USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Woonsocket > History of the Catholic church in Woonsocket and vicinity, from the celebration of the first mass in 1828, to the present time, with a condensed account of the early history of the church in the United States > Part 1
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M. L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01067 6838
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofcatholi00smyt_0
Most Respectfully, Yours
HISTORY"
of the
CATHOLIC CHURCH
in Woonsocket and Vicinity,
from the
Celebration of the First Mass in 1828, to the Present Time,
With a Condensed Account of the Early History of the Church in the United States.
By JAMES W. SMYTH.
.
WOONSOCKET CHARLES E. COOK, PRINTER 1903
二
1521453
LO-11 -
RIGHT REV. MATTHEW HARKINS, Second Bishop of Providence Diocese.
DEDICATION.
T 0 RIGHT REV. MATTHEW HARKINS, Bishop of Providence Diocese, to the Priests and People of Woonsocket, as well as to all Catholics, wherever located, who are interested in the progress of the religion established by Christ upon earth, the following pages are most re- spectfully dedicated by the author.
Feast of St. Charles Borromeo, Woon- socket, Rhode Island, November 4, 1899.
Contents --- Part I.
PAGE
Preface
5
Introductory
9
The Pope
11
Early Discoveries of America
15
CHAPTER I .- Establishment of the Diocese of Baltimore -First Archbishop and His Successors-Brief Statis- tics of the Church 23
CHAPTER II .- Most Rev. John Carroll-The Pope Ac- knowledges the United States Minister-George Wash- ington Attends a Te Deum-Cardinal Gibbons at Ad- miral Dewey's Reception-Work of the First Bishop. 25
CHAPTER III .- Establishment of Boston Diocese-Order of Establishment of Dioceses in New England-Bishop De Goesbriand 33
CHAPTER IV .- Growth of the Church in New England- How the Ursuline Convent at Charlestown was Founded-Ethan Allen's Daughter the First New Eng- land Nun
40
CHAPTER V .- Diocese of Providence-Catholics in Provi- dence in 1813-St. Mary's, Pawtucket, the First Church in Rhode Island-Mass at Newport in 1780 45
CHAPTER VI .- Right Rev. T. F. Hendricken, the First Bishop of Providence Diocese 49
CHAPTER VII .- Bishop Hendricken's Courage in Duty at Sea 51 ·
CHAPTER VIII .- Right Rev. Matthew Harkins, Second Bishop of Providence Diocese 53
II
CHAPTER IX .- Michael Reddy-The First Mass in Woon- socket-Those Present-Rev. Robert D. Woodley the Celebrant
53
CHAPTER X .- Visits of the Early Priests-Rev. James Fitton-Rapid Growth of the First Parish-Owen Kelley 58
CHAPTER XI .- Rev. Charles O'Reilly, First Resident Pas- tor-Site for the First St. Charles' Church-Bishop Hendricken's Pastorate in Woonsocket 65
CHAPTER XII .- Very Rev. M. McCabe-His Life Work, Death and Burial 66
CHAPTER XIII .- Rev. Francis J. Lenihan-Rev. Lawrence Walsh-Rev. Bernard O'Reilly 82
CHAPTER XIV .- Rev. George T. Mahoney-St. Charles' School-Observance of Father Mahoney's Silver Jubilee 90
CHAPTER XV .- Sisters of Mercy-St. Charles Borromeo . 110
CHAPTER XVI .- The French Catholics-Formation of the Parish of the Precious Blood-Rev. A. D. Bernard- Rev. Charles C. Dauray-Convent of Jesus Marie 115
CHAPTER XVII .- Parish of St. Ann-Rev. Napoleon Le- clerc-The St. Ann Gymnasium 127
CHAPTER XVIII .- Division of St. Charles' Parish 145
CHAPTER XIX .- Parish of the Sacred Heart-Rev. John W. McCarthy 147
CHAPTER XX .- Rev. J. W. McCarthy Appointed to North Attleboro-His Farewell Sermon 152
CHAPTER XXI .- Rev. T. J. Loughran, Second Pastor of the Sacred Heart Church 158
CHAPTER XXII .- Parish of St. Louis de Gonzague-Lay- ing Corner Stone of the Church 163
1
III
CHAPTER XXIII .- Parish of the Holy Family-Rev. J. S. Fortin
169
CHAPTER XXIV .- Bishops of Hartford-Rt. Rev. Wil- liam Tyler-Rt. Rev. Bernard O'Reilly-Rt. Rev. F. P. McFarland . 171
CHAPTER XXV .- Blackstone, Mass .- First Mass in the Town-Rev. Charles O'Reilly-Rev. Edward J. Sheri- dan-St. Paul's Church-Rev. William A. Power's Life Work 177
CHAPTER XXVI .- Funeral of Rev. William A. Power . 183
CHAPTER XXVII .- Silver Jubilee of Rev. William A. Power 191
CHAPTER XXVIII .- Rev. M. H. Kittredge
·
195
Contents --- Part II.
