^%i'A:# ) Zy ^^H b>^^ CORlNhLL ^L^ UNIVERSITY ^^ LIBRARY ^..^^yi^Cu^n^Clo P't/cou/t, Cornell University Library BX 1417.R59M21 The Catholic Church in the city and dioc 3 1924 006 636 207 Cornell University Library The original of tliis book is in tlie Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924006636207 His Holiness, Pius X , Pope. His Eminence, James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, Fotcrth Bishop of Richmond. His Excellency, Most Rev. Diomede Falconio, Archbishop of Larissa and Deleg ate Apostolic, ;.-i:ifll|.i.''^ ^^Pf ■ ■*iiP-'^: ^*2 l.^ ^P ^_#-- ^. ,:-::.,:'■. / " ■ ■ ■ -,'.,. ■' . . , ■ , Mr. Thomas F. Ryan. • ^^^4 w i!^^^B / ■ w^l»-s. ^ 11 '^ ^ ^.,::^^«»^ 1 1 ^^SflP 1 ' 1^ ^^^^i^yi Mrs. Thomas F. Ryan THE Catholic Church CITY AND DIOCESE RICHMOND. By A Priest of the Diocese. RICHMOND, VA. Whittet & Sheppeeson, Printers. Copyrighted BY F. Joseph Magri, 1906. To The It Sf fa. Aaguafmf "Bm Sp 3^bsx, S, S., Sixth Bishop of Richmond, This Little Volume is Most Affectionately Dedicated, on the Seventeenth Anniversary of His Consecration. 4 CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and its Donors, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Eyan. Reception to His Excellency, Most Reverend Dlomede Falconio, Apostolic Delegate — Corner-stone Laying and Consecration of the New Cathedral, 9 CHAPTER II. 1526-1832 — Early Missionaries — Right Reverend Patrick Kelly, D. D., Eirst Bishop of Richmond, 1821-1822— Subsequent Missionaries, 34 CHAPTER III. Rev. Father Timothy O'Brien, 1832-1850— St. Peter's Church, Richmond, the Old Cathedral, 50 CHAPTER IV. Right Reverend Richard V. Whelan, D. D., Second Bishop of Richmond, 1841-1850, 57 CHAPTER V. Right Reverend John McGill, D. D., Third Biehop, of Rich- mond, 1850-1872, 74 CHAPTER VI. Right Reverend James Gibbons, D. D., Fourth Bishop of Richmond, 1872-1877, , 107 CHAPTER VII. Right Reverend John Joseph Keane, D. D., Fifth Bishop of Richmond, 1878-1888, 116 CHAPTER VIII. Right Reverend Augustine Van De Vyver, D. D., Sixth Bishop of Richmond — From his Consecration, October 20, 1889, to the present, 127 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. — Frontispiece. His Holiness, Pius X., Pope. His Eminence, James Cardinal Gibbons. His Excellency, Most Rev. Diomede Falconio. Mr. Thomas P. Eyan. Mrs. Thomas P. Eyan. View from the Lower Nave, 10 Grand Organ in Nave, 16 Altar and Sanctuary, 26 The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and Dioscesan Houses, ... 32 Et. Eev. Patrick Kelly, D. D., 44 St. Peter's Church, Eichmond, (The Old Cathedral), 50 Et. Eev. Eichard V. Whelan, D. D., 5S Et. Rev. John McGill, D. D., 74 Et. Eev. Thomas A. Becker, D. D. 100 lit. Eev. Dennis J. O'Connell, D. D., 108 Most Eev. John J. Kain, D. D., 112 Most Eev. John J. Keane, D. D 116 Most Eev. Francis Janssens, D. D., 118 Et. Rev. Benjamin J. Keiley, D. D., 124 Et. Eev. Augustine Van De Vyver, D. D., 128 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. CHAPTEE I. The Cathedral of the Saoeed Heart and Its Donors, Mb. AND Mrs. Thomas F. Ryan. — Reception to His Excel- lency, THE Most Reverend Delegate Apostolic. — Corner- stone Laying and Consecration op the New Cathedral. THE first movement towards the erection of a new Cathedral in Eiehmond, Virginia, had its origin in 1882. Bishop Keane, now the illustrious Archbishop of Dubuque, at that time presided over the See of Richmond. At a meeting of prominent Catholics held in the base- ment of the Cathedral, on N'ovember 17th of the same year, means were proposed for the raising of the requisite amount for a fitting Cathedral. The movement met with some success, but after a few years, owing to the fewness of Catholics and the fact that, as a whole, the faithful possessed but little of this world's riches, the matter was dropped. In the year 1901 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Fortune Eyan, of New York, determined to erect, by their own generosity, the long-wished-for Cathedral. Accordingly, in the same year Mr. Joseph H. McGuire, an architect of well-known artistic taste, was selected to draw up plans for the new structure. His ideas were accepted, with the result that the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart became a reality, and stands to-day as a great and enduring monument to the generosity, the zeal, the piety of Mr. and Mrs. Eyan. 10 THE CATHOLIC CHUECH, Nowhere else in the world, so far as we know, 'has a great cathedral been constructed by the sole mnnifieence of one family. Their gift is, .therefore, exceptional, unique, and one of singular magnitude. Nor is the story of the Eyans' generosity to Virginia told with the unheard-of gift of a cathedral, for it has been through the magnanimous hand of Mrs. Eyan that various new churches and schools in different parts of the diocese have sprung into existence. In beauty of location the new Cathedral is not sur- passed by that of any other church in the country. The front portion of the lot on which it stands was purchased by Bishop McGill in 1865, the rear portion by Archbishop Keane in 1886. The following detailed description of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart has been kindly furnished us by Mr. Joseph H. McGuire, of New York, the eminent architect of the building : The Cathedral at Eichmond, with its accessories, oc- cupies an entire square, fronting on Monroe Park. The plot is irregular, about 65 feet facing Monroe Park, 330 feet on Floyd avenue, 400 feet on Park avenue, and 333 feet at the rear, on Cherry street. The Diocesan Houses are built on the rear end of the plot. The Cathedral is a domed and porticoed structure, in the Italian Eenaiesance style. The basement is of Vir- ginia granite, the superstructure of Indiana limestone, with the roof of copper and unglazed green tile. The exterior dimensions are as follows: Extreme length 206 feet. Extreme width 114 feet. Height to ridge of main roof 71 feet. Height of towers 112 feet. Height to top of cross on dome. . . . 144 feet from ground V > PI .^ EICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 11 On plan, the eliurch is in the form of a Latin cross. Passing up the exterior ramps and steps, and through the portico, whose Corinthian columns are thirty-two feet high, the vestibule, or narthex, is entered. On either side of the narthex are the Baptistery and the stair-tower. Crossing the narthex, the church is entered. This .con- sists of nave, aisles, transepts, and apse. Over the cross- ing of nave and transepts is placed the dome. The aisles are carried around the Sanctuary, to form an ambulatory, a feature not uncommon in some of the churches of Europe, but very rare in America. The Sanctuary is separated from the ambulatory by elaborate wrought-iron grille-work. At the ends of the transepts are semi-octagonal chapels, and additional chapels open off the aisles and the ambula- tory. The Sanctuary itself is one of the largest in Amer- ica (40 feet by 50 feet), and being raised four steps above the body of the auditorium of the Cathedral, will afford ample space for the imposing ceremonial of the Catholic Church, in full view of all the congregation. The clerestory arches are carried upon monolithic marble columns, 18 feet high, set upon a 4-feet marble base. The walls are wainscoted in marble, and the floors are mosaic and terrazza. The ceiling is vaulted and deeply panelled, and, at the intersection of nave and transepts, rises into the dome, giving a clear height of 96 feet. Under the apse, the entrance being by means of a monu- mental stairway off the ambulatory, is placed the crypt, with some fifty catacombs, niches for altars, etc. The boiler rooms are under the morning chapel, which is entered from the ambulatory, and also directly from the street. The Sacristies adjoin the morning chapel. The organ-loft is very spacious, and is placed over the entrance vestibule. 13 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, The Episcopal residence and the Eeetory, as well as these buildings and the church, are connected by cloisters, thus enclosing a large garden. The building is heated by indirect radiation, and is lighted by gas as well as by electricity, and many novel lighting effects are introduced. Seating is provided for 1,150 people, but, upon special occasions, the church will easily accommodate twice this number. All the furniture, including altars, pews. Bishop's throne, gas and electric fixtures, bronze work, font, etc., etc., was designed expressly for the building. We are indebted to Mr. C. B. Brown, the constructor of the Cathedral's great organ, for the following complete de- scription : The organ was constructed at the factory of John Brown, Wilmington, Del., and erected by his son, C. B. Brown, and is, with few exceptions, a duplicate of the in- strument built by Mr. Brown for the Cathedral at Savan- nah, Ga., Rt. Eev. Benj. J. Keiley, Bishop. The Savannah organ is "Tracker Pneumatic," and this instrument has an extended console, with "tubular pneu- matic" action. The handsome case was designed by the architect of this Cathedral, Mr. Joseph H. McGuire, IsTew York City. - This instrument contains 47 speaking registers, repre- senting 3,016 pipes, 7 couplers operated by pistons under their respective manuals, 19 accessories and pedal move- ments, including 5-horse power electric motor and 'Tjinetic blower" to furnish wind; also "crescendo pedal," controll- ing entire organ, bringing on registers in order of strength, the reverse motion cancelling registers in the inverse order of actuation. EICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 13 A unique feature is the use of "tablets" over the swell organ keys, in place of the usual drawstops at ends of key-boards, making organ much more easily controlled, and is by far the most satisfactory method of manipulating tonal registers known in the art of organ building. The console is extended in front of the instrument, so that the choir can be placed between it and organ, there- fore directly under the control of organist. No labor or expense has been spared in the manufacture of this organ to make it equal to any instrument of its size, but all that skill and taste can devise has been done to accomplish this result. The "voicing" has been completed in the Cathedral personally by the builder, thereby securing best accoustic effects. The "string" tones are perfectly prompt in speech, the "diapasons" rich, bold and majestic, the "flute" work characteristic, the "reeds" bright and orchestral in forte work, and full organ powerful and dignified. It will be interesting to know that the pipes range from thirty-two feet tone to higher notes, which are not more than three-eighths of an inch in length. There is about five miles of tubing, which connects the console to -wind-chest and pipes in organ, yet the response to the touch is instantaneous. Specification oe Organ. Compass of Manuals CC to C 61 notes. Compass of Pedals CCC to F 30 " Ge&at Obgan. 1. Double Open Diapason, Metal 16 feet. 61 pipes. 2. Open Diapason (Major), Metal 8 " 61 3. Open Diapason (Small scale). Metal.. 8 " 61 14 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 4. Viol d'Orehestra, Metal 8 feet. 5. Doppel Flote, Wood 8 " 6. Dulelana, Metal 8 " 7. Quint, Metal 6 " 8. Harmonic Flute, Metal 4 " 9. Octavo, Metal 4 " 10. Octavo Quint, Metal 2 2-3 feet. 61 11. Super Octavo, Metal 2 feet. 61 12. Mixture, 4 Ranks, Metal 244 13. Trumpet, Metal 8 " 61 14. Clarion, Metal 4 " 61 61 pipes 61 It 61 It 61 II 61 C( 61 II Swell Obgan. 15. Bourdon, Wood 16 feet. 16. Open Diapason, Metal 8 " 17. Echo Salicional, Metal 8 " 18. Aeoline, Metal '. 8 " 19. Voix Celesto, Metal 8 " 20. Stopped Diapason, Wood 8 " 21. Fugara, Metal 4 " 22. Wald Flute, Wood 4 " 23. Dulcet, Metal 3 " 24. Flautina, Metal 2 " 25. Dolce Cornet, 4 Ranka, Metal 26. Contra Faggotto,. Reeds 16 " 27. Cornopean, Reeds 8 28. Oboe and Bassoon, Reeds 8 29. Vox Humana, Reeda (in double box) ... 8 " Choie Obgan. 30. Lieblieh Gedacht, Wood 16 feet. 31. Geigen Principal, Metal 8 " 32. Melodia, Wood .-. . 8 " 33. Dolce, Metal 8 " 34. Quintadena, Metal 8 35. Rohr Flote, Wood 4 " 36. Violina, Metal 4 37. Concert Piccola, Metal 2 38. Clarionet, Reed 8 39. Unda Maris, Wood 8 61 pipes. 61 11 61 « 61 11 61 II 61 II 61 (C 61 (C 61 (( 61 It 244 •• 61 It 61 II 61 (C 61 It 61 pipes 61 (( 61 (( 61 It 61 tt 61 It 61 (( 61 It 61 It 61 It EICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 15 Pedal Organ. 40. Contra Bourdon, Wood 32 feet. 41. Double Open Diapason, Wood 16 42. Violone (Augmented), Metal 16 43. Bourdon, Wood 16 44. Violincello, Metal 8 45. Bass Flute, Wood 8 46. Principal, Metal 4 47. Trombone, Reeds 16 30 pipes 30 ( 30 t 30 t 30 t 30 ( 30 t 30 C 48. Great to Pedal Coupler. 49. Swell to Pedal Coupler. 50. Choir to Pedal Coupler. 51. Swell to Great Coupler. 52. Swell to Choir Coupler. 53. Choir to Great Coupler. Couplers and Accessories. 54. Swell Super Octave Coupler. 55. Tremolo to Swell. 56. Tremole to Choir. 57. Crescendo Indicator. 58. Wind Indicator for Organist. Combination and Pedal Movements. 59. Great Organ Forte with Appropriate Pedal. 60. Great Organ Mezzo with Appropriate Pedal. 61. Great Organ Piano with Appropriate Pedal. 62. Swell Organ Forte with Appropriate Pedal. 63. Swell Organ Mezzo with Appropriate Pedal. 64. Swell Organ Piano with Appropriate Pedal. 65. phoir Organ Forte with Appropriate Pedal. 66. Chbir Organ Piano with Appropriate Pedal. 67. Balanced Swell Pedal. 68. Balanced Crescendo Pedal. 69. Reversible Pedal to Great. 70. Electric Motor. 71. Kinetic Blower. 72. Motor Starter. , 73. Full Organ Pedal. Aiter having viewed the Cathedral in all its parts, let the visitor, before passing out, stand for a moment at the end of the nave, and let his eye sweep forward and up- 16 THE CATHOLIC CHUKCH, ward, and endeavor to take in the superb beauty of the edifice. Nave, transepts, dome, white arches, marble pil- lars and altars, all form to him a most agreeable combi- nation. If he permits his thoughts to be in keeping with the scene, he will be, as it were, lifted out of himself by the beauty, the power, the majesty of the strikingly hand- some and ever-inspiring House of the Living God. He will discover, too, that, owing to the bold, yet harmonious quality of its Eomanesque architecture, the artistic beauty of the Cathedral of the Sacked Heart will grow upon him with each subsequent visit. The consecration of the new Cathedral of the Sacred Heart promises to far eclipse any Catholic ceremony here- tofore held in Virginia. It is to take place on Thanks- giving Day, Thursday, ISTovember 39, 1906. The occasion will bring together an assemblage of church dignitaries greater than the Old Dominion has ever before beheld on her historic soil. His Excellency, Most Eeverend Diomede Falconio, Archbishop of Larissa and Delegate Apostolic to His Holi- ness, Pius X., will most graciously perform the elaborate ceremony of consecrating the new Cathedral. The Catho- lics of Virginia feel singularly honored to have an illus- trious representative of the great reigning PontifE, the same representative who more than three years ago laid with religious pomp the corner-stone of the edifice, — now complete what was then begun — by his solemn consecra- tion of the majestic Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. The hearts of Virginians will likewise swell with pride when they behold, on that great day, within the rails of the Cathedral's sanctuary, Eiehmond's formler Sbeloved Bishop, now America's greatest churchman, James Cardi- nal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore. Q > z d O > 2 <; RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 17 And to add to the joy caused by the presence of the two most illustrious personages of the Church in America, the sons and daughters of Virginia will have the happi- ness of gazing on the face and hearing the eloquent voice of another of her most beloved and distinguished bishops, Most Reverend John J. Keane, D. D., Archbishop of Dubuque. It will likewise be a source of no little pleasure to the Right Reverend Bishop, to the clergy and laity of the dio- cese to welcome, along with the other distinguished Arch- bishops and Bishops, two more beloved sons of the Old Dominion, who, by the grace of Ged, now wear the purple, the Right Reverend Benjamin J. Keiley, D. D., Bishop of Savannah, and the Right Reverend Dennis J. O'Connell, D. D., Rector of the Catholic University of Washington. We have referred to the fact that the corner-stone of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart was laid by His Excel- lency, the Most Reverend Diomede Palconio, Archbishop of Larissa and Delegate Apostolic. The event occurred on Thursday, June 4, 1903. The previous evening His Ex- cellency was officially received into the diocese. The coming of His Excellency, Archbishop Falconio, marked the first public entry into Virginia of a Delegate Apostolic to the Holy See. The occasion had been looked forward to with eagerness by all the people, and when it came off the ceremony was pronounced the most imposing that ever occurred in the old Cathedral. The beautiful detailed description of the ceremony which appeared in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, written by Mr. Joseph Geisinger, now city editor of that paper, under date of Thursday, June 4, 1903, is as follows : "Amid a scene of beauty and splendor, His Excellency, 18 THE CATHOLIC CHTJECH, Diomede Falconio, Archbishop of Larissa and Delegate Apostolic of the Holy See to the Tliiited States, made his entree into Richmond last evening and was formally re- ceived and welcomed by the Catholics of the city, assem- bled in the Cathedral. "To the hundreds of people who filled St. Peter's the occasion was an inspiring one. The brilliantly lighted church was crowded with a congregation ai brilliantly dressed people — men, women and children; the sanctuary was thronged with cassocked acolytes and priests ; three or four bishops were present, with other clerics of almost equal distinction. Upon the episcopal throne, over which were draped the papal flag and the Stars and Stripes, caught together with the American eagle, sat the eminent prelate in whose honor the assembly had gathered. "While he thus sat, arrayed in the gorgeous robes of his high office, the Bishop of Virginia, speaking for him- self and his clergy, and a prominent Eichmond citizen, speaking for the laity, formally welcomed the delegate, the immediate representative of His Holiness, the Pope, into their midst. To both addresses His Excellency made suit- able response, invoking the blessing of Almighty God upon the faithful congregated before him and upon the Catho- lics of Virginia in general. The Holy Father at Rome, he declared, would be glad to learn of the success of the Diocese of Virginia, and of the beautiful Cathedral they are just beginning to build. The delegate paid a gracious compliment to the gentleman who spoke for the laity when, at the conclusion of the welcome. address, he called the speaker to him, extended his hand, and requested the manuscript of the speech. "At the conclusion of the exercises in the Cathedral the entire party of clergymen repaired to the residence of EICHMOFD, VIEGINIA. 19 Dr. George Ben Johnston, where a delightful informal reception to the delegate was extended. The Governor of the State and the Lieutenant-Governor were present, with several prominent Protestant ministers and a number of the most prominent citizens of Richmond. There was no speaking or formality of any sort, but simply a pleasant intermingling and hand-shaking and chatting. "Monsignor Falconio came directly from Washington, reaching Eichmond about 7:15 o'clock in the evening. Along with him from the Capital City came the Eight Eev. Dr. O'Connell, Eeetor of the Catholic University. The two were met at Ashland by Bishop Keiley, of Savan- nah, and the Very Eev. Father Bowler, Vicar-General of. the Diocese of Virginia, both of whom went from Eieh- monH to attend them. The party drove directly from Elba to the episcopal residence. "Long before the arrival of His Excellency people had begun to gather at the Cathedral. A committee from the Knights of Columbus was in charge of the church, acting as ushers and otherwise directing things until the procession entered. The choir, specially trained for the occasion, held a brief rehearsal and then filed into their places. Before the exercises began the entire church was practically filled with all of the best known Catholics in the city. "After forming in a body in the episcopal residence the procession of altar boys and clergy, in cassock and sur- plice, brought up in the rear by the bishops and finally by the delegate himself, marched through the street into the churtih. Bishop Van De Vyver met them at the door and then the whole marched slowly up the main aisle. First came the cross-bearer, then acolytes, then altar boys and finally priests. Behind the latter were Bishop Van 20 THE CATHOLIC CHUECH, De Vyver, Bishop Keiley, Bishop Donahoe, Monsignor O'Connell and others. Last of all came His Excellency followed by four altar boys, who aetfid as train-bearers. "The stately march up the aisle was made to the strains of Eece Sacerdos Magnus sung by the choir. The proces- sion entirely filled the sanctuary, which was finally reached, and the scene there was a beautiful and splendid one. The main altar was brilliantly lighted and beautifully deco- rated with flowers, and the shining brass of the candle sticks and the altar rail and the other apJ)ointments sparkled and shone in the bright light. The robes of the clergy and the altar boys were in beautiful harmony with the other elements of the scene, culminating in the gor- geous apparel of the delegate, who sat upon the episcopal throne decorated as described. "Assisted by some of the clergy. His Excellency mounted the altar and went through with certain preliminaries, the priests making responses. Then he was escorted to his seat, and Bishop Van De Vyver arose to speak. He stood in front of the main altar facing the delegate. He said: "'Your Excellency, — Language can scarcely express how singularly honored I feel to-night in welcoming Your Excellency into our midst. Welcome, both in my own name and in that of my clergy, than which none is more, devoted to the interests of God and His divinely-estab- lished Church. " 'Proud, indeed, are we to have Your Excellency with us to-night, not only because of your eminent talents, your profound learning, and your many virtues, but also be- cause you come to us as the honored apostolic delegate of the greatest of living men. We are happy to lay at your feet the testimonial of our obedience and loyalty to the vicar of Christ, the illustrious Pontiff, Leo XIII., whom the whole world honors and reveres. RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 31 "'Truly, Your Excellency, do my clergy and people feel that the great event at which you are so graciously to officiate will mark a new and glorious epoch of progress for Catholicity in Virginia. "'A brief statement concerning the growth of the Church in these parts may not prove uninteresting to Your Excellency. A little more than fifty years ago, when the Diocese of Virginia formed what are now two distinct States, it contained but six priests, seven churches and three schools. Only three cities were so fortunate as to have the Holy Sacrifice celebrated each Sunday. " 'Notwithstanding the fact that in 1850 West Virginia was formed into a new diocese, now, in the See of Rich- mond, proper, there are ten times as many priests as then, and, instead of seven churches, there are more than fifty. In place of three educational institutions in the State, now every parish of the diocese is blessed with its own parochial schools. Then there are in addition a college, several high schools and academies, industrial schools, in- fant and orphan asylums and other charitable institutions. " 'Fifty years ago there was but a handful of Catholics. Now there are more than thirty thousand. In every por- tion of the State where there are gathered even but a few faithful souls, zealous priests have been sent to establish churches and schools, and thus propagate the Kingdom of Christ in this portion of the Lord's vineyard. "'The growth of the Church in this State has the greater significance when we consider the fact that it has been brought about only in the face of the greatest of dif- ficulties. One principal drawback towards any great in- crease in the number of Catholics has been the almost entire absence of Catholic immigration into the South. Unlike the more flourishing North, where thousands of faithful annually arrive from Europe, to swell the Catho- 22 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, lie population, here the growth in number results almost exclusively from the natural increase and conversions to the true faith, of which, thanks be to God, we have an- nually large numbers. " 'However, under such apostolic and able leaders as a Whelan, a McGill, a Gibbons, a Keane, whose noble ef- forts were furthered by zealous and energetic priests, and loyal and devoted laity, the most formidable obstacles were intrepidly overcome. To have as bishops such cham- pions of our holy religion wa^ truly one of the greatest' blessings for the Church in Virginia. And since the days of these illustrious leaders, it has been the constant en- deavor of bishops and priests to actively carry into exe- cution the work that they have marked out. " 'In conclusion, let me say to Your Excellency that this day and the morrow will ever be memorable ones for the clergy and people of Virginia. We feel that by your com- ing an impetus has been given to the Catholic Church in Virginia that will be felt in the far distant future. " 'I desire, then, in my own name and that of my be- loved, loyal and zealous clergy, to offer to Your Excellency our heartfelt thanks, both for your presence here to-night and also for the gracious part you are to take in the cere- monies of to-morrow. Your condescension in paying us this visit shall, like the memory of your exalted and kind personality, ever remain unforgotten. Again, Your Ex- cellency, a thousand hearty welcomes." "Immediately at the close of the bishop's address, Mr. John C. Hagan, one of the most prominent Catholics of the city, was called forward to speak for the laity. The address by Mr. Hagan was one of the features of the even- ing. It attracted instant attention, and it received the de- cided approval of His Excellency. When Mr. Hagan had EICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 33 concluded and was turning to leave the sanctuary, Mon- signor Palconio called Mm forward, and as be knelt be- fore him and kissed his ring, reached iorward and took the manuscript of the address. The compliment was a gracious one, and furthermore a well-deserved one. In welcoming