neighboring towns resulted in the reception of many converts at the church in Loretto, and a most curious advertisement in the Cambria County Gazette in 1825 announces that, "A certain number of Protestants, having manifested a great desire of becoming members of the Roman Catholic Church, I hereby acquaint the said Protestants and the publie in general that I have appointed the second Sunday after Easter (17th April) for admitting them into the Church, according to the rites and ceremonies of the Roman ritual." The notice is signed: Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin, Parish Priest.
While the founder of Loretto and his people were busy solving their own problems great events were happening across the water and important changes taking place nearer at hand. Archbishop Carroll had died and the passing of that wise and benign prelate was a source of profound sor- row to the missionary priest, whose friend he had ever been. Some idea of the remoteness of Loretto and its inaccessible situation in the heart of the mountains may be gained from the fact that the difficulties of the journey deterred the Areh- bishop from visiting that parish even after he had gone so far on his way as to reach Chambersburg.
One of Prince Gallitzin's earliest and best loved play- mates during his life at Nithuys was Prince Frederick Wil- liam, son of King William V, and the friendship formed in those delightful days in Holland continued until Prince Demetrius started on the long journey from which he never returned. When the two young men parted Demetrius gave unto the keeping of his royal friend a watch, rings and sev- eral trinkets which he especially valued and did not care to risk losing in his travels through a wild and unknown coun- try. Since that day kingdoms had risen and fallen in Europe, and little Holland had its share of vicissitudes; but after the downfall of Napoleon the Congress of Vienna called Prince
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Frederick William from his exile in England and placed him on the thrones of Holland and Belgium'as William I, King of the Netherlands and Duke of Luxemburg.
As soon as he came to his own he gave orders to his min- ister in America to seek for his old friend of whom he knew nothing more definite than that he lived in Pennsylvania; and great must have been his surprise when in the person of a. poor, care-worn, enfeebled priest was discovered the high- born, handsome, accomplished Russian Prince.
The King of the Netherlands offered him assistance, but did not succeed in persuading him to accept anything save the sum of $2,000 --- which he said was a just dne and but a slight return for the jewels left in his care so many years before, and which there unfortunately appeared to be no chance of over giving back to their owner. The money was accompanied by a renewal of their boyish vows of friendship, and kind and affectionate words passed between the King on his throne and the humble priest in his rude log hut. Shortly afterward the same royal personage bought the collection of antiqnes to which reference has previously been made.
It was in 1828 that the lowest ebb in Father Gallitzin's financial affairs was reached, for in that year his property and his little cabin were advertised for sale by the sheriff of Cambria County. But from this last sacrifice he was saved by liberal subscriptions from the Catholics in Cambria Connty and the generosity of the Russian Ambassador, who, as Father Gallitzin relates, lighted a cigar with the bond for $5,000, which was his sole security for a loan to that amount.
The occasion referred to was that of a formal dinner given in Washington by the Ambassador of the Czar, to which Henry Clay and other notable people were invited that they might meet the Prince.
It was not often; and always on urgent business, that Father Gallitzin left his mountain home. A few journeys to Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia were all that brought him into touch with the great world east of the hills. But long and toilsome were his travels through the forests on horseback or in a rude sled, when he visited the poor and
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isolated families who looked to him alone for comfort, encom- "'agement and the last offices of the Church. For this'no'dis- 'tance was too' great, no fatigne too onerous, no danger too `menacing, no call unanswered. -
: Had Father Gallitzin carried out any of his sometimes much talked of plans for returning to Europe to recover his property he would undoubtedly have received high ecclesias- tical honors, and such offers of proferment were not withheld from him by the Church of America. He persistently dis- conraged them, however, and was steadfast in his refusal to accept the Bishopries offered him.
