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 8
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THE PARISH OF ST. CHARLES.
Catholics always consider it their duty to honor their priests. who are the truly annointed ambassadors of Christ, who are dele- gated by the Divine authority to rightly announce the mysterious truths of eternal life, to perform the sacred rites which bring them in close contact with the Creator. On this occasion, beloved pas- tor, when we recognize that those acts you perform as a priest proceed from a heart filled with love and regard for our welfare. when we know that the integrity of your private life corresponds with your holy calling, to do you honor affords us the greatest pleasure.
Those who are not of our creed can hardly understand the close relation which exists between the Catholic pastor and his parishioners. Divorced as he is from all immediate family ties, we call him " father," and in this capacity we must meet him upon every important occasion in our spiritual life from the cradle to the grave. "He becomes," writes Cardinal Gibbons, "the servant of the faithful to whom he is assigned, he administers to them every morning at the altar and preaches to them the word of God; he re- sponds to their summons night and day ; he is to be the light to those that are in darkness : he is food to the hungry, a refreshing fountain to those that thirst after righteousness, a guide to the wayfarer, and father to the whole congregation."
As the father of his people he performs a work which is not always appreciated even by Catholics themselves, in that he shares with the parents the responsibility of properly instructing the chil- dren upon their true relation to God and their duties to themselves and to each other.
In this day of doubt and religions indifference what more im- portant service can one man perform for another than to inspire him with a firm belief that the grave is not the goal of life, that " unto dust thou shalt return," was not spoken of the soul, and an enlightened faith in the truths of religion bring more genuine com- fort, consolation and happiness, even in this life. than any honors, wealth or influence within the gift of this fleeting world.
We are entirely satisfied that your labors in this parish have been motived by these priestly principles, that in the schools, both re- ligious and secular, and in the various societies attached to the Church, you have labored to implant in the hearts of the children a constant love of the true and the beantifnl and the good in every department of life, joined to a firm belief in the hallowed faith of their fathers. ..
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As a monument to your zeal, your skill and your industry in this district stands this beautiful Parish School for the education of the young, whichi in all its appointments is not excelled by any in the city. But more enduring and mayhap endearing than this will remain the monument enshrined in the hearts of the children, where your memory will be greatfully cherished, and your labors blessed, even to the latest day for the priceless boon of Catholic education which you have made so permanently accessible to every child of St. Charles' parish.
The men who command our lasting respect, confidence and affection are, as a general rule, not those who are continually forc- ing themselves within the public gaze, who are seeking after ap- plause, who are anxious to become popular, but rather those who, valuing popularity at its true worth, pursue their way quietly and avoid publicity, who recognize the obligation which their position in life entails and can always be relied upon to perform their duties faithfully and well, who the longer we are associated with them the higher they rise in our esteem. These are the men who are desirable as friends and to whom we are willing to entrust our dearest interests.
We recognize in you, Father Mahoney, this type of a man. The years you have been with us have each one disclosed some ad- mirable trait in your character. We soon saw your more than ordinary administrative ability, which is proven by the healthy financial condition of the parish ; your charitable and other good works, done without display, are sufficient evidence of your kindly disposition, while in one particular respect you are an especial power for good in the community-you have placed high the rules of morality and conduct to be observed by your parishioners and have consistently maintained that standard. By an uncompromising hostility to hypocrisy in every form, by precept and example, you have strengthened and encouraged those who are living a good life and offer an incentive to all to become righteous, and thereby ob- tain your confidence and respect. We have thus briefly outlined our estimate of your character, and upon this happy and important occasion of your life we feel justified in stating it to you publicly and without reserve.
Soon after this celebration was decided upon a fund was ob- tained which veritably represents the offerings of every one in your parish. A portion of this fund was applied by us to the preparing of a suitable souvenir of this occasion, which will in a short time
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be presented to you. The balance of this fund I herewith tender, that you may use it in any way that may add to your health and comfort. In itself it is not important, but as it truly conveys the feelings of your parishioners as expressed in the addresses, we know that you will value it. We again congratulate you and pray that God will give to you as long and happy a life as you yourself would wish.
