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 14
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" To be sure, at death the depths of affection break up and the honest story is told by lips and eyes. Still, back of the grief stands the shining Christ and that thought is the sweetest of all. Oliver Wendell Holmes once said that he noticed that in cases of those outside our Church and
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that even in the cases of Christian ministers, many in their last moments are beset with doubt. But those who walk the wards of hospitals and the bloody battlefields know that the Roman Catholic knows how to die.
" We are all accustomed to death. It comes to every age and condition. The mother stoops to kiss the eyes that were open an hour ago ; the school children who leaped along the pathways a few months ago now lie with. the flowers ; the youth who yesterday rejoiced in his strength now lies still and stark in the darkened house; the strong man who yesterday went into the fields in the hope of reap- ing the golden harvest lies under the waving corn, and the lamentations of his neighbors fill the air; the old man sits in the sunset and goes away with the shadows.
" And now death comes to the priest who works and lives in Death's presence and who walks with Death. And our priest is come to die. And what is our priest? He is one taken from all mankind, one standing on a mountain with his hands, beatified with the blood of Christ, upraised, his eyes lifted to Christ, pleading for his people, one who stands under darkened skies and lifts his voice for his flock -one keeping the night watch while his lambs are safely under his care.
"No wonder his loss is felt! He was to his parish not only a priest, but a father and mother, a striving brother, and when he falls he lies upon the breast of every one in the parish, and his loss leans hard on the outside world and on the priests of his diocese. Our diocese is much poorer for the deaths of John and William Power. They were men rare in their high qualities and men pro- fessedly superior to many others. The night of the day on which the Vicar General was buried at Worcester the Bishop said : ' And now when Father William goes, St. Paul's Church at Worcester and St. Paul's Church at Black-
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stone will become ordinary parishes.' The prelate did not mean that the men who would succeed them would be other than deserving and excellent men, but meant that he did not expect to look upon their like again.
" Men paint convent walls in Italy with exquisite art and feeling even to-day. But no man has come in these later times able to restore Da Vinci's ' Last Supper,' so all the world stands still bemoaning the lost glory of the old master. The wall is still there, but this work, tbe illumin- ating of stone which gave to all the place the touch so singularly divine, is gone now and forever.
" If the priests were asked to raise monuments to their departed brothers, I think I could say what kind of memorials they would lift. Both would be of gray and en- during granite, taken out of the heart of the New Eng- land hills and speaking of steadfastness and sincerity- which were characteristics of the men. One would be a tall and slender shaft alone in the open. It would be severely plain, without any ornament save on its bold front where we would cut a human hand with the index finger pointing toward heaven. Men would read the word 'Justice,' and on the base I would have in raised letters, 'John Power.' Men would know who he was. The other would be low and deep and running wide and with tender vines and wild flowers running wildly over it and upon it gentle tracery that every one passed would read the words, 'Father Wil- liam.'
" The Bishop an hour ago remarked that Father Wil- liam Power was a princely priest. By that he meant that he was a prince among priests. Every priest is stamped with the image of the King. No man ever taught that lesson to his people better than Father Power. If one looked into his eyes one would see his characteristics- first, his sincerity. Before he was called to the altar he be-
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gan to work at a marble calling with pointed steel on ever- lasting stone, no clay or plaster for that man. When lie was called to the priesthood, still the characteristics came with him. One can imagine him stooping with chisel pointed and hammer raised when that sound from distance beyond distance called him like music to liis vocation. When he became a priest all the glory of the priest shone in his life.
" The man was belted and sent out to do God's battle and now to-day he is crowned king far in the spiritual city. He was the ideal priest. Perhaps his special characteris- tics were those which marked Christ, lowliness and gentle- ness. Not thie gentleness of weakness. Any one who looked into the steady eye and saw that pleasant smile, could realize that back of all there lurked the lightning, and when Faith, right or defence of the lowly asked for it, some people have seen the flash.
