ANNEX The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/cletails/cu31924011486549 ihC ro,Ui!iPis.*Mig-(.i>.Biiiri.l.>, THE LIFE AND TIMES RT.REYJOHFTIMOI,D.D. FIEST EOMAI^ CATHOLIC BISHOP DIOCESE OF BUFFALO. By CHARLES G. DEUTHER. PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, No. 184 WASHINGTON STREET, BUFFALO, N. Y. 1870. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by CHARLES G. DEUTHER, in the ofEce of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. The Sagb, Sonb & Oo. LIth, , Printing & Maoufac'e Co. , Boffalo, N. Y. :1 •V TO THE MEMORY Deceased Friend and College Companion, EEV. CHARLES B. MAGENNIS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, AS A TRIBUTE OF FRIENDSHIP, The pages of this volume are aJteetioaately dedicated, BY THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. Three years have transpired since I commenced to compile the pages of this present volume. Having had no time to devote to this Vfork, beyond my evening hours and a few holidays, I have necessarily been delayed in bringing my labors to an ear- lier termination. In justice to myself I must state that owing to the extreme difficulty with which I obtained data, the compilation of this biography has been accomplished under no small embar- rassments. When it will be considered that Bishop Timon was a man of a very retiring disposition, whose early historj'^, until now, has been buried in obscurity owing to his reticence, and that he has left little or no record of his personal identity, the magnitude of undertaking his biography becomes at once apparent. It has been by dint of continual and repeated correspondence with Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, some Sisters of Charity, and many .aymen, that bits of incident and information have been put together until they have swelled into the present sized volume. Besides this, there must also be added a heavy cash outlay, aU of which combined have assisted me to defeat the embarrass- ments, in the beginning so threatening and dangerous to my enterprise. My most sincere thanks are hereby tendered to the following kind friends for the generous aid they have given me : Et. Hev. Edward Fitzgerald, Bishop, Little Rock, Arkansas ; Et. Eev. S. V. Eyan, Bishop, Buflalo, N. Y. ; Eev. B. Villiger, S. J., Conevago, Adams Co., Pa. ; Eev. George Pax, Williams- ville, N". Y. ; Eev. Joseph Story, Brockport, N. Y. ; Eev. Father Smarius, S. J., Chicago, 111. ; Col. Creed Taylor, Arkansas ; Mr. Thomas Winstanley, Eed Budd, Eandolph Co., 111. ; Mr. Michael Hagan, "Wyoming, C. W. ; Geo. A. Deuther, Buffalo, N. Y. ; Mother St. John, Philadelphia, Pa. ; Miss Sallie Lilly, Conevago, Adams Co., Pa. VI PEEI-AOE. For convenience sake, I have divided my volume into two books: Book I comprises "The Early and Missionary Life of Rev. John Timon." Book II comprises "The Episcopacy of the Et. Eev. John Timon, D. D. " Each Book is subdivided into several appropriate chapters. In Book I, it will be noticed that Bishop Timon had several controversies with ministers of Protestant denominations, but that the names of the contending ministers are not given. These are no errata of mine. I have carefully perused such posthumous writings of the Bishop as I could command, but could find no mention any where of their names. These omissions, though odious to many readers, will therefore be pardonable on my part. For the verity of the incidents themselves, however, I have the Bishop's own handwriting. I now consign the result of my humble efforts — ^this book — to the charity of the world, anxious to know the fate that will befall it. In any event, I am candid to express the pride I feel in having been the instrument of collecting together and preserving for coming time the virtues of a saintly man, whose memory, like the ivy, has been entwined with my heart's best affections since my childhood. CHARLES G. DEUTHER. INTRODUC-TION. Perhaps one of the most interesting and distinguishing features in the history of the Catholic Church, either on this continent, or in Europe, has been the mysterious order of Divine Providence in elevating to the ministry men who have been peculiarly fitted, both by nature and education, to carry into operation the pur- poses of true reveled religion. Generally such selections have fallen on persons of humble circumstances, or obscure parentage. In the choice of His apostles and disciples, our Divine Saviour chose to ordain, as the disseminators 'of His heavenly doctrines, men gifted by nature vrith talents and great povrers of discrimi- nation, but blessed with little or no education. During the long and changing epochs of the world's history, what sublime exam- ples have occurred of men revered for virtue, and esteemed for learning, acquired under the holy discipline of the Church. A great many of the Roman Pontifis sprang from parentage distin- guished, perhaps, only for piety, and respectability among the class to which they belonged. These men have left after them memories that endear them to the christian and to religion. Divine Providence, as it were, seems to have delighted in making a bright example of an unknown but worthy human being, whose only credentials at the court of religion were his intelligence, his virtue, and his christian charity. Thus, age after age, new but splendid lights in the history of the Church have appeared, whose lives have been as varied as their characters. When persecution, dire and bitter, assailed the Church, and threatened to destroy, root and branch, the christian religion, how sublimely grand stood the vicegerent of heaven, aided and supported by a subordinate hierarchy of venerable men, before his enemies, as well as foes to true liberty, law and order, to fight the good fight of faith. VI 11 INTRODUCTION. Nor could the lusts, the pride, and the ambition of worldly .Tilers, find an influence sufSciently potent to vanquish their moral courage. Banishment, proscription, tortures, and even death, had no terrors for them. Immovable in their principles, iirm and unfaltering in their faith, they trembled only before a Supreme Being. Whether we admire more the courage that enabled a St. Ambrose to deny admission into the church door to a worldly potentate, until he had done penance for having unnecessarily dipped his hands in human blood, or, the meekness and forbearance of a Pontifi^ going into exile at Gseta at the behest of a temporal power, our inferences, so far as the suhlimity of Catholic doctrine is concerned, will still be the same. There is a broad scope for thought on this point. It necessarily leads us to inquire into the doctrines upon which have been predicated the moral heroisms and holy courage that have endured even death itself; that have given impulse to discovery, to invention, and the progress of the sciences and the arts ; that have instituted houses of refuge, and asylums for indigence and sickness ; that have saved from the corroding tooth of time the links that bind modern time to antiquity, in the vast accumulation of ancient writings and manuscripts ; in fine, that have in their calendar so many illustrious heroes, martyrs, and saints, long since enrolled with the Church triumphant, ministering in eternal adoration and praise to the Creator of the univeree. However, aside from any consideration of the mysterious influ- ence that has, does, and will enable a true Catholic to endure and to accomplish in the service of God, the question may be asked : What is the value attached to a perusal of biographies of these men, distinguished in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church? It may not be a generally admitted fact, that biographies of any class of men, in any way, are entitled to consideration ; and yet, they are one of the most interesting forms of history. In- deed, a due familiarity with the lives of great and good men may not only be instructive, but also be an incentive to imitate their example. INTEODUOTION. " Lives of great men all remind us We may make our lives sublime; And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time." — Longfellow. From the histories of men commemorated for their virtues, we may indeed gather food for reiloction. We may meditate upon their peculiar traits of character, either developed by the force of necessity, or awakened into public recognition by some sudden and unforeseen circumstance. We may admire the strict in- tegrity of the one, weep over the heroic but unfortunate fate that befell the other, and feel the sigh of sympathy in our bosoms for human weakness, as it is developed in the lives of such men as a David or a Solomon. Besides a certain interest that we feel in the lives of great men, there is also a moral intuition that moulds our thoughts and even controls our passions. With what enthusiasm do we not read the histories of men around whose names linger the memories of renowned institutions and great deeds, even as the fragrance lingers around the vase after the roses have been removed ; and, as we read, how imperceptibly a spirit of emulation gradually animates us, until we almost imagine we are participating in the very circumstances of which we are reading. Another value attached to a perusal of the lives of great and good men, is that of example. Examples, indeed, are most potent arguments either for evil or for good. K for good, expanding our hopes and dispelling our fears, or swelHng every vein of principle or honor with an honest spirit of envy ; at other times giving to our thoughts tints of beauty or the electric impulse of imitation. But it is not our intention to enter into any lengthy argument or disquisition on this point, to convince the reader of the truth of what we claim, excepting so far as to place in bold relief the fact that the lives of great and good men deserve the recognition of candid minds, because of the instruction we may derive from those God-like virtues, charity, religion, and truth which, when effectively applied, transcend even the most magni- ficent conceptions of man. StiU, it is a difficult thing sometimes rNTEODUOTION. to understandj^liow certain results are brought about, and how mysterious are the wonderful workings of Providence. " Man proposes, but God disposes." Hence, in the order of circumstances and time, there are bom men possessed of talents peculiar to the various circles of life. Whilst we may observe one aspiring to reach a conspicuous position in the Parthenon of fame, either for science or for letters, we may see another, the pious yet ambitious disciple of Chris- tianity, straining every nerve to rescue from misery or oppression the unfortunate and indigent of society. We may find him erecting, '•'•ad majorem Dei gioriajn" not only elaborate and finely furnished places of Divine worship, but likewise institutions dedicated to sickness, to education, and to monastic discipline. As an instance of this latter class of men, we may mention the name of the late Eight Reverend John Timon, D. D., first Eoman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo, N. T. CONTENTS. BOOK I. CHAPTER I. Birth-place of Bishop Timon. — Parentage. — Date of Birth and Baptism. — Brothers and Sisters. — Incidents and Characteristics of the Elder Timon. — Removes to Baltimore, Md. —To Louisville, Ky. — To St. Louis, Mo. — Engaged in the Dry Goods Business. — John Timon as a Cleik. — JJis Accomplishments. — Makes Acquaintance with Miss De Gallon. — Engaged to the Young Lady, but never Married. — Death of Miss De Gallon. — Crisis of 182.S. — Business Misfortunes. — Resolves to become a Lazarist 17 . . 25 CHAPTER IL Joins the Community of the Lazarists.— Enters the Seminary of the Bar- rens, Mo. — Meets Mons. J, M. Odin there. — Early Reminiscences of the Lazarists in this Country. — The Seminary in 1824. — Incidents, &c. — Industry and Zeal of young Mr. Timon. — Promoted to Sub-dea- conship. — Correspondence of Col deed Taylor. — Promoted to Minor Orders. — Joins the Order of St. Vincent de Paul 25.. 31 CHAPTER III. Surroundings of the Barrens, Mo. — Mons. Odin and Timon as Missiona- ries. — Hog Pen Converted into a Chapel. — Start for New Madrid, Texas. — Dangerous Traveling. — Dialogue with a Lady. — Arrive at the Port of Arkansas. — Quapaw Indians. — Their Belief — Return to the Barrens. — Mission in Illinois 32.. 3T CHAPTER IV. Ordination of John Timon. — Called to see a Murderer condemned to Death. — Discuss-ion with a Baptist Minister. — Defeats him. — Mission in Cape Girardeau. — Conversion of Mr. Ralph Doherty. — Cholera. — Mr. Doherty ill. — Father Timon called in too late. — Baptism of Mrs. D' herty. — A Night with a Cholera Corpse. — Baptism of Children. — Father Timon and the Irishman. — Confession on Horseback. — Happy Denouement 38. .4S CHAPTER V. Mons. J. M. Odin. — Bishop Rosatti and the Barrens. — Embarrassments of the Seminary. — .Meeting of the professed Priests. — Father Timon Speaker for the Community. — Bishop Rosatti responds. — Rev. J. B. Tornatori Chosen Superior of the Missions. — Purchase of the Doherty Estate. — The Sick Woman. — Her Conversion. — Incidents. — Condition of the Missions. — Discouraging Prospects. — Father Timon vanquishes six Ministers in a Discussion. — Interview with a con- demned Man. — Mr. Odin goes to France 46 . . 55 Xll CONTENTS. CHAPTER VI. Page. Father Timon named Visitor. — His Refusal. — Discouraging Circumstances. -His Humility. — He Accepts. — Convocation of Priests. — Remon- strance against the Suppression of the College. — Debts, Mortgage and Discontented Feelings prevail. — Impfovements made. — Father Timon goes to New Orleans, La. — Goes to Cape Girardeau. — Returns to the Barrens. — Paiher Timon and the Bi.ihop of St. Louis. — The Visitor goes to Paris, France. — His Arrival there. — Results. — His Eeiurn. — Nearly loses a large Sum of Money. — Reaches the Barrens in Safety. . 55. .65 CHAPTER VIL Improvements in the Mission. — The Visitor goes to Texas as an Envoy of Rome. — Meets Friends in Galveston. — Goes to Houston. — Opens a Mission. — Results. — Poor O'Brien. — Scandalous Conduct of two Mex- ican Priests. — Visitor returns to New Orleans. — His Report. — Arrives at Natchez, Miss. — Reads Mass in Mrs. Girardeau's House. — Preaches in the City Hall. — Enthusiasm. — Goes to St. Louis. — Religious Zeal. — Proposed for an Bpisco[)al See. — Declines, — Refuses to Adminis- trate the St. Louis Diocese. — Further Developments 65.. 72 CHAPTER VIII. Mr. Tornatori and the Drawing Master. — Mission of Oauchita. — Visitor Timon appointed Prefect Apostolic of Texas — Mens. Odin sent to Texas as vice-Prefect. — The two Mexican Priests Silenced. — Visitor with Bishop Flaget visits the Mis-ions. — Visitor quells a Parish Strife. — New Church for Cairo. — Evils at Assumption. — Visitor goes to Texas. — Subscription for a new Church. — Funeral Rites of Minister to Mexico. — Meets with General Henderson. — Preaches in the Capi- tol, — A Church for Houston. — Goes to Austin. — Dangerous Travel. — State of Texas. — Grand Reception by Judge Burnet.— First Mass in Austin.— Dines with the French Minister.— Table Talk 72. .79 CHAPTER IX. Petition to Restore Church Property. — Visitor Timon Preaches in the Sen ate Chamber. — Public Complimentary Dinner. — Discussion. — Visitor Timon explains. — Mi.'-sionary Excursions in the Culorado River. — Oysters. — Return to Galveston. — First Convert. — Difficult Travel.— Good Results, — The Gospel in St. Augustine, Florida. — The Visitor parts with Mons. Odin. — Arrives at New Orleans. — Bishoprics Refused. — The Visitor in Paris. — His Retujn. — Incident on Board Ship. — Burial at Sea. — Arrival at New Orleans. — Visitor Timon. — Changes.— Appointed Bishop of Buffalo. N. Y 80. .90 BOOK n. CHAPTER L The Diocese of Buffalo. — Troubles of St. Louis Church. — Their Origin and History 93. .113 CONTENTS. CHAPTER II. Page. Et. Rev. John Timon as Bishop. — Rev. Bernard O'Reilly, V. G. — Their Arrival. — Reception. — Magnificent Demonstrations. — Te Deum at St. Louis Church. — Bishop Timon'a first Oonseoration. — Told to Leave St. Louis Church. — Begins St. Patrick's. — Hard Work. — The Metho- dist and Hell. — The Irishman and Confession, — The Viaticum and the Presbyterian. — Upset from a Sleigh. — Father McEvoy taken for a Lawyer and the Bishop for a Priest 113 .. 120 CHAPTER III. History of the Troubles of St. Louis Church under Bishop Timon 's admin- istration, gathered from the Posthumous Papers of the Bishop 120.. 157 CHAPTER IV. The Bishop and the Mendicant. — Bishop Timon visits Baltimore to get Sisters for an Hospital and Asylum. — Resources — Sisters arrive. — Hospital Opened. — Attacked by Rev. John C. Lord, a Protestant Minister.— Defended by Rev. B. O'Reilly.— The Orphan Asylum 157.. 168 CHAPTER V. Bishop Timon and the Act of Incorporation. — St. Joseph's Orphan Asy- lum. — Correspondence. — Bishop Timon travels through Me.xico. &c. — Learns Spanish. — Returns Home. — Lectures on Mexico. — Nuncio Bedini arrives. — HisDealings with St. Louis Church 169. .197 CHAPTER VL The Church Property Bill. — Hon. Mr. Pulnam and Hon. Mr. Babcock. — Bishop Timon's Reply. — The Foundling Asylum. — Ground devoted by Louis S. Lecouteulx. — Cottages secured. — Cholera — Bishop Timon carries Infants in his Arms to Places of Safety. — Buys a Farm for a Cemetery and other Uses. — Sentence of Excommunication against the Trustees of St. Louis Church. — Father Weniger Mediates and restores Order 197.. 212 CHAPTER VIL Education. — Convent of the Sacred Heart. — St. Joseph's College. — Oblate Fathers arrive. — St Joseph's College. — Discouraging Circumstances. It Fails.— Christian Brothers. — Miss Nardin's Academy.— Incidents.— Sisters of the Good .Shepherd. — A detailed Report. — Other Religious Orders. — Provincial Synod. — Its Results and Importance. — Bishop goes to Rome. — Dogma of Immaculate Conception 213.. 228 CHAPTER VIIL Franciscan Fathers. — The " Immaculate Conception " at Rome. — Bishop Timon's Return.- — Pastoral on Dogma of the Immaculate Conception. — Church Property Bill again. — Bihhop Timon on Senator Putnam's Poetry. — Favors from the Pope to the Diocese of Buffalo 228.-244 CHAPTER IX. St. Patrick's and other Churches. — St. Joseph's Cathedral.— Correspon- dence. — Bishop Timon Travels the World for Help for his Cathedral. — Difficulties. — Corner Stone and Dedication.— First Diocesan Synod, — A Carillon of Forty-three Bells. — E|iiscopal Visitations. — Bishop Timonvi^its St. Louis, Mo.— The Alleghany College.— Election Day. — Juvenile Asylum 244. . 262 2ilV CONTENTS. CHAPTER X. Page. Niagara Falls Seminary. — Catholic Funerals. — Bishop Timon goes to Rome.— His Journey.— His Return.— His Sermon. -Jubilee announced. — Efforts for the Roman College — Jubilee Extended. — Catholic Fune- rals again. — Zeal of Bishop Timon. — William B. Lecouteulx. — St. Peregrinus 262. .270 CHAPTER XI. Public School System. — Bishop Timon's Views. — Bishop Lynch. — Provin- cial Council. — Its Importance. — Signiflcation of the Blood of St. Janaurius. — Peter Pence. — Providence Insane Asylum. — Bishop Timon's Sermon. — Dean Richmond 271.. 281 CHAPTER XII. Pall of 1860. — War. — Bishop Timon's Po.sition. — Lincoln. — Flag raising. — Bishop Timnn's Remarks. — Second Provincial Council. — Bishop Timon's Sermons. — Evidences of declining Health. — St. Vincent's Asylum. — Bishop Timon goes to Rome again. — Japanese Martyrs. — Guest of the Archbishop of Tuam. — Arrives Home 281. .291 CHAPTER XIIL Public School Text Books. — Bishop Timon lectures at the Central SchooL —Correspondence with the Sanitary Commission.— Anonymous Cor- respondence. — Its Authors guilty Wretches. — Incident. — One Cause of the Bishop's Death.— J)epressed Spirits. — Lectures at Dansville. — Catches the Erysipelas. — Decline of Life, but does not expect to die soon. — His last Sermon. — Confined to the House. — Predicts his Death.— Death of Bishop Timon „ 291.. 301 CHAPTER XIV. Bishop Timon's Body Embalmed. — His Residence draped in Mourning. — Ninety thousand Persons visit his Remains. — The Funeral. — Proces- sion. — The Body Deposited in a Vault of the Cathedral. — Bishop Timon's Characteristics. — His Habits. — Letter from Father Smarius, S. J 301.. 310 CHAPTER XV. Review of the Bishop's Character. — His Spirit of Prayer. — His habitual Peace of Mind.— His Humility 310.. 319 APPENDIX. Accounts of the Carillon 323.. 333 Extracts from Bishop Timon's Conference Sermons 333 BOOK I. THE EARLY AND MISSIONARY LIFE REV. JOHN TIMON. LIFE AND TIMES OF THE LATE RIGHT REY. JOHN TIMON, D. D., FIRST ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF BUFFALO, N. Y. CHAPTEE I. B1KTH-PI.AOE OF Bishop Timon.— Parentage.— Date of Bihth aik> Baptism.— Beothers AND Sisters. — Incidents and Characteristics of the Elder Timon. — Removes to Baltimore, Md. — To Louisville, Ky. — To St. Louis, Mo.— Engaged in Dry Goods Business. — John Timon as Clerk.— His Accomplishments. — Makes Acquaintance WITH Miss De Gallon. — Engaged to the Young Lady, but never Married. — Death of Miss De Gallon. — Crisis of 1823.— Business Misfoktukes.— Resolves to become a Lazarist. In the retired but beautiful place of Conevago, Adams Co., Pa., situated at the distance of about one mile from what is known and called " Conevago Church," (under the care of the fathers of the Society of Jesus,) stood, several years ago, a log cabin, a kind of structure commonly found in the early days of American settlements. This rude and humble dwelling was the birth-place of the late lamented prelate of the Diocese of Buifalo, Et. Eev. John Timon, D. D. It is only a few years ago that Bishop Timon paid a visit to Conevago, a place endeared to him by many recollections of his childhood, and saw for the last time the spot and log house in which he was born. Shortly afterwards the cabin, situated on a farm belonging to a Mr. Eeilly, was torn down and removed, and thus the only remaining link that connected his later years with those of his youth, was entirely obliterated. By birth. Bishop Timon was an American, although he him- self, on more than one occasion, has asserted to manj that he (2) 18 LIFE AND TIMES OF was conceived in Ireland, and born of Irish parents, in this country. His parents were James Timon arid Margaret Leddy, and as near as can be ascertained, emigrated from the north of Ireland, from a place called Belthurbet, in Oavan Co. They were poor but pious christians, and their household observances were synonyms for virtue and charity. Although in humble circumstances when they landed in America, by dint of economy and industry, they managed to accumulate, in a very few years, no indifferent amount of wealth, and at the same time support a large and increasing family. Their marriage was blessed with ten children, three sons and seven daughters. The sons were named James, John, and Owen ; the daughters were called Ellen, Kose, Mary, Eliza, Ann, Agatha, and Catherine. Of the sons, James died early in life. John became a Bishop, and was the only one of the family that rose to any degree of eminence. Owen, the third and surviving brother, still resides at St. Louis, is married, and is or was employed in some capacity near the person of the Archbishop of that city. Ellen married a Mr. Kennedy, of New York city, and is now dead. Rose was married to a Mr. Daly, of St. Louis, Mo. ; Mary to a Mr. Ames, of Louisville, Ky. ; Eliza to a Mr. McGinnis, of St. Louis, Mo. ; Ann to a Mr. Fox, also of St. Louis, Mo. ; Agatha married a Mr. Douglas ; and Catherine a Mr. McDonough, of St. Louis, Mo. John, the subject of this biography, was born on the 12th of February, 1797, and baptized on the 17th of the same month and year, having for his sponsors John Kuhn and Christina "Wolf However, before proceeding to enter upon the narrative of his subsequent remarkable life, it will not be amiss to refer to his par;ents again, in order to place in proper relief their virtues and characteristics, which, in part. Bishop Timon largely inherited. James Timon, senior, was truly an exemplary christian. "Indeed," said a learned divine,* in his panegyric sermon at the month's mind for Bishop Timon, "Indeed, piety was the »Kt. Rev. Bishop liynoh, of Toronto, C. W. EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 19 prevailing virtne of his father's household." By education as well as by nature, Mr. Timon was a high-toned, moral Irish gentleman. He loved his own native land well, and, from infer- ences drawn from pretty accurate information, we surmise that he (alas ! like many others,) was obliged to leave it, and emigrate to a home of adoption, another victim of oppressive legislation and tyrannical misrule in Ireland. But he loved his religion too, and more dearly, not only because it was the faith of his fore- fathers, but also because it was in his estimation the only reliable pilot to that "bourne from whence no traveler e'er returns." In the government and education of his children, he had no wealth to lavish, but the little means with which Providence blessed his industry, he freely expended for the benefit of their spiritual as well as physical comforts. He was a man of generous imjjulses, and, like every true Irishman, he could not withhold from bestow- ing alms whenever charity in its many ways presented itself An incident, as related by a reliable correspondent, will serve to illustrate a trait in his character. At one time, Mr. Timon, having learned that there was in the city of St. Louis, Mo., a reverend gentleman, wliose acqiiaintance he had in former years acquired in Ireland, called on him to pay his respects. After a very pleasant interview of a few hours, in which much was rehearsed that related to the past, particularly in their own native land, Mr. Timon rose to depart. As he was leaving the house, he paused to shake hands with his reverend friend, and in doing this placed in them a crumpled slip of jDaper; The clergyman, not anticipating ^vhat was intended by Mr. Timon, took the slip of paper, without, however, examining it at the time. Mr. Timon then left, and a few moments after his departure the clergyman opened the paper, and, to his utter astonishment, found it to contain a check on a bank for $100. He could scarcely credit his senses at the discovery, and thinking that Mr. Timon might have given him the paper by mistake, thereby embarrassing himself pecuniarily, he hastily donned his coat and hat, and set out to overtake his generous friend. It was an exciting chase, for Mr. Timon had by this time reached the upper end of the 20 LIFE AND TIMES OF street, and besides the weather being very warm, it made the perspiration roll in profuse disorder from the face of the reverend gentleman. At last he overtook him, and, in a voice breathless from the briskness of the walk, asked him if he had not made a mistake. Mr. Timon smiled, and turfaing to his friend, quietlj' but good- humoredly observed, " My dear friend, it was no mistake of mine. I intended it for you." "But," replied the clergyman, "I have no need of it, as I have sufficient means of my own." " No matter," said Mr. Timon, " if you do not need it yourself, there are others who are poor and needy. Distribute the money among those who most need it, and you will please me more than to ask me to retake it." Mr. Timon had other traits of character besides charity and piety. In a worldly'point of view he was an excellent business man, of a speculative turn of mind, ready to turn an honest penny to his own advantage. It was to these characteristics, as well as an unceasing thrift and untiring energy, that the liberal amount of wealti he acquired in a few years was mainly due. Mr. Timon' s wife, Helen, was really a pure-minded, christian woman. She was faithful to her husband in the discharge of her marital relations and household duties, and, in the education of her large family, always endeavored to impress upon her children the importance of esteeming virtue and the practice of their faith above every other consideration. For five years subsequent to the birth of their son John, Mr. Timon remained with his family at Conevago. During this time, any occupation that the slender advantages of the country then aiforded, was eagerly embraced to earn an honest livelihood. There is nothing of special moment to relate of these few years, except to state that, like every ambitious mind, Mr. Timon earnestly desired, and resolved to seek, other opportunities to better his condition in life. Prompted by these feelings, he accordingly, in the year 1802, turned his back upon Conevago, and bade farewell to the friends he had found there, and started EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 21 on his journey to Baltimore, Md. As soon as the rude and imperfect advantages of travel would permit, he arrived in Balti- more, Md., where he opened a dry goods store in a street then known and called Howard street. In this new avocation Mr. Timon, however, met with no great success. He managed to save something above his actual wants, but altogether, to an ambition like his, business was not as flattering as he liked. He had been established in business a few years, when he found it necessary to take into his establishment, as a rather young clerk, his enterprising son John. "John stood in his store as a clerk," writes a correspondent, " and by his polite and withal engaging manner, secured for his father a great deal of custom." From the year 1802 until the year 1817, a period of fifteen years, Mr. Timon continued his mercantile operations with varying success. As time flew by, his son became older, and in his dealings with customers, as well as making good bargains in trade, evinced a decided aptitude for business. Although little favored with the benefits of a good education, which in the early days of thfe Republic was an acquisition not so easily acquired as at the present day, he managed to acquaint himself with the first rudiments of the ordinary English branches. By nature he was physically a well developed young man, and in his bearing and manner was very polite and handsome. "When he had reached his nineteenth year," continues my correspondent,* "he had already become a toast for all aged mothers with marriageable daughters. He often told me of many eligible and grand ofifers of marriage that he received, but refused them all, although a star of the first magnitude, not only at Baltimore, but also in the most refined circles of Louisville and St. Louis, particularly among the French residents of the last two mentioned places." The success in business at Baltimore, as has been remarked not being entirely satisfactory, and besides, being lured by those prospects which, even at the present day, invite the emigrant to the smiling lands of the west, Mr. Timon concluded to leave Baltimore and remove to the city of Louisville, Ky. * Thomas Winstanley, Eed Budd, Randolph Co., Ul. LIFE AND TIMES OF Accordingly, in the month of October, 1818, he, in company with some friends, left Baltimore and began his tedious journey westward. Traveling at that time, in an unsettled state of the country, with all the disadvantages of unbroken tracts of lands, the want of a railroad conveyance, as well as embarrassments arising from dangers to travel, was by no means speedily accom- plished. It required weeks and sometimes months to make long journeys, and hence it was nearly towards the close of the year 181 8 that Mr. Timon reached Louisville, Ky. Here he resumed business, similar to the one in which he had been engaged at Baltimore, and in a very short time made for himself, by his candid and fair dealings, many new and warm friends. It seems, however, that he had again become dissatisfied with his new position, and concluding to remove still further west, we con- sequently find him, in the Spring of the year 1819, in the city of St. Louis, Mo., his future abode and permanent place of busi- ness. We say permanent, because he immediately devoted himself to his vocation with increased assiduity. Nor was his application to business more fervent than the energy displayed by his son John. Besides being a general favorite in society, John had gradually become very remarkable for a display of qualities that, as they widened by experience, earned for him the general impression then that he might have owned the greater part of the city of St. Louis to-day, on account of his energy and shrewd- ness in turning to advantage the many mercantile opportunities that bestrew his path, had not Providence, in its mysterious dis- pensations, seen fit to transfer him to the vineyard of religion, there to discharge duties that have since stamped him not only as an extraordinary man, but also pointed him out as a chosen apostle in the field of the Catholic Church in America. To this end, that he might by experience become aware of the emptiness of worldly gains and aspirations, and at the same time realize that all labor devoted to mammon, in preference to heaven, would be to him as profitable as to gain the whole world and lose his own soul, misfortunes began to intercept his brilliant career, and made him enter into himself to meditate and reflect In the very height of his prosperity came the crash. EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 23 This was the terrible crisis of 1823, a crisis the most severe of any the country has as yet experienced, with the exception per- haps of the crisis of 1837. So paralyzing were its consequences upon business, and so ruinous its effects to the merchant that, at that time, " a $5.00 bill of the best bank of the State of Illinois, would scarcely procure as much as an ordinary breakfast." "And," continues a correspondent,* "we may judge how severely it was felt in St. Louis, when that entire square front on Fourth street and running through to Third street, embracing with it a fine stone house, a barn and carriage house, were sold for $1,500, — and a clear title of them given to Judge Mulaphanty, (a man deserving to be remembered for his many fine and generous qualities,) the only man in St. Louis then who could raise money enough to buy them." This financial crisis brought ruin to thousands, sweeping like a torrent over the whole country, to paralyze the arteries of trade and commerce, and hurl merci- lessly back to poverty many who had already accumulated a moderate share of wealth. Among many others, Mr. Timon, Sr., was not spared from the dire effects of this dreaded whirlpool. It shattered his fortunes, and pecuniarily destroyed his many brilliant prospects. His son John also lamented the turn that the tide of affairs had taken, and it made a deep impression on his mind. He began to realize how fleeting was man's prosperity, and how uncertain were the vanities and allurements of the world. BUs eyes, hitherto blinded by the glitter and tinsel of human joys, and deceived by the uncertainty of bright promises that hung over his footsteps, were now opened. Another and perhaps more tender circumstance served to increase the atfiic- tion he had received, and, so far as the world was concerned, to render all his efforts, all his prospects, tasteless. It seems that diiring the time he had been engaged as a clerk in his father's establishment, he had made the acquaintance of a young lady, the daughter of a wealthy French Creole gentle- man, Mens. De Gallon, who had fled from St. Domingo, Hayti, during the ever memorable massacre of 1823, when the blacks * Tkos. Winstanley. 24 LIFE AKD TOTES OV rose in insurrection there, and massacred nearly every white inhabitant of the island not fortunate enough to escape. Mons. De Gallon with his family fortunately evaded the danger threat- ened them, and, after many painful delays and discouraging circumstances, succeeded finally in reaching the city of St. Louis, Mo., in safety. As has already been stated, his daughter. Mademoiselle Louisa De GaUon, a young lady gifted with many brilliant accomplish- ments, both by nature and education, had formed an acquaintance with John Timon, and the favorable impressions made on the mind of each, after the first introduction, soon deepened into more tender and intimate relationship. John loved this young and guileless girl, for the sweetness of her disposition, her piety, and withal her moral worth, three characteristics in woman that tend to elevate her above the ordinary level of her sex. As in all cases of true courtship, they were soon wffmnced to each other, hut never ma/rried. Divine Providence, in its mysterious dispen- sations, ordained otherwise, and by interposing a barrier between them, elevated one to the hierarchy of the true Church of God, and the other, a pure and virgin flower, to heaven. Miss De Gallon, unhappily for John, but not for religion, was afflicted with "falling sickness," so seriously as to prevent the consummation of their betrothal vows, and very shortly after they had been wed in spirit, death severed their happy com- panionship, and transferred the flower to another and better world. It was a bitter hour for John, and to a temperament like his, never unstrung, this was a sad blow. It may seem strange, however, to some inclined to be over scrupulous, that a circumstance like this (obtained from a reliable corres- pondent,)* should be mentioned in connection with the history of a Bishop in the Church, and no doubt there are those who may criticise it severely as a levity on the part of the author, in resuscitating apparently undeveloped frivolities in the life of a young man; but, in extenuation of the mention of this * ThOB. Winstanley. EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 25 fact, it may not be improper to observe that it is considered necesswry to record this little incident in the life of the Bishop, in order to place in bolder relief the reasons that prompted him to abandon the world, and to devote his energies and soul to the amelioration of humanity and the service of religion. The bereavement occasioned by the death of Miss De Gallon, and the v?reck of a fortune of years of labor and industry, scattered beyond a possibility of ever being able to recover it, were among the principal influences that lifted the veil from his eyes, that he might realize the folly of attaching his affections to the tran- sitory shadows of mundane pleasures and profits. " He passed through a severe school," and the lessons he received were the instruments in the hands of Divine Providence with which his spirit was chastened and prepared for another and greater field, in which his enterprise, his zeal, and his piety might be directed towards honoring and serving his Maker. CHAPTEE II. JOnfS THE COMMIINITY OF THE LaZARISTS. — ENTERS THE SEMINARY OP THE BARRENS, MO- — Meets Mons. J. M. Odin there. — Early Reminiscences of the Lazarists in THIS Country The Seminary in 1824.— Incidents, &c.— Industry and Zeal of YOUNG Mr. Timon. — Promoted to Sub-deaconship. — Correspondence of Col. Creed Taylor.— Promoted to Minor Orders.- Joins the Order of St. Vincent de Paul. In the month of April of the year 1823, at the age of twenty-six years, John Timon renounced the world with all its pomps and vanities, bade an affectionate farewell to his relatives and friends, and joined the community of the Lazarists, one of the most inde- fatigable and zealous in the cause of Christ in this country. He entered, as a student, the preparatory seminary of St. Mary's of the Barrens, Mo., then in its infancy, and by no means the imposing and flourishing edifice of to-day. For two years young Timon applied himself assiduously to his true vocation, enriching his mind with various studies, particularly philosophy and theology. 26 LIFE AST) TIMES OF About this time, Mods. J. M. Odin, at present Archbishop of New Orleans, had arrived in this country, almost immediately- after Mr. Timou had entered the seminary at the Barrens. As, however, the Lazarists, at the time that Bishop Timon joined them, were just beginning their missions, which have subsequently preponderated marvelously in the progress of Catholicity in this country, it will be necessaiy to digress a little, and briefly give an account of this zealous order, since the deceased prelate has been for many years a prominent member of the same community. The following history is partly from the pen of the Bishop himself and from other sources equally reliable : Bishop Dubourg, after his consecration on the 24th of Septem- ber, 1815, as Bishop of the Diocese of New Orleans, obtained from Rome a colony of Lazarists. For a while a part of the colony stayed in the State of Kentucky with the saintly Bishop Maget, and the rest proceeded to the s^ene of their future labors. Among these were the Kev. Joseph Rosatti, Felix D'Andreis, and Brother Blanka, who accompanied the venerated Bishop Flaget, reaching Kaskaskias, in the State of Dlinois, in September, 1817. On the day after their arrival there, they went to St. Genevieve, where Bishop Flaget proposed to found a colony, but as he was not altogether satisfied with the offers he received frqm the people, he went to St. Louis, on the 17th of October, the month following At this time there was no resident priest at St. Louis. Rev. Mr. Lavine, curate at Cahokies, on the opposite side of the Mis- sissippi river, came to St. Louis once every three weeks, to attend the congregation there. Bishop Flaget made proposals to the assembled Catholics to make St. Genevieve the centre of the mission. But it seems no^ encouraging offers were made in return. A proposition UkeWise was made by Bishop Flaget to fix the seat of the mission at St. Louis. On this proposition opinion was divided. In this state of indecision, deputies from thirty-five Catholic families then at the Barrens came to offer six hundred and forty acres of land, requesting that the diocesan seminary should be EIGHT EET. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 27 * established there, which was subsequently done. In the mean- time Bishop Flaget, with Rev. M. D'Andreis and Jos. Eosatti, returned to St. Genevieve, whilst Rev. Henry Pratt, curate at St. Genevieve, went to St. Louis to attend to the building materials, repairs, &c., Revs. Jos. Rosatti, D'Andreis, and Brother Blanka taking his place to establish a provincial post at St. Genevieve. The parish embraced a large extent of country, including the "Mines and St. Michaels" with adjacent counties to a great distance. Father D'Andreis had to say two masses every Sun- day, preach two or three hours, hear confessions, visit the sick, and teach catechism. His holy example, the zeal and unction of his preaching, however, made a profound impression among the inhabitants of the settlements. For many years the Catholics ot that district remembered with veneration the holy man. Late in 1817 Bishop Dubourg, in company with Bishop Flaget, went to St. Genevieve, having left his clergy (among whom were some Lazarists,) in Bardstown, Ky., to learn English. Thence the Bishop took with him to St. Louis that holy missionary Mons. D'Andreis, where they were both received with great joy. Almost immediately Rev. Father D'Andreis commenced .to discharge his functions there as curate, and whilst his sermons were listened to with avidity by the most enlightened, he con- tinued to devote a considerable amount of time to the. instruction of the poor negro slaves, and the change it wrought on their moral conduct through him, excited unanimous admira- tion. Soon after being installed as curate, he sent for Father Rosatti and his companion in Kentucky to come to St. Louis. The voyage of this holy priest will be found in the annals of the congregation. He himself composed a history of the beginning of the congregation. From that history it may be gathered how little human help was given to that great work, which embraced a tract of unfertile land of 640 acres, that cost the community then $800, — ^besides this there were promises of help to build, a few only of which were fiilfiUed; under continual obligations, which a capital of $100,000 would scarcely pay ; nay more, for many years the congregation had to support and in great part 28 LIFE AND TIMES OF clothe the seminarians of the diocese without receiving any pay. That the community did not sink under such responsibilities is truly a miracle. In the meantime amidst poverty and great privations, the seminary at the Barrens continued to exist. It consisted of sev- eral small log houses. In the largest cabin, one story in height, was the university. In the north-west corner of the building was the theology department, for study and lecture; in the north-east corner was the room for philosophy and general literature; the south-west corner was used for a tailor shop, and the south-east for a shoemaker's department. The refectory was in a small adjoining log cabin, but whenever the rain fell very heavy, the seminarians often preferred to go to bed supperless, than venture out of the university under such disadvantages as getting wet and muddy, to buy their scanty supper. Another house, magnificent for that period, and for that place, was, however, soon begun. It was a frame building, and it still remains, serving now as an out-house for servants, although it remained in an unfinished state until 1834:. Bishop Timon has often related circumstances that happened to him, as well as to others, connected with his experience at the Barrens at this time. Often, when persons reached the semi- nary, either to become m.embers, or to share a night's hospitality, have they been obliged to spread their mattress on the floor, where they slept well and comfortably ; but, towards morning, feeling themselves very warm, they awoke to find a heavy coat of snow on their blankets, which had gathered there through the openings and crevices of the building. Yet such was the piety and the resignation of the inmates of the seminary, under the pious government of Mons. Rosatti, that all seemed to feel happy, and advance in the way of salvation. In connection with the seminary, a college for seculars was opened in the unfinished house. There the seminarians, on an average, taught three hours per day ; the rest of the study hours were given them to prepare their own lessons, and recite them to their own professors of Latin, philosophy, or theology. EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 29 On vacation days, and even during the hours of recreation, the seminarians employed themselves in felling the trees of the primeval forests, and splitting wood either for a scanty Summer's use, or an abundant "Winter's supply. At other seasons they could be seen with sacks on their backs, gathering the potatoes, beans, etc., or driving the ox and cart, well laden with the corn which they themselves had hoed. All were healthy and well, and with their beloved Superior at their head, no labor seemed hard. In the discharge of aU these duties young Timon was ever a ready and willing worker, and the cheerfulness and zeal with which he sought to aid and improve the condition he had chosen for his future life, brought notice at once upon his head. By this time, too, Mr. Timon, who had been busily engaged in improving his mind with a knowledge of Church discipline and ceremony, had made a rapid progress in his various studies, under the tutelage of his learned and talented professors, particu- larly under his young but beloved bosom friend, Eev. J. M. Odin, now Archbishop of New Orleans. Mr. Timon pursued his studies diligently in the interim, not only storing his mind with knowledge necessary to glorify and preach the sufferings and goodness of his Redeemer, but also by frequent meditations, prayers and fastings, reducing to submis- sion the appetites of his flesh and body. Mons. J. M. Odin, Archbishop of New Orleans, in a letter to the author, observes : "A sincere intimacy grew between us, which time cemented more and more, as it was grounded on a respect inspired by his sterling virtues. I was five years younger than he was, but as I had completed my studies at an early age, before leaving France, I was his teacher of logic and theology, especially when our good Superior, Bishop Eosatti, was absent from the seminary." So thorough and rapid was his acquisition of theology and philosophy, and so familiar had he become with Church discipline and ceremony, that, continues Mons. Odin, "in the year 1824: he was ordained sub-deacon, and from this time he began-to preach with great zeal and great success, and to the edification of his 30 LIFE AND TIMES OF hearers. He accompanied me in a missionary tour through the State of Arkansas, where no priest had been seen for over thirty- five years." Col. Creed Taylor, at the kind request of the Bishop of Little Eock, Et. Eev. Edward Fitzgerald, famishes the following interesting communication : "In the Spring of the year 1825, Eev. Mr. Odin, (now Arch- bishop of ISTew Orleans, La.,) passed through Arkansas on a missionary excursion, accompanied by a young gentleman a year or two my junior. The latter appeared to be a traveling com- panion to the other, who said mass, and preached to a French congregation in that language. " Mr. Timon, the young gentleman referred to, served at his mass. Many children were baptized by Eev. Mr. Odin, and I was asked to have mine baptized also, but I refused, for the reason that I understood but little French, and besides, having imbibed ■ all the prejudices of the sects against Catholicity, I could not consent to have it done. "Li about three months,'' continues Col. Taylor, "the Eeverend gentlemen returned, and this time Mr. Timon, who had been raised to minor orders, preached the first English sermon I ever heard. 1 could now no longer refuse to have my children bap- tized ; whether I attribute tlie dissipation of my prejudices to the winning eloquence of the young deacon, or, whether, in the mercy of God, the prayers of my wife induced me to yield ; but it was done, to the gratification of my family. "The reverend gentlemen were the guests of my father-in-law, Major Vaugine, for several days, and where I expected a kind of superstitious priestcratt, I found the greatest humility, the 'most profound learning, and captivating eloquence. Most of their time was spent in saying mass, making their meditations, and prayers. Mr. Timon was often found carrying wood for a poor old widow, who occupied one of Major Yaugine's cabins, on the farm. This," observes Col. Taylor, "in my state of mind then, might have been called affected charity, but, thank God, I EIGHT EET. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 31 imputed nothing of the kind to him, for he was so humble and BO kind, that the impression made on me then will go with me to the grave." From this simple reminiscence of the Bishop's early life, we may see in advance the tendency of his disposition, and the simple charity that he, in an unaffected manner, bestowed on the poor old woman, was but the foreshadowing of subsequent sub- lime and ever memorable virtues, that stand to-day recorded throughout the length and breadth of this diocese, in his various institutions of charity and mercy. In the year 1825, John Timon was promoted to the priesthood, by the Right Rev. Bishop Eosatti. Now commenced the most active period of his life. As priest, he assisted in the two-fold capacity of Professor at the seminary of the Barrens, and, at the same time, as Missionary in the surrounding counties, mostly at Cape Girardeau and Jackson, Mo., where he preached occasion- ally in the court house. Here his labors were crowned with great success for the good of souls, and the conversion of many Protestants to the true Church. In the discharge of his duties he was indefatigable, and never spared himself when engaged in doing good for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. He sometimes met with opposition from ill-disposed persons, and some even aimed at his life; but his patience, his gentleness, and withal his winning manner, surmounted every obstacle, and paved the way to the high position he occupies to-day in the memories of those who knew him, and could appreciate his deeds and virtues. To complete his sacrifice, he finally joined the order of St. Vincent de Paul, then in its infancy in this country. Oh ! what joy was this to his religious fervor, what a delight to his heart, surcharged with love for the cause of his Redeemer, and for the poor and imbecile sinner of society. His zeal exhibited itself in the multitudes he rescued from sin by his winning eloquence, in the spread of the Gospel, and in the general abundant harvest, reaped in a careful culture of the field of religion. 32 LIFE AND TIMES OF CHAPTER in. SOBEOUHDINOS AT THE BAEREKS, MO.— MoNS. OdIH AND TiMON AS MiSSIONAEIES.— HOO Pen con vested into a Chapel.— Stakt foe New Madrid, Texas. — Dangehous Traveling.— DiALoeuE with a Lady.— Aeeive at the Poet of Aekansas.— The Q0APAW Indians.— Theie Belief.- Eetckh to the Baeeens.— Mission in Illinois. The great majority of the inhabitants of the Barrens, and especially those who were rich, were Protestants, and their prejudices against Catholics were very strong. To that extent did they evince their bias, that the ministers of some of the denominations often came to the very doors of the Catholic church to challenge the priests to controversy. But how great was the change effected in a few years. The prejudices soon were dissipated ; the seminary, a log cabin only twenty-five by eighteen feet, began to flourish, and seeds of christian doctrine take deep root in the hearts not only of many Catholics, but also of many converts. Mons. Odin and Timon were accustomed to go around the neighborhood in a circuit, to the distance some times of fifteen or twenty miles, assemble the children to Cate- chism, visit families far less Protestants than haters of the Pope or papists, and preach to them whenever an opportunity pre- sented itself. South of Apple Creek, they began a station for saying mass, but subsequently transferred it to the present site of St. Joseph's church. At Apple Creek, the station alluded to, a chapel was formed from a large pen in which swine had been kept. The mis- sionaries themselves dug out the dung, cleaned it as well as possible, covered it with fresh branches of trees, and built in it an altar, which for its beauty became the wonder and admiration of the neighborhood. Here they celebrated mass, and performed the other functions of their divine calling. God singularly blessed their apostolic excursions, perhaps the more so because they were made in great poverty and privations, especially at a place called Bois Brule, where all the inhabitants EIGHT EET. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 33 were Protestants. Early in the morning after breakfast, the missionaries would leave the seminary, seek for lost sheep until dinner time, and then, wearied with their labor, would retreat to a blackberry bush or other fruit tree, and there make a dinner out of what nature gave. In 1824, Eev. Mons. Odin and Timon (sub-deacon,) set out on a long mission, and although they traveled on horseback, yet like the apostles and disciples of old, '•'•sine secula etpera^'' gave their first distant mission in New Madrid, Texas, afterwards remem- bered by the people of that place for a long time. After leaving New Madrid, they were obliged to cross large swamps, attended with great personal danger, and were necessitated to rest all night on swampy grounds, where a dry spot could not be seen, and where water fit to drink could not be found. They were accompanied by a guide, who, deeming it impossible to proceed, retraced his steps and left them ; but the missionaries, nothing daimted by the adverse circumstances that surrounded them and seemed to multiply at every step, pushed boldly on, swam across a river, and late next day, in an almost starved condition, reached a log habitation, where they refreshed and rested their weary feet. They then continued their journey, which was a continual mission among a people that had never before seen a priest, although the missionaries were continually inquiring for Catholics. At length, late one sultry day, they reached a stately mansion, and being very tired, approached the house and humbly asked for a drink of water. To their astonishment, they were kindly received by the lady of the house, who directed a negro servant to bring some fresh water and other refreshments, not knowing the character of her guests. Whilst the negro servant was complying with the order of the lady, an interesting conversation ensued, in which one sub- ject after another was discussed. At length as one of the missionaries took advantage of a pause to inquire, " Madam, are there any Catholics in this neighborhood?" the kind and courteous manner of the lady immediately changed, and she said, " Oh, sir, I don't like Catholics." (3) 34: LIFE AND TIMES OF " And why, madam," interposed the missionary, " have they ever injured you ? " "ISTo, sir! " replied the lady, "but they are idolaters." "Oh! madam," interrupted the missionary, "how can yoa think so ? There are so many Catholics in the world, far more than all the sects put together, very many of whom are men and women of cultivated intellect and deep religious feeling, and how can you believe that so many good and learned men would be such fools as to adore idols ? " "Well, indeed," replied the lady, "that thought never sug- gested itself to me yet, and I am almost inclined to think that you are right, for, as you say, it would indeed be strange." The missionary then pointed to a painting of Washington on the wall of the room, and observed, " Do you adore that picture, madam ? " "Why, certainly not," said the lady. "1 thought not," pursued the missionary, "you keep it merely to remind you of the hero and savior of our country. So do we keep the crucifix, pictures and other sacred things, to put us in mind of our Divine Hero and our ever adorable Saviour; ot of those who have served Him best and whom He most loved." Then, taking a crucifix from his bosom, he continued, " Here is what those who malign us, say we adore; but God forbid the thought. This cruciiix is for us a book with hieroglyphics of might and power, to enable us to read in a second, at one glance, what it otherwise would take us five rhinutes to read in the Bible. We have often instructed poor slaves who cannot read. We have told them what Jesus has done for them, and shown them the crucifix, and thus appealed to their eyes and eai-s in far less time than by any other method." The lady, who had never before seen a crucifix, immediately took up another thread of conversation, which proved how diffi- cult it is sometimes by words alone to have a clear conception of a thing, unless it is made practical, and observed : " Well, it is possible that what you say may be all very true, but, really, is that what you call a crucifix? " EI&HT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 35 " Yes, madam, it represents the Saviour of the world dying for the sins of men. See here, where his cruel enemies pierced his hands and feet and side, and thus he hung on the cross three long hours, dying for you and all mankind. " At these words the lady became deeply affected, and in a voice scarcely articulate from the vehemence of her emotion, she said : "Dear me, how much he must have suffered." She then caUed her children, two bright, intelligent little boys, and thus spoke to them : " Here, children, come and see how much your Saviour has done for you." The little lads approached, and with eagerness listened to the detaUs of the Saviour's passion, illustrated to them, then for the first time, hj means of the crucifix. "When the missionaries had finished, they rose and departed, thanking the lady for the hospitality she had shown to them, and feeling confident in their hearts that ever after a missionary would be well received in that house. All along their route to the Port of Arkansas they related this incident, and in every place they penetrated they found the same prejudices against Catholics existed. The general request, how- ever, after hearing of the incident, vs^as to see a crucifix; and, after gazing on it, these words would burst forth as if unbidden from the lips of many, ""Well, well, I see that I was mistaken; I see that I have been deceived." Finally, the missionaries arrived at the Port of Arkansas. Here they paid several visits to the Quapaw Indians, a tribe at that time inhabiting the south bank of the Arkansas river. The missionaries erected a rustic altar before the wigwam of Sarasin, the chief of the tribe. The Indians assisted at mass, and through the interpreter, a Mr. "W". Neuismere, the Catholic doctrine was explained to them. At night the Indian chief and medicine man were persuaded to explain the dogmas of their faith. In general, however, it is a difiicult thing to get a clear detail, even of tJie little they pretend to know. They are generally afraid of being laughed at, although, like other Indians, they believe in a God, in subordinate gods, LIFE AND TIMES OF both good and bad. They have vague conceptions of good and bad angels, of future rewards and punishments, in which the Catholic view of a three-fold state are distinguishable. Their traditions are, that they came from the cold North, and that the first recollection their forefathers had, was of floundering on the surface of a vast lake. That a god in white from the South, one in red from the North, one in black from the East, and finally one in motley colors from the West approached them. The god in white was the superior god. A bird had been Bent out to discover land, but with no result. Then other animals followed, of which only one returned, with his feet and legs besmeared with mud. The god in white then led them towards the spot from whence the animal had returned, and there land was found. They immediately knelt down to adore and thank the god in white. "No, children," said the god in white, "I am sent by the Great Spirit, Him you must adore." He then predicted their victories over all the nations they should encounter, until they reached the sunny South, and that, after the lapse of ages, they should see white men, who were children of the god in white, and whom they should not injure, for the sake of their guide. The Indian chief and medicine man, as well as the other Indians accompanied the recital of these traditions, (of which the above is only an abridgment) with strange gestures and wild noises. From their traditions, however, it will be apparent to the reader that, besides some vague recollection of early revelation, they retained a remembrance of Noah's ark, the deluge, and of Noah's experiments to ascertain whether the waters of the deluge had subsided sufiSciently to allow him to leave the ark. During the mission much good was accomplished, both among the Catholics and the Protestants, by rehabilitating a great many marriages, baptizing many adults as well as children, hearing confessions and admitting to the Holy Sacrament, many who, for forty years before, had had no opportunity of so doing. EIGHT EBV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 37 After such laborious and sacrificing elforts in the service of God, Father Odin and Timon returned to the Barrens to resume the discharge of their duties in the college, which included, as it formerly had done, their excursions in the neighborhood of the Barrens for twenty miles around. , By degrees, the result of such zeal began to manifest itself, so that in 1826 the extent of' the missions embraced a wider tract of country. Frequently Mons. Odin and Timon could be seen together visiting as far as ISTew Madrid, and even for a distance of 150 miles south of the Barrens. In the State of Illinois, Mr. Timon, who had already been raised to the priesthood in 1825, built churches in places known as "O'Hara's and the English settlements." At Kaskaskias, they re-established an old mission long abandoned, with such success, that in the vast and stately log church, (built there years before by the Jesuits, and which was crowned with a magnificent steeple, more than one hundred feet high,) there was soon gathered together a respectable con- gregation, among whom several converts might have been counted. At a place called '-St. Michael's," or "Mine la Motte," as it was then called, another mission was established. At this station Mr. Timon baptized the first persons, as the records there will show, and which are the names of Francis P. Bellenere and P. G. Chevalier, on the lith of May, 1827. The two Lazarists' friends then extended their zealous labors to Potosi and the "Old Mines," visiting an extent of country, reaching about 250 miles north and south. 38 LIFE AM) TIMES OF CHAPTER ly. Ordination op John Timon. — Called to see a Muedeeeb condemned to Death. — DiSODSSION WITH A BAPTIST MINISTER.— DEFEATS HIM.— MISSION IN CAPE GiBAB- deau. — Conversion op Mb. Ralph Doherty. — Choleba. — Mb. Doherty ill. — Fatheb Timon called in too late.— Baptism of Mrs. Dohebty.— A Night with A Cholera Coepsb.— Baptism of Children.— Father Timon and the Irishman.— Confession on Hoeseback.— Happy Denouement Et. Ret. Jos. Rosatti, Bishop of St. Louis, in the Spring of 1825, Tisited the seminary of the Barrens, and whilst there raised to the priesthood among others Mr. John Timon. It was a period for which Mr. Timon had devoutly prayed, that he might be better enabled to discharge the promptings of his reli- gious feelings, in ministering more freely to the wants of the people. It was a moment in his life when it seemed he had reached the zenith of his aspirations, and could, by the aid of Divine grace, penetrate every locality, irrespective of dan- ger or opposition ; when he felt panoplied with the truth and the power to defy the world in the service of the only true faith. Hence, the circumstances of the preceding chapter reveal the zeal, the indifference to opposition, and the ultimate success with which he faced every obstacle. Before his eloquence, evaporated the prejudices against Catholics; before his logic and theology, fell the united strength of reasoning of anti-Catholic bigots ; numbers enrolled themselves under the banner of the cross, converted by his winning manner, and edified by his holy piety. His name soon became a bulwark to the cause of Catholicity and a house- hold word in every dwelling and log cabin for hundreds of miles around and near the Barrens. Messengers frequently came from long distances to solicit his aid. Sometimes it was to visit the bed- side of a poor dying Catholic ; sometimes it was in response to the wishes of a departing Protestant, who during life had been favorably disposed to religion, but deferred accepting it until D. D. 39 the last hour ; and often, it was to hasten to console an unhappy ■victim sentenced by the rigor of the law to be hanged on the gallows. Early in the Spring of 1828, Father Timon was sum- moned to a place called Jackson, at a distance of about thirty miles from the seminary, to visit a murderer under sentence of death, who, up to that time, had persistently refused to see a clergyman of any denomination whatever. Father Timon started immediately, but it was towards nightfall before he arrived at the prison door, where, on various pretexts, permission to see the prisoner was flatly denied. It was only after the arrival of a Baptist minister named Green, who was also the editor and proprietor of the village newspaper, as well as an influential man among the town people, that Father Timon was allowed to enter the cell of the condemned man. Mr. Green also entered, accompanied by a band of anti-Catholic bigots, and when Father Timon appealed to the jailor to clear the cell and leave him alone with the prisoner, for the purpose of con- versing in private on the affairs of the latter's conscience, it was inhumanly refused. On a bed of straw, strewn over the clay floor, lay the culprit, chained to a post fastened in the wall. Finding that he would only be allowed to converse with him in the presence of the hostile crowd. Father Timon, laying aside aU reserve, resolutely stretched himself on the pallet of straw at the side of the prisoner, and, in a clear and loud tone of voice, began to expound to the poor man the great truths of religion, the Holy Trinity, the incarnation, future rewards and punish- ments, the redemption and the Holy Sacraments. When he had finished, he turned towards the prisoner aud foimd that he who, up to that moment, had laughed at religious teaching, was deeply affected, and that even tears were flowing from his eyes. This was the impression Father Timon had desired to make, and judging it to be more proper that he should now be left alone to meditate and reflect upon this his flrst favor- able lesson, he rose to depart, already fatigued and worn out with his journey on horseback over a rough road of thirty miles, 40 LIFE AND TIMES OF not having tasted a morsel from daybreak until nine o'clock that night. As he did so, however, he once more turned to the pri- soner, and told him he would end the instructions of that night, by reciting with him the Apostles' Creed. The condemned man, with much emotion, complied, and repeated after the priest the Apostles' Creed, word for word, until both had recited the words, " and in Jesus Christ our Lord." At these words Green, the Baptist minister, rushed forward, and iu an authoritative -manner exclaimed : " Do not deceive the poor man. Do not make him lose his soul by teaching him the commandments of men." Father Timon, thus addressed, slowly turned around, and in a calm but earnest tone of voice, replied, "Mr. Green, I am teaching him the Apostles' Creed. Do you not also hold that venerable creed?" " Oh," answered Green, " but your Church is that idolatrous one, that worships images, and that gives to Mary the homage due only to God." " Mr. Green," replied Father Timon, " not long since I preached in the court house of this village, on the very subject you now touch. I proved beyond a contradiction, the charges against the ancient Church to be foul calumnies. You were present. I then called upon any one, who could deny the truths which I an- nounced, to come forward, and show if there was any flaw in the evidence which I brought to prove that Catholics had been cruelly and most unjustly calumniated. You were silent. Surely, then was your opportunity to discuss and disprove, and not this hour, in which I am preparing an unhappy man, who has sent for me to aid him, in meeting a death so certain and so near." Green was at a loss what to reply, and in his coniiision com- menced some vague and insulting charges, challenging the priest to meet him next day in the court house, to discuss the merits of their respective beliefs. Father Timon immediately accepted the challenge. BIGHT BEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 41 Then Green claimed the privilege of saying night prayers, and kneeling down with his friends, made out a long and extempo- raneous prayer, in which, among other insulting expressions, he prayed thus : " And, oh ! God of mercy, save this poor man from the fangs of Antichrist, who now seeks to teach him idolatry and the vain traditions of men." Scarcely, however, had he finished, when Father Timon, at the top of his voice, cried out to the crowd that filled the dungeon : " Gentlemen, is it right that, in a prayer to the God of charity and truth, this man should introduce a calumny against the majority of christians?" Deep silence followed this remark, and showed that all felt the truth of the appeal. It was now late at night, and the sheriff, wishing to close the jail, required all to leave the cell. On quitting it, however, Green renewed his challenge, and it was finally arranged that a meeting should take place in the court house next day. But it is scarcely worth while reviewing the controversy. At the hour appointed, the disputants assembled at the place agreed upon, and the district judge was chosen moderator. The time for speaking was limited to half an hour at a time to each disputant. After a discussion of three or four hours, Green gave up the contest, and withdrew completely out- generaled by the superior arguments of his adversary. The indefatigable Father Timon, however, continued to speak and reviewed for half an hour longer the argument, exhorting serious and candid men to return to the old, but true religion. What was the result of this labor ? "When Father Timon had finished and returned to the cell of the poor prisoner, he found the latter ready to receive the Catholic faith, having already heard of the result of the controversy. At his own request he was accordingly baptized. But this was not all. The discussion served to resurrect in the hearts of many, prior to that time not known as 4:2 LIFE AJSD TIMES OF Catholics, the slumbering embers of their holy faith, and induced them to approach the sacraments of Penance and holy Eucharist. Several children were also baptized. Thus under God, this circumstance was the cause of beginning the flourishing mission of Cape Grirardeau. Among those present at the controversy was a Protestant gentleman named Ealph Doherty, who was married to one of tlie first Protestant ladies of the neighborhood. Mr. Doherty was greatly impressed with the truths there announced, and, until then, quite new to him. Soon after this, Mr. Doherty feU sick, sent for Father Timon, and became a Catholic. In a few years afterwards, his whole family, except his wife, (who left him,) became Catholics. His conversion, followed by several members of the Sanford family, alarmed the bigotry of those inimical to the Church. Then Mr. Doherty became the object of persecution. In the interim. Father Timon had begun a mission at Cape Girardeau. For six months, during each visit there, he said mass very privately at 6 A. M., and gave communion to a few con- verts. At 9 A. M. he would begin catechism for all the children he could collect together, and at 11 A. M. preached for the many Protestants who flocked to hear him. All this transpired in Mr. Doherty's house. At last, so vehement had the persecution become towards Mr. Doherty, that, to save the latter from losing his property, it was found necessary to purchase it from him. It is the most beautiful estate in that part of the country. The seminary, with its large and spacious grounds, and the handsome church of St. "Vincent's, stand on a part of it. Finally, to aug- ment the number of converts, the aged father of Mr. Doheity also became a Catholic. Several years afterwards the cholera raged fearfully in the district of Jackson and Cape Girardeau. It so happened that at this time Father Timon was returning from New Madrid, and on his way stopped at the log cabin of the aged Mr. Doherty. It was full of company, nearly aU of them Protestants ; and so, inviting the priest to adjourn to the garden, Mr. Doherty there unburdened his conscience to his spiritual father. EIGHT EET. JOHN TIMCHSr, D. D. 43 As soon as he had finished, Father Timon bade good-bye to his aged friend, and without losing any more time, continued his journey to Jackson, a distance of ten miles. Here he stopped to refresh himself and feed his horse. About 8 P. M., just as he was again starting to ride, (as he very commonly had to do all night long,) a messenger came to tell him that Mr. Doherty, whom he had left only a few hours before, had been taken sick with the cholera, and begged for his spiritual father to return and comfort him. Father Timon, from the depth of his charity for man, imme- diatSl}' turned his horse's head in the direction of Mr. Doherty's house, and through the rain, which by this time had began to fall very freely, hastened back to the cabin of the poor old man in the thick forest, where he arrived only to find that Mr. Doherty was dead. Father Timon then recited some prayers for the dead, and gave a few words of exhortation to those present. When he had finished, the wife of the deceased man declared her intention of becoming a Catholic, and was immediately instructed. Those pre- sent were then invited to withdraw, there being but one room in the house, and as the convert knelt by the side of the bed on which her dead husband lay stretched, she, in accents of deep penitence, made her holy confession. The company were invited to enter again, and, sub conditioner the sacred rite of baptism was performed over the old lady, who expressed a great consola- tion in being made a member of the true Church. In the meantime, the rain had been falling more heavily, and now poured in torrents. The forest became intensely dark, and it being near midnight, it was impossible for Father Timon to continue his journey farther that night. As in all log cabins at that time, there was but one room, and only one bed in the corner, upon which lay the dead man. Having been invited to stay all night, however. Father Timon was not at a loss how to make the best of the situation. So, pushing the corpse up against the wall, a clean sheet was spread on the bed near it, and whilst 44 LIFE AND TIMES OF the rest of the company disposed themselves to the best advan- tage upon the clay floor, the missionary was invited to share the bed with the corpse. He did so, and slept soundl/y. Truly strange scenes frequently occurred in those missions, then so poor and wild. But to a disposition like Father Timon, whose heart knew no fear but the fear of God, these scenes as related, to us and which seem so strange, were as commonplace occurrences. He once preached near liew Madrid, on the banks of the Mississippi. Six young children were offered to him for baptism by their Protestant parents, with the promise that they shouW be brought up as Catholics. After -the ceremony was over. Father Timon mounted his horse to leave for the next station, a distance of fifteen miles, in order to meet an appointment for the following day. He had hardly left the crowd, when an old man, also on horseback, rode after him, and, in accents that showed him to be an Irishman, exclaimed : " Ah ! but my heart warmed to you as you spoke, for I too am a Catholic ; but you are the first priest I have seen for forty years. Often these ' swaddlers ' tried to get me to change my religion, telling me that I could never expect to see a Catholic priest here, and that it was better for me to have some religion than none at all. I, at times, almost believed them, but when- ever I thought of joining them, upon my word, it seemed as if my confirmation was about rising in my throat to choke me. And / couldrOt do it. But I married a Protestant who was never bap- tized. We have many children, and I have often spoken to them of my religion, and I think they can easily be made Catholics. Come with me, my wife is very sick, it may be her salvation." Father Timon was not astonished at the poor man's liistory, such a scene was common to him ; and, although he had to turn in a direction quite opposite to that he had intended to take, he willingly did so, entering a dark forest just as the shades of night began to fall, and the rain from the threatening black clouds overhead was making music on the leaves of the trees above them. EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 45 Father Timon, upon inquiring found, as was usual with all frontier settlers, that there was but one room in the house, and this room was occupied by the sick woman. Therefore, after a moment's reflection and prayer, he turned to his companion at his side, and said : , " But, my friend, if I go and baptize your wife, I must also marry you both." "Sure, that's what I want," replied the man. "Then," said Father Timon, "you should first make your con- fession and be prepared." " And sure, it's willing I am," sorrowfully rejoined the poor man, " but how or when can I get confession ? " " Here," said the missionary, " even here as we ride along this solitary road." "And will that do?" "Why not?" answered Father Timon. "God is good. He wants us only to do the best we can, and surely, there is no other way than this for you now. So prepare yourself, by examining your conscience carefully, and when you are ready I will hear your confession." Thus encouraged and advised, the old man devoutly took off his hat, made the sign of the cross, and then, riding on in silence, prepared himself to reconcile his long deferred account with his Maker. It was indeed an humble, but at the same time sublime scene. The forest was intensely dark, and no noise could be heard than the heavy fall of rain, as it spattered in heavy drops fhom the leaves of the trees, through which they were winding their way. Priest and penitent, now trotting along the night path of the forest, now leading their horses through some uncer- tain spots in the wood, thus journeyed on for some time in silence. Presently the man declared himself ready to confess, and aided by the priest as they both started their horses into a gentle canter, the confession was soon finished, the priest's sacred duty performed, just a few moments before they reached the door of the log cabin, where lay the sick and anxious wife. i6 LIFE AND TIMES OF But the rest of the incident is soon told. Before midnight, Father Timon had instructed the whole family, and baptized the children. Just as morning began to dawn through the apertures of the cabin, the wife had been also instructed and baptized, and the happy couple re-married. By daylight, Father Timon had to leave, and at a hurried pace, ride to meet an appoint- ment, some distance away, besides saying mass and preaching before noon. CHAPTER Y. MONS. J. M, Odih. — ^Bishop Eosatti and the Barrens. — Emeareassments op thb SE2f iNARY. — ^Meeting of the Professed Priests. — Father Timon Speaker for thb CoMMtraiTT.— Bishop Eosatti Eesponds.— Eev. J. B. Toknatoei Chosen Supeeioe of the Missions. — ^Purchase of the Doherty Estate. — The Sick Woman. — Her Conversion. — ^Incidents. — Condition of the Missions. — Discouraging Prospects. — Father Timon Vanqdishes six Ministers in a DisonssiON.— Interview with a Condemned Man.— Mr. Odin goes to France. Once had the Eight Eev. Jos. Eosatti been called to the Episcopate, and feeling it painful to his humility, had respect- fully refused. In 1824, however, he was forced to accept it, and in the church of the Ascension (and parish of that name in the State of Louisiana,) he was consecrated Bishop, in partibus mjidelium, of Tenagre, and Coadjutor of New Orleans. In the meantime the few priests at the seminary were gradually dis- persed, whilst the Bishop himself was often forced to be absent. Thus, for a considerable length of time, Mons. Odin was left, the sole priest at the seminary. Besides the discharge of his duties as provisional Superior, parish priest, and confessor to the Drothers, seminarians, collegians, and Lorentine Nuns, he was obliged to direct the general course of teaching in the college. Nay, more, often on Saturdays particularly, he would be out until ten o'clock at night, on a sick call or otlier important duty, and when he came home, he found the students and brothers waiting to go to confession, and occupying him the greater part EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 47 of what remained of the night. But, despite the tedium of this excessive labor, he cheerfully fulfilled his duty, with a holy zeal and peace of heart, that alone can account for his not having entirely lost his health. He suffered much, however, and sick headaches, often for days, would be the penalty for having taxed both body and mind too much. But, as has been already stated, on the 20th of May, 1824, Bishop Eosatti was named first Bishop of St. Louis, and Administrator of New Orleans. On the 1st of January previous, however, he had solemnly laid the corner stone of a new stone church, near the seminary, on the plan of the chapel of the mission near Monte Citorio, Kome. Although Bishop Kosatti loved the calm retreat of the Barrens, and thought of making it his residence, to govern his diocese from it, he reluctantly abandoned that idea, at the instigations of a certain missionary, whose opinions on the subject were such as to show that it would not have been for the glory of God or the good of souls. Meanwhile much dissatisfaction existed among the few priests of the mission. As yet they did not possess an inch of ground ; on the contrary, they were burdened with heavy debts. Even some of the first brothers, who had been in America twelve years, murmured less at their poverty than at the pros- pect of spending the close of their lives in the poor house. Some thing had to be done to relieve the community from their embar- rassing dUemma. Accordingly a meeting of the professed priests was held at the seminary of the Barrens, to which Bishop Rosatti was invited, in order to hear the complaints that were necessary to be made. Father Timon was delegated to act as speaker for the community, and in compliance with the wishes of his fellow priests, he reverently but at the same time firmly and distinctly, laid before the Bishop all the complaints and the existing feelings of dissatisfaction. Bishop Rosatti was an attentive listener to the clear and eloquent language of the young and zealous Lazarist, and as an expression of his sympathy for the community, he kindly consented, at the conclusion of the meeting, to give the 48 LIFE AND TIMES OF congregation a deed of the property, assiime some of its debts, and at the same time promised to make some provision for such of the seminarians as might not be occupied in teaching. After Bishop Rosatti had fixed his residence at St. Louis, Rev. J. B. Tornatori, an Italian priest of great learning and piety, was sent to the Barrens, as Superior of the whole mission. In this connection it may be proper to observe that, owing to the persecu- tion he had received from his bigoted friends and acquaintances for the abjuration of his Protestant faith, Mr. Ralph Doherty came nigh losing his valuable piece of property. It was only through the intervention of his brother-in-law, Mr. Hen. Sanford, of Jackson, Mo., that he was relieved of this persecution, by selling the property to the community of the Lazarists. This occurred during the administration of Rev. Mr. Tornatori. For this purpose Father Timon was sent to Potosi, and whilst there he negotiated with a Mr. John Casey for a loan of $2,000, (or about 10,000 francs). From Potosi he went by the way of Selma to the city of St. Louis. At Selma he was very successful in obtaining an endorsement on his loan, by a rich Protestant gen- tleman, Capt. J. M. White. But on his arrival at St. Louis, Father Timon found the good Bishop exceedingly displeased at hearing of the purchase of the estate. A little explanation soon followed, and, of course, when he discovered that the Doherty property had been bought without putting him under any pecuniary obligations whatever, he was again much pleased. Subsequently Father Timon bought more property at a low figure, by purchas- ing a number of tracts of valuable land from Congress, at about one-tenth their value. At Cape G-irardeau, a house formerly used as a store-house, and adjoining one of the princijjal residences, was converted into a church. At first, once in every three months, then once in a month. Father Timon rode down there from the Barrens, said mass and catechised, with very happy results in dissipating the prejudices of the Protestant people. About two weeks after he had held his regular mission, and consequently at a time when no one expected a visit from EIGHT EET. JOHK TIMON, D. D. 49 Mm SO soon, Father Timon was sent by his Superior to com- plete some arrangements about the deeds of the Doherty estate. The shades of evening had begun to gather when he arrived at the Cape. In about a half an hour after his arrival he unex- pectedly received a visit from one of the most respectable persons of the place, a gentleman who subsequently became its Mayor. This gentleman called to reqiiest the priest to visit his step- mother,, who was dying. " Is she a Catholic ?'.' inquired Father Timon. " Oh, no, there is no Catholic in my house, sir," replied the- stranger. Father Timon, thinking (as it often before had so occurred,) that the dying Protestant lady wanted him only to pray for her, very willingly consented to accompany the -gentleman, and accordingly took neither vesture nor holy oils with him, which, in administering extreme unction to a dying GathoUc, are so necessary. He found the lady very ill, but, as far as religion was concerned, very well disposed. At her request he exposed aloud the faith of the Catholic Church, in the presence of her children and friends, to which she readily assented, and expressed the desire to become a Catholic and be baptized. Father Timon was a little surprised at this eagerness on her part to embrace the faith, but observing that she sought to become a member of the Church with earnest emotions, and with an expression of much devotional feeling, he hastened to get baptismal water and holy oils. As he was leaving the sick room, however, and entering another,' the lady of the house and wife of the gentleman Avho had called him to visit his sick step-mother, followed him, and in an earnest tone of voice said : " Sir, there is something very extraordinary in all this. My mother has never yet been in a Catholic church. Only once in her life time has she heard a Catholic sermon, and yet she has for months thought that she heard a voice saying almost continu- ally to her, ^ If you want to he sa/oed, you must heoome a Catholic.'' She has often related this to us, and begged us to send for you ; but we thought it only the wild freak of a wandering mind, and (4) 50 LIFE AND TIMES OF of course we refused, to comply with her wishes. A few days ago, she thought she had a vision of a man dressed like you, who gave Tier a cruoifiia to Mss, and at the same instant the voice said, ' Do what this priest will tell you, and you shall he saved.^ "She started from her sleep, told us of the vision, and begged us to send for you. But we refused, as it was a long journey to the Barrens, and we thought it seemed only a wild frenzy on her part. Just as we were debating the matter with her, a neighbor came in and told us you had already arrived, and then it was that we determined to send for you." The lady here ceased, and altogether the circumstances of the case seemed very strange, and at the same time marvelous to Father Timon. It only served to give greater zeal to the haste he made to obtain the necessary articles with which to prepare her for her reception into the Church, and to bestrew her path to eternity with the roses of devotion and piety. In a very short time he returned, and approaching the bedside of the sick woman he presented the cruoijlx to her to be kissed, and as he did so, he remarked that she pressed it with eager emotion to her lips. He then baptized her, sub conditione, heard her confession, and administered to her the holy Sacraments of the altar, and extreme unction. It was near midnight before all the religious ceremonies were finished. In a few hours afterwards the happy woman, her countenance lit up with the radiance of an inward serenity of heart, and the consolation of having embraced the true faith, lay back on the pillow and gave her soul to her Maker. This circumstance seemed strange to Father Timon, and ac- cordingly he inquired of her ^relatives what were the antecedents of the deceased lady, and discovered that during hfe she had been particularly distinguished for her charity to the poor and the sick. It was this no doubt, he concluded, that drew down upon her a special mercy from heaven in her last hour. Soon one alter another of the rest of the family became Catholics, and many years afterwards, when a fine stone church, dedicated to St. Yincent, had been erected on that very spot. Mens. L'Eveque de Forbin Janson confirmed the last convert of that family. EIGHT EET. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 51 In 1829, Mr. De Neckere was named Bishop of New Orleans. ■ At first he hesitated much, and consulted his friends as to the feasibility of his accepting of it. Among others, he solicited the opinion of his friend. Father Tinion, who advised him to refuse the Episcopacy, alleging that his character and constitution were such as would cause him to sink under its burdens in a very few years. In effect, the saintly Bishop died about three years after his consecration. From 1829 to 1835, the priests of the congregation of the missions continued to labor and make the sacrifices which had marked their early career. Several priests fell victims to their zeal. Mr. Cellini, Mr. Borgna, Mr. Eosti, Mr. Pernoli, and others, were engaged separately in different missions in Louisiana. Mr. Dahmen was laboring with great zeal at St. Genevieve, and the adjacent country. At the Barrens, the college suflbred much from sickness. Many of the pupils neglected to pay their bills ; that of one family, amounting to six thousand francs, was never paid. Several other bills, still unpaid, approached nearly to that amount. Debts against the seminary began to accumulate. The house was still in an unfinished state ; the building of the new church had been stopped after the saintly death of brother Oliva, who, fortunately, had finished the stone work of the building before he had been called away. On every side circumstances conspired to cast a gloom over the prospects of the mission. Protestant ministers again began to preach in the vicinity of the seminary. One of the missionaries (Father Timon,) was sent to meet a minister at the court house at Perryville, Mo. ; there the minister endeavored to rally his logic and theology in defence of his religious opinions, but to no purpose. He was put to shame, and forced to avow himself vanquished ; but he intimated that on a certain day, at a place the distance of six leagues from there, his Bishop and several of his brother ministers would assemble for a general conference and prayer meeting, and that if the priest wished to go there he would meet his match, and have the error of his ways pointed out to him. Father Timon asked him if he meant what he said as a challenge. 52 LIFE AND TIMES OF "JS"o," said the minister, "I don't invite you; I only say that you may go there if you choose." This, of course, under the cir- cumstances of the case. Father Timon refused to promise. He soon publicly declared that he would not go, and that he would not have been there (Perrysville) then, if it had not been for the calumnies and public insulting attacks of the baffled Protestant minister. In the meantime, for the distance of four or five leagues around the seminary, the minister, counting on impunity, spread the report that the Catholic priest had pledged himself to meet the ministers in the intended public discussion. By accident, however, the night preceding the day appointed for the conference, Father Timon heard of this artifice, and accordingly early next morning, he saddled his horse, and hastily rode to the scene of action, where his maligners hoped to gain a bloodless victory. Here he found the crowd to be very large, and in order to be able to accommodate all, the church had been abandoned, and benches hastily constructed under the shade of the trees of a neighboring wood. Just as Father Timon had reached the ground, a minister was finishing his last prayer. In the meantime, some of the bystanders whispered into the ear of Father Timon that one of the ministers had been endeavoring to show the folly of the "Eeal Presence," and the wickedness of " Transubstantiation." He had said, also, that there was "a Rom- ish priest" present who, "if he dared to come forward, would have the error of his ways pointed out to him," and, said the informant, " we all thought he spoke of you." When the minister had finally concluded his prayer, Father Timon, mounting the stump of a tree, in a loud tone of voice announced that he would, in a quarter of an hour, preach on the B.eal Presence and Transubstantiation. Six preachers immedi- ately surrounded him with violent gestures, as if they intended to strike him, declaring that he would not or should not preach in that place. But Father Timon, nothing daunted, appealed to the people, and to their credit be it said, they resolutely consented to hear him. EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 53 Father Timon first showed the unworthy trick that had been attempted to be practiced at the expense of his name, but which by Grod's Providence he had been enabled to defeat. He then took a Protestant Bible from the hands of one of the ministers, and read fourteen texts from it, and explained them. He showed the meaning of Transubstantiation, by its entering in a slow yet real manner into the economy of God for the growth and existence of all that lives. He continued at some further length, advanc- ing undeniable proofs of his thesis, and appealed to either of the six ministers present, or tlieir Bishop, to produce a single text from the Bible that would disprove his argument, and that would be as strong and conclusive as anv one of the fourteen he had advanced. In their turn the opposing ministers rose to respond, not, how- ever, confining themselves to the subject in question, and quoting the texts called for ; but, as invariably is the case with many, by showing that Catholics worshiped the Virgin Mary and adored images. This was the sum and substance of their remarks. When the ministers had finished their argument. Father Timon again arose, and turning to the attentive crowd, asked if they could believe that the God of truth would, on so important a sub- ject, leave fourteen texts in the Bible to say clearly and strongly a damnable falsehood, and yet without a single one to say plainly tlie truth. For half an hour he continued to review the subject, supporting his position from the Bible, from writings of men who have handed down their testimonies, age after agf, on the doctrine of Transubstantiation, and by appealing to the standard of intelli- gence with which man then was Wont to accept the truth, if consistently presented. His ajjpeal was irresistible, for he won the sympathies of his audience, and won their minds as \veA\ as their hearts. Before such eloquence and logic the ministers could not stay, and in their confusion they left the grounds abashed and confounded. The indefatigable missionary continued to address the crowd, and to exhort them to profit by this evidence of truth, which 54 LIFE AND TIMES OF God in his mercy had vouchsafed to give them, and to return to the Church where alone truth in its holy fullness is taught. This splendid triumph of Father Timon had its desired eiFect. After this controversy the preachers, by degrees, avoided the neighborhood of the seminary. Little by little, the inhabitants renounced their prejudices and errors, and became Catholics. The recital of the missionary adventures which thus far have been the principal points of interest in this biography, is nothing more or less than the history of Father Timon, and curious or strange as they may appear to the reader, still no better indices could be given to point out as clearly the true character of the distinguished missionary and prelate. To enter into an analysis of his character, his disposition and his religious opinions, would form a subject of elaborate length. This we will avoid as far as it will be possible, preferring to reserve for the closing chapter of this book, a careful analysis of his character and spirit. In 1831, Father Timon, returning late one evening from Cape Girardeau to the Barrens, was told that a man was under sen- tence of death for murder, and would be hung the following day. Thus far he had refused all spiritual aid and succor. Father Timon immediately went to the dungeon of the hardened cripii- nal to see him, and by his zeal and interest in the poor man's fate, gradually softened his heart before the truth. He ordered the liquor, which had been allowed him, to be removed, and besides exacting a promise from the prisoner not to drink any more, stationed friends near the prison door, to prevent any access on his part to the fatal draught. Early in the morning, the prisoner ate a good breakfast, and recommenced his instruc- tion. About ten o'clock A. M., the culprit was baptized, his tears during the ceremony proving how deeply his heart had been touched. In a few hours afterwards the condemned man was launched into eternity. A number of zealous and talented priests had in the interim joined the congregation, and made their vows, eminent among whom were Mr. Boullier, Mr. Paquin, Mr. Vergani and others, who, alas, for the perpetuation and progress of the Church EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 55 militant, have already passed to their reward. Others still labor zealously in the different missions. In September 1833, Mr. Odin, who had labored so much, and who was generally so venerated and beloved, started for France. CHAPTEE VI. Father Timon named Visitoe.— His Refusal.— Disooukagino Oirodmstanoes.— His Humility. — He Accepts. — Convocation of Priests. — Remonstrance against the Suppression of the College. — Debts, Mortgage, and Discontented Feelings PREVAIL —Improvements made.— Father Timon goes to New Orleans, La.— Goes TO Cape Girardeau.- Returns to the Barrens.— Father Timon and the Bishop OF St. Louis.— The Visitor goes to Paris, France.- His Arrival there.- Results. —His Return.— Nearly Loses a large Sum of Money.— Reaches the Barrens IN Safety. The age of the venerated Mr. Tornatori not permitting him to learn English, it was decreed at a general assembly of the con- gregation, held at Paris, at which Mr. Odin assisted, that Father Timon should be made Visitor, thus, for the first time, establishing the American mission into a province. Whilst the decrees appointing Father Timon were on their way to the Barrens, Mr. Tornatori and Timon were traveling together to view the state of the mission and property at Cape Girardeau. On the 16th of November, 1835, they returned to the seminary, and on their arrival, letters were handed to them, appointing Father Timon as Visitor of the congregation of missions, and ordaining the sup- pression of the college, and the expulsion of one of the priests, besides requiring as a condition, sine qua non, that the Bishop should pay six hundred francs annually for each seminarian. Father Timon at first determined on refusing to accept the oftice of Visiter, as he foresaw difficulties of every kind in the way, and, in his humility, thought he was not capable of undertaking such a charge, particularly under the circumstances. He there- fore requested Father Tornatori to keep the contents of the letters secret, at least untU a meeting of the priests of the mission could LIFE AND TIMES OF be convened. To this proposition, however, Father Tornatori would not acquiesce, but assembled the entire community, and informed them of the change that had been made. Although the announcement ot this news was entirely satisfactory, still Father Timon persisted in refusing to accept the position. He accordingly paid a visit to St. Genevieve to see his friends, Mr. Dahmen and Borgna, and to the " Old Mines," to confer with his confrere, Mr. BouUier. Even these united to condemn his un- willingness to don the robe of office, and finally, in obedience to the unanimous wish of the community and friends, he bowed his humble head, and accepted to discharge the obligations for which he felt himself incapacitated. His first step was to convoke a meeting of the priests, who unanimously requested the new Visitor to suspend all action on the college until the Superior General had^ been informed of the almost impossi- bility of its suppression then, as well as the apparent or real necessity of continuing the coUege for years, perhaps for time to come. Father Odin, who had returned from France, was one of the most firm in protesting against the suppression of the college. Letters breathing this spirit on ' the subject were written to Paris, and consultations held, at which it was found that the congregation owed about sixty thousand francs, whilst it possessed nothing excepting the newly acquired property at the Cape. Even this estate was mortgaged for the purchase money. Great and general discontent at the unfavorable state of things prevailed to a greater or less degree in the commu- nity. Mr. Kaho had left for Louisiana, without asking for permission, whilst Mr. Eosti and others already there were unwilling to return. The prospects indeed were gloomy before the new Visitor. No wonder, then, that it was with feelings of reluctance, owing to a diffidence in his own ability, that Father Timon hesitated to comply with the wishes of his Superior and the community. But when he once had accepted, it was no longer for him a subject of regret. He applied himself zealously and diligently to the work before him. He dissipated, by the native resources of EIGHT EET. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 57 his intellect and energy of purpose, the gradual discontent that had been gathering, like a cloud on the horizon, amcing the mem- bers of the community. He traveled far and wide, infusing into others the spirit of sacrifice and piety that animated him ; rescued the college from annihilation, lessened the burdens of debt and expense ; brought new hands into the vineyard of the Lord, to labor and improve ; and proved by his zeal, his piety, and above all, by his charity, that he had been the chosen of God, and had been called to his true vocation for the time being. Finally, after nearly two months' labor at and around the Barrens, Visitor Timon went to New Orleans. Here God blessed his efforts, for he succeeded in inducing Mr. Raho, Mr. Eosti, and others, to return to community life at the Barrens. In the meantime, letters from the Superior General had been received, permitting the college to continue. Gradually this institution, over which the unexecuted sentence of suppression had so long hung sus- pended, was relieved from its dilemma, and lost its character for sickliness, which a few years of epidemic and several deaths had acquired for it. Payments became more regular, and the mort- gages on the old property were consequently paid, whilst new property, since very valuable, was acquired in the city of St Louis. Whilst Visitor Timon was at New Orleans, hovrever, preparing for his return to the Barrens, an interesting incident occurred, that will be worth the while relating. He was called upon by a Rev. Mr. Kendalon, to aid in converting a young man, connected with one of the first families of the city, who was under sentence of death for murder. This young man was to be executed in ten days, and thus far had refused to see any clergyman of the different denominations in the city. Much to the surprise of many, however, he at once consented to admit Father Timon and Kendalon, who found him to be a highly educated young man, and who -listened with eager avidity to all that his reverend fiiends had to impart. Each day the priests continued, one after the other, to instruct and prepare liim. Finally he consented to be baptized, and once, when both of his reverend friends were present together, he told the following history of his life : 58 LIFE AOT) TIMES OF " In my early youth, in company with several other Protestant hoys, I was sent to an excellent Catholic college. "Whilst there I made rapid progress in my studies, and soon became a general favorite among my college mates. On my part I venerated the Catholic priests, who were my teachers also, and very soon per- ceived in the conduct of the Catholic boys something which I judged to be an almost unearthly firmness in virtue, so that I began to wish I was a Catholic. My parents heard of this tendency of mine, and being very much prejudiced against the Catholic religion, immediately removed me from the college. I was next placed under the care of a Baptist minister, who became my tutor and teacher. But what I learned from him, and what I observed in his house, only served to make me an infidel. At times the bright dream of my youth in that Catholic college would rise before me, and for the moment check the reckless life that I had commenced to lead. As soon, however, as the memory of that vision would leave me, I again plunged more deeply into my former wild habits until, at last, I soon succeeded in checking its too frequent return. Oh! how vividly the recollection of those hours I spent under the roof of that Catholic institution, once more passes in bright review before me, which, alas, by* contrast with the life that I have since led, seems like a dream of happiness I shall never more realize. " I lost all restraint over my passions ; I followed one career of crime to another; I could do any thing, so blunted and indif- ferent had my sense of modesty and conscience become, until, finally, I now find myself here in this dungeon, a victim for the scafibld. Now, must / expiate by a shameful death the bigotry that tore me from the influence of the onl-y religion that could have restrained my passions, and have saved me.'' Here the prisoner ceased speaking, overcome by the violence of his grief and emotions, and bursting into tears, he buried his head between the palms of his hands, and gave way to his sorrowful feelings. In the meantime the priests liad determined on the day before his execution for his baptism, and for administering the holy EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 59 Sacrament of the Altar. But a few days prior to the one on which he was to have been baptized, some of his friends called on him, and said : " Our efforts have been useless. The Governor refuses a pardon, and the alternative for you is death. Here," they con- tinued, " is a weapon. Take it, and with it save your family the disgrace of having one of their number hung." The culprit, however, answered: "A few days ago, had you called on me, I might have accepted the remedy you propose, but lately I have seen a Catholic priest, who has given me quite different views of duty and of the life beyond the grave. I therefore cannot now, consistently with my deep conviction of what is right and proper, lay hands on my own life." This conversation, and tlie determination of the prisoner to continue in the change of life he had begun, were soon noised through the city, and all rejoiced in the evidence of a sincere conversion. But on the morning of the day fixed for baptism, both priests were with the prisoner in his cell. The poor man seemed in the best of dispositions. About 11 o'clock, the jailor came to request the priests to withdraw, as the mother and sisters of the prisoner wished to take their last farewell of their son and brother. Father Timon and Kendalon, of course, retired, and went to the Epis- copal residence, at that time only a short distance from the jail. They had been gone perhaps an hour, when they noticed, from the windows of the room in which they were, a great commotion in the street below. Father Timon hurriedly went out to ascer- tain the cause, and to his great sorrow was told that the prisoner had killed himself. He liastened to the prison, and although access was forbidden to the crowd, the jailor readily admitted him within the prison door. Here, he found in the cell the body of the young man, still warm but lifeless. The jailor averred that, prior to the arrival of his relatives, the young man had had no weapon about him, as he had been carefully searched when they first placed him in the jail. But at his side was found a costly dagger, with which the sad deed had been committed. All 60 LIFE AND TIMES OF surmised, liowever, when and by whom the dagger had been given ; the sad circumstance forming another sad chapter on the consequence of anti-Catholic bigotry. On the 24th of March, 1836, Visitor Timon returned to the Barrens, and on the 9th of April tbllowing, started with Rev. Mr. Odin, Robert, and servants, to begin a permanent establish- ment at Cape Girardeau. Heavy rains, however, had made the creeks so high as to render swimming necessary. It was attended Avith much ditiiculty. Visitor Timon, on horseback, swam the river, examined for a more fordable place, then recrossed and Drought over Mr. Odin and the rest of the comi:)any. Then all had to remain over night at Jackson, ten leagues trom the semi- nary. Early in the morning. Visitor Timon started to say mass, according to appointment, at Cape Girardeau. The others, who were much fatigued, remained at Jackson to take breakfast. They reached the Cape, however, twelve miles distant, at 11 A. M., just as Father Timon was saying mass. After mass, Visitor Timon introduced Mr. Odin to the congregation, as their future pastor, and alluded, as far as the well-known humility of Mr. Odin permitted, to the virtues, learning and zeal of the pas- tor whom God then gave them, and to the great services he had - already rendered to religion, with the hope that Providence prepared for Cape Girardeau, through him, still greater blessings. After this, Vi-^itor Timon returned to the Barrens. On Sun- day, April 17th, he preached on the zeal for building God's Temple, and took his text from I Parali. xxixth chapter, and read of the zeal with which, in olden time, God's people had con- tributed towards building a Temple to the Lord. He exhorted his audience to come forward and contribute generously, so that their new church, beautiful even in its unfinished state, might be prepared more decently for celebrating Divine worship. To their credit be it said, the congregation replied liberally to his appeal; a large collection was made, and more money promised. Under such encouragement, thf work of finishing the church soon began. BIGHT EBV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 61 Although Visitor Timon had a special affection and venera- tion for the Eishop of St. Louis, and although the Bishojj also esteemed the Visitor much, still there transpired some painful and trying scenes between the two, on account of an order which the Bishop tried to execute, to restore to community life priests who were then living apart as mere parish priests. A large and painfid correspondence was kept np regarding Rev. Mr. Douter- loTinge, then stationed at Cahokias, near St. Louis. It required some years to enable the Visitor to effect an understanding and final settlement. On the 11th May, 1836, the Bishop of St. Louis wrote to the Visitor to remonstrate again against the depart- ure of Mr. Douterlounge from the parish of Cahokias. The letter said : "I must observe to you to do every thing seotmdum m'dinem; hence, with regard to the parishes, or missions entrusted to the priests of the congregation of the missions, the Superior has not only to make choice of the subject of the congregation of the mis- sions, who is to perform the functions of pastor of the parish or mission, but he must apprise the Bishop of it, and propose to him the successor. However, when no change is made, the mission- ary may leave his parish for a time, for instance to go and make his retreat, and the Superior may send in his place some priest to attend to the congregation during his temporary absence. This being v?ell understood and exactly observed, there will be no occasion for any misunderstanding." Against some details of the above rule, however, the Visitor . felt himself impelled to protest, and consequently refused several parishes, which the good Bishop pressed him to accept. Finally, he did consent to take a few of them under a rule which left him more free to act. Visitor Timon continued to develop the mis- sions on every hand, and make such improvements in his undertakings that were necessary, among other things raising and completing the columns required for the gallery of the new chm-ch and house at the Barrens, thereby making them more comfortable, and giving them a much better appearance. 62 LIFE AND TIMES OF At this time, too, several seminarians were raised to the tonsure, subdeacon, and deaconship by the Et. Kev. Bishop Rosatti, who had been invited to the seminary for the j^urpose. In the meantime, the Visitor deemed it necessary to pay a visit to the mother house at Paris, and therefore, with the advice of his brother priests of the mission, he started for Europe. On his way from the Barrens to Baltimore, he made the acquaint- ance of several persons, afterwards valuable to the congregation. At Baltimore, Md., Archbishop Eccleson oifered him the Col- lege of Emmittsburg, Mount St. Mary, and the care of the Sisters of Charity in America. Without, however, accepting this oiier, the Visitor promised to present this request to the Superior General at Paris for consideration, but which subsequently was not accepted. On his way to New York, he stopped at Philadel- phia, where he was requested by the Eev. Eich. P. Kenrick, now Archbishop of St. Louis, to give a retreat to the seminarians, which he did, and then started for the city of New York, whence he sailed for France on the 24th August, 1837. Nothing of special mention transpired during the voyage, excepting that he edified all on board by his engaging manner and his pious deportment, and after a favorable voyage of twenty-three days, reached the mother house in Paris, on the 16th September, 1837, where he was received most kindly by Mr. Aladel, Superior General, and where, before the blessed Sacrament and the sacred shrine of SL Vincent, the missionary, a native of the New World, poured out • his heart in indescribable feelings of gratitude and oblation. This visit to Paris by the Visitor, proved to be of great benefit to the congregation. The Superior General allowed ten thousand francs to the congregation, to aid in paying off the debt on the seminary. Several indefatigable and zealous priests accompanied the Visitor on his return to America, among wliom were Eev. Mr. Armangal, Alabou, Domenec, Brotlier Sticca, and other brotliers. They sailed from Havre, France, in the ship Georgia, for New Orleans, on the 15th October, 1837, thereby rendering the stay of the Visitor at Pai-is, comparatively speaking, not very long. The voyage was a long and stormy one, but not EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 63 altogether useless, nor witliout consolation. The missionaries busied themselves on board the ship in a variety of useful ways. Yisitor Timon, who was the' centre of the zeal and devotion, was a continual pattern for all. In a part of the ship occupied by them they built an altar, on which, when the sea was calm, the holy sacrifice of the mass was said. Each morn- ing they made their meditations together, as well as the exercises of the community, nearly as regular as if they had been in a convent. Besides these pious practices, the Yisitor busied himself in giving lessons in the English language to the Spanish priests, who were accompanying him to the New World. At length, after a long and tedious voyage, they reached New Orleans in safety, late in the month of Decem- ber, having been nearly ten weeks on their voyage from France to America. Prior to leaving France, religious charitable communities, through the Superior Greneral, had requested Visitor Timon to invest about two hundred thousand francs in stock of the United States Bank. Accordingly, from Paris the Visitor sent a portion of this money to a trusty friend in the city of New York, whose acquaintance he had formed on his outward voy- age. The balance of the entrusted sum the Yisitor took with him in letters of credit. Consequently, when he arrived in New Orleans, he applied to a very rich and intelligent friend to invest this fund he had with him in United States Bank stock, which, at this time, was selling at twenty per cent, above par. In the most confidential earnestness, the friend thus applied to besought the Visitor not to take this stock, as the bank was rotten. In a frame of mind not quite decided what to do, the Visitor, for the present, deferred any further action in the matter, but hastened to the city of St. Louis, anxious to return to his beloved retreat at the Barrens, and to meet with his dear priests and friends. On his arrival in St. Louis, he found there several letters, among which was one from his friend in New York, to whom he had sent ten thousand francs to be invested in United States stock. In the letter the kind friend advised him LIFE AND 'i'lMEB OF that lie would invest as directed, if again commandea to ao so, but, at the same time, he requested the Visitor not to touch the stock of this bank; for, although its credit was very high, and the stock above par, still the "knowing ones" considered it danger- ous. Accordingly, acting under the precautions of his friends, he determined to abandon the idea of risking his means to the care of the United States Bank, although the appearances were so very attractive and apparently lucrative. He, therefore, invested all his funds in the State Bank of Missouri, of whose solvency he had the surest guarantees. In less than a year afterwards, the Visitor had occasion to thank the foresight and precautionary judgment of his friends, for the United States Bank failed ; its stock became worth nothing, and has remained so ever since. The failure of this bank entailed ruin on almost all the banks of the Union. All suspended specie payment, except the State Bank of Missouri, although, indeed, for a few years it would declare no dividend, in order that it might keep itself strong amidst the frightful crisis of 1837. Afterwards, however, - it gave very large dividends, and thus all the invested funds of the religious charitable societies which, through the Visitor, had been entrusted to this bank, were saved, and brought good revenue. On his arrival in New Orleans, the Visitor had placed his little colony of missionaries in the houses of different clergymen, and, at the request of Bishop Blanc, gave a retreat to the Sisters of Charity in New Orleans, as well as retreats to other religious insti- tutions, until the Mississippi river would be free of ice and become navigable. During this time, the Bishop of New Orleans offered his seminary to the Lazarists, which the Visitor accepted, subject to the approbation of the mother house at Paris. The Bishop likewise pressed the Visitor to accept of Donaldsonville as an almost necessary port of entry. The latter did so, ad tcmjim, but subject also to the will of the Superior General. Finally, when navigation had opened. Visitor Timon embarked with his little colony of missionaries, and on the 10th of February, 1838, reached the seminary of the Barrens in safety. It may be EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 65 well imagined that great were the rejoicings of the community for the help vouchsafed, and for the evidences of interest which the mother house took in that distant infant province. Indeed, the personnel of the congregation was greatly augmented by the security which the Visitor had obtained. From Paris, Italy, and Spain came the disciples of Christ, among whom were Mr. Domenec, Alabou, Pasqual, Amat, Cercox, Calvo, Estany, Bur- lando, D'Marchi, Bagliloli, Gustiniani, Parodi, and several lay brothers. Some were called in a few years to their eternal reward, others were sent to Mexico or recalled to Europe, whilst the rest still remain, laboring most zealously in the holy ministry. CHAPTEK Vn. IMPEOVEMENTS IN THE MlSSIOS.— THE ViSITOE GOES TO TEXAS A3 AH EnTOT OP EOME. — Meets Friends in Galveston. — Goes to Houston.— Opens a Mission. — Eesults. — Poor O'Brien. — Scandalous Conduct of two Mexican Priests.— Visitor returns TO New Orleans. — His Eeport. — Arrives at Natchez, Miss. — Reads Mass in Mrs. Girardeau's House.— Preaches in the City Hall.— Enthusiasm.— Goes to St. Louis. — Religious Zeal. — Proposed for an Episcopal See. — Declines. — Refuses TO Administrate the St. Louis Diocese. — Further Developments. In March, 1838, the Yisitor contracted with Messrs. Fiena and Taylor, for finishing the towers of the church at the Barrens, they indemnifying him in work for neglects in a previous con- tract, effected during his absence in Europe. The college was now in a prosperous condition, the number of pupils having been augmented by recruits from Louisiana. The missions also took a new impulse. In the new church, which had so far been finished as to permit the celebration of Divine worship, Mr. Burlando played the organ, whilst the other reverend gentlemen sang the Gregorian Chant in the choir. The church was always crowded, as well by Protestants as by Catholics, anxious to listen to a kind of music which until then had never roached their ears. In con- sequence of all this, conversions became more frequent. Early in December of 1838, Bishop Eosatti oifered the missions of Peru (5) LIFE AND TIMES OF to the Visitor, w'hicli the latter referred to his council. On the .12th December, 1838, the Yisitor with Mr. Armangol, BouUier, Amat, Tiernan, Gnstiniaui, and two lay brothers, met Bishop Blanc at the Church of the Assumption, and began the intended new seminary. The Visitor wrote for a patent, and knowing the disposition of Mr. Armangol, he also requested that certain restrictions should be imposed on him as the new Superior. The advice, however, was not followed. He also established Mr. BouUier, Superior of the Church of the Ascension in Donaldson- ville. In the month of June, 1838, Bishop Blanc had written to Bishop Bosatti and to Visitor Timon, relating the sad condition of Texas, and stating that it was the wish of the Holy See that a trusty person should be sent there to examine into the condition of religion in that country, then independent, and to report to Home. This duty the Bishop of !tfew Orleans wished the Visitor to undertake, which, by the advice and wish of Bishop Bosatti, he consented to perform. Accordingly, on the 24th December, 1838, accompanied by Mr. L'Eberia, the Visitor set sail for Gal- veston, Texas. Here the missionaries expected to meet vrith none but strangers, yet, by a providence of God, almost the jBrst man the Visitor met at Galveston, was Col. Michael Menard, a man distinguished in that part of the country, and who had been one of the convention for forming the State constitution. Other faces, some of them formerly pupils at the Barrens, soon made the missionaries quite at home in Galveston. On the feast of the Holy Innocents, the Visitor said what was considered there the first mass ever said in that place. During the few days' sojourn, waiting for the steamer. Visitor Timon preached often, baptized several, heard many confessions, and ratified several marriages. On the 31st December, the missionaries started in the steamer Eufus Putnam to ascend the river up to Houston, then the seat of government. There, too, the Visitor had the consolation of meeting some senators and membera of Congress, whose acquain- tance he had made on his extensive missions. He preached in the hall of Congress, senators and representatives being present. EIGHT BEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 67 He also rented a convenient room, put up an altar in it, and held regular service. Many came to confession and communion. It would indeed be difficult to estimate the sad and dangerous con- dition of a Catholic at that time in Texas. The following reminiscences, from the pen of the Bishop, will reveal a state of things altogether deplorable, but which was the result of his investigating missionary visit to Texas. For instance, the Visitor was one day passing along in the suburbs of the city, making inquiries and taking notes of the condition of the people, with regard to their spiritual wants. It was a chilly, drizzly, day, and as he walked along, he found lying upon the ground a poor Irishman, named O'Brien, very sick, but by no means intoxicated or in liquor. The Visitor got a few men to assist him in lifting up the sufferer, and bringing him to the nearest house. Whilst there and striving to relieve him, the priest revealed his sacred character. Words can hardly express the joy that beamed from the countenance of the poor, unfortu- nate man. He immediately forgot all his sorrows and sujBFerings, in the thought that he, a dying man, who believed himself to have been hundreds of miles from a priest of God, had one then standing by his side, prepared and ready to aid and console him. With joy he, therefore, made his confession, and really, the emo- tions and sentiments with which he received the blessed sacrament of the Altar and the holy Viaticum, were very touching. Hear- ing that there was a kind of hospital in the place, Father Timou engaged some persons to bring the sick man thither, and in a few hours followed after, to aid still more the penitent on the long journey he was about to take. The missionary found the hos- pital to consist of a log hut, through the crevices and openings of which a chill wind was blowing upon ten or twelve sick persons, whose straw beds rested on the clay floor. In the middle of the hut there was a hole in the clay floor, in which a flre had been made, and over the fire hung a pot of boiling soup. There being no chimney or stove-pipe, the smoke found its way out through the crevices or openings, according to its whim or the caprice of the wind. In the meantime, whilst the priest was urging the 68 LIFE AND TIMES OF keeper of the hospital to take some jjrecaution to keep the wind from the sick and dying, and whilst he was giving him some aid to do so, the poor sick man, O'Brien, in his agony, groaned much and painfully. The keeper hallooed to him several times to " be silent. " Alas ! poor man, he could not be silent ; death had already seized him. Then the keeper, in his anger, stepped up to the dying O'Brien, shook his fist in the latter's face, and said: "If you don't be silent, I'll make you," &c. Here Father Timon rushed forward to intercede for the poor man, and save him from the threats of the infuriated keeper, but when he had drawn near, poor O'Brien had just breathed his last, and was no more. " No timely tand was liere to save ; In death he calmly sleeps ; Let Charity the stone engrave, As Pity turns and Tveeps." From senators and men of extensive information, the Visitor got full details of the most scandalous lives led by the only priests then in Texas. They were two priests from Mexico, living at San Antonio de Bexar, in the West of Texas. Both publicly cohabited with women whom they themselves called their wives, and the children by such cohabitation these wretched men acknowledged to be their own. They said mass daily because they were supported by the people, and derived their support by it. But they gave no instructions, heard no confessions, and taught no catechism. The poor Mexicans were willing to die for their religion, yet they hardly knew what their religion was ; how could they? Their fixith seemed rather a Di^'ine instinct that grew from their baptism, than a faith of knowledge. Such was a part of the condition of Texas at that time, suffi- cient, at least, to show the utter destitution of spiritual comfort, and the low degradation in which the people lived, but for whom God in his mercy was about to provide, and properly elevate to the true standard of enlightened christians. On the 9th of Jan- nary, 1839, the Visitor returned to Galveston. Before leaving EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 69 this place on his tour through the State, he had ajjpointed a com- mittee to see about getting a lot for a church. On his return, these gentlemen met him, and showed him that there would be every facility for raising money to pay for a lot and build a church, if a priest could be sent to take charge of it. Hdlding this answer under consideration, the Visitor, on the 12th of January, returned to New Orleans, and made an official report of his investigations in the State of Texas, to Bishop Blanc, who sent it on^to Rome. The Visitor delayed several days in New Orleans, on various business, among other things preaching at a retreat for a reli- gious community, during the duration of which, at the urgent request of Bishop Blanc, he accej^ted an invitation to establish a mission at Natchez, Miss., on his way liome to the Barrens. On his way thither he stopped at the new Seminary of the Assump- tion, where he found the affairs of the seminary in such a disordered and extravagant state, that he censured the Superior, Mr. Armangol, who, it will be remembered, was reluctantly appointed for that position by the Visitor, cm' account of the mis- givings the latter had of Mr. Armangol's administrative qualities. He, however, set the matter aright there as well as at Donald- sonviUe, where he also delayed on his way up the river, and, after an uninterrupted journey of a few daj's, arrived in Natchez, on the 25th of January, 1839. At this place, it was but a renewal of the zeal and missionary devotion, which he had exhibited on other occasions and in' other l^laces. The usual difficulty occurred of obtaining a proper and fit place in which to celebrate the sacrifice of the holy mass. But Providence, ever ready to assist the indefatigable labor of this zealous Lazarist, soon enabled him to obtain a plare for Divine worship ; and at length, under the roof of an old lady, the good and p)ious Mrs. Girardeau, who ofifered the missionary a large room in her house, an altar was erected, mass celebrated on it, and a mission started that was productive of great benefit to that poor community. By invitation, also, lie preached ser- mons of controversy in the City Hall of Natchez, that redounded 70 LIFE AND TIMES OF greatly to the glory and honor of God. Many marriages were adjusted, and numbers flocked to their duties in holy confession and communion. Besides all this good accomplished, the people of the place submitted to the Visitor plans for building a church in Gothic style, so enthusiastic were they for establishing in the beginning a proper edifice in which to celebrate the mysteries of their holy faith. The Visitor, however, recommended them not to begin so extravagantly at first, as by so doing they might incur debts which afterwards would prove to be a burden, rather than a pleasure to them. He, therefore, advised them to begin a plain, large, but substantial building, which, (as soon as circumstances would admit of building ,a handsome church,) might serve for other uses. The Visitor then left them apparently determined to follow his advice. But, alas, like all human hopes, it was not regarded as faithfully as promised, and years afterwards, the first Bishop named for that place had reason to regret that it had not been followed. On his return to Missouri the Visitor, having received instruc- tions to invest other funds in proper stock, went to St. Louis for this purpose. Here, at the request of the good Bishop Rosatti, he gave a retreat or mission to the people, which lasted two weeks, and during which time he also conducted a special retreat of eight days for the Sisters of Charity. , Measures were likewise taken for a mission to La Salle, where Mr. Raho had been appoiuted Superior. After this laborious work in the cause of religion, the Visitor proceeded to Kaskaskias, where he commenced another mission for the people of that place, and one also tor the Sisters of Visitation, then established there. During the mission, by spe- cial request of influential Protestants, he gave lectures at night, in the Court House, on Catholic doctrines, through which sev- eral were converted to the faith ; many fervent communions also were the fruits of this mission. On the 5th of May, 1839, Bishop Eosatti laid the corner stone of a church, under the title of the "Most Holy Trinity," to be EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 71 the church of the seminary at St. Louis, under charge of the Lazarists, whom, it seems, he was determined to bring to that place. Visitor Timon preached the dedication sermon. The Tisitor continued in the exercise of this good labor until June following, when, on the eleventh of this month, it was announced by letters received from Mr. Etienne, Superior Gen- eral of the Lazarist order in Paris, that Visitor Timon and Mons. Odin had been proposed at Eome for Episcopal Sees. This news was very embarrassing to the wishes and humility of both these reverend gentlemen, and caused them great uneasiness. On the 30th of August following, the Visitor sent Mr. Estany and Escoffier to the mission of La Salle. In the meantime. Bishop Kosatti, on the 7th September fol- lowing, paid a visit to the Barrens, and handed the Visitor a papal bull, constituting the latter Bishop of Venesi, and Coadjutor of St Louis, vsdth the right of succession. But the zealous Laza- rist would not accept of these honors, painful to his christian feelings, and returned them next day to Rome with his refusal, preferring to remain in the position he then held ; and, in order to console Bishop Rosatti, who seemed very sad at the result, he pointed out the Rev, Rich. Kenrick, as one eminently quali- fied for the position. Bishop Rosatti, satisfied that he could not change the resolution of Mr. Timon, immediately wrote to Rome to have Mr. Kenrick appointed, which was accordingly done. The Visitor, likewise, respectfully refused to assume the duties of administration of the diocese during the impending absence of Bishop Rosatti, on business of importance for the Holy See. He feared that, by complying, he might indirectly come too near having a mitre placed upon his head without being aware of it. As his ambition was only to do all the good he could, and as his position then afforded a wide field for a display of christian charity, he was entirely content, until Providence manifestly ordered otherwise. Meanw hile the mission at the Cape had become very important, and a convent for Lorentine Sisters was established there. On the 21st July, 1839, Bishop Rosatti had consecrated a new stone 72 LIFE AITD TIMES OP church, under the title of St. Yiiicent. On the 6th of October, the Visitor, in company with the Lazarists stationed there, made a very successful mission at La Salle. On the 21st of October, the Visitor began a retreat at the seminary, for the members of the congregation- who were not too far away in the missions to prevent their attendance. At this retreat twenty priests, three students, and nine brothers of the congregation were present. On the 1st of November, 1839, he began another retreat for the parish at the Barrens. This retreat lasted two weeks, during which the Visitor and Mons. Odin preached in their turn. God greatly blessed this mission. CHAPTEE Vni. Mr. Tornatoei ^nd the Drawing Master. — Mission of Oaxichita. — Visitor Timok APPOINTED Prefect Apostolic of Texas. — Mons. Odin sent to Texas as ticb- Prefbgt. — The Two Mexican Priests Silenced. — Visitor with Bishop Flagec VISITS THE Missions. — Visitor quells a Parish Stripe. — New Church for Cairo. — Evils at Assumption. — Visitor goes to Texas. — Subscription foe a new Church. —Funeral Eites of Minister to Mexico.— Meets with General Henderson.- Preaches in the Capitol. — A Church for Houston. — Goes to Austin. — Dangerous Travel. — State of Texas. — Grand Keception by Judge Burnet. — First Mass in Austin. — Dines with the French Minister. — Table Talk. DuEiNG all this lapse of time, the internal affairs of the seminary and college prospered, and augured bright hopes for the future. A circumstance, however, occurred, that served by no means to interrupt the course of study, or impede the efforts of the teachers in the discharge of their duties, but which (leaving it to the inference of the unbiased reader to determine,) was a theme of conversation at the time ; and since it is found in the memoirs of the Bishop, it may not be improper to repeat it here : It seems some opposition was made by the truly pious and venerable Mr. Tornatorj, to what, in his estimation, were con- sidered innovations. For instance, from the very beginning the RIGHT KEV. JOHN TIHON, D. D. 73 new Visitor, who had great confidence in the theological know- ledge and unbending severity of Mr. Tornatori, had chosen the latter for his confessor. But on the 29th of January, when the "Visitor had called on him to make his weekly confession, Mr. Tornatori refused to hear him, alledging as a reason that Mr. Timon had introduced into the college a drawing master, (mail/re de dessinj and yet Mr. Tornatori considered " les arts d'' agreement pernideux." The Visitor of course referred the matter to his council, in which it was decided that"fes curts d'' agreement" music and drawing, should continue. The Visitor next turned his attention to the State of Louisiana, and whilst visiting some of the posts established there, com- menced a mission on the Oaiichita. Here he found a people, all descendants of Frenchmen, on a branch of the Oauchita river, who were even more abandoned, as to religious help, than those whom he had once found in Arkansas. The mission here was productive of much good ; all that was needed was a priest. During the continuance 6f this mission the Visitor, on the 26th of March, 1840, received Mr. Andrien in the novitiate. At this time there were many Lazarists in the community who could not yet speak English, and accordingly, with the advice of his council, the Visitor resolved to place several of them in missions where, in conjunction with the exercise of their ministerial func- tions, they could also have an opportunity to learn to speak the English language. Besides, the Bishop of St. Louis stood greatly in need of priests in his diocese, and in order to contribute to the holy zeal of this good prelate, he consented, on the 1st April, 18iO, to take, ad tern/pus, the church, house, and parish of Natch- itoches, on the Bed River, this place being at that time, on the land side, the key of Texas, which, by advice to the Visitor from Mr. Etienne, was to be assigned to the congregation of missions. On the 12th of April, the Visitor returned to the college at the Barrens, accompanied by a number of boys, sons of highly respectable families of Louisiana. On his arrival he found letters there, appointing him Prefect Apostolic of Texas, with power to administer confirmation. At first the honor seemed threatening 74: LEFE AND TIMES OF to his humility, but after consulting with his council, he accepted the appointment, and immediately despatched Mons. Odin to Texas, as Vice Prefect, and Mr. Douterlounge as an assistant. On his -way thither, Mons. Odin and his companion were mira- culously saved from a violent tornado, as he descended the Mississippi river. All joined to pray for their safety, which, in the providence of God, was realized, much to the joy of their friends. Before they left the Barrens the Visitor, as Prefect Apostolic, had entrusted to Mons. Odin a letter to the two priests at San Antonio, taking from them all faculties as priests, requiring them, under pain of suspension, to desist from the discharge of all ministerial functions. This letter had the good effect of checking the enormous scandal occasioned by these two men, of whom we have already written as having lived in concubinage with women, and who discharged no other duty than merely offering up the sacrifice of the mass. "But," pleaded these unhappy men, "at least, Mons. Odin, permit us to say mass, the honorwrium of which is the only support we have for our families." "I cannot," said Mons. Odin; "here are my orders. But I will do tor you whatever is in my power. Receive the masses which your friends offer you, keep the Jionorarium, and /will say, or have said, the masses for you." The generous and prudent offer of Mons. Odin was accepted for a period of about three months, Mons. Odin doing as he promised, until finally these unfortunate priests began to be ashamed of themselves and the example they afforded, and accordingly withdrew into Mexico. On the 22d June, 1840, Mr. Paquin was appointed Superior of the seminary by the Visitor, who assembled all the priests of the community, and urged upon them a cheerful obedience to their new Superior. He then briefly alluded to the state of the congregation at the time he had been appointed its Visitor, with- out house or funds ; no property except the Cape property, winch, besides being burdened with debt, was mortgaged for the EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 75 purchase money. Then he contrasted the condition of the com- munity a'ffairs, by showing the debts reduced, the mortgage liquidated, and more property, worth at least two hundred and fifty thousand francs, acquired. In the college, every department was well furnished with books and philosophical apparatus. Every one present seemed pleased at the happy contrast, and to echo the words, " To God the glory, to God the praise." On the 5th July, the Visitor began an interesting mission in the exten- sive hospital of the Sisters of Charity at the Barrens. It was a touching sight to note the fervor of those poor people, and to see the hime conducting the blind, who in turn supported their conductors, as they gave each other mutual help to reach the communion table. St. Genevieve had long been served by a priest of the con- gregation. It was now offered to the Visitor as a permanent mission, and as it would have been difficu.lt to abandon it, by the advice of his council, the Visitor accepted of it and the " Old Mines," and established there two regular houses. In August, 1840, the venerable Bishop Flaget sent for the Visitor, and both together paid a visit to the mother house of the Lorentine Nuns in Kentucky. Here he was delayed several days, revising the rules and regulations of that congregation. In the meantime, whilst giving retreats, making other missions, and visiting the newly established houses, he received reports from Texas of the prudent course pursued by Mons. Odin, and imme- diately wrote to Rome, to obtain for this most worthy and saintly deputy, the power of conferring the sacrament of confirmation. In the summer of 1840, Mons. de Forbin Janson visited the mission. He was much pleased with the seminary of the Barrens. He then went to Cape Girardeau, where he rejoiced at the great change effected there, and confirmed some of the late converts. Besides visiting St. Genevieve, the zealous Bishop of Nancy accompanied the Visitor to Kaskaskias, to calm the strife that grew out of a division of sentiment either for or against their priest. But the just and strong language of the good Bishop only served to increase the irritation. Circumstances boded ill^ 76 LIFE AND TIMES OF and remained in an unsettled condition. At length a happy thought induced some one to propose leaving the whole dispute with the Visitor, who had formerly been their missionary priest. This offer was accepted by all, and, through the blessing of God, peace was once more restored to the agitated community. From Cape Girardeau the missionaries had gone several times on a mission to Cairo, where a post had been established with vestments and other sacred things, necessary for the holy sacri- fice of the mass. But at this time, in the providence of God, the Visitor was so fortunate as to obtain from the Hon. E. K. Kane, and Col. P. Menard, through Mr. Holbrook, their agent, a lot for a Catholic church. Mr. Holbrook, at his own expense, commenced to build the church, which was a neat frame building. In the Autumn months following, the Visitor, in his visits to the various houses, found that at every point much good had been done. Occasionally, however, neglects rather in the temporal than in the spiritual order were apparent. Thus at the Cape he found horses, wagons, and other farming utensils, purchased at great expense, but which had been quite idle for several months, because there were no persons able to drive the wagons. These wagons could earn twenty francs per day by hauling wood from the farm, and as a first-class driver would cost less than five francs per day, the neglect to take advantage of this circumstance was certainly very reprehensible. This oversight as well as others was corrected. At Assumption the evil was of greater magnitude. Mr. Armangol, who in the presence of the Visitor was most obse- quious in his politeness, but who often, in the absence of the latter, went directly contrary to his advice, had built a new church and house, within a short distance of the church and seminary of the Assumption. Of course, this conduct occasioned disputes between two sections of the mission, that could not be healed except by a total separation, which the Visitor was obliged to make. Still the work of God was going bravely on, and the congregation increasing in numbers and in general estimation. laOHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 77 On the 1st December, 1840, the Visitor, with a missionary destined to aid Mons. Odin, started for Texas. They reached Galveston on the 5th December. Mons. Odin at this time was in Austin, then the seat of government. Again the Visitor experienced the same difficulty in getting a proper place for Divine worship. But against his zeal the impossibility of ob- taining a place suitable for mass could not stand. He succeeded, and as early as the 6th of December, said mass for a large audience, and preached at the Gospel. After vespers he began a subscription for building a church ; two thousand francs were at once subscribed. He also explained to the people the necessity of properly supporting their priest. This aU. promised to do. At this time a Mr. Treat, who once had been minister from Texas to Mexico, had died on his passage homewards, and his body was landed at the wharf just as the Visitor was about leaving for Houston. The Mayor called on Mr. Timon, and re- spectfully asked him to perform the funeral rites over the body of the deceased man. But he politely informed that gentleman that his Church forbade him to celebrate any but Catholic rites, and explained farther that she did not wish her rites to be forced upon Protestants, and perhaps that, even could he reanimate the corpse, Mr! Treat would repel as an insult the holy water he must necessarily sprinkle over the body. The .Mayor was satis- fied with this explanation. As the Visitor proceeded up the river to Houston, on board the steamer, he met with General Henderson, who had lately returned from Paris, whither he had been sent as ambassador from Texas. This gentleman, who had been present at the conversation between the Visitor and the Mayor of Galveston relative to Mr. Treat, introduced himself to the Visitor, and said that, though a Protestant, he highly ap- proved of the principle which induced the priest to refuse his ministry. Soon afterwards they landed at Houston, where the Visitor preached in the capitol, as he had done on a former occasion, and where he convoked an assembly of Catholics, for the purpose of taking means of building a church. 78 LIFE AND TIMEB OF For an enterprise of this nature, he found prompt and zealous friends in Mr. Neill and Donellan, who voluntarily made a dona- tion of the land on which to build the contemplated temple of worship. A committee was immediately appointed to solicit subscriptions for the new building, and leaving the good people to push forward the noble undertaking, the Tisitor started for the city of Austin, a distance of several hundred miles from Houston. His journey was somewhat hazardous, as he had to travel through a country then infested with Indians, and although, as a general rule, a missionary stands in high respect with an Indian, being familiar to them under the sobriquet of " Black Gown," still there are some who, as an exception to this rule, would not hesitate to harm even a missionary. But, ever watched over by the guiding hand of Providence, Visitor Timon bravely surmounted every difficulty, and finally, on the 9th of December, 1840, reached his place of destination (Austin,) in perfect safety. Texas at this time was a republic by itself, having gained its independence from Mexico in 1835. Mr. "Walker, of Mississippi, in the senate of the United States, introduced a proposition to recognize Texas as an independent nation on 5th December, of the same year. Accordingly, as an independent republic, under a few Presidents, she continued to exist until the time that Visitor Timon landed at Austin, Mr. Lamar was acting President. To this gentleman the Visitor brought letters from Cardinal Fran- sonicus, Cardinal of the Propaganda at Rome, which were also a virtual recognition of the independence of the Republic of Texas. As such they were hailed with joy. When the Visitor had arrived at Austin, the President had, on account of ill health, just started for the United States ; but, as the Prefect Apostolic had informed him in advance of his approaching visit, the Presi- dent had left a letter with the Vice President for Mons. Timon. Accordingly Judge Burnet, the Vice President, received the Visitor most courteously indeed, read to him the President's letter, and in turn requested him to translate what the Cardinal had written, since the letter was in the Latin language. Every EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 79 one in Austin combined to render the visit of the Prefect Apos- tolic very agreeable. Mr. De Salignes, the French Minister to the republic, was also very kind, and earnestly pressed the Visitor to become his guest. But the Visitor, ever mindful of his sacred calling, as soon as his public business had been completed, turned his first thoughts towards obtaining a suitable chapel in which to enable the few Catholics there to hear mass. As usual he had much difficulty in obtaining his wishes, but finally, on the 23d of December, 1840, succeeded, and with a heart overfiowing with gratitude to God, said the first mass ever celebrated in Austin. The next day Mons. Odin also said mass. In compliance with the kind invitation of the French Minister, both the Visitor and Mons. Odin visited his house, and took dinner there with him, the Vice President, Judge Burnet, and a few prominent members of the congress of the republic. The visit was a very interesting one. The conversation at table turned much on a sermon which the Visitor had preached the day pre- vious in the hall of the capitol, in their presence as weU as of other prominent men of the republic. In this discourse, which lasted two hours, the missionary had given a general view of the Body of Christ, and the faithful members of that living, mystic body. He had also explained the sacraments, showing how they are the veins, Divinely instituted, to bring a life Divine to every member of that vast and venerable body. The company at table were deeply interested in this subject, and so earnestly had the Vice President entered into it, that he exclaimed : " Why, if those are the real doctrines of the Catholic Church, I can easily subscribe to them." "Yes," continued a prominent senator, "the Catholic Church has been greatly calumniated. We have heard of this before ; but now we know it." 80 LIFE AND TIMES OF OHAPTEK IX. Petition to Ebstoee Chueoh Peopeett.— Visitor Timon Peeaches m the Sehate Chambee.— Public Complimentaet Dinnee.— Discussion.— Visitoe Timon explains. — MiSSIONAEY EXCUESIONS IN THE COLOEADO ElVEE.— OYSTEES.— EETUEN TO GALVES- TON. — First Conveet. — Difficult Teavel. — Good Results. — The Gospel in St. Augustine, Floeida. — The Visitor paets with Mons. Odin. — ARRnnps at New Orleans. — Bishopeics Refused.— The Visitor in Paeis. — His Retuen. — Incident on Boaed Ship. — Burial at Sea. — Arrival at New Oeleans. — ^Visitor Timon,— Changes. — Appointed Bishop of Buffalo, N. Y. In the meantime Mons. Odin had prepared a petition or bill which, in substance, was the restoration of church lands to the Catholic Church, of which it had been, at that time, to a great extent deprived on account of the troubles between Texas and Mexico. This petition, after having been duly read, was spon- taneously endorsed by the several prominent gentlemen present, all of whom declared that justice ought to be done to the Catholic Church. They even agreed to support the measure, as well as any other that tended to do justice in the matter. On the 27th, the Visitor again preached in the senate chamber, where a sub- scription was started for building a church. Among those particularly zealous in this step were Col. Porter and Col. Floyd. The following day the missionaries were once more invited to a public complimentary dinner, at which the acting President, Judge Burnet, as well as several leading senators and representa- tives, were present. At dinner the conversation became quite animated ; many topics were alluded to, particularly that of religion, out of regard to the character and presence of their guests, the Catholic missionaries. Col. Porter took occasion to renew the expression of his esteem for the Roman Catholic Church. This remark provoked a rejoinder on the part of the acting President, that the Mexicans had not been saved bv it, (the Catholic Church,) and in substantiation of his assertion, referred to the great degradation of the priests and people of that unhappily distracted country. EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 81 Visitor Timon, whose extensive information and profound learning were ever ready to defend the truth, chafed at this observation of the gentleman, for if he constnied it into an insult personal to himself and his reverend friend, he may not be blamed, owing to the source from whence it sprung, since Judge Burnet was a man of ability, of letters, much experience, and might have entertained other deductions on the subject ; on the contrary, with the dignity and self-possession so characteristic of the man, and whilst all were profoundly attentive, he recounted how the American hero and scholar, General Pike, in 1808, had traveled through Mexico, and although a Protestant, had given a glowing account of the high standing and holy life led by the priests of that country, of their blessed influence upon the people, as well as the general happiness and morality of the population. But civil war began in 1810. Its evil consequences were soon felt. After ten or twelve years of civil war, and even absolute anarchy, independence was declared. Demagogues banished all the bishops and priests. The poor people were left with very few pastors ; and to increase the evil, each Indian family that had received a farm from the Spanish government, whilst it was exempt from taxation, enjoyed only ^. perpetual use of their lands without the privilege of being able to sell them. After the inde- pendence, however, the possessor was permitted to sell. Speculators then prowled through the country. Almost every farm was bought for a mere nothing ; and, as soon as the legal robbery had been consummated, the Indians were driven from their homes, or forced to toil for a miserable pittance, in a worse condition than slaves, on lands once their own. Many were even driven to the liighest slopes of the mountains, near the line of the perennial snows. Here they could get no spiritual advice, and thus dispirited and broken-hearted, they soon became utterly demoralized, and sank far below the cheerful innocence and sound morality which, twenty years before, General Pike had so justly praised. Visitor Timon continued at some length in a strain of logic and eloquence that was really irresistible. He demonstrated that the (6) 82 LITB AND TIMES OF Church had been unjustly condemned for crimes and injustice, that owed their origin to other sources. It was very easy to raise a cahimny and niake its weight iind some minds or brani weak enough to support it, and thus, impressions once made upon such people became contaminating. The evil seed once sown begins to grow, and brings forth its fruit. It was only when an ejilight- ened community had tasted of the fruit, or seen its evil effects, that reason once more resumed its former sway, and made man reflect and, to the credit of many good men be it said, obliterated the injustice they otherwise would unwillingly have done. From Austin the Prefect, (Timon,) and vice-Prefect. (Odin,) started on the 31st of December, to visit Mr. Van Namme, then, stationed on the Colorado river. They reached him on the Ist Janiiary, 1841, where they said mass, and then continued their journey down along the west bank of the river, on a high bluff, four miles from the river, and about five hundred feet above the level of the sea, near the Gulf of Mexico. In that vicinity the Visitor discovered a rock projecting about three or four feet above the prairie, on which they found a reef of oysters, appa- rently as fresh as if the sea had receded but the day before. He broke off some of the oysters and took them with him, as an incontestible evidence that the sea had once swept over high lands now two hundred miles from it. This missionary journey of the Visitor, in company with Mons. Odin, perhaps was one of the most interesting we have had to record. All the way down to Houston it was a continual mission, and when they arrived at the latter place they again renewed, with great spiritual fruit, their pious vocation, so that on the lot which the reader will remember had been given for a church, a deed was drawn up and recorded, seven innidred dolhu-s (equal to three thousand five hundred francs,) ha\ ing been subscribed for this purpose. The missionaries did not delay long at Houston, but continued their journey towards Galveston, where they arrived on the 12th January, 1841. Here they found the altar (erected on a former visit,) stiU remaining in the same large room in which they EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 83 offered up the oblation of the Body and Blood of Christ. On the 15th January following, the first convert of Galveston, (a Mrs. De Lacy,) was baptized, and on the 18th confirmed. The Visitor next contracted with Dr. Labodie and Col. Menard, for building the first church in Galveston. From Galveston, it became necessary for the missionaries to return to Houston. Accordingly, leaving the former place on the 20th of January, they set out on their difficult and perilous journey. Whilst they were continually doing good in the spirit- ual order, such as reconciling a family to God, baptizing children, ratifying marriages, and reconciling many in the sacred tribunal of confession, they suffered greatly for conveniences with which to travel properly. Torrents of rain inundated the country, swell- ing the river to an extent dangerous beyond precedent. They were forced to abandon the frail boat in which, by rowing, they tried to ascend the river. It was only by hiring horses, and occa- sionally swimming the creeks that intercepted their way, that they at length reached Houston. From Houston, they continued their course to Nacogdoches, through a wild and unbroken tract of country, never before trodden by priests, making their journey a continual mission. They were constantly obliged to cross rivers or creeks, that the rainy season had swollen into torrents, by the aid of little canoes, at the same time swimming their horses alongside, or they sought for some logs, or branches of trees that intertwined from both sides of the river, thus admitting of a pas- sage from bank to bank across the stream, over which Mons. Odin, who could not swim, would pass ; whilst Visitor Timon, invariably, swam the river with the horses, however dangerous the ford or pass. On the 30th of January, the Visitor having reached ISTacog- doches, as usual, sought for a place for Divine worship, and in an old stone house, built over a hundred years ago, he erected an altar, on which he said mass and preached. January 31st, in the afternoon, he preached again, when the little chapel was literally packed with audience. After mass, February 1st, a Mr. Cheva- lier very generously came forward, and ga\e a lot for a church. 