USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > Loretto > Souvenir of Loretto centenary, October 10, 1899 : 1799-1899 ,Saint Michael's Catholic Church > Part 5
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LORETTO CENTENARY.
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ready to break. If you have one that does not even know one word of English, only for my comfort and consolation, a good, virtuous clergyman, a friend to help me to bear the burden.
Your lordship bas heard how much I have had to suffer from a restless set of unprincipled ruffians. You know that I have sued the ringleaders of the conspiracy against me. God knows my intention was not to hurt them ; no, I wish to return good for evil. My intention was only to frighten them; to compel them to do justice to my character and to retract those abominable charges of which they know in their conscience I am entirely clear.
I beg for a few words of a speedy answer to be sent (via . Greensburg) to the postoffice at Beulah, near Loretto, Cam- bria County.
TO THE SAME.
LORETTO, December 3, 1807.
. I am so exceedingly fatigued after walking since last Monday about fifty miles through rocks and mire after sick people (having lost my riding horse) that I am obliged to con- fine myself to a very few words. From what little experience I have it appears to me that total abstinence from spirituous liquors is the only sure way of breaking up a habit of that kind; and as I never keep any kind of liquor, nor drink anything but water or milk, I think if ho seriously means to leave off the practice of drinking he will have a fine chance of curing himself effectively by living with me.
TO THE SAME.
LORETTO, September 23, 1808.
It is my wish to confine myself within the limits of Cam- bria County, which alone would be more than sufficient to occupy two clergymen. My best time is past; I am upon the brink of thirty-nine.
I beg of your lordship to tell the clergyman whom you shall pitch upon that he may depend upon a handsome mainte- nance without being beholden to the congregation for one cent. I wish him to be convinced of the necessity of harmonizing with me in all matters; two clergymen well united, perfectly
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disinterested, and guided by the sole motive of promoting the glory of God and salvation of souls, may do a great deal in this part of the country. I have now on hand several Protestants and Presbyterians who show a great desire to embrace the Catholic faith,
An experience of several years teaches me that faithful domesties are very seldom to be found. After changing sev- eral times I got one whom (on account of her skill, age and experience, and especially her assiduity in frequenting the sacraments of the Church) I thought I might safely depend upon. After keeping her almost five years I had to turn her off, finding her guilty of dissipating my substance to the ben- efit of her friends and relations.
I am very much afraid of the issue of the next election. (Note .- Father Gallitzin, like Bishop Carroll, was a strong Federalist in his political views.) Our Irishmen are ready to go mad for Snyder, and Charles Kenny, Esq., of West Ches- ter, by his artful and virulent publications in the "Aurora " and in Diekson's Lancaster paper, keeps them up in a state of enthusiasm for Snyder and against sound, genuine princi- ples. Under the signature of Tyrconnell he made an attack upon my political character and principles in order to pro- vent his countrymen of Cambria and Huntingdon Counties from listening to me. I yesterday sent my reply to be pub- lished in "Hamilton's Federal Gazette," of Lancaster.
TO THE SAME.
LORETTO, November 22, 1808.
Whilst I thank Almighty God for your lordship's promo- tion (to be Archbishop of Baltimore), which adds so much to the Instre and dignity of the American Church, I sincerely lament and regret my own fate in being no longer under the immediate jurisdiction of your lordship, whose paternal affee- tion, prudence and authority have so often afforded most powerful protection against the poisonous shafts of slander and perseention, surrounded as I am by a set of the most corrupted class of Irish, who are as void of religion as they are of honor, and know of no kind of happiness but that of
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intemperance. . I have still reason to thank God for the increase and propagation of religion in this part of the world; the greater part of my congregation, and even a. good many of the Irish, frequent the sacraments and are of edifying principles and conduct. Some Protestants open their eyes; last month I took a whole numerous family of them into the Church; and I dare venture to assert that num- bers would follow their example were it not for the bad and scandalous example of our own members. After spending enormous sums in converting a most frightful for- est into a fine plantation, I have met with serious losses by being obliged to depend, in my absence, upon unfaithful do- mesties. Besides that, I find that the absence of the pastor, even for one Sunday, from the flock, gives a great chance to the wolf to tear the sheep. Instances of the kind have been so frequent here that I never absent myself from home with- ont the greatest uneasiness and anxiety of mind, being almost certain to hear bad news on my return.