" His Bishop can say that on the advisory board no man could express his judgment with such force and power as this priest. But he was never angered when his advice was not taken. He perhaps felt that it was his mission to go down into the mines and to bring up the pure gold, and that it was the work of his chief to handle and mold it. We must think of him as St. Francis De Sales and other men who were full of energy, but who are held up as saints of gentleness. Father William was a scholar, and after piety that is one of the best things to say of a priest. His scholar- ship was of the refined, uplifting character. He loved chil- dren and he loved music and all the things that make the poople like unto himself and therein was his ambition of scholarship.
All those who have gone before him with traces of his fingers on their brow, all those are now about him in Heaven where they speak face to face with the King."
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Among the priests who were in attendance were Revs. Cornelius S. Kelley, Fall River ; Thomas F. Carroll, Provi- dence ; T. J. Loughran, Woonsocket; W. J. Galvin, West- erly ; A. E. Dwyer, Fisherville, Mass. ; John F. Leonard, Warren, Mass. ; W. F. Grace, Gilbertville, Mass. ; J. A. Riordan, Ware, Mass. ; D. F. McGrath, Holyoke, Mass .; Mederic Roberge, Woonsocket; Adrian Landry, Worces- ter; L. E. Barry, East Douglas ; P. A. Mclaughlin, Sla- tersville ; J. J. Hussey, East Greenwich, R. I. ; M. P. Kel- ley, Springfield, Mass. ; W. J. Nagle, Woonsocket ; J. J. Rice, Brighton, Mass. ; T. A. McGovern, Springfield, Mass. ; John W. McCarthy, North Attleboro, Mass. ; John J. Mulcahy, Arlington, Mass. ; Napoleon Leclerc, Woon- socket ; James P. Tuite, Worcester; C. McSweeney, Fall River ; Daniel Mullins, Southbridge ; John F. Redican, Leicester; J. T. McDermott, Gardner; John Kenney, Northampton ; E. L. Judge, Uxbridge; J. B. Hackett, Winchendon ; John S. Nelligan, Miller's Falls; T. C. O'Connor, Leominster ; J. A. Charland, Millbridge, Mass., H. J. Wren, North Brookfied ; M. P. Cassidy, Valley Falls, R. I., P. Farrelly, Central Falls, R. I .; J. C. Tennian, Pawtucket, R. I .; Hugh P. Smyth, Boston ; Patrick F. Haley, Oxford ; P. L. Quaide, Millbury ; D. H. O'Neill, Worcester ; Albert J. Brault, Jefferson ; M. P. Cavanaugh, Worcester; J. P. Phalan, Milford; J. P. Canavan, Mil- ford ; William H. Goggin, Worcester; Eugene Lessard, Manville ; Charles C. Dauray, Woonsocket ; T. E. Ryan, Woonsocket ; James J. Chittick, Hyde Park ; D. C. Rior- dan, Middleboro, Mass. ; J. V. Campeau, Manchaug ; J. T. Sheehan, Ware, Mass. ; M. J. Murphy, Brookfield ; James Donahoe, Westfield ; John R. Murphy, Grafton ; P. B. Phalan, Holyoke; J. J. Ryan, Cambridge ; John J. Bell, Charlton, Mass. ; J. H. Boland, Worcester; J. M. Cruse, Upton ; Thomas Smyth, Springfield ; J. O. O'Keefe,
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Clinton ; William F. Hartigan, Lee, Mass. ; M. A. Griffin, Springfield : John A. Griffin, Mittineague, Mass. ; Joseph Daily, Oxford ; A. O'Grady, Spencer; M. A. Sullivan, Uxbridge ; William F. Finnernan, Southboro, Mass., and J. J. Howard, Worcester.
When the people had passed out of the Church and the relatives of the deceased pastor had taken their farewell view of the body the casket was closed and the pall-bearers, John H. Kearney, John F. Campbell, Dennis Mullen, T. J. Rowen, James E. McCabe and Anthony Cormier, removed the body to the hearse from the side entrance of the Church. The honorary pall bearers, Right Rev. Mgr. Thomas Griffin, Rev. William Goggan, Rev. Thomas Ryan, Rev. D. Feehan, Rev. Charles Dauray, Rev. Daniel O'Niel, Rev. M. H. Kittredge, Rev. P. A. McLauglin, took places in waiting carriages and the funeral cortege began to form. It was nearly 1 o'clock when it began to move. The hearse was drawn by four black horses with mourning trappings and was followed by about fifty carriages and several hundred persons on foot, including a large number of women.