His Excellency, Mr. Hagan said: "'Following the example of our Eight Eeverend and dearly beloved Bishop, who has so beautifully and feel- ingly greeted you, on behalf of the clergy and religious of the diocese, it gives me very great pleasure indeed to wel- come Your Excellency, not alone in behalf of the laity of this, our beautiful and historic city, but also in behalf of those who reside in every section of this grand old Commonwealth, from the clear waters of the Potomac to the border line of the old North State, and from the peaks of the Cumberland and Alleghany on the west to the surf- kissed shores of the ocean upon the east. "'Your Excellency has but to cast your eyes over this magnificent assemblage, composed of the flower of our womanhood and the cream of our manhood, and note their joyous, eager faces, expressing more eloquently than any words of mine the pleasure that fills their hearts in hav- ing you with us, and their sincere appreciation of your presence on this happy occasion, together with that great fealty, love and devotion that pulsates with every heart- beat for our great and glorious PontifE, Leo XIII., whom ' Your Excellency so ably and graciously represents. Es- pecially do we rejoice that Your Excellency, a personage representing the authority, dignity and policy of our Holy Father, the Supreme Euler of the Universal Church, and Vicar of Christ on earth, has come to rejoice with us in our joy, upon the fulfillment of a long cherished hope, a dream of years, the commencement of the erection of an imposing temple to be dedicated to the worship of the liv- 24 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, ing God, made possible by the noble generosity of a Catho- lic layman, I am proud to say, a native Virginian. "'It seems to me peculiarly fitting that Your Ex ■-1 r <^ - Q o • w s o z p <; > EICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 37 the Church of Eome placed upon the foundations of the great new Cathedral of Eiehmond the smooth white stone, cut and wrought years ago in the Garden of Gethsemane in the Holy Land. "The sight was such as is rarely seen, and the like of it has never before been known in Eiehmond. But for the intense heat of the sun, which beat unrelentingly upon the unprotected heads of those gathered roundabout, the weather was perfect; the attendance, as might be im- agined, was crushing; the service itself was admirably arranged and admirably executed, without hitch or jar. The evening closed with the long-awaited event performed in a manner most auspicious and most satisfactory to all. "Long before the hour fixed for the opening of the ser- vice people began to congregate about the foundations of the church. In the cool shade of the trees of Monroe Park many of them sought refuge from the blazing face of the sun, but as many more braved the heat and stood forth during a long hour, awaiting the arrival of the clergy. As many women were there as men, and almost as many children as women. The majority of them were Catholics, but the great crowd included in it many of other denomi- nations, clerics and laics. ■ Various estimates as to the size of the crowd have been made from 2,000 to 10,000. Half of the latter number would probably cover the attendance, which was so scattered about as to defy attempts at ap- proximation of its size. "Shortly before 4 o'clock the party consisting of the delegates, the bishops, and one or two others drove up in carriages and entered the residence of Judge S. B. Witt, where they robed. A. few moments later and one of the finest of the many fine scenes of the day was witnessed. Down the wide stretch of Floyd avenue from the Sacred 28 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, Heart Cliiircli, some four or five square? distant, came the procession of clergy and laity marching two by two along the sidewalk. From the distance the sight was a striking one. Perhaps a thousand men were in line, and when the first of them reached Cherry Street the end of the procession was just issuing from the church, four blocks away. The rear was brought up by about thirty priests in cassock and surplice, and about seventy-five altar boys, robed in the same manner, some of them with bright purple, which shone in the sun as they moved along. A cross-bearer bore a tall silver crucifix, which arose high above the heads of those surrounding it, and two acolytes carried lighted candles. "At the residence of Judge Witt the procession halted and the line of men divided, permitting the clergy and the altar boys to pass down the middle. During this cere- mony His Excellency, the Apostolic Delegate, in his gorge- ous robes, surrounded by bishops in their purple rochets, appeared in the door of the house, making a most pictur- esque scene. When the last of the priests passed, the little group Joined the procession. The men closed up again and brought up the rear. "Proceeding without further delay the procession marched to the Cathedral and the exercises began. Throughout it all there was the same picturesqueness of effect, the same European flavor that chaxacterized the be- ginning. Twice the procession passed entirely around the foundations, the bishops attending His Excellency, and the little group making up, as before, the little patch of rich color that made the scene so beautiful from the dis- tance. At one moment they were gathered around a great white cross erected where the main altar is to be; at ah- other they were passing slowly aldng the foundations. MCSMOMD, VIRGINIA 29 blessing them ; at another they were back again under the canopy engaged with the stone. The great throng gath- ered around ; the stately and picturesque assembly of clergy and bishops; the- green of the trees all about; the bright sky overhead, made the scene one of beauty which can scarce be reduced to words. "One other striking fact should be noted in passing. Throughout the entire service there was present that thought of the patriotic Catholic, the existence of which some men choose to deny. On Wednesday evening the Stars and Stripes and the Papal flag were draped over the episcopal throne, caught with the American eagle ; yester- day the trowel used in the ceremony was decorated with ribbons of red, white and blue, and the parchment scroll placed in the stone was tied in the same manner. English hymns were sung; the Governor of the State was present and the Mayor of Eichmond. In his eloquent sermon the distinguished Jesuit made reference to the same ever- preserut thought, and spoke of the American flag, show- ing wherein Catholics were ready to die for their country's good and wherein they stood for all those things that made to the betterment of this great land. "The entire service was over in less than an hour and a half, and the crowd quickly broke up and departed." Many tarried awhile to touch the stone or perhaps surreptitiously to snatch an infinitesimal portion of it which hung loosely to the block. Years in the future will see these crumbs of stone still in the possession of those who own them — invaluable trophies of the day. By all, in fact, the occa- sion will be remembered as one fitted to inspire the Catho- lic of devout mind. In days to come the Laying of the 30 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, Corner-stone of the great Cathedral will stand forth as one of the greatest events in the history of the Diocese of Virginia. "The exercises began about four o'clock in the afternoon. Previons to this hour the Catholic men of the city, to the number of about a thousand, a great many of them rep- resenting the various societies, gathered in the basement of the Sacred Heart Church, there forming the proces- sion above referred to. At this place also they were joined by the clergy and the altar boys, and the entire body marched down Floyd Avenue to Cherry Street, thence to Park Avenue, to the residence of Judge Witt, where it was re-formed as described. From there the parade marched to the site of the Cathedral and the dignataries mounted the platform erected for them, for th6 choir and for some specially invited guests. As the procession entered the large united choir sang 'Veni Creator.' "The seventy-five altar boys, led by the cross bearer and the acolytes, and the men grouped themselves around. His Excellency, the Apostolic Delegate, was escorted to the special platform, where the corner-stone was placed. With him went Bishop Van De Vyver, Bishop Dona- hoe, the Eight Eev. Dr. O'Connell and Bishop Keiley, who carried the trowel. The bishops were robed in their purple rochets, while the Delegate had upon his head the mitre, signifying the episcopal rank, and was robed in the alb, stole and cape. He carried in his hand the gold crozier, the sign of episcopal jurisdiction. "Amojig the party on the platform were many promi- nent citizens of the city, including Governor Montague and Mayor Taylor. "The first item of the programme was the address for the occasion, delivered by the able and eloquent Jesuit, EICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 31 the Very Eev. Father William Pardow, of Few York. First of all. Father Pardow knelt and received the bless- ing of His Exoelleney, and then he proceeded to speak. The sermon was a striking one, and it created a great impression. The speaker took as his text these words in the First Epistle of St. Peter : 'Behold I place in Zion a chief corner-stone, elect and piecious. He that believeth in him shall not be confounded, but to them that belicTe not, a stone of stumbling and a rock of scandal' (1 Peter ii. 6). "After the sermon the exercises proper began. The as- sembled priests chanted the Psalm, beginning, 'Quam dilecta tabernacla tua Domine' — 'How beautiful are thy tabernacles, Lord' — after which the Delegate made the sign of the cross over the stone, sprinkling it with holy water. Then the entire procession of priests and altar boys marched around the foundations about fifteen feet from the outside, the Delegate meanwhile blessing the in- terior of the church. At the place whore the main altar is to be situated a large white cross had been erected, and the party of bishops, with His Excellency, halted there for an additional ceremony. During this exercise the priests chanted appropriate psalms. Meanwhile the big choir was singing a hymn in English. When the party reached the platform again the stone was blessed a second time and the sign of the cross was made over it with the trowel. The long litany of the Saints in Latin was then intoned by His Excellency and the bishops, the responses being made in a loud voice by the clergy. The etone was then given its final blessing and was put into position. The metal box which was to go into it was opened. Upon this box, which is o'f copper, is inscribed the fact that the new Cathedral is to be called 32 THE CATHOLIC CHUECH, the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. The old Cathedral will be called St. Peter's Church. Permission to make this change in the name of the Cathedral had to be se- cured by Bisiop Van De Vyver directly from Rome. "In the box, which was finally cloeed and sealed, with a stone placed over the top, secured by mortar, were placed several copies of The Times-Dispatch and the News- Leader, coins of the year of different denominations, medals, and so on. There was also a parchment scroll, containing the following inscription in Latin : "'In the year of Our Lord, 1903, in the month of June, on the fourth day, Leo XIIL, being by Divine Prov- idence, Pope; Augustin Van de Vyver, Bishop of Eich- mond; Theodore Eoosevelt, President of the United States; Andrew J. Montague, Governor of Virginia; Eieh- ard M. Taylor, Mayor of the city of Richmond; in the presence of Augustin Van De Vyver, Bishop of Richmond, and many others of high dignity, both clerics and laics, and of all the Catholic societies of Eiehmond, before a large assemblage of Catholics and people of other denomi- nations, the Most Reverend and Most Excellent Diomede Palconio, Archbishop of Larissa and Delegate Apostolic of the Holy See to these United States, laid, blessed and consecrated the comer-stone of the Cathedral, dedicated to the most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and by the illustrious Thomas P. Ryan, most munificently donated to the dio- cese.' "His Excellency put the first mortar upon the stone and then a second march around the foundation was made. Upon this occasion the Delegate blessed the foundations themselves, or the exterior. He stopped at the transepts and gave them a "special blessing. Returning to the plat- form he blessed the stone again and offered prayers that X w o > H X > K ffi RICHMOKD, VIRGINIA. 33 the Almiglity would confirm all that had been done that day. "The impressive service closed -with one of the most impressive features of all. As His Excellency advanced to the edge of the platform the great throng before him knelt and received the papal blessing. The scene was a most strikiag one. It was conceded by all that the occasion had been admir- ably handled. To the perfection of the arrangements much is due to the work of Mr. John C. Hagan and the fifty Knights of Columbus associated with him in the maiiage- ment of the platform. "The long procession marched back to the Sacred Heart Church, and there disbanded. The clergy returned to the episcopal residence. His Excellency and the bishops also returned to this point. At 7 o'clock in the evening all of them repaired to Murphy's Hotel, where they took dinner." The occasion of the new Cathedral's consecration is a most fitting time to give to the public an historical sketch of the Catholic Church in the City and Diocese of Eich- mond. The facts which are to follow are derived from au- thentic sources, and are the results of six years' labor. The endeavor will be made to give an account of Catho- licity in the Episcopal City and Diocese of Eiehmond, as complete as possible, from the earliest days to the death of Eight Eeverend Bishop McGill, the last amongst the deceased bishops of Eiehmond. History can be properly written only after the demise of the principal characters who figure in its pages. Conse- quently, as all the bishops of Richmond after Bishop Mc- Gill's time, as well as most of the diocesan priests from his time on, are yet living, only a few of the more im- portant events of later years will be touched upon. CHAPTEE II. 1526-1832. Eablt Missionabies. — Right Eev. Patkick Kelly, D. D., Pibst Bishop of Richmond, 1821 — 1822. — Subsequent Mission- aries. IN the summer of 1526, eighty-one yeaxs before the English settled at Jamestown, reliable Spanish docu- ments bear testimony to the fact that the second place of Catholic worship within the present territory of the United States, the first being in Florida, was established on Vir- ginia's soil, and most probably at the very place where the English made their settlement in 1607. John G-ilmary Shea, the noted Catholic histoiian, in his "History of the Catholic Church in the United States," Vol. I., page 106, says: "Ayllon . . . sailed northward until he reached the Chesapeake. Entering the capes, he ascended a river, and began the establishment of his colony at Guandape, giving it the name of St. Michael, the spot being, by the testimony of Ecija, the pilot-in-chief of Florida, that where the Eng- lish subsequently founded Jamestown." As regards the Spanish documents bearing witness to the above, they are, according to the Now York Sun, of comparatively recent discovery, having been entirely un- known, even to Bancroft himself. The colony of Ayllon, which had come to Virginia on three vessels, consisted of 600 men, women and children, who brought with them horses and extensive supplies. Amongst the party were two Dominican Fathers — Eev. EICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 35 Anthony de Montesinos, a celebrated preacher, and Eev. Anthony de Cervantes, with Brother Peter de Estrada. As to what happened upon their landing, we have the words of Shea: "Houses were erected, and the Holy Sac- rifice was offered in a temporary chapel by the zealous priests. Sickness soon showed itself, and Ayllon, sinking under a pestilential fever, died in the arms of the Domini- can priests on St. Luke's day, October 18, 1526. Winter set in early and the cold was intense. Francis Gomez, who succeeded to the command, could not control the peo- ple. His authority was usurped by- mutineers, who pro- voked the negro slaves to revolt and the Indians to hostil- ity. It was at last resolved to abandon the country, and in the spring Gomez, taking the body of Ayllon, set sail for Santo Domingo, but the vessel containing the remains foundered, and only one hundred and fifty of the whole party reached Hispaniola." "In the vessels that arrived in 1566," says Shea, "there came some Dominican Fathers, and Meneadez (the Catho- lic governor of Florida and nominal governor of Virginia) sent two of them with Don Luis Velasco, the brother of the chieftain of Axacan, to the Chesapeake, with a captain and thirty soldiers for their protection. Menendez deemed it necessary to occupy the bay as the northern bulwark of Spanish power. His intention was, however, bafded, for the captain, pretending to have been prevented by storms, made his way to Seville." Undismayed by his former failure, Menendez resolved to make another attempt at founding a Catholic colony in Virginia. Owing to his encouragement and protection, Father Segura, the Vice Provincial of the Jesuits, accom- panied by Father Louis de Quiros and six brothers, set out for Virginia. Sailing from Saint Helena, August 5, 36 THfi CATHOLIC CaURCH, 1570, they entered St. Mary's Bay (the Chesapeake), passed up the Potomac, and on September the 10th landed on Virginia's soil. They then journeyed south and formed a settlement on the banks of the Eappah.annock River, at a point called Axaean. Here they erected a log building which served as chapel and home. Don Luis de Velasoo, an Indian of Spanish name, who had piloted the missionaries, rejoined his tribe, some miles distant, and did not return, as he had agreed to do. On February 14th, Father Quiros and Brothers Solis and Men- endez, who had been sent by Father Segura to urge Don Luis to return, were treacherously attacked by a body of Indians under the latter and were all slain by arrows. On February 18th the Indians attacked the mission house and slew Father Segura and the remaining brothers, whose names were Brothers Linares, Redondo, Gabriel Gomez, and Sancho Zevallos. These were the first martyrs of the Church in Virginia. Menendez, hearing of the slaughter of the missionaries, sailed for Axacon some months later and had eight of the murderers hung. Before death they were baptized by Father Eogel, who came on the vessel with Menendez. Thereafter for years to come the missions in Virginia had to be abandoned. Lord Baltimore attempted to plant a Catholic colony in Virginia, and with that end in view even visited the State in 1629, but in vain. Owing to the exclusive re- ligious laws of the Old Dominion he was reluctantly forced to abandon his project. The Jesuit Fathers, who labored in Maryland, occasion- ally made excusions into Virginia, with the result that a considerable number of converts were made, as is inferred from a law passed by Virginia in 1641, by which Catholics EICHMOKD, VIEGINIA. 37 were excluded from public office under forfeiture of a thousand pounds of tobacco. Mr. J. H. Whitty, an esteemed Catholic gentleman of Richmond, who for years has been collecting invaluable Catholic historical data, writes: "The Norfolk County, Virginia, records of September 15, 1687, show Father Ed- monds, a Roman Catholic priest, arrested for marrying a couple, and on November 16, 1687, Father Raymond, at Norfolk, Virginia, arrested for saying Mass and marrying a couple. "No doubt both these priests visited Williamsburg and ministered throughout that section of Virginia. These records show the Catholic mission priests present in Vir- ginia at that early period, and they must have had suc- cessors up to the time of the arrival of the Abbe Dubois." An attempt to establish a Catholic settlement in Vir- ginia was made by Captain George Brent during the reign of James 11. With three other English gentlemen he pur- chased thirty thousand acres of land between the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers, and obtained from James in 1687 the right of free religious worship for those who were to settle. Owing to the death of James, in 1701, the movement came to naught. That Catholic priests also came from Maryland into Virginia during the years that followed is evident from orders issued for their apprehension. During the early part of the eighteenth century certain Catholic families had formed a settlement on the south- side of the Potomac along Aquia Creek. Their place of worship was a chapel made of logs and dedicated to St. Mary, the Mother of God. Documents show that during 1774 and probably the years immeaiafely preceding, the mission at Aquia Crfeek 38 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, was attended monthly, and, in the face of great difficulties of journey, by some priest from Eoek Creek, Maryland, who seems to have won renown by his apostolic labors. He made his little log church at Aquia Creek a kind of base of operations from which he extended his work into neighboring parts of Virginia. Father John Carroll describing the condition of Catho- licity in Virginia in the year 1785, four years before his consecration as the first American Bishop, wrote that not a single priest could be found in all Virginia. It was his opinion also that no Catholic families existed in the State at that time. Nor is the above condition of things to be wondered at when we take into account the existent re- ligious laws, and the fact that within the whole area of the United States there were then less than fifty priests with only 35,000 of the faithful. In the summer of 1791 the Eev. Jean Dubois, with a few other French priests and some members of the faith- ful, arrived in Norfolk. These had left their native land on account of the religious turmoil then rife in France. Father Dubois had in his possession letters of introduc- tion from Lafayette to James Monroe, to the Randolphs and Lees and tg other prominent Virginia families. Ob- taining facilities from Bishop Carroll, he celebrated at Norfolk the first Mass said in Virginia after the Declara- tion of Independence, if we except the Masses offered during the fall and winter of 1781 in the French camps and on board the French ships — such Masses being said in thanksgiving for the surrender of thie English at YorHown. With his letters of introduction Father Dubois came to Richmond, where he remained during the winter of 1791-92. The General Assembly being at the time of his EICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 39 visit in session in the Capitol ]ust built, invited the French priest to celebrate Mass in the hall of the House of Dele- gates. Thus was offered in Eichmond for the first time the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. During his short missionary work in Eichmond, Father Dubois obtained support by teaching French, he being taught English by a no less illustrious personage than the great Patrick Henry himself. Beside saying Mass in the Capitol, Father Dubois likewise preached, absolved and baptized in the same building. Amongst his converts was a distinguished member of the celebrated Lee family. Leaving Eichmond in 1792, probably during the late spring or early summer. Father Dubois did missionary work in various parts of Virginia and Maryland until 1794, when he was located at Frederick. Father Dubois' after career was full of events. In 1808 he founded Mt. St. Mary's College, and in 1836 was created the third Bishop of New York. In 1838 Bishop John Hughes, afterwards First Archbishop of New York, was appointed his co-ad jutor. Bishop Dubois died at New York in 1843. '^Undoubtedly," writes Mr. J. H. Whitty, the Eichmond gentleman to whom 'allusion has already been made, "the Abbe Dubois came to Eichmond to start a permanent parish, and evidences point to one of his assistants at Norfolk as the first regularly stationed priest at Eich- mond. "The exact date of his coming to Eichmond cannot be determined, but he was certainly in Eichmond in 1798, and his name was Father T. C. Mongrand. "A law passed in 1798 required all aliens to be regis- tered. In compliance with the same. Father Mongrand was the first registered alien at Eichmond, Virginia. I 40 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, Lave handled his letter and made a facsimile of his auto- graph, which I give herewith : " His letter was dated 'Shillekh,' December 18, 1798. He gave his age as fifty-four years, his place of nativity Tonnay, Prance; his occupation minister of the Roman Catholic Church; his place of residence 'Shillelah.' How long he had been residing there is a question. I am re- liably informed that 'Shillelah' was the seat of Colonial Heath, a little below Richmond; that about that period there was a colony of foreigners thereabout, and possibly a larger Catholic community higher up in the town. Father Mongrand must have been succeeded by Father Xavier Michel, known to have been stationed in Richmond up to 1813." Father Xavier Michel (sometimes written Miguel), a former canon of Toulouse and now belonging to the Fathers of the Faith, was sent by Archbishop Carroll to Richmond in 1811. John Gilmary Shea, the great Catho- lic historian, evidently did not know of the records re- ferring to the presence of Father Mongrand in Richmond, for he makes no mention of him in his excellent " History of the Catholic Church in the United States." Having no church. Father Michel officiated at Mass and other priestly functions either in private houses or rooms which he temporarily rented. RICPIMOKD, VIEGINIA. 