PAGE
Major James W. Smyth
203
A Letter From Home
221
Reminiscences of Reportorial Life
225
Selected Poems Composed by Major James W. Smyth ·
229
The Month of May 231
My Native Land
Robert Emmet
232 234
The Future of the Nations
236
The Blue and the Gray
238
A Vision of the Night
239
The Emigrants
241
Rest, Soldier, Rest
Home of My Heart
242 243
Lonely and Sad
245
Rhode Island
246
When You and I Were Young
247
Record of Women
248
Past and Present
250
Christmas Eve
252
Hail to Our Heores
253
Imtemperance
255
The O'Neills
257
Beautiful Moon
259
Voyage of the Caravels
261
Our Suffering Island Queen
264
Songs of Other Days .
265
Mortality and Immortality
266
VI
Ave Maria
268
Angels of the Red Cross
269
Columbia
270
Farewell
272
Our Lizzie's Birth-day .
273
Farewell, Theresa Dear
274
Meditation
275
To Eveleen Stanley
276
Happy With Thee
277
Ireland, My Ireland
278
Mother, Dear
280
Reflections on the Death of a Brother
281
An Exile's Day Dream
282
A Dream of Hope
284
To Irish Fenians from a Brother in Exile
287
A Life in the Woods for Me
288
The Beautiful Snow
289
Weary of Life
291
The Bells of Shandon
294
God Bless our Irish Girls
295
The Dairy Maid
296
Constancy
297
The Irish Brigade
298
When You and I Were Young
301
Our Baby
302
I Am Dreaming Ever Dreaming
303
A Hundred Years From Now
304
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Frontispiece
TO FACE Title
Right Rev. Matthew Harkins
3
The House in Which the First Mass was Celebrated .
23
Right Rev. Thomas Francis Hendricken
51
Michael Reddy, the First Irish Settler .
. 57
St. Charles' Church . . 65 .
69
Rev. Francis J. Lenihan 82 ·
Rev. Bernard O'Reilly, D. D., LL. D
84
Rev. George T. Mahoney
90
Church of the Precious Blood 115 ·
Rev. Charles C. Dauray
. 120
St. Ann's Church and Convent 127 .
Rev. Napoleon Leclerc
134 .
Church of the Sacred Heart
· 145
Rev. John W. McCarthy
.
152
Rev. Thomas J. Loughran
. 158
Rev. Mederic Roberge
. 163
Rev. Joseph S. Fortin
169
St. Paul's Church, Blackstone
.
177
Rev. William A. Power, Blackstone
. 183
Rev. M. H. Kittredge, Blackstone
. 195
The Author
. 201
.
.
Very Rev. M. McCabe, V. G
.
.
PREFACE.
A HISTORY of the Catholic Church in Woonsocket was published by me in pamphlet form in 1878, now twenty- one years ago. Since that time great progress has been made by the Church, both in population and religious in- stitutions. There were only two parishes then, namely- those of St. Charles Borromeo and the Church of the Prec- ious Blood. Now there are four parishes, the two since added being the Church of St. Ann and the Church of the Sacred Heart.