The procession was viewed by thousands of people, as all places of business were closed for the day. When the procession arrived at the cemetery the usual services were held, the priests present, led by Rev. J. B. McGann of Westboro, sang the " Benedictus." After the services the vault was sealed up and all that is mortal of an exemplary, zealous and self-sacrificing priest was at rest.
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CHAPTER XXVII.
FATHER POWER CELEBRATES HIS 25TH ANNIVERSARY-A THREE DAY'S JUBILEE-TWO BISHOPS AND MANY PRIESTS PRESENT- RECEIVED MANY VALUABLE TESTIMONIALS-WINDS UP WITH GRAND BANQUET.
Twenty-five years a priest, a quarter of a century in the service of God, is a record to be proud of and one that Rev. William A. Power of St. Paul's parish gloried in. The event occurred on Sunday, June 6, 1891, and was ob- served with impressive ceremonies.
The main altar in St. Paul's Church was tastefully decorated with calla lilies and white and red roses, and the lights of myriads of wax tapers added brilliancy to the scene. A beautiful floral tribute in the shape of a crown surmounted by a small cross, the gift of Thomas J. Rowan, stood on a small table in the sanctuary.
Promptly at 10 :30 o'clock the officers of the Mass ac- companied by the acolytes entered the sanctuary and a solem High Mass of thanksgiving was begun. The officers of the Mass were as follows : Celebrant, Rev. William A. Power; Deacon, Rev. M. H. Kittridge of St. Augustine's Church, Millville ; Sub-Deacon, Rev. John T. Lynch of St. Charles' Church, Woonsocket ; Master of Ceremonies, Rev. James Hurley of St. Paul's Church, Blackstone. After the first gospel, Rev. Father O'Kane, rector of Holy Cross Col- lege, ascended the steps of the high altar and delivered a powerful sermon on the priesthood.
The programme of the music rendered by the full choir under the direction of Miss Theresa Power, was as follows : "Kyrie," Lambilotte's mass ; "Gloria," Lambilotte's mass ; "Credo," Rosewig's; "Sanctus," Lambilotte's mass ; " Agnus Dei," Lambilotte's mass ; " O Salutaris," Knapp. Miss Sarah Dorrington presided at the organ. The solos
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were sustained by Misses Mary Bradley, Maria McCarthy and Johanna Ryan, sopranos ; Mrs. Eugene Moore, Misses Mary Murphy and Nellie McGuire, altos ; James McCabe and Philip Masterson, tenors; and C. Dorrington, bass. Owing to the fact that the celebration occurred on Sunday, there were no priests at the Mass but those above men- tioned.
At the evening service a large number of visiting clergymen were present. Institute Hall was crowded when the services began. The members of the different societies, St. Paul's T. A. Society, A. O. H., Division 10 ; Sodality of the Blessed Vigin, Rosary and Scapular Society and the Sunday school, taxed the seating capacity of the auditorium. The stage was decorated with ferns, potted plants and flowers, and above was suspended a tablet on which in large letters were the words : "Greeting to our pastor, Rev. William A. Power, June 6, 1891.
When the reverend gentleman entered the hall a well arranged programme was begun by the singing of the chorus " Welcome Pastor," by 200 Sunday school scholars, " A Life's Secret Told," was the next number, and an address from the Sunday school by Miss L. McMullen followed. The chorus "Song of Joy," by the choir was the fourth number. The sentiment "Father Power and the Town," was responded to by Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, John F. Campbell. An address from the women of the parish was next presented by Miss M. E. Riley, followed by a chorus " Heaven Bless Thy Name," by the choir. An address from the parish by Representative M. J. Carroll was then read. The address was beautifully engrossed on parchment. Then came the response to the address by Bev. Father Power. A thanksgiving hymn, "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name," by the choir, ended the evening's exercises.