In a letter written to Archbishop Marechal, in October, 1823, after interesting reference to his own private affairs, he speaks eloquently of the need of a diocese in Western Penn- sylvania, but not with any idea of having the same bestowed upon himself. However, he could not entirely avoid the responsibilities which the growing Church developed, and in 1827 he was formally appointed Viear-General, and he entered upon a work for which his previous experience and habit of acting as both judge and mediator had thoroughly prepared him. The unsettled state of the Church in Pennsylvania dur- ing this primitive period of its history made the office of Vicar-General a difficult one to fill. But much discretionary power was left in his hands, and the heads of the diocese in Philadelphia, by their frequent expressions of confidence and approval, showed that they looked up with reverence and esteem to the frail but still princely forest missionary.
Bishop Egan had visited Loretto in 1811, and in the antum of 1830 the coadjutor of the diocese, Bishop Kenrick, administered confirmation to no less than five hundred people gathered from near and far and assembled in St. Michael's Church. It is recorded that he was amazed at the piety and prosperity of the little village, and profoundly impressed by the stateliness, simplicity and radiant sanctity of the priest who had been buried in the wilderness for thirty years.
New missions were now springing up around Loretto and in the country lying between Cambria County and Greens- burg, and the priests assigned to them received not only a
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kindly welcome from the pioneer at St. Michael's, but many good words of advice and encouragement; and more than one has left an account of his first impressions of the high-bred gentleman whose keen eyes beamed witli benevolence, whose manner was at once haughty and gracious, and whose quick intelligence seemed titted for a far wider field of activity.
. As years passed by, with increasing age, a broader field of responsibility and multiplied duties, came also bodily in- firmities, and it grew more and more difficult for the fast aging priest at Loretto to continue unassisted the work for which he alone laid a thorough foundation, Small congrega- tions had grown mp at Ebensburg, Jolmstown, Indiana, Wil- more, Hart's Sleeping Place, and Carrolltown; and these were placed in charge of the Rev. James Bradley, thus relieving Father Gallitzin from the fatigue of constantly journeying on rough roads to officiate at outlying missions. But after two years, during which he was of great use to Father Gallitzin, Father Bradley was sent to Newry, Blair County, and in re- sponse to a request from both pastor and people, Bishop Ken- rick sent to the mountains a German priest who has fortun- ately left us a most interesting and graphic portrait of Prince Gallitzin in his reclining years.
The Rev. P. H. Lemke was a Prussian and a convert. Before leaving Europe he had read a biography of Princess Amalia, and as soon as he came to America he inquired the whereabouts of her son. The Bishop, who had just received Prince Gallitzin's request for an assistant, found that Father Lemke was not only willing but even anxious to be appointed to that position, and therefore as soon as arrangements could be made he was sent to Loretto, having been warned before- hand that great care and discretion should be observed in his conduct and manner of approaching his superior. This was a necessary bit of advice, for long years of solitude, intellect- ual isolation and absolute authority had accentuated and in- tensified every peculiarity in the venerable priest's character, and his growing eccentricities made him a rather difficult per- son with whom to live and work.
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In his "Leben und Wirken," Father Lemke describes his first meeting with the subject of his biography. It was in September of the year 1834, when guided by Thomas Col- lins, a young lad, the son of the inn keeper at Munster, Father Lemke started through the woods on horseback on his way to Loretto. He alludes to the glorious weather, the forest, the birds, the squirrels and the merry chatter of his young com- panion; and then he tells us that he saw in the depths of the woods, coming toward him, a sled drawn by two stout horses, in which reclined a venerable man in worn peasant's clothing and reading a book.
"Are you the pastor of Loretto?"
"Yes, I am he." "Prince Gallitzin?" "At your serv- ice;" and then laughing, "I am that exalted person."
It happened he was on his way to say mass in a farmer's house. The two spent the day together. Father Lemke learned something of what his own work was to be, and in the quiet house at Loretto they talked together about the great changes which in the forty-two years since Prince Gallitzin had left Germany had occurred there and all over Europe. The singular old nobleman, as Father Lemke calls him, sta- tioned his new assistant at Ebensburg, and from there he at- tended to a district some forty or fifty miles in extent. They lived together in harmony, the Prince recognizing Father Lemke's energy and spirit, and rejoicing in his vigorous manner of prosecuting his work.