Col. O'Reilly next introduced Maj. James W. Smyth, who had prepared an original poem for the occasion. Maj. Smyth's work glowed with lofty thought and conveyed a glorious tribute to the honored pastor. The following is the poem :
Around us is a sacred light, Pervading all we see Along Time's fast advancing flight Toward eternity. The deathless soul that light beholds, And in it hears the voice Of Him, who His great power unfolds, And tells us to rejoice.
God sends a shepherd to each flock, With power to teach His will To man, on the eternal rock, And thus His word fulfill. Such is the priest we meet to prove How deeply we can love ; This shepherd sent us from above, Our hearts in prayer to move.
From infant slumber to the grave, From birth to our last end, To bless, to comfort and to save, Our father and our friend.
A priest's the bright, triumphant light To weary pilgrims given, Ordained to guide us in the right, O'er earthly paths to heaven. Refreshing drink from holy springs, And Christ's most sacred Host
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In joy to every child he brings. That souls may not be lost.
The pilot of life's fragile bark, On which through storms we sail, When breakers roar and night is dark. And wildly blows the gale. In Thee we trust to guide us o'er. To anchorage at last,
Where waves in sunshine kiss the shore. With storms forever past.
O, father, we assurance give. On this, your festal day, That love for you shall ever live. And we shall constant pray For happiness to bless your life Good health to e'er be thine. And light undimm'd by worldly strife. Forever for you shine.
May haloed glow of the glory won Crown with silver rays, The work you have so nobly done- Work worthy of all praise. And when at last the time is here, We pray you'll love to see, You'll crowned be with garland fair. Of golden jubilee.
When we put off this mortal clay, In earthly life's decline, May we enter that unfading day Where lights eternal shine ; Where priests and people may rejoice In endless jubilee,
Where we shall hear God's hallowed voice For all eternity.
Rev. Father Mahoney now arose to respond to all these manifestations of esteem, gratitude, love, respect and devotion. His voice was broken as he opened his remarks. He spoke in part as follows :
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I am thankful for the kind wishes expressed in the address. It shows me that I am held, if Mr. Heffernan voices the thoughts of the parish, in some esteem by the people. At the same time I am conscious that I no not deserve it. He has brought to my mind vividly what I have not been. I have just finished 25 years of priesthood, and I know that I am not all that a priest should be. Few human beings fulfill that ideal. I hope I can say I have done a little, not very much. I am thankful for these presents of the people. I would be indeed cold at heart if I did not appreciate these marks of esteem. I am far more pleased to learn that the work has been spontaneous, that it has come entirely from people of the parish. When I heard Friday what was to take place and learned this fact, I was pleased.
My dear friends, don't expect me to say much. I am not as strong at the end of 25 years as I was at the beginning. I finished my 25 years sick, and a curious fact is that the morning after my ordination, my first visit was to a doctor. I tried 25 years to keep straight, and at the end I tripped my toe. I have been ill three months through my own neglect in not caring for it. When I say that I have been out of bed but two weeks you won't expect much from me. I would like to say all that I should in order to thank you. If I had known in the beginning that there was to be an of- fering I would have prevented it. I know that times are hard and people haven't much money. There are a great number of poor people in the parish for whom I have much regard, who have re- spect for Faith and religion, and whose names on account of poor- ness cannot appear upon this testimonial. But it has been done and cannot be undone.