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During the evening, Rev. Father Power was the recipi- ent of numerous presents. The most prominent were a sub- stantial purse by the parish, which was presented in a plush, silk-lined box, on the base of which was the letters XXV, filled with gold; a solid silver crucifix from the people of Millville; a solid silver tea set from the united societies ; a benediction set in white silk, hand painted, which included veil, stole and burse, also a sick call set in white kid, fin- ished in white silk with gold mountings, in a leather, silk- lined box, in which was a gold pix and oil stock, from the women of the parish. Another present from the ladies was a heavy, solid oak framed picture of the Church, exterior and interior views, and exterior views of the parsonage and Institute building, and in the center an enlarged picture of the reverend pastor. The children of the Sunday school presented a solid silver berry dish, and the altar boys a silver library set. Rev. Father Power was deeply affected by these testimonials of the parishioners' love for him, and found it difficult to frame words to thank them for their handsome presents.
The celebration of the silver jubilee continued three days and wound up on Tuesday evening with a grand ban- quet tendered by Rev. Father Power to the two Bishops and about seventy-five priests.
Monday evening Right Rev. P. T. O'Reilly adminis- tered confirmation to a class of 140 persons, many of whom were adults and several of whom were converts.
The Church was filled to overflowing with people who came to see the Bishop and witness the ceremony. The girls were dressed in white, with long veils and wreaths, and wore corsage bouquets. Promptly at 8 o'clock Right Rev. P. T. O'Reilly, dressed in his robes of office, accompanied by Rev. Fathers Power and Hurley of Blackstone, Sullivan of Uxbridge, and Raftery of Woonsocket, entered the
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sanctuary. After a short service Rev. Father Raftery stepped to the front of the altar and preached an eloquent sermon, taking for his text: "Man's life on earth is a warfare." At the conclusion of the sermon the Bishop ad- ministered the sacrament. The service closed with the benediction of the blessed sacrament.
On Tuesday evening the banquet was held in Insti- - tute Hall, which was tastefully decorated for the occasion. There were two Bishops and seventy-five priests gathered around the festive board. At the head sat Right Rev. Bishop O'Reilly of Springfield, and Right Rev. Bishop Harkins of Providence. On either side was seated Very Rev. J. J. Power, Worcester ; Very Rev. Michael McCabe, Woonsocket ; Monsignor Thomas Griffin, Worcester ; Rev. Dr. Stang, Providence ; Bernard Conaty, Springfield ; Rev. W. A. Power; Rev. T. J. Conaty, D. D., Worcester ; Rev. Henry Robinson, S. T. D., Chicopee ; Rev. M. A. O'Kane, Holy Cross, Worcester; Rev. Leo Boland of the Cathedral, Boston ; Rev. Patrick Cuddihy, Milford ; Rev. P. McLaugh- lin, Slatersville ; Rev. D. Cronin, Hinsdale ; Rev. James O'Brien, Boston ; Rev. Michael Carroll, Fisherville ; Rev. C. A. Sullivan, Whitinsville ; Rev. P. J. Harkins, Holyoke ; Rev. T. J. Sullivan, Uxbridge ; Rev. C. Foley, Worcester ; Rev. J. R. Murphy, Grafton; Rev. Dennis Scannell, Wor- cester ; Rev. D. Shiel, Leominster; Rev. John J. McCoy, Westboro; Rev. James Tuite, North Brookfield ; Rev. Robert Walsh, East Hampton ; Rev. J. M. Mulcahy, Frank- lin ; Rev. Robert Walsh, Worcester ; Rev. J. D. McGahan, Jeffersonville ; Rev. M. H. Kittridge, Millville; Rev. Fathers Callen of Florence, Ratigan of Cordaville, Gog- gins of Millbury, Bresnahan of Worcester, O'Neill of Worcester, Lavallee of Woonsocket, Roberge of Woon- socket, Tyrell of Worcester, Quinlan of Holliston, Lessard of Woonsocket, Feehan of Fitchburg, Dolan of Spencer,
REV. M. H. KITTREDGE,
Sixth Pastor of St. Paul's Parish, Blackstone, Mass.