TO THE SAME.
.
PHILADELPHIA, November 29, 1809.
I feel very grateful for the interest which your lordship seems to take in my truly distressful situation. I arrived in the city on the eleventh day of this month, very much fatigued and very much distressed in mind, not knowing how to extri- cate myself or where to apply for assistance; as I was sensible that Ihad not that kind of security to offer which would in- dnce even the wealthiest to lend money. I applied to many; all pitied me and lamented my case, but nobody thought him- self safe in assisting me. Mr. A. promised help and (with- ont assigning any reason) recalled his promise. Left with only a couple of dollars in my pocket, the remainder of what I had borrowed for traveling expenses, I was thrown into a state of despondeney. The shock was so great, the anguish of mind such that I fainted upon Mr. Carrell's floor.
TO ARCHBISHOP MARÉCHAL.
LORETTO, Cambria County, October 28, 1823. I hope that you have received the letter which I had the honor to write to you in the spring, in which I detailed my
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reasons for refusing the Bishopric of Detroit. As Your Grace did not reply to it, I took your silence as proof of your approbation. Indeed, if you knew the mission of Loretto you would agree with me that it is one of the most important in the United States, and that it would ruin it and ruin me to remove me from this mission. When I established myself here in 1799 the entire county of Cambria was but an immense forest and almost impenetrable. By force of labor and ex- pense (expenses which already reach to more than forty thousand dollars), I have succeeded, with the help of God, in forming an establishment wholly Catholic, extending over an immense extent of country, which is being rapidly augmented by the annual accession of families who come here from Ger- many, Switzerland, Ireland, and from different parts of America. Now, to form my establishment, I have been to great expense in establishing the various trades which are the most necessary, so that I have part of my funds in tan- neries, etc., etc., and it is impossible to draw them suddenly without ruining many families.
Several years ago I formed a plan for the good of religion, for the success of which I desire to employ all the means at my disposal when the remainder of my debts are paid. It is to form a diocese for the western part of Pennsylvania. What a consolation for me if I might, before I die, see this plan carried out, and Loretto made an Episcopal See, where the Bishop, by means of the lands attached to the bishopric, which are very fertile, would be independent, and where, with very little expense, could be erected college, seminary and all that is required for an Episcopal establishment.
Permit mne to add that no Bishop has ever penetrated to the distant missions of Western Pennsylvania. Archbishop Carroll was on his way in 1802, but frightened by the horrible description they gave him at Chambersburg of the moun- tains, the roads, etc., he retraced his steps. Bishop Egan penetrated as far as Pittsburg and the neighboring congre- gations, but went no further. Bishop Conwell has not done so much. There are, then, many missions which have never seen a Bishop, and never will, at least not until a Bishop is
REV. MATTHEW W. GIBSON. ASSISTANT 1811 1L
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established on the mountains, and one willing to fulfill the . duties of his charge, even at his own expense, without wait- ing for other recompense than that which comes from above. I hope that my experience of more than twenty years on these missions will be a guarantee to you that I speak with knowledge of the subject, and that. I am animated with the. sincere desire of advancing God's work.
TO REV. FATHER HEYDEN.
LORETTO, December 3, 1827. I really did not know him (Bishop Conwell, of Phila- delphia), he was so close to me. After getting his blessing he took me away to the Archbishop's, and told me on the road that he had nominated me as coadjutor, and had written or was going to write to Rome on the subject. I told him I hoped not. The Archbishop and the Bishop seem to be united in their desire to see me appointed.
TO. THE SAME.
December 13, 1828. From all mendicant friars. Oh. Lord! deliver us. I have: always revered the holy institutions of St. Francis, whether - Capuchins or Franciscans, but an observation of many years . has convinced me that if you take a member of these sacred institutions out of his monastery and put him on a mission,- you take the fish out of the water and put him on dry land to - perish. This I believe admits of very few exceptions. Freed from their vow of poverty they become most raving mad for money.
TO VERY REV. WM. MATTHEWS.
December 13, 1828 ..