The priest is not always understood. I have tried to follow the teachings of my teachers in seminary and college. We were taught lessons of humility, taught to be servants of the people and of God. This idea was early impressed upon me. I felt that I must work for the good of others and the glory of God. When a priest asks for money people imagine that he is asking for him- self. The priest must work for the Church, the people and God. I feel that I am not understood by the people of St. Charles. I often ask of the people for some good work, and they have always responded. No one can say that I ever asked money on my own account. I always ask for God's sake. I think if you remember these few years of my life I have tried to do this. It is one of the motives of my life. It is the ideal of the true priest. Thank God
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I can safely say that in these 25 years I have tried to forget my- self. I have done my work for God's sake and tried to inculcate that principle in the people. When the people organize a move- ment for His sake they are irresistible. When a priest is certain that he is doing a work for God's glory, religion and the people, al- though he may be opposed, in time the people are with him and the work succeeds, blessed by God. I have found the people of this parish with me. What little work has been done has been done with the co-operation of the people. I am glad that I finished my 25 years in the erection of a building of this kind. I hope it will do good. I feel that the children will say a prayer for the priest who helped to build it.
I am thankful for the strong Faith which exists in the parish. I feel sure that I have the confidence of the people. The generous responses to my appeals lighten the burdens of priestly duties. That is what gives delight and joy to the pastor.
At the end of six years I thank you for all what you have done for me. I know I have not done enough to repay you for what you have done for me. I thank you for your kind wishes and for the money. One word more. Don't think that this testimonial is going to shut my mouth for the future. I accept it as a personal testimonial. I thank you for showing me what I should be and what I will try to be in the years God gives me to live.
Rev. Father Ryan, Assistant Pastor of St. Charles' Church and Rev. John W. McCarthy, Pastor of the Sacred Heart Church, followed in complimentary remarks eulogistic of the honored jubilarian.
The entire parish turned out en masse and crowded every niche and corner in St. Charles' Hall, anxious to pay homage and tribute to their beloved pastor. They honored Rev. Father Mahoney, and in doing so honored themselves. Never were the efforts of a committee crowned with such overwhelming success, and seldom has such a demonstra- tion been seen in this State. Rev. Father Mahoney was presented two testimonials. One included twenty $50 sil- ver certificates, amounting to $1,000, and the other, the offering of the Children of Mary Sodality, amounting to $250 in gold. The former present was the gift of a grate-
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ful people to a hard-working, zealous and never-tiring pas- tor. It was the spontaneous outpouring of the feeling of the united parish and the wisest manner of showing appre- ciation of services well and faithfully done. The demon- strations made at various portions of the exercises showed the esteem, respect and regard which the parishioners feel for their priest. In addition to the gifts the respected clergyman was presented addresses by prominent citizens and clergymen, in which he was congratulated in behalf of the people of the St. Charles and Sacred Heart parishes and the priests of the diocese of Providence. He was told without reserve of the manifold work he had done for the parish of St. Charles and of the kindly feelings of admira- tion and esteem felt for him by the priests and people alike. During the six years that Father Mahoney has had charge of St. Charles the parish has seen the most prosperous part of its career. Every movement that the new pastor has become associated with has reached a suecessful conclusion. His business foresight has been shown many times. The people repose the utmost confidence in him, and his coun- sel and advice are often sought in matters outside of those directly concerning their spiritual welfare.
The testimonial referred to in Mr. Heffernan's address, which is in the nature of a Memorial Volume, is one of the most beautiful pieces of art work ever seen in the whole length and breadth of the United States.
The artists were Messrs. Spencer & Clark of 29 Wey- bosset street, Providence, and these gentlemen have proven themselves true lovers of the art in which they are engaged, by, as it were, doing over seven times the amount of work for which they were paid. The whole work seems an in- spiration, as well as a labor of love. No language can do justice to such work. It must be seen by the art critic's
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.
eye and examined with the aid of a magnifying glass to be thoroughly appreciated. In illumination and illustration, in the harmony, blending and choice of delicate colors and tints, it does seem as if this work cannot be surpassed. The patience, care and critical study of every detail, the choice of outline, the design and judgment used even in the lettering of the address of Mr. John J. Heffernan, the poem of Maj. James W. Smyth and even in the names of the committee who conceived and carried out the jubilee celebration, as well as the names of over 500 subscribers to the celebration funds, all signify the splendid judgment of the artists, all the pen work being in what is known as modified German text, with the illuminations in brush work. The text in illumination is simply grand. Every first letter beginning a page is a revelation in design and coloring, and in the text where prominent sentences appear the letters are. made prominent in illustration of the text. For instance, where the words " Silver jubilee of your priesthood " appear in Mr. Heffernan's address, the letters are in silver, and where the words " St. Charles' Church " appear, these are made most prominent in German text letters. All other expressive words are prominently brought out.