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MeGrath of North Adams, Raftery of Woonsocket, Quan of Webster, Cullen of South Framingham, Boylan of Ox- ford, MeDermott of sin. her. Lee of Moreon. Dreanan of Amherst, Leclerc of Warsocket, MeGrady of Leicester. Finneran of Worcester, Topay of West Fiphilang, Can- avan of Milford, Lynch of Woonsocket, Patterson of Clin- ton, Conway of Winchendos, Grace of Wopeter. Gal in of Northboro, Donalue of Southbridge. O Keefe of West Springfield, MeKaney of Bondeville. Deslanriots of Wopa- socket, and Hurley of Blackston.
A happy feature of the celebration was the presenta. tion to Rev. Father Powe: # awood chest conising à full table service set of riorbeg suver. The recipient was completely surprised. Bes For MeKaney of Bonds- ville, made the presentation spese !. Rev. Father Power replied in a fitting manner, thanhong the donors for such a beautiful gift.
Thus terminated one of the most pleasant occasions lu the history of St. Paul's parish.
CHAPETR ARVI .
REV. M H PARKING BETWEEN ISTE DE FALLMENER SY VOUS TING'S PARISH HAS A LARGE. YOUR ACCOUNT.
Rev. M. H. Kittredge, fe ebbieen years karel St. Augustine's Church at MiMejor, was appointed ases. sor of William A. Power as port St. Pauls el at Blackstone. The announcement was the cause gast rejoicing on the part of the parishiltoners of St Cell but caused a corresponding depression of spirits to the parish- Toners of St. Augustine's Church.
On Sunday, September 7, when Father Elutredge bade his parishioners farewell he was greatly affected and there
REV. M. H. KITTREDGE,
Sixth Pastor of St. Paul's Parish, Blackstone, Mass.
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McGrath of North Adams, Raftery of Woonsocket, Quan of Webster, Cullen of South Framingham, Boylan of Ox- ford, McDermott of Gardner, Lee of Monson, Drennan of Amherst, Leclerc of Woonsocket, McGrath of Leicester, Finneran of Worcester, Tarpey of West Fitchburg, Can- avan of Milford, Lynch of Woonsocket, Patterson of Clin- ton, Conway of Winchendon, Grace of Worcester, Galvin of Northboro, Donahue of Southbridge, O'Keefe of West Springfield, McKaney of Bondsville, Deslauriers of Woon- socket, and Hurley of Blackstone.
A happy feature of the celebration was the presenta- tion to Rev. Father Power of a rosewood chest containing a full table service set of sterling silver. The recipient was completely surprised. Rev. Father McKaney of Bonds- ville, made the presentation speech. Rev. Father Power replied in a fitting manner, thanking the donors for such a beautiful gift.
Thus terminated one of the most pleasant occasions in the history of St. Paul's parish.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
REV. M. H. KITTREDGE SUCCEEDS REV. W. A. POWER-SAD PARTING BETWEEN PASTOR AND PARISHIONERS-ST. AUGUS- TINE'S PARISH HAS A LARGE BANK ACCOUNT.
Rev. M. H. Kittredge, for eighteen years pastor of St. Augustine's Church at Millville, was appointed succes- sor of William A. Power as pastor of St. Paul's parish, at Blackstone. The announcement was the cause of great rejoicing on the part of the parishioners of St. Paul, but caused a corresponding depression of spirits to the parish- ioners of St. Augustine's Church.
On Sunday, September 7, when Father Kittredge bade his parishioners farewell he was greatly affected and there
6
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was not a dry eye in the Church. Father Power and Father Kittredge were very intimate friends and the knowledge that Father Kittredge is to minister to the spiritual wants of the people he loved so well and to whom he ministered for so many years will be pleasing to him, if the dead can par- ticipate in the affairs of this transitory life.
The saddest parting was when Father Kittredge bade the Sunday school children good-bye. These children in whom he took such a deep interest, realized that they were about to lose a very dear friend.