I just now read a letter which your reverence wrote to> Rev. Mr. McGirr, in which you state that you have appointed Very Rev. Mr. Maguire to take cognizance of and to pro- nounce upon the subject of certain accusations against the said Rev. Mr. McGirr. This is tantamount to a suspension.
If Bishop Carroll, that almost perfect man, had pro- ceeded in the same manner in my case in 1807, there can be:
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.
no doubt that I should have been suspended ; the accusations against me were more grievous than those against Mr. Me- Girr, and also supported by an old clergyman: the messenger selected was 1. .. , kisq., prothonotary of our county. Bishop Carroll, having read the deposition and certificate, turned about and said: "Sh, I am very sorry for one thing." " What is that, my Lord?" "Why, to find your name on this infamous paper. And now, sir, clear yourself immediately from my presence: go home and give satisfaction to your pastor."
This I have from Mr. J --- himself, whose testimony in · such a case cannot be suspected, and who accordingly came . on the following Sunday to the church, and at the foot of the .altar, before the whole congregation, acknowledged and de- plored his guilt in calummiating me; which example was fol- lowed by several more of them. Thus ended my business, and thus, I contend, ought Rev, Mr. McGirr's business to rud.
It is shocking to both Catholies and Protestants (and you must know, Very Reverend Sir, that Rev. Mr. MeGirr, a gray-haired gentleman, is much respected by all the respec- table characters of both parties), it is shocking then, I say, to hear that impions Free Mason, Mr. K --- , who is no Cath- ofie (no matter what signs of Catholicity he may have exhib- ited at Washington), to hear him relate with how much re- spect he was received by you; to see him made, by your reverence. the bearer of your letter to Mr. MeGirr, and to hear him esult in his victory.
Would you be willing, after the lapse of so many years, even to listen to such stuff, or to permit the character and livelihood of a clergyman to have to depend on such untimely testimony? When our worthy Bishop ap- pointed me Vicar-General over the districts of the Rev. Messrs. MeGirr, O'Neill, Heyden and O'Reilly, he particu- larly recommended me to be like a father to them.
I had reason to suppose that my age, my thirty-three years' residence on this mountain, and my thorough acquaint- ance with persons and circumstances, would give my recom-
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mendation some weight. Alas! I find myself mistaken: and while on the one hand an impions man, breathing spite and revenge, brags of your respectful attention, I have to acknowledge that no attention whatever is paid to my letter.
TO BISHOP KENRICK, COADJUTOR OF PHILADELPHIA.
LORETTO, May 22, 1830.
Whenever it is made manifest to me that you are my Bishop I shall cheerfully acquiesce and sincerely thank Divine Providence, which, in its kindness has relieved me from all apprehension of ever becoming Bishop of Phila- delphia. Both the late Archbishop (a very particular friend of mine) and our own present Bishop (Conwell) spoke to me in Baltimore, November, 1827, and begged of me to suffer my name to be mentioned at Rome for the coadjutorship of Phil- adelphia. 1 at first opposed it, and if I finally concluded to remain neutral, it was merely with the view of availing my- self of the chance 1 night derive from such a nomination, to obtain from Rome a division of this immense diocese, and to have this place. which is the center of a large Catholic settle- ment, raised to the dignity of an Episcopat See, for I always dreaded the idea of being Bishop of Philadelphia. . I have stood by him (Bishop Conwell), and the most of his clergy have stood by him. We considered him as an injured and persecuted man; it was not enough that he was spat upon and dirt thrown at him in the streets of Phila- delphia, which he bore with the utmost meekness. I have spent thirty-five years in this mission, and I can safely de- clare that during the seven or eight years of Dr. Conwell's administration religion has made more rapid strides than it had during the twenty-six or twenty-seven preceding years.
. . At any rate, giving confirmation now would be .
premature. I wish to have at least the month (of June) to prepare my immense congregation for so great a blessing, of which as many as one hundred will partake, and which can- not be reiterated. For this extensive congregation, the members of which have almost exclusively to earn their liv- ing by hard labor, the very best time for confirmation would
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be after harvest, say at the end of September or the begin- ning of October. In the eastern part of the diocese, where the congregations are chiefly confined to towns, any time will do.