It will be found by the reader that this work is not only a succinct and authenticated history of the rise and progress of the Catholic Church in Woonsocket, but that it also con- tains a condensed account of the establishment, rise and progress of this Church throughout the United States and goes back to the very earliest speculative accounts, found in the annals of the Norse Sagas and others, concerning the first explorers visiting this continent, and as to wliom be- longs the credit of first erecting the standards of the Cross in the New World.
For facts relating to the early history of Catholicism in Woonsocket, as set forth in my first effort, I was greatly indebted to the late Rev. James Fitton, who was the first missionary priest regularly visiting here, and who also built the first Catholic Church in Woonsocket. This reverend gentleman lived to celebrate the golden jubilee, or fiftieth anniversary of his ordination, being at that time pastor of the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer at East Boston. This was at Christmas, 1878.
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AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
Old Catholic residents, long since dead, furnished me with valuable information for that first little work. That information, as well as all I have since gathered through my own personal knowledge, will be found in this history. The labor of my work has been to me a pleasure, and I hope it will be read with profit. The Religion of which I have written has been my consolation through all my years. In it I place my hope of a blessed hereafter.
That my first effort was successful I will endeavor to prove : About the time my pamphlet-history appeared the corner-stone of the new and beautiful S.S. Peter and Paul's Cathedral was laid in Providence, and in order that when, by the hand of Time, in a far distant future age the noble structure might become a ruin, I forwarded a copy of my book to the late Right Rev. Thomas F. Hendricken, D. D., first bishop of Providence diocese, with a request that it be placed in the corner-stone receptacle with other documents, so that whoever opened that box might learn something of the planting of the seed of the Faith in Woonsocket.
Several weeks after forwarding the pamphlet I received a letter from the Right Rev. Bishop, of which the following is a copy :
PROVIDENCE, R. I., FEB. 2, 1879. MY DEAR MR. SMYTH :-
Strange as it may seem to you, it is only this last hour that your "History of the Catholic Church in Woonsocket," a copy of which you had the kindness to send me, has fallen into my hands. Quantities of pamphlets, magazines, little books, papers, etc., come to me from all directions, which, for want of time, I am unable to even glance over, and so they remain, unless my attention is speci- ally drawn to any of them. Yours, a most important little work, thus escaped me.
I can scarcely tell you how very glad I am to have all the in- formation you have given us of the Church in Woonsocket in book form. Some time ago I appointed one of my clergymen to gather up facts regarding the different churches and parishes in the dio-
7
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
cese, their history and foundations; but this fell through. This will give you an idea of how gratifying to me is your successful undertaking.
Although your little "History " has not gone into the corner- stone it will be treasured in the library of
Yours very sincerely,
THOMAS F. HENDRICKEN, Bp. of Providence.
It was certainly very gratifying to me to receive such a flattering letter from such a distinguished, learned and pious Bishop, whose great zeal and executive ability en- abled him to build one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world, and leave it, before his death, ready for conse- cration, free of all debt. When completed he died, thereby laying down his life as a sacrifice to God in the discharge of duty. I was present at his consecration as a bishop. I attended the services of laying the corner-stone of the Cathedral. I was present at the solemn funeral services after his death, and was also present at the consecration of the completed Cathedral. I make these statements to show the interest I took in the bishop and his work from begin- ning to end.
The explanation of why my little history did not find a place in the corner-stone of the Cathedral is that, though forwarded in time, it did not reach the hands of the Bishop before the corner-stone ceremony was carried out.
In a conversation with Bishop Hendricken, subsequent to the reception of his letter, he informed me that he had acted as pastor of St. Charles' church during one week, this week intervening between the time Rev. Hugh Carmody was removed to another parish in 1854, and the arrival of Father Carmody's successor.