When Rev. M. H. Kittredge took charge of St. Augus- tine's parish he found a debt of $2,500 on the Church prop- erty. This he speedily liquidated, erecting at the same time the fine, handsome, commodious parochial residence, at a cost of about $6,000. In 1888 he added a transept to the Church, increasing the seating capacity from 325 to 750. This, with the refurnishing of the Church, putting in steam heating apparatus and decorating the Church in- terior, etc., cost not far from $12,000. In 1890 he had placed in the Church a beautiful organ at an outlay of $1,200. In 1893, a sweet-toned bell, the gift of William J. Bowes, was placed in the Church tower. During the same year Father Kittredge purchased 20,000 feet of land at the easterly side of the parochial estate at a cost of $800. The whole Church property is enclosed with a sub- stantial stone wall. Handsome terrace work has been con- structed, concrete walks built and the approaches to the Church beautified.
A few years ago Father Kittredge installed electric lights in the Church and residence and the basement of the Church, which is used for a hall.
Upon leaving St. Augustine's parish, Father Kittredge gave a financial account of the condition of the parish, which showed that there was in bank on interest $12,334.03 ;
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in hand the sum of $279.61, making a total of $12,613.64 credited to the parish.
In the eighteen years of his pastorate at St. Augus- tine's Church, Father Kittredge has organized and carried on successfully a Rosary and Scapular Society, a Young Ladies' Sodality, St. Aloysius Sodality and St. Augustine's C. T. A. Society.
Rev. M. H. Kittredge was born in Clinton, Mass. He attended the public schools of that town and entered Holy Cross College, from which he graduated in 1875. He pur- sued his theological course in the Grand Seminary in Mon- treal and was ordained to the priesthood there December 21, 1878. After his ordination he spent six years as assistant at Westboro, Mass., coming from there to St. Augustine's parish, Millville.
NOTE .- Owing to illness, Major Smyth gave up writing on his " History" on November 4, 1899. This will in a measure account for dates given in the preceding pages. For facts relating to St. Paul's parish we are indebted to Thomas McCoocy, the well-known newspaper writer, and for many years co-worker with Mr. Smyth on many newspapers.
Part Two.
Brief Biographical Sketch of
Major James W. Smyth,
Author, Poet, Orator, Newspaper Writer and Musical and Dramatic Critic.
COMPILED BY FRANCIS E. KELLY.
Major James W. Smyth.
END OF A BUSY LIFE -- AUTHOR, NEWSPAPER WRITER, LECTURER, POET, MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC CRITIC, MILITARY MAN AND LICENSE COMMISSIONER.
Major James W. Smyth, author of the preceding pages of "Catholic Church History," and who was cut off by the hand of Death in the midst of his cherished work, was born in the county of Monaghan, Ireland, in 1838. He was the eldest son of John and Ellen (McGee) Smyth. His father, John Smyth, gained considerable of a reputation in his own county for probity of character, integrity of purpose, and firm and unflinching zeal in the canse of religion and country. In lineage, he stood amongst the highest, being directly descended from the McMahons, Lords of Monaghan. From his very earliest manhood he identified himself with the national cause of his country ; and in that cause he was ever fearless, bold and ontspoken; ever ready to extend the warm hand of friendship to a friend, or the swift blow of a strong arm to an enemy. He taught his children together with the "Catechism of the Christian Doctrine," also the catalogue of the wrongs of Ireland, and, with the " Litany of the Saints," also the litany of the tyrants who oppressed that land, and thus did he fulfill his duty to his God and his country.
It will be seen from the above that James W. Smyth was taught from infancy the lesson of persecution and op- pression of his native land, which he never forgot in after life. While in one of his poetic moods and thinking of these wrongs Major Smyth penned the following lines :
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IRELAND.
How I love you, dearly love you, Beautiful mother Ireland ; Dearly love you, fondly love you, Dear old island, great and grand ; With the Faith of all your people, Faith that never yet has faltered ; Never yet throughout the ages, Changed in firmness or altered.
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