TO REV. FATHER HEYDEN.
LORETTO, August 27, 1831.
I met the Bishop (Kenrick) in Ebensburg; he arrived on the 18th, at 2 o'clock, and left next day at 7, without being able to promise positively to return the same way. Whilst at Ebensburg he received four letters from Philadelphia, which seemed to agitate his mind considerably. From what 1 can learn it is not the trustees alone that give him trouble. Poor Bishop! Had he known whilst in Kentucky all that was before him he would have paused awhile before he consented to accept of the mitre. Oh, my friend! How munch reason I have to thank God.
TO THE SAME.
LORETTO, January 24, 1838.
In consequence of your promise to render me any office of friendship in your power, I beg of you. my dear friend, to reject as a temptation the wish to see me appointed to an Episcopal See. Could I even deceive myself so far as to sup- jose (which God forbid) that I really possess the necessary qualifications, my age (I am, since December 22nd, in my 68th year) and my inability to travel are insuperable objec- tions to the discharge of Episcopal functions. The only ob- ject of my ambition is to give the finishing stroke to my undertaking in this flourishing Catholic establishment, by building a large and permanent church as soon as a favorable change of times will justify so costly an undertaking. This being accomplished, I shall then (if I live to see it accom- plished) consider it my duty to resign my trust into my Bishop's hands, to enable him to transfer it into better hands.
.
PETITION.
To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representa- tives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met:
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The petition of your very humble servant respectfully sheweth:
That your humble petitioner, Demetrius Augustine, Prince of Gallitzin, having come to the United States about seventeen years ago, solely with the intention of improving himself by traveling, and having, in obedience to the dictates of his parents, adopted the name of Augustine Smith, as they conceived that his name or title would or might expose him when traveling through this or other parts of the world to very considerable and useless expense. Your humble petitioner, having afterwards abandoned the idea of return- ing to his own country, and having, under his adopted name, Angustine Smith, by naturalization, become a citizen of the United States; tinding, moreover, that his real name is known to a great many, which obliges him to make use of it on many occasions, and fearing that inconveniences, or, at least, trouble and uneasiness might arise to himself or others after him, with regard to the holding of real property or conveying of the same, etc., he, therefore, prays that your honorable body may enact a law to establish his name, Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin, so that he may, under -that name, enjoy the same benefits and privileges to which he became entitled, by naturalization, under the name of Augustine Smith; and your humble petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc. DEMETRIUS AUGUSTINE (SMITH) GALLITZIN. December 5, 1809.
This was referred, on the 16th, to a committee composed of Mr. McSherry, Mr. Bethel and Mr. Weiss, and an act was passed in compliance with the requests contained in it.
CAPTAIN M'GUIRE'S COMPANY.
In the late summer of 1814 word reached the remote dis- triets of Pennsylvania that the British troops were advancing on Washington; the President (Madison) appointed a day of fasting and prayer; enlistments were made in haste, and the citizen soldiers hurried to the defence of the National Capital, arriving rather Inte in the day, however, for the English had already leisurely entered Washington, burnt, pillaged, and as leisurely left it.
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Among those who hastened to the country's defence on this occasion was Richard, son of Captain Michael McGuire, who raised a company of volunteers, in which he was ably assisted by Father Gallitzin, whose soldier nature had long outstripped his Federal politics. Nothing could be more touching than the departure of this little band from Loretto. After mass, at which each member received Communion, they were drawn up in front of the church, their banner blessed with the greatest solemnity, a parting blessing given with an exhortation to conrage, to faithful devotion to God and their country, fresh from the heart of the soldier priest who bade farewell to each as to a beloved son.
Sometime afterwards two members of Captain Richard's company returned home withont permission, and on the fol- lowing Sunday morning hekl forth to the usual crowd around the church, telling of their marvelous adventures by field and flood, and making themselves the heroes of the hour, in spite of the shadow of uncertainty concerning the propriety of their unexpected reappearance. They enjoyed the wonder, the attention of their audience until Father Gallitzin appear- ing at the door of his cabin, the usual hush of respect and expectancy took place, while they watched him coming brightly, cheerily and stately as ever along the path to the church. Then it was that one of the travelers, concealing all embarrassment under an appearance of heartiness, went for- ward with outstretched hand to receive the expected "wel- come home." But Father Gallitzin's slender hand kept its place clasped behind his back, and the dark eyes raised to the face before him expressed surprise but no welcome. "I never shake hands with one who deserts his post," he said quietly, and passed on. The rebuke was so pointed that the deserters, from self-constituted heroes, became objects of pity and commiseration.