Among many others who have praised the first publi- cation, whether justly deserved or not, is one whose superior learning is acknowledged among all the priests not only of
8
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
Providence diocese, but also among the learned of every other diocese, both clerical and laymen; one for whose judgment I have the highest respect ; one, too, whose friend - ship I prize within the inmost core of my heart; one whose religion and love of country are exultant factors in his being, and throb with every pulse of his life, namely, Rev. Thomas E. Ryan, the esteemed assistant pastor of St. Charles church.
The following is an extract from a letter received by me from this reverend gentleman :
RECTORY ST. CHARLES CHURCH, -
WOONSOCKET, R. I., NOVEMBER 7, 1895.
DEAR MAJOR :- I herewith mail you the little volume which you so kindly lent me two days ago.
To say that every Catholic in our own diocese should be proud of the record it contains, and every priest delighted with the spirit which inspires its every page is to express the most obvious truth. If your admirable and unselfish work in this line has not been re- quited, as it deserved at the hands of man, there is, nevertheless, a far more consoling and supporting thought that the noble record which your hand has penned will live to edify the unborn genera- tions of distant years, and be an invaluable aid and delight of the future historian of Providence diocese.
Sincerely yours, T. E. RYAN.
I entered upon the present work with the same zeal and devotion which guided me in my first publication. It has been my ambition, since the appearance of that first effort, to return again to the self-imposed task, and carry it down with me to the threshold which separates mortal from im- mortal life. The time cannot now be far distant "before I go-and return no more-to a land that is dark and covered with the mist of death." I shall go, however, with an ar- dent belief in a glorious resurrection.
INTRODUCTORY.
"Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations ; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teach- ing them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you ; and, behold, I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world."-St. Matthew, Chap. XXVIII, VS. 19-20.
" This house, which thou buildest, if thou wilt walk in my statutes and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments, walking in them, I will fulfill my word to thee, which I spoke to David, thy father."-III. Kings, Chap. VI., V 12.
EACH day, as it passes, stamps its record for good or evil on history's page. Each year, as it rolls along, from the light of its first sun until the moment when it has van- ished forever down the corridor of Time, leaves in its train the marks of its course-in deeds and events which spring into existence on earth's ceaseless tide. The days, months, years, decades and centuries come forth like shadows and glide along until eventually lost in the dim distance of the never-returning past.
Among the myriad of events, noble and ignoble, which contribute to the history, and are swept along on the surface of Time's restless, onward flowing river, some are caught by the historian and stored in archives for future reference. This is my object in writing this history, my aim being to
10
INTRODUCTORY.
tell the story of Catholicism from its infancy in Woon- socket, up to the present year, it being the last of the nine- · teenth century.
In order to accomplish the object in view I have been obliged to search through the accumulated dust of over seventy years, and too, with few printed or written docu- mentary records from which to glean a knowledge of the early history of the Church here.
THE POPE.
IT is always in keeping with every portion of Catholic Church history to refer to the Pope, as His Holiness is the visible head of the Church militant upon earth, and in re- ferring to the Pope it is right, in explanation to Catholics, as well as non-Catholics, to explain for the benefit and in- struction of those who may not understand what the govern- ing body or hierarchy of the Church consists of :
His present Holiness, Pope Leo XIII, who is beloved and revered by the whole Christian world, including non- Catholics, as well as Catholics, was known among men, be- fore receiving Holy Orders, by the name he received in the Holy Sacrament of Baptism, being that of plain Joachim Pecci. His title now, as supreme pontiff and two hundred and sixty-third successor of St. Peter, is as follows : His Holiness, Pope Leo XIII, Bishop of Rome; Vicar of Jesus Christ ; Successor of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles ; Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church; Patriarch of the West; Primate of Italy; Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, and Sovereign of the Temporal Do- minions of the Holy Roman Church.
His Holiness was born at Carpineto, in the diocese of Anagni, Italy, on March 2, 1810; was ordained a priest Dec. 31, 1837 ; consecrated Titular Archbishop of Dami- etta Feb. 17, 1843 ; transferred to the See of Perugia Jan. 19, 1846; proclaimed Cardinal Dec. 19, 1853 ; elected Pope Feb. 20, 1878, and crowned with the tiara on March 3rd of that year.
12
HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIII.
This venerable and world-wide venerated Pontiff retains the Prefectship of the Congregation of the Holy Roman and Universal Inquisition, or Holy Office of the Consistorial Congregation of the Apostolic Visitation of the Pontifical Commission " ad reconcilliationem dissidentium cum eccle- sia :" the Protectorship of the Church and Chapter of S.S. Celsus and Julianus ; of the whole Order of St. Benedict ; of the Order of Friars Minor; of the Archconfraternities of the Via Crucis ; of the Lovers of Christ and Mary and of the Sacred Stigmata of St. Francis of the Order of Preachers.
The Catholic Hierarchy, or the governing body of the Catholic Church, consists of His Holiness, the Supreme Pontiff, assisted by the Sacred College of Cardinals, and by several Sacred Congregations, or permanent ecclesiastical committees, of which the Cardinals are the chief members ; by the Patriarchs, Archbishops and Bishops ; by the Apos- tolic Delegates, Vicars, Prefects and by certain Abbots and other Prelates.
In the language of a learned theologian Pope Leo XIII claims to be, by divine right, the successor of St. Peter and to hold his place as the visible head of the Church. Every one of the long line of Popes claimed a like succession, and no other person on earth has ever made such claim. Neither does history accord the right of succession to anybody else save to the duly elected Bishop of Rome. This same writer gives the following reasons for believing in the infallibility of the Pope, reasons which are firmly believed by every Catholic :
Because of a belief in the importance and necessity of the soul's salvation, both of which call for the guidance and security of Infallibility.
Because of a belief in the Goodness of God and in His
13
HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIII.
Love for man, this belief leading the mind to expect from Him the concession of Infallibility.
Because of believing that God made a supernatural Revelation of His will for the benefit of man, to the end of time, concluding from this fact that the Wisdom of God must have provided a living Infallible Witness, Guardian and Interpreter to authenticate, protect and teach in all ages this Revelation in its purity and integrity.
Because of a belief that God imposed this Revelation on the belief and practice of man, as a law of faith and con- duct, and from the existence of this divine obligation that God, in His Justice, must have appointed an Infallible Wit- ness to its contents, and an Infallible Interpreter of its meaning.
Because of a belief that God made divine faith in the teaching of the Revelation a condition of salvation, and such faith in its plenitude is impossible without the aid of Infallibility.
Because assuming a divine faith in the contents of Revelation to be necessary, nothing short of the certainty and security of Infallibility can satisfy the legitimate de- mands of reason and conscience.
Because a living Infallible Authority is at once the source of the greatest blessings, and a safeguard against the greatest evils.
Because only a living Infallible Authority can satis- factorily settle the Christian controversy and be equal to the many and grave difficulties connected with it. Only a living Infallible Authority can adjust and harmonize the re- spective claims of Reason and Revelation, Science and Faith, Liberty and Authority, Nature and Grace-in one word, of the Natural and Supernatural.
Because the doctrine is a teaching of Revelation, and
I
1
8
14
HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIII.
is and ever has been the belief of the great majority of Christians.
Because the history of dogmatic teaching of the Church for now almost nineteen hundred years points to Infalli- bility in fact.
Because without Infallibility, logically speaking, there would be no valid reason-no sufficient grounds for the pro- fession of Christianity. The only consistent and tenable position is Christianity and Infallibility-both or neither.
Early Discoverers of America.
WHO FIRST PLACED THE STANDARD OF THE CROSS IN THE NEW WORLD ? WHEN WERE THE FIRST CEREMONIES OF THE CATH- OLIC CHURCH CARRIED OUT HERE ?