41 'In 1813 Mr. John MeElroy, afterwards Father McElroy, of the Society of Jesus, was sent to Eiehmond to assist Father Michel in winding up his affairs, preparatory to his (Father Michel's) entry into the same order. Shortly afterwards Father Michel left Eiehmond for Georgetown. In 1814, as we are informed by Bishop Brute, he returned to Europe, whence he proceeded to the missions of China. From 1813 to 1819 there are no known records of any particular priest who came to Eiehmond. However, it is certain that Mass was frequently said in Eiehmond during that period. Beginning probably from the time of Father Mongrand and up until the establishment of the first place of Catho- lic worship in the city, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated 'at one time in a house on the southside of East Main street between Twentieth and Twenty-first streets; at another time in the old Academy on Eighth street, near Gary; then again in a room of the old Union Hotel on the southwest corner of Main and Nineteenth streets, and again in the house of Mrs. Sarah Purcell, mother of Mrs. John Purcell, lately deceased, on East Main street between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets. The priests who visited Eiehmond officiated at the last mentioned place for a considerable length of time. The room in which the Holy Sacrifice was offered was a parlor over a store. Here whenever the priest came, usually from Georgetown or Baltimore, would gather the handful of faithful Catholics. Besides the Purcells, the Picots, who were refugees of the insurrection of San Domingo, were prominent Catholics of that time. A codicil in the will of Joseph Gallego, founder of the Gallego Flour Mills, who died in 1818, directs that "if the Eoman Catholic Chapel should be continued" at the 42 THE CATHOLIC CHUECH, time of his death to pay one thousand dollars towards its support. The room or hall referred to above and known as "The Chapel" was the first permanent place of worship used by the Catholics of Eiehmond. It was located in the southeastern part of Hargrove's tobacco factory^ a build- ing which stood at or near the comer of Main and Twenty- seventh streets on the southside. The "Chapel" itself was about 125 feet south of the Main-street line. Judge A. M. Keiley, in his interesting "Memoranda of the Catholic Church in Eiehmond," published in 1874, writes the following: "This (Hargrove's) factory con- sists of three parts: The old chapel building, on whose walls the plastering still stands, and two large additions, one to the west, the other to the north of this. The win- dows still indicate that it was intended for a public edi- fice, and I found an old negro on the premises who re- membered to have seen the old pulpit in an outhouse, where it went to decay." The "Chapel" above referred to was also known as "The Bocketts Church." It was constructed in 1813 by the Presbyterians, who, in 1815, sold the building, which was then leased by the Catholics for a number of years, it be- ing the only place of Catholic worship in Eiehmond. Priests were frequently sent to officiate at this church, sometimes from Baltimore, but more often from George- town, and occasionally from Norfolk. Sometimes large bodies of Catholic sailors attended the Chapel. Hence it came to be also designated as "The Sailors' Church." During the whole of the year 1819, Eev. John Baxter, a Georgetown Jesuit of great learning and piety, was located in Eiehmond and regukrly celebrated Mass, preached and administered the sacraments in "The EICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 43 Chapel." • During 1820 and up to the fall of 1831, Eev. John Mahoney was stationed at Richmond as pastor. In order that light may be thrown on the condition of Catholicity in Richmond, it is necessary for us to interrupt our regular narrative and say something of the church at Norfolk. To this purpose we quote here from the history of John Gilmary Shea (Vol. II., pp. 492-3) : "The Rev. James Michel Bush had begun the erection of a church at Norfolk, but there were trustees there who claimed all control. When the Very Rev. Leonard Neale was sent to that place in 1799, he was disquieted by the scenes he wit- nessed at an election of trustees and their opposition to their pastor. He urged them earnestly to lay aside all such feelings and to unite heartily in completing the church which they had begun." "The Rev. Michael Lacy (an Irish priest), who was at Norfolk in 1803, found a flock of less than forty families, a debt on the church of $600, the fence around the church and graveyard already falling to decay, no residence for a clergyman, the adults indifEerent to their Christian duties, so that he could effect good mainly by catechizing the children. "He visited Baltimore and obtained ifnom generous Catholics there and elsewhere means to improve the church, which he directed zealously until his death in 1815." According to reliable tradition^ Alexandria could boast of a log chapel and residence of a priest, whose name is unknown, even before the Church of Norfolk had been founded. It is known that Eev. Father Thayer was at Alexandria during the year 1794, and that in 1796 Eev. Francis Neale erected a church structure of brick on the northwest corner of the Catholic Cemetery. After some U THE CATHOLIC CHUECH, four or five years the building referr'ed to was abandoned, and a cburdi with tower was erected by popular subscrip- tion on Chapel alley. In 1830 the Catholics of Norfolk, being in larger num- bers than were found in the entire remaiaeder of the State, forwarded a petition to Rome for the erection of Virginia into a diocese. Accordingly Pope Pius VII., by a brief dated July 11, 1820, created the Diocese of Richmond and appointed as its first Bishop Rev. Patrick Kelly, at that time President of Birchfield College, near the city of Kil- kenny, Ireland. Bishop Kelly, then about forty years of age, was conse- crated in the Chapel of St. Mary's Parish Church, Kil- kenny, August 34, 1820. Departing from his native land, he arrived at Norfolk January 19, 1821. Although hav- ing the title of Bishop of Richmond, he selected Norfolk as his place of residence and the church there as his Cathedral. The following account of the Catholic Church of Rich- mond is quoted from Judge A. M. Keiley's "Memoranda" : "In the fall of 1821 Bishop Kelly sent Father James Walsh to Richmond to look after the flock here, and find- ing the Rocketts Church much too large for the congre- gation, he rented a room for a chapel on the ground floor of what was known as the Southgate Building, on the eastern side of Eleventh street between Broad and Capitol streets. The Southgate house occupied the whole of the short square between those streets." Mr. Southgate, the owner of the above building, was by birth a Scotchman, and was probably the most prosperous merchant of his time in Richmond. He presented the Catholics with a small organ, which they used in the Southgate Building, and later on in the small church, or rather chapel, located at Fourth and Marshall streets. Rt. Rev. Patrick Kelly, D. D., First Bishop of Richmond. KICHMOND, VIEGmiA. 45 Bishop Kelly was handicapped at JSTorfolk by serious difficulties. Various troubles had arisen owing to the plac- ing of the Forfolk Church in the hands of trustees, which was the cause of factions springing up within the fold. Then there were the financial questions to be solved. The Bishop opened a school and supported himself during his stay at Norfolk by teaching. At no time was he enabled to journey as far inland as Eichmond. He was now con- vinced, as had been the Archbishop of Baltimore from the beginning, that the erection of Virginia into a diocese was premature. Accordingly the Bishop petitioned Rome to be relieved. Bishop Kelly was transferred to the See of Waterford and Lismore, Ireland, in 1822. Before departing for his new mission he confirmed all the Catholic children he ooul'd find over eight or nine years of age. Bishop Kelly, accompanied by Father Walsh, who had ministered to the Catholics of Eichmond, left Virginia for Ireland in July, 1822. It will no doubt interest the readers of this sketch to know that there is in Eichmond an aged Irish gentleman — Mr. David Canary, born in 1818 — who remembers well Bishop Kelly after his return to Ireland, having been con- firmed by him a few years before the Bishop's death. The gentleman in question describes Bishop Kelly as a man of powerful build, of stern character, and renowned for his profound learning. Owing to his having been a Bishop in America, he was doubly esteemed by the faith- ful of Waterford and Lismore. He administered his new diocese with unflagging zeal until his death, October 8, 1829. After his departure Virginia was placed again under the administration of the Archbishop of Baltimore. The Catholics in Eichmond were now occasionally visited 46 THE CATHOLIC CHUECH, by Jesuits from Georgetown, and still more rarely by the hard-worked priest stationed at Norfolk. "Of these," says Judge Keiley in his "Memoranda, "the best remem- bered is Dr. Samuel Cooper, one of the most eloquent preachers ever heard in Eichmond. This gentleman was born in Norfolk in 1769, and adopted the sea as his pro- fession. While in Paris in 1807, during a severe spell of illness, his thoughts were directed to the subject of re- ligion. ... He embraced Catholicity, and resolving to seek a religious life on his return to America, entered the Seminary at Baltimore in September, 1808. After several years spent in study and travel, he was ordained August 15, 1819, and soon won great fame as a pulpit orator. 'In 1823 he said Mass and preached in Eichmond, and again in 1827, and on both occasions created a profound interest im Catholicity." About this .period the Catholics iof Lynchburg, having become rather numerous, made a strong appeal to Archbishop Mareehal, of Baltimore, for a resident pastor. The account of Catholic missionary labors in Virginia during the next few years is best told iu the excellent nar- rative of Judge Keiley, from which we have already copi- ously quoted: "In 1834 Eev. Thomas Here, a zealous Irish priest, a native of Wexford, was sent to Eichmond by Most Eev. Ambrose Mareehal, the third Archbishop of Baltimore, with the view of establishing a permanent mission here. Eenting a room on the east side of Four- teenth street, the second door north of what is now known as Exchange Alley, he opened a classical school for boys, and in the same room celebrated Mass on Sundays. As soon as he gathered his little flock around him he in- formed them of his intention to remain, and of his pur- pose to build a little chapel, however humble, EICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 47 "Among the bequests of Joseph G-allego, to whom I have already referred, was a half square of land fronting on the southside of Marshall street, and extending from Third to Fourth streets, which he devised to trustees as the site of a Catholic chapel. Father Hore took pos- session of this lot, and built thereon a little wooden edi- fice about thirty by forty feet in size, which in 1825 was dedicated — ^the first building ever erected in Eichmond surmounted by a cross. Eegularly during the three years that followed Father Hore ministered to his flock in this church." Father Hore rented as his residence a house located on the comer of Third and Marshall streets. A back gate opened from the house lot into that of the church, which fronted on Fourth street. The exact location of the church was the spot now occupied by the laundry attached to St. Joseph's Asylum. The writer has oftened listened with absorbing interest to the narrative of that staunch Catholic and refined Christian lady now departed this life, Mrs. Mary Ahern, born in 1816, concerning the Church of Eichmond in the earlier days. She tells of how Mr. John Ahern, her hus- band, a well-known pillar of the church in his day, used to serve the Masses of Father Hore in the chapel on Fourth street. The chapel was about the size of a large room. It contained a gallery. When divine services were held the little building would be only about half filled, so small was the number of faithful at that time. Mr. Ahem describes Father Hore as a man of most kindly dis- position, who often loaned him religious books to read. For a while Father Hore also attended Old Point Com- fort, but on account of the fewness of Catholics there he soon relinquished that mission. 48 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, During Father Hore's time the Catholics of Richmond began an unsuccessful movement for the erection of a fitting ehnreh and for better provision for the support of the resident pastor. The Catholics were poor, the only person of means, Mr. Chevallier, having returned to France. Both Father Hore and Father Delaney, of Nor- folk, who was consulted, expected little success from the movement. On account of ill-health Father Here left Richmond and returned to Ireland in 1828. He was succeeded in the pastorate of Richmond by a pious German priest filled with zeal like himself, the Rev. James Hoerner. During the middle or late fall of 1838, Archbishop Whitfield, of Baltimore, visited Martinsburg and then Richmond. Fever before had a Catholic bishop set foot in the Virginia Capital. His visit must have doubtless made a great impression on both the Catholic and non- Catholic residents of the city. After administering to the spiritual wants of the faithful of Richmond the Arch- bishop proceeded to Norfolk, where he found Catholicity in a much more flourishing condition. Whilst at Nor- folk he confirmed one hundred and thirty-eight persons. In a letter published in the "Annals of the Propagation of the Faith" (A. D. 1830, IV., 345), he states that throughout Virginia but four priests could be found, and these scarcely able to subsist, and that in Norfolk, the chief Catholic town, the number of the faithful did not exceed six hundred souls. Of the four priests referred to two were stationed at Norfolk, one at Richmond and one at Martinsburg. In 1830 Father Hoerner left Richmond to take charge of the mission at Wheeling, there being a considerable EICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 49 Catholic population in that city. During the two fol- lowing years several priests made short visits to Eich- mond. Of these Eev. Father Schreiber made the longest stay, being appointed the regular pastor and remaining until the coming of Eev. Timothy O'Brien. Father Schreiber came from Baltimore. One of Eichmond's old- est inhabitants states that he had compiled there a small book of hymns for children. In Norfolk the Eev. F. Van Horsigh, the pastor, had finished the building of his new church and had dedicated it in July, 1831. Archbishop Whitfield, in an interesting letter dated September 16, 1833, and published in the "Annals of the Propagation of the Faith" (V., 731), says: "I have sent a zealous missionary to Virginia. This priest has tra- versed the State; he has found the Protestants every- where ready to hear him ; they offered him their churches, their town halls and other public buildings, inviting him to preach there. . . . How unhappy it is to be unable to send missionaries into a State which is as large as England ! There is no doubt that if we had the laborers and means, prodigies would be effected in that vast and uncultivated field." On the first Sunday in May, 1833, Archbishop Whitfield bad the consolation of dedicating at Harper's Ferry-^the imposing church which had been erected on a picturesque and commanding site. CHAPTEE III. 1832-1850. Rev. Father Timothy O'Bkien — St. Peteb's Chtjech, Rich- mond, THE Old Cathedeal. WE now come to speak of one of the most interesting epochs in the Catholic Church of Eichmond, the time of the Eev. Timothy O'Brien. Outside of the work done by the different bishops of the diocese, the Catholic Church of Eichmond owes more to Father O'Brien than to any other one man. This statement is made without the fear of contradiction, and will be acceded by all who investigate the matter. Besides praising his administra- tive ability. Judge Keiley in his "Memoranda" speaks of him as a man of "tireless zeal, devoted piety and varied talents." He refers to him as a "courageous and beloved priest. His name and memory," he says, "will ever find a warm pla.ee in the grateful hearts of our people." Father O'Brien was sent by the Archbishop of Balti- more to Eichmond in the spring of 1832. In the language of Very Eev. Henry F. Parke, in his notes of the Vir- ginia missions, he devoted to Eichmond "the labors and self-sacrifices of eighteen eventful years." If we except the fruitful years of the present beloved Bishop and former pastor of the Cathedral, and those of Bishop McGill, Father O'Brien labored at St. Peter's during a greater number of years than any other priest or bishop. Father O'Brien took up his residence in the little house rented on the corner of Third and Marshall streets, his congregation continuing to use the chapel situated on o a c !» o 1^ a m a c o > K RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 51 Fourth and Marshall streets. During ihe year of his arrival a cholera epidemic broke out in Richmond and swept off many inhabitants of the city. By his devotion to the sick and his unselfishness, he won the hearts of people of every creed in Richmond. What took place on Father O'Brien's coming to Rich- mond is best told by Judge A. M. Keiley in his "Memo- randa": "Father O'Brien found on his arrival that a suit instituted many years before to test among other things the validity of the charitable bequests of Mr. Gallego's will had been decided adversely to those bequests (Febru- ary, 1833), and both the gift of the Marshall street lot and of $3,000 left to aid the construction of the church were pronounced void by the highest judicial tribunal in the State, and the church was not only without a lot, but had only a doubtful title to the building on it. Nothing daunted by this reverse, he resolved to make at once a beginning towards the construction of a church larger, costlier and more centrally located. Convening his little flock, he comn;unioated his plans and began at once a collection. "As soon as his stout faith saw the way clear. Father O'Brien bought a suitable site on the northeast corner of Grace and Eighth streets, and continuing his appeals for aid at home and abroad, he laid the comer-stone in 1834 of what was then the finest church edifice in the city, and in 1835 had the happiness of witnessing its completion and its dedication to God under the name it still bears — St. Peter's — placing over its entrance door the sublime com- mission and endorsement which no commentary ever has or ever can explain away, wherewith the Redeemer sepa- rated from his fellows the Prince of the Apostles. — Mat- thew xvi., verses 18, 19." 53 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH:, " While eollecting in Baltimore for Ms church, Father O'Brien made an earnest appeal to Mother Eose White, at that time Superioress of the Community of Sisters of Charity at Emmittsburg, where, with the hearty co-opera- tion of Archbishop Carroll, the Venerable Mother Seton had planted on secure foundations this admirable society, to send him some of the Sisters to open aji orphan asylum. Mother Eose at once acceded, and within a few months sent the Sisters. On the 25th of November, 1834, Sisters Margaret Cedilla George, Ann Catharine and Mary Editha arrived in Eichmond and were accommo- dated in Father Here's little chapel, which, in an- ticipation of their ooming, had been divided by parti- tions into four small rooms. This lot, the subject of Gal- lego's bequest. Father O'Brien resolved to purchase, and here the Sisters have since remained, and their humble, wooden home has grown into the noblest edifice of charity in tlie State." At this point of the narrative the writer desires to pay his tribute of appreciation for some facts and details already given and many which are to follow to that sterling Christian lady and charitable woman, Mrs. Cath- erine Downey Hagan. At the writer's request she has written for his use her invaluable reminiscences of early Catholicity in Eichmond. It is his firm belief that no other living person knows as much about the early days of Catholicity in the State's Capital City as she. Born in Eidimond in 1838, and having lived here always, she not only remembers what happened amongst the Catholics of her time, but remembers also the events told by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. Downey, who came to Eichmond in 1819, were married by Father Hore in the little chapel on Fourth and Marshall streets, in January, 1837, and con- RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 53 tinned until their death, many years later, to be zealous and staunch pillars of the church. We here quote from the reminiscences of Mrs. Hagan the following interesting account of the coming of the Sisters to Richmond: "As there were no railroads then (1834), the Sisters," she says, "came by boat from Baltimore. Father O'Brien met them at Rocketts with a carriage. Some of the ladies of the congregation were at the house (on Fourth and Marshall streets) to receive them, having prepared a sup- per. The names of the ladies were Mrs. Constance R. Boudar, her daughter, Miss Mercie, Mrs. Thomas Boudar, Mrs. Walsh, Mrs. Maher, and Mrs. Downey" (mother of Mrs. Hagan). We shall now quote Mrs. Hagan's account of the dedi- cation, together with a description of St. Peter's Cathe- dral, after it was first constructed. "The church," she writes, "was finished in 1834 and dedicated by Archbishop James Whitfield, of Baltimore, the Rev. Samuel Eggleston, D. D., delivering the dedica- tion sermon on that day. "The church when built did not occupy the whole depth of the lot, probably not more than two-thirds." To speak more accurately, the church extended to the present wid- ened part, where the side pews begin. The front was ex- actly the same as now. The old shutters to the windows removed in 1901 existed from the beginning. For the space of about ten years Father O'Brien lived in two rooms, which he had constructed back of the sanctu- ary. The completion of the church caused general rejoicing amongst the faithful of the city, and a new impetus was thereby given that favored much the spread of Catholicity. 54 THE CATHOLIC CHUEOH, More than ever did Father O'Brien throw himself heart and soni into his priestly work, i^ow that he had a fitting place in which the members of his little flock could appro- priately worship God, he seemed to set no limits to his religious zeal. The congregation began to flourish, each year witnessing a considerable gain oyer the preceding one in the number of faithful and devoted Catholic souls. "The baptismal and marriage register of St. Peter's Church dates from June 1, 1834. From that time until January of the succeeding year there are recorded flve baptisms and six marriages. The date of the first baptism administered in the church is October 13, 1834, the person baptized being Eichard Manders, about four months old, the son of John and Ellen Manders, the sponsors being Michael Segars and Mrs. Harrington. The first marriage in St. Peter's took place before the above date, namely, the fourth day of June, 1834. The con- tracting parties were Thomas O'Meara and Elizabeth Cun- nington. The witnesses to the marriage were William Cunnington and Lucy O'Brien. The number of baptisms during the year 1835 was fourteen, the number of mar- riages being six, the same as the preceding year. In 1836 there were twenty-eight baptisms and seventeen mar- riages. In 1837 the baptisms had increased to the large number of forty-eight, the marriages for that year being thirteen. "Shortly after ,the completion of St. Peiter's," says Judge Keiley in his 'Memoranda,' pp. 8-9, "difficulties grew up in various quarters of the country respecting the tenure of church property. Father O'Brien set the good example, which afterward became general, of conveying his church property to his bishop, and by deed dated February 36, 1839, granted to Most Kev. Samuel Eccles- RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 55 ton, of Baltimore, the administrator of tMs diocese, the real estate standing in Ms name. The first regular First Communion and Confirmation band of Richmond was formed by tlie Sisters of St. Joseph's school, on Fourth and Marshall streets. On that band were Mrs. Catherine Downey Hagan, who has given to the writer so much valuable data, and Miss Tane Moran, afterwards Mrs. John Perry. Miss Moran read the re- newal of the baptismal vows, being assisted by Mrs. Hagan, then Miss Downey, and a companion, who held lighted tapers, one on each side of th.e reader. The Sacrament of Confirmation was administered to the band by Archbishop Eccleston, of Baltimore. Mrs. John Puroell, that beloved Christian lady, lately deceased, in whose mother's house, Mrs. Sarah Purcell, Mass used to be offered in the early days, tells us that the first organist of St. Peter's was Mrs. Gaynor, formerly Miss Picot. The first trustees of St. Joseph's school and asylum, on Fourth street, were Mr. John Purcell, her husband, Mr. John Dooley, Sr., and Mr. John Ahern. "In 1839," writes Mrs. Hagan, "the scbool so increased that Father O'Brien had the brick building, corner Fourth and Marshall streets, erected as a residence for the Sisters and children, con- verting the old home into school rooms. Music, drawing, and fancy work were taught in the new house. As more Sisters were needed the mother house supplied them.' "There was only one altar at St. Peter's," continues Mrs. Hagan, "there being in the space on each side two or three pews. Those on the left were used by the Sisters and children. Mr. John A. Chevallier, French consul, a friend and benefactor to the asylum, occupied the first pew on the west aisle. He was a courteous gentle- 56 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, man in all implied by that word. After his death his successor whose appearance I remember, but cannot re- call his name, retained the same pew. When he returned to Prance, he was succeeded by Count De Montholon,who remained here for several years. He and his family also occupied the same pew. "Chief Justice Taney, when attending court in the city, sat in the first pew on the west side of the middle aisle. Hon. Rush Floyd, during the session of the Senate, occu- pied the same pew. In those days many noted speakers visited St. Peter's, notably amongst them were Dr. James Eyder, S. J., who came often; Dr. Moriarty, 0. S. A., of Philadelphia, came twice. These were well-known orators, and crowds, composed of all denominations, came to hear them." CHAPTER IV. • 1841-1850. Right Rev. Richard Vincent Wheian, D. D., Second Bishop 01" Richmond. "DELIBVIFG that the time was ripe for the re^stab- ■'-' lishment of Virginia into a diocese, Archbishop Ec- cleston laid the matter before Rome. Under the guidance of the Archbishop the Fourth Provincial Council of Bal- timore made a request that Virginia be erected into a separate see. The plan met with the approval of the Holy Father, Gregory XVI. Accordingly the College of the Propaganda issued let- ters, dated December 19, 1840, declaring that the Arch- bishop of Baltimore would cease to administer the affairs of the Virginia Diocese, and that His Holiness had ap- pointed to the See of Eiehmond the Rev. Richard Vin- cent Whelan, at that time pastor at Martinsburg. Father Whelan was consecrated Bishop at the Baltimore Cathedral by Archbishop Eccleston on the 21st d^y of March, 1841. Right Rev. Richard Vincent Whelan was born at Balti- more January 28, 1809. During his childhood he was ex- ceedingly delicate. When but ten years of age he en- tered Mount Saint Mary's College. John Hughes, later Archbishop of New York, was one of his class-mates. Graduating witF high honors in 1826, he studied two years theology under Father (afterwards Bishop) Brute, then went to St. Sulpice, Paris, for four years, and was raised to the priesthoofl at Versailles in 1831. 