Father Lemke founded the village of Carrolltown near the old mission of St. Joseph's, and was much disappointed that the Prince would not allow him to name it Gallitzin. Thus relieved of responsibility and confident that his assist- ants were conscientiously prosecuting the work which he had founded and still directed, the venerable man of God entered upon the evening of his life.
Harmony reigned where once had raged factional quar- rels; the wild mountain sides and forest-tangled valleys were smiling gardens and fertile fields; his debts were almost en- tirely paid, and at home and abroad he was adored by a peo- ple who looked to him as to a father, a priest, and a king.
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Thongh fragile in appearance, and evidently nearing his end Father Gallitzin was nover absent from his post on Sundays. His voice was still strong, clear, and beantifully modulated, his glance keen, his interest in affairs of Church and State as lively and decided as in his earlier day's of warfare. It was not until the bitterly cold winter of 1839-40, that it became evident to those who anxiously watched their beloved pastor that he would be with them but a short time longer, though ahuost to the last moment his daily round of duties was faith- fully performed, at what cost to himself none but himself could know.
On Easter morning his last words to his congregation were said, a short exhorta- tion on the Resurrection, ending with the words spok- en on the cross. When it became known that Father Gallitzin was seriously ill his people from all parts of the county gathered together at Loretto, and thedying Prince bade each a serene and hope- ful farewell, insisting that no one, not even the most humble, should be excluded from his presence. He lin- gered until the sixth of May, and not until the early even- ing honrs did he tind rest at last, and complete the JULIA MORGAN HARDING. sacrifice begun forty-five years before, when he joyfully re- nounced power, riches, and the promised gifts of smiling for- tune for poverty, obscurity and a life of sanctified toil. As the angels of God said of Jacob, we may say of Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin: "As a Prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed."
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'LOCAL HISTORICAL 'NOTES.
BY WILLIAM A. M'GUIRE ..
NOTE .- The following is merely a compilation of facts and events that have a bearing on the life of Rev. D. A. Gal- litzin and on the development of the territory which was the theatre of his sanctified labors. The compilation is made from Miss Brownson's Life of Rev. D. A. Gallitzin: from his- tories of Pennsylvania and Cambria County; from the files of the Pittsburg Catholic and local papers, and from the recol- lections of aged citizens. . No originality whatever is claimed for the work.
1788 -- 1799.
FIRST SETTLEMENT ON THE ALLEGHENIES.
With the first permanent settlement in Cambria County begins the history of Catholicity on the Allegheny mountains. About one hundred and eleven years ago, and sixteen years before the county was organized, the standard of Christian civilization was first erected on these heights. Previous to the year 1788 the tract of land now included within its linits was an unbroken wilderness. The frontier of the inhabited parts of Pennsylvania was cast of the Allegheny mountains. The "Frankstown Settlement," a few miles below where Hol- lidaysburg now stands, was the most western opening in the wilderness. Through the forests of the western slope of the mountains still prowled a remnant of the savage tribes, and wild animals had not yet learned to fear the conditions of civilization.
But about this time began the era of territorial develop- ment. In the year 1788 Captain Michael McGuire, a hero of the Revolutionary War, brought his family from Maryland to a spot quite near the present town of Loretto, and there planted the first permanent settlement within the limits of
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what is now Cambria County. A large portion of the tract on which he settled is even yet owned and occupied by his descendants. As a captain in the War of Independence he served with honor and distinction on the "Maryland Line," and not many years after the end of the war he undertook to carry out the design that he must have formed many years previously. For being a noted trapper and hunter, he was accustomed, even before the revolutionary struggle broke out, to start at intervals from his home in Taneytown, Md., and to make expeditions far into the interior of Pennsylvania. On one of these trips, about the year 1768, he crossed the summit of the Alleghenies and established his hunting camp near the present village of Chest Springs, on land now owned by Mr. Robert Sisk; as is to be seen on an old draft of the country made as far back as 1793, which shows the exact location of "Captain McGuire's Camp." It is practically beyond all dispute, notwithstanding assertions to the con- trary, that the captain was, as Robert L. Johnston, the his- torian of early Cambria, wrote, "the first white man who settled within the present bounds of Cambria County." Records, deeds, papers, etc., in the possession of his many descendants are more than sufficient to verify this statement.