And now to begin with the first page, which is such a dream as only the true artist can dream. This, as well as the other pages, is in panel work, with a colored border forming the panel. At the upper margin of this panel are the following words : " Address to Rev. George T. Ma- honey from his Parishioners." On the lower margin on a delicately colored ribbon scroll are the following words. which complete the text : "On the 25th Anniversary of his Ordination as a Priest." In the center of this panel is a most perfect likeness of Rev. George T. Mahoney, done in brush work by the artists, and is more perfect than any photograph. The picture is surrounded by a laurel
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wreath, with illuminated work in fanciful and beautifully harmonized colors surrounding the wreath. On the right and left of this panel is a niche, terminating in a Gothic arch. In each niche is a torch, symbolic of the hope of eternal life. A delicate ribbon tracery illuminates the base of the torches. The whole of this magnificent work is done by the artists in colors, so beautiful and grandly blended that an artistic-loving person can gaze with great pleasure upon it for hours and hold it in memory forever.
On the second page is the beginning of the address of Mr. Heffernan. On this page, on the margin of the panel, is a picture of St. Charles' Church in colors, this being a gem of the artist's art. In referring to the panel here, as above stated, this is the uniform order of all the pages.
The third and fourth pages contain a continuation of the address. On the fourth page on the left margin of the panel is a picture of the parochial residence in colors. The illumination on the left margin of the fifth page is a cross. This page is a continuation of the address. On the sixth page, where the address is continued, is a picture of the Sisters of Mercy Convent, and on the seventh page, where also the address is continued, is a picture of St. Charles' School Building. The eighth page, where the address is also continued, is splendidly illuminated, as well as illus- trated. On the left margin in this panel is a representation ·of a chalice, intertwined with grape and wheat vines, em- blematic of the holy sacrifice of the Mass and of the bread and wine used in the sacrifice. The colors used in illumina- tion are exceedingly beautiful. On the ninth page, the ad- dress being still continued, an open Bible is illustrated, resting on a reading desk, and about it appears a represen- tation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The address finishes on the tenth page, and at the close a palm branch is given in illustration.
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Following the address is the poem read by Maj. James W. Smyth at the time of the Silver Jubilee exercises, and this, too, is grandly illustrated and illuminated in text and margins, the artists showing their great skill in bringing out the features of the poem. Following the poem are the names of the chairman and members of the general, as well as other subordinate committees. These are followed by the names of all donors, these being arranged in alphabeti- cal order. The binding, in morocco, of this volume was done by a Boston firm, this firm being selected on account of the excellence of the work done there, so that the best of everthing might be obtained in making the souvenir the best and greatest of its kind.
This work of intrinsic and enduring art contains about twenty-six pages of solid matter, besides leaves before the first and after the last solid pages. Between all of the solid pages there is an additional blank page of delicate paper to preserve the illuminated matter, so that in all it is a memorial to the parish of St. Charles' for at least a cen- tury to come. To Rev. Thomas E. Ryan, who conceived such a souvenir, and to the artists who accomplished the work, all praise and all honor is due. The length of the volume is fourteen inches and the width eleven inches. The material used in the text and illumination will endure for all time.