58 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, His work as pastor of Harper's Ferry was of tlie most apostolic order. He attended Winchester, Martinsburg, Bath, Shepherdstown, Waterford, and Eiomney. His journeys over his vast mission were made on horesback. He built St. John's Church, at Martinsburg, at a cost of $3,000, and later on constructed that of St. Vincent de Paul, at Bath, now known as Berkeley Springs. In 1838 he established at Martinsburg St. Vincent's Female Acad- emy under the care of the Sisters of Charity. When he later had an assistant he resided at Martins- burg, where Mass was said every Sunday. He or his as- sistant celebrated the Holy Sacrifice twice a month at Harper's Ferry and once a month at Winchester and Waterford. Shortly after his consecration at Baltimore, Bishop Whelan proceeded to Eichmond and there took possession of his See. One of the houses of the Thomas estate on the northwest corner of Grace and Eighth streets was rented for him, be occupying the same as a residence from the time of his arrival. The ground on which the house referred to stood is now occupied by the new annex to the hotel of Colonel John Murphy, one of Richmond's most distinguished Catholics and citizens. Being a gifted man and of pleasing personality. Bishop Whelan soon became much liked by the members of the Richmond congregation. The first official act of the new Bishop was to make an urgent appeal for aid to Paris, Lyons, and Vienna. Archbishop Eocle&ton also wrote in his behalf letters ad- dressed to the propagation societies in these cities. A lib- eral rsponse was for the time being obtained. In speaking of the year 1841, when Bishop Whelan took charge of the diocese. Very Rev. Henry F. Parke, in his '"^ottes on the Rise and Spread of the Catholic Mis- Rt. Rev. Richard V. Whelan, D. D., Second Bishop of Richmond. EICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 59 sions in Virginia," says: "Sixty-seTen years have now elapsed since the Eev. John Carroll and his brave com- panions appeared on our Virginia borders, leading for- ward the standard of the cross; fifty years since the bril- liant entry and confession of the Abbe Dubois in the Capital of the State; twenty years since the ineffectual attempt of Rome to come to our help by the erection of the Old Dominion into a distinct See ; twelve years since Bal- timore aroused, signalized by word and work, so potently her zeal; and yet how little vantage ground has been gained !" Shortly after his arrival in Richmond, Bishop Whalen resolved to found a seminary and college, to be modelled after the plan of Mt. St. Mary's, at Emmittsburg. He was encouraged in this movement by the success of the girls' boarding schools at Norfolk, Richmond, and Portsmouth. We again quote Very Eev. Father Parke, whose narra- tive is invariably written either in the present or the future ten,se: "The effort" (of the Bishop to erect a semi- nary), he writes, "if successful, will secure to his poor and arduous mission a body of laborers, trained up under his own hand, and less apt to be discouraged at the magnitude of the sacrifices expected of them. It will place him in harmony with the bishops of the Charleston, Philadelphia and other Sees, who have already obeyed the injunctions of Trent and Baltimore on this head. The start of such an enterprise will likewise be proof of his intent to push vigorously the work of the missions, and. thus give Vir- ginia larger claims for foreign aid. The blending of the. college with the seminary will lessen the expenses of the latter, whilst supplying to parents unwilling to send their boys outside of the diociese the benefits of a home school." 60 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, With the end in yisw outlined above and without de- lay, the Bishop purchased during the same year of his ar- rival at Eiehmond the farm of John S. Gallaher, near Bowling Green. The tenement houses on the land were refitted for temporary school purposes, new brick buildings were begun, the bricks being moulded on the ground. An old inhabitant of the city relates how the Bishop himself would frequently labor with the workmen in the making of bricks for the buildings. The necessary houses were soon erected, the Bishop giv- ing the institution the title of "St. Vincent's Seminary and College." He at once took up his residence at the seminary. The Bishop had meantime asked for the ser- vices of students filled with apostolic zeal and the spirit of self-sacrifice who were willing to devote their energies to the arduous Virginia missions. His appeal was an- swered by Edward Fox, Francis Devlin, Charles Earrell, Joseph Plunkett, Austin Grogan, and by Messrs. Hewitt, Sullivan, Corcoran, Hamell, and Lenaghan. All of these persevered and later on did efficient work as missionaries. The next year, that is, 1841, witnessed the entrance into the classical department of three new students for the sem- inary, namely, Henry P. Parke, from whose "Notes" we have so frequently quoted; James V. Cunningham and Jeremiah P. O'Feille, Jr., the last entered by Bishop England for the Georgia missions. The Bishop himself was rector of the college and semi- nary, with Eev. J. Guerdet, an excellent priest from New York, as vice-rector. During the time he spent at his seminary between 1841 and 1845 Bishop Whel&n repro- duced in himself, so we are told by Father Parke, his life at Emmittsburg and at St. Sulpiee. "An early riser thrdugh life," writes Father Parke, "he presides at all the EICHMOND, VIRGIN"! A. 61 public exercises, partakes of the same frugal fare, labors with his own hands, teaches his full quota of classes, lec- tures at spiritual reading, meditates in common with the rest, says the community Mass, gives out the examen of conscience, and yet has leisure for study and to manage the temporalities. The spectacle of such a life is an edu- cation in itself." Let us now turn our attention to the diocese at large. In 1841 there were eight churches in the whole diocese, which then embraced all of Virginia, including what was later West Virginia. The six priests who then labored within the diocese were the following : Eev. Dr. Alexander Hitzelberger, of Norfolk, who had just finished in that city the new church of St. Patrick, and had instituted an academy for girls; the Bev. Walter Moriarty, the zealous rector at Ports- mouth (1835-1844), who attended from there Old Point; EcT. James Hoerner, of Wheeling; Eev. Daniel Downey, who ofBeiated at Petersburg and Lynchburg (1841-1843) with Eichmond as his headquarters; Rev. Timothy O'Brien, of Eichmond, who during the incumbency of Bishop Whelan continued to serve the Catholics of Rich- mond with energy, zeal and devotion; Eev. John O'Brien, who assisted his brother at Eichmond from 1839 until ap- pointed to the vacant parish of Martinsburg in the year 1842, where he labored zealously until 1848, when he re- turned to Massachusetts, where his popularity gained him the title of "Father John." During the years 1841-43 Bishop Whelan journeyed over his diocese as far as Wheeling, then served by Father Hoerner, where he preached, instructed and administered the Sacrament of Confirmation. He also went to Petersburg and Lynchburg to look after the increasing flock in both 62 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, places. Some of the old inihabitants of Eiclimond relate how the Bishop would often, on Sunday mornings, after saying an early Mass at the seminary, walk all the way, fasting, to Petersburg, a distance of twenty-two miles, and theresay a second Mass. He did not ride, but walked, both from a spirit of mortification and in order to save On January 6, 1843, St. Peter's Church, having become St. Peter's Cathedral, since tjie arrival of the Bishop, wit- nessed for the first time an ordination service, when Bishop Wbelan raised to the priesthood the Eev. James Hewitt, the first priest ever ordained on Virginia's soil. At the same time minor orders were conferred on the seminarist, Mr. Edward Fox. On January 23d of the same year the Bishop, assisted by Rev. Dr. Ryder, S. J., and Rev. Timothy O'Brien, dedi- cated the Church of St. Joseph, at Peter.?burg. On July 10th, likewise in 1842, the church at Norfolk was dedicated by Bishop Whelan, he being assisted by Revs. John P. Donelan and Joseph Van Horsigh, both of Washington, and Rev. Dr. Moriarty, of Philadelphia. On August 1st of the same year the Bishop, accom- panied by Eev. Dr. Ryder, S. J., went to Wytheville for the first time. He founded there a mission and baptized some converts. Dr. Ryder, who was a brilliant preacher, delivered at the time a striking course of lectures. Shortly afterwards Captain John P. Matthews, high sherifE of the county, donated money and an acre lot for the erection of a new chapel. The missionary labors undergone by the Bishop in that same year, 1842, were something remarkable, especially if we consider the time he had to spend at his seminary work. He looked after and visited the faithful in Parkers- BICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 63 burg, Morgantown, Westoiij King-wood, Hardy, and Hamp- shire counties. Likewise in 1843 did lie make provision for the increas- ing flock at Lynchburg. He determined to establish, a pastorate at that place and attached to it the station of Staunton, Umon^, Lexington, CharlofttesTille and other places. In 1843 the Bishop appointed as the first pastor of Lynchburg Eev. Daniel Downey, who the same year built end paid for the large and suitable brick church of St. Francis, now used as a school. Father Downey proved a most zealous pastor. During the next two years he tra- versed on horseback his wide parish and attended faith- fully to the wants of the souls committed to his charge. The following is taken from the "Manual and Directory of St. Mary's Church, Eichmond, Va.," published in 1903, page 11, of the Historical Sketch: "As early as 1843, a meeting was held in the basement of St. Peter's Church by the few struggling German Catholics of the city of Richmond, under the chairmanship of Rev. M. Allig, C. SS. R., Rev. T. O'Brien being the pastor. It was then and there decided to affiliate themselves with a church under the protection of the Blessed Lady, and that monthly collections should be taken up to support a priest and defray the expenses of the church. "The time of meeting and monthly collections was to be every second Sunday of the month, which meetings and collections were faithfully held. Every month a priest would come from Washington City to conduct services in the basement of St. Peter's Church, where the faithful were enabled to listen to the "Word of God in their mother tongue." 64 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, In 1843 Bishop Whelan, ■af'tex giving tonsure to six of his seminarists, paid a second visit to Wytheville, deliver- ing there a course of lectures, at -which the people of the town were much pleased. He returned to Eiehmond and devoted himself to his work more zealously than ever. About 1844, Dr. Murray, a physician and member of the parish of St. Peter's Cathedral, Eiehmond, built a suitable residence for Father O'Brien on the lot in the rear of the church. Dr. Murray was old and sickly at the time, and constructed the house on condition that he might occupy one of its rooms until his death, not long afterwards; a condition to which Father O'Brien readily yielded. The rectory covered the space of the present sanctuary. It consisted of five or six rooms and was connected with the church. The entrance to the house was through a gate from Eighth street, the residence facing that direc- tion. There was a porch between the church and the house, through which entrance was had from one to the other. The porch led into the hall of the residence. The sacristy," writes Mrs. Hagan, "was on the left, the parlor on the right. Above there were two bed rooms. The din- ing room and kitchen were in the basement. Mr. P. Mc- Govern the first florist of our city, laid off the yard in circles and flower beds, making it very pretty." Father O'Brien temporarily enlarged the church, especially the sanctuary, by adding to it the large room he had used in the immediate rear. Mrs. John Pureell has related to the writer how, during these years of Father O'Brien's time, the fine .singing and playing under the direction of Mrs. Gaynor, the organist, proved a no little attraction to the parishioners and strang- ers attending services at St. Peter's. Father O'Brien RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 65 said two Masses each Sunday, the first being a low one, the latter a missa cantata. Vespers were also chanted during the afternoon of each Sunday. In 1845 the diocese lost the serrioes of two most ef- ficient priests, namely, the Rev. James Hoerner, of Wheel- ing, who returned to Europe, and the Rev. Walter Mori- arity, who went to Maryland. Rev. Eugene Cumerford was at this time temporarily stationed at Wheeling. The same year Staunton, being raised to a pastorate. Dr. Downey was transferred from Lynchburg and made its first pastor. As at Lynchburg, so here, didi he build and pay for a large church. Father Parke, in his "Notes," ■says : "The time devoted to the advancement of the Vir- ginia missions by the Rev. Daniel Downey covered seven- teen of the most trying and arduous years, perhaps, known in Virginia church annals. As a man and scholar. Dr. Downey easily won the regard of all who knew him. As an intrepid self-sacrificing missionary his name is still in honor in the vast districts he had to traverse." He was succeeded at Lynchburg by Rev. Francis O'Don- oghue, who died in less than a year; that is, in December, 1845. In 1844-45 the Bishop ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral the Rev. Edward Fox, who went to Wythe- ville and then Lynchburg, as we shall later see; Rev. Joseph Plunkett, who went as assistant to Martinsburg; Rev. Francis Devlin, as rector to Portsmouth ; Rev. Austin Grogan, as pastor of Summerville, and the pioneer priest of Western Virginia, and Rev. Charles Farrell, to whom was assigned the most difficult of all Bishop Whelan's missions. Of him Father Parke says: "His parish ex- tended from Gauley to Kentucky and the Ohio. His people were visited at great risks, on foot or by saddle. If sick himself, no priest was nearer to him than a jour- 66 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, ney of three days. He was sent to impart tlie sacraments to others; he himself, after a generous apostolate of two years, died without them. When the Blessed Sacrament and holy oils arrived, the good pastor was already in his grave several days." Let us now take a general survey of Bishop Whelan's work from the beginning of his administration up to 1846. During this period he made episcopal visits to the different portions of his extensive diocese. At one time he would devote his energies to the westena or northwestern section, at another time to the central or seaboard portion. Meanwhile, when not on his journeys, he was teaching in his seminary the classes of Sacred Scripture, theology, philosophy and French. Whilst the Bishop was making his visitations his classes were taught by his brother. Rev. David Whelan, the vice-rector, succeeding Eev. Joseph Guerdet in that capacity. He had made his studies at Mt. St. Mary's and at St. Sulpioe, Paris, and was a valuable help to the Bishop. The visitations, however, to the more distant points were generally made by Bishop Whelan during the long seminary vacations, whilst during the short vacations he would attend some nearer point. On many of the Sundays and holidays the Bishop would officiate at some post not attended by a priest. In this manner, and for several years, did the Bishop attend Petersburg. On each visit to a post he energetically preached, catechized, heard confessions and visited the sick, utilizing his time to the utmost. Strange to say, these missionary labors did not hinder him in his college and seminary work. The Bishop had the rare knack of doing a multiplicity of things and doing everything well. In storm or sunshine he was never known to break an appointment. Sometimes, after a EICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 67 long tramp through the snows, he would arrive at his missionary post with frost-bitten feet, and proceed at once to perform his apostolic labors. "If pastors," he would say, "wish to form and to be consoled with fervent and self-sacrificing congregations, they must themselves set them the example." Punctual at the performance of all his functions, he was especially so with regard to the confessional. He is quoted by Father Parke as once say- ing in this connection : "Pastors who desire to win the confidence of their flocks should make them feel that the shepherds are always punctual at their posts, whether the sheep are faithful or not." In 1845 the Bishop dedicated a church at Wytheville, placing over it the Rev. Edward Fox. The following year Father Fox was transferred to Lynchburg, and from there continued to attend Wytheville until he died, four years later. He had to make the journey between the two places in a stage coach, the distance being 150 miles. Being a gifted controversialist. Father Fox sought every occasion to do battle for the Catholic Church. Yet his manner did not displease, and he made by his lectures sev- eral notable converts. Of him Father Parke, in his "Notes," page 9, says: "He had the peculiarities of the saints. At the bare recital of suffering his heart melted and flew, to the rescue. In the Wythe country he gave away his saddle, nag and outfit in answer to such an ap- peal. Between Portsmouth and Norfolk, one wintry day, hearing on the boat a tale of woe, he donned a shabby out- fit and presented the beggar his suit of span-new broad- cloth. The Rev. Edward Fox's term of labors in Vir- ginia was six years." The present writer has often heard some of the old Lynchburg Catholics tell him their recol- 68 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, lections of the two great missionaries, Dr. Downey and Father Pox. Father Parke tells us that during these years the mis- sions at Lynchburg, Wytheville, Jeffersonville, Parkers- burg, Lee Creek, Weston, Preston county, and elsewhere were aided much by foreign alms. Owing to unsurmJountable difiBculties Bishop Whelan was, in 1846, forced to discontinue his seminary, a sad event, which he announces in the following words: "For several reasons it has been thought advisable to suspend, for a time, the exercises of the seminary near Eichmond. But there are several subjects at All-Hallows, near Dub- lin, and at St. Mary's, Baltimore, preparing themselves for the ministry in Virginia." The educational institution of the Bishop proved a fail- ure, says Judge Keiley, because it was "too remote for a boys' school and too large for the needs of his diocese as a seminary." It was, therefore, abandoned. The vice- president, the Eev. David Whelan, brother of the Bishop, was in 1846 made the first resident pastor of Petersburg. Early in 1846 Bishop Whelan presided over a meeting of the German Catholics, held in the basement of the Cathedral. He made an extended address to them in which he urged them to continue their unity and praised them for the sacrifices they had already made for the sup- port of the Jesuit priest who came from Washington monthly to visit them. At this meeting it was determined to raise amongst the Germans a fixed amount for the support of the priest and the other expenses connected with maintaining a church. For this purpose the congregation would assem- ble on the Sunday preceding the arrival of the priest in order that the money might be collected. Such as did not EICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 69 attend these meetings would be visited the day following by the collectors. In 1846 the first railway penetrated the northwestern part of Virginia. Along its adjacent counties settled many Catholics, which caused the Bishop to believe the church in that section had in store a great future, and accordingly would need much attention from his mission- aries. In the early part of 1846, leaving in charge at Rich- mond his Vicar General, Father Timothy O'Brien, in whom he had unlimiied confidence, Bishop Whelan left for Wheeling to supply there "temporarily," as he said, the vacancy existing at that church. Owing to the urgent need of his presence at Wheeling, the Bishop made a protracted stay, 'and, "in fact," to quote Judge Keiley, "as Bishop of Richmond never returned to this city." Meantime, under the wise administration of Very Rev. Father O'Brien, the Catholics of Richmond continued to increase in numbers and infiuenee. The pastor of the faithful redoubled his efforts. In those days, as well as during his other years' stay at Richmond, his lucid and interesting catechetical instruction! each Sunday after the Vesper iservices, held at four o'clock, drew to the church large crowds, including many non- Catholics. These instructions were the cause of many conversions. In fact, the Richmond congregation iii the early days em- braced a large number of zealous converts, the church making but few acquisitions from Catholic immigra- tion, which was small. Amongst the converts of Father O'Brien may be mentioned Mrs. Johnston, mother of our celebrated surgeon. Dr. George Ben Johnston; Mrs. Lewis, and Mrs. Holmes, wife of the famed Professor Holmes, of the University of Virginia. 70 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, On May 2, 1846, Bishop Whelan laid the corner-stone at Wheeling of the fine brick church which replaced the old wooden chapel. He was assisted by Bishop Purcell, of Cincinnati, who preached on that occasion. In April, 1848, nine visitation nnns, under Mother Mary Eleanora Walsh, arrived to take up the work of teaching. These were established in a house adjoining the church. The same year he also founded St. Vincent's School for Boys, under the direction of the clergy. Likewise in 1848 did the Bishop announce: "Besides the four students at Drumcondra, and the two at Balti- more, the Bishop has opened a seminary in his own house at Wheeling, where he intends to maintain four young men as students of theology. The number is not yet com- plete, but none need apply who cannot produce the strong- est recommendations for piety and ability." Rev. Robert J. Lawrence, ordained in July, 1848, for the Baltimore diocese, offered himself for the Virginia mis- sions. He was placed by the Bishop at Wheeling. After six months the Ohio Valley Missions to Big Sandy were entrusted to him. The nes;t year he made his head- quarters at Parkersburg. Meantime there was pressing need of the Bishop's ser- vices in the East. In 1848 he aeoordingly made a trip to Norfolk, confirming there eleven converts. We are told by Father Parke that he had previously confirmed at Norfolk thirty-two other converts. During this same visit he also founded at Norfolk and intrusted to the Sisters of Charity St. Vincent's Female Orphan Asylum. In 1848 a notable event occurred in Richmond, when the work of gathering the Germans into a separate con- gregation was begun. Bishop Whelan appointed as first pastor of the Germans Rev. Father Brauer. Judge Keiley, RICHMOND, VIEGIFIA. 