From Taneytown, Md., the extreme limit of travel had hitherto been Conewago. The distance from this place to the spot chosen by Captain MeGuire for his new abode was about 130 miles. In those days of frontier life such a journey could not be other than dangerons and daring. Through wild, unbroken forests, on horseback, with no beaten path to guide, them, and through brushwood so thick that a passage had to be ent as they slowly advanced, did the captain and his family travel to what is now Cambria County. The exact spot chosen by him for a settlement was the valley just below the present town of Loretto to the east. In a short time a few log cabins were built, and these served for shelter and protection until more permanent structures could be erected. This land is now part of the tract owned by the Francisean Brothers. Some scarcely distinguishable marks of excava- tions for the foundations of the log cabins, and a few old
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apple trees, the most of which were uprooted during the ter- rible wind storm of May 16th, of the current year (1899), were for a long period the only visible signs to designate this. historie spot. But it was verily here that the strong arms. of the stalwart captain and his brave sons laid the foundations: of "McGuire's Settlement," and of the prosperous commun- ity that nrose and flourished from such humble beginnings. In 1790 Luke MeGuire, eldest son of the captain, took up his residence on the farm now owned and cultivated by his grand- son, George Luke McGuire, about one-half mile east of Loretto, on the road leading to the town of Gallitzin. This. point was not far from the original cabin, and is distin- guished as being the location of the oldest house now stand- ing in Cambria County. Completed in 1794 it was first occu- pied by Luke MeGuire and his newly wedded wife, Margaret O'Hara, and in it they reared a family of eleven children. Standing more than one hundred years this house still defies. the fierce storms of the Alleghenies, is still well preserved, and has ever since its construction served as a domicile for the family and descendants of Luke MeGuire, son of Captain Michael. Some years later, Richard, a younger son of the captain, also located and built in the same vicinity.
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From 1758 until 1768 the line of Indian reservation fol- lowed the line between the present counties of Somerset and Bedford, Cambria and Blair, to the corner of Center, Blair and Cambria, from which point it passed eastward and joined the Susquehanna. In 1768 the purchase was extended to a line following from the western boundary of Pennsylvania up the Ohio and Allegheny rivers to Kittanning; thence cast- ward by a line to Canoe Place (afterwards called Cherry Tree, and lately Grant), from which spot, now marked by a beautiful monument, the line followed the west branch of the Susquehanna, thence in a northeasterly direction into Bradford County, joining the Pennsylvania-New York bound- nry where the north branch enters the state from New York. Cambria County was included in this purchase. Until after this treaty with the Indians no land was patented within these lines. When the land office was opened Captain Mc-
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Gioire was among those who "took up" land on, which he subsequently planted the " MeGuire Settlement." His first, and for several years his only neighbors, were the settlers at Blair's Mills, more than twelve miles away, with a dense, unbroken forest between.