IN referring to the early history of the Catholic Church in the Western hemisphere I deem it important to go back to early history and legendary lore, and show, if possible, that Catholic ceremonies were carried out here long before Columbus crossed the Atlantic from Spain. I do this, though the question as to who was the first to hold such ceremonies can never be satisfactorily answered. This problem demands the closest study of the antiquarian, as well as the most diligent research of the historian. As this question is one of more than ordinary importance I hold that it is right to introduce it in this history and also right to set forth facts in relation to the solution of the question. In doing so, it is necessary to explain the etymology of several words in the Keltic or Erse language, and as my knowledge of this language is of a very limited nature I am therefore obliged to depend on those who have a thorough knowledge of this ancient tongue in the full mean- ing of quoted words and their roots and derivations, so as to be as near correct as possible in an attempt to solve the question under consideration.
Columbus, under the Spanish flag in 1492, discovered what he designated as the West India Islands, but returned to Spain without discovering the American continent. Five centuries before that presumed discovery Scandinavians and other European adventurers visited this continent and estab- lished homes.
16
EARLY DISCOVERERS OF AMERICA.
This statement is vouched for by Carl Christian Rafn, the Danish archaeologist, who is chiefly known in connection with the controversy as to the question of the discovery of America by the Norsemen.
Still another five hundred years before the Norwegian discovery Chinese navigators, according to the record of one of their own historians, landed on the western coast of the American continent. These discoverers called the coun- try Frosang, from the name of a certain shrub which grew in abundance at the place where they landed. The Chinese word used by the chronicler means, however, " Eastern Re- gion," which undoubtedly suggested itself, as the mariners were sailing east from China when land was discovered.
Leaving aside the Chinese claim, which seems truthful enough, as it would have been easy even thus early to reach this continent from China by way of Behring's Straits, let us come down to the claim of the Scandinavians that they made the discovery under Eric Randi, "Eric, the Prince," in the tenth century. This claim sets forth that the dis- coverers sailed from Iceland and reached the shores of Mark- land, Hellenland and Vinland, three names of undoubted Gaelic origin, the first meaning "The coast of the Western Land," the second meaning "End Land," and the third " Terminus Land."
Vinland is sometimes erroneously used to designate Vine-land, "Vin " or " Fin " means "end" in almost all languages.
The Norse Sagas, published by Rafn, assert the dis- covery of the northern part of this continent by Scandina- vians, but are not only just enough to recognize the share which Irishmen had in the discovery, but acknowledge that the latter were the first explorers of this continent. They state that when some of the Norsemen went down to a re- gion called Huitra-mannaland, or Island-it-mitka, which is
17
EARLY DISCOVERERS OF AMERICA.
designated as the region of the Carolinas, Georgia and part of Florida, they found there a white people, different from the Esquimaux of the North, having long robes or cloaks, and frequently bearing Crosses in a sort of religious pro- cession, and that their speech was Irish.
That the Irish were navigators even in the earliest of the historic ages is proven by no less an authority than Julius Cæsar in his Commentaries, in which he stated that the Kelts of Armorica had chain cables for their ships, showing that they must have been stout and seaworthy ves- sels. Tacitus, speaking of the isles of the Northwest, says that the ports of Ireland were better known to the world than those of Britain. O'Halloran, on the authority of the " Psalter of Cashel," states that Moghcorb, King of Munster, invaded Denmark with a large fleet in A. D. 290 ; also that the King of Ireland and Albany in A. D. 367, went with a great number of ships to strengthen the Picts and the Scots. Again, Niall, of the Nine Hostages, headed a naval armament, which ravaged the coasts of England. All this goes to prove that the Irish at that time must have been possessed of fighting ships and sailing vessels. The Venerable Bede, the father of English history, as well as the most learned Englishman and most eminent writer of his age, who in his Ecclesiastical History gives us the most and the best of our knowledge of the history of England, up to A. D. 731, four years before his death, and 761 years before the discovery of America by Columbus, says in his history that when the Norwegians first came to Iceland they found there a class of men called Papas, with Irish bells, books and crosses. The Irish missionaries had reached that cold, cheerless and snow and ice-covered northern island, and the sailors who had ventured so far in ships and braved tempests of stormy seas, would not be deterred from cross- ing the Atlantic to Markland and Hellenland.
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