84 LIFE AND TIMES OF at the same time offering his own dwelling as a shelter to tho priest that might be sent there. At this place much good was done. Hundreds went to communion, who, for years before, had had no opportunity of so doing. On the 2d of February, the solemn blessing of the candles took place, and with great liberal- ity the people subscribed for beginning the erection of a new Catholic church Leaving this mission in the hands and promises of the people to continue to it faithfully, the missionaries then started for St. Augustine. They were received with unbounded expressions of welcome by the inhabitants of this place. At first they were told that no Catholics lived there, but before they left, they found a great many. Protestants even, who had known the Yisitor and Mons. Odin on other missions, crowded around them, and at the mass, which Mons. Odm celebrated, the Yisitor was forced to preach for over two hours, in which he explained Catholic doctrine to those who never before heard aught but the rankest calumny against the Church. For several days the Visitor preached to a willing people, many of whom were the principal men of the place. God blessed the holy ^eal of the zealous Laza- rists, for by their piety, their eloquence, and withal their sincere zeal, manifested in the cause of the poor sinner, such men as Mr. Thomas, Mr. Cansfield, Judge Hanks, Dr. Griffen, Mr. Donald, Mr. Border, Mr. Frames, and many others, all leading minds of St. Augustine, Florida, at that time came forward and declared themselves Catholics. So enthusiastic was their zeal, that a Mr Nixon offered a half a league of land, on which to build a church, whilst five or six others also offered lots on which to begin Catho- lic institutions. A subscription was then begun for raising funds, with which to carry into effect the new projects. At St. Augustine, it became necessary i'or the Visitor to part with Mons. Odin, as business of impoi-tance required his time elsewhere ; besides he had to finish liis othciiil visit, already too loniety, my joy and consolation. It was my pride and my. boast, on my return to New York." * * -:<- ******* "They say the congregation supported them (the trustees,) in their proceedings. If this be so, which I cannot believe, unless they deceimed the congregation hy false stateriunts, then so he itP * Greorge A. Deuther. LIFE AND TIMES OF Nor was this opinion of the good Archbishop misplaced. There are those still living who were communicants of St. Louis church at that time, who corroborate this writing of the Bishop, and who further state on personal knowledge that the people of St. Louis church fully conducted themselves as true Catholics, in doing precisely that which the pastoral letter required of them and other congregations, under the authority of Bishop Hughes. They did nothing without consulting with their pastor, whether it was to mate improvements in their church, or concerned the employment of secular help, such as teachers, organist or singers for the choir. The greatest harmony prevailed between the priest and the people. CJnly a few " ambitious, designing, intriguing, and irreligious minds" ventured indirectly to murmur and to oppose ; but this was all. Hence, in issuing his pastoral letter for that year, the Bishop by no means intended it part/icularl/y for St. Louis church. It was issued for the purpose of regulating the conduct of other congregations throughout the diocese, who, im- fortunately, had deviated from the requirements of Church discipline. But as it was a pastoral letter, it was read from the pulpit of every Catholic congregation, as was required by the statutes of the diocese. The Bishop never intended, directly or indirectly, to dispossess the people of St. Louis church of their title to their church property. Their fears on this point were entirely groundless, and, in our humble judgment, but for a mis- calculated as well as unfortunate circumstance, these fears might never have been awakened. "We are disposed to deal charitably with this subject, and by nfi means desire to revive the unpleasant memories of the past We deal with facts, and facts only, albeit facts some times are stubborn things. However, before entering into the consideration of these stub- born things, it will be necessary to go back to an earlier period in the history of the diocese. On the 29th of August, 1841, Bishop Hughes con solved the first synod ever held in the diocese. Alter a week S])eiit in spiritual exercises at St. John's College, the clergy assembled at the Cathedral in New York, and in the EIGHT EEV. JOHN TEMON", D. D. 97 Bynod, which lasted three days, several important regulations, proposed by the Bishop for the purpose of *" assimilating the discipline and custom of the Church to the decrees of the Coun- cil of Trent," were enacted. The Bishop frankly told his brethern of the clergy " that these statutes were such as it was competent for the Bishop to enact by his own sacred office, from which, in fact, their force was exclusively derived ; " but he felt bound "to avail himself of their experience and knowledge of the different congregations over which they were placed, before he should enact any disciplinary statutes, that might be in violent conflict with those circumstances, or might be premature and too difficult to be executed. " Among the many statutes enacted by the synod, was that which related to the trustee system, and which in substance was as follows : •f- " That thenceforward no body of lay trustees should appoint, retain or dismiss any person connected with the church, such as sexton, organist, singers, teachers, &c., against the will of the pastor ; that the money necessary for the maintenance of the pastors and the support of religion, should in no case be withheld, if the congregation were able to afford them ; that no board of trustees or other lay persons should use the church, chapel, base- ment, or other portion of grounds or edifices consecrated to religion, for any meeting having a secular, or even an ecclesias- tical object, without the approval of the pastor ; that no board of trustees should vote, or expend, or appropriate for contracts any portion of the property they were appointed to adnvnistei-, (except the ordinary current expenses,) without the approval of the pastor ; nor, in case the sums to be thus expended should exceed one hundred dollars in any one year, without the approval of the Bishop also. The clergy were required to keep an inventory of church property, and to exhibit annually to the Bishop a syn- opsis of the financial condition of the church. For this purpose they were to have access whenever necessary to the books of the * Life of Archbishop Hughes Hazard, t Life of Archbishop Hughes Hazard. (7) 98 LIFE AND TIMES OF treasurer and the minutes of all official proceedings of the board of trustees. Should any board of trustees refuse to comj^ly with these statutes, the Bishop declared that lie 'should adopt such measures as the circumstances of the case might require, ' but in no event should he ' tolerate the presence of a clergyman in any church or congregation in which such refusal should be per- severed in.' " These statutes were published in a pastoral letter, dated Sep- tember 8th, 1841, and were hailed with joy by all true Catholics at large ; nay, the trustees of several churches offered to surrender their trust into the Bishop's hands, if he wished them to do so, a proposition which he declined ; but the secular j)ress assailed the Bishop severely, and waxed warm with indignation at what they deemed a violation of the rights of the Catholic laity, who them- selves were unconscious of their injuries, and by no means grateful to their self-chosen champions, the secular press. All the boards of trustees in the diocese acquiesced, except that of St. Louis church, in Buifalo. On page 219 of the " Missions of Western New York," we read : "In Buffalo, the very small number who, perhaps uncon- sciously, tried to sow discord in St. Louis church, had been frustrated in their first attempt. Yet they only awaited a more favorable time ; and in the year 1838, some of them having gone through the legal forms, incorporated under the above named general law of 1784, which Protestants rejected. The Bishop was grieved, for in sending the Rev. Mr. Pax, he said : 'The usurpations of the trustees are not to be feared, for the ground belongs to me. ' The residuary heir of the donor, P. A. Lecou- teulx, Esq., a man of great honor and probity, also declares that his father never wished suoli an incorporation. This was an event productive of evil to the pious members of the congrega- tion, of annoyance and grief to ecclesiastical superiore ; and, until lately, of almost incessant discord and embarrassments to the church. The Rev. J. N. Mertz, tjjeir pastor, left that church and removed to Eden. The Rev. Alex. Pax, by the wish of the EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 99 Eight Rev. Bishop Dubois, undertook pastoral charge. This worthy clergyman, finding the church too small, and being assured by the Bishop that, as the ground belonged to him, no annoyance was to be dreaded from trustees, began to build the present spacious edifice, with the hearty cooperation of the people. ' ' One Sunday, in the year 1843, Father Pax read from the pulpit of St. Louis church the pastoral letter of Bishop Hughes. An eye-witness says that, " in reading the pastoral letter, Father Pax did so without much comment, taking it for granted that the people already knew their duty full well, rely- ing upon their well-known piety and Catholic faith to accept it. " But the unfortunate circumstance already alluded to, occurred just at this time. Father Pax concluded his remarks by say- ing, that the siom and substance of the pastoral letter was " that the Bishop desired to obtain the Verwaltung* of the church," meaning that the discharge of the temporal afiairs of the church, and the discipline that should govern it, would be under the sur- veillance and cooperation of the pastor with the congregation, through its trustees. As to the fears awakened among the people of St. Louis church, that the Bishop aimed at depriving them of their church property, these were entirely unfounded, both in act and in the spirit of the pastoral letter ; since, so far as the title and right to the property were concerned, it is necessary merely to inform the reader, that a copy of the deed of St. Louis church property, given by Louis Stephen Lecouteulx de Chamont, Esq., f to Bishop Dubois and his successors, is recorded in the county clerk's office, and can be seen there at any time. But had Father Pax expressly stated that Bishop Hughes, in obedience to the statutes of the diocese, desired merely to com * Administration. fin 1829, when deeds of trust were valid, Louis Lecouteulx executed one to Bishop Dubois, for the property of the St, Louis church, in words as follows: "This indenture, made this fifth day of January, 1829, between Louis Lecouteulx, Ac, of the one part, and the Eight Eev. Father in God, John Dubois, Eoman Catholic Bishop of New York, of the other part, witness- eth,— That for and in consideration of their love of God and the veneration of the said Louis, for the Holy Catholic Eeligion, have given, granted, aliened, enfeoffed and confirmed, and by these presents do give, grant, alien, enfeoff and confirm unto the said party of the second part and his succesaors in the holy office of Bishop, (in trust for the uses and purposes hereinafter 100 LIFE AND TIMTiS OF municate the information that the discipline and custona of the congregation of St. Louis church, which thus far governed them under their beloved pastor, with regard to the discharge of thu temporal affairs of the church, had been enacted in the form of diocesan laws, and that no mnovation of their rights^ which they so much feared, was at all contemplated, perhaps, in the provi- dence of God, the scandal of a congregation refusing to obey its Bishop, might have been spared from the pages of this work. Still, though we cannot depart from truth and justice in the relation of these unpleasant facts, there is one circumstance in extenuation of the conduct of a great many of the people of St. Louis church, which may perhaps serve to soften the rigor of opinion that the reader may entertain in perusing this history. The people of St. Louis church, considered collectively, and composed of French and Germans, were a class of people simple- minded in their views, honestly disposed to do what was right with regard to every obligation in life, religious or secular, but at the same time not endowed with that educated intelligence and knowledge of Church custom and discipline, which from time immemorial has governed the Church of Christ. It is true, they loved their religion. They were frequent and pious partakers of the sacrament. They supported their pastor generously, and contributed, according to their means freely, for beautifying and improving their church. ]!Tay, their liberality in this regard is, even to this day, their distinguishing character- istic. With reference to the temporal affairs of the church, they enjoyed the exercise of an opinion and a voice through their trustees. As has been already stated, nothing was done with- out first agreeing and consulting Avith Father Pax; apparently every thing seemed peacefid, all was quiet. named,) all that certain piece or parcel of laud, &g., for the sole and only use and purposes of a Roman Catholic church and cemetery, and to the intent that a house of worship for that denom- ination of christians may hereafter be erected thereon, together with all and singular the hereditaraonts and appurtenances and revisions, rents, issues and profits, and all the estate, riglit, title, interest, claim and demand whatsoever, either in land or equity, to have and to hold, &c., unto the said party of the second part and to his successors in said otiice forever, (Signed.) "LOUIS LECOUTEULX, " ANNA ELIZA LECOUTEULX." EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 101 But suddenly, as if a bombshell had been thrown in their midst, their serenity was disturbed, and the expression, Verwal- tung, not suificiently explained by Father Pax, suggested ideas to their simple minds that seemed dangerous to them as a con- gregation, and threatened a serious inroad upon rights and titles to which thef had no legal claim, and which, fostered and encouraged by designing irreligious men among them, and in whom they unwisely placed too much credence and trust, led them into the unfortunate belief that they were to be deprived of their church and their property. Revolve the matter in their minds, as they might, "it seemed," says an eye-witness, "as if they were so intoxicated with this idea, that no argument, however potent, no assurance, however sincerely given or endorsed, could dislodge it. And this idea remains in the heads of many of the congregation even to the present day. This fear of being deprived of their title and right to their church property, (a title which we have said was fabulous,) was fostered bj' the board of trustees and one man, through whose persistent spirit and course of opposition against lawful church authority, the trouble assumed greater and more gigantic propor- tions, then perhaps it otherwise might have done, until it finally burst into open rebellion. We have said that to the trustees was mainly due the vehemence of the trouble, and it is consistent to say further, that their spirit of opposition derived its origin from the restrictions placed upon their conduct and government of the temporal affairs of the church, by the discipline and requirements of canon law, then for the first time promulgated as diocesan laws. They desired to be rid of this incumbrance upon their actions, and to be considered as sine qua non in their offi- cial capacity. They even presumpuously declared their conduct to express the will of a majority of the congregation. ~We insert the following from the files of the Buffalo Da/hj Gazette, Thurs- day A. M., October 19th, 1843 : "St. Louis Chueoh, Buffalo. — An election of trustees for this church was held on Sunday last. Mr. and Mr. were filected. These gentlemen are understood to be decidedly in 102 LIFE AND TIMES OF favor of the course adopted by the former board of trustees, in retaining in their own hands the management of the temporal affairs of their own church. " A candidate of opposite opinion was run, who received four votes against two hundred and ninety-two, the lowest on the ticket elected. A hundred more votes were polled than ever before, notwithstanding the weather was very boisterous. " This decisive action on the part of the congregation of St. Louis, should admonish the clergy, that the unusual measures to which they have resorted for the purpose of constraining the trustees into an acquiescence in their recent pretensions, may pro- duce consequences the very opposite of those that they were intended to effect. The line dividing temporal from spwitual power is, we are glad to see, clearly distinguished by the congre- gation ; and in the firm position they have taken in defending it, they have shown that they merit the privileges of American citizens, because they understand one of the first principles of American liberty." This article was intended to express the vdll as well as the sentiments of the majority of the congregation. But W. B. Lecouteulx, in an article published in the Daily Oazette, April 7th, 1843, relates : " It is perfectly well known to every one here, that the congrega- tion of St. Louis church consists of German and French population, amounting to several thousands, many of whom reside several miles from the city, and that it would be utterly impossible for St. Patrick's church to contain them." ISTow, out of this immense congregation, numbering thousands, only two hundred and ninety-two votes were cast for the election of trustees of the church, according to the article above quoted, and which, as the reader will observe, was either written or caused to be written by the trustees themselves. AVe leave to the reader the inference as to whether or not this was an expres- sion of the will of a majority of the congregation. Page 221, " Missions of Western New York, " we read : EIGHT EEV. JOHN TMON, D. D. 103 " Scarcely had the new church of St. Louis been built by the Rev. Alex. Pax, when the trustees of the congregation broke out in opposition to Church discipline, by refusing to comply with the statutes of the diocese, and the faction so harrassed their cler- gyman that his health became impaired, and he was obliged to return to his native country, to endeavor to recover it. " His letter at this period to Bishop Hughes, breathes of noth- ing but grief and despondency. In that of December 26th, 1842, he says : ' This time I write to you with a broken heart. * * * I read your pastoral letter; that part of it which treats of the administration of ecclesiastical property, occupied me two Sundays, because I was obliged to correct the most malicious interpretations spread among the people. W. B. Lecouteulx is the head of the opposition party. Misrepresentations of the worst Hnd, and lies of every description, were resorted to. This continued agitation produced a frightful excitement.' &c." A meeting of the congregation was called by some of the trustees of St. Louis church, prominent among whom was W. B. Lecouteulx, son of Louis Lecouteulx, the donor of the pro- perty to the church. This gentleman was chairman of the meeting, and in common with a few others, had drawn up a lengthy set of resolutions in the English language, in which a decided opposition was expressed against what was styled the " usurpations " of Bishop Hughes. In these resolutions was set forth a determination to resist all the requirements of the pas- toral letter, promidgated purely for Church discipline, but erroneously interpreted through the press, and otherwise, to threaten their rights and title to the property. " These resolutions," relates a gentleman who was present at the meeting, " were subscribed to and signed by a committee of forty names, of whom six, at the utmrist, understood, and, with the exception of one, none could bead English, the language in which they were drawn up." Comment is unnecessary. In the meantime the impression made upon the minds of the people of St. Louis congregation, to the effect that their interests and rights 104 LIFE AND TIMES OE were threatened, took deep root, and- accordingly they were influenced to support their trustees " resolved " to oppose the imagined inroad ujDon their rights. Many ineffectual efforts were made to induce the trustees to submit to the discipline of the Church, until finally the persistent spirit of rebellion, particularly upon the part of the trustees, elMged Bishop Hughes to interpose his authority to save tha Church laws, by interdicting St. Louis church. The trustees had "respectfully declined" to submit to the proposed change, and " most sincerely regretted not to be able to comjaly with the Bishop's requesV Bishop Plughes, in reply, said : " I read your letter with sur- prise. My pastoral letter was an intimation of an ecclesiastical law which is to be general throughout the diocese. It is not yet in force ; but, when it will he, I trust it will be of the greatest advantage to the peace of the congregation. * * * Should it prove otherwise, however, in your judgment, you will have it in your power to resist its execution ; and when you do, it will be, time enough for me to ascertain what shall be my duty in the case. Should you determine that your church shall not be gov- erned by the general law of the diocese, then we shall claim the privilege of retiring from its walls in peace, and leave you to govern it as you will. Indeed, we must keep peace, peace at all events, and charity also." On page 221, "Missions in Western ITew York," we read further " It IS well known that on weak minds, whilst reading history, a deep impression will be made that almost all in life is evil, there being so much said of war ; whilst what regards peace and prosperity may be discussed in a few brief lines. But the atten- tive reader knows that many years of peace, with all its blessings, may be sufficiently expressed in the two words of the cheering cry, ' All 's well ;' whilst, to render history what it should be, a lesson of experience and wisdom, pages must be employed to point out the causes, the actions, and the consequences of a month's war ; so also must be this history, whilst briefly narrating EIGHT EBV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 105 the onward struggle of God's Church militant, in this diocese. But we will now say, once for all, that, generally, the pastors and the flocks, amidst dangers and difficulties, of which extreme poverty was not the least, displayed deep piety, disinterested zeal, a generous spirit of self sacrifice, the christian virtues which always accompany it, and, even in poverty, charity like that of the poor widow, whom the Saviour praised for casting her last mite into the treasury of God's house. Even the strife, \vhich history to be useful must record, was, in every instance, caused by some twenty or thirty (often fewer,) leading men. These men, too, were generally good men, but men deceived in their estimate both of the importance of Church discipline, of the extent of their powers, and of the propriety of pushing to their utmost meaning the words of a church incorporation law, which almost all Protestants refused to use. A very few of the leaders, Catholics but in name, were men who never approached the sacraments ; men to whom the words of Bishop Hughes might well apply : ' In such cases, only let one enlightened, talented, intriguing and irreligious mind get among them, and then, what- ever he concocts in his infidel mind, he induces them, under specious pretexts, to adopt ; and then he gives it out as the act of the board ; and this again as the act of the congregation. ' — Letter of Bishop Hughes, in the CommerGial, of New York, April 4th, 1845. " After many useless efforts to induce the trustees to submit to the discipline of the Church, .the Right Rev. Bishop Hughes was obliged to interpose his authority, to save the Church laws, by interdicting the church of St. Louis. " Men who never approached the sacrameijtSLexclaimed against the cruelty of depriving the congregation of holy sacramental helps. W. B. Lecouteulx, Esq., wl^^seems to have been the master-spirit in opposition to Bishop H»ghes, wrote several let- ters to his Bishop, asstiredly in no, Catholic spirit. In one, dated August 4th, 1841, he says to the Bishop : ' In case that, con- trary to our expectations, you should have given your consent to the above propositions, I feel bound to inform you that it would 106 LIFE AND TIMES OF be a derogation to the clauses specified in his (his father's) act of donation, and would therefore put me under the obligation to claim the property back again. ' It is a sacred duty to say the truth in giving this history to the public, but to say it in such a manner as to give the least possible pain to the living, or to the friends of the dead. The subject of St. Louis church would have been passed over, truthfully, yet only in general, hasty views ; but this mode of treating it can now no longer be just to the worthy dead, to the living, or to posterity. The worldly-wise and very cunning sometimes overact their part ; thus the enemies of the Catholic Church have already forced into history false and injurious statements on this subject. In the New York Gazetteer for 1860, published by J. H. French, page 287, we read : 'There are fourteen Koinan Catholic churches in the city of Buffalo. * * * The Koman Catholic church of St. Louis, in that city, has been prominently before the public, from the refusal of its trustees to convey their church property to the Bishop, and the extraordinary but ineffectual efforts made by the Roman Pontiff to induce obedience to this order. In 1853, Cardinal Bedini visited America, having this as a prominent object of his mission ; but the trustees were inflexible, and still continue the owners of the property.' ISTo priest or Bishop ever asked the trustees to convey the lot to them, nor has there ever been a dispute about t7i£ deed; the dispute, from first to last, was solely about Church discipline. " On the 5th of January, 1829, nearly ten years before any trustees' church existed, the deed of that property was made to the Bishop, and he holds it still. On the 3d of August, 1850, when Bishop Timon forgave the first series of resistance to Church discipline under his administration, the trustees, pledg- inu; themselves to abide for thfe future bj' the discipline of the Church, said : ' On our part we acknowledge that, according to the laws of the State, the titles of the temporalities of the Church are vested in the Bishop and his successore in office, in tnist for the sole use and only purpose of the congregation. ' With Bishop Hughes and Bishop Timon. the sole contest has been EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 107 about the discipline of the Church. Bishop Hughes, no doubt, has said in substance to the trustees what Bishop Timon often did, that no pay they could give would induce him to 'accept the administration of their revenues. On seeking reconciliation, the trustees granted all that Bishops Hughes or Timon ever asked. Bishop Timon wished to have the revenues administered, and church affaire conducted, according to law and discipline ; the people heartily agreed to this. As matters of history, it is now a duty simply to state facts and justify the vast majority, who always were deeply and sincerely Catholic, while the chief agent in discord was a member of a secret society, who never approached the sacraments. His example drew some after him, and they were his best helpers. Immediately after the publica- tion of the interdict, some of the most respectable Germans sent a petition, through George A. Deuther, Esq. Bishop Hughes answered it as follows : " ' New York, April 5, 1843. " ' Me. Geoege a. Dettthee, " ' Dea/r Sir: I have received your petition and letter yester- day, and lose no time in forwarding my reply. Of course, I always knew, that there were a great many true and faithful Catholics in the congregation of St. Louis, in Buffalo. Indeed, on my visitation of the diocese, that congregation was, by its piety, my joy and my consolation. It was my pride and my boast on my return to New York. ' " ' But when a congregation, through its officers, allows its pas- tors to be thwarted in doing good, to be harrassed, and be made miserable, then I cannot expect that any priest will stay with them. The trustees of a congregation are only its servants, and when these servants undertake to reject ecclesiastical laws ot the diocese, and to make laws themselves, as if they were Bishops in God's Church, then it is time for those who are Bishops and priests to withdraw in peace, and leave them also in peace, to govern those who are satisfied to be governed by them. They 108 LIFE AND TIMES OF say the congregation supported them in their proceedings ; if this be so, which I cannot believe, unless they deceived the congrega- tion by false statements, then so he it. " ' Much as I feel for the good, pious people, I cannot allow any priest to officiate in the church of St. Louis, until I am assured that the congregation, in its trustees as well as in its members, are CaihoUos, i/rue Catholics., m ihei/r soul, as well as by their outward profession. If they choose to have it otherwise, I shall not quarrel with them. But, in the meantime, I have no priest to send them ; and if I had, I should not expose him in such a situation. Our priests are for Catholic congregations, and no other. JSTow there are many other good German congregations without a pastor, and until I have German priests enough for them all, it will be my duty to provide for those congregations who make it their pride to be governed by their pastors, instead of attempting to govern them. " ' When I had written thus far, one of our city papers was brought to me containing an article from the Buffalo Gazette, which is false in almost every particular, and which I have answered here. I hope the editor of the Buffalo Gazette will pub- lish my answer, in order that the good and pious people of the congregation, may see how much they have been imposed upon by means of falsehood. " ' The people must oblige tJieir trustees to do right., or else they must be prepared to suffer for what their trustees do, in their name, wrongfully. I shall have no dispute with any congrega- tion, but whenever a congregation allows its trustees to behave so badly that the pastor must leave, I wiU allow them no other. " ' With the same kind feeling towards all, as your tnie friend and father in Christ, I remain, sincerely, " '-|- JOHN, Bishop, Xew York.' " The trustee party made other false statements, through the public prints. Bishop Huglies answered in the following letter to the New York Commercial Advertiser, of April 4th, 18i3, which was copied from it into the Buffalo Gazette : EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 109 " ^Messrs. Editors: In your Com.mereial of Monday yon pub- lished from the Buffalo Gazette an article pnrportinij; to be a statement of the difference between the congregation of St. Louis church and myself. It stated that I claimed to have ' the pro- perty of the church vested in my hands, and that the claim was resisted by the congregation.' This is entirely untrue. I never advanced such a claim, and of course it could not be refused. It is stated that in consequence of this refusal I ' called away the Kev. Alexander Pax and left the congregation destitute.' This is equally untrue. On the contrary, nothing but my persuasion was able to prevail on him to stay for the last eighteen months or two years, under the ill treatment of a few worthless men who call themselves the congregation. It is stated that the congre- gation of St. Patrick's, in Buffalo, have ' complied with my requisition.' This again is untrue. The trustees and congrega- tion of St. Patrick's* will bear me witness that I never made any such requisition. I advised them, as a means of putting an end to quarrels among themselves, to dispense with trustees, and to avoid the rock on which St. Louis is now splitting. These are the principal statements ; and the honorable confidence of the editor of the Buffalo Gazette has been sadly abused by those who have employed his authority for statements which they knew to be unfounded in truth. He should demand proof of them, and if they cannot furnish it, to which I challenge them, he should publish their names, and vindicate his own. He has been deceived. I attach no blame to him. If his deceivers can furnish no proof that I ever made such a demand, I can furnish proof, in their own writing, that I never did. "'It is surmised,' says the statement, 'that the Bishop has gone so far as to forbid any priest from performing Divine service in St. Louis church until its congregation shall fully comply with his demands.' I forbade only one clergyman, whose' inexperi- ence might have been taken advantage of by the same artifice which trifled so foully with the good faith of the editor of the Gazette. And secondly, what are called my ' demands, ' in the statement, never had any existence in reality. * Corner of Batavia and Ellicott streets. 110 LIFE AND TIMES OF " ' Surely, the editors of the Buffalo Gazette will feel a glow of virtuous indignation when thej discover how much they have been imposed on. "'The only difference between the congregation of St. Louis and myself is, that its trustees have thought proper not to be gov- erned by the ecclesiastical discipline of the diocese, and expect me to supply them with priests who shall be governed by a different discipline, of which they shall be the authors. The congregation of that church are pious and exemplary Catholics, to whom their holy faith is dearer than life. Even this may be said of a large number of the trustees. " ' But it sometimes happens that our trustees may be honest and upright in their intentions, and yet men of simple under- standing, and without education. In such cases, only let an enlightened, talented, intriguing and irreligious mind get among them, and then, whatever he concocts in his infidel mind, he induces them, under specious pretences, to adopt ; and then he gives out the depraved purposes of his own heart as the act of the board, and this again as the act of the congregation ! From the moment this arrives, wo to the flock, and wo to the pastor, who are at once divided from each other, and yet kept together by such a link of iniquity. " ' The pious and amiable Mr. Pax was not called away by me, but I left him at liberty to leave whenever he felt that he could stand it no longer. It appears to me that the time has arrived. I have no German pastor to seiid in his place. But if I had, it would be with instructions to rent a barn, get up an altar in it, and administer the sacraments of religion with that freedom from restraint and guidance of unautliorized laymen with which God made the ministers of His Church free, but which is not to be enjoyed, it appears, in the church of St. Louis. "'The neighboring clergymen could not officiate in it without neglecting their own congregations, which have the first claim on their ministry. Besides, I deem it my duty now to forbid all clergymen of this diocese to officiate in that church, until it shall be determined whether it is to be governed by the ecclesiastic.nl EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. Ill regulations of the diocese, or by ' the resolves ' of its trustees. I trust, Messrs. Editors, that yoii will publish the above in your valuable paper, as an act of reparation which I may claim on the score of justice. I ask an insertion in the Buffalo Gazette,' which, I am sure, the editor will not refuse. I appeal to the honor of such other editors as may have copied the false and injurious statement first published in the Bufialo Gazette, for a similar favor. '"+JOHN HtTGHES, Bishop of New York. " ' New Tom, April 4th, 1843.' "The pious portion of the German Catholics now met for worship in the basement of St. Patrick's* church, having a Eedemptorist, Father AUick, for their pastor. Bishop Hughes gave the order f a deed for a lot on Batavia street, where they at once erected a temporary church, residence and school house. "The interdict on St. Louis church, in Buffalo, continued from ith April, 1843, to 10th August, 184:4. During that epoch, many of the peace-loving, pious Catholics of St. Louis church, had attached, themselves to the rising congregation of St. Mary's. The trustees became alarmed, asked forgiveness of the Bishop, and published, in English, in the Commeroial Advertiser of August 10th, 1844, the following . " ' A Caed. — We, the undersigned, trustees of the church of St. Louis,' Buffalo, having had the honor of an interview with the Rt. Rev. Dr. Hughes, Bishop of New York, in relation to the difHculties which have existed between the congregation and the Bishop for some time past, and having received from him a true explanation of certain parts of the pastoral letter, and finding thereby that we have been laboring hitherto under a misunderstanding of the same, hereby express our willing- ness that the church and congregation of St. Louis be regulated according to the provisions of the said pastoral letter, and the true explanation received from the Rt. Rev. author ; and we promise, in our own name, and (so far as we can) in the name * Comer of Ellicott and Batavia streets. + Eedemptorist. 112 LIFE AND TIMES OF of our successors, that the administration of temporal affairs of our church and congregation shall be conducted conformably to the same. "'We further take occasion to say, that if our course in this matter has given any scandal or offence to our Catholic brethren, we regret it; adding, merely, that our action pro- ceeded from mistaken impressions, and that we should be the last to oppose the authority of our religion, either intentionally or deliberately. " ' T. DINGENS, President Board Trustees, '"JOSEPH HABERSTRO, '"BARTHOLOMT RINK, '"JOSEPH STEFAN, " ' NICHOLAS HAAS, " ' MARTIN FISHER, "'CHARLES ESSLINGER, Secretary.' "The Bishop, next day, Sunday, went to their church, preached, gave absolution and his blessing. " As few of the Germans then read English newspapers, some who still adhered to uncatholic usurpations, spread a report that the Bishop had been forced to give up, and acknowledge himself in the wrong. Several who had been deceived by such reports, mentioned it to G-eorge A. Deuther, Esq., who most prudently said nothing until he could produce documents. In a few days he found them. He had the English translated into German, and published in the German newspaper, cut out the card and posted it up conspicuously at the door of St. Mary's church. This had the good effect of silencing the lovers of discord. " Such was the origin and the settlement of the first difficulty that broke out in St. Louis church, prior to the consecration of Rev. John Timon as Bishop of the Buffalo diocese. It is to be regretted that these unfavorable circumstances ever happened to mar an otherwise brilliant progi'ess in the Church militant in this diocese. Nor is it with pleasure that we record them on these pages. Having therefore iriciij narrated them, we will resume the thread of our narrative, and commencing from a period when there were not as now such splendid edifices EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 113 of religious worship, so many religious orders and convents, as well as institutions of charity, (in comparison with which many an institution, not predicated on the true revealed religion of Christ, dwindle Into insignificance ;) at a period when " there were but sixteen priests and sixteen churches, though most of those churches might more properly have been denominated huts or shanties, many of which have since been replaced by brick or stone churches, in various tastes and styles ;" at a period when, having accepted the mitre. Bishop Timon had scarcely a dollar to his name, nor a house in which to take shelter or rest ; at a period when troubles and dissatisfactions were ripe ; and con- trasting the present marvelous progress, all developed by brain work, by genius, by untiring zeal and unflagging industry on tlie part of the good Bishop, whose life and services were instruments in the hands of Divine Providence, with which He has accom- plished His mysterious will in every age throughout all time ; contrasting all these circumstances, what a sublime subject of contemplation suggests itself for the philosopher and christian to digest. CHAPTEE H. Rt, Rev. John Timon as Bishop. — Eev. Bi^rnard O'Reilly, V. G. — Theik Aeeival. — Reception. — Magnificent Demonstrations. — Te Deum at St. Louis Church. — Bishop Timon's First Consecration. — Told to Leave St. Louis Church. — Begins St. Pat- rick's. — Hard Work. — The Methodist and Hell. — The Irishman and Confession. — The Viaticum and the Presbyterian. — Upset erom a Sleigh. — Father McEvoy TAKEN FOR A LAWYER AND THE BISHOP FOR A PEIEST. Almost immediately after his consecration. Bishop Timon named the Rev. Bernard O'Reilly his Vicar General, and wrote to the Rev. F. Guth, then parish priest in Buffalo, that he would be with him on the 22d of that month, (October, 1847). Accord- ingly, accompanied by Bishops Hughes, Walsh, and McCloskey, and by the Rev. B. O'Reilly, he started, on the 20th inst., for Buffalo. At that time traveling, whether by rail or water, was (8) Hi LIFE AND TTME8 OF not as commodious or quick as it is at the present day, with all the improvements that science has since then made in locomotion by steam. Consequently, it was not until in the morning of the 22d that they reached Eochester, where, amid a large assem- blage, gathered upon short notice to welcome their Bishop, in St. Patrick's churcli,* Bishop Timon said his first mass in the diocese, preached, and gave his Episcopal blessing to the large congrega- tion. As Bishop Timon had written to Father Guth tliat he would be in Buffalo on the 22d, and as he was always a man of honor and word, he desired to continue his journey to Buffalo immediately, in hopes to reach there early in the afternoon. His Eight Eev. friends, already fatigued by a night's journey, wished to remain until next morning, particularly as the weather was decidedly unpleasant. But, although Bishop Timon thought their request reasonable, ajid invited them to remain, when they might rejoin him on the next day, they generally agreed to overcome their disposition to do so, and accompany him on his journey. As has been said, trains moved slowly ; an accident further retarded them, so that it was already after sunset before they reached Buffalo. What must have been the emotions of Bishop Timon as he aeared this city, which was to become, by the blessing of God, the centre and Episcopal seat of the diocese. What thoughts, rapid and many, must have filled his mind as regarded the future ; what hopes illumined his visionary path ; what fears hung like clouds, dark and uncertain, over his plans and his views with regard to a proper disposition of the circumstances and materials with which he had to deal in the discharge of his arduous duties. He was a Bishop ; he had been elevated one step higher in rank, and indeed, to a heart or soul governed only by worldly motives, indifferent to all else except pecuniary reward, and ambitious for titles, for honors, and emolument, the elevation to a Bishopric was a recompense sufficient for the most ambitious, especially after the discharge of yeare of arduous labor, after toils and privations in the service of religicm, at last to roacli the goal of his wishes, the crook and mitre. But in a EIGHT EBV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 115 man like Bishop Tiiuon, particularly in a soul filled as liis was with zeal and love in the service of Christ, no such sordid element existed. On the contrary, he accepted with humility, with resig- nation and with joy the new field of ministerial labor assigned him, panoplied with the same earnestness with which he had penetrated forests, crossed swollen torrents, on horse or in frail canoes, every where planting the flag of faith in the very centre of infidelity and Protestantism, and in spite of the ojjposition of anti-Catholic bigots, who had often threatened to take his life. What a harvest he has reaped, golden with the vintage of success! Hut how successfully he has done, let facts speak for themselves. Bishop Timon reached Buffalo at 7 P. M. the same day he had left Eochester. It was already dark, and a slight, drizzling rain fell from the murky clouds over head. As the train neared the depot, its occupants could distinguish a vast crowd, estimated at that time to have been about ten thousand persons. These were the Catholics of the city, assembled together irrespective of nationality, to welcome and do honor to their new Bishop. Torches and transparencies blazed with brilliant light, and made the sombre clouds above them more solemn and threatening. Rich and swelling strains of music from the bands enlivened the occasion, the whole forming a scene at once indescribable yet magnificent. The daily press at that time spoke in warm and flattering terms of the reception thus given to the Bishop. The Daily Courier said : "At eight o'clock, our German and Irish citizens had assem- bled in great numbers, and formed a jsrocession on each side of Main street, reaching from Exchange to some distance above Seneca street. Every man bore a flambeau, and at a given signal from the marshal, a line of light ran along the vast column. Some little delay was experienced before the com- mittee appointed to conduct the Bishops appeared, but at last the rich swelling notes of distant music greeted the ears of the multitude ; the din and confusion of preparation subsided, and all became bushed into a respectful silence. 116 LIFB Am> TIMES OF " The music approached, and after a few minutes had elapsed, the carriage containing the Bishops, their attendants, and the committee, advanced about midway through the lines of fire, and then stopped. The carriage in which rode* the Bishop was drawn by four beautiful white chargers, and was the most con- spicuous object in the procession. At a signal made for that purpose, the illuminated human mass moved on, and as it advanced up Main street towards St. Louis church, (its' place of destination,) beneath a canopy of blazing light, it produced an indescribably beautiful eifect. It far surpassed our expectations, and reflected honor upon the distinguished individuals who were the occasion of it. * * * We trust Bishop Timon will never have occasion to repent that he has come to reside among us." It was ten o'clock P. M. when the procession reached St. Louis church. Here the Bishops, clergy and laity in sUence adored the blessed Sacrament. It was near eleven o'clock when the crowd had dispersed. Bishop Timon himself, relating his experience at that time, writes thus in the " Missions in Western New York'' : " The Bishop had no church to which he could safely assert a right, nor had he a house to lodge in. He agreed to board, at a certain fixed price, with the pastor of St. Louis church, and betook himself to understand the condition of the new diocese. He named Rev. Francis Guth Yicar G-eneral for the Germans. "In a few days, the trustees of St. Louis church called on him and requested him to consecrate their church. lie complimented them on the fine appearance the church presented, and that it was well worthy of being consecrated ; but that he was bound by Church discipline, as decreed in the Council of Baltimore, not to consecrate any church unless the title was in the Bishop. The trustees assured him that the church had been deeded to the Bishop, and belonged to him, in trust for the congregation ; and, to remove all his scruples they brought him, in a few days atter, an authenticated copy of the deed of Louis Lecouteulx de Chamont, Esq., to the Bishop. This was sufiicient." * This is contradicted • some say he walked, carpet-hag iu haud. BIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. V. 117 After several days of labor and preparation, the Bishop, having to do almost all himself for a ceremony so new to those who assisted at it, on the 21st December, 18i7, consecrated the church of St. Louis, preached at the consecration, and, after vespers, preached again and confirmed two hundred and twenty-seven persons. Shortly after the consecration, the Rev. pastor of St. Louis church informed the Bishop that "the trustees wished him to find other lodgings, as they did not like to see the Bibliop there." The Bishop felt sad ; after twenty years of arduous ministerial labor, he found himself poor, advanced in age, and without a shelter on earth. He told the good priest to say to the trustees that " he never intended to remain permanently at St. Louis church, for he wished to go and labor where his beloved flock were in greatest want ; that at St. Louis church the faithful had nearly sufficient help, but that the Irish congregation was greatly in need of help ; and that he had already determined to make St. Patrick's church* his home." Although this discour- aging circumstance occurred seemingly to shadow the brilliant ovation he had received, still it by no means served to dampen the zeal which, under sterner difficulties, had so often been put to the test, and under which he had never ffinched. He said himself that he felt sad ; but it was the sadness that sometimes results ti'om uncharitable and deceitful treatment, rather than from dispirited and discouraged feelings. For " he wished to go and labor where his beloved flock were in greatest want ; * * * * and " had already determined to make St. Patrick's church his home." Indeed, to be discouraged is to fail. Dues the record of his subsequent life show that he was discour- aged? Does it show that he failed ? On the contrary, we find him, on the 28th of November, giving a retreat at St. Mary's, Kochester, at wliich there were nine hundred communicants. On the 6th of December, he Cdu- firmed in St. Peter's church, and on the 12th he gave another retreat in Java. On the 20th, he began one in St. Patrick's, Buffalo, preaching three times a day, making two meditations * Corner of Batavia and Ellicott streets. 118 LIFE AND TIMES OF daily, and, with the exception of a few hours required for food and sleep, passing all the rest of his time in the confessional. What was the result of this zeal? It induced him to continue the retreat three weeks longer, at the end of which time the congregation, which only counted three hundred souls at first, saw fifteen hundred approach the holy table. From this circum- stance we may learn what results flow from interested zeal, and what a fruitful parent of wealth and happiness is application, if it is properly employed. The first year was thus passed in giving retreats, and in visit- ing the diociese; four thousand six hundred and seventeen persons, of whom one half were adults, were confirmed. On the 29th, the Bishop preached at Jefferson, at 7 P. M.; on the 30th, he confirmed twelve persons, among whom was a convert from Methodism, who had been terrified by a sermon on hell, and whose terrors had been aggravated by her dreams. The Bishop told her to "do penance and you shall be saved." In vain she read the Protestant Bible. At last she found a Catholic Bible ; she read, became converted, and was baptized. At Corning there was no place to say mass in, excepting the Methodist church, in which the Bishop also preached. After the ser- mon an Irishman approached and said : " God bless you, but och, how good it would have been if you had said more aboi^t confession ; they do mock us so much about it." The Bishop immediately cried out at the top of his voice: "To-morrow morning at ten o'clock, I will say mass here, and preach on con- fession and the pardon of sin." Next morning, whilst being shaved at a barber's shop, a couple of gentlemen entered, and not knowing the Bishop, observed to each other, " "Well, Tom ain't you coming to hep that Bishop, and to get your sins pardoned? better bring plenty of money with you." The con- versation went on awhile like this, none suspecting the Bishop was present. As the Bishop began his sermon, ho\vever, and was just finishing the relation of this anecdote that occurred at the barber's shop, the two gentlemen entered. He explained very clearly and satisfactorily to his audience the sacrament of EIGHT EET. JOHN TEMON, D. D. 119 penance, and erased from the minds of many the error they entertained regarding confession, and satisfied them that Catholics had been wronged on this point. At Bath, he was called to administer Extreme Unction to a dying man. An ex-Presbyterian minister, who was present, observing the devotion and sincerity with which the Bishop heard the dying man's confession, and administered the holy Yiaticum, was deeply moved, and as the Bishop was about to depart, he approached him, took him by the hand, and said : " God bless you, that was very touching." Bishop Timon visited every part of his diocese. At every station we find his presence attracting many to Divine worship, whilst his eloquence and touching sermons penetrated the hearts of his audience, some of whom were of Pj'otestant faith. The inconveniences of travel at that time were no embarrassments to his zeal. If he reached a village where there was no church, he instinctively provided for his wants, by obtaiaing the court house or other public building, and with his own hands assisted in erecting altars, and preparing for the sacrifice of the mass. Indeed, such was his zeal, such his indifference to the extremi- ties of the weather, and the violence done to him personally by accidents and mishaps, that once, when leaving Owego for Elmira in a sleigh, accompanied by the Bev. Mr, Sheridan, he says, in his " Missions " : " The sleighing wag good for a few miles, then gradually failed. Whilst seeking the roadside, where some snow remained, the sleigh upset, the Bishop was thrown on the hard frozen ground, much stunned and cut ; but after a few moments he strove to continue his route; then the sleigh broke down, and though they hired a wagon, the horse gave out ; and thus, after great fatigue, they were forced to stop at Factoryville." Nothing daunted by his misfortunes, the Bishop heard confession till late that night, and, as if nothing had happened, next morning was on his way again for Elmira. At Scio, E". Y., the Bishop confirmed forty-two persons. In the evening, accompanied by Rev. Thomas McEvoy, (since 120 LIFE AND TIMES OF' dead,) he drove to the next station, Hornby House ; but losing their way, they stopped at a tavern on the road, and whilst taking dinner there, the aged host and hostess told them frankly all the bad that they believed of Catholics. The Bishop kindly corrected their statements ; Mr. McEvoy took their part, and pressed the Protestant arguments strongly on the Bishop, who thus had an opportunity, which he did not expect, of removing many preju- dices from the minds of these good people. When the time came for starting, the Bishop asked them to say frankly whom they thought their guests to be. They answered that they thought Mr. McEvoy to be " a lawyer, and the other a Catholic priest." CHAPTEK in. History of the Troubles of St. Louis Church under Bishop Timon's Administra- tion, GATHERED FROM THE POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OP THE BISHOP. '■'■Siimanum est err a/re!" It is human for man to err. Hence this would be a strange world, indeed, if there were none who deviated from principle or law; if there were none who, from different motives, opposed Church authority, and by a direct spirit of disobedience strove to accomplish their own purposes, as if it were to spite the authority that had interdicted them. Kay, that there are sometimes found men who thus obstinately persist to force their plans and wishes upon the acceptance of law or authority, however at variance with propriety and right, is, in itself, a very mysterious circumstance. * One can easily understand why it is that men disobey, if, after disobedience, there follows true repentance ; but when men disobey, and under the cloak of pretended reparation seek to add another crime to the catalogue of their errors, by contmuing not only to disobey but to rebel, why then the circumstance assumes a more heinous phase, and renders such individuals unworthy of merit. EIGHT EEV. JOHN TEMON, D. D. 121 Whether this will apply to the conduct of some of the congre- gation of St. Louis church, particularly of the trustees, will be evident from what follows : On page 240, " Missions in Western New York, " the Bishop himself says : "The trustees of St. Louis church asked his permission to enlarge their church, so as to prevent streets being ran through their lot. He refused, thinking that it would spoil the church, which was already the largest in the United States, and showed them how they could build tower, priest's house, etc., to suit them better." This was in the Fall of 1848, and almost immediately after- wards we find him making an Episcopal visit over his extensive diocese, which occupied nearly a month. " On the 19th February, the Bishop returned to Buffalo from his visit of more than a month through parts of the diocese. On the way to his lodgings, he met W. B. Lecouteulx, Esq., in the street, who immediately accosted him thus : ' I am glad to see you. I rejoice to be able to tell you that we have begun our addition to St. Louis church, and that the work is already far advanced. I am now engaged about another important business for the good of the church. Here is a petition I am going to pre- sent to the Common Council, to request them to deed to St. Louis church the grave yard that was given for it. I have searched all the records, and I find that the deed was never made out, so that it might be taken from us. I went to your house to show you the petition before it should be j^resented, but you were not home.' The Bishoj^ smiled, as he knew tliat his absence on the visit was well known in the city. He read the petition, and then told Mr. Lecouteulx that the petition contained things most untrue and most offensive to the congregations of St. Mary's and of St. Patrick's. That, to his intimate knowledge, the faithful of both churches had been orderly and quiet at their burials ; that the grave yard was given for all the Cathobcs in the city, and further, that he, the Bishop, held the deed, duly executed and 122 LIFE AND TIMES OF duly recorded. The Bishop invited the gentleman to come to his house and see the instrument, which he did, noted the page of records, and dropped the matter. "The Bishop then went to the trustees, expostulated with them for having, after his express prohibition, begun the walls, which were already two or three feet out of ground ; he required them to demolish the work, and, if they wished to build, to build according to any plan they might prefer, but for the objects he had sanctioned, not for the enlargement of a church already very large. He then spoke to the Very Rev. Mr. Guth, to whom the trustees had referred him as having sanctioned the work. Mr. Guth expressed himself much grieved and very sad, acknow- ledging that he had sanctioned the work; but declared that, if now demolished, he could never hold up his head again, and would have to withdraw to hide his shame. The trustees came, they begged pardon, but, as so nmch was done, they entreated that they might be permitted to finish the part begun. The Bishop, deeply touched at the grief of Mr. Guth, whom he greatly respected, hesitated. At length he said that he could not approve, but he would overlook, and not notice the act, provided no more was attempted than the part already begun. The prom- ise was given, but not kept." In a printed pamphlet,* Bishop Timon himself writes as follows : "Deception and misrepresentation have their day. Truth gradually finds its way to souls that have no interest in being deceived. Thus, in 1844, August 10th, alarmed by the number that had dropped off from them, the trustees begged pardon of Bishop Hughes, and promised submission to the laws they had resisted. " The Bishop then visited the church, and gave them a pastor. But, alas, the germ of evil still remained, and showed itself in many forms. In 1848 a plan was presented to Bishop Timon for • " Documents and History of the Affairs of St. Louis Cliurch." EIGHT EEV. JOHBT TIMON, D. D. 123 enlarging St. Louis church, building two towers, etc. He not only disapproved of it, but absolutely forbade it, as a plan which would spoil what was then, in its beautiful simplicity, a truly noble church. Bishop Timon went out to visit his diocese. At his return he found the monstrous addition which he had forbid- den, already far out of ground. The trustees threw the blame on their pastor, but the Bishop knew that a large share belonged to the trustees, for he had spoken at length to them ; they had shown him the plan ; to them, and to them alone, he had uttered the words of strong prohibition ; no occasion had occurred for the same language to be used to their jiastor. Yet, at the request of the pastor, the Bishop withdrew his orders for demolishing the works begun ; declaring, however, that he could not sanction it, but that he would remain silent under certain conditions, which ■were accepted, lut which were not fulfilled. A most useless expense for disfiguring their church, and a large debt, were the results of this disobedience. " The Bishop brought Sisters of Charity to teach a tree school for the girls of St. Louis church; the trustees declared to the pas- tor that they did not want them, and thus frustrated the desire of the Bishop to secure good parochial schools for that flock. But why enumerate? the very grave digger was oflicially advised by the trustees to resist the Bishop's orders. And secret msinua- tions were in continual use to cause disquietude, distrust, and trouble amidst a good, simple, and well disposed people. The correspondence, now given verbatim, will itself prove this. Dar- ing the Bishop's absence in Europe, the pastor found his position so unpleasant that he quit it; the French, who had suffered much from the trustees, also left St. Louis church, and founded a new congregation in the church of St. Peter.* The Bishop, at his return, tried to remedy the evil. The trustees and their adherents rejected his propositions; but on August 30th, 1850, they them- selves prepared, in rather bad English, the following document, which the Bishop accepted : * Corner Clinton and Washington streets. 124 LIFE AND TIMES OF " ' To THE Ex. Eev. John Timon, Bishop of Buffalo : " ' The undersigned, trustees of the Eoman Catholic church of St. Louis, in the city of Buffalo, regret that misunderstanding has arisen between them and their Bishop, regarding the rights and duties that devolve on them under the laws of the State, in the administration of the affairs of the said St. Louis church. " ' Whatever may have been the character or extent of our past differences, we regret them, and pray the Bishop to forget them. We propose to the Bishop that he and his successors in office, and we, abide and be governed by the following rules and regulations : " ' On our part we acknowledge that, according to the laws of the State, the titles of the temporalities of the church are vested in the Bishop and his successors in office, in trust for the sole use and only purposes of the congregation. That the Bishop, for the time being, according to the spiritual and Divine laws, is guardian of the church and its property. We bind ourselves to do nothing having reference to spiritual matters without the permission and consent of the Bishop, and truly and faithfully to observe and fulffil his command in that regard. We propose to administer the temporal affairs of the church under the counsel and advice of the Bishop, as becomes the children of God and of the Bishop. We acknowledge that the Bishop) and pastor appointed by him for the time being are accountable to God as guardians of their flocks, and as such we acknowledge that they have the right to superintend the schools attached to the church, and we pledge our best exertioiis in aid of the clergy for the success of the school and the education of the youth. The trustees shall, under the direction of the Bishop, select the teacher or teachere. of the school, and no teacher shall be appointed without the sanction of the Bishop or pastor. We consent and agree that the rector appointed by the Bishop tor the time being, shall preside over the deliberations of the trustees, and have his vote. The under- signed trustees shall not and will not expend over one hundred dollars at any one time on any improvements, repairs, or building. EIGHT BEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 125 or in any manner, without the knowledge and consent of the Bishop, and we ask and desire that the Bishop and the rector for the time being, will use their power, advice, and influence to prevent the election hereafter of any person as trustee who may be known as a person of immoral character or who fails to per- form his duty as a christian, and we pledge ourselves never to wish for or assist in the election of any such person. " ' Finally, we wish sincerely to cooperate with the clergy in all things tending to the glory of God, the good of ourselves, the welfare of our people, and to the prosperity of our church. " ' Dated Buffalo, August 3d, 1850. (Signed.) '"N. OTTENOT, '"J. HABERSTRO, '"JNO. CHRETIEN, '"JACOB WILHELM, "'GEORGE ZIMMERMAN. ' ' Mr. Eslinger had removed to Wisconsin. " 'Mr. Handel had resigned.' " To induce the Bishop to waive his opposition to the useless expense of the addition to St. Louis churcli, and to convince him that they would be prudent in not contracting debts beyond what the church could easily pay, the trustees, over and over again, declared to the Bishop that the debts they might contract would be on their own individual responsibility. The Bishop did not wish them to suffer, but he ought, at least, to have been con- sulted when the trustees laid aside the check which their own declaration had placed on future imprudent enterprises ; yet, before Bishop or pastor knew anything of it, the trustees trans- ferred the burden to many generous members of the congregation. They or their abettors acted with regard to Bishop Timon as, after having demanded pardon of Bishop Hughes, they had acted with him ; then they published that they had triumphed ; that Bishop Hughes had been forced to cede. It was only after some good christian had translated into German, and published the trustees' apology, inserted in the Commercial Advertiser of 10th August, 1844, that the good Germans of the congregation were 126 LIFE AND TIMES OF undeceived. So, also, after signing the above document, they pub- lish in the German papers of Buflalo that they had triumj^hed, and of course that Bishop Timon was forced to acknowledge his error. Bishop Timon, v^ho sought no honor of triumph, was silent until, emboldened by his silence, they had these articles translated into English for a population who, being unacquainted with the ■ preliminaries, could not easily detect the falsehood. Then an answer was published; the document was shown to the editors of two principal gazettes, in which the false boast of victory had been published, and those editoi-s, with generous indignation for the attempted deception, published in a few words the facts and tieir convictions. Various other arts were used. It is scarcely possible that the trustees would descend to some of them, it was the work of the party. "After having taken advice from pious, learned and distin- guished priests, on Easter Sunday, Bishop Timon addressed the following letter to'the congregation : " ' Having long borne with patience from the trustees' acts of usurped authority which have plunged your church in debt, and others which have caused this, once the most flourishing congre- gation in my diocese, to gradually fall away, so that whilst St Mary's church has six or seven hundred children in the parish schools, you have but a handful; and, under incessant insiimations that your Bishop wants to do now this, now that, the spirit of unholy distrust and of murmuring has entered the fold, and the piety of many has grown cold ; it becomes our duty to remedy so sad a state of things. We are the more impelled to this by a step taken without our knowledge, and which we only learned a few days ago. It seems that many of the congregation were called upon to assume the payment of a debt for a needless addi- tion to this church, began without my permission, and against all tlie laws of the church and the diocese. Now, under proper management, the resources of this church w(_)uld suffice to pay the debt. You know, beloved bretliren, that when you invited the Jesuits to come and serve this church, tliese fathers proposed that they would assume the debts of the church, and furnish as EIGHT EEV. JOHN TUION, D. D. 127 many German priests as might be necessary for your fullest spiritual comfort. Second, That this church should remain for ever the parish church of the German Catholics of tnis congrega- tion, and that the Eev. Father would build school houses for your children. !Now, if the Jesuits could offer such advan- tageous conditions, why did the trustees burden many of you with personal obligations for this debt? '"The promises these gentlemen made to me last August, have been broken in a most important feature. They bound themselves in a written article, that the parish priest should be president of the board ; yet they have elected a lay president, contrary to the letter and the spirit of our agreement. Beloved brethren, you ought to know that even in Protestant churches of this State, the pastor is generally the only president of the board ; so that those trustees vrish to have your church under a far more Presbyterian government than most of the Protestant churches themselves. We know not what thus presses those gentlemen to meddle with the affairs of God's house ; the priest or Bishop never thinks of meddling with the affairs of your houses, or with the affairs of houses consecrated to civic or political uses ; though bj' his taxes the priest pays in part for those houses affected to civic uses, he willingly leaves the care of them to men of the world ; but the priest, the man of God, the Bishop, as minister of God, is bound to take care of God's house. We willingly use the help of lay- men in temporal affairs, but then upon the laymen whom we call to help us the power descends from above, it does not come from below ; the Bishop and the priest are called by God through a superior power, which also comes from God, and the laymen we call to aid us have their power also from above, through the Bishop's nomination ; then all is in peace, and God's blessing dwells in His houses. We now name five responsible men, IST. If. ]Sr. N. ]Sr., as administrators of this church in temporal affairs. We also name Father , the priest you desired, to be pastor; he will be assisted by two other clergymen, in whose zeal and piety you and we have full confidence. We declare that, hence- forward, the so called trustees have no right in this church. The 128 LIFE AND TIMES OF property is vested in us for your use. If they wish to be trustees, let them find a church in which to ejfcrcise their functions, but they will never have a priest to minister. ' "The Bishop having understood that the most unfounded state- ments had been made by the adverse party, had, on the following Sunday, a letter read to the flock, as follows : ^'•'■Beloved Brethren: On that holy and most solemn day, when our Blessed Lord rose from the dead, and twice wished peace to His redeemed, I sought to j)rocure the true and holy peace of this congregation by the declaration made to you last Sunday, and from which my love for you and for your happiness and peace in time and eternity, will never permit me to recede. But, with grief, I learn that now, as heretofore, men whom the spirit of party blinds and agitates, whisper among the people insidious doubts, and false, malignant insinuations. It is tor your peace that I should notice them ; for me to be calumniated or to be praised is all the same, and whether I succeed or do not suc- ceed in my efforts for your peace, God will reward my upright intentions. I seek but my Grodj and your salvation and happi- ness, for His glory. I have not long to live; I seek for nothing on earth, and it is my joy to know that when I die, all that is entrusted to me shall remain for the uses for which it was given, and I will retain nothing but my coflin and my shroud. Hence what I now say to you is not to defend myself, but to prevent the father of lies from destroying your peace. '"First, Beloved brethren, it has been said to you that I wished to take your church. JSTow, from my first coming among you, to many questions and proposals I ever returned the same answer, that I abhorred the very idea of permitting this church to be ever diverted from its application to the use of the German congregation of St. Louis church. I never wanted your church except to hold it in trust for you according to my deed, and to the very declaration of your trustees. I Mish youi- church to be administered as almost all the churclies in America, and as all the churches in my diocese but this, are administered ; so that your trustees may not so fetter the action of your clergy, that EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 129 they can do little for your spiritual comfort, little for the educa- tion of your children. I now declare solemnly to you, as I often declared to your trustees, that I do not want your chvirch, except (in the very words of the donor, Mr. Lecouteulx,) ' in trust to me and my successors in ofBce of Bishop for your sole use and bene- fit.' I do not want the revenues of your church, do not even want to meddle with them; the revenues of your church shall be hence- forth more carefully, more exactly, and most.scnipulously applied to the sole use and benefit of this congregation and church. Alas, had I taken this measure three years ago, your beautiful church would now, I am sure, be finished, be well ornamented, and be out of debt. '"Let any of those who resist the Bishop show me a text of scripture which constitutes them your pastors and guardians of your church rights. Be not deceived, beloved brethren; hear the blessed apostle saying to you, 'obey your pastors and be subject to them, for they watch, as having to give an account to God of your souls.' "A few days after, a committee, having as their president a gentleman who seldom came to church, and who never approached the sacraments, speaking in the name of the con- gregation, but really representing a minority of the flock, handed to the Bishop the following document, containing self lauda- tions, many vague words, and worse : RESOLUTIONS. '"The committee appointed by the incorporated Society of St. Louis, to draw resolutions concerning the contents of the pastoral, published from the pulpit instead of the sermon, on the feast of the Easter, A. D. 1851, by Eev. Mr. RafiFeiner, by the orders of the Rt. Rev. J. Timon, Bishop of the Diocese of Buifalo, Erie county, State of ISTew York, by which (pastoral) said congregation of St. Louis is to be forcibly debarred of her legal administration of the temporal afikirs of the church, in virtue of the State Charter of the 2d December, 1838, and to propose the same resolutioQS to the meeting adjourned to the 2'7th of April, 1851, 130 LIFE AND TEVTES OF for their approbation, has the honor to answer with this the wishes of the said congregation, and respectfully to propose its resolutions to their examination. " ' 1st. Resolved^ That the society of the St. Louis, before all, regrets most heartily that for several years they have been so often disturbed in their truly christian peace and indefatigable zeal in doing good, by their own clergy, the E.t. Kev. J. B. Timon, Bishop, included, and are yet disturbed, for this only reason, that they (the congregation,) refuse to give over to the Rt. Rev. Bishop Timon, as his free and absolute property, their beautiful new church of St. Louis — which they have built with their own means, and which was solemnly consecrated — so that he might, as the rumor has gone abroad, appropriate the same for the use of the Irish congregation. And, whereas, the Rt. Rev. Bishop, (since all his previous attempts to grasp at said St. Louis church have rebounded against the firmness of St. Louis congregation, which constantly fought, and always wiU fight for its rights,) has betaken himself to violent measures, which not only are in direct ojjposi- tion to the laws of the State, but may turn very pernicious to the holy Roman Catholic religion in the Union. " ' 2d. Hesolved, "Whereas, the Rt. Rev. Bishop refused person- ally to communicate to the committee appointed legally by the board of the trustees, composed of Messrs. J. Haberstro and A.nton Diebold, the pastoral published Jxom the pulpit in St Louis church, on Easter Sunday, (either the original or a copy thereof,) St. Louis congregation cannot but regret that the Right Rev. Bishop should have caused to be published from the pulpit upon one of the holiest festivals of the year; and at the solemn Divine service, in place of a religious discourse, that which he feels not inclined to entrust to two citizens. " ' 3d. Resolved, That the congregation of St. Louis will not take the least notice of the said pastoral, since said congregation was incorporated as a religious society under an act of this State, passed April 6th, 1813, with the consent of the generous donor, Louis Lecouteulx, and also with the consent of the Right Rev. Dubois, Bishop of New York ; and that, although at that time, EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 131 when the well known lot on which the St. Louis church stands, the society as such had no legal existence, and the land had been deeded in trust to the Bishop of ISTew York and his successors, that trust has entirely ceased since the act of incorporation, December 2d, 1838, and was transferred to the incorporated society of St. Louis, which shall see to it, that in all circumstances their charter may be preserved in all its strength. That the society of St. Louis wiU always call for his advice in the admin- istration of the temporal affairs of the church. " ' ith. Resolved, Whereas, neither the board of trustees, nor the society of St. Louis, had ever made to the Et. Eev. Bishop J. B. Timon, or to the Kev. Fathers Jesuits, or to any body whatso- ever, any proposition that the said fathers of the Society of Jesus might take charge of the religious (spiritual) affairs of St. Louis society. This is founded on an error, of which the Rev. Bishop must be as well convinced as the board of the trustees, for, when the trustees were invited by the Et. Rev. V. G-. F. G-uth to call at the Bishop's instantly and in great hurry, they had not the slightest knowledge of the plan of giving St. Louis church into the hands of the Eev. Fathers Jesuits ; they were opposed to having the Superior of the Jesuits sent for, unti\ the Eight Eev. Bishop told them personally, as they were retiring, that he had spoken over the matter with his Vicar General G., so as to appoint the Fathers Jesuits for this place, etc., etc. That some other individuals, moved by ambition and self-interest, had been working to the same purpose, is perfectly well known to St. Louis society. St. Louis society had been till now attended by secular priests, who stand under their Bishop, and never preferred against them any complaint, notwitlistanding the many chances of doing it. It only wishes to have such pastors who will do honor, not only to St. Louis church, but to the whole Eoman Catholic religion in the Old and New World. " ' 5th. Resolved, That the reproach about religious schools of St. Louis church lies not at the door of the trustees or of the con- gregation, but rather of the clergy of said church, as no teacher was appointed to said school without the consent of the pastor, if 132 LIFE AND TIMES OF not by his strong and formal request ; but that, as soon as the teacher had the misfortune of j3alling on himself the displeasure of the pastor, there was no more mercy for him, and he had to leave the situation. This is a fact.' "Several other 'resolutions' of minor importance, but each one strongly marked by misrepresentation and disregard for truth, follow. The document was duly signed, and dated April 27th, 1851. " To this document, in which every paragraph contains misre- presentation, false insinuations, and absolute falsehoods, the Bishop addressed the following answer : " ' From a committee, styling itself your organ, and having for president a gentleman who never practices his religious duties as a Catholic, I received a paper full of falsehoods and insult. Judge for yourselves, beloved brethren. That document says that ' this congregation has been disturbed in its truly christian peace, by the clergy and the Bishop, only because they refuse to give up to Bishop Timon their church as his free and absolute property.' Now, my brethren, did I ever ask you for such a thing? Have I not, on the contrary, often and most solemnly declared that I want nothing but to maintain the trust for you, as Mr. Lecouteulx had given it ; and that I wished that trust to be administered for you by some from amongst yourselves, viz : by some laymen whose power, deriving from their Bishop, might come from above. How then dare those men say, in a public document, that the only cause of disturbance is my wish to get the absolute property of your church ? I understand weU enough the laws of my country, to know that the trustees could not give me such absolute right, even if they would, nor even could you, beloved brethren, give such right, and far am I from wishing it. Still those men persevere in the slanderous assertion, M'hich origi- nated with their party, in order to sow distrust between you and your Bishop, and, in this document, they even dare to say, ' the Bishop wants to get the free and absolute property of this church in order, as rumor spreads, that he may give it to his Irish congregation ! ' May God have mercy on such deluded and EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 133 deluding men, who dare to say that I even thought of taking St. Louis church from you to give to the Irish ! But who was it that set so lying and slanderous a rumor in motion ? Was it not the very party that now dares, in a public document, boldly to endorse it? " ' Beloved brethren, we need waste no more words on this suljject. Any man of sense, any christian will now see that the Bishop and the priests of a God of peace and truth, can have no fitting connection with an order of things which allows the father of lies to insinuate his malicious suspicions, first in a whisper, then more boldly, and finally in a public document, openly and unblushingly, striving to deceive God's peoj^le, first by insinua- tion and doubt, then by bold assertion, until, as occurred with Eve, they honor and esteem their spiritual authorities as long as they live up to the rules of the Koman Catholic Church, of course, the trustees of St. Louis church heing judges! " ' I might rely on the law, and appeal for my rights to the courts, but, beloved brethren, I am not so fond of law as to engage in lawsuits for it, unless my duty compel me ; your Cath- oKc spirit, and the mild exercise of my Episcopal right, will, I trust, sutfice. I seek but for the salvation of the souls entrusted to my care; provided they find peace and holy piety, though in a shed like that in which the Kedemptorists long worshiped, I would be better satisfied than to see them in a splendid church, in which the spirit of lies and rebellion would be continually gnawing away the vitals of true piety. " ' If, therefore, beloved brethren, the resolutions handed to me be really the resolutions of a majority of the congregation, (which I do not believe,) I must only \vithdraw the priests immediately. It is your duty to mardfest your sentiments. Therefore let those who love their God in their religion, and who adhere to their Bishop, as to the visible centre of Church unity in this diocese, let them declare themselves freely and fearlessly. God wiU bless and protect those who stand up for His cause. May He inspire into your hearts holy zeal and courage, to confess Him before men, that He may acknowledge you betbre His Heavenly Father.' 134 LIFE AND TIMES OF " This letter produced a due effect upon what appeared to be a large majority; they remained after mass in the church; the party adverse to the Bishop retired; whilst the pastor was exhort- ing those within to give a calm and fearless declaration of their sentiments, the turbulent party, finding themselves a feeble minority, and that the good and peaceable had not, as usual, gone home, rushed into the church, insulted the pastor, menaced him with personal violence, and ordered him out. He retired, bearing our Lord in the most blessed sacrament out vpith him. For several succeeding Sundays, an unauthorized, uncatholic worship was held in the church. It became the Bishop's duty to interfere. He addressed the following letter to them : " ' Buffalo, June 14, 1851. " ' To the faithful of the congregation of St. Louis church: '"After exhausting all means of patience and of kindness to induce the trustees and their abettors to permit the laws of the Church to be freely executed in your congregation ; after having known that your pastor was insulted in the church, menaced there in presence of the trustees, and ordered to leave the house of God, and thus forced to withdraw ; we have the grief to see that a kind of schismatic worship has been there established by the trustees ; some of the sacred vestments, used in Divine worship, are placed on the children ; the altars are adorned, vespers sung, the organ played, etc., whilst many neglect mass to assist at such rites. By the laws of God's Church, such acts subject those who assist at them to various spiritual penalties, and force the Bishop to declare, as we now do, St. Louis church to be under an interdict ; and consequently that no child of the Church can, without grievous sin, assist there at such rites and prayers, whilst this sad state of things continues. May God save our beloved in Christ from awful punishment, such as He inflicted in times past on those who, in their worldly wisdom, rebelled against Moses and Aaron.' "Strange how the same spirit has ever, followed tlie said 'cor- poration.' Bishop Hughes never dreamed of taking their church. EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 135 Yet in 1843 the innocent Germans were deceived by the party to believe it. That same party, on the 2l8t June, 1851, had the following article inserted in the Morning Express., of Buffalo : " ' St. Louis Church. — This chui'ch, the oldest of that persua- sion in our city, and the only one, perhaps, incorporated according to the laws of this State, is involved in serious difficulties with Bishop Timon, we understand in consequence of a refusal to abandon to him their church property, and the administration of their temporal affairs. A few years ago that congregation expe- rienced the same troubles with Bishop Hughes, irom a like cause, but after a rupture of two years, matters were settled to their satisfaction, they being secured in the enjoyment of their former rights. We learn that Bishop Timon has been more severe with the congregation of St. Louis than was Bishop Hughes, having, (after depriving them of their priests for the last two months,) on Sunday, the 19th inst, caused a pastoral letter to be read in aU the Catholic churches of the diocese, by which he pronounces excommunication against that church and its congregation ! We know nothing of the merits of this controversy, save what we hear, but it looks a little like taking us back to ages almost for- gotten, when such things occur in a free country, where aJQ. religions are equally acknowledged and tolerated.' "In the same paper of the 24th June, the following answer appeared : " 'St. Louis Chuech. — The upright-minded editor of the Express has been deceived, as was, by the same part}', the editor of the Buffalo Gazette deceived in 1843. Bishop Timon never sought for any property in the St. Louis church other than the deed Mr. Lecouteulx gave, and the laws of the Church made it the Bishcip's duty to maintain. He never even wished to administer the revenues of the church, but he was bound to see them adminis- tered in a Catholic spirit. The statements published in the Express of Saturday morning, are as false, with regard to Bishop Timon, as were false, with regard to Bishop Hughes, the state- ments in the Buffalo Gazette^ which drew forth the following letter from that learned and distinguished prelate; the only 136 LIFE AND TIMES OF difference is, that Bishop Timon has long and patiently borne with much more than Bishop Hughes had to bear with from the same party. It is false that Bishop Timon has excommunicated any one of that church. When the pastor (insulted and menaced in the church by a turbulent minority who domineer there,) was, by them, ordered out of it, he did leave it. And, when many were deceived by the semblance of a public, uncatholic worship, and neglected the great act of Catholic worship, (the mass,) at which they might have assisted in different churches of the city, then the Bishop, according to the laws of the Church and the decrees of the Council of Buffalo, pronounced an interdict on the church, that is, forbade any public worship in it. If any one incurs excommunication, it will be by his own act, for refusing to obey the laws of the Church, and assisting at a schismatic worship. "'The name of Bishop Hughes having been united in blame with the name of Bishop Timon, it is hoped that the generous editor of the Express will publish his letter as inserted in the Buffalo OazotU for April ith, 1843.* '"A SUBSCRIBER.' " The following document wUl close the evidence now offered to the public : " Extract from a letter written by J. A. Vandyke, Esq., a Protes- tant lawyer of high standing, to Bishop Le Fevre, of Detroit, on a case very similar to that of the church of St. Louis, in Buffalo: "'Mr. and Mrs. Beaubien donated the land on which the German Catholic church is erected. I prepared the deed ; it ran from the donors directly to yourself, (Bishop Le Fevre,) as acting Bishop, and to the Bisliop who should succeed you in this diocese, and to his successors as such Bishop, being and holding according to the rites of the Church. It was in trust for t!ie use of a German Catholic congregation, worshiping and to worehip according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church. There * See page 109. EIGHT EBV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 137 existed at the time of the deed, since, and still exists, a statute in this State providing that a given number of stated hearers of a congregation may take certain proceedings, give notice, elect trustees, and fully incorporate themselves, and that, on becoming incorporated, the vphole of the church property, etc., by whomso- ever held in' whatsoever manner or name, for the use of such congregation, should pass to and vest in the corporation. A certain portion of the German congregation went to work and incorporated themselves, and having so done, undertook to assume and exercise control over the church affairs, and, among other things, to rent pews. You, by the appointed priest, remained in possession, continued the exercise of full control, and to rent out the pews ; a pew being held by one under you, was claimed by a tenant imder the incorporation ; his claim, and attempt to enforce it, vi et armis, being successttilly resisted, he brought suit to gain possession of his alleged rights ; it then and thus became necessary to try titles. " ' We contended that the deed, on its face, was one of special trusts, that it was a contract, etc., which prevented all inter- ference by the statutory regulations and corporation thereunder. But we were desirous to test the principle and fix the rule in the State ; a principle so important to your church, aud going to the right of its existence here in its integrity and uncrippled exer- cise. We therefore claimed — That the canon law constituted part of the discipline, rules aud regulations of the Catholic Church ; that discipline, as well as faith, made up the Church ; that it was part of that law, and hence of the Church ; that the Church property could not be vested in laymen ; that such was the decree of the Council of Baltimore, which itself was a mere declaration of the old canon law ; that although the courts of this country would not regard the canon law of the land, yet that they would regard and enforce it as a matter of contract between church members, as part of the discipline and government of the Church, where it did not come into collision with the laws of the country. We claimed that, whenever the Church existed unfet- tered by the arm of temporal power, usage and custom were in 138 LIFE AND TIMES OF accordance with the said rule of the canon law; that, in fact, no Catholic could in conscience thus join in such incorporation; that the thing was against his duty and religion ; that it was fraud upon the Church and the rights of members who refused to join this faction ; that said statute was only permissive in its nature ; that it gave the privilege to persons and churches, who could properly avail themselves thereof, to become incorporated, but never could be construed to compel members of a church to join in an act against their religion and duty, and with a faction banded against their ministers and faith, or suffer the penalty of seeing the church property wrested from them; that if such things could be, it would be, in fact, denying the freedom of con- science and the free exercise of religion and worship of God, and would be unconstitutional, 'if held to apply. "We proved that such was the canon law ; we succeeded in obtaining judgment in the court below, sustaining us in every point; and the case going up to the Supreme Court, we recently obtained a full afErmation; thus affording to you a shield and protection of the most invalu- able character. " ' As regards the information which Bishop Timon asks of you, I will briefly say : A deed is made by a donor to the church, he vests the title thereto in the Bishop, according to the law of the Church. All persons who join that church, in joining, ascribe to, and agree to be governed by, not only the faith, but also the discipline of that church. A court of law, in deciding as to the rights between litigant parties will look at that discipline as the contract. It will be seen that Catholics cannot incorporate them- selves under such a law, and for such a purpose. The very attempt to do so excommunicates themselves ; they are at once at war with the Church. The thing is a fraud upon the Church. The statute must be held inapplicable to a church witli such a discipline and rule. And the attempt to make such an appli- cation is an attempt to prevent them from the free and unre- stricted right of worshiping God according to the dictates of their own conscience.' EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 139 "If a Protestant lawyer thus speaks, and if a Protestant jury, and Protestant judges of the Supreme Court sustain him, should Catholics be less just? (A.) "As answer to the above plain documents, many letters full of insult and void of proof, appeared in some German papers of Buffalo, the parties even descending so low as to use the Lnegi'v. Fcind, a scurrilous infidel gazette. The Bishop counseled his clergy not to answer such unchristian effusions. W. B. Lecouteulx, Esq., who, for long years, has not approached the sacraments, and who now, as in the time of Bishop Plughes, courts the unen- viable position of leader in the war against Church discipline, published, from time to time, statements either greatly misrepre- sented or entirely false. Though the Bishop often and publicly explained to him how the law and practice stood in France, and offered him French books, in which that law and practice were laid down in the verj' words of the French legislation, still this unhappy gentleman dared to say in his letter of June 28th, 1851: 'The majority of the congregation being natives of France, where all chwrch property belongs to the penple^ who have the adndnis- iwation of it^ they expressed a wish that their church shoidd be administered in the same manner.' He proceeds to state how they were incorporated, taking care to tell us that the corporation was, as indeed it is, in the most odious sense, ' a close corpora- tion.' He tells us how soon the trustees began this sad work, the Bishop and the priests have all the blame; the trustees could do no wrong ! He adds a sneer, to insinuation, which all know to be perfectly false, 'that Bishop Hughes was forced by a higher power (Kome,) to retrace his steps, through the interference of a higher power, and a few concessions on our part, (for the clergy can never be wrong,) a priest was reinstated in our church.' See document No. 1. Finding that the Bishop would not notice these effusions, in the Spring of 1851, after several acts of violence, and some interments against the laws of the church, the party pre- sented to the Common Council a petition, document ISo. 2, to 140 LIFE AKD TIMES OF obtain exclusive control of the graveyard. The Bishop has thought it his duty to present document 'No. 3 to the Common Council at the same time a great number of faithful Germans presented to the Council document No. 4. But the party con- tinued to misrepresent, and to invent. Until the Yery Eev. P. Bede published document No. 5, no answer has been attemjjted to the plain statement he gives. May God grant that many upright and generous persons, v^^ho are deceived by a few inter- ested and crafty men, may be undeceived by this simple narrative of facts." No. 1. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS AND NOTICES ON ST. LOUIS CHURCH. " ' Buffalo, June 28, 1851. " ' To the Editor of the Buffalo Morning Express: " '■JDewr Sir: In this letter of 'A Subscriber,' which I trace to the Reverend Francis Guth, formerly pastor of St. Louis church, and now one of the Vicars General of this diocese, our congrega- tion is violently taxed with falsehood, which could easily be returned to its author, but which a gentleman, who respects him- self, cannot do; therefore I will limit my answer to the simple relation of the causes which have brought so much spiritual severity upon our congregation. " ' Many years ago, when Buffalo was yet in its infancy, my late and much regretted father, Louis Lecouteulx, desirous to have a churcli in which to worship his Creator according to his persuasion, gave an extensive property on Main street, on which to erect a Catholic church and make a cemetery; he gave besides another valuable property on Delaware street, to be leased into Ijuildirig lots, so as to .make a perpetual revenue for said church. The deed was given in trust to the Right Reverend John Dubois, then Bishop of the Diocese of New York, and to his successors in office. EIGHT EEV. JOHlSr TIMON, D. D. 141 " ' The Catholics in BuiFalo being but few at that time, and generally poor, a small church was erected on the premises given; but their number increasing rapidly by daily emigration from all parts of Europe, it became necessary to think seriously of building a larger church; but their poverty was for some time a great obstacle to its accomplishment. However, through the greatest exertions on their part, and generous donations by some of the inhabitants of this city, the present fine church of St. Louis was erected. The majority of the congregation being natives of France, where all church property belongs to the people, who have ths administration of it, they expressed the wish that their church should be administered in the same manner, and to which, my worthy father consenting, also the Eight Rev. Bishop Dubois, a Frenchman by birth, who had received the deed in trust, our church was incorporated according to the laws of this State upon religious corporation, and under a close act of incorporation, the 2d day of December, A. D. 1838; and from that day the trust of the property fell into the hands of the people, who had the man- agement of its temporal affairs, and who enjoyed it fully a/nd peaceahly until the decease of their venerable and much regretted Bishop, the Right Rev. John Dubois. " ' The Rt. Rev. Bishop Hughes having succeeded him in oflQce, we were left quiet but a few months, when faults began to be found with the administration of trustees; we were told that ' Church property being for the use of God, belonged to God; that laymen were improper persons to administer it; that it belonged to the clergy.' Our resistance in maintaining our rights caused our priests to be withdrawn from our church, and for two years we were deprived of all spiritual succor! At the end of that time of unspeakable misery to om- families, through the interference of a higher power, and a few concessions on our part to save appearance, (for the clergy can never be wrong,) a priest was reinstated in our church, and we remained in peace imtil the Diocese of ISTew York was divided into three dioceses, and Buffalo being the See of one, the Right Rev. Timon became our Bishop, 142 LIFE AUD TIMES OF who, after a short time, followed the same course as did his predecessor, and who found no way to get us to his wishes but by sending Jesuits to our church, and appointing one oui- pastor! From that day mischief grew rapidly, and division appeared among us; pastoral letters were frequently read and enforced by commentaries from our Jesuit i)astor, said Bishop claiming his right of trust, as given by my father. At last, no doubt as an experiment, the Bishop had one of his pastoral letters read, in which he informed the congregation that lie had dismissed our i/rustees amd ojppointed others^ of whom he gave the names! This act, which nothing can justify, caused a spontaneous meeting of the congregation to take place, in which resj)ectful but firm reso- lutions were adopted and transmitted to the Bishop, maintaining our trustees in office and rejecting those appointed by him. From that moment war was seriously engaged. On the Sunday following, another pastoral letter was read by our Jesuit pastor, who, in his commentaries to enforce the Bishop's rights, insulted the congregation by calling them liars and other such gentle expressions, until he .exasperated the people and made them for- get that they were in the house of the Lord ; an act always to be deplored. Quiet being soon restored, said Jesuit pastor took occasion of it to invite those in favor of the Bishop (otherwise his wishes,) to remain in the church to be counted, and the others to go out, which again caused some disorder. The consequence of all this has beer^ the withdrawal of the clergy trom our church, and for these last two months we have been deprived of Divine service and all spiritual succor! "'In the hope "that the Eight Rev. Bishop would reflect upon such a state of things, and relent upon his unjust severity toward us, we continued to frequent our church to pray in common, which, in ' A Subscriber's ' letter, is called an act of ' uncatholic and schismatic worship!' What! to pray God in common in a consecrated church is uncatholic and schismatic worship? To what days are we then come to, that such things can be said in a country like this? EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 143 " ' Since I am on the Rev. Francis Guth's letter, I am happy to see him affirm so positively that ' it is false that Bishop Timon has excommunicated any one from the St. Louis church ;' yet I cannot make out the diiference which he tries to establish betvsreen an excommunication and the interdiction which he says the Bishop has been obliged to pronounce against our church. My full belief is that it amounts to the same thing. " ' As to the Right Reverend Bishop Hughes' letter, which you have been begged to give a new insertion, I will obseiTe that it is dated the fourth of April^ 18i3, and having answered it at the time, further comment upon it would be useless, particularly, belonging as it does to a controversy which took place so many years ago, and which has been satisfactorily settled between the parties it concerned. " ' I vidll conclude this already very long letter with saying, that several attempts have been made with Bishop Timon to bring him to better feelings toward our congregation, but in vain. 'Submit to your Bishop,' was the only answer that could be obtained ! Myself, for one, took care to explain to him that our act of incorporation being a close one, it required the unanimity of the congregation to alter it or annul it, and that my firm belief was that it could never take place. His answer to me was : ' I cannot change my dispositions ; a church is already in the course of erection for the dissenters from yours, and if it is not sufficient, one, or even two more shall be built, so as to leave but few persons in your church, who may then become Protest- ants if they please.' " ' We can now but hope to put a stop to such warfare upon incorporated religious congregations ; the legislature of this State will, one day to come, and perhaps not far distant, see fit to pro- hibit the clergy from holding Church property, as it exists all through France and many other parts of Europe. " ' Very respectfully, yours, " 'W. B. LECOUTEULX.' " 144 LIFE AND TIMES OP No. 2. ST. LOUIS CHURCH CEMETERY. "The following petition, in relation to the Cemetery connected with St. Louis church, in this city, was presented to the Common Council, read, and ordered printed in the city papers : " ' To the Hon. the Gammon Coimcil of the oity of Buffalo., "'Gbeeting: The undersigned, trustees of the St. Louis Catholic church, in this city, for themselves, and in behalf of the other members of this congregation, incorporated according to the laws of this State, on the 2d day of December, A. D. 1838^ would very respectfully represent to your honorable body, that in the year 1832, when the cholera was threatening to invade this city, the Common Council rendered an ordinance prohibiting the burial of dead persons within the city limits, which said prohibi- tion deprived your petitioners of the use of a burial ground given them by one of their fellow members, the late Louis Lecouteulx. '"At that time, said congregation having but just finished the erection of their church, and being too poor to purchase another cemetery, their hard case was submitted to the Common Council by Alderman "White ; which, in consideration of their precarious situation, the damage sustained in being deprived of the use of their burial ground, and furthermore, upon that principle, that as tax-payers they would have to contribute toward the payment for any purchase made by the city, adopted a resolution granting your petitioners (the St. Louis church being the only one of that persuasion in the city,) a piece of land to be used as a cemetery, being part of a certain tract of land bought by the city of Wm. T. Miller and others, and situated out of its limits. At the time of said grant, the congregati< )n of the St. Louis church not being yet incorporated, Dyre Tillinghast, Esq., then city clerk, inquired of the late Louis Lecouteulx in the name of A\'hom the convey- ance for said grant was to be made, who told him, 'that having himself made grants of lands to said congregation, he had con- veyed the title m i/rust to Right Reverend John Dubois, Catholic 145 Bishop of the Diocese of New York, and that he thought that the conveyance for said grant made by the city should be exe- cuted in the same manner ;' which was effectually done, but with an unfortunate omission, the words in trust not bemg inserted in said conveyanoe. " ' The consequence of that unfortunate omission for your peti- tioners is, that the Right Reverend Bishop Timon, now Catholic Bishop of the new See of Buffalo, has lately claimed said ceme- tery as his own, turned out our grave-digger and appointed another, and otherwise having taken the whole control of said premises, permitting to be buried there only those he pleases, and mostly from congregations not in existence in the city at the time of the grant, to the exclusion of that of the church of St. Louis, for which it was intended, and creating himself a re\'enue out of said cemetery, by charging a fee of two dolla/rs for each body buried there ! " ' That Bishop Timon should buy lands (as he has already done,) to make cemeteries, and speculate upon the sale of them into small lots to those willing to buy them, your petitioners have nothing to say ; but when that spirit of speculation extends to that cemetery given by the city for the use of our congregation, surely we have a right to complain, and to seek redress at the hands of the donors. "'The congregation of the St. Louis church, since the demise of their worthy Bishop, John Dubois, have been sadly tormented by his successors in otffce, for their resistance to annul their act of incorporation. They are now under the displeasure of Bishop Timon for no other motive ; and, as a last experiment, to bring them to obedience to his arbitrary will, he has thought fit to tvithdraw the clergy from their church, and by so doing to de- prive them of all those consolations derived from religion. " ' Tour petitioners can but hope that your honorable body will Bee fit, as grantors, to give them that relief which they claim, by enforcing the use of the grant as intended by the city, or by any other measures which your honorable body may think fit, so that the congregation of the St. Louis church may re-enter into the 146 LIFE AKD TIMES OF full possession and control of their cemetery, where the remains of their friends have been deposited for the last twenty years. And your petitioners will ever pray and feel grateful for your so doing. 'J. HABERSTRO, 'JOHN KOCH, 'GEORGE ZIMMERMAN, 'HENRICfl ENTRUF, 'MATHfAS HAUSLE, 'ALLOISUS ALLENBRAND, : GEORGE FISHEE.'" No. 3. " ' To t?ie Hon. the Mayor cmd City Council of Buffalo : " ' Gentlemen : Profound respect for your honorable body induces me now to act contrary to the resohition I had taken, never more to notice the misrepresentations of men who wish to belong to our Church, provided that Church consent to be taught and ruled by them. They inform your honorable body 'that Bishop Timon has lately claimed said cemetery as his own.' Now I have lately claimed nothing more than I, and my prede- cessors, claimed from the beginning. '"On the 19th of February, 1848, W. B.'*Lecouteulx, Esq., stopped me in the street to inform me that he was about handing in a petition to your honorable body. After reading it, I told him that it contained many things that were not true, others misrepresented or exaggerated ; and that, further, I held the deed of that cemetery. He came to my house, read the deed, and I heard no more of an attempt to appropriate to a small fraction of the Catholics of Buffalo what had been given for all. On the 2d of March, 1833, the Honorable Mayor made a deed to Bishop Dubois of the land in question. Different congregations were formed from those who, in Mai-ch, 1833, woi-shiped in St. Louis church. Those of St. Patrick's church first migrated, but still retained their rights on the cemetery ; and about five years ago EIGHT EBV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 147 the Irish CathoHcs made a collection for rei^airing the fence. The Germans of St. Mary's church erected a poor shelter, in which they could worships in peace, when the trustees forced Bishop Hughes to withdraw the priest from St. Louis church ; and, though those Germans subsecpiently bought a graveyard, yet they never renounced their rights. St. John's church hud equal claims. St. Peter's withdrew, with the then pastor of St. Louis church, (the Rev. Mr. Guth,) when he and they found the yoke of the trustees too heavy. St. Michael's church, too, was formed from St. Louis. The present pastor was pastor of St. Louis church, when in the peaceable discharge of his dutj' he was insulted in the church, ordered out, and menaced. He retired meekly, bearing with him the holy sacrament; but neither he nor his flock abandon their just rights. "'In August, 184:9, I received information from St. Louis church that the old graveyard was full; then, on the 16th of August, 1849, I consecrated as a gra^-eyard, a piece of ground which had been purchased for ancjther oliject. Publicly, and before a large concourse of people, I read aloud the rules uhich should govern the allocation of lots. They were: 1st, That the poor should have graves free of charge; 2d, That as the land had been bought and fenced in, i%ot hy contributions or hy public money^ but by funds advanced by one individual^ those who had means should pay a moderate rate for graves; that the money thus obtained would go to liquidate the debt on the graveyard, and that, as soon as that debt was paid, the revenue accruing from subsequent sales should be applieil solely to keeping the cemetery in order and adorning it. "'The whole amount received, up to this time, from that new cemetery, is less than one-third of the sura advanced on it. "'Having been warned that it was no longer decent to bury in the old cemetery, I told the pastor of St. Louis church that it ■should be closed, but that if Catholics, from any parish of tJie city, greatly wished, through affection for the dead there in- terred, to be buried near their friends, he, the pastor of St. Louis church, might give permission; requiring, however, two dollars 148 LIFE AND TIMES OP for each grave, and retaining the money thus received to form a small fund, which should be solely employed in keeping up the fences, lest, in some years, hogs and cattle might rummage amidst the graves of the dead. But I was soon informed that I was deceived as to the state of the graveyard. I then revoked that order, and burials ever since have been going on as before, without charge. This the trustees of St. Louis church well knew. "Well did they know that I never received a cent from tliat ceme- tery, that I ne^'er sought it; yet they dare tell you that Bishop Timon permits to be buried there only those he pleases, to the exclusion of the church of St. Louis, creating himself a revenue of the said cemetery. May God have mercy on men who can descend to such means ! " ' With profound respect, honorable gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant, " '-fJOHN TIMON, Bishop of Buffalo.'" No. 4. " ' Botfjolo, April 5, 1852. " ' To the Hon. Common Cov/ncil of the City of BuffoHo : " 'The undersigned, who were members of St. Louis church of Buffalo, at the time the deed hereinafter referred to was given, do respectfully remonstrate against your honorable body taking any action on the petition of the trustees of said church, relative to the Catholic burying ground. " ' It is with feelings of deep regret that we are called upon to act in this matter. Many years since we emigrated to the village of Buffalo, here to make this our homes, where we could enjoy the religion of our fathers. About that time, the Hon. Louis Lecouteulx made a donation of a very large piece of land, suffi- cient for church and burying ground purposes for a long time yet to come, had not your predecessors prohibited the use of said ground for burial purposes. At this time there was but one 149 Catholic church in Buffalo, organized under tlie Bishopric of New York; this was then and is now called the St. Louis church, in which the French, German, Irish, Italian, and English Catholics all worshiped the same God, and kneeled at the same altar. At this time, on the 2d March, 1833, the city of Buffalo, by Ebenezer Jolmson, Mayor, etc., Dyre Tillinghast, Clerk, under the corporate seal of said city, for the consideration of five dollars in tlie deed expressed, conveyed to John Dubois, Roman Catholic Bishop of New York, and to his successors in the holy office of Bishoi3, in trust forever for the sole and only uses of a Roman Catholic burial ground, eighty-eiglit feet front of land, running back to the road, etc., (being the land which has been used for that purpose since the day (_)f tlie grant,) which deed was, on the 4th April, 1833, recorded in Erie County Clerk's office, in liber 20 of deeds, at page 455, to which we beg leave to refer. From the day of the said grant until the present time, the Catholics of Buffalo, who have now, independent of St. Louis church, seven church organizations, viz: St. Patrick's, St. Mary's, St. Jolm's, St. Michael's, St. Peter's, St. Mary's i if the Lake, and St. Joseph's, which churches have been organized by members of St. Louis church, who, for convenience and brotherly love, have aided in erecting such church edifices, and who are all Roman Catholics, and owe ecclesiastical allegiance to the Right Rev. John Timon, Bishop of Buffalo, and successor of the venerable and departed John Dubois, late BishoiJ of New York. "' Our kindred and friends lie buried in said grounds; our wives, our children, there rest in peace, and where we wish that our bodies may be interred. In said ground our wives, children, kindred and friends have found a common resting place ; by your grant we are entitled to rest there. Nearly twenty years since you done one of the most solemn acts you could perfirm ; you donated to us the right to have our bodies interred by the side of our wives and children. " ' You are now called upon by the trustees of St. Louis church to act disgraceful in the sight of God and man, and say you, the city of Buffalo, have repudiated your act and deed, and have 150 LiFfi And times ov permitted a self-constituted body of priestless men, without any ecclesiastical power or authority, to assume the control of that which now belongs to, and is held in trust for, the members of seven churches, regularly organized. " ' We admit that we have reason to believe, and do believe, that the grave-digger has been dismissed. "We do not know the reason, or when the same was done ; but we do know that this same man left the bodies of the dead so near the surface of the ground, that your honorable body was compelled, at a large expense, to cover the same with earth during the Summer of 1849. If he was not discharged for this reason, he should have been. " ' In regard to pay for interment, all we can say is, that the deposed grave-digger has, for nearly eighteen years, charged for his services about double what is charged in other grounds, and we deny most unequivocally that any other charge has been made for interments. " ' With this information before you, we ask who is right? " ' Very respectfully, your ob't servants.' " Here follow the names of forty-four members. " '■Mr. Editor: Bishop Timon adheres to his resolution of not noticing the misstatements of a gentleman who insists on re- maining a Eoman Catholic, but who has long neglected to practice its most sacred duties. To me it seems that the Bishop is over delicate in his views of charity. To me it seems that, as some may be deceived, misrepresentation tending to foment division and strife ought to be contradicted. Extracts from a few letters will suffice for this. The first is from P. A. Lecouteulx, Esq., received by Bishop Timon in August, 1851, with permission to make it public. Delicacy for the feelings of a gentleman in this city, induced the Bishop not to use that permission. I lately, with ditficulty, obtained leave to copy it, and now give extracts to the public : EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, T). D. 151 ^'' '■ Bight Rev. Sir : If hitherto I have not intervened in the difficulty which exists between you and the Germans of the con- gregation of St. Louis, it was in hojjes that, touched by your forbearance, they would yield, acknowledging your authority and the inviolable rights which you and your successors have over the church of St. Louis and its dependencies. Hence I waited till now. But now that you are forced to interdict the church of St. Louis, (having also read in the daily papers that the trustees of St. Louis church maintained that its temporal projjerty ought to remain where my father, L. F. Lecouteujx, the founder of that church, had placed it, namely, in the trustees, intimating thereby that it was due to his memory to maintain his will,) I consider that I would be culpable if I remained silent longer, without raising my voice to refute tlie shameless calumnies sjjread about against you by a faction of the German congregation of that church. I also thought it my duty to publish the wishes of my father, and to demand a strict fulfillment. Previously to the year 1829, the Roman Catholics were not very numerous ; they were French, Germans, and Irish. My father having requested of Bishop Dubois a priest for the Catholics of Buffalo, received him into his house, and placed at his disposal a room in which mass was said. This place soon became too small. My fatlier made then a donation to Bishop Dubois and to his successors, of lots for the use of a RomaTi Catholic church, and for the estab- lishment of a school, a Presbytery, etc. The Catholics, French, German, and Irish, caused immediately a small church to he built at common expense ; they also built the priest's house, and some time after a school house. Besides the lots alluded ti>, my father gave money tor these buildings. The Catholic populatinn having rapidly increased, and the church not being able to contain them, the Irish formed a congregation apart; but as they had, in common, concurred in the erection of this church, my father, through a sense of justice which always characterized him, made donation of a lot to this congregation. St. Louis cliurch remained with the French and Germans, but the population having rapidly increased, the old church became too small, and 152 LIFE AND TIMES OF the congregation waa obliged, iu 1838-39, to build upon the same site the vast edifice which now stands there. The building was constructed under the direction of Rev. Alexander Pax, and finished by the aid of voluntary contributions, and by the joint efforts of all the Catholics, and even of strangers. '"Every thing went on well, and the most perfect peace pre- vailed between the French and Germans up to the death of my father, which took place in 1840. Disorder then began. (Ihs date fixed hy JBisTiop Hughes for the 'beginning oftrovhles is 1841.^ The trustees commenced to arrogate undue power to themselves, justifying their illegal usurpation on the ground of having been incorporated, and having then acqiiired the exclusive right over the church and its dependencies, saying that in this they fulfilled the will of my father. I can affirm that this demand of incor- poration has been made without the concurrence of my father, who, as the founder, ought, at least, to have been consulted. I am even led to think that be was ignorant of it lie had, indeed, often spoken to me of his desire to have Magnillis or Counselors, such as we had in France. But I affirm, that never did he wish that trustees or administrators (especially by election,) should be appointed and be invested with a power thus repugnant to the Holy Roman Catholic Church, for which he had the greatest respect; if such an intention had been manifested to him, he would have opposed it with all his might. Further, he knew that, in the position of the congregation of St. Louis church, com- posed in part of French and Germans, it was necessary that the power should be in the hands of the Bishop and of the pastor of the chur'ch, in order to maintain the just rights of all, and to pre- vent the majority, which was already German, from trampling on the rights of his compatriots. It is evident that it was tor this my father made the donation of the property to Bishop Dubois and to his successors;* the trustees knew, as well as I did, this will of my father; hence it was only after his death that they laid claim to the property and administration of the church. It •"The act authorizing incorporation then existing." EIGHT EBV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 153 is useless, sir, for me to retrace here what has beea the deplor- able consequences of the unhappy s_ystem adopted by the trustees. You have developed them better than I could in your historical document relative to this affair. I shall not, then, limit myself to its sad consequences for the French. " 'At the time of the nomination of trustees by election, the Germans of the congregation of St. Louis were most numerous; the French never obtained but a weak minority; finally the French, disgusted at the vexations they had to suffer, withdrew from the elections.' (Mr. Lecouteulx here enters at large on various convplaints of the French against the trustees; some of them were submitted to the Bishop for arbitratijon. Mr. Lecou- teulx complains that the trustees violated the agreement then entered into., and continues: ) 'It would be too tedious to enume- rate aU the vexations which the German trustees inflicted on tlie French part of the congregation; they became intolerable, and forced the French to quit their church during your absence, with the pastor of St. Louis church, who could no longer risk the dig- nity of his ministry by suffering such usurpations. It is evident from what I write that there has been a determination since my father's death to get possession of tlie property of the church, and to chase away the French. To attain this, the most iniquitous arts have been resorted to, and, to justify all, they dare to say that they execute the will of my father. Tliis assertion is an out- rage on his memory, and I regret it with indignation. (Signed,) "'P. A. LECOUTEULX.' " " W. B. Lecouteulx several times has published, in our city papers, the assertion that in France all the Church property belongs to the people, who have the administration of it. JSTow, before and since his first publication of this misstatement, in pre- sence of several respectable gentlemen and in my presence, Bishop Timon repeated to Mr. Lecouteulx the very words of the French laws upon this subject, and invited Mr. Lecouteulx to read the text in the original French, the Bishop adding that he had several works published in France, giving, m extenso, the 154: LIFE AND TIMES OF Frencli laws on church property; but Mr. Lecouteulx did not wish to read the laws, that he might with a quiet conscience assert what suited his purpose. " After calling the Bishop ( admwiistvateur ne) administrator ex officio of church property, the French laws provide as follows : In parishes of more than five thousand souls there shall be nine counselors, if the population be less than five thousand there must be five counselors; when the counselors are nine, the Bishop shall name five and the Prefect four; when there are only five counselors, the Bishop shall name three and the Prefect two. The pastor shall always be, ex offiaio, the first member of the council; he may depute his vicar to fill his place. The Mayor also shall be a member and have the second place; but if he be not a Catholic, he must name a Catholic who will fill his place. The council shall meet four times a year. It cannot meet oftener but by the autliorization of the Bishop or the Prefect. The coun- cil names the marguilliries, or what we would call the acting trustees. Vacancies in the council are filled by the remaining members. If the council neglect to fill a vacancy for one month after such vacancy occurs, the Bishop then names to that vacancy. Reparations of any moment cannot be made without the appro- bation of the Bishop. That of the Prefect is also necessary, particularly if help from the public treasury is required.' "The statements about to be made were volunteered by the writer, as Bishop Timon had no correspondence, mediate or immediate, with Mr. Pax, nor had he the least expectation ot receiving any communication from him. " Extract of a letter from Rev. A. Pax, dated 4tli September, 1851, from Dubling Depart, of Moselle, France: '■'•'■Right Rev. Sir: Deign to permit a priest, who for eight years was a missionary in Buffalo, and under whom the church of St. Louis was built, to express to you his sentiments of condo- lence for the grief which that church causes to yi:mr paternal heart. Permit me also to compliment you upon the wise firm- ness and apostolic zeal with which you defend the rights of the KIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 155 church from the usurpation of the trustees. I learned with extreme sorrow the excesses to which arrogant impiety impelled those trustees and tlieir adherents. And also with joy I read the letter by which you interdicted the profaned church of St. Louis. This measure was necessary in order to terminate usur- pations and schismatic pride. I pray to God that He would deign to open the eyes of those senseless men, and call them from their wanderings to sincere repentance. " 'A sad prelude to these events was, that Bishop Dubois, of venerable memory, always believed that Mr. Lecouteulx had ceded the lot to him personally. Hence he strongly urged me to accept that mission and to build that church. 'For,' said he,. ' the usurpations of trustees are not there to be feareil, because the ground belongs to me.' Were it not for this conviction, I would not have built the church, of which each stone was watered with my sweat. The church was not yet finished before I was undeceived. Then began the domineering pretensions and the usurpation of the trustees, and their stubborn opposition to- the kind and zealous efibrts of Bishop Hughes. The vexation I had to undergo injured my health, and, more than my other labors, forced me to return to my native climate. (Signed,) " 'PAX, Cure of Dubling.' " " P. A. Lecouteulx, Esq., residuary legatee of L. Lecouteulx's estate, declares that his father never wished such a corporation; Kev. Mr. Pax declares that Bishop Dubois never wished it. A Protestant lawyer, before the Supreme Court, quotes the univer- sal teaching and legislation of the Roman Catholic Church, and says : ' It will be seen that Catholics cannot incorporate them- selves under such a law, and for such a purpose. The very attempt to do so excommunicates them; they are at once at war with the Church.' The Supreme Court decides in favor of the Bishop according to those principles. 166 LIFE AND TIMES OF " ' Wherever the affairs of St. Louis cliurch, or your trustee system, was mentioned, all, both the clergy and the laity, were greatly surprised at the wondrous pretensions of congregations and Catholic individuals to the ownership of Church projjerty. In all Europe, in modern schools, or in schools of former days, wherever common lavf is taught, it is an undisputed principle that the Church of Christ, Christ as embodied in the Church, is the only legitimate owner of Church jjroj^erty. ISTot some mem- bers of the Church, nor any particular association of Church members, but the Bishop, not m his primate oa/pcutity, but as, Ae whx) is divinely appointed to rule and govern the Church of God, is the only legitimate administrator of Church property.' "Thus think Bishops, clergy, ninety-nine out of a hundred Catholics in America, and nine hundred and ninety-nine out of a thousand Catholics in the world. Are we to believe them, or Mr. ? The question is not whether the Church is right or wrong in her faith and discipline; but whether, in our free country, she is free to exist, according to her faith and disci- pline ; whether a minority may or may not have the power of forcing the majority, either to observe regulations directly adverse to the spirit and laws of the Church, or to abandon their just rights in the joint occupancy of Church property, and, for conscience sake, and for peace sake, build, at their own expense, poor shelters in which they may worship unmo- lested. I entreat the public to notice a fact that stares each one in the face. Bishop Timon had rights to St. Louis church; like the Bishop of Detroit, he might have maintained his posi- tion; but he wished not to liave litigation, even with a small and misguided portion of his flock; he abandoned the posses- sion of St. Louis church and its dependencies to the men who thirsted for power; he aided to build, or formed poor churches, in which the large majority of those who not long since wor- shiped in St. Louis church now worship in peace. Yet, lately, for a poor grame yard already filled^ in which even the refrac- tory members of St. Louis church were maintained by the EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 157 Bishop in equal rights with other Catholics, the trustees, after acts of violence, during which, at least, one body was lawlessly interred! after uttering, in their petition to the council, false accu- sations against their Bishops, have instituted suit 1 "PETER BEDE." CHAPTER IV. The Bishop and the Mendicant. — Bishop Timon visits Baltimore to get Sisters FOR an Hospital and Asylum. — Resources. — Sisters Arrive. — Hospital Opened, — Attacked by Rev. John C. Lord, j^ Protestant Minister. — Defended by Bev. B. O'Reilly. — The Orphan Asylum. Geeat men are highly distinguishable for some prominent characteristic in their genius. Some excel for their magnanim- ity and piety; some for administrative and executive abilities; in some again moral courage and a zeal for the dissemination of the principles of revealed religion predominate; and so on to the end of the catalogue. In the subject of this memoir, however, charity was the pre- dominant characteristic. Indeed, to that extent had nature endowed him with this virtue, that sympathy for the suiFerings and miseries of humanity, whether orphan or sick, indigent or abandoned, led him to make the most extravagant sacrifices, even to his personal attire, in order to wipe away the orphan's tear, or rescue from degradation or want the infirm and old. It is related by his physician, James P. White, M. D., that one day, whilst standing with Bishop Timon on the threshold of the latter's residence, engaged in conversation, a poor and wretchedly clad man approached them, and pitifully solicited alms. The Bishop, after asking some questions, noticed that the man had no shirt, and summoning the housemaid, directed her to bring down one of his shirts from his bureau drawer. The servant hesitated, but finally went up stairs on her errand. In a few minutes she returned, but without the shirt, and informed the Bishop there were none left in his bureau drawer. 158 LIFE AND TimSS OF " Why, how can that be? " remarked the Bishop. " It was only a short time ago that I had several new ones made, and now they are all gone ! Have you not made a mistake? " " 'No, Bishop. There were some in your room, as you say, but I gave them away to other poor folks, as you directed me to do. You have the last of them on you." "Is it possible?" replied Bishojj Timon, pausing for a few moments to think on the matter; and, as he gradually recalled the almost forgotten circumstance, an air of satisfaction over- spread his features, and at the same time he took from his j)ocket some money, handed it to the mendicant, and bade him go and procure the necessaries of which he stood most in need. Overflowing with the exuberance of this virtue for the miseries of his neighbor. Bishop Timon now began to look about him for a suitable site on which to erect an orphan asylum and an hospital. For this purpose, in March, 1848, he visited Baltimore, and obtained a promise of two Communities of Sisters for the institu- tions just mentioned. It will seem strange to many of us, at the present day, if we pause awhile and reflect upon the resources then at the Bishop's command, with which he had to commence his plans and purposes, and contrast those poor beginnings with the magnificent progress of these institutions to-day; it will seem strange to many of us, how he has succeeded so successfully in stamping the impress of his genius upon the few plastic materials then at his command, and his success will compel candid minds to rank him among the most remarkable men of the age, irre- spective of the character of his calling. In 1848, the population of Buffalo was not then as large as now, nor were its commercial and manufacturing interests as largely developed, although the city from various causes was rapidly swelling in point of numbers, and its wealth proportion- ally increasing with its population. There were but three Catliolic churches in this city then, but hj no means the splen- did edifices that adorn our streets now; the wealth of the Catholic portion of the people was limited, whilst the seeds of discord, EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 159 planted in the breasts of many by the prejudices and misrepre- sentations of disaffected persons, in a certain measure served to dampen enthusiasm in the Catholic heart. Besides, the Bishop personally was poor; his acquaintance and influence with men of position had not as yet any availability; and hence, restricted on all sides, except so far as his confidence in the Providence of a good God, and aided by that indomitable and indefatigable energy of purpose, that had frequently converted more discourag- ing circumstances into harvests golden with promise and reward, he resolutely laid his plans, placed his shoulder to the wheel, and triumphed above the insinuations and mistrusts of the weak- minded. On the 3d of June, 1848, the promised Communities of Sisters arrived in Buffalo. There were in all six Sisters of Charity, three for an orphan asylum and three for an hospital. It was with considerable diflicultj' that a suitable place could be obtained in which to commence tiie practices of their vocation. At length, after some trouble, the house where St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum now stands, was prepared for them. But tliere was no house for the hospital. This, however, he soon obtained. The site where the present imposing edifice now stands Avas selected, as being the most suitable to purchase, and time haa since demonstrated the wisdom that made the selection. Origi- nally its dimensions were more limited, whilst prosperity and patronage have since nobly verified the prediction of that unfor- tunate but heroic servant of Christ, the lamented Bernard O'Reilly,* in his defence of this institution, against the "bigoted" attacks of its opponent, Rev. John C. Lord, a Protestant minister, who, under an anonymous signature, wrote an article for the press, urging that no appropriation by the State Legislature should be given to the hospital, principally because it was sectarian in its character. The prediction, " That the time will come, (for sober reason is not long absent at a time,) when this community will pronounce a severe, but ♦Afterwards Bishop of Hartford, Conn., consecrated Nor. lOth, i860, and perished at sea January, 1856, in the ill-fated steamer Arctic. 160 LIFE Al^D TIMES OF merited sentence against the Rev. John C. Lord for his action in this matter, unworthy the christian, the clergyman, and the well disposed man." The hospital, in its flourishing condition to-day, is the mute but eloquent sentence and rebuke that may be inferred in the above prediction. On page 252, " Missions in Western New York," we read : " On the 21st of June, 1848, the Bishop bought from the man- agers of the BuiFalo Orphan Asylnm, the house and lot which they then occupied, as they wanted to build on a large lot, which Louis Lecouteulx, a good Catholic, had given for a General Orphan Asylum to this corporation; having subsequently put two orphans under their care, and having been refused permis- sion to send a priest to instruct them, when well, or aid them on their death bed, he withdrew the children. The Bishop was informed that most of the children in that asylum were Catho- lics, but that no priest could have access to them. After getting the deed, and making the first payment, he found it difficult to get possession, when it was known that he had bought it for the Sisters of Charity and for a hospital. After fixing various days for giving possession, and failing, the Bishop, on the 5th of July, went to the Director, from whom he had bought it, and said : 'This delay is a great inconvenience, as the Sisters for this house have now no place. Tou say that you cannot find a suitable house; I will then take all your orphans, put the girls with the Sisters of. Charity, and keep the boys in my own house; and, when you find a suitable place, you can take them back; only I will request you to leave the Catholics with me, and to take back the Protestant orphans only.' The next day they began to move, and, on the 8th of July, the Sisters entered into the hospital, in which, under God's blessings, they have saved many lives, and done an immense amount of good. " This charity hospital had scarcely been opened over one year, when Buffalo was attacked with epidemic cholera. As no cholera hospital then existed, the Sisters of Charity promptly tendered to the City Council the use of that institution for cholera EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 161 patients. All who came or were sent, were very kindly received ; and, though the city soon took measures to establish a cholera hospital, yet, as the Buifalo Medical Journal says: ' The number of patients received in this, the city institution, was two hundred and forty-three, of which one hundred and fifteen recovered. The Sisters' Hospital, however, received one hundred and thirty- four patients, of which eighty-two recovered. Considering the character of hospital cases,' continues the Medical Journal, ' the results of the charity hospital, as declared by the rate of mor- tality, certainly aifords grounds for much satisfaction. * * * We are free to say that, whatever credit is due to the institution for the large proportion of recoveries, belongs to those under whose immediate charge the institution is placed. * * * * Each patient admitted to the hospital was, at once, placed iinder the charge of one of the Sisters, and received her unceasing and assiduous care, as long as it was requisite. Scrupulous exactness in the execution of all medical directions, and fidelity in the administration of remedies, could be confidently depended upon, together with all other attentions and appliances which the cir- cumstances of the case might suggest. The degree of patience and endurance exhibited by the Sisters of Charity, in their un- wearied labors of mercy during the period of epidemic, was a matter of astonishment, not less than of admiration. Night after night, as well as on successive days, they were at their post, never manifesting weariness or diminished zeal, and during the whole period not one was debarred by illness from the exercise of her voluntarily assumed duties.' — Buffalo Medical Journal^ Vol. Y, No. 6, pp. 319 and 332." Thus, scarcely had the hospital been opened more than one year, than Bufialo was attacked with epidemic cholera. Now was the moment, or occasion, in which to try the temper of men's souls, and to test the utility and permanency of this noble institution. Medical journals and the files of the public press of that day, will testify in ardent terms to the heroism exhibited in behalf of suffering humanity by those self-sacrificing women, (11) 162 LIFE AND TIMES OF the Sisters of Charity. No privation, no labors were too severe for those noble types of tenderness and care, the hospital Sisters of Charity. Oh ! unfaithful would be the pen that could pass over lightly the sacrifices of women who have left their happy homes, their parents' comfortable firesides, their friends and relations, to enter an arena of life variegated with so many vicissitudes and trials, and under which many a noble heart has fallen. Let the paeans and eulogies written and spoken by the tongues of even those who disagree with them in faith, be heard ; and how eloquent and how sublime is the pathos that tints the phrases of gratitude and admiration uttered in behalf of the Sisters of Charity. Night after night, day after day, they were at their post of danger, fearless of the contagion, whilst others, with less christiaa fortitude, shrank from the slightest acquaintance with the disease. Not only are these remarks true with regard to the Sisters of Charity at the hospital, but even the Sisters at the orphan asylmn showed their devotion in caring for the little orphans rapidly gathering under their charge. From the " fiats " and from other places of the city where poverty prevailed to a great extent, children were gathered together into the asylums, and rescued from destitution, misery and vice, in order to become, as they have since done, industrious and respectable members of society. Many children thus provided for were the orphans of parents who had died at the hospital from cholera, and who otherwise, if left to the mercy of the world, might have perished physically as well as morally. Silently, devotedly, and faithfully did they labor in their mission, indifierent to the vanities and allurements of the world, exhibiting a moral heroism that challenges com- parison. Heroism in man, by nature the sterner sex, is noble, is sublime, especially in defence of woman ; but when woman sacrifices upon the altar of duty and religion the diflidence and fears of her sex, the ties that bind her to her kindred and friends, and aU the advantages and pleasures the world might afford her, oh ! then this exercise of christian fortitude iyrcmsoends sublimity; it becomes angelic. Hence we may say, without reserve, that to EIGHT EST. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 163 Sisters of any religious order whatsoever in the Catholic Church, and devoted to the amelioration of the human race, too much encouragement cannot be given, since they are centres from which radiate, in all directions, the sweetest and most heavenly rays of christian charity. Necessarily, an institution commenced under disparagemente and embarrassments, had to struggle to gain a foothold on the confidence of the public. In order to extend its field of useful- ness, it required help and resources, without which it is' impossible to support any undertaking. For this purpose, through the assistance of kind friends, steps, were taken to obtain an appro- priation from the State at large, on the ground that the charities bestowed by the Sisters of the hospital were general and public, and not confined to Catholics alone ; and hence, being an institu- tion incorporated according to law, not sectarian in its character nor its objects, and in which persons of every race, clime, or creed were received and cared for, it was no more than just, that such an institution deserved a share of the public moneys, appro- priated by the State for charitable purposes. No sooner, though, had the appropriation been asked for, than it excited the venom and bigotry of a particular class. In the estimation of these, it was not conformable with our form of gov- ernment to bestow appropriations on " Romish institutions," and the public, through the daily papers, was asked whether "Roman Catholics were to be the almoners of Protestant charities to the poor and destitute ? whether there was no other way of taking care of the sick and maimed than to turn them over to the Sisters of Charity ? Had it come to this, that the sick were to be neglected unless the State endowed the institu- tion? If they (Protestants,) were so dependent on Romanists, it were high time they bestirred themselves." These and kindred expressions, offsprings of provoked "big- otry" and suspicion, were numerous, and were contained in a public discussion in the columns of the Buffalo Dodkj Eaopress, between two prominent individuals* of this city, who, as * Est. John 0. Lord, and Bm. B. O'Eeilly. 164 LIFE AKD TIMES OF champions for either side, labored, the one to undermine, the other to sustain, the existence and support of the hospital. We do not desire to resurrect the rancor and heat of controversy which, to a more or less degree, were engaged on both sides, and which, as the correspondence published in full will reveal, resulted fre- quently in a departure from the main topic in order to launch invectives at each other, particularly on the part of the Rev. John 0. Lord, who first introduced the side and, in our opinion, irrelevant issues of "Romish superstition," "despotism," "Bloody Mary," etc., etc. ISTo doubt time has somewhat softened the vehemence of opinion on the part of the Reverend gentleman as to the usefulness of the hospital, and served to undeceive him in regard to its "sectarian " character. In the controversy we find it assumed that because the hospital stood on a lot deeded in the name of Bishop Timon, and because Rev. B. O'Reilly and a few Catholic laymen were a corporate body to govern and protect the institution, according to law, that therefore the hospital was sectarian in its character, and hence the appropriation asked for was an indirect application of the Romish Church for funds from the public at large. How shallow the argument. But it is not our province to go deep into detail and sift the matter ; it is self-evident. Was it not plain that a religious body of women, irrespective of the church to which they belonged, who devoted their lives to caring for and nursing the sick, the poor, the lame and wounded, were worthy of en- couragement, especially when it is considered that there are few who have the moral courage to sacrifice the comforts of life for this calling? What diiference did it make in whose name the title of such an institution might be, provided it were incor- porated according to law, and bestowed its charity upon all, irrespective of creed or clime? But time and experience have dissipated the falsity of its " sectarian character." Even this the Rev. John C. Lord will honorably admit, having been called at least twice to the hospital, if not oftener, to attend sick calls of those adhering to his church. And when we unhesitatingly assert that the hospitals instituted EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 165 imder Protestant management stand no comparison with hospitals under the good Sisters of Charity, (meaning no disparagement to Protestant institutions for the good they do,) we re-echo the testi- mony of those who have investigated the subject; we repeat the opinion of physicians whose vocation in life bring them in direct accpiaintance with the workings of such institutions. But with regard to the Buffalo hospital, the appropriation asked for was entii-ely proper and just, nay, even Jaimanc^ tor further reasons. If, as it was further assumed, the appropriation was intended for the spread of Romish institutions, etc., etc., if a fear of this kind prevailed, could not an investigating committee have been appointed bj' the citizens to examine the account books and papers of the hospital, and find there, to the satisfaction and silence of the "■ great spii'it of enquiry," the sources to which every cent of the money so appropriated had been applied ? This mode of procedure would have been more consistent, and more in accordance ■with true nobility of character, than in ex- pressing in print the speculative reasonings of a bigoted and prejudiced mind, thereby unjustly trying to throw a firebrand into an institution of charity filled, or nearly so, with helpless human beings, who, through their "ministering angels," the Sisters of Charity, called upon the generosity and benevolence of the American people for support and tor aid. This is why it was humane to ask for the appropriation. At the time the petition was in circulation for further appro- priations, there were debts upon the building, in consequence of additions, repairs, enlargements and the improvements neces- sary in order properly to meet the increasing wants and maladies of the public generally. The beds were nothing more than pallets of straw, without sheets, until Bishop Tiiuon, on the strength of his own credit, obtained several pieces of muslin, out of which the good Sisters managed to do the best they could. Again it was assumed that the hospital was "a kind of nun- nery;" the affidavit of a young man, once an inmate of the hospital, was produced to show that " Protestant patients in the hospital had been assailed with arguments and motives to induce 166 LIFE AND TIMES OF them to renounce their faith." There was a shudder at the idea that the Sisters of Charity were to be the "almoners " of public charity; and it was declared that appropriations for such institu- tions, in which the public had no ascertained or ascertainable rights, " was not only an outrage upon the Protestant commu- nity," but even " unconstitutional." But the result of to-day puts to shame the advocates of such nonsense. After struggles and privations, too numerous to re- hearse, including such opposition as the pen of bigotry could raise, the hospital has, in the Providence of a good God, nobly triumphed above the mean insinuations and shallow sophistry of those whose casuistry was parallel with their bigotry. The character given to the hospital, that it was " a kind of nunnery," and that it was not certain when the Sisters might be called away to another sphere of duty, was simply absurd. To have said this much, was to have betrayed an ignorance, not only in what monastic institutions consist, but even in what man- ner " Catholic Sisters of Charity " are associated together. John- C. Lord even admitted his ignorance on this point, when he said in the discussion : " I do not know the precise tenor of the vows of a Sister of Charity. I have understood they are not those of perpetual celi- bacy, though, I believe, it is deemed a reproach to look back; the cloister is the natural terminus of the novitiate." Then he merely understood^ and admitted he did not know anything about what he was trying to discuss, although he undertook to call the hospital a "kind of nunnery." The affidavit alluded to, made by a young man named Charles Heinz, however much supported by the affidavits of one or two other men, may pass for what it was worth. It was only one affidavit against thousands, not of Catholics alone, but of Protestants, who could testify to the contrary. Nay, when the affidavit was made, the young man had but shortly before left the hospital, not entirely recovered from the sickness with which he had been so sick, and not entirely in his mind. He knew nothing of the English language, having been but a short time in this country, and if he did BIGHT KEV. JOHN TTMO^, D. D. 167 consent to make an affidavit, it seems that he acted more as an irresponsible party. But we leave the matter to the reader to infer, especially after he shall have made a careful and just esti- mate of testimonials of hundreds of others, who have been loud in their praises of the worthiness of the hospital in every respect, if it is a Roman Catholic institution. The numbers who have been helped and cared for by the " Buffalo Hospital of Sisters of Charity," and whose names and places of residence may be found in the '• book of record," are the most eloquent testimonials that could be referred to in vindi- cation of the hospital against the unjust aspersions cast upon it by Kev. John C. Lord. They will prove how their false fears of "Black Ghosts," "Romish Superstition," "Nunnery," were soon dissipated after they had entered the institution. One,* who has since gone to his grave, and who, when well, as the editor of a German newspaper, was most abusive towards the hospital and the Sisters, because his reasonings were based upon false pre- mises, could testify how, with tears in his eyes, when he himself experienced the humane treatment of the Sisters, (having subse- quently been forced to ask charity of the hospital on account ot sickness,) he repented of the unfavorable and unjust manner in which he had criticized them. The colored people sent from the jails and poorhouses, people of every "creed, color or country," during raging epidemics, such as cholera, persons wounded from accidents on railroads or steamboats, all can testify in more elo- quent terms than our feeble pen in behalf of the interesred charity, mercy and goodness of the Sisters at the hospital. Hence, how puerile and imbecile were the reflections of John C. Lord, who, (judging him by his controversy,) evidently under the cover or shield of the propositions he advanced against giving an appropriation, coveted the discussion of another issue, that of "Roman Catholicism." Any one wishing to take the labor to peruse that famous discussion, as revised and enlarged by him in a printed pamphlet afterwards, in which he challenged Rev. •JohnMarley. 168 LIFE AND TIMES OF Bernard O'Eeilly to a public discussion on '' auricular confes- sion," and in which he made a dying appeal to the Catholic laity, particularly urging them not to be misled by their priests, but to think for themselves, will discover the " cloven foot " of the gentleman, and infer the notoriety he sought to obtain, and will wonder that we should have paid so much notice to the mat- ter at aU. But we felt a little constrained to do so, in justice to history, particularly of an institution of which Bishop Timon waa the sole originator and founder. Eev. Bernard O'Reilly did not escape censure for his conduct in this matter. Bishop Timon, on his return from Europe, severely reprimanded him tor having had any thing to do with the discussion in his absence, and remarked at the time, that the best defence that could have been made for the hospital, would have been to allow it to speak for itself, as it has since nobly done. But, thanks to the liberality of men of more enlarged views and less prejudices, the hospital received the appropria- tions, with which it has done immense good for the city of Buffalo and vicinity. In the meantime, whilst the hospital was exerting and taxing its utmost energies towards caring for " cholera cases," the good Sisters at the orphan asylum also contributed towards a large share of public good. Not only (as has been already intimated,) were children provided for who had been taken from the "flats" and other places, but eyen children whose parents had died in the hospital from cholera and other diseases, were received into the orphan asylum, and rescued from conditions of life with which they necessarily must have become assimilated, to the detriment of their morals as well as their mental and physical being, if it had not been otherwise ordained. Thus the first two works of charity originated in Buffalo by Bishop Timon, had gained a foothold on the soil, and despite the rude and unwelcome breezes that shook their feeble beginning, they gradually gained growth, to culminate finally into two of the finest institutions in the city. RIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMCdtT, D. D. 169 OHAPTEE V. Bishop Timon and the Act of Inooepokation.