HIS LIFE IN PERIL.
It was during this time of real persecution (1806-07) that his enemies, their ranks recruited by two or three, worse even than themselves, wild "border ruffians," who, attracted
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by the mischief gathering there, had drifted to the frontiers of his parish to be on hand, ready for any wickedness that could be devised, forced their way, armed with clubs, into the church to tear him, as they had threatened, from the altar if he made the first attempt to say mass. It was a terrible day, and a really awful hash foll upon the people as with ringing stop, and head erect, and keen, searching gaze, he passed up the aisle and on to the little staud where the vestments were laid out. All knew what was intended; all more than half ex- pected to see him murdered before their very eyes, while they looked on as if in a spell; for although his friends were many and strong they were cowed, as the orderly and quiet majority too often is, by the swearing, swaggering few.
Being vested he came out before the altar and said: "I' now proceed to offer up the Holy Sacrifice of the mass. Let no one dare to profane this elnich, or insult the Christ here present by one word or movement. And I tell you this," ad- vancing one step more and speaking in a voice of consecrated power, "and I tell you this, if any man raises hand or foot to take me from the altar, or to interrupt my words this day, another day shall come when he will call for me and I will not be there." Mass went on without interruption, and never again did anyone dare to repeat the attempt to prevent it.
His words were never forgotten, and of those who then or later publiely detied him, not one received the last consola- tions of religion ; although in one case, at least, that of a man suddenly injured, almost superhuman efforts were made by the priest sent for to reach him while life remained. But it was not to be; no human effort of religious zeal or Christian charity was permitted to over-ride the decree of the Almighty.
One more effort had to be made by his enemies to get him out of the way. The appeal to Bishop Carroll had failed so ignominiously that any satisfaction from the ecclesiastical authorities was out of the question; and recourse to the civil law was no less hopeless, for they were already under its ban. There was but one means left, brute force, and to that they now resorted.
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Father Gallitzin's house and church were then in a com- pletely isolated site, far out of reach of ready assistance. A party, therefore, thought well to call upon him in his lonely residence, and to demand accession to their wishes, with no idea of limiting themselves to mere words if he refused. After opposing and defying them, and scorning to enter into any thought of compromise with them, he in an almost ex- hansted condition sneceeded in reaching the church, to die at the altar should they dare to attack him in the house of God. No one knows what might have happened if the noise of the tu- mult had not attracted the attention of one John Weakland, who happened to be passing near, and brought him upon the scene. John was truly a remarkable character. He was the tallest und stontest man within a radins of one hundred miles .. It was mere amusement for him to capture a wolf with his bare hands, or to overpower the tiercest denizen of the forest arined only with a branch torn from the nearest tree. Withal he was inclined to peace, but roused by the peril of his be- loved pastor, whom he had accompanied from Maryland to the mountains, he snatched mp a fence rail, and his sudden appearance in the church cansed the sacrilegious rioters to quickly disperse.
THE END.
. The severe mountain winter of 1839-40 was still lingering in excessive coll, and the roads were fast assuming their spring form of snow, mud and melting ice, when Lent with its multiplied duties and the increasing sick calls of the un- healthy season, came to exhaust Father Gallitzin's failing strength. The trouble resulting from a fall from his horse, when, returning from a sick eall one night, years before, and which had prevented his over riding again, now assumed a very serions form, always painful, and at times excruciat- ingly so. He went through all the services of Holy Week, and heard confessions for half a day at a time, at what cost can never be told. Early Easter morning he was in the con- fessional again, but was so exhausted by ten o'clock that he could only say a low mass, and give a short exhortation on
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the Resurrection, which he ended with the words spoken on the cross: It is consummated. They were his last to his congregation. He then sought his bed, from which he arose only to a life of eternal glory.
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