71 in his "Memoranda," page 11, says: "No portion of our population is more devout, and none more united than our German Catholics. In 1848 Eev. Mr. Brauer came to Richmond, said Mass in the Cathedral and preached in German at intervals until September of that year, when he rented a house on Marshall street, on the southwest corner of Sixth, now (1874) destroyed, which had pre- viously been known as Burke's school-house, and was subsequently a Jewish synagogue." Father Brauer re- mained at Richmond for two years. He began the move- ment for the building of a suitable German Church. John Gilmary Shea, in his history. Vol. IV., page 83, says: "The Cathedral at Richmond was menaced with de- struction on Good Friday (1848), a candle having fallen against some loose drapery at the repository, and set fire to the combustible material. Rev. T. O'Brien and an acolyte were badly burned in extinguishing it." During these years the Rev. Austin Grogan, with head- quarters at Kingwood, in Preston county, was doing splen- did work in Hardy and Hampshire counties and westward to the Ohio. In December, 1849, the "Bishop ordained at Wheeling the Rev. Bartholomew Stack, who was sent to assist Father Grogan. The hardships of the mission soon told on Flather Stack, who ended his days as a cripple at Wheeling with all the comforts the Bishop could give him. Likewise in December, 1849, did an event of note occur in Richmond in the coming of Father Matthew, the match- less apostle of temperance. He preached his first sermon on Christmas Day. His eloquent and persuasive words took the people by storm. Crowds flocked to hear his lectures with the result that many took the pledge, some being not of the Catholic faith. In 1850 Revs. Dennis Brannan and Thomas Mulvpy, n THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, both sTiS-deaeons, arrived in Virginia and were ordained priests by Bishop Whelan. Father Brannan labored in the new Diocese of Wheeling, founded the same year. Father Mulvey was made pastor of Lynchburg, where he remained for five years. He visited from there Wythe- ville and baptized John P. Matthews, high sheriff of the connty, to whom reference has been made as having given a lot for the church. Rev. Joseph Billion, an aged French Father, was the last priest received by Bishop Whelan' into the Richmond Diocese. He came in 1850. He appointed him to Wheel- ing. After two years labor there he became a Passionist. The previous year the Fathers of the Seventh Provin- cial Council of Baltimore, at which Bishop Whelan was present,' had applied to the Holy See for the division into separate dioceses of Eastern and Western Virginia. Their action was taken principally owing to the views of Bishop Whelan on the matter. Accordingly the Bulls, creating the new See of Wheel- ing, and transferring to it, according to his own desires, the Bishop of Richmond, arrived, bearing the date July S3, 1850. In his report of .the Wheeling Diocese at this time the Bishop says : "Owing to the great extent of the Diocese of Richmond, and the great natural barriers dividing the East from the trans-Alleghany or western portion of Vir- ginia, the creation of the See of Wheeling was recom- mended by the last Provincial Council. The recommenda- tion was approved by His Holiness, and the new See formed out of all that portion of the dominion lying west of Maryland and the Alleghany Mountains, thence including the counties of Monroe, Giles, Montgomery, Floyd, and Grayson." According to the United States EICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 73 census tbat portion of Virginia then had a population of about 300,000 people. Of this number there were only 5,000 Catholics. Upon being informed of his election to the new See, Bishop Whelan notified his students that he would ac- cord to them the privilege of choosing for their future field of labor either the Richmond or Wheeling Diocese. Whereupon Messrs. Teeling and Talty selected the Eich- mond Diocese, whilst Messrs. Parke, the author of the "ISTotes on the Virginia Missions," together with Messrs. Brazil, Cunningham, Stack, and Brannan, chose the Dio- cese of Wheeling. Bishop Whelan relinquished his jurisdiction over East- em Virginia amidst the universal regret of the people. His strenuous labors in the Wheeling Diocese up to the year of his death, twenty-four years later, is but a repeti- tion of his extraordinary work in the Diocese of Eieh- mond. The name of Bishop Whelan should justly go down in history as one of the greatest and most zealous apostles yet produced by this country. CHAPTEE V. 1850-1872. Right Eev. John McGni, D.D., Thied Bishop of Richmond. THE Pontifical Brief creating the new Diocese of Wheeling also contained the appointment to the See of Eichmond of Eer. John MeGrill, Vicar General of the Diocese of, Louisville. "* Born in Philadelphia, November 4., 1809, the same year in which Bishop Whelan, his predecessor, was born, be removed in 1838 to Bardstown, Kentucky, accompany- ing his parents. His father gave his son every, possible advantage in the way of education. In 1830 he entered St. Joseph's College, Bardstown. Graduating with the highest honors, he successfully undertook the study of law. A bright career in the legal profession, calculated to bring him wealth and fame, was relinquished by young McGill, who felt himself called to follow the priesthood. Ordained by Bishop David, June 13, 1835, he achieved great success as assistant at St. Louis' Church, Louisville, and as pastor of the church at Lexington. In 1838 he went to Europe to accompany Bishop Flaget on his re- turn trip to this country. We find him next editor of the Catholic Advocate, in which position he won renown as a deep thinker, a clear ■and convincing writer. He drove from the field of con- troversy a league of writers arrayed against him. He pub- lished a learned criticism of Macaulay's England and other works. Owiitg to his piety, learning and executive abilities he was chosen Vicar General of Louisville. Rt. Rev. John McGii.l, D. D., Third Bishop of Richmond. EICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 75 Bishop McGill was raised to the ranks of the episco- pacy by Archbishop Kenrick, of St. Louis, on the 10th day of November, 1850, in St. Joseph's Church, Bards- town, where he had made his First Communion and re- ceived Holy Orders. His aged parents had the happi- ness of being present and of receiving from their son his first episcopal benediction. After his consecration Bishop McGill proceeded to his See of Eichmond and took up his residence with the pastor, Father O'Brien. He was thus the first Bis^hop of Eichmond to reside permanently at his Cathedral proper, Bishop Kelly, as we have seen, always remaining in Nor- folk, and Bishop Whelan residing at his seminary outside of the limits of the city of Eichmond, leaving Father O'Brien to officiate in the Cathedral on all ordinary oc- casions. Now that Eichmond had a Bishop who could reside at his cathedral and look personally after its afEairs, and Father O'Brien being in need of rest after his eighteen years of strenuous and unremitting labor, the latter de- cided that his work in Virginia should now end. Ac- cordingly, with Bishop McGill's permission. Father O'Brien retired to Lowell, Massachusetts, to pass his clos- ing days there in the home of his brother, Eev. John O'Brien, who, as stated elsewhere, had also labored in Virginia. Mr. John Dooley, one of the greatest pillars of the church in his day, paid the fare of the good priest from Eichmond to Lowell. Of Father O'Brien's departure Mrs. Catharine Hagan writes: "He left beloved and lamented by all who knew him, especially by his parishioners, for whom he had achieved so much for God's honor during the eighteen years he had spent amongst them, and to whom he was truly a Father." 76 THE CATHOLIC CHUECH, Judge Keiley, in his "Memoranda," page 10, says: "Shortly after Bishop McGill's arrival, Father O'Brien left the diocese amidst the universal respect of the people of Kichmond of all denominations, and the tears and re- grets of Catholics of every age and condition. The sor- row of the orphans, to whom he was ever a most indul- gent and affectionate father, was the most affecting in- cident of this parting; and for that noble priest, whose portrait still adorns the walls of their asylum, their prayers still ascend, and will continue to rise while those walls remain to bear witness to the genial, generous, faith- ful friend who erected them — a, 'shelter for God's bereft little ones.' " With his zealous brother and priest. Father John O'Brien, at his bedside, Father Timothy O'Brien rendered his pure and apostolic soul to God at Lowell, Massachu- setts, on the 12th day of October, 1855. At the time of Bishop McGill's coming to Eiehmond there were ten churches within the diocese, the Catho- lic population being a little less than 7,000 souls, attended by eight priests noted for their missionary zeal. Besides the Eeverend Father at the Cathedral, Eiehmond had an- other priest in the person of Eev. Father Paulhuber, S. J., from Georgetown, who resided in a rented house on Sixth and Marshall streets and looked after the interests of the 700 or 800 German Catholics then in the city and its vicinity. Eev. A. L. Hitzelberger was at the same period rector of St. Patrick's Church at Norfolk, Father Devlin being pastor of St. Paul's Church, Portsmouth, and attending from there Old Point on every third Sunday. Petersburg' was visited by the pastor of the Cathedral or the Bishop from Eiehmond. RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 77 Rev. Joseph H. Plunkett divided Ms time between Mar- tinsburg, Harper's Ferry, Winchester, Bath, in Morgan county, and a small place called Bolington, in Loudoun county, which he visited every three months. A German priest also every three months went to Martinsburg and Harper's Ferry to look after the Germans in both places. The stations in Hampshire and Hardy counties could not be attended for want of priests. Rev. Edward Fox, pastor of Lynchburg, died in 1850, and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Mulvey. Rev. D. Downey was stationed at Staunton^ where a church 65 by 40 feet had just replaced the old chapel. From there he attended Lexington, Charlottesville and several other places. It is safe to say that no bishop could desire a body of workers more zealous, self-sacrificing and energetic than the little band of missionaries named above. The ac- count of their trials, sufferings and labors forms one of the brightest pages in the Catholic Church lannals of Virginia. When Bishop McGill first came to the diocese, St. Jos- eph's School and Orphan Asylum, corner of Fourth and Marshall streets, Richmond, was under the care of six Sisters, of whom the Sister Superior was Mother Rosalia. There were ninety pupils, of whom about ten were boarders. In addition to these the orphans num- bered fourteen. A Sunday-school, in which the attendance varied from forty to sixty, was attached to the institution. At Norfolk was St. Mary's Orphan Asylum and Free School, under the direction of three Sisters, the Superioress being Sister Mary Augustine. The num.ber of pupils was 120 with eight orphans. There also existed at Norfolk a Benevolent Fund Society for the support of indigent families. 78 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, On April 22, 1851, Arcibisliop Eeeleston, of Balti- more, died. On accouni of his eloquence Bishop McGill was chosen to preach at the funeral, which he did with great earnestness and success. In 1851 Father Paulhuber, S. J., opened at Richmond a school for the German Catholic children. Shortly after- wards he purchased on Marshall street, opposite St. Joseph's Asylum, two lots for $5,191. On one of these, bordering on Fourth street, was a dwelling house, which was later turned inJto the rectory. St. Mary's German Church, facing on Marshall street, was begun on the lot adjoining the rectory. The comer-stone was laid June 8, 1851. The church was completed at a cost of $5,300, and on De- cember 14th the building was solemnly dedicated by Bishop McGill. Rev. John Teeling, who had come to the diocese with Bishop McGill, was, not long after the departure of Father O'Brien, made Vicar-General and assistant to the Bishop, who acted also as pastor at St. Peter's Cathedral. In 1853 Bishop McGill purchased the house and lot on Grace street adjoining the church. Shortly afterwards, with Father Teeling, he moved into the house, thus mak- ing of it his episcopal residence and rectory. In 1852 Father Paulhuber left Richmond and was suc- ceeded' by Rev. Joseph Polk, S. J., a priest of great piety and splendid executive ability. TJnder his wise adminis- tration, and in spite of many difficulties, the German con- gregation al; Richmond began from this time on to flour- . ish. In 1853 he organized "St. Joseph's Society" for young men, an organization productive of an immense amount of good from the time it first came into existence until the present, when its membership is very large. Father Polk also at this time founded in the basement of EICHMOND, VIKGINTA. 79 the German Church St. Mary's School for Boys, which, from the beginning, was largely attended. During the year 1853 Eev. Francis Devlin erected at Portsmouth St. Paul's Church, and had a mission given in it by the Eedemptionists, which was the cause of several conversions. In October of the same year Kev. Edward Plaherty came to the diocese and iirst assisted the Eishop and Father Teeling at the Cathedral. In February of the following year he was transferred to Martinsburg. Eev. Father Hitzelberger was about this time made pastor at Petersburg and Eev. Matthew O'Keefe, destined for many long years to do noble mis- sionary work, was put in his place at Norfolk. Father Plunkett's mission was divided, he retaining Martins- burg and Bath, whilst Harper's Perry and Winchester were turned over to the care of Eev. Andrew Talty. The Catholic population of the diocese had now increased from 7,000 in 1850 to 9,000. In 1854 Bishop McGill made a visit to Eome. On his way the Bishop stopped in Providence, where, at the dedi- cation of St. Joseph's Church, on May 8th, he preached the sermon. He was present in the Eternal City with more than 200 other bishops from various parts of the world, when Pius IX. defined on December the 8th the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Whilst in Eome he purchased two of the oil paintings now hung in St. Peter's sanctuary, the crucifixion and a pieta. Both paint- ings were well executed, the latter, in the judgment of the writer, a valuable work of art. On returning the next year to his diocese, filled with re- newed zeal and laden with apostolic benediction for his people. Bishop McGill determined to enlarge and beautify his cathedral. Accordingly he had the' former' rectory 80 THE CATHOLIC CHUECH, • back of the churcH torn down, and the elmreh and sanctu- ary extended over the space previously occupied by the house. The galleries, other than the already existing choir gallery, were also constructed. Bishop McGrill took a prominent part in the Eighth Pro- vincial Council of Baltimore, which convened at the Ca- thedral in that city on the 5th day of May, 1855. Shortly after his return the Bishop still further en- larged the sanctuary, giving to it its present ample pro- portions. On August 30, 1855, the handsome marble altar of to-day was dedicated. The Catholiei of Eichmond had now a church and cathedral of which they were justly proud. During the year of which we are writing (1855) yellow fever carried off many inhabitants of both ITorfolk and Portsmouth. This terrible plague was the means of mani- festing to Virginia the true courage and heroism of the Catholic priesthood. At N"orfolk Eev. Matthew O'Keefe, entirely regardless of self, continually spent hours of the -day and night at the bedside of the sick and dying. In Portsmouth Eev. Francis Devlin proved himself a martyr to duty. He gave all the attention possible to those stricken with the frightful disease. He often brought food to the sick and arranged their beds. Himself stricken, upon his recovery he was as assiduous as ever in his atten- tions to the yellow-fever unfortunates. A second and fatal attack of the disease was the result. Thus nobly died, a victim to unbounded charity, one of Virginia's greatest martyrs and most heroic of priests, A short time after Father Devlin's death at Portsmouth, Father Teeling was summoned by the court at Eichmond to testify in a murder case. In order to fix the guilt of the party or parties concerned in the murder, he was or- EICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 81 dereS by the court to reTeal what the dying woman had stated to him in her confession. As all priests are held to do under the circumstances, Father Teeling refused to an- swer, saying that all he might know as a citizen he was at liberty to state, but what was revealed to him in sacra- mental confession he was bound, as all priests are, to the strictest secrecy, even though death should be the result of his silence. Father Teeling's position was upheld by the court, which decided that, where the observance of secrecy on the part of a minister as to things confidentially revealed to him, is a part of the religious belief of any denomination, the minister, in such a case, cannot be com- pelled to divulge his knowledge resulting from such confi- dence. This decision became afterwards popularly known as "The Teeling Law." During this year, the two preceding ones and those that immediately followed, the Know-lSTo+hings, seeing the growth of the Church, were aroused to open hostility. They suffered an ignominious defeat at the hands of Gover- nor Wise. As to Bishop McGill's opposition to Know-N'othingism, we have the account of Judge A. M. Keiley, in his "Mem- oranda," page 10 : "In September, 1855, he (the Bishop) became engaged in a newspaper controversy with Eobert Eidgway, Esq., the editor of the Richmond Whig, and concluded one of the most caustic letters in the history of American newspaper disputes with the following sentence, whose prophecy of the shameful death of Know-lTothing- ism was verified sooner than seemed to all probable: "When Know-Nothingism has become in history a name, as it did once before in the days of Laetantius, the Church, which you would destroy, will still rest immovable upon the Eternal Eock where it was planted and is sustained 83 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, by the Hand of God.' No party ever died so early and so scandalous a death." In September, 1855, Eev. L. E. Leonard came to the diocese. He assisted Father Teeling imtil the following year, when he was transferred to Martinsbnrg. On September the 11th Bishop McGill ordained to the priesthood in the Cathedral at Eiehmond EeT. James Me- G-overn, who the following January was transferred to Lynchburg. The first diocesan synod ever held in Virginia was convened at the Cathedral by the Bishop on October 13, 1855. The following were the officers: Very Rev. John Teeling, Promoter; Eev. Daniel Downey, Procurator Cleri; Rev. J. Aschwander, S. J., and Rev. L. Nota, S. J., Consultores; Rev. J. Polk, S. J., Secretarius; Mr. Oscar Sears, a Seminarian, Magister Cserimoniarum. The remaining clergy present were: Rev. Joseph Plun- kett. Rev. Thomas Mulvey, Eev. A. Talty, and Rev. J. McGovern. The first care of the Bishop during the synod was to renew the statutes of Bishop Whelan and to promulgate the decrees of the Baltimore Council. He chose St. Vin- cent de Paul as patron of the diocese and strongly advo- cated devotion to the Immaculate Conception. The synod urged that aged and helpless priests be pro- vided for. It decreed concerning faculties, dress and mode of living of the diocesan clergy. Property of churches was not to be held in the individual names of the parish priests ; schools where possible were to be erected, churches con- structed, properly furnished, and registers of parish af- fairs accurately kept. The Forty Hours' Devotion and confraternities were to be instituted in the parishes. In 1856 St. Mary's German Church at Richmond real- RICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 83 ized from its first bazaar the sum of seven hundred dol- lars. In tlie month, of July of that year a new organ was purchased. At about this time too the interior of the church was decorated, three hundred dollars being ex- pended for the purpose. At this period Fredericksburg was aLtended from Rich- mond and Warrenton from either Richmond or Alexan- dria. In neither place was thore as yet a Catholic church. As to educational institutions, Richmond had, besides St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum and Academy, two free schools for girls, one being for the Germans, a large school for boys in the basement of the Cathedral, under the auspices of the Young Catholic Friend's Society, and a school for German boys at St. Mary's Church, which was very largely attended. Besides St. Mary's Orphan Asylum at Norfolk, there were also a free school and likewise parish schools at Petersburg, Lynchburg and Harper's Ferry. As to Sun- day-schools, they flourished at Richmond, Norfolk, Ports- mouth, Lynchburg, Staunton, Harper's Ferry, Bath- and Martinsburg. St. "Vincent's Hospital at Norfolk, an institution that has done incalculable good, was founded and placed un- der the Sisters of Charity in 1856. On December 7, 1856, a great calamity befell Norfolk in the destruction of its church by fire. Rev. Matthew O'Keefe, undismayed by the disaster, began at once to col- lect funds to rebuild. Rev. Oscar A. Sears, a native of Alexandria and convert to the Church, was, on March 23, 1857, ordained to the priesthood by Bishop M'cGill at the Cathedral. He was soon transferred from the Cathedral to Martinsburg, and finally to Lynchburg, where he died ten years later. 84 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, So energetically did Father O'Keefe labor at Norfolk that he was able to have the corner-stone of his new church laid^by Bishop McGill on March 25, 1857. The nam€ of the old church, St. Patrick's, was relinquished, and the new name, St. Mary's, was substituted for the edi- fice to be constructed. At the consecration by Archbishop Kendriek of the Very Eev. John Barry as Bishop of the newly-erected Vicariate Apostolic of Florida, which ceremony occurred in the Baltimore Cathedral August 2, 1857, Bishop McGill preached a sermon of singular eloquence. From May until October of the same year Very Eev. Father Teeling was absent on a visit to Ireland. Eev. Thomas Mulvey was appointed to act at the Cathedral as Vicar-Greneral during his absence. On January 37th of the following year, the corner-stone of another church was laid, that of St. Mary's at Fred- ericksburg, and shortly after that of St. Mary's at Fairfax Station. At the consecration in Savannah, March 14, 1858, of Bishop Lynch by Archbishop Kendriek, Bishop McGill de- livered a profound discourse on the form and government of the Church. From January to July, 1858, a new priest assisted at the Cathedral in the person of the Eev. J.. Brady. On August 15th of the same year Alexandria, attended by the Jesuits from Georgetown, and heretofore in the Baltimore diocese, because then a part of the District of Columbia, was, by a rescript of the Holy See annexed to the Diocese of Richmond. Cardinal Barnabo announced the fact in a letter written to the Bishop, dated October 9, 1858. St. Mary's Church, JN"orfolk, having been completed by Father O'Keefe, was on October 3, 1858, solemnly dedi- RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 85 oated by Bishop McGill. St. Mary's is regarded as one of the most beautiful and artistic churches in the South, and, as long as its walls stand, will be a living monument to the zealous pastor and people of Norfolk who erected it. Rev. Robt. A. Andrews, born in Westmoreland county, and educated at Princeton for the Pre.9byterian ministry, became a convert, studied for the priesthood, and was or- dained by Bishop McGill at the Cathedral, March 13, 1859. He assisted at the Cathedral during the next six years. On March 20, 1859, the Bishop dedicated the church at Fredericksburg, which had just been completed. About this time of the same year the German school at Richmond, after many trials, was put under the care of two Notre Dame Sisters, who came to the city from Mil- waukee. A building was constructed for the Sisters and children under their charge. The same year witnessed the forming at St. Mary's of the Sodality for Young Men and Ladies under the patronage of the Immaculate Concep- tion. Beginning with twenty members, the organization to-day numbers over 400. Being convinced of the need of a place of worship for the eastern part of the city of Richmond, the Bishop had been for some time trying to find a suitable site for a church. Accordingly, in January and in March, 1859, he purchased, what was then four lots, on the eastern side of Twenty-fifth street between Broad and Grace and began at once the building there of St. Patrick's Church. On the Feast of Pentecost, June 13, 1859, he laid the corner- stone of the new edifice, and preached on that occasion a most eloquent sermon explaining and defending the cere- monies of the Catholic Church. The church was com- 86 THE CATHOLIC CHUKCH, pleted the same year and impressively dedicated by the Bishop. It was served during the next two years by Father Teeling from the Cathedral At about this period Bishop McGill issued to his clergy and flock a strong pastoral, in which he promulgated, and strongly urged the faithful to make, the Jubilee of that time. Eev. A. Talty came to assist at the Cathedral in De- cember, 1859, and remained only until the following May. The Infirmary of St. Francis De Sales, on Brook avenue, Eiehmond, was founded May 26, 1860. It was placed under the Sisters of Charity with Sister Terebius as Superioress. On July 16, 1860, Bishop McGill laid the corner-stone of St. John's Church, Warrenton. About the same time of this year Eev. Thomas A. Becker, D. D., who, after a brilliant course, had just been ordained in Eome, came to the Cathedral, from which place he was shortly after sent as pastor to Martinsburg. It is worth while to chronicle that Dr. Becker was an alumnus of the University of Virginia. In 1860 an event of great importance to the Church took place in Eiehmond, namely, the transferring of St. Mary's Church and the Germans of the city to the care of the Benedictines, who during all the succeeding years up to the present have labored with a zeal and success worthy of the highest commendation. The change came about in this wise: Eev. Father Polk, S. J., the pastor of St. Mary's, a man beloved by all, and who had succeeded in making his congregation a truly flourishing one, was re- called by his superiors to Georgetown. It was his fondest hope to have some order of religieux succeed him at St. Mary's. With this end in view, he made an earnest ap- EICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 87 peal to the pious Archbishop Boniface Wimmer, 0. S. B., of St. Vincent's Abbey, Pennsylvania, with the result that Kev. Leonard Mayer, 0. S. B., was sent as the first Benedictine pastor of St. Mary's, Eichmond. He arrived at his new charge August 3, 1860, and three days later was formally installed. For thirteen years did he labor zealously and faithfully, his period of office covering the most difficult times in the history of the Church in the South. An eloquent speaker, a skilled musician, and pos- sessing traits of character calculated to draw people to himself, it is no wonder that the people loved him and that to-day his name is held in. reverence by every Catho- lic German family of the city and by all other people who knew him. On September 9, 1860, Bishop McGill laid the corner- stone of "St. Mary's Star of the Sea," at Port Monroe. A chapel at Pairfax was dedicated on the 23d of the same month, and on the 30th the church at Martinsburg was likewise dedicated. Strenuous times were in store for the Church through- out the whole South in the shape of that greatest of national calamities — ^the Civil War. A pastoral letter was issued by the Bishop, dated Peb- ruary 4, 1861, in which he ordered prayers for peace, and said: "The fortunes and fate of our beloved country are now trembling in the scales. . . . Our chief hope is in the merciful Providence of God." Very Eev. Pather Teeling was formally installed as the pastor of St. Patrick's Church, Eichmond, in May, 1861, where he remained for three years and seven months. Eev. A. L. McMullan came as assistant at the Cathe- dral in July, 1861, and continued there for four years and four months. In August of the same year the Eev. 88 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, John Hagan also came to the Cathedral, where he labored for six years. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, besides the priests lately referred to as laboiring in Virginia, the fol- lowing Fathers served in the Old Dominion: At Alexandria, Eev. P. P. Kroes, S. J.; Bath, Fairfax and Martinsburg, Eev. T. Becker, D. D. ; Harper's Ferry and Winchester, Eev. M. Costello, D. D. ; Lynchburg, Eev. 0. A. Sears; Norfolk, Eev. Matthew O'Keefe; Ports- mouth and Old Point Comfort, Rev. Joseph Plunkett, pastor, and Eev. J. Brady, assistant; Petersburg, Very Eev. Thomas Mulvey, one of the two vicars-general. Fred- ericksburg was attended once every third Sunday from Eichmond, and Staunton every fourth Sunday. Char- lottesville, Lexington, Harrisonburg, Mountain Top and other smaller stations were also occasionally visited from Eichmond. Warrenton was attended sometimes from Al- exandria and sometimes from Eichmond. Statistics of the diocese at this time show the follow- ing figures: Priests of religious orders 3 Secular priests 10 Churches 15 Ecclesiastical students 6 Academies for young ladies 2 Parochial schools 6 Orphan asylums 2 Hospital 1 Infirmary 1 Catholic population, about 12,000 The Civil War came and with it a state of turbulence for religion. Virginia has been aptly styled "The Battle- field of the Civil War." Her soil drank in some of the EICHMOND, VIRGINIA 89 best blood of both the Forth and South. A large num- ber of Catholics were combatants on both sides. These were looked after by Catholic chaplains from outside of the diocese and by the priests attending the various mis- sions throughout Virginia. The harm done to the Church during the mighty con- flict can be better imagined than described. Congrega- tions were dispersed and churches and other religious in- stitutions were made use of as hospitals. The Church of St. Vincent De Paul, at Bath, after serving as quarters for the Confederate troops, was accidentally burned. Horses of the United States cavalry were actually stabled in the sacred edifice at Winchester. Afterwards General Banks had the church destroyed by fire. Sixty horses were likewise stabled within the walls of St. Joseph's Church, Martinsburg, by the Jesse Scouts, who also used the sacristies of the church as prisons. As was to be expected. Bishop McGill's sympathies in the great struggle were decidedly with the South. He ac- cordingly used whatever influence he possessed to further the success of the Confederacy. He strongly urged his people to fight for their beloved southland. An old gen- tleman who hailed from a foreign country, and who at that time had been in Virginia only a short while, re- lates how, near the beginning of the war, and before he had made up his mind that it was his duty to fight, he en- countered Bishop M'cGill two or three miles from the city, and how the Bishop upbraided him for his hesita- tion ; told him it was his solemn duty to take up arms for the land in which he intended to reside, and made him promise to enter the army, which he subsequently did. During the four years of the war, especially the latter ones, the. Catholic congregations of the diocese dwindled 90 THE CATHOLIC CHUECH, do-wn to insignificant numbers, composed almost exclu- sively of women, children and old men, practically all of the able-bodied men and youth having enlisted in the army, and many of the women being prevented from at- tending church owing to their nursing of sick soldiers and other extra cares put upon them. As the writer of "The Progress of the Catholic Church in America," page 151, truly says, "more Catholics died on its (Virginia) soil (during the war) than had ever previously lived within its limits." The Catholic men and youths of Virginia were enlisted in various companies, those of Eiehmond being members, principally, of the Emmet Grua"rds or the Montgomery Guards. Dr. Teeling served as Chaplain to the latter company, whose principal officers (commissioned') were P. T. Moore, Captain; John Dooley, First Lieutenant; and William English, Second Lieutenant. When Captain Moore became Lieutenant-Colonel, Lieu- tenant Dooley was made Captain, and later still, Major; Lieutenant English then becoming Captain. Mr. John Ahern was also at one time Lieutenant; and Mr. John Disney Orderly Sergeant. The writer regrets his inability to procure m time for the publication of this work a com- plete roster of the officers and men of the Montgomery Guards. The Sisters of Charity already within the State and those who came for the purpose during the war did noble work nursing the sick, and proved themselves in every sense of the word true heroines of charity. Special men- tion should Tie made of the work done in this line at Rich- mond, Norfolk and Portress- Monroe. At the latter place, the wounded and sick were attended by both the Sisters of KICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 91 Charity and the Sisters of Mercy. The writer has more than once visited the building on Brook avenue, in Rich- mond, now used as a kindergarten and known during the war as "The Infirmary of St. Francis de Sales," under the care of the Sisters of Charity. If the walls of the old building could speak, what tales of heroic charity would they not tell as having been exercised during the war to- wards the poor, wounded soldiers by the courageous and patient Sisters of the Infirmary ! Amongst the diocesan priests^who served as chaplains to the Confederate soldiers, at leasit for a time, besides Dr. Teeling, of Richmond, already mentioned, was Father Plunkett, of Portsmouth, whilst all the clergy of Virginia performed amongst the soldiers whatever missionary service they could. The Bishop himself made frequent visits to the Catholic soldiers detained in Libby Prison. He also caused diiferent priests of Richmond to administer to the wants of the Catholic -soldiers there. During the war the Bishop, because of army regulations, not being able to journey over his diocese as he wished to do, utilized his spare moments by writing two books, namely, "The True Church Indicated to the Inquirer" and "Our Faith the Victory." The latter, now repub- lished by P. J. Kennedy & Co., of N^ew York, under the title "The Creed of Catholics," has gone through ten edi- tions. The publishers in the preface to the sixth edition have this ^o say : "In logical arrangement, in its complete- ness, and in the power and beauty of the language used, the "Creed of Catholics" is surpassed by no work of its kind in the English language. Bishop McG-ill shows a familiarity with the writings of the Fathers nearly equal to that of Dr. Moehler in his famous 'Symbolik.' Mod- ern theories on religious subjects were also well known 93 THE CATHOLIC CHUECH, to hiln, and, wMle not directly alluding to them, he com- pletely demolished the popular ohjections to the Catholic Church." The allusion above to the Bishop's familiarity with the Fathers deserves especial mention. At the Episcopal resi- dence, Eichmond, there is to-day an almost; if not quite, complete collection of the works of the Fathers made by Bishop McGill, and transmitted by him to his successors. In fact, he got together several thousand volumes of most profound works on Sacred Scripture, theology, church history, canon law, rubrics, history, travel, and miscellaneous writings of various kinds, embracing altogether what is doubtless one of the rarest and best ecclesiastical libraries in the country. In fact, if w6 had no other way of judging of the profound learn- ing 'and literary turn of Bishop McGill's mind than from the valuable books he collected during his lifetime, we would at once form the Just conclusion that he was a man of wide and deep learning, and possessed of splen- did literary ability. In fact, it may be seriously doubted if Bishop McGill was surpassed in intellectual depth and in learning, if equalled, by any of the earlier American bishops, unless we except the renowned Bishop England, of Charleston, known sometimes as "The Light of the American Hierarchy." It seems^that Bishop McGill was a great admirer of Bishop England, having collected at an early period all of his printed works. The older clergy and members of the flock in Virginia who had the opportunity of hearing the Bishop preach de- clare his sermons were models of depth, learning and liter- ary finish. If there were any fault to find with them it was because at times the Bishop's profound mind led him into depths beyond the reach of the majority of his audi- tors. RICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 93 The writer will now endeavor to present in order the different oeeurrenees of the time of which he has been able to glean any knowledge from the study of records and the story of living witnesses. During the greater part of the war St. Mary's Parochial School was the only parish school in Kichmond able to continue. With difficulty was Father Ijeonard Mayer, 0. S. B., able to get from the North the necessary school books through the Federal lines. St. John's Church, at Warrenton, was blessed in Octo- ber, 1861. Eev. Michael Ferren was ordained by the Bishop at the Cathedral on April 38^ 1863. He died at Lynchburg about seven years later. In the hopes that the war might come to an end, the bishops of the Confederacy set apart the time from De- cember 1st to December 20th, 1863, as a special time of prayer for peace by both clergy and people. Previously to the use of the church at Winchester as a stable the Rev. Thomas A. Becker, D. D., the pastor, was arrested because he refused to recognize the right of the provost-marshal .set over that church to direct him what prayers he was to offer in his church. August 23, 1864, Bishop McGill purchased from the executor of Loftin N. EUett for $15,000 a half square in depth of ground on Church Hill, located on the southside of Grace street and extending from Twenty-second to Twenty-third streets. It had on it an old-fashioned wooden house, built in the eighteenth century by Col. Eichard Adams, and, as we are told by Judge A. M. Keiley in his "Memoranda," "was in those days consid- ered a palatial residence." We shall shortly see how, after two years, the Bishop established here a holy order of 94 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, women, who by their example and teachings have done an immense amount of good to the Catholic Church in Eich- mond. During the closing period of the war the following priests were laboring in -Eiehmond: At the Cathedral, Eevs. Robert H. Andrews, A. L. McMuUen, and Rev. John Hagan; at St. Mary's, Rev. Leonard Mayer, 0. S. B.; at St. Patrick's, Rev. J. Teeling, D. D. Freder- icksburg was attended from the Cathedral. The Jesuit Fathers of Alexandria, the Rev. P. P. Kroes, pastor, and Rev. P. Toale, assistant, visited Fairfax Station. Mar- tinsburg, Winchester and Bath were attended by Rev. M. Costello, D. D., of Harper's Ferry. Father 0. A. Sears was pastor at Lynchburg; Father Matthew O'Keefe, as- sisted by Rev. Father Michael Ferren, was at Norfolk; Rev. Thomas Ouelett, S. J., was pastor of the new church at Old Point Comfort; Rev. Joseph Plunkett labored at Portsmouth; Rev. Father Bixio, pastor at Staunton, at- tended Charlottesville, Lexington, Harrisonburg, Moun- tain Top and other stations. Warrenton was occasionally visited from Richmond. Very Rev. Thomas MulVey, Vicar-General, was the pastor at Petersburg. During the war an impulse was given to the Catholicity of Staunton by the establishment in that city' of the first Catholic school. In January, 1865, Father Teeling was succeeded as pastor of St. Patrick's at Richmond by Father Robert A. Andrews, who remained there until his death, two years and nine months lalfer. Being anxious to proceed to Rome to consult the Church authorities there concerning the betterment of his diocese, as well as to make his "ad limina" visit required to be made every ten years by the bishops of America to the EICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 95 tombs of Rome's two great apostles, the Bishop endeav- ored, early in the year 1865, to pass the line of Northern soldiers, but in vain. He even applied to the authorities at Washington for permission to make his contemplated journey, but without success. It was only after the sur- render of Lee and Johnston that he was even able to visit the different portions of his diocese, with the result that his heart was torn at the evidences of havoc to religion on all sides wrought by the frightful Civil War. Much of the wort accomplished by himself, and former mission- aries was completely undone, and had to be begun over again. Disheartened for a time, but not crushed, the in- trepid bishop and his oourageous priests set to work to adapt themselves to the new order of things, with the re- sult that soon, out of the chaos of the Civil War, arose some semblance of order and progress. Rev. P. J. O'Keefe came as assistant to the Cathedral in August, 1865. A pastoral letter, dated February 3, 1866, was ad- dressed by the Bishop to his flock. With graphic words he dwells on the harm done to religion by the war. He inveighs against indifferentism, error and dangerous amusements, and urges Christian education and the gen- eral co-operation of his flock in the upbuilding of re- ligion. On the Grace street lot between Twenty-second and Twenty-third streets, which lot, as already stated, the Bishop had purchased two years before, he established September 17, 1866, the Funs of the Visitation. Mother Mary Baptista was the first Superioress. Her worldly name was Miss Amelia R. Hitzelberger, a sister of the priest of that name, who, owing to his virtues and talents, was remembered with affection not only in Norfolk, where he had principally labored, but throughout the State. 96 THE CATHOLIC CHUECH, Without delay the Nuns of the Visitation opened the Academy of Monte Maria for girls, an institution that has flourished to this present day. During the year 1866 there were five boarders and forty day scholars. A few years later the grounds of the school and convent were still further enlarged by the purchase from Mr. A. J. Eutherford of that part of the present lot fronting on Pranklin street, thus giving to the Nuns an entire block in bath length and width. By the death on July 16, 1866, of Eev. P. Donelan, who had been on the missions less than a year, the diocese suffered oonsiderable loss. The Second Plenary Council of Baltimore, attended by Bishops from all parts of the country, was opened by Archbishop Spalding at Baltimore, October 7, 1866. Bishop McGill was present and was one of the bishops chosen to preach during the sessions of the Council. The sermons delivered were of a so eloquent and learned a character 'that they were printed in America and after- wards reprinted in Europe. At this time the priests' stationed at the Cathedral were Eev. Thomas A. Becker, D. D., and Eev. Peter O'Keefe, as previously stated. Father Andrews, the pastor of St. Patrick's Church now, had as assistant the Eev. Ambler Weed. The other changes from the closing period of the war were the following: Eev. Father Farrell attended Fredericksburg, Warrenton and Fairfax ; Eev. 0. A. Sears was now at Martinsburg, but had not as yet been able to rebuild the church at Bath, accidentally destroyed by the Confederate troops; consequently he had to hold services at Bath in private houses or halls; Eev. P. Farren was made pastor at Lynchburg and visited from there Lexing- ton, as also Staunton and its missions, whose pastor, Eev. RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 97 J. Bixio, S. J., had just been recalled to California by his superiors; Rev. J. Hagan was the assistant to the Rev. M. O'Keefe at Norfolk. Old Point was attended from Norfolk every Sunday. The priests at Norfolk likewise attended Eastville and Cherrystone, in Northampton county. Ashland was visited from Richmond. At this period also the German Sisters of Notre Dame were in charge of the Female Academy of Notre Dame, in Rich- mond. The work of these Sisters was under the super- vision of Rev. Leonard Mayer, 0. S. B., pastor of St. Mary's Church. Rev. D. Costello, D. D., a young priest of great promise, had died at Harper's Ferry. He was succeeded by the Rev. J. J. Kain, who afterwards became successively Bishop of Wheeling and Archbishop of St. Louis. In September, 1867, Rev. Thomas J. Brady, the be- loved senior priest of the diocese, came to Virginia from All-Hallows College, Ireland. He was at once stationed as assistant at the Cathedral, where he zealously labored for more than three years. He also served as secretary fo Bishop McGill., In October, 1870, he was transferred to St. Paul's Church, Portsmouth, where during his many years' fruit- ful pastorate from then until now he has shown himself to be one of the most able and apostolic priests that Vir- ginia has ever had. Though having labored in the past with a hundred-fold success, the good priest is at present as active and energetic as in his younger days. Not to mention his schools and religious houses, the new Church of St. Paul, dedicated the past spring, which replaced the old church destroyed by fire, is one of the most costly and magnificent churches in the South. It will ever remain a monument to his untiring efforts and to the remarkable generosity of his faithful flock. 98 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, Besides being Virginia's senior priest. Father Brady is one of the consultors of the diocese. The priests of the diocese hold him in the highest veneration, feeling, as they do, that his is an example they may emulate with profit. May the good Father Brady, the model priest, who has given to the diocese more years of service than any other of Virginia's missionaries, be spared to continue his un- selfish work for years to oome in the vineyard of the Lord ! Wishing to establish the Sisters of Charity in connec- tion with St. Patrick's Church, Richmond, Bishop McGill in 1867, invited some of the aforesaid sisters to Richmond. They occupied a rented house on the western side of Twenty- fifth street. Their first superioress was Sister Mary Inno- cent, who at once opened a school for girls. During its first year's existence the school was attended by no less than 150 girls. The same year Rev. J. A. Weed was appointed pastor at Staunton. He was succeeded as assistant at St. Pat- rick's, Richmond, by Rev. Jno. Hagan. Rev, J. J. Ewin was pastor at Bath, though the church there had not been rebuilt. A parochial school for boys in the basement of the Cathedral was organized by Dr. Becker. It was attended during the year 1867 by 80 boys, the German school for boys by 75, whilst St. Patrick's school, recently organized, also had 75 boys. During this same year were organized at the Cathedral the Ladies' Benevolent Society. Mrs. John Purcell was the first gresideni Previously to the foundation of this society another Benevolent and Sewing Society met at the house of its pres- ident, Mrs. Constance R. Boudar. The Conference of St. Vincent de Paul was instituted EICHMOND, VIEGINTA. 99 both in the parishes of the Cathedral and of St; Patrick. The German Benevolent Society of St. Mary's Church, Eichmond, was at this time ip a flourishing condition. The diocese sustained a great loss on October 27, 1867, in the death of the Eev. Eobert A. Andrews, pastor of St. PatricFs Church, Eichmond. He was succeeded by Father John Hagan. On March 25, 1868, the five Sisters of St. Patrick's School, Eichmond, Sister Mary Vincent Cunningham be- ing superioress, were incorporated under the title of "The Sisters of St. Patrick's School." About the same time they purchased at a cost of $3,212.50 a desirable lot on Twenty-fifth street, near the northeast corner of Franklin street. Here was permanently established their school. The next year they were able to add a wing to their build- ing. "When in 1868 the Diocese of Wilmington was formed, Eev. Thomas A. Becker, D. D., a Virginia priest, of re- markable brilliancy, and one of the greatest linguists in the country, was appointed its first bishop. He was conse- crated by Archbishop Spalding, August 16, 1868. On October 3rd of the same year the Sisters of the Cathedral were incorporated under the title, "The Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum and Academy." In August, 1868, the Eev. James J. McGurk came to Virginia, and was at once appointed to the Cathedral, where he remained until October, 1869, when he was transferred as pastor to Ljmehburg, where, after having built up Catholicity in the city and surrounding missions, he remains one of Virginia's best beloved and most effici- ent priests. Possessed of splendid abilities, especially of an executive nature. Father McGurk is also noted as one of Virginia's most eloquent of sacred orators. We quote here 100 THE CATHOLIC CHUECH, the reference made to Lynchburg and its present pastor by the Very Eev. Henry F. Parke in his "ISTotes on the Eise and Spread of the Catholic Missions in Virginia," page 17 : "The frontier chapel has given place to the handsome and spacious church of the future. The Lynchburg faithful no longer follow their dead to the field of the stranger. The ashes of Fathers Fox, O'Donohue and others repose in the midst of their people. All praise to the earnest pastor (Eev. J. J. McGurk) and flock who have efEected these wonders." Since the above lines were written Father McGurk has constructed one of the most beautiful churches and recto- ries in the diocese, together with a fine home for the Sisters of Charity. He has also erected churches on the missions attached to Lynchburg and has remodelled the old church building of the Hill City into a splendid school. Father McGurk is an irremovable rector, the second senior priest and senior pastor, and one of the consultors of the diocese. In the old days, he would attend Lexington, fifty-two miles distant, making the journey on horseback. He is regarded with afEection by priests and people as one of Virginia's best and most capable pioneer priests. The history of the Catholic Church in Lynchburg and the sur- rounding missions will be forever closely interwoven with the name of the Eev. James J. McGurk. Father Janssens came to the Cathedral in October, 1868. "Later on he became successively pastor of the Cathedral, Bishop of STatchez, and finally Archbishop of New Orleans. Eev. Leonard Mayer, 0. S. B., of St. Mary's Church, Eichmond, now had an assistant in the person of Eev. Thaddeus Stephens, 0. S. B. Rt. Rev. Thomas A. Becker, D. D., Deceased Bishop of Wilmington and of Savannah. EICHMOND, VIEGmiA. 101 Father Pltmkett, of Portsmouth, had had the great happiness of seeing his new church completed interiorly and dedicated on the Feast of the Holy Rosary, October 4, 1868. This same year was established at •S'oTfolk St. John's Seminary, under the direction of Eev. M. O'Keefe and Rev. G. Vanderplas. It opened with one student of phi- losophy and five of theology. Besides the above ecclesias- tical students, the Bishop had others at All-Hallows Col- lege, Ireland, and' at St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore. In 1869 V^ery Eev. Thomas Mulvey, Yicar- General, was stationed at the Cathedral. On October 13, 1869, Eev. W. B. Hanley was ordained at the Cathedral by Bishop McGill, who stationed him as an additional assistant at the same place. Rev. Father Weed was now pastor at Staunton. Rev. M. O'Keefe, of Norfolk, had as assistant the Rev. John Boherty. Towards the close of the year 1869 Rev. "Wm. B. Hanley was made temporary assistant to Father Plun- kfitt at Portsmouth. In addition to the other schools in Richmond, the Ger- mans had now a high school. The total attendance at all the Catholic schools and academies of Eichmond for the year 1869, according to "Sadlier's Catholic Directory," was 915. "On the 23d of July, 1869," writes Judge A. M. Keiley, in his '^Memoranda," ''Bishop McGill conveyed to the Sisters (of St. Joseph's Academy) the lot which he had derived from his predecessors, and w'hich Father O'Brien bought from Chevallier, and, on the 12th of October in the same year, a lot bought for the Sisters October 13, 1860, on Fourth street, and in rear of their main lot, the title of which was held by trustees, was by those trustees 103 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, conveyed to the Sisters oi St. Joseph. This lot originally cost $7,000, and fronts on Fourth street eighty-one feet, running back 13D, and is in part occupied hy the new building now in progress." In the latter part of the year 1869 Bishop McGill went to Rome, where he attended and took part in the sessions of the Vatican Council during that and the following year. Whilst he was away a number of gentlemen of the Cathedral congregation, acting under the incentive of the Vicar-General, Very Reverend Father Mulvey, formed a chartered association under the title of the "Catholic Male Orphan Asylum and School Association," and began at once the work of raising funds for a school building. Shortly after this movement in favor of a school was begun, a fine lot on the southeast corner of Marshall and Ninth streets was offered for sale. The lot, on which was. an old brick dwelling, was purchased for the sum of $16,000. The cash payment required was made whilst the Bishop was yet in Europe, as was also the second payment of one-fourth obtained from ^popular silibseription. "The Bishop was unable to promise the immediate opening of a school," writes Judge Keiley in his "Memoranda," "and the interest of the congregation in the matter, in conse- quence, soon flagged. The association finally conveyed the property to the Bishop, and nothing was done during his lifetime." In January, 1870, Rev. Thomas Kelly succeeded Rev. John Hagan as pastor of St. Patrick's Church, Richmond, though he did not actually take charge of the parish until October of the same year, he assisting at the Cathedral un- til that month. He remained as pastor for four years, being then succeeded by the Rev. John Doherty, who soon EICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 103 eonstnicted the present school of St. Patrick for boys on Tweni:y-isixth and Marshall streets. On the transfer to the Baltimore Diocese in the eighties of the Eev. Matthew O'Keefe, Father Doherty succeeded him as pastor of St. Mary's Church, Norfolk, where he has remained, up until the present, one of the most esteemed and successful priests of the diocese. His courteous. manners and kindly disposition have won him hosts of friends amongst all classes and creeds since he came to Norfolk. Amongst other buildings that have been constructed, we may note the beautiful rectory attached to St. Mary's Church, which rectory, next to those of the new Cathedral, is considered the best and handsomest in the diocese. Father Doherty has been closely identified with all the Catholic events which in recent years have transpired in Norfolk, and the great progress of the Church in the City by the Sea is due in no small measure to his wisdom, zeal and abilities. Eev. G. Vanderplas, the esteemed pastor of Petersburg, died July 27, 1870, not having been on the mission quite two years. He was buried at Petersburg, as was still later buried the Very Eev. Father Mulvey. In October, 1870, Eev. Augustine Van De Vyver, the present beloved Bishop of Bichmond, came to the diocese. He was at once appointed assistant at the Cathedral, where he was destined to faithfully labor longer than any other priest or bishop. The Eev. J. Ambler Weed, who, before his oonversion to Catholicity, had been an Episcopalian minister, died March 23, 1871. At the time of his death he had sixty pupils attending his school at Staunton. On May 3rd another faithful priest was added to the diocese by the ordination at Norfolk of the Rev. Thomas 104 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, J. Murray. The ReT. Erhardt Vanino, 0. S. B., came to St. Mary's Chureli, Eichmond, about the same time, to assist the Eev. Father Mayer, 0. S. B. From the Cathedral Father Van De Vyver attended Fredericksburg and Ashland, whilst Father Janssens looked after the Catholics at Warrenton, Gordonsville and Culpeper. Eev. J. J. Kain, of Harper's Ferry, had now an addi- tional assistant besides the Eev. P. 0. Keefe in the person of Eev. John McVerry, the able and energetic pastor of Winchester and its missions. It was under his wise man- agement and due to his unremitting labors that Catholicity in Staunton, Harrisonburg, and the surrounding country at- tained a degree of progress hitherto unknown. The beau- tiful new Church of St. Francis, constructed by him at Staunton, in 1895, ranks amongst the best in the diocese. Added years of missionary work do not seem to tell upon the zealous missionary. Happiest when laboring the hardest, he is able to do to-day, and actually does, as much work as he did twenty or thirty years ago. The great learning of Father McVerry is deservedly held in high estimation by the priests of the diocese. He is es- pecially noted as a profound theologian and scriptural scholar, and is considered an unusually deep and well- versed student of Irish lore. Eev. Hugh J. McKeefry, the gentlemanly and highly esteemed irremovable rector of St. Patrick's Church, Eichmond, came to the diocese in 1871. Stationed tem- porarily at Harper's Ferry, he was the same year ap- pointed by Bishop McGill as the first resident pastor. of Fredericksburg. His labors there and later on in the Valley of Virginia were eminently successful.