Captain Michael lost no time in providing for the future spiritual needs of his family and of his settlement. Being a devont Catholic his first and greatest desire seemed to be that of firmly establishing the Church in the new location, He had taken up a large tract of land, fon acres of which he made over to Bishop Carroll (brother of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, the last survivor of the signers of the Declara-, tion of Independence) for the establishment of religion and the maintenance of resident clergy. On this land now stands the brick church of St. Michael and pastoral residence; the monment of Father Gallitzin, his chapel and stone house which served as the pastoral residence until 1874; St. Francis' College, and The Children's Home, formerly St. Aloysius' Academy. On the same tract also stood the old log church (the first building dedicated to the worship of God between Lancaster, Pa., and St. Louis), erected in 1799, enlarged to double its capacity in 1808, and in 1817 replaced by a frame building foxes feet, which was used as the parish church until 1 54: also the log house of Father Gallitzin, replaced in 1832 by St. Mary's Chapel and the old log barn. In 1891 the chapel was taken down and rebuilt of the same material, thus making it practically the same as before; but the barn and the frame church, entirely dilapidated by the ravages of time and the weather, were razed to the ground. The area of the church was enclosed and laid ont in burial lots, the sanctuary part, where the first altar on the Alleghenies stood, being reserved for the interment of the resident clergy.
Abont the year 1790, after Bishop Carroll had taken pos- session of the new See of Baltimore, the first erected in the United States, an effort was made to provide for the spiritual needs of " MeGuire's Settlement." At least once, and prob- ably twice, Father Brosius, who had accompanied the young Gallitzin to this country, visited the place, and upon one occa-
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sion set apart a portion of the land donated and consecrated it for a cemetery ... Faithful and persevering during the half decade of pioneer mountain life, too brief a period in which to see even the commencement of the realization of his hopes, Captain Michael McGuire was all too soon called to his eter- nal reward. He died November 17, 1793, in the 76th year of his age, and was the first to be interred in the ground which he had donated for the purpose of a cemetery. After 111 years the fullness of his ambitious designs is fully realized. The little settlement that he founded on these rugged heights has grown into a populous and prosperous commu- nity, and his progeny has multiplied and filled the land. Many of his descendants of the sixth generation, as well as of the fifth and fourth, are living to-day. For many years his grave was marked by a large brown slab of mountain sand- stone, on which a brief epitaph was sculptured; but later on this was replaced by a neat marble tombstone which bears this inscription :
HERE LIE THE MORTAL REMAINS
OF CAPTAIN MICHAEL M'GUIRE. DEPARTED TINS LIFE NOV. 17, 1793.
He manifested his zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of souls by bestowing this land for the benefit of the resident clergy. MAY HE REST IN PEACE. AMEN.
Erected by A. J. McGuire, of Baltimore, and R. Scanlan, of Loretto, 1856.
CAPTAIN RICHARD M'GUIRE.
Richard, son of Captain Michael MeGuire of Revolution- ary fame, was born in Frederick County, Md., December 12th, 1771. He came with his father to what is now Alle- gheny Township, Cambria County, in 1788, and on May 15,
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1800 was united in marriage to Eleanor, daughter of John and Ann Byrne. In the Baptismal Register of St. Michael's Church are recorded the births of ten children from this union, the last being born on January 1, 1822. When the es- tate of Captain Michael was divided after his death in 1793 among his children, Richard fixed his residence on land now owned by Mr. Joseph D. Hertzog, a short distance south of the location of the original settlement. A spring marks the site and there are still a few old apple trees standing near. The barn stood above the old "Glass Lane," a township high- way, which formerly connected the road from Loretto to Gal- litzin with the old road from Loretto to Munster. Both the latter road and the "lane" have been vacated for several years. The last architectural landmark of early origin on the land of Captain Richard was an old log barn, long used by the tramping fraternity as a convenient place of refuge, and familiarly and generally known as "The Tramps' Hotel." This was swept off its foundation and completely destroyed by the terrific storm of May 16, this year (1899).
Richard MeGuire commanded a company in the war of 1812. While his patriotism was thus evinced, he was ever re- markable as a devout Catholic, and exemplified in his life how intimately the love of country may be connected with the love of God. He had seen the beginnings of the Church in Cam- bria County, had taken an active part in its difficulties and struggles and he lived to see its triumph. He died peacefully January 13, 1855, in the 84th year of his age.
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