— St. Joseph's Oephan Asylum. — Coe- EESPONDENOE. — BISHOP TiMON TRAVELS THROUGH MEXICO. ETC. — LeAENS SPANISH.^ Eetoens Home. — Lectures on Mexico. — Nuncio Bedini Arrives.— His Dealings WITH St. Louis Church. Bishop Timon was an indefatigable worker. We mean to say by this that he spared neither time nor his own personal com- fort to carry out liis plans. This will appear so much more remarkable when, advanced in years, we find him still vigorous and indifferent to ease, and the care that old age requires. An interesting circumstance, as an illustration of this trait in. his character, will aid to corroborate our opinion. Towards the close of the session of the Legislature, in 1851, JBishop Timon was in Albany, anxious to secure the incorpora- tion of an institution since known as " St. Joseph's Boys' Orphan Asylum." It was late in the session, and there seemed scarcely time to introduce and pass a bill. But the Bishop, however, after soli- citing the kindness of a member to assist him, proposed to obviate the difficulty in his own way, provided the latter would give his support to the measure. The reply was of course affable and affirmative. They parted. During the long hours of the night sleep never closed the vigilant and waking eyelids of the Bishop, but poring over manuscripts and books, he could be seen silently and rapidly drawing up the required papers, until, with the dawn • of morning, he finally laid his pen aside with an evident air of wearied satisfaction. As early as possible after breakfast, with the papers in his pocket, the Bishop sought his friend, to whom he presented them, with the observation, "the papers are all ready." The latter, after examining them, introduced the requested act of incorporation, of which these papers were the original, and much to his astonishment it passed, as though the best legal talent had been employed on them. 170 LIFE AND TIMES OF Although not incorporated as a charitable institution until 1851, still the feeble beginning of " St. Joseph's Boys' Orphan Asylum " dates back to the year 1849. It was during this year, in the month of August, when the cholera raged fearfully, that the first efforts were made in Buffalo for a boys' orphan asylum. Bishop Timon and his clergy were compelled to take this step, as the orphans of Tory poor parents, who had been swept away by the pestilence, were principally supported by them in Buffalo, until they were removed to Lancaster, in April, 1850. As has already been stated, this institution was incorporated on the 2d of August, 1851, under the title of " St. Joseph's Boys' Orphan Asylum." It continued in Lancaster until the 19th of April, 1854. At this time, the zealous Bishop most earnestly desired, (in addition to the usual branches of education,) that these orphans should learn a trade, to adapt them afterwards in life to habits of industry. The resources of a location outside of the city limits rendered this impracticable. Therefore, on the 19th of April, 1854, the orphans were removed from Lancaster to Buffalo, to a building located on Best street, but scarcely adequate to their wants and number. Here they remained, however, until August 27th, 1856, when, at the earnest solicitation of the managers of the asylum, Bishop Timon donated sixty acres of ground, contiguous to the Holy Cross Cemetery on Limestone Hill. A few letters here given, will give the reader an idea of the zeal of the good Bishop: "To . " Buffalo, August 20th, 1854. ^'■Dea/r Sister: I just returned from a visit to a part of my dio- cese, and about to start to visit another portion of it, when I received your letter. It is a pleasure to hear from one whom I esteem so much as a good and faithful servant of God in works of charity. I hope that you still continue to pray for me, for, alas! I home too Uttle time to pray for myself. EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 171 "Tour Sisters are well, the orphan asylum is full, and we have one now for boys at Lancaster. " Eecommending myself to the kind prayers of your good Sisters, I remain, in haste, " Most respectfully, " Your obedient and humble servant, "4- JOHN, Bishop of Buffalo." "To . "Baltimore, November 15th, 1855. ''■Dear Sister : I have received your kind letter on my return from Emmetsburgh. I was much pleased with all I saw, and you may be sure that I was mjch pleased to see apparently in excellent health. I will try to stop at Wilmington* for a few hours, in eight or ten days, as I return to Buffalo. " Pray for most respectfully, " Your humble and obedient servant in Christ, "-f JOHN, Bishop of Buffalo." "To . "Buffalo, October 22d, 1863. ''Dear Sister: Many thanks for your kind letter, kind remem- brance and pious prayers. Continue to pray for your old father in Christ, who will not forget you in his prayers. " Father Burlando wrote to me from Paris, saying that the Superior General is pleased with the prospect of a foundling asylum, etc., here, but that he wishes me to wait tiU Sprirjg. Hence I have not written, as I intended to request the Mother Superior to send the community she promised for that institution, of which, no doubt, you and will form a part. Tell this, if you please, to Mother, , and present her my respects and best wishes for time and eternity. " Dear and respected Sister, " Your humble and obedient servant, " -i^ JOHN, Bishop of Buffalo." *The Bishop did not stop at Wilmington, where he arrived at midnight. At daylight h9 came to say mass, and spent a few hours, when he left for Philadelphia, practicing such con- descension to oblige a poor Sister of Charity. 172 LIFE AND TIMES OF "To . " BrnFEALO, February 6th, 1854. ^'■Dea/r Sister: It gives me great pleasure to hear from you and from Emmetsburgh, although I am often vexed that Emmets- hurgTi is at EmmetsbwrgTi. Business calls me to Baltimore and Washington. I have just time to go, or perhaps one day more. I started as a last time to give that one day more to a trip to Emmetsburgh, but the cars were detained, and I had to hurry home again to labor. God's blessed will be done. He ordains some to labor, others to sweeter rest in Him. "Present my respects and best wishes, that God restore health to your excellent Mother Superior. Tell her that I would vote for her canonization, not now but fifty years hence, if she would send a good book-keeper and a Sister for the pharmacy at our hospital. " Most respectfully, " Tour humble and obedient servant in Christ, "-(- JOHN, msh(yp ofBixffaXo: The necessities of the diocese, as well as the new projects set on foot or about to be commenced, particularly a Cathedral, of which more will be said in the succeeding pages, induced Bishop Timon, in 1853, to pay a visit to Spain, Mexico, and other coun- tries, in search for pecuniary aid. Although familiar with several languages, still the Bishop was not so thoroughly conver- sant with Spanish as to feel confident in the use of that tongue upon his travels, particularly through Spain. Accordingly, when he reached New Orleans, he took up his abode there for a time, in order to acquire a little more proficiency in the Spanish tongue. For this purpose he placed himself under tlie instmo- tion of a Spanish priest. Intuitively the Bishop was an apt and ready scholar ; his acquisition of knowledge upon any subject whatever was quick and decisive. This characteristic likewise predominated in him under other circumstances. In moments of emergency or necessity, when it was dangerous or even EIGHT EBV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 173 disadvantageous to procrastinate, he almost invariably adopted the safest plans, and expressed the most wise views, if he took any action in the matter at all. Punctually every morning at six o'clock, both pupil and tutor met together for the morning's exercise. So rapid was his acquisition of this language that in a few weeks he resumed his journey, able and confident to satisfy all demands upon his Spmiish education. Bishop Timon profited vastly on this jour- ney, both pecuniarily and mentally. On his return from Mexico, he gave an interesting discourse in St. Patrick's church, for the benefit of St. Vincent de Paul's Society, on his journey through that country, and as he found it. He treated the subject in a very graphic manner, and as it was considered at the time a very remarkable address, no doubt the reproduction of it in the pages of this book will not be altogether superfluous. LECTURE ON MEXICO, DELIVERED IN ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH, On StfNDAT, Septemeee 15th, 1853. '■'■Fellow ChrisUams, amd Fellow Citizens: ********** " Not in the mere human order do I wish to consider Mexico. I am no politician. During all my life as a clergyman I have kept aloof from poKtics., Should any party wrong my religion, I would fly to the defence of the truth committed to my charge. In doing this, should I say a word or do a thing that might offend any party, it would only be because that word or that act was necessary to defend a sacred right, a Divine truth, from un- provoked attack. I leave the mere human order to men of this world ; but much in the human order has connection with the superhuman order. The history of Mexico, as regards faith and morals, regards also eternity ; regards the end where virtue is rewarded, and faith changed into the blessed vision of God. .In that order alone I wish to treat my subject. I have indeed 174 LIFE AND TIMES OF required that the blessed Sacrament be, for greater reverence, removed to the lower chapel ; yet I do trust that, though not in our usual mood, neither word nor action here will be unworthy of the sacred place, or the presence of Him whom we adore. " My stay and my position in Mexico gave me extraordinary opportunities of examining the religious state of that country. The judgment I have made upon it, with all simplicity and sin- cerity, I will now cx)mmunicate ; and, lest it might be thought that I make hasty assertions on points that have been viewed in a quite different light by some, I have taken notes, which, as far as may be needed, I beg permission to read as we proceed. "In the vast and fertile territory of Mexico, blest with every variety of climate, and with nearly aU the productions of tlie vegetable and mineral kingdom, exists a population most inte- resting indeed, but in number wholly inadequate to reap the exuberant harvest which nature is ready to offer. Where thirty millions would scarcely suffice, between seven millions and eight millions are found. Nearly four millions of these are of Indian race, pure and unmixed,^ about two millions are of Indian mixed with other races, and about one million three hundred thousand are Creoles, descendants in unmixed blood from Europeans, chiefly Spaniards. All these are Catholics. According to statistical returns to government in 1850, there were only five thousand four hundred and twelve foreigners in the wliole republic. Of this small number, three thousand and forty-seven were Spaniards. To allow for deficient returns, we may double the number, and still find there very few of foreit^u birth. It is important to remember these elements of tha Mexican population, when we judge the nation in a civil .r religious aspect. A great proportion of the inhabitants are Indians or of Indian race, pure or mixed, and they are christiaiK. Trace back this people to their painful, wild, migratory ami slavish life in the thirteenth century; see them, up to the fifteenth century, wretched and struggling with extreme poverty in their reed habitations, amidst the marshes of the Mexican lakes, and from their fishes and wild fowl snatching a precarious subsistence. EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 175 See them in continual, bloody wars, the slaves of a despot, and the slaves of a horrid idolatry, v?hich consumed yearly about fifty thousand human victims, and called them to horrid canni- balism. See them now, all christians, living in profound peace, the convulsions around scarcely affecting the pure Indian race ; murderous wars of tribe against tribe no longer exist ; famine is almost unknown. Occasional labor and the rich, teeming fruit of a prolific soil amply supplying their simple wants, see them, with touching devotion, offering the adorable victim of our altars to the true God alone, to thank Him for tlie blessings they enjoy, and to beg Him to guide them safe to the better land, where holier blessings await them. See all this, and then look at what they were but a few centuries ago, and you will find a progress, not great as with us, nor in the same direction, but, under cir- cumstances the most disadvantageous, great for them. " In substance the same remarks have been made by a most interesting Protestant writer, who, alas ! too often utters words of sarcasm against Catholic faith. The parallel in the extract proves that in Mexico, as elsewhere, the religious instincts of our nature and vague remembrance of primitive revelation estab- lished practices more or less like the time-honored practices of the Catholic Church. " ' The A-ztec worship,' says Prescott, ' prepared its votaries for the pomp and splendor of the Roman ritual. It was not difficult to pass from the fasts and festivals of the one religion to the fasts and festivals of the other; to transfer their homage from the fantastic idols of their own creation to the beautiful forms in sculpture and painting which decorated the christian cathedral. But, if the philosopher may smile at the reflection, that conver- sion, under these circumstances, was one of form rather tlijjp of substance, the philanthropist will console himself by considering how much the cause of humanity and good morals must have gained by the substitution of those unsulhed rites for the brutal abominations of the Aztecs.' " As to Prescott's assertion that ' the form is changed, not the substance,' I would remark, that all religions contain some good; 176 LIFE AND TIMES OF as there is no pure poison on earth, so is there also no pure error. Some truths mingled even with the folly of idolatry. The substance of those truths the Indian retained, and added the substance of other truths as yet unknown. The secrets of eternity will tell how blessed an effect this change operated in the order of sanctity, and even of time. I do not say that all are good, or that no evU mingles with the good ; alas, such is the condition of our fallen nature, that in every nation we find '■Bona mixta maUs, et mala mixta honis,'' good mixed with evil, and evil mixed with good. "Why should the Indian or Creole of Mexico be an exception ? "The Mexican has indeed his vices, but he has also his virtues; parental and filial love, hospitality, humility, unbounded charity, meekness, patience, resignation, and other touching virtues, are general in Mexico; but it is also true that some vices are probably more common in Mexico than elsewhere. Gambling is for many a passion ; lying is not held in due horror ; and among the lower classes thieving is too common. Those vices, however, are far from being general ; they are vices common to the Indian race, and, alas! but too frequent in our own favored country. In Mexico, however, as here, those who practice our holy rehgion either never had, or soon cease to have, such practices. Now when we consider that, for the last forty-three years, Mexico has been in continual agitation, convulsed by civil wars and revo- lutions, those deadly enemies of faith and morals, we must gratefully adore that special Providence which lias not only preserved a distracted country from more horrid crimes, and from wider spread corruption, but which has also kept even the late Indian pagans in the practice of many touching virtues, in geritral piety, and in the blessed unity of christian faith. " To judge correctly of a painting, mucl] depends on the point whence we view it. So it is a]so in judging a community or a natifiii. If we view solely in the light of time, solelj' as regards earthly pilgrimage, we will form judgments of what is good and M'hat is bad, widely different from the estimate we would form, should the light of eternity mingle strongly with that of time. EIGHT EBV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 177 And if, lender the decided conviction that the practices, rites, and belief of the Roman Catholic Church are absurd or idolatrous, we estimate a nation's religious character through its exterior demonstrations, we will pity or despise what a Catholic would admire. If our estimate for the good, the sublime, and the beau- tiful be exclusively found in a narrow circle of the cold North; in the warmer climates we will judge practices superstitious and mmatural, which appear natural and holy to minds and imagina- tions that glow in the sunny South. Thus a tine writer, viewing with a Protestant eye the Catholic ceremonial, and its powerful effect on the Mexican idolater, sa}'s : " ' The Roman Catholic communion has, it must be admitted, some decided advantages over the Protestant. The dazzling pomp of its service, and its touching appeal to the sensibilities, affect the imaginations of the rude child of nature, much more powerfully than the cold abstractions of Protestantism. The Pro- testant missionary seeks to enlighten the understanding of his convert, by the pale light of reason. But the bolder Catholic, kindling the spirit by the grandeur of the spectacle, and by the glowing portrait of an agonized Redeemer, sweeps liis bearers along in a tempest of passion, that drowns everything like reflec- tions. He has, however, secured his convert by the hold on his affections.' " Without stopping to inquire how far God has willed that the ' sensibilities,' the imagination, and all our nature, (and, indeed, all nature should serve in the great work of confession and salva- tion,) we see to this day the ceremonies which once swept the pagan Indian along in a tempest of holy passion, now, like the letters in our Bibles, recalling to the minds of his christian children truths which first awakened the father's heart to deep emotions of christian piety. And those who attend the sacred rites during the Holy Week, see the powerful effect which the living lessons of our christian ceremonies have, not only on the meek and humble Indian, but also upon the most instructed Mexican Creole or Spaniard. (12) 178 LIFE AND TIMES OF " It is true that most of the Indians, and many of the Mexicans, are employed in low offices. It is true that, (as in the days of Cortes, a friendly monarch could send almost an army of temanea, or men of burden, to do the work of horses or oxen,) so even now are there many temanes who carry burdens which astonish us. Yet, generally the hopes of religion sweeten this toil; often, too, do they give to the Indian countenance, an expression of calm and of cheerful content, which the rich might envy. " Speaking of the Mexicans in the sixteenth century, Prescott says : " • The whole nation, from the peasant to the prince, bowed their uecks to the worst kind of tyranny, that of a blind fana- ticism.' " He then speaks of their human victims, and their feeding on human ilesh, and says : " ' Cannibalism suggests ideas so loathsome, so degrading to man, to his spiritual and immortal nature, that it is impossible the people who practice it should make any great progress in moral or intellectual culture. The Mexican furnishes no excep- tion to this remark.' Prescott continues in these words: 'In this state of things it was beneficently ordered by Providence, that the land should be delivered over to another race, who would redeem it from the brutish superstitions that daily extended wider and wider, with extent of empire.' "We know how slowly, how reluctantly a nation changes the wild, unfettered, savage life, for the life of restraint, which high civilization imposes. It retpiired ages to bring the Greeks and the Romans, the Gauls and the Britons, to anything like our form of civilization. Hence, apart from the result on our taith, we need not wonder at this assertion of another Protestant writer on Mexico : "'The Indians of Mexico,' says he, 'are divided into numer- ous tribes, speaking upwards of twenty languages, wholly distinct from each other. Their character remains much the same as it is alleged to have been at the time of the Conquest. Indolence, blind submission to superiors, and gross superstition, are as much 179 their characteristics now as formerly. The form of their religion is changed, and that is all; they take the same childish delight in the idle ceremonies and processions of the Catholic Chnrcli, as they once took in the fantastic mummeries of their aboriginal idolatry.' "Excusing the words of insult, the writer expresses what was always true of every barbarous nation, during ages of slow progress from Indian life. In Mexico conquest, forms of govern- ment, climate, natiu-e itself account for deficiencies. What there is of progress is due to religion alone; and for the whole nation, in all classes, it is indeed religion alone that has preserved some thing of nationality, and some bond of union, to prevent the dis- solving, destroying effect of civil wars for more than a generation. The mild climate of Mexico, its perpetual Spring, exemjDts the native from the necessity of protection from winter cold; plants of giant vegetation, yielding fruit at all seasons, render famiiie almost impossible. The stern law of necessity, which in northern climates says 'work or die,' is not known in Mexico. Hence, many cabins of the poor, still like those described by the Con- querors, are small huts of lava, of rough stone without mortar, or of reeds, poles, brambles, or rushes, the thatch which covere the hut being often the only part impervious to the winds or to the driving rain. That hut gives shelter to a family, some times so large that all can scarcely stand erect in the narrow space. Yet, there the domestic ties are so strong and tender as often to diffuse around sweet and cheerful content; some picture or image of the crucified Saviour and of His blessed yet sorrowful mother, teach lessons of resignation and patience. The Holy Week, and occasional pilgrimage give, in the religious order, a touching variety to life. In the fairs that frequently occur, the Indian and his family think they enjoy as much as the greatest believe that they enjoyed at the ' World's Fair ' in the Crystal Palace. Along a sweet valley, embosomed in the giant Andes accompanied hy the truly learned, pious and estimable Bishop Mungiua, I once rode to visit Indians who reside in the romantic island of a lake in the mountain plain. I shall not easily forget 180 LIFE AND TIMES OF their looks of mingled cheerfulness and piety. Ambition and the cursed thirst of gold never tormented them. The scene re- minded me as much of the first christians as any thing I ever noticed out of the holiest cloisters. " Near Lagos, late on Sunday, accompanied by the pastor, 1 visited an Indian village; a beautiful square lay in front of the church, in which the Indians bad passed the morning and most of the evening in religious duties. The sun was setting, diffusing its mellow raj^s over a scene of fairy beauty. The fragrance of a thousand plants, unknown to our clime, seemed the incense of nature to the God whose blessings were spread so luxuriantly around. All the men of the village were gathered in the square; the men of age sat, in Indian fashion, on the ground, conversing together, telling of the past, or commenting on the sermon; and the smile and the frequent laugh told how happy they were. Near them the young men danced their ancient Indian dances, to their old Indian music. The worthy pastor and I enjoyed the simple, innocent gaiety which sweetly terminated a day, the greater part of which had been given to God's worship. " The author lately quoted charges the Mexican Indians with gross superstition; others have charged them with a tendency to idolatry. The latter charge is unfounded; a close examination of acts supposed to have been idolatrous, would prove them to have been merely superstitious; and superstition is found in all nations, and in every religion and sect. Read Robert Burns for a graphic description of superstition in Scotland. Superstition is defined by Webster to be, ' excessive exactness or rigor in reli- gious opinions or practice,' and ' excess or extravagance in religion.' SuperstitiDn, tlien, wlion it does not imply fanaticism, is better than infidelity or cold indifi'eronce to religion. Xeither are good, but of two evils, I prefer that \;'hich is foolish excess oi extravagance of good, in the order of eternity, to that which is its total negation, "The Indian, late an idolater, and still, alas! too ignorant, is no doubt inclined to superstition; but the clergy make great efibrts to correct this inclination. Unhappily, there are not enough of EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 181 priests to instruct them; tboui);li the Bishops have seminaries in which the Indian langnages are tanght to the young clergy, still the supply is not sufficient; many priests cannot yet speak the language of the tribe to which tiiey minister; and the S[>anish, though understood, generally, by the Indians, in all that relates to visible things, is a very imperfect medium for conveying to them spiritual ideas of the im'isible world. As to this, the sepa- ration from Old Spain was also a loss to the aboriginal race; many of their kindest instructors and Rev. fathers were forced, under the law which expelled all Spaniards, to leave their Indian missions. Spain, ton, in granting lands,has considered the Indians as minors; they had the free and full use of their lands, but could not sell them; when independent, they were free to sell. To specu- lators then, for a trifle, they did sell, and soon were forced from, the sweet home of happy days, to wild and almost inaccessible mountain tracts. Notwithstauding all this, I found the Mexican Indians, generally, far better, and far more happy, than I had been led to expect; far above our Indians, and still farther elevated above their idolatrous foretathers. Thus the blessed influence of the Catholic religion, triumphing in Mexico and in tlie South over conquest, continued civil wars, and some indivi- dual acts of cruelty, has preserved the Indian race. At this day, in the America which was settled by Catholics, about eigliteen millions of Indians in unmixed blood, are found; they are cliris- tians, and take part in government, whilst on our part of the continent the Indian race is almost extinct. "In the mixed race and among the Creoles, instruction is widely diff'used; many are truly learned. It would take too long to eive the names of gentlemen of the highest standinii; and of great wealth amongst the Mexicans, the Creoles, or pure S|)an- iards, whose extensive learning is only surpassed by a muniflccut charity, by a deep spirit of religion, and by devout attention to religious duties. A fervent and touching piety is indeed very common, in the highest ranks as well as among tlje poor. Few nations, in proportion to population, have more numerous or better filled libraries. Thus the cathedral library contains thirty 182 LIFE AND TIMES OF thoiisimd volumes, that of the College of St. John Lateran twelve thousand. A great proportion of the population approach to the holy sacraments; among them, consequently, great faults must be rare. Among those who do not approach the sacraments, certain faults must be common. Some of these are inherent in the Indian nature; some others that characterize men of a warm clime, who do not serve God, may be found more frequent in Mexico than iri lands where the same natural causes do not exist; whilst faults and sins that are common with us, are almost unknown in Mexico. I traveled there some thousands of miles, over roads nearly impassable, yet, even in the rainy season, when the drivers and servants were working knee-deep in water, the most vexa- tious accidents often occurring, I never heard either driver or servant utter an oath or a blasphemy. I might enumerate other sins of a horrid type, alas, too common amidst the pride, wants and passions of overstrained refinement, and which are very rare in Mexico. I visited many prisons in the republic, spoke to the culprits, administered confirmation to them, aided to prepare some for execution, yet not on a single visage did I trace that deep and dark impress of crime, which I have noticed searing the countenance of many a culprit in prisons of other lands. " Again I repeat it, I do not say that all are good, or that the good have not their faults. Why should we expect there perfec- tion, which we might seek in vain here or in any spot on earth? But I do I'ecord my deep conviction that, before Him who reads the heart, the balance of virtue and vice probably stands as fair in Mexico as in any other land; and that I would sooner cast my lot tor a blessed eternity with many a meek, liumble Mexican Indian, than with the proud Pharisee, who thanks his God, "that he is not like other men.' " The most erroneous ideas exist as to the clergy of Mexico. They are represented as excessively numerous, immensely rich, ignorant and vicious, ruling the country and thwarting the on- wai-d march of government. So often and in so many ways have those charges been made or insinuated, that I went to Mexico pix'pared to mourn over evils, most of which, I soon found, existed EIGHT EET. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 183 but in the imagination of enemies of our religion, or in the facility of weak minds to readily believe and echo what enemies have said. " The Archbishop of Mexico, Don Lazaro de Garcia, is a pro- found canonist, a learned and truly pious man. His revenues amount, it is said, to twenty-four thousand dollars per annum. He spends almost all in works of mercy and zeal, and in encour- aging learning;. He needs but little for himself, since his mode of life is simple, retiring and austere. In his Archepisco]3al palace, his own rooms are very plain and poorly furnished. Tl)e poor cot in which he sleeps is the same which he used at college, when yet a student; he rises before day, visits but little, and labors till late at night. His meals ai-e very plain and frugal. The president of St. Anna's Council, Bishop Mungiua, possesses extensive learning, great talents, and unblemished reputation, and, like his predecessor. Bishop Portugal, is revered by his iiock, and by the poor beloved as a father. The many valuable works he has published would do honor to a prelate in any country. The Bishop elect of Guadalajara has written some works which prove his learning and talents; in the sacred ministry he displays vir- tues which make him dear to his people. The Bishop elect of Monterey has talents of tlie first order, and those talents are well cultivated. He speaks several languages; but his humility and his many christian virtues grace him still more than his acquire- ments. I might speak truly in the same strain of many eminent clergymen, with whom I had the honor of becoming acquaiutcd. I might declare that generally among the canons and the higher clergy, I met with men who would be worthy of their post in any country. Yet, I do not say that there are no unworthy men in the sacred ministry. Alas, there was a Judas among the twelve! and one bad priest will attract more notice than twenty good. The good are unobtrusive, they are often hid from the public eye in their holy labor for the poor sick, and for God; the bad are ever abroad, and seem to have an ubiquity which magnifies their numbers. There are evils in the clergy, but a merciful protec- tion of God has prevented still greater, which political events 184 LIFE AND TIMES OF must otherwise have caused. On the clergy, in some measure, as on the laity, the convulsions and revolutions of forty-three years have had a deleterious effect; but alsn, in consequence of these convulsions, for several years not a single Bishop was to be found in the whole republic; young clergymen had then to be sent to various dioceses of the United States tor ordination. I need not say how discipline would naturally relax, and studies lan- guish under the total privation of the chief pastors. "Another evil now, as formerly, exists in Mexico, and might account for much relaxation of disci]3]ine. Bishops are too few; it is morally and physically impossible for them to fulfill the duties of their oflice. France has seventy-seven Bishops and fourteen Ai'chbishops ; Ireland, with seven millions of Catholics, and a territory not more extensive than a single diocese of Mexico, has four Archbishops and twenty- four Bishops ; and Mexico, with seven or eight millions of Catholics, and a territory so vast, has only one Archbishop, and nine Bishoprics, with actually only six Bishops, the former incumbents being dead. Of the four last Bishops of Guadalajara, but one, during a very long administration, was able once, and only once, to visit all his dioCese ; the other three visited but a small part ; the whole four died on the visit, one as he completed it, the others as they labored along it. Were there, in an army, but one captain for a thousand men, one colonel for ten thousand, and one general for a million, what would become of military discipline? The Church of God is an army 'in battle array.' In Mexico there are rank and file enough, but officers are wanting. Thanks to God, the Bishops, the clergy and the people are awakening to a sense of this truth, and two new Bishoprics are already erected. God grant that many othei-s be soon created ! "It has been stated here that the Church controls the govern- ment. On the contrary, in Catholic Mexico, the government has but too often oppressed the Church. Unequal and ruinous burdens were imposed on the clei-gy ; nmch of the parish lands was seized ; monasteries and religious houses were and are occupied by force as barracks, leaving but a part of their own EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 185 house to the religious. Bishops were often thwarted and checked in their efforts to correct abuses. Still, the very legislature which refused to recognize Sr. Clementini, the learned and estimable Nuncio of the Pope, expressed their general and high esteem of the secular clergy. And strange to say, whilst censuring the lives of the monks, they refuse to permit the Pope's delegate to correct the very abuses of which they complain. Oh, that the Church in Mexico were perfectly free! Oh, that the successor of St. Peter had full permission 'to confirm his bretliren;' then whatever relaxation may affect the clergy would soon disappear. "Much has been said about the riches of the Mexican Church and clergy. As to the mere edifice, some twenty or thirty churches may be called rich ; several others, decent and well furnished ; but a very great many are poor, and some are very poor. As to the clergy, those who know the use to which they have generally applied any surplus revenues, would wish that they were richer. Many, not only of the churches, convents, hospitals, asylums and colleges, but also of the bridges, aqueducts, pubHc roads, and public squares or walks, are due to the clergy, who projected them and paid for them. The learned and pious Bisliop elect of Guadalajara, furnished me with an account of the works of public utility which, in his own days, the Bishops of Guadalajara had begau and perfected at their own expense The mere enumeration forms a small volume. In every part of the republic I found works of this kind, constructed wholly or in great part at the expense of Bishops, canons, or other clergymen. Alas! few would now be able to do so much! Long since a law was passed which virtually abolished tithes ; the glebe lands have been sequestered, the churches despoiled. The liberals have endeavored to swell the revenues of tlie Church, by taking into the count hospitals, asylums, colleges, convents of nuns, and even the amount paid them for tuition. Let us apj^ly the same rule to our own country. One who appeared to know, declared some time ago that the corporation of Holy Trinity chui'ch, in iSTew York, was worth eighty millions of dollars, and was richer than the whole Church of Mexico. I can scarcely believe it, but I 186 LIFE AND TIMES OF well believe that if, to the riches of that one corporation we add the possessions and revenues of all the other Protestant cliurches in the city of New York, and the property and revenues of all their hospitals, asylums, colleges, Bible societies, tract societies, charities, etc., we would find a total exceeding all the riches possessed by all the churches and church establishments of seven millions of Catholics in Mexico. "By statistical tables published in Mexico in 1852, the number of secular priests in the republic was estimated at three thousand two hundred and twenty-three. The Bishops have since been milking great efforts to obtain a number more adequate to the wants of the country. Some of the seminaries count upward of five hundred seminarians ; then we may now estimate the secular clergy at about foufcthousand five hundred ; the regular clergy may be estimated at about three thousand ; making an aggregate of between seven and eight thousand, or an average of one priest for every thousand souls. How different from idolatrous times, three hundred years ago, when, in the city of Mexico alone, five thousand priests were attached to the service of the temples. It is true that the clergy in Mexico are not fairly distributed ; some places abounding and others very deficient. Still the number, compared to duties, is not great ; and when we know that many are employed in colleges in teaching, and in other functions, apart from the sacred ministry, we feel that the clergy must often be unable to meet the demands on their time and labor. " The writer I have just quoted fixes the entire revenue of the Mexican clergy, derived from every source, even from offerings at baptisms and marriages, burials, devout practices, etc., at eight or ten millions, and, in a note, he says he thinks he has exceeded the true amount. But then, even accordins; to his account, the average of the Mexican clergy's revenue, from tlie Archbishop of Mexico to a poor curate or vicar, would be about one thousand dollars per annum, or about two hundred pounds sterling yearly for each minister of the altar. Contrast this with the revenue of clergymen in England, or indeed with the reve- nues of many clergymen in our own country. I found many EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 187 priests in Mexico who were poor, yet who still were generous benefactors of those who were poorer than themselves ; I found some who were rich, and who m;ide most noble use of their riches. I found some monks who did not appear edifying; but I also found many of exemplary life. Among the Carmelites and the Reformed Franciscans, among those of St. Ferdinand in Mexico, or near Guadalajara, at Zoppapan, I could not but see worthy successors of the holy men of whom a Protestant writer, Prescott, thus speaks : "' Twelve Franciscan friars embarked for ITew Spain, which they reached early in 1524. They were men of unblemished purity of life, nourished with the learning of the cloister, and like m.any others whom the Komish Church has sent forth on such apostolic missions, counted all personal sacrifices as little in the sacred cause to which they were devoted. The missionaries lost no time in the good work of conversion. They began their preaching through interpreters, until they themselves had ac- quired a competent knowledge of the language. They opened schools and founded colleges, in which the native youth were instructed in profane as well as christian learning. In a few years, every vestige of the primitive teocallis, or pagan temples, was effaced from the land. The uncouth idols of the country shared the same fate. In about twenty years from the first advent of the missionaries, one of their body could make the pious vaunt, that nine millions of converts had been admitted within the christian fold.' — Prescott, C. of M. "Mr. Prescott, generally,- when he speaks of what he knows or has closely studied, speaks in praise of the Catholic Church. It is only when he speaks from second hand knowledge, that he utters a word of insult. Tims, his notice of the Dominican triars is as favorable as that which I have quoted of tlie Franciscans. I could add to his list an enumeration of most regular and edify- ing convents of Carmelites, Augustinians, and Franciscans, in which I lodged, and in which I marked evidences of holy life. I could speak of the few Jesuits fathers in the same style of 188 LIFE AND TIMES OF praise in which a most amiable, learned and distinguished Pro- testant spoke some few years past. It is true, Madame Calderon de la Barca is now a Catholic, but when she wrote her ' Life in Mexico,' she was not a Catliolic. But I fear to trespass too much on your time, and I sum up by declaring that during my stay in Mexico I found the evil much less than I expected, and the good immeasurably greater than I could have expected. " More than forty years ago, our General Pike, ascending Red River, and unknowingly trespassing on the Mexican territory, was taken prisoner, and brought to the City of Mexico. In his work, (though a Protestant,) he gives a flattering description of the Mexican people and clergy. Were he again permitted to visit that land, he probably could not now, after long years of civil wars, give equal praise. Yet he would see enough to join with me in the judgment I have pronounced, and also to join with me in adoring and blessing that special Providence of God, which has prevented forty-three years of revolutions from working the full sadly deteriorating effects so usually and so fatally produced." In the Spring of the year 1853, Monsignore Bedini, Archbishop of Thebes, was sent by the Papal government at Rome, as Apos- tolic Nuncio to the court of Brazil, and, in the course of his journey, was authorized to hand a complimentary autograph let- ter from the Pope to the President of the United States. In addition to this, he was charged to look after the interests of the Church in America, and report to the Holy Father the wants, condition and the prospects of religion in this country. Power was delegated to him to adjust local differences between congre- gations and their spiritual heads, and among many otlier things, he was emjjowered to settle the long and uninterrupted spirit of rebellion in St. Louis church, in Buffalo. On the preceding pages we have given a very detailed explanation of the trouble with this congregation, from originally printed documents, found among the posthumous writings of Bishop Timon. It will be EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 1^9 necessary here only to sketch briefly the visit of the Nuncio, and allude to his importance, in any further consideration of this memorable trouble. The efforts of Bishop Timon to settle the difficulty of Church discipline, affecting his authority as Bishop, had been in vain. As has already been seen, the condition of the church had been in a very unsettled state. Correspondence, containing resolu- tions for better behavior, or defiant resistance ; communications to the public papers of the day unfriendly to the Bishop; a petition to the Common Council of the city, and also to the Legislature of the State, to notice and adjust their claims; all these and other forms of insubordination, gave the Bishop much trouble. The arrival of the Nuncio, therefore, seemed an auspicious event. As soon as was practicable, a time was appointed for an inter- view between the trustees of St. Louis church, and His Eminence the Nuncio. The following correspondence will sufficiently explain the result : AFFAIRS OF ST. LOinS CHURCH. DECISION OF THE APOSTOLIC NUNCIO. . " The trustees of St. Louis church visited the Apostolic Nuncio on the 22d inst., and presented a memorial containing the details of their alleged grievances. " The Nuncio delivered the following answer in the course of Tuesday, the 25th instant: '■'•'• To the Trustees of St. Louis Church, Buffalo, " ' Gentlemen: I have read, with great attention, the memorial which you handed to me, relative to the unhappy ditiiculties existing, or which did exist, between some members of St. Louis congregation and their Bishop. Deplorable, indeed, is the condition of that congregation. Instead of enjoying in peace the comforts of religion — practicing it, and honoring it in love and charity— discord and bitterness are found; and even in the 190 LIFE AND TIMES OF temple a sad desolatioB reigns. A truly christian heart cannot remain longer in such a state. Indeed, the Catholic who would not seek to be delivered from it, by a reasonable submission to authority, would excite just doubts of his faith, and of his sincere will to follow the Divine teaching of that faith. But the appeal which you have made to the Holy Father, and which you again make to me as his representative, proves, I hope, that you wish to terminate those unhappy dissensions, and that you, as is just, expect that result from his authority and counsels. " ' I see no necessity for passing in review all the details or all the assertions ol your memorial. The root of the evil and its remedies are very evident. My whole attention shall be directed to point them out. " ' I thought it my duty, first of all, to examine carefully the original deed of the church lot. I find that in the year 1829, it was given by Mr. L. Lecouteulx '•for the sole and only use of a Roman Catholic Church and Cemetery f consequently its whole administration, whether in the measures taken to provide for its wants, or to remedy any abuses that may arise, should be founded on the principles and laws vs'hich regulate the discipline of the Catholic Church. " ' Furthermore, I find that the original deed was made by Mr. Lecouteulx to Bishop Dubois, with the condition that the property should remain in his hands, and in those of his suc- cessors, for the purpose above mentioned. Now, such a donation having been accepted by Bishop Dubois, and the church having been built on a lot thus acquired, the principles which regulate its administration admit of no doubt. " ' In your statement you speak of a ' Charter ' obtained after- wards, and of your duty to observe the laws of your countiy. I will ever be among the first in exhorting j'ou to observe the laws of your country, and to be invariably faithful to your duties as citizens of this vast and illustrious Republic. You know well, as Catholics, that not only nothing prevents your fulfilling such duties, but that for you, as such, they become even more sacred. I must remark, however, that to observe the laws of your country EIGHT RKV. JOHN TIMOIT, D. D. 191 is one thing • to avail yourselves of your privileges for the pur- pose of arraying yourselves in opposition to your Church, and to the authority of your Bishop and clergy, in the free discharge of their duty, is another and a quite different thing. I sought vn vain for some proof of Eishop Dubois' consent to the Act of Incorporation, procured on the 2d of December, 1838, nearly ten years after the original grant. But even supposing that he gave it, certain it is that he neither could nor ought to have consented to any thing incompatible vsrith the basis of that grant. No one could, by subsequent rights, no matter how obtained, justly destroy rights enjoyed previously by the ministers of the Church, accord- ing to the rules and discipline thereof. " ' The question, then, always remains the same : What were the essential rights of the Bishop in the church of St. Louis, according to the original deed, and the laws of the church which should govern it? Evidently rights obtained later should aim at preserving the original ones, not at destroying them. " ' But in this question it is not necessary to advance beyond its strict limits. If there were questions of revenues accruing from property or capital given or acquired for the use of the cliurch, which was in itself productive, the rights and the obligations of those who administered them, or who clairned a share in the administration, would depend on the conditions stipulated by the donor and accepted by the church, according to her own rules ot discipline ; and the decision of difficulties that might arise could only be based on her laws, and on the above named conditions. But I find nothing of this in the case before me. Here there are no possessions or capital to be administered which can, properly speaking, be said to be productive. Only the offerings of the faithful are to be received and distributed, whether these offerings are given during the public worship, or are previously agreed upon for the use of pews during Divine service. Can there be any thing more exclusively subject to the ecclesiastical ministry than this kind of revenue? The pews are not, of themselves, productive ; you yourselves, whilst your church was closed, could see this. The oblations and the contributions for pews take place 192 LIFE AND TIMES OF only in view of tlie Divine service, and that it may be carried on, and tliey must be u^jpropriated to meet the expenses incurred in performing it, or to support the ministers ajipointed by the Bishop to celebrate the Divine mysteries. Those contributions, then, are but the direct result of the sacred ministry, and consequently must be subject to the free administration of ecclesiastical authority. The Bishop who sends thither the ministers has the right to prescribe the mode of collecting such contributions, and of distributing them, so as fully to accomplish the sacred inten- tions for which they are given. " ' He has, also, the right of making such changes or modifica- tions in the rules governing such matters as may become necessary from time to time. The canonical prescriptions which guide the Bishop in his actions are, on the other hand, well known ; they prevent the possibility of abuse, or provide an efficacious remedy for it. These very prescriptions not only give the Bishop power, but they impose on him the obligation of remedying abuses which might occur in the administration, however legally acquired, of property and revenues of any kind which belong to the Church. But, as in your case there is question solely of pious oblations or contributions, which, after all, are but voluntary, there can be no doubt that the Bishop has full right to determine the manner of regulating them, and he, more than any one else, will take a deep interest in applying them to their holy destination. When, therefore, your Bishop informed you that he would name, out of your own congregation, a certain number of persons to receive and distribute, for the use and benefit of the same, the aforesaid oblations, whether offered during the holy sacrifice, or given for the use of pews by those who occupy tliem during the Divine service, it was manifestly your duty to submit, as he had an undoubted right to make such arrangements. " ' Your very memorial sho^v'S abundantly that the system of administration heretofore existing was very defective, since you have only disorders to deplore; and your very assertions prove clearly that to cure them fully and radically, your Bishop could not have acted otherwise than he did. EIGHT EET. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 193 " ' Mention is often made in said memorial of an intention to change the nationality of the church of St. Louis, and, by giving it to others, to take it away from those to whom it was first given. But the existence of such an intention is denied by the Bishop, (I have no proof of it,) I cannot even believe it possible; and if ever it were attempted the Holy See is ready to make the execu- tion of such an attempt impossible. " ' You say also that, since your charter of incorporation gives to the trustees elected by the congregation the administration, of oblations, and the above mentioned contributions, you cannot cede it, without failing in your duty. Here I call to your mind what has been already stated. When, in such an affair, you use the rights which the civil law gives you, you are bound to make your action harmonize with your duty as Catholics. The privilege which the civil law here grants is permissive; you may use it oi- not. It is your duty to consult the principles of your faith, to ascertain when and how you ought to use it. " ' Without examining the legal rights which accrue to you as trustees under your charter of incorporation, and without deter- mining by whom and in what way the thing should be done, it suffices for me to state what the Bishop may lawfully decide and require, and to this the congregation, either by mere consent or by direct and immediate action, should conform. Consequently, I declare that those who refuse fail in their duty, and by thus hindering the Bishop in the free exercise of his holy ministry, they become responsible for all the sad consequences that may result. Furthermore, I cannot believe that any law of the State will prevent your conforming to the discipline of your church; on the contrary, I know that the spirit of justice, which so strongly characterizes the legislation of this country, will never make the accomplishment of its duties impossible to a religious congrega- tion, nor compel them to adopt a course that would necessarily produce disorder and confusion. But if by chance it were other- wise, I am convinced that you need only make the case known to the legislative body, and they would grant such modification of the law as-would place your legal position in harmony with (13) 194 LIFE AND TIMES OF the laws of the Church to which you belong. I know that such acts of justice, in favor of other corporations, have already ema- nated from the Legislature of this State, and I cannot believe ' that a like concession, so evidently just, would be refused to the Catholics of this Kepublic, when once they make their wants known, and sincerely seek a remedy. In the meantime, if you but do your duty, nothing need prevent the administrators named by the Bishop from discharging their duties, even legally, in the church of St. Louis; and I counsel you to take the necessary steps to effect this object as soon as possible. The Bishop does not ask for himself the administration; he is ready to place it in the hands of members of your own congregation, but appointed by him. All that these may receive in the church, shall be used for the congregation itself; and at fixed periods shall give an account of their administration to the Bishop as well as to the faithful that frequent the church. Thus peace and order have been restored to other congregations; and the same will doubtless happen here, as soon as you have the sincere desire of restoring order, and of enjoying the precious advantages of a holy and lasting peace. " ' I request you to reflect most seriously and conscientiously on what you wUl do after this answer. You undoubtedly are free to submit or not to my declaration, and to follow my coun- sels; but the Catholic Church is also free to recognize those that are truly her children, and those that are not. After so many dissensions, disorders, and painful agitations, it is time to return to peace, and to make the vineyard of the Lord flourish in union, in charity, and in humility, without which it is impossible to please God. The congregation of St. Louis church, by adopting the course indicated, which alone is just and indispensable, will give a noble proof of faith and charity, and a sincere desire tor order and peace; will crown all my efforts with the most happy success; and they will have a very large portion in the benedic- tions which the Catholic Church and its visible head bestow on her zealous and obedient children. But if they refuse, I can only see in them persons faithless to their duties, who make use of their privileges, not to edify in the Church of God, but to destroy; 195 who, by placing obstacles to the free exercise of Episcopal author- ity, can never be received as obedient sons of the Church of God, who has confined solely to Bishops the power and the right to govern it. '■Posuit epwcojpos regere Eodesiam Dei^ — Acts xx: 28. " ' The Holy See will ever perpetuate the succession of worthy and holy pastors, and the common father of the faithful is always ready to provide for the spiritual wants of the flock in every ] i;irt of the world, by providing such pastors, and by the prescriptions, the rules, and the holy discipline of the Church. You now know his decision, his counsel, and even his earnest recommendation in regard to the question at issue; you have only to comply with this earnest recommendation to merit still more fully his paternal care and holy benedictions. Your submission to the laws of the Church will ever be a pledge of your submission to every other law to which you are subject, as it is impossible to be a good Catholic, and not be at the same time a good citizen of your country. '"C. BEDINI, " ^ArcNaiskcyp of Thebes, Apostolia Nuncio.' " THE TRUSTEES' REPLY. '"OoTOBEE 25th, 1853. ^'■'■ExGellency: "We have read the esteemed answer given by you at our last interview, (this morning,) with a great deal of attention, and we see therein, with great astonishment, that you say ' among a few members of the congregation^ (although we are very numerous.) " ' It appears to us that you have been misinstructed in that regard, and we would propose to your Excellency the contrary, if his Excellency think it necessary, by calling a general meeting of the congregation in St. Louis church, at any time your Excel- lency may appoint, within forty -eight hours. We 'kno^ positively that the congregation of St. Louis cTiurcTi is yet three hundred famiiVy fathers strong. 196 LIFE AND TIMES OF " ' Furthermore, we see nothing in your Excellency's answer, but a repetition of the demand made by the Eight Rev. Bishop Timon, that is, entire submission, cmd that ow act of vnoorporor tion should he a/nnulled, and that the a/ppointment of a committee instead of a howrd of trustees, should he made hy him, which has heen the cause of our difficulties. Up to the time of the begin- ning of these difficulties, we never meddled with the spiritual, leaving it entirely to the pastor and Bishop, but as to the tem- poralities we had always the control, subject nevertheless to the yearly inspection of the Right Reverend Bishop and pastor, (and at any time within the fiscal year,) over the amount expended and received, and which the pastor always found correct. As to the annulling of our act of incorporation, there is not the least shadow of thought, as we believe that tem/poralit/ies have nothing to do vwth spirituaMties. " ' If your Excellency thinks that, by having another interview, (the Right Reverend Bishop in person present,) a reconciliation can be eifected, we leave it to your Excellency's own discretion, praying you to inform us of the appointed time to such an inter- view, if one is to be had. " ' In hopes that a reconsideration of the past transactions will be made, and that a more favorable discussion in our favor will take place, " ' I have the honor to be, with high respect, your Excellency's most sincere and obedient servant, '"N. OTTENOT, " ' Secretary of the Board of Trustees of St. Lcmis Church. " ' To his ExceUency, 0. BEDINI, " ' Apostolic Nuncio, at St. Mary's Church.' PINAL ANSWER. "'lb tJie Trustees of St. Louis Church: " ' I informed you that I was ready to hear you again, as I was told that you had something to add to the letter of your secre- tary, in answer to mine of the 25th inst. I also wished to know EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 197 for certain if that letter was the expression of the sentiment of the board of trustees. In our hist interview you told me that you had nothing more to say, and that the aforesaid letter was the expression of your sentiments. I made known to you at the same time that I had not authorized any one to say a word to you regarding the question at issue, as it was fully treated in my letter, and I was decidedly unwilling to communicate any part whatever of my decision by word of mouth, or by any one's in- tervention, so as to avoid effectually all misunderstanding. "'Now, then, it becomes my duty to say that your answer is truly painful, especially to an envoy of the Holy Father, to whom you referred your case. The sad conviction forces itself on me that you disregard altogether Catholic principles, consequently that if you persist, it only remains for me to deplore the sad posi- tion in which you place yourselves in the face of the Church; but the responsibility of this rests entirely on yourselves. "•Buffalo, October 26th, 185a. " 'C. BEDINI, " 'Archbishop of Thebes, Apostolic Nuncio.' " CHAPTER VI. £wK Chut»ch Property Bill.— -Hon. Mr. Putnam and Hon. Mr. Babcock. — Bishop TiMON's Eeplt. — The Foundling .\sylum. — Ground devoted by Louis S. Lecou- TEULX. — Cottages secured. — Cholera. — Bishop Timon carries Infants in uis Arms to Places of Safety. — Buys a Farm for a Cemetery and other Uses. — Sentence of Excommunication against the Trustees of St. Louis Church. — Father Weniger mediates and restores Order. In the year 1853, during the great Know Nothing excitement, a bill was introduced by the Hon. James O. Putnam, in the Legislature of the State of New York, at the instigation of the trustees of St. Louis church, of Buffalo, which, in substance, was done to necessitate the transfer of all ecclesiastical property to the trustees. As the custom generally of other denominations, (non- Catholics,) was to vest their Church property in corporate bodies, of course this affected Catholics only. 198 LIFE AND TIMES OF Much debate was elicited upon that famous bill, particularly from Hon. Erastus Brooks, Senator from New York, and one of the editors of the New York Eispress.* Among the champions of that famous Church Property bill was the Hon. Mr. Babcock, who, in his speeches, uttered so many remarks at variance with known facts,f that Bishop Timon felt compelled, under the signature of Veritas^ to publish a reply by way of correcting the erroneous statements of the gentleman. REPLY TO MR. BABCOCK'S SPEECH. " Absence for some months, will account for so late a notice of the Hon. Mr. Babcock's speech on the ' Koman Catholic Church Property Bill.' Love for my country, which each absence in- creases, and regret that in an American Senate, an American Senator should, in malicious insinuations and sweeping denun- ciations, utter the oft refuted calumnies of by-gone years against the faith of many of his own constituents and against individuals, press me to offer some remarks to a generous public. " The Hon. Senator has indeed ' read history badly,' or he has only read such history as forced the Count de Maistre to declare that, for nearly three hundred years, it had been 'a vast conspi- racy against the truth.' Innocent the IH, Gregory VII, Boniface Vni, were not bold, ambitious, unscrupulous men. Hutter, then a Protestant, in his ' Life and Pontificate of Innocent HI,' and Vought, a Protestant and a German, in ' The Life and Pontificate of Gregory VII,' vindicate the character of those much calum- niated Pontiffs. Voit, the eminent Protestant historian, shows Hildebrand, Gregory VII, to have been a truly meek and humble follower of the Redeemer, and calls him ' the savior of the liberties of Europe.' The character of Boniface VIH has been * As the reader will get a very comprehensive idea of the details, etc., of this bill, from the controversii;s and writings of Archbishop Hughes, which are already published, we will avoid giving a lengthened analysis of the same. So far as Bishop Timon took part, however, will appear in this work. — The Author. t We mean no olTcnce to the Hon. Senator. But as many things said by him were subse- quently corrected by Bishop Timon, we are left to presume, that the sources from which he got his information must have been poisoned. EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. II. 199 often and ably vindicated. Mr. Babcock assumes, as an undis- puted fact, ' the encroachments of the ecclesiastical power upon civil rights,' yet he ought to know that the majority of christians consider their by-gone ' encroachments ' to have been the encyfoacfi- ments of the civil, or rather of secular despotic power on Church rights. By the words ' Papal See,' Mr. Babcock evidently under- stands the Pope, the Papacy. Now, he must know that the vast majority of the christian world hold the Papacy not to be a human organization, ' nor its agencies to have been for evil ;' he should also know that ' the Papal Dominion ' held no possessions in England; then, indeed, the Church property was eminently English and popular, as proved, not long since, at the bar of the House of Lords; the canon law required the incumbents of Church property to divide the revenues thus: One-fourth for the clergy, one-fourth for the poor, one-fourth for hospitality, one-fourth for the public buildings. '• Thus, also, ' the Papal Domination ' holds no possessions in the United States; Eoman Catholics indeed hold property. Church property, according to the rules and discipline which, they know, will best secure the safety of that property and the peace of con- gregations. The Hon. Senator may say, ' I quote from such and such an historian,' but certainly, the Hon. Senator knows that tlie vast majority of christians tell a very diflferent story. Who is to decide upon this question of truth, and upon other questions in which his assertion is contradicted by three-fourths of the chris- tian world? Will the Senate summon distinguished clergymen on each side, hear them on oath, pass some years in reviewing their authorities, and then decide who is right and who is wrong? If this can be dpne, why not leave controversy, either in sti-oiig unproved assertion, or in inferences and broad allusions, to scenes less dignified than an American Senate? "How coolly the Hon. Senator informs the Legislature that 'under Henry YHI, the English exchanged one despot in Italy for another in Britain ! ' With what dogmatic assurance he makes the very erroneous assertion ' that the canon law was pro- mulgated after the twelfth and fifteenth centuries, that it is 200 LIFE AiTD TIMES OF utterly repugnant to civil liberty;' adding insult to his error when he says, ' I have not found it necessary to w^ar against their faith, hov7ever erroneous I may deem it; if their practices tend to the subversion of our republican institutions and the destruc- tion of true liberty, theirs is the offence, not mine.' The lion. Senator has indeed read history in vain, if he knows not that the faith which he attacks by such insinuations, molded the former despotic governments of the Old World to that high degree of freedom which they enjoyed before the Reformation. The Sena- tor should know that when Luther began his sad work, there was not a despotic government, nor a standing army in Europe. He should know that then all the governments in Christendom were either republics or limited monarchies, ' with parliament or courts as powerful,' says Macaulay, ' as any that ever sat in Westmin- ster.' The Senator should know history before delivering lectures upon it in an American Senate. The Hon. Senator has also had the politeness to call names. Catholics are not Romanists. The Church of Rome is not in America, it is in Italy. There is no ' Roman Bishop ' here. The Hon. Senator shows his learning in theology by informing the Senate that ' the canon laws are no part of i\ie faith of the Roman Church at the present day.' But the Hon. Senator has forgotten to inform us when the faith of the Homcm Church, ' at the present day,' changed from what it was in other days, or when laws regarding discipline, which may change, ever formed part of faith, which cannot change. " When uttering most erroneous statements, Mr. Babcock says: 'I am credibly informed, from the most respectable sources.' Yet the Hon. Senator has been publicly assured that his statements were not true, and has been called upon to prove them, or to name persons and places, that his statements may be disproved; but he is silent; the poisoned dart is cast, he cannot give proof; he must by this time know that he was cheated, but he skulks from manful assertion, or manful retraction. " In no church of Buffalo were the outer doors closed, and the people coaxed or coerced into signing the remonstrance against EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 201 the bill; the remonstrances were not 'manufactured in New York under the direction of Archbishop Hughes;' those from this city, for instance, were printed in Buifalo, at the B&public ofHce. Tlie Catholic body in this State would, in far greater number, come forward at any time to sign a remonstrance against such a bill. The Senator tells the Senate that ' Bishop Tiraon was consecrated in St. Louis church ' and talks of a breach of faith on the Bishop's purt, against the rights of a church in which he was consecrated. Alas! for the Hon. Senator. Bishop Timon was consecrated in New Torh! He never received any sacred rite in St. Louis church! He has, indeed, celebrated the holy mass there; he has often administered the sacrament of confirmation there; he has preached for them; he has labored hard to direct or prepare him- self for all that was necessary to consecrate that church; for two years he sought to save a worthy and large majority of that con- gregation from the withering influence of a small minority, or rather of a few men who wish to be Catholics in faith, and Pres- byterians in practice and discipline; but all this would not render- the Bishop worthy of ' impeachment ' for not totally abandoning the discipline of his Church to the mercy of such men. " "When Bishop Timon was invited by the trustees of St. Louis church to consecrate it, he asked them 'if the deed was in the Bishop's name?' remarking that the decree of the Council of Baltimore prohibited him from consecrating any church the title of which was not in the Bishop. The trustees assured him that the title was in the Bishop, and to convin -te him, brought him an attested copy of the deed, which the Bishop still holds. A few dates will now sufiice to show Mr. Babcock how he has been de- ceived by an unhappy man, whose talent for misstatement is perhaps unrivaled : " Bishop Timon reached St. Louis church late at night, on the 22d of October, 1847. Whilst there, he was employed in giving directions, and preparing himgelf for the consecration of the church, and just stayed long enough to consecrate it, and to con- firm two hundred and twenty-seven persons. The church was 202 LIFE AND TIMES OF consecrated on the 2l8t of November, 1847. The Bishop moved to St. Patrick's church on the 23d of November, having stayed at St. Louis church about one month. " He v7ho v^ill compare these facts and dates with the state- ment of Mr. Babcock to the Senate and people of New York, cannot but deeply regret that the Hon. Senator should have lent the influence of his name and high station to calumny. " The worthy priest, who, in the new church of St. Michael, is still the honored pastor of a majority of the former congregation of St. Louis, left that church, bearing with him the blessed sacra- ment, when he was publicly insulted in it, menaced, and ordered by the daring minority to quit it. Can the Bishop be blamed for not sending there another priest, when all who lived under the domination of the trustees either fled from it, declaring the post untenable, or importuned their Bishop to deliver them from such tyranny? Can the Bishop be blamed for refusing to go to law even with a misguided portion of his flock, or for not urging his claims, valid or invalid, but donating lots and money to aid in building sheds in which the faithful portion of his flock may worship in peace ? Can the Bishop be blamed for refusing his services to men who refuse to accept his terms? Is the Bishop bound by any law to guide men who refuse to be guided by him; but who call that right which he calls wrong, and that wrong which he calls right? "Would not a Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church refuse to sanction sacred rites in a church in which a minority, after insulting their pastor, and chasing him away, repudiated the discipline of the Church to which they belong? "I need scarcely say that the touching jeremiad of the Sena- tor 'is all a farce.' Those Germans who really wish to be Catholics and hear mass, have now, as formerly, all the sacraments administered to them. Those who wisli to be Catholics accord- ing to their own rule, still go to St. Louis churcli, and make the prayers that suit them. "Mr. Babcock is equally unfortunate in all' liis operations; it is not true that ' through the intervention of Cardinal Fornasi, the 203 Pope's Nuncio at Paris, Mr. Lecouteulx succeeded in his ipis- eion.' But it is true that the trustees begged pardon of Bishop Hughes, promised amendment, and obtained forgiveness for their reckless and insulting conduct! " The Senator says: ' In France, for instance, the Church pro- perty is held by the municipal council, composed exclusively of laymen.' Alas, here again the same evil genius vras at the Sen- ator's elbovF, to tell him vs^hat is not true. In France, no parish church or its property is held under the name of a rnunicipal council, or of a corporation, or of a layman! Permit me to cite a little of French law; the French text will be at the Senator's service at any time: "In 1801 a concordat was made between France and the Holy See; the twelfth article reads thus: 'All metropolitan, cathe- dral, and parochial churches, and all other churches necessary for worship, shall be delivered up to the care of the Bishop.' This law remains in force to this day, in that part of Catholic Europe which was atfected by the French revolution. " On the 18th June, 1827, a concordat was made between the King of Belgium and the Holy See. The first article is: 'Art. 1. The concordat of 1801, between the Sovereign Pontiff and the French government, being now in force in the southern provinces of Belgium, shall henceforward apply also to the northern pro- Aances.' " In the French decree concerning Les Fabriques^ passed 30th December, 1809, we find: 'Of Sales,' 'Article 1. The aberration of Church property cannot be valid, unless authorized by the Emperor, (King, etc., as rulers changed,) and hy the Hin/iap, the administrator ex officio of Church property.' " ' Sec. 2. Art. 1. The council of administration of a church shall watch over the preservation and repairs of the churcli, and administer the revenues. In parishes of more than five thousand population, there shall be nine councilors; the Bishop will name five and the Prefect four; in parislies of less tlian five thousand souls, there will be only five councilors; the Bishop will appoint three, the Prefect two. The pastor of the church shall always. 204: LIFE AND TIMES OF ex qffioio., be the first member of the council; he may depute his vicar to fill his place. The council shall name the ' marguilliers,' (acting trustees.) Vacancies that occur will be filled by a major- ity of the council; if they neglect this for one month, the Bishop must then name to the vacancy.' " Americans would perhaps only pity the Hon. Senator ;'or his gullibility in believing the statement of ' his respectable inform- ant ' in French law. But deeply mortified will the candid American be, when he finds the same Senator mistaking the laws of our own country, in order to satisfy those bigoted feelings to which he well alludes when he says : ' As a private citizen and a Protestant, I may have a duty to perform in regard to the growth of Eomanism, very wide of that incumbent upon a legislator.' What sort of a duty he may have to perform, Mr. Babcock says not. It may not be to burn our convents, as in Philadelphia ; still he may have a duty to perform in regard to the rapid growth of Romanism! " If Mr. Babcock had studied the law which he read in the Senate, he must have seen that the clause first enacted forms a Church government merely human, (the pastor having of right no more to do with the trustees than the man in tlie moon.) Other societies were not satisfied. The Protestant Episcopal Church obtained a special enactment, declaring that the pastor of the church is, ex offloio, member and president of the board of trustees. Other Churches, too, claimed exemption from that ultra-human form. " The Reformed Dutch Church obtained this concession : ' Be it enacted, that the minister or ministers, and elders and deacons, of every Reformed Dutch church or congregation, now or here- after to be established in tins State, shall be the trustees for every such church or congregation.' Even the Presbyterians foimd themselves aggrieved by tlie earlier act; hence, in 1S22, they obtained this exemption : ' Be it enacted, that the minister or ministers, and elders and deacons, of every Reformed Presby- terian church, now or hereafter to be established within this KIGHT EBV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 205 State, shall be the trustees of every such church and cougrega- tion.' In 1825, the 'True Keformed Dutch Church' obtamed the same favor. " Roman Catholics can only incorporate by a clause so ultra- Presbyterian, that even Presbyterians have asked and obtained laws to exempt them from its rigor. To the honor of the legislators who passed it, we may say that it was never intended for Catliohcs, (Catholics were then but a handful; the law seems to ignore tbeir very existence,) no officer of their Church is once designated. The Hon. Senator says: ' Full ninety-nine hundredths of all the religious societies in the State are organized under the provisions of this law.' Is this an evasion, or special pleading? Under the clause against which the Catholics protest, it will be fair to say that only a small minority of the religious societies are incorporated. Take away the Protestant Episcopal Church, the Reformed Presbyterian Church, the Reformed Dutch Church, the True Reformed Dutch Church, and see if 'ninety-nine hundredths of the religious societies of the State are organized ' under the form which aggrieves the Catholics. "The Hon. Senator says that 'the Senator from the 11th, and others in and out of the Senate, claim that the Reformed Dutch Church has similar powers, and is a close corporation.' He is wholly mistaken; the constitution of that Church provides for the election of the elders and deacons by the body of the church, and for certain periods. But as regards the point at issue, either the Hon. Senator does not know what law is, or, in his high office of Senator, he descended to special pleading to mislead the Senate. " Men who would vote for an individual to be trustee, would not afterwards refuse a vote to the same person were he a candidate for a spiritual office. Through an error, repugnant to the legislation of the Holy Scriptures and to the experience of man, many unthinking persons consider the church edifice and the revenues of the church as entirely distinct from the church in its spiritual character. In vain do we tell them that they might as well con- sider the body, its nourishment, its functions, and its actions, as entirely distinct from the soul. In vain do we show them how, 206 LIFE AND TIMB8 OF by God's eternal law, the soul acts on the body, and the body and the functions of the body have their powerful influence on the soul. In vain do we show them that to legislate for the human body, because it is flesh, as you would legislate for the animal body, which is also flesh, would be enslaving the immortal spirit: still they afiect to consider the church, not as the house of God, but as the house of Mr. Somebody, whom they represent, and the church revenues, not as something consecrated to God, and belong, ing to Him, but as something belonging to them and their's. Such persons will vote for Mr. B. as a trustee, because he is a very clever fellow; for Mr. C, because he is a great financier; for Mr. D., because he is a good Democrat, etc. Ask their vote to elect the same person into some known spiritual office, and they wiU shrink from the proposal. " The Hon. Senator gives us extracts from the canon law which go most strongly to prove that the Bishops, and at least ninety- nine hundredths of the Catholics in the United States, know and act according to the principles of their Church, and that Mr. Lecouteulx and a very small minority, who care little for sacra^ ments or discipline, neither know nor act according to the religion they profess. I do not here seek to prove that the Catholics are right, and that Mr. Babcock's religion is wrong. I merely say that Mr. Babcock's extracts, proving that the Bishops and the priests are right in their construction of the laws and discipline of their churches, prove also that they are worthy of praise, and not of blame, when they peacefully withdraw from men who do not believe as they do, and abandon the church edifice and its prospects, rather than go to law or act against their conscience. " How diiferent from Mr. Babcock's were the sentiments of the honored men who legislated for New York near the time of the heroes and sages of our Revolution! The very act passed 6tli of April, 1784, which enacts the clause against which alone Catholics protest, says: 'It is ordained and declared that the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, be enjoyed by all religious denominations.' On the 7th of March, 1788, the New York 207 Legislature passed the law whicli now figures as one of the clauses of the present law. The preamble is as follows : ' Whereas, by the usage of the religious societies commonly known by the appellation of the Keformed Dutch Churches, the minister or ministers, and elders and deacons for the time being, have the management of the temporalities of the respective congregations, and the said congregations cannot therefore avail themselves of the benefit intended by the ' act to enable all the religious denominations in the State to appoint trustees, etc.,' without departing from such usage which has bcMi long estab- lished, therefore, be it enacted, etc' Then follows the law which constitutes the offices in the spiritual order, and their successors in that order, trustees to manage the temporalities. On the 17th of March, 1795, a law passed exempting the Protestant Episcopal Church from the rigor of the law of 1784. But let us hear the very words of the Protestant Church and of the Legislature : ' Whereas, the Protestant Episcopal Church in this State hath represented that the ' act to enable aU the religious denominations in this State to appoint trustees,' passed 6th Af)ril, 1784, directs a mode of incorporation which subjects it to a variety of difficulties, leaving the congregations not incorporated to the alternative of foregoing the benefit of incorporation, or of suhnitting to am entire alteration amd subversion of tTie usual and peculiar government of the respective congregations of said Ghwrch; for remedy whereof. Be it enacted, etc' Then follows that which now stands as a clause of the law of our present Digest or Revisions. " In that of 1784, against which Catholics, like the respectable Protestants above cited, protest, for the very same reason, because they cannot use it ' without an entire alteration and subversion of tlie usual and peculiar government of the respective congregations of said Church.' • That law of 1784 which ignores the existence of the Roman Catholic Church and of its ministers, termi- nates with the noble and generous proviso, which, if it have not the power of law in the book, will, I am sure, in every generous heart, be a law to give to Catholics that relief which 208 LIFE Airo TIMES OF Protestants claimed and obtained. ' Be it further enacted, etc., that nothing herein contained will be construed, adjudged, or taken to abridge or affect the rights of consoience, or private judgment, or m the least to alter or change the religions consti- tution or government of either of the said churches, congregations or societies, so far as respects, or in amy wise conoerns, the doctrines, discimlvne, or worship thereof.^ "VERITAS." It was always the intention of Bishop Timon to establish, in connection with the hospital, a "Foundling Asylum" and "Lying- in House; " as many infants, whose parents had died in the hospital, had no friends to whom they might be given, and con- sequently, in the very beginning, these children were at first cared for in awing of the hospital; but, the number of children increas- ing, and the attention necessary to be paid to them, resulting in serious damage to the interests of the sick in the hospital. Bishop Timon was constrained, though with much difficulty, to seek other lodgings in which to commence a new institution in his diocese. Mr. Louis Stephen Lecouteulx, who had donated other valu able pieces of property for religious and charitable purposes, had intended to give a certain piece of ground, (at present occupied by a magnificent building called "St. Vincent's Infant Asylum," situated on Edward street,) to the Bishop, for any charitable pur- pose he might see fit to promote. Upon the death of Mr. Lecou- teulx, senior, his son, P. A. Lecouteulx, kindly donated, according to the terms of his father's will, this piece of property for such an asylum; but, owing to a want of funds. Bishop Timon hesitated for a long time to build upon, and thereby take possession of the land. Legally, after a certain number of years, the property would have reverted to the lawful heirs of Mr. Lecouteulx, senior, and indeed, the time fixed by law for such issues had nearl)- expired, when, hy mere accident, Bishop Timon discovered the ovei-sight. No doubt, the necessities of the case, too, very materially aided in EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 209 awakening him to the critical situation of affairs. He immedi- ately had the ground properly fenced in, and two or three small cottages moved on to it, and in these humble dwellings he began "St. Vincent's Infant Asylum." This was in the year 1853. Just at this juncture the cholera broke out in the United States, and the hospitals were literally choked with patients, many of whom died. Mothers with infants died almost every day, and these latter helpless beings, thus deprived of their natural protec- tors, immediately found a home and careful nursing in the new asylum. Bishop Timon himself frequently assisted in carrying over in his own arms* to the asylum, little infants from the hos- pital whose parents had just died. But, in a very short time, even these cottages were found to be too small and inconvenient to answer the purpose required. The present handsome edifice was projected, for which a subscription was at first started, with which to commence building. In the meantime. Bishop Timon, in 1853, succeeded in getting tliis asylum incorporated, according to law. The work already begun on the new building was now pushed on with renewed energy, so that, on the 24th day of June, 1854, it was ready to receive its first entrances. Since then improvements have been made, aided by kind donations from the State. How imperceptibly the decrees of Divine Providence manifest themselves through the zeal of devoted and pious men. Thus, in a few years, from rude beginnings, noble institutions of charity have sprung up on every side, to the advancement of the inter ests of the community in whose midst they have been built Where, a short time ago, were uncultivated acres of la^-id, ove? whose wastes have swept the howl of the wind, there nov^ stand monuments of mercy, whose splendid piles rear in grandeur to the skies, as if in thanksgiving for the inscrutable designs of God. In the meantime. Bishop Timon, in the year 1853, purchased for the sum of twelve thousand dollars, which he actually had to lorrow, a small farm for a cemetery, and consecrated forty acres * The Bishop had early joined the order of St. Vincent de Paul, and in this act of charity, Imitated the example of the illastrious founder of the Sisterhood of infant charity. (14) mo LIFE AND TIMES OF of it. This cemetery is located on Limestone Hill, near Buffalo. The difficulty with the St. Louis church rebels became daily more complicated and defiant, so that Bishop Timon, who, in the exercise of charity and forbearance, had overlooked many and oft repeated violations of Church discipline, at length felt himself impelled to adopt a mpre stringent and decisive course. As has been si3en from the correspondence between Monsignore Bedini, the Pope's legate, and the trustees, the Nuncio used the follow- ing remarkable words : "The congregation of St. Louis, by adopting the course indi- cated, which alone is just and indispensable, will give a noble proof of faith and charity. But if they refuse, I can only see in them persons faithless to their duties, who can never be received as obedient sons of the Church of God. " The trustees " could not see "this kind of advice, and hence compelled the Nuncio to wind up the correspondence in the fol- lowing painful language : " Now, then, it becomes my duty to say that your answer is truly painful, especially to an envoy of the Holy Father, to whom you referred your case. The sad conviction forced itself upon me, that you disregard altogether Catholic principles, conse- quently, that if you persist, it only remains tor me to deplore the sad position in which you place yourselves in the face of the Church; but the responsibility of this rests on yourselves." The authority and kindness of the Nuncio failing to adjust the difficulty between the trustees and their duiy, the matter, of course, was left entirely in the Bishop's hands. He readily availed himself of the authority thus left him by the Nuncio, in writing, which was as follows : " I consider them as not being Catholics at heart, and. Eight Reverend Sir, should your Episcopal ministry inspire you to de- clare so, in order that good Catholics may know w7io are their brethren and who are not, and that those who now are led astray may no longer be deceived as to right or participation iu the benedictions and benefits of the Catholic Church, I leave it to your discretion and to your holy inspirations." EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 211 This judgment was aj^proved of by the Holy See. The trus- tees, however, in the public papers, published, amidst many untruths, their determination never to comply with the decision of the Holy Father, and this, finally, determined the Bishop's coui'se of action, and rendered his duty more imj)erative and decisive. Therefore, on the feast of the Octavo of Corpus Christi, June 21st, 1854, Bishop Timon issued his major or greater excommu- nication against the trustees,* (seven in number,) declaring further, " that all who may accept the office of trustee of St. Louis church, to continue the present unholy oj>position to Church dis- cipline, will, vpso facto, incur the same major excommunication." For nearly two years after the excommunication of the trus- tees, Bishop Timon allowed no priest to officiate in St. Louis church. A black flag was flung to the breezes above the churcli, by some misguided people, and, although obhged to act as he had done towards the leaders and promoters of strife in the con- gregation. Bishop Timon often wept tears of sorrow for the condition of the congregation itself, thus deprived of spiritual help. But he did not altogether despair for their future. On the feast of Pentecost, May 27th, 1855, at the earnest soli- citation of the distinguished missionary, Eev. Father Weniger, S. J., the interdict was solemnly removed, and the church re- opened. The following is the permission given for the removal of the interdict : " Buffalo, May 18th, 1855. " The pious, learned, and zealous missionary. Father Weniger, (wishing to labor for the salvation of souls in the only German church of this diocese which has not yet heard his noble and truly christian eloquence,) requests me to withdraw the interdict from the church of St. Louis, and the excommunication from the trustees. I can refuse nothing to this worthy priest of God; con- senting, therefore, to his request, I hereby declare, that the excommunication will cease as soon as the holy Triduan in St. Louis church will begin. "_|_ JOHN, Sishop of Buffalo." * Names are here omitted for charity's sake, a3 tlie excommunication over them has since been removed. 212 LiFi; Jlnd times of Father Weniger succeeded in obtaining some concessions to ecclesiastical laws and discipline on the part of the trustees, though the good father has himself since acknowledged that it was not without reciprocal concessions on his part. At first, Bis^hop Timon was not fully satisfied with the manner in which Father Weniger was dealing with the affair, and went frequently to the St. Louis church parsonage to see him about it. At length, the matter went so far that Father Weniger respectfully sug- gested to the Bishop, " One of us has to leave Buffalo, until the settlement is effected." Bishop Timon consented to go to Pitts- burgh. In the statutes of the Diocese of Buffalo, (page 26, Art. xrx.,) may be found the Bishop's conduct towards this church, and there will also be found the affirmation of the entire clergy, that the Bishop acted wisely, and even was not strict enough with this congregation. The erring men at last yielded, and once more the holy sacri- fice was offered in their church. Thus ended, seemingly, this long and stubborn difiiculty of St. Louis church. We say seem- ingly, because since then frequent misunderstandings have taken place, threatening the life of their pastor, and casting under the table in the waste basket any ofiicial communication to the board of trustees from the Bishop. In fact, this trouble may be com. pared to the eruptions of a volcano like Vesuvius. Frequent small eruptions from the mouth of the crater, indicate that the fires of matter, once so destructive and dangerous, are not wholly extinct, and are likely, at any moment, to assert their former ascendency irrespective of the dire consequences that may ensue. So with St. Louis church. The great eruption has been calmed down. But the frequent insults to Episcopal authority since, and the insolence and ill-bred behavior to its priests, are indications enough to show that the fires of rebellion are still aglow, although under subdued discipline. God spare the church of the future in this city from the further scandal of insubordination of the laity against due Church authority. Amen. EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 213 CHAPTEE Vn. Education.— Convent of the Sacked Heast.— St. Joseph's College.— Oblate Fathbbs ABEivE.— St. Joseph's College.- Discoukaging Circdmstances.— It Fails.— Chris- tian Brothers. — Miss Nardin's Academy. — Incidents.— Sisters of the Good Shepherd. — A detailed Report. — Other Religious Orders. — Provincial Synod. — Its Results and Importance. — Bishop goes to Rome. — Dogma of Immaculate Conception. The next want in this diocese that manifested itself very plainly to the Bishop, was that of education. As early as ISiS, Kev. Julian Delaune, late President of St. Mary's College, in Kentucky, under the auspices of the Bishop, opened the College of the Sacred Heart, at Rochester; but it met witli difficulties, and closed in 1852. The exertions of the Bishop, however, in the cause of education, were not confined to this college; he sought to endow his diocese with a house of religious women, devoted to the highest order of teaching, and therefore rejoiced to find that the ladies of the Sacred Heart were able and willing to aid him. Accordingly, a colony came from Manhattanville, New York, in 1849, and founded a convent of their order in Buffalo, which, however, was, in 1855, transferred to Eochester, as a more central point for their academy. The subject of education seemed to impose special claims upon the Bishop's attention, and, as a matter of urgent necessity as well as of vital importance, he did not forget the youth of both sexes. In 1849, he opened another institution in Buffalo, known as St. Joseph's College. He placed it under the tutelage of the clergy, and gave it the above name, out of a special veneration he held for St. Joseph. The early career of this college was a saried one, transferred from one portion of the city to the other, it was temporarily located in the Episcopal residence attached to the cathedral. Bishop Timon was particularly anxious for its success, and tiie encouragements he held out to the laity, and the degree of talent he employed, were such as to re\'eal the interest he evinced for the mental as well as moral culture of his flock. 214 LIFB AND TIMES OF But, unfortunately, the many complicated labors that engrossed his mind, the numerous missions he had personally to attend to, the pecuniary embarrassments in which he struggled, and the insufficient interest and enthusiasm manifested on the part of the laity in general, all these combined were so many agencies at work that undermined the foundations upon which he had to build for the education and culture of Catholic youth, and caused the trembling superstructure to totter, with a prospect of finally passing out of existence entirely. In this emergency, however, that ever watchful interest and energy of purpose of the man came to the rescue, and for a time prolonged the doom that threatened the hopes of the college. Bishop Timon then invited to his diocese the Oblate Fathers, and transferring the future of the institution to their fostering care, removed the college to York street, on Prospect Hill, near to the church of the Holy Angels. But in spite, as it were, of the zeal and determination of the good Bishop, the institution did not seem to " grow. " It lingered along spasmodically, as we have seen, and although the good Oblate Fathers brought the best of talent to bear, (par- ticularly during the administration of Father Chevalier,) it did not prosper. There seemed to be a general apathy among the Catholics at large; education, although a necessity and an advantage in their estimation, did not awaken a corresponding enthusiasm in their callous bosoms. Like a ship leaking at every pore, gradually sinks as she fills with water, although her crew labor incessantly at the pumps, and finally engulfs beneath the closing waters of the ocean, thus St. Joseph's College, gradually sinking for want of sufficient support and encouragement, finally engulfed in the darkness of obscurity, and was blotted out of existence for the time being. It was a source of great grief to the feelings of Bishop Timon, to witness this result of his labors thus far in the cause of edu- cation in the diocese, and although the prospects wei'e dubious and the future uncertain, he relied firmly in the Pro\'idence of God, " who doeth all things for the best." Nothing daunted, EIGHT EEV. JOHN TIMON, D. D. 215 therefore, by the adversities and ill-success of his efforts in this particular, he, subsequently, by dint of renewed energy, succeeded in re-establishing the college, though on another basis. Grown wise by experience, and having witnessed in his travels, both on this continent and in Europe, the grand results that were ac- quired by the children of the Venerable Father De Salle, or, as they are more generally known, the "Christian Brothers," Bishop Timon opened negotiations for introducing a community of these religious persons into his diocese. Ill these efforts he was successful. Six brothers, from ISTew York and Montreal, under the charge of Brother Crispian, arrived in August, 1861. The fine buildings in the rear of St. Joseph's Cathedral, are mute but eloquent testimonials of the success that has attended their efforts in a diocese hitherto apparently indif- ferent, or apathetic to the requirements of good education. The introduction of Christian Brothers into different dioceses, and the encouragement given them by several Bishops in the United States, was similarly imitated by Bishop Timon. He encouraged an establishment at Rochester, in St. Patrick's parish, from which, as a central house, each morning the brothers went to the differ- ent parish schools to teach. The same was done at first in Buffalo, when, in the Fall of 1861, the erection of an academy was commenced, dedicated to St. Joseph. But the solicitude of Bishop Timon for the establishment of schools, was not local. He endeavored to infuse his zeal for learning into other parts of his diocese; perhaps not upon so extensive a scale, but at least as interestedly. Nor were his efforts exerted mainly for the boys. He provided for the girls iu the various institutions that still survive, some of which subsei-\'e other objects, such as caring for the deaf and the dumb, the infirm, the poor, and the abandoned. Among several worthy institutions that he introduced into his diocese, the first one tluxt suggests itself is that known as Miss ISTardin's Academy. It is a religious community of educated ladies, bound together in the 216 LIFE AND TIMES OF same way as any other religious order, by rules, with this excep- tion, that the ladies wear no habit and are secular. Their duties are to instruct the young particularly. Bishop Tinion knew the community originally in France, but secured the present number of ladies in 1855, from their estab- lished mother house at Cleveland. It will be amusing, as well as interesting, to review the labors and the zeal that the Bishop exerted in establishing this community in his diocese. After having invited the ladies to come to Buffalo, with the promise that a house would be prepared to receive them, he was con- siderably astonished to discover, on their arrival, that the instructions he had given to another person to provide the house and furnish the same, at least sufficiently to receive the ladies, had been almost entirely neglected. On their arrival they proceeded to the Hydraulics, near the junction of Swan and Seneca streets, where they found the house provided for them, but nothing in it with which to commence housekeeping, not even an ordinary article of furniture. ]S[othing but the bare walls greeted them. The poor Bishop was in despair, and felt sad that his instructions had not been fulfilled. But the indomitable energy of purpose that had so often triumphed over sterner embarrassments, immediately asserted itself. Going across the street, to a house opposite, he obtained a tallow candle, in order to throw light upon the situation, and see what was to be done. He also ordered some hot water to be sent over, with which the travel-worn ladies might be refreshed with a cup of tea at least. Without stopping in his work, he next sent down mattresses and some other articles, and from his own personal furniture he added sheets and bed clothing. Witli these the good ladies made a faint beginning, and not long after, true to their mission, began to take young ladies to instruct them. In this first place of residence the communitj' remained for some time, although it was soon discovered that the loca- tion of their institution was not a good one. Consequently, they removed to premises on Pearl street, south of Seneca street, and subsequently again removed their home from thence to the 217 corner of Ellicott and South Division streets, at present the residence of Dr. Miner. Here they remained a few years, with varying success, until their present permanent location was procured on the corner of Church and Franklin streets, where a very fine and commodious building is in process of erection. It was always the special desire of the Eishop that this religious community should prosper, and on many and repeated occasions he has extended towards these talented ladies marked and favorable expressions of his sympathy and interest. One morning, during the winter of 1859, when Bufiklo had been visited with very severe weather, the surface of the streets and sidewalks of the city were like one vast sheet of ice. It had been raining very severely the day before, and during the night following it froze so hard that it was dangerous to venture abroad. It being a pious practice to be present at holy mass early every morning during the week, the community, in consequence of the state of the streets, and the danger of going out on this morning, had very prudently remained at home. The watchful Bishop missed them, accustomed as he was to see them together in the church at that early hour, (six o'clock,) and immediately after mass, in his solicitude, went, at great personal risk, to call and inquire whether any thing had happened. Advanced in years, and tottering under the infirmities and cares of age, he could not rest until he had done this duty, and at the same time ascertain whether the community had provisions and necessaries of life in the house sufficient for the day. This duty performed, he returned again to his residence. Nor was his interest in this community abated when, on Ash Wednesday of 1867, the year of his saintly death, he, in person, called at the academy to give his permission to the ladies not to fast; and this he chose to do himself, if he could thereby only spare the trouble to the community of calling on him to ask the permission. A few weeks afterwards and he, whose zeal and charity were ever warm and attached to his institutions, was a cold and inanimate corpse. But it was Bishop Timon's nature to be continually busy. He seemed to scorn fatigue, and his 218 LIFE AND TIMES OF whole heart and soul were enlisted in the cause of the Church and charity. Besides the many beautiful religious edifices erected in the diocese, directly by the main efforts of clergymen and religious orderS, but indirectly sanctioned and encouraged by the good Bishop himself, there are many institutions that may be considered, directly speaking, as the result of his own pious labors and encouragement. For instance, he introduced the religious order of the Sisters of St. Joseph for the Deaf and Dumb. To begin this institution upon a proper basis, he visited the various asylums for the deaf and dumb in this country and in Europe, in order to bring his experience and knowledge of the workings of these similar institutions to bear directly on his own. Frequently, when suffering under embarrassments arising from the want of the necessaries of life, he has taken from his pocket, or sent from his residence, means amounting to a hundred dollars at a time. He took a decided interest in the condition of the poor orphans gathered there, who could neither hear nor speak, and very frequently his sympathy for their unfortunate situation was such that he was scarcely able to repress his emotions and tears. The ibllowing circular will best explain the history of this noble institution, from its beginning: '■'•To the Honorable^ The Senate mid House of Representatives of the State of New York: "Me. a. p. Lecouteulx, a distinguished benefactor, generously presented Et. Rev. Bishop Timon an acre lot on the snuth-\vest corner of Morgan and Edward streets, Buffalo, for the purpose of establishing, in Western New York, an Asylum tor the instruction of the Deaf and Dumb. Having no building on the lot, nor sufficient means to erect a suitable edifice, the Bishop found it was necessary to purchase three small frame houses which were in the neighborhood, and (•ause