^ Father McKeefrfs abilities, zeal and energy are strik- EICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 105 ingly shown by tlie rapid spiritual and material adyance- ment which St. Patrick's parish has made since he came to Eichmond to take charge of it. Some two or three years ago he had erected on a lot in Pulton, a large building which he uses at present as an additional Sunday-school for the children of that section of his parish. Between $5,000 and $6,000 have been alix)gether expended for the Fulton lot, building and improvements. On Sunday, September 36th, the new Church of St. Teresa at West Point, which Father McKeefry had just completed, was solemnly dedicated by Bishop Van De Vyver. It is not only the first Catholic Church ever reared in Prince William county, but is the first and only Catholic Church in that particular section of the State. Father McKeefry constructed also the Church at Keyser in 1875, and remodeled that at Martinsburg, where he se- cured for the Sisters the building known as "The Berkeley Female Academy." He also built rectories at Keyser, Fredericksburg and Martinsburg. The last named is a building of much beauty and elegance. At the time of Bishop McGill's return from the Vatican Council, in the latter part of the year 1870, his health began to decline. He seemed to have an intuition of his approaching death, and accordingly, in 1871, visited his relatives in Kentucky and bade them farewell. On his return to Eichmond his health failed so rapidly that he began to prepare for tbe end. His infirmities increased and his sufferings grew to be intense. His great soul passed to its reward on Sunday, January 14, 1873. His funeral was attended by a great concourse of clergy and laity. Speaking of his death, Judge Keiley, in his "Memo- randa," page 11, says: "Pew events have occurred in Eich- 106 THE CATHOLIC CHUECH, mond evoking a larger measure and a more decided expres- sion of sympathy from all classes. By permission of the City Council his body was interred in the basement of the Cathedral, in front of the chapel altar, and shortly there- after a memorial tablet, appropriately inscribed, was placed in the Cathedral between the Blessed Virgin's and St. Joseph's altar." The death of Virginia's learned, zealous and beloved Bishop was for many a day after his demise the cause of the most profound sorrow in the Catholic families, as well as many non-Catholic ones, of the city and Diooese of Eichmond. The great work of recording the extensive labors of the zealous and efficient priests who, since Bishop McGill's time, have come into the diocese will not be attempted in the following pages. CHAPTEE VI. ' 1872-1877. I Right Rev. James Gibbons, D. D., Fourth Bishop or Richmond. CONCEENING the appointment of a successor to Bishop McGill, Judge Keiley, in his "Memoranda," has this to say: "On the second day after the Bishop's death Most Eev. Archhishop Spalding appointed Eight Eev. James Gibbons, the Vicar Apostolic of North Caro- lina, administrator of the diocese; and the usual steps hav- ing been taken to invoke the decision of His Holiness, the Pope was pleased to add to his duties as Vicar Apostolic of North Carolina the full charge of this diocese. North Carolina was one of the four new apostolic vicariates cre- ated by the Holy See at the instance of the Second Plen- ary Council of Baltimore." "The career of this devoted, zealous and most amiable prelate," writes Judge Keiley in 1874, "the youngest who participated in the Council of the Vatican, though brief, promises, if God spares his life, that Catholicity in Eich- mond will have as much reason to congratulate itself on his energy, forecast and single-hearted devotion to the work of his high vocation, as to praise the gentleness, piety, learning and happy disposition with which that zeal, energy and wisdom are accompanied." Judge Keiley's tribute to the new Biehop of Eichmond indeed reads like a prophecy, for, as all America knows, since the above lines were penned, the career of the young 108 THE CATHOLIC CHUKCH, Bishop of Eichmond has been without a parallel in the annals of American Church history, he having successively risen to the dignity of Archbishop and Cardinal, and having exercised for years, including the present, an in- fluence for, good amongst both Catholics and non-Catholics greater than that exercised by any other Church dignitary of America. His Eminence, James Cardinal Gibbons, as the world now knows him, was bom in the city of Baltimore, Mary- land, on the 23d day of July, 1834. At the age of ten he was taken to Ireland to make there his earlier studies. He came under the observation of the Arehbisihop of Tuam, who was attracted to 'him by his earnestness and diligence. Whilst yet a youth, he returned to America and made his preparatory ecclesiastical course at St. Charles' Col- lege, near EUioott City, Maryland. His assiduity, talent and piety won the approbation of his professors, and he was graduated with highest honors. He next entered St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, that noble institution which has done so much for Catholicity in America, and studied there his philosophy and theology with that earnestness and success that seem inseparable from all his acts. Ordained June 30, 1861, he was assigned to St. Bridget's Church, Canton, on the outskirts of Baltimore. From here he attended St. Lawrence's Church, at Locust Point, as also the garrison of soldierfi at Fort McHenry. HoA*- well he filled his post is shown by the fact that Archbishop Spalding, struck by his worth, appointed him Kis secretary and assistant at the Cathedral. His natural talents and learning, his piety and studious disposition, added to a most attractive personality, caused the bishops of the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore to Rt. Kev. Dennis J. O'Connell, D. D., Rector of the Catholic Um'versiiv, Washington. EICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 109 select him to organize North Carolina, a State almost des- titute of Catholicity, into a Vicariate Apostolic. Consecrated Bishop of the Titular See of Adramyttum, in the Baltimore Cathedral, on August 16, 1868, he set out for his onerous charge. Arriving at Wilmington, North Carolina, he made St. Thomas' Church of that city his headquarters. What a difficult task was his! Out of a million in- habitants the scattered Catholics numbered only 700 souls attended by one or two priests! Undaunted by obstacles, the young missionary bishop worked with all the zeal of a true apostle. He obtained the services of additional priests and labored as the humblest one of them all. He traversed the whole State preaching the Gospel in halls, court-houses and church buildings. His gentle- ness and winning ways have made writers liken him to St. Francis de Sales. His lectures afforded him material for his celebrated work, "The Faith of Our Fathers," a book that has made more converts to CatholieiLy than any other modern work published, at least in our day. As a result of his indefatigable labors, many were con- verted to the Church. Where needful and possibly churches were erected and the faithful gathered into con- gregations. Bishop Gibbons induced the great order of St. Benedict to found a magnificent monastery and college, and the Sisters of Mercy an academy, within the realms of his vicariate. As stated elsewhere, on Bishop McGill's death he was appointed to the See of Eichmond July 30, 1873. The State of North Carolina, however, was still left xmder his charge. Thoug'h the Virginia people had not ceased to lament 110 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, the loss of the great Bishop MeGill, yet, on the coming to Eichmond of Bishop Gibbons, whose fame had preceded him, the people se'emed to forget their grief and received the young prelate into their midst with general rejoicing. From his first coming to Eichmond, Bishop Gibbons ex- erted himself to the utmost to upbuild his diocese. Ac- cordingly, his visitations to the different missionary points wer€ frequent. Whether in Eichmond or elsewhere, when- ever the Bishop preached, he attracted large crowds, even of non-Catholics, who delighted in hearing his lucid and inviting way of explaining to his auditors the different doctrines of that religion which he loved so well. At the Cathedral the only permanent school not yet es- tablished was one for boys. We have already referred to the purchase by the Cathedral congregation of a boys' school lot on the comer of Ninth and Marshall streets, conoeming which Judge Keiley, in his "Memoranda," page 17, writes^: "This property, and the design out of which its purchase grew, awakened the approving interest of Bishop Gibbons from the moment he came amongst us, and no sooner was he formally installed than he set about the accomplishment of the end desired. "In the month of December, 187^, the corner-stone of a handsome building on the lot spoken of was laid, and the building was completed in time to open the fall session of 1873. "The Cathedral School," continues Judge Keiley, "is an ornament to the city. It cost $21,000, and is capable of accommodating 600 scfliolars. Its upper story is a hand- some hall, used by several Catholic societies for their meetings. "The principal is Eev. Charles Van Queckelberge, and he is assisted by three students (ecclesiastical) ^rd three ladies." ' i EICHMOKD, VIEGINIA. Ill Judge Keiley compiled statistics of Catholicity in Eicli- mond for the year 1873, which we shall how give with his comment: "The following table," he says, "for which, as for the great majority of the facts in the recent history of the parish, I am indebted' to Eev. Father Janssens, gives a complete account of the statistics of the Church in Eichmond for 1873 : S s 0} a Chubohbb. J II a 1 i 1 If II s at 1 8 Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Cathedral.. St. Mary's.. 2,700 870 1,013 9,5S0 3,000 3,724 450 150 216 200 82 80 120 78 150 20 leo 133 62 60 31 12 14 134 109 65 92 37 .14 r Total. 4,583 16,274 816 362 348 20 160 256 57 .S08 11 An important event in connection with Catholicity in Eichmond in 1874 was the establishing that year in the city of the Little Sisters of the Poor, concerning which Judge Keiley, in his "Memoranda," page 16, gives us the follovnng: "On the 37th of March, 1874, Mr. William Shakespear Caldwell, a wealthy and liberal Catholic gen- tleman, presented to Bishop Gibbons a deed conveying the costly and elegant private residence on the northeast comer of Marshall and Ninth streets with the design of opening an establishment under the charge of 'The Little Sisters of the Poor.' "By act of the General Assembly of Virginia, passed April 17, 1874, the sisterhood was incorporated, and the wishes of the munificent donor placed under the protec- tion of the law. 112 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, "The Eight Bev. Bishop will, at an early date, proceed to carry out Mr. Caldwell's pious design, and prepare 'St. Sophia's Home for Old People,' as it is called in the act . of Assembly, for the object of Mr. Caldwell's bounty." The Little Sisters (six in number) came to Eichmond October 13, 1874. _ During their first year's residence on Marshall and Ninth streets they housed and cared for thirty inmates. The remarkable work of EeT. John J. Kain at Harper's Perry and the missions attached had already attracted the attention of the church authorities. Accordingly, it was not surprising when the news was divulged that he had been chosen by the Holy See as the successor to Bishop Whelan. Bom at Martinsburg, May 31, 1841, he made his eccle- siastical studies with great success at St. Charles College, near Ellicott City, and at St. Mary's Seminary, Balti- more. He had as class-mate and friendly rival the present illustrious Most Rev. John J. Keane, Archbishop of Dubu- que. It is a singular fact that both Kain and Keane each became subsequently Bishop of one of the Virginias and later still distinguished. Archbishops of Western Sees. Some of the venerable professors of St. Charles Col- lege tell how, at that institution, the professors in the call for recitatjons would often get both Kain anil Keane mixed, since both had the same initials and both family names, although spelled differently, were pronounced alike. At first, when John J. Kain or Keane was called to recite, both students would respond, to the perplexity of the pro- fessors, one of whom hit on the happy plan of calling one John J. Kain, "of Martinsburg," the other John J. Keane, "of Baltimore." .Father Kain was ordained priest by Archbishop Spald- Most Rev. John J. Kain. D. D., Deceased Archbishop of St. Lotiis. EIOHMOND, VIEGINIA. 113 ing July 2, 1866. His missicn at Harper's Ferry em- braced no less than eight counties of West Virginia and four of Virginia. Elected Bishop on February 21, 1875, he ■was consecrated Bishop of Wheeling by Archbishop Bayley on May the 33rd of the same year. His aged mother, then four-score years of age, had the happiness of seeing her son raised to the purple. Eev. Augustine Van De Vyver, the present beloved Bishop of Eichmond, succeeded Bishop Kain as pastor of Harper's Ferry and its mission. It is a singular fact that three pastors of Harper's Ferry have been made bishops, the other, besides the two mentioned above, being Eight Eev. Bishop Whelan. It is also -well to recall here that Dr. Becker, who was made Bishop of Wilmington, had also been pastor of the neighboring parish of Winchester, and that Father Dubois, who became the third Bishop of New York, also labored for awhile in "The Valley," he attending from Frederick, Maryland, Winchester, Harper's Ferry aad Martinsburg. Thus "The Valley of Virginia" may be said to have given to the American Church five great bishops. Fot the next six years Father Van De Vyver labored with great earnestness and success, until recalled to Eich- mond to fill the higher post of Vicar-General. Being now feeble in health. Archbishop Bayley, of Bal- timore, petitioned the Holy See for the appointment of Bishop Gibbons as his coadjutor, with the right of suc- cession to that most venerable of all American Sees. The departure of Bishop Gibbons from Virginia oc- casioned on all sides the most profound sorrow. He had been the chief pastor of the Virginia flock for but five years, and yet during these few years. Catholicity in the Old Dominion had made wonderful strides. The influence 114 THE CATHOLIC CHJJECH, of Bishop Gibbons for good extended not only to Catho- lics, but even to non-Catholics, ^ho regretted his depart- ure from Eichmond probably as much as the Catholics. His gentleness, amiability and zeal, together with his learning and lucidity of thought and expression, endeared him to people of all classes. He was given the title pf Bishop of Janopolis on May 29, 1877. By the death of Archbishop Bayley, October 3rd of the same year. Bishop Gibbons became the Arch- bishop of Baltimore. Nine years later he was made a Prince of the Church by his elevation to the Cardinalate. His distinguished career as Archbishop and Cardinal, and the conspicuous part he has played in the Catholic Church in America, are too familiar to every one to need extended mention here. Cardinal Gibbons enjoys the unique distinction, of being the only American who ever sat in a papal conclave and east his vote for the election of a new Pontiff. Suffice it to eay that the Catholics of Virginia, as well as those of Forth Carolina, will ever be justly proud of the fact that they have had as their bishop the greatest prelate yet produced by America, the illustrious James Cardinal Gibbons. On the translation of Bishop Gibbons to the See of Bal- timore in 1877 the Vicar- General, the Very Rev. Francis Janssens, became administrator of the diocese. During the same year the Rev. Dennis J. O'Connell, D. D., after a brilliant course in Rome, came to assist the other priests at the Cathedral. Here, after greatly en- dearing himself to the people by his zealous labors, he was made pastor of Winchester. Hence his name is to be add- ed to the list of prelates who have labored in the "Valley of Virginia." All Virginians rejoice at the great honors RICHMOND, VIRGIlSriA. 115 he subsequently attained, when he was appointed to the Eeetorship of the North American College in Eome, made a Domestic Prelate to His Holiness, and still later, created Rector of the great Catholic University of America, which office he now, with distinction, fills. Virginians feel that Monsignor O'Connell is one of her great sons, and they naturally take pride in his distinguished career. CHAPTEE VII. 1878-1888. Eight Eev. John Joseph Keane, D. D., Fifth Bishop of Richmond. TJEGHT REV. JOHN JOSEPH KEANB, the fifth ^ Bishop of Richmond, was born at Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland. When but seven years of age, he was brought by his family to America, and came with them to live in the city of Baltimore, where he received his preliminary education. Evincing a decided inclination to the Priesthood, he entered St. Charles' Col- lege, near Ellioott City, Maryland, and later St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, where he made his priestly studies. Young Keane's college and seminary courses were singularly brilliant. He soon won the love and admira- tion of his professors and fellow-students by his excep- tional talent, earnestness and application, combined with striking piety and various other desirable traits of char- acter. Ordained in 1866, Father Keane was at once appointed assistant at St. Patrick's Church, Washington. Continu- ing his studies in the ministry, the young priest still further increased his store of information. His influence at Washington was felt by all with whom he came in con- tact, but by none more than the young men, who were ready to He led by him because they loved him as a kind Father. The learned and eloquent discourses of Father Keane drew the attention of the Church authorities to- Most Rev. John J. Keane, D. D., Archbishop of Dubuque, Fifth Bishop of Richmond. RICHMOND, VIEGINTA. 117 wards him. Accordingly, although only an assistant, he was appointed by Rome to the See of Richmond, made va- cant by the transfer of Bishop Gibbons to Baltimore. Bishop Keane was consecrated on the 35th day of Au- gust, 1878. The people of Richmond and Virginia re- ceived him as the one best fitted to succeed their former great and beloved Bishop, now, by the Providence of G«d, called to a higher honor. One of the first acts of Bishop Keane on his arrival in Richmond, was to reappoint Father Janssens Vicar-Gen- eral and pastor of the Cathedral. Then began that active and zealous administration of his diocese which the Virginia people know so well. He made various visitations to the different posts of his See, and worked like one of the apostles of old to build up Catholicity in these parts. It did not take the people long to discover that, in Bishop Keane, they possessed one of the most fluent, eloquent and learned orators in the United States. Always ready to preach, his thoughts and words flowed from him as do the ' waters of some perennial fountain. "Wherever he was booked to preach great crowds flocked to hear him. Often his auditors were composed of more non-Catholics than Catholics. During his Lenten discourses in the Cathedral the seats were filled, and the lower aisles often packed with standing people. Intermingling, as he did, with people of all classes and creeds. Bishop Keane broke down prejudice where it ex- isted, and directly caused, or at least paved the way for, many a subsequent conversion to Catholicity. In 1881 the Very Rev. Francis Janssens, Vioar-General of the diocese and beloved pastor of the Cathedral, was diosen by the Holy See to succeed Right Rev. William 118 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, H. Elder as Bishop of Nateliez. On the first day of May, 1881, Father Janssens was consecrated bishop in St. Peter's Cathedral, Richmond, by Archbishop Gibbons, as- sisted by Bishops Keane and Becker, the latter being Bishop of Wilmington. The sermon on the occasion was preached by Bishop Elder, who had just been chosen co- adjutor to the See of Cincinnati. John Gilmary Shea, referring to the consecration of Bishop Janssens in his work, "Defenders of the Faith," page 314, eays: "The ceremony was the grandest ecclesias- tical function ever seen in Richmond, and attracted the largest gathering known in the history of the Church in the State. After the consecration Bishop Janssens made a most touching address to the members of the hierarchy and to his fellow clergymen, whom he thanked for all their kindness and brotherly feeling towards him from the day of their first cordial welcome." Bishop Janssens was one of the most beloved prrests that ever labored in Richmond. Possessed of a wonderful memory, he knew by name practically every man, woman and child in his congregation. Years after Ms departure from Richmond, when, as Archbishop, he returned to visit the scene of his priestly labors, he was still able, not only to call his old parishioners by name, but was also able to indicate to the younger people, who had grown up since his departure, the name of the family to which they be- longed. The grief of the people of Richmond at the departure of Bishop Janssens was assuaged by the knowledge that he was to be succeeded as Vicar-General and pastor of the Cathedral by hie devoted companion, a priest beloved like himself, Rev. Augustine Van De Vyver. The schools of the diocese were now in a very prosperous Most Rev. Francis Janssens, D. D., Deceased Archbishop of New Orleans. EICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 119 condition. The seminiary, however, at Norfolk was dis- oontiniied because it was seen that the ecclesiastical stu- dents could get a broader and better training at St. Charles's College, near EUicott City, than they could in a mere diocesan preparatory seminary. Besides, it required too much time and money to run a diocesan seminary. Great advancement was made in the cause of Catholic boys' education when, in August, 1881, the Xavian Brothers were introduced into the diocese. With Brother Philip as director they took charge of St. Peter's Male Academy, on Mnth and Marshall streets. They began with 325 pupils and have proven a power for good in the various parishes into which the(y have extended their work. The Little Sisters of the Poor had moved from their quarters on Ninth and Marshall streets into more com- modious ones at Harvie and Main streets. The erection of their present magnificent home for the aged is, in a large measure, due to the generosity of Mr. Mark Downey, brother of Mrs. Catharine Downey Hagan, who left the Little Sisters $40,000 with which to remodel and extend their building. Mr. John Pope also gave money for the erection of the present walls which enclose the lot. In 1884 preparations were made to build a church for the colored people ^f Eichmond. There were only thir- teen colored Catholics in the city at the time. Begin- ning on January 5, 1879, the Bishop had preached on Sunday nights exclusivtely to the colored people, who flocked to the church in such crowds as to completely fill the pews and some of the aisles of the church, including those in the galleries. Owing to the most strenuous opposi- tion on the part of their pastors, the colored people were finally induced to refrain from attending the Catholic preaching, which was discontinued at the Cathedral. 120 THE CATHOLIC CHUECH, In 1885, St. Joseph's Church, on First street near Jackson, was constructed for the sole use of the colored people, on a fine lot bought January 6, 1885. The corner- stone of the church was laid on April 13th, and shortly afterwards the building was dedicated by Bishop Keane, and placed under the charge of the Josephite Fathers, who have since faithfully and zealously labored amongst the colored people. This church is a beautiful one indeed, and has been further improved. Later on a fine rectory, an asylum and school were added. In July, 1885, Vicar- Goneral Van De Vyver, with the approval of the Bishop, purchased for $14,000 the present beautiful and extensive new Catholic Cemetery, containing seventy-two acres of land, to which the bodies buried in the old cemetery on the Meehaniosville Turnpike were trans- ferred. No more ideal location for a cemetery could be desired. Amongst the many acts for which the people of Eichmond and Manchester will ever be profoundly grateful to their present beloved Bishop, is the purchase by him of that unsurpassed resting place for the dead, to which he has happily given that sweet appellation suggestive of hope. Mount Calvary. One of the most important events that ever occurred in the diocese was the holding by Bishop Keane of the Second Synod, on August the 18th, 19th and 30th of the year 1886. Its object, which was fully attained, was to enact special legislation for the diocese, and to publish the decrees of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore just held, at which Bishop Keane had been one of the most conspicuous figures, having especially attracted attention by his eloquent ser- mons delivered during the sessions of the Council. Besides Bishop Keane, the President of the Synod, the following officers were appointed and acted: EICHMOND, VIKGINIA. 131 Promotor: Very Eet. Augustine Van De Vtvbr^ Vicar-General. Judges : Kev. James J. McGurk, Eev. John McVerry, Kev. James T. O'Farrell. Notary: Eev. Edward M. Teamey. Procurator of the Clergy: Eev. Thomas J. Brady. Master of Ceremonies: Eev. Willibanld Baumgartner, 0. S. B. Assistant Master of Ceremonies: Eev. Thomas J. Mercer. Chanters; Eev. Joseph Trioli, Eev. Charles E. Donahoe, Eev. Francis X. McCarthy, Eev. William Mayer, 0. S. B. Amongst the priests present at the Synod the follow- ing have since died: Eev. Dennis O'Kane, S. J., Eev. John L. Tiernan, Eev. William Mayer, 0. S. B., Eev. Francis X. McCarthy, Eev. William B. Hanley, Eev. Thomas J. Mercer, Eev. Patrick Donahoe, Eev. Lawrence O'Connell. 