This art of illuminating, which may be considered a Divine art, was practiced through all the cunturies before the invention of type and the printing press. It was by it that the Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament, as well as the whole text of the Bible was preserved. This art of illuminating was practiced by the Greeks and Romans, but it remained to the monks in the monasteries from the birth of Christianity down through the ages to bring that art up to its greatest and highest state of perfection. To
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these monks the world is indebted for the preservation of the Gospels of the apostles of Christ. These illuminated works of the monks are treasured as far more valuable than gold in the libraries and museums of the old world. Among all these ancient illuminated works, the Book of Kells, now in Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, is said by all critics to be superior to all others. It is further stated that in deli- cacy of handling and in minute, but faultless execution, the whole range of paleolography offers nothing comparable to that manuscript. In it there is not a false line, or any irregular interlacement. In one space of about a quarter of an inch 158 interlacements can be found with the aid of a powerful magnifying glass. These interlacements are formed of white lines, edged with black ones, upon a black background.
The Durham Book, known as St. Cuthbert's Gospel, now in the British museum, is only surpassed in grandeur among all those ancient illuminated manuscripts by the Book of Kells. The Durham Book is, perhaps, one of the greatest value among all the ancient manuscripts. After being centuries old, it was richly illuminated by the hermit Bilfirth, who prefixed an elaborate painting of an Evangelist to each of the capital letters at the commencement of each book. The whole was at that time encased in a binding of gold, set with precious stones. This rare work is inter- lined with the Saxon version of the original manuscript of the Latin text of Jerome.
These final sentences are given as an illustration of what is accomplished in the Grand Silver Jubilee Souvenir, presented to Rev. George T. Mahoney, Permanent Rector of St. Charles' Church.
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CHAPTER XV.
MEMBERS OF THE ORDER OF SISTERS OF MERCY TOOK POSSESSION OF THE CONVENT OF ST. BERNARD-SUPERCEDED THE LAY TEACHERS IN THE PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS.
Under the pastorate of Very Rev. M. McCabe, on his return from St. Patrick's Church, Providence, to St. Charles' Church, Woonsocket, members of the Order of Sisters of Mercy took possession of the Convent of St. Bernard, and superceded the lay teachers in the parochial schools con- nected with the Church. This was on August 20, 1869.
These holy women, whom even infidels respect, because of the purity of their lives and the sanctity which sur- rounds them like a halo of glory, have exercised an influ- ence for good in the community ever since their advent here. Shut out from the vanities of the world these pious followers of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, find that repose and peace for the soul in prayer and good works, which the world, without Religion, cannot give. "Religion," as Chateaubriand says, "leaving the care of our joys to our own hearts, is like a tender mother, intent only on allevi- ating our sorrows ; but also in accomplishing this arduous task, she has summoned all her sons and daughters to her aid. To some she has committed the care of those afflicted with disease, as to the multitude of Monks and Nuns dedi- cated to the service of hospitals; to others she has con- signed the poor, as to the pious Sisters of Charity."
What an austere, self-sacrificing, yet beautiful life those saintly servants of God are, with minds constantly bent on the accomplishment of good works, whether as teachers in seminaries and parochial schools, or on the battlefield or in hospitals alleviating and consoling by their presence the sufferings of the sick and wounded. Faith, Hope and Charity are ever with them in all their ways wherever they
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go. Beautiful and noble examples of their zeal, exercised for suffering humanity, even at the risk of sacrificing their own lives, are frequently furnished in plague-stricken dis- tricts where they have fallen victims to the ravages of pes- tilential diseases, contracted while alleviating the sufferings of the afflicted. This is the true heroism of those who are fortified with a belief in Christ's suffering and death for the salvation of created man, as found in all the teachings and doctrine of the Church. He established and left as a Divine heritage to those who within its fold follow the Way of the Cross.
A portion of Gerald Griffin's poem, entitled, " Sister of Charity," is worthy of being here given :
Unshrinking where pestilence scatters its breath.
Like an Angel she moves 'mid the vapor of death ; Where rings the loud musket, and clashes the sword. Unfearing she walks, for she follows the Lord.
How sweetly she bends o'er cach plague-tainted face, With looks that are lighted with holiest grace ;
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