123 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, The names of those now living who took part in the sessions of the Synod, arranged according to seniority in the Priesthood, together with the present position occu- pied by each in the diocese, is as follows : Very Eev. Augustine Van De Vyver, Vicar-General, pres- ent Bishop of Richmond. Rev. Thomas J. Brady, pastor of Portsmouth. Rev. James J. McGurk, irremovable rector of Lynchburg. Rev. John Doherty, pastor of St. Mary's, Norfolk. Rev. John McVerry, pastor of Winchester. Rev. Hugh J. McKeefry, irremovable rector of St. Pat- rick's, Richmond. Rev. Thomas J. Wilson, St. Peter's, Richmond. Rev. John W. Lynch, pastor of Roanoke. Rev. Henry J. Cutler, pastor of Alexandria. Rev. James T. O'Farrell, pastor of Petersburg. Rev. James B. O'Reilly, pastor of Sacred Heart Cathe- dral, Richmond. Rev. Joseph Prioli, pastor of ITewport News. Rev. Edward M. Tearney, pastor of Falls Church. Rev. Charles E. Donahoe, pastor of Martinsburg. Rev. Lawrence J. Eelly, St. Mary's, Alexandria. Rev. John J. Bowler, now -the Very Reverend Vioar-General and pastor of St. Peter's, Richmond. Rev. Michael E. Dinneen, Doctor at St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore. Rev. Richard A. Drake, pastor at Sacred Heart, Norfolk. In order to complete the list of Virginia priests affili- ated to the diocese by the addition of those who came since the time of the Synod, the following names, also arranged according to the number of priestly' years spent in the dio- cese, with present appointments, are given: RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 133 Rev. William A. Fallon, pastor of Fort Monroe. Rev. W. Gaston Payne, pastor of Clifton Forge. -Rev. William A. McKeefry, pastor of Staunton. Rev. Richard L. Carne, chaplain at Old Point Comfprt College. Rev. Edward J. Walsh, St. Mary's Church, Norfolk. Rev. Cyril De Muynck, pastor of Manchester. Rev. Thomas E. Waters, Virginia Apostolate, Danville. Rev. John J. Massey, assistant at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Rev. David F. Coleman, pastor of Fredericksburg. Rev. tJames E. Collins, pastor of Harper's Ferry. Rev. William A. O'Hara, pastor of Keyser. Rev. Timothy Crowe, pastor of Charlottesville. Rev. F. Joseph Magri, Chancellor and Assistant at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Rev. A. J. Van Ingelgem, Virginia Apostolate, Danville. Rev. Joseph Perrig, assistant at Lynchburg. Rev. Felix F. Kaup, assistant at Portsmouth. Rev. Frederick P. Lackey, assistant at Falls Church. Rev. James Gilsenan, assistant at Roanoke. Rev. Martin B. Haier, assistant at Keyser. Rev. Patrick J. Burke, on account of ill health. Chaplain of St. Elizabeth's Home, Baltimore. Rev. John Konieek, pastor of Bohemians, Prince George county, near Petersburg. Rev. John A. Kelliher, Ph. D., pastor of Italian Church, Norfolk. Rev. John A. Curran, assistant at Staunton. Rev. Thomas A. Rankin, assistant at St. Patrick's, Rich- mond. It is worthy of note that the Rev. Richard L. Came, chaplain of Old Point Comfort College, mentioned above, enjoys the unique distinction of being, at the time of his 124 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, ordination by Bishop Van De Vyver, the oldest priest ever ordained in the United States. When raised to the Priest- hood he was sisty-six years of age. Though now past four- score years, the saintly priest is full of activity and is en- gaged in recording, for the future use of the writer, his valuable reminiscences of the Church in Alexandria. To the above lists we shall now add the names of the following Fathers, who, whilst not affiliated to the dio- cese, are yet laboring in it with splendid fruit: At St. Joseph's Institute, Bristow : Very Eev. Julius Pohl, 0. S. B., Prior; Eev. John Smith, 0. S. B.; Eev. Au- gustine Ecker, 0. S. B.; Eev. Dominic Vollmer, 0. S. B. Pastor at Manassas, Rev. Patrick Donlon, 0. S. B. At St. Mary's German Church, Eitfhmond: Very Eev. Edward Meyer, Eector and Prior; Eev. Charles Eett- ger and Eev. Albert Goetz, assistants. At the Colored Industrial Schools of Eoek Castle: Rev. William F. Stadelman, C. S. Sp., and Rev. Charles A. Leroux, C. S. Sp. At St. Joseph's Colored Church, Richmond: Rev. Charles P. Hannigan, Rector; Rev. Narcisse P. Denis and Rev. John Gensheimer, assistants (all Josephite Fathers). At St. Joseph's Colored Church, Norfolk : Rev. Edward J. Houlihan (Josephite Father). Rev. F. A. Schmitz, chaplain of St. Vincent's Hospital, ITorfolk. Our list of priests would not be complete without in- eluding the names of those who, being natives of the State, are winning renown in professors' chairs in three Catholic Seminaries outside the diocese. Rt. Rev. Benjamin J. Keiley, D. D. Present Bishop of Savannah. RICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 135 EeT. John B. Tabb is, to say the least, one of America's greatest of living poets, who is recognized and appreciated in England as much as, if not more than, in America. Each one of his verses is considered a gem of beauty, so finished as not to bear further improvement. It is eon- ceded by competent critics that, by his exquisite lines, the name of Eev. John B. Tabb is immortalized. Father Tabb is Professor of English at St. Charles' College and Prepara- tory Seminary, near EUioott City, Maryland. Rev. Richard K. Wakeham is one of the efficient pro- fessors of St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie, Kew York. Father Wakeham is an author of note. One of the greatest proofs of his ability as an ecclesiastical writer, is the fact that his "Sketches of Sermons on the Gospel" and those on the Epistles are found in most of the priests' libraries throughout the country. Rev. Michael F. Dinneen, S. S., D. D., has already been referred to as one of the capable professors at St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore. He is also Superior of the Philoso- phical Department. Dr. Dinneen is a deep and learned priest, and eminently successful in his work. Many of the younger priests of the diocese have had as their professors one, two or all three of the Reverend Fathers mentioned above. The names of Messrs. Augustine Halbleib, James Bren- nan and William Gill, all of whom are students at St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, will ere long be added to the list of Virginia's missionaries. Let us now turn our attention io the happenings within the diocese after the Synod in '86. An event of exceeding importance was the construction and dedication by Bishop Keane in 1887 of the old Sacred Heart Church. The lot for the purpose, on the corner of Short street and Floyd 126 THE CATHOLIC CHUKCH, avenue, 'had been bought the previous July, whilst the oorner-stone was laid on Sunday, November the 6th. Richmond was and is rapidly extending westward, and hence the need of the new church in that section of the city. This church, with its parish, is now absorbed in the new Cathedral parish of the Sacred Hea,rt. In August, 1888, the diocese suffered an overwhelming loss by the appointment to the Eeetorship of the new Catholic University of the learned, eloquent and apostolic Bishop Keane. At the news of this appointment Catholics and non- Catholics alike throughout the State felt a just pride, but at the same time they could not conceal their sorrow that their magnetic, zealous and otherwise exceptionally gifted prelate was to be taken from their midst. Sad indeed was the parting between Bishop and flock. As in the case of his illustrious predecessors, the work of this brilliant prelate lives after him, and the people of Virginia will ever cherish the happy memory of his unselfish labors for their welfare. His subsequent career as Hector of the Catholic University, as Titular Archbishop in Rome, and as the present Archbishop of Dubuque, furnishes material for some of the brightest pages in the annals of American church history. On the retirement of Bishop Keane from Richmond, the Vicar-General, Very Rev. Augustine Van De Vyver, was appointed Administrator of the Diocese. His zeal,, learn- ing, strength of character and unusual executive ability, for which he was already well and favorably known throughout the diocese, now served, more than ever in the past, to the great benefit of religion. CHAPTER VIII. Right Rev. Axigustine Van De Vyveb, D. T)., Sixth Bishop of Richmond. — From His Conseceation, October 20, 1889, TO the Present. RIGHT REV. AUGUSTINE VAN DE VYVBR, the sixth Bishop of Richmond, was born December 1, 1844, in the town of Haesdonck, East Elanders, Belgium. He made his early studies in the city of St. Nicholas. Being strongly inclined to the Priesthood from his childhood, and having determined to labor in the mission- ary field of America, the young student entered, in the year 1867, the American College at Louvain. The piety, talent, assiduity and zeal which he constantly manifested in the seminary gave indication of the useful future in store for him. Completing with high honors the regular course of studies, he was raised to the Priesthood at Brussels in the private chapel of the Apostolic Nuncio to Belgium, on July 24, 1870. Shortly after ordination, he bade a fond adieu to the different members of his beloved family and came to Vir- ginia, the scene of his future fruitful labors. Whether we view him as successively assistant at the Cathedral, pastor of Harper's Ferry and its missions, Vicar-General and Administrator of the Diocese, we find constantly mani- fested in him those sterling qualities that are expected in the ideal priest and are absolutely required in the ideal bishop. No wonder, then, that when, by Bishop Keane's ap- pointment to the Rectorship of the Catholic University 128 THE CATHOLIC CHTJECH, ' - the See of Eichmond was made vacant, the eyes of the Church authorities turned! upon him as the man best fitted to succeed his eminent predecessors. In order that Eome might fully understand in what es- timate Administrator Van' De Vyver was held in the dio- cese, after he had already been placed on the lists that were eent to the Eternal City, the priests of the diocese had forwarded to Eome a special petition requesting that their present administrator be appointed Bishop. The Bishop endeavored to resist the effort to have him appointed, but in vain. "He was too modest," says a writer in the work, "Our Faith and Its Defenders," "ever to aspire to succeed Bishop Keane, and when unexpectedly th^ honor came he would have been glad to decline it, but the selection had been made because of his fitness, for those in higher station knew his goodness and his abilities, and nothing was left for him but to accept and carry forward the work as bishop, in which he had shown such aptitude as pastor and Vicar-General." When news came that Vicar-G-eneral Van De Vyver had been appointed bishop, there was general rejoicing throughout the diocese which he knew so well and in which he had already labored zealously for nineteen years. The people of Virginia appreciated the honor the Holy See had conferred on them in choosing one of their own priests to be the Chief Shepherd of the diocese in which his whole priestly life had been passed. Bishop Van De Vyver received his episcopal consecra- tion on October 30th, 1889. He enjoyed the rare dis- tinction of having amongst the consecrating bishops his two illustrious predecessors — His Eminence, James Cardi- nal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, and Most Eev. John Joseph Keane, at that time the Eight Eeverend Eector of the Washington Catholic University. ^ Rt. Rev. Au(;ustine Van De Vyver, D. D. Present Bishop of Richmond. RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 139 On the occasion of the consecration the capacity of the Richmond Cathedral was taxed to the utmost. Those present were profoundly moved both by the ceremony and by the touching words of the new Bishop. Bishop Van De Vyver began his episcopal career with the full confi- dence and love of people of all classes. How well that confidence and love were placed is shown by the subse- quent diocesan events. Upon his elevation to the episcopacy, Rt. Rev. Bishop Van De Vyver threw himself heart and soul into his work. Making visitations of his diocese, preaching and con- firming were his constant occupation. The effect of his wise and vigorous government was soon felt throughout the diocese. New parishes were be- gun, parochial schools were attached to all the parishes possible, new communities of religion were established with- in the diocese, and additional charitable institutions erected. The following beautiful pen-picture of the Bishop is taken from the work, "Our Faith and Its Defenders," page 19 of the supplement: "His (Bishop Van De Vyver's) bear- ing marks decisiveness of character, while his face and head indicate intelligence and firmness, and his smile is so kindly and inviting that those who come into his pres- ence and greet him feel forthwith that he is their friend. "In every department of priestly woric that he has been called upon to perform his duties have been discharged with high-minded courage and fidelity. He has a well- balanced mind, a calm judgment, the practical sense to win the confidence of the people, and his goodness wins their hearts as well. "He is a pleasant speaker, and his sermons mark the man of culture, the thorough student of books and human nature, and the devoted pastor. He is often very eloquent. 130 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, but his discourses are usually modelled for practical in- struction, and are intended to reach, and do reach, down into the daily IItcs of his people. His painstaking care, his orderly mind and far-sightedness have been seen and felt for good in the managemeiit of his diocese." The accuracy of the above beautiful description of the present beloved Bishop of Eichmond will be readily recog- nized by all who know him. Because, principally, of the number of Catholic societies the occasion brought together from different cities, the laying of the corner-stone of St. Joseph's magnificent church at Petersburg by Bishop Van De Vyver, should be especially chronicled. The following, relating to the presence of the societies is taken from "The History of St. Joseph's Church, Peters- burg, Virginia," published in 1900 : "The most interesting event that has taken place in Petersburg for years, and one which marks an important epoch in the history of Catholicism in this city, occurred Sunday, July 1, 1894, when the corner-stone of the new St. Joseph's Catholic Church was laid with the most im- pressive ceremonies About half-past nine o'clock a special train arrived here from Norfolk, bringing 335 visitors. The excursionists were accompanied by St. Mary's Branch, ISTo. 1, Emerald Beneficial Association, 40 strong, F. T. Riley, president, of Norfolk; and Division No. 1, Ancient Order of Hibernians, of Portsmouth, John Murphy, president. "At 10 o'clock an excursion train of twelve packed coaches arrived here from Richmond. The contingent from the Capital City were accompanied by the following societies : St. Mary's Social Union, Joseph W. Bliley, president. EICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 131 100 strong; St. Joseph's Beneficial, Herman Evarts, presi- dent, 100; St. Benedict's Society, Charles Holzbach, presi- dent,' 50; Catholic Beneficial Society, John M. Higgins, president, 50; Catholic Knights of America, No. 143, D. J. Costello, president, 25; Catholic Knights of America, No. 163, M. Carmody, president, 30 ; St. Patrick's Bene- ficial Society, P. J. Martin, Jr., president, 75; McGill Catholic Union, W. F. Keddy, president, 80; Division No. 1, Ancient Order Hibernians, Daniel Higgins, president, 100; Division No. 2, Ancient Order Hibernians, C. F. Tay- lor, president, 50. "The visiting societies were met on their arrival by the Catholic societies of this city, and the procession, formed and .headed by St. Mary's band from Eichmond and a platoon of police, with Colonel John Murphy, of Eich- mond, as Chief Marshal, marched from the depot through the principal streets to the church lot, where the corner- stone was to be laid." Assisted by various priests. Bishop Van De Vyver per- formed the impressive ceremony of laying the corner-stone. On January 13, 1896, the completed church was solemnly dedicated by the Bishop. On June 10, 1897, news came to the Bishop that his devoted friend and the former Vicar-General and pastor of the Cathedral, Archbishop Janssen, had died in a vessel at sea, a short distance from land. The following touching account of his saintly departure from this world is taken from the New Orleans Picayune, under date of June 13, 1897 : "About 6 o'clock he asked to be lifted out of bed. Those around the bedside protested, but Mon- signor Janssens was a man with a great deal of tenacity of purpose, and never, in all his career, was known to yield after taking a stand on any matter; and even, though in the grasp of death, this characteristic of his made itself 133 THE CATHOLIC CHlfllCH, manifest, and he tried to sit up. Seeing that he would not be content unless his request were granted, he was gently lifted out of the bed, and assumed before it a kneeling posture. He lifted his eyes to heaven, made the sign of the cross, and said fervently, 'I am ready; thanks be to God!' His head fell over, his eyes closed, and he lost consciousness. He was tenderly lifted into bed again, and gradually the respiration grew fainter and fainter, until at 6:30 o'clock it cKised altogether, and the Boul of this great and good man passed into the great beyond, sure of the reward which follows a saintly life on earth. It was a peaceful and happy death, just such a one as he had prayed for, and the anterior knowledge of the approach of the end showed that his soul was already in communion with the Holy Spirit, and his earthly com- munion was at an end." The funeral of Archbishop Janssens took place in New Orleans, Wednesday, June 16, 1897. Et. Eev. Bishop Van De Vyver celebrated the Pontifical Eequiem Mass, and, with deep sorrow in his heart, followed to the grave the remains of his beloved friend. On June 3, 1900, in St. Peter's Cathedral, Eiehmond, another son of the Old Dominion was raised to the purple in the person of Et. Eev. Benjamin J. Keiley, Bishop of Savannah, brother of Judge Keiley, from whose "Memo- randa" we have so frequently quoted. When Bishop McGill went to Eome in 1869, young Keiley accompanied him in order to enter the North American College in the Eternal City and make there his studies. Winning his degree of Doctor of Philosophy after a brilliant examination, he was forced by ill health to return to America his last year. Et. Eev. Bishop Becker, of the Wilmington See, formerly of Eiehmond, EICHMOND, VIE&INIA. 133 wlio had adopted him and whom he was later destined to succeed, ordained him to the Priesthood in St. Peter's Cathedral, December 31, 1873. The consecrating prelate who raised him to the ranks of the episcopacy was His Eminence, James Cardinal Gib- bons, Archbishop of Baltimore. He was assisted by Bishops Northrop and Monaghan, Bishop Van De Vyver being absent in Europe at the time. The other prelates and Eight Eev. Bishop Donahoe, of Wheeling. The Very Eeverend A. L. Magnien, D. D., President of St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, one of the greatest ecclesiastical educators of the past century, acted as Arch-Priest. The numerous Virginia friends of the brilliant Bishop Keiley feel a just pride in his splendid record as Bishop of Sa- vannah. In June, 1905, Bishop Van de Vyver left America to make his second ''ad limina" visit to Home. The Su- preme PontifE expressed Jiis pleasure at the excellent report which the Bishop was able to give concerning the Eich- mond Diocese. He praised the work of the American bishops, priests and people. The Pope expressed his ad- miration and love for all Americans, both Catholic and non-Catholic. The Bishop returned laden with benedic- tions for his expectant flock. On December 8, 1905, St. Mary's German Church at Richmond, which had lately been remodelled at a cost of $17,000, held the greatest celebration in its history — the golden jubilee of its dedication. The Pontifical Mass on that occasion was celebrated by the Et. Eev. Leo Haid, 0. S. B., D. D., Vicar-Apostolic of North Carolina. Many members of the clergy were present. The English sermon by Bishop Haid at the Vesper service was a masterpiece. Bishop Van De Vyver, who was present, complimented the German Catholics in glowing words for their strong Cath- 134 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, olicity, their spirit of unity and the sacrifices they had made to renovate their beautiful church. Ab it is beyond our time and abilities to fitly describe the splendid work of the faithful and efficient priests who, subsequently to the time of the Rt. Rev. Bishop Mc- Gill, have come into the diocese, and, with truly apostolic zeal, are now laboring throughout the cities, towns and counties of the Old Dominion, we shall attempt an easier, though a very sad task, that of giving the following list of Virginia's valiant body of missionaries, who, during the regime of the present Rt. Rev. Bishop of Richmond, have gone to their eternal reward : Rev. Thomas J. Murray, pastor of Winchester, died 1893. Rev. James A. Kenefeck, pastor of Fredericksburg, died 1893. Rev. Patrick Donahoe, pastor of St. Patrick's, Richmond, died 1897. Rev. John L. Tiernan, pastor of St. Patrick's, Richmond, died 1898, Rev. Francis X. McCarthy, assistant at Alexandria, died 1900. Rev. Thomas J. Mercer, pastor of Fort Monroe, died 1901. Rev. William B. Hanley, assistant at Portsmouth, died 1901. Rev. Kendall J. Keegan, of the Cathedral parish, who, after a brilliant course of studies, was ordained by Bishop Van De Vyver at St. Peter's, Richmond, August 25, 1902, died at Seaton Infirmary, Austin, Texas, where he had gone for his health, on Fovember 17th of the same year. The deepest sorrow was manifested on all sides at the demise of so promising a young priest. His funeral took RICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 135 place from St. Peter's Chureli, Eichmond, on November 21st, and was attended by a vast concourse of priests and people. When at the grave, priests and seminarians, some of whom had been his classmates, chanted in harmony the ''Benedictus," tears welled to the eyes of all present. Father Keegan was a priest of saintly life and of attrac- tive disposition. The recollection of his sweet personality and kindly deeds is cherished by his relatives and hosts of friends as a most precions legacy. The last death we have to chronicle, that of the Very Bev. William B. Mayer, 0. S. B., Pastor and Prior of St. Mary's Church, Eichmond, occurred March 14, 1904. It is safe to say that the death of no priest of Virginia, at least during these later years, has excited more genuine grief than did that of good Father William. His deatK was one of the most pathetically beautiful of which we have seen any record. In apparent health, he was seized by death whilst reading the station prayers for his congregation one evening during Lent. He had ar- rived at the third station, where, just after reading the words : "Jesus falls for the first time under the weight of the cross," like his Divine Master, in whose footsteps he had so faithfully followed, he too fell stricken by death, which put an end to his beautiful eaiihly career a few hours later during the night of March 14, 1904. When at the funeral the learned and eloquent Et. Rev. Leo Haid, 0. S. B., D. D., Bishop of the North Carolina Vieuriate, pronounced his feeling panegyric, priests and people could not restrain their tears and sobs. By special permission his body was allowed to be interred in St. Mary's Cemetery, Richmond, instead of in the abbey groundis of Belmont, N. C, as is customary for the deceased Benedio- tines who in life are attached to some particular abbey. 136 THE CATHOLIC CHUECH, i Because of his noble qualities of heart and soul. Father William Mayer was beloved by priests and people alike. At the recollection of his kindly, gentle, zealous and God- fearing soul, we can only say, "May he rest in peace. Amen !" We shall now give some general statistics of the dio- cese for tlie year 1906. Instead of a Catholic population estimated at about 3,000 when Bishop Whelan took charge of the See of Eichmond in 1841, there are now more than 30,000 Catholics. This increase in Catholicity is wonder- ful, if we take into account the fact that during the inter- vening years there has been practically no Catholic im- migration into Virginia. Instead of four priests as then, there are now laboring within the diocese 54, of which 10 belong either to the Benedictine Order or to the Con- gregation of the Holy Spirit, and four are Josephites work- ing amongst the colored people. Instead of the 6 churches and 12 stations of 1841, there are now 31 churches with resident priests, 36 missions with churches attached, 18 stations and 38 chapels. Bishop Van De Vyver has created the following new parishes : St. Vincent's de Paul's Church, Newport News, estab- lished 1889. St. James', Falls Church, established 1892. Sacred Heart, Norfolk, established 1894. The Holy Paraclete, Charlottesville, established 1898. St. Joseph's (for colored people), Norfolk, established 1899. Sacred Heart, Manchester, established 1901. Sacred Heart, Prince G-eorge county, established 1906. Sacred Heart, T)anville, re-established 1906. A new parish at Berkeley, near Norfolk, is also likely to be established. EICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 137 The Virginia Apostolate for Catholic and Non-Catholic Missions, an institution inaugurated by the present Bishop, and from which much future spiritual good is expected, will have as headquarters for its priests the Church of the Sacred Heart, Danville. The zealous priests of the Apostolate will give missions in various parts of the diocese, wherever there may be need of their services. The establishment of Manchester into a separate parish in 1901, should be specially mentioned in the connection it has with the history of St. Peter's (old Cathedral), as the Catholics of that city had heretofore attended St. Peter's, and were amongst its most faithful members. The Sacred Heart Church, Manchester, with its school, as stated near the beginning of our sketch, is the munificent gift of that benevolent and faithful daughter of the Church, Mrs. Thomas P. Eyan. As an evidence of the recent growth of Catholieity, there are assistants now atEoanoke, Petersburg, Keyser, and Palls Church, where a few years ago only one priesf labored. Since the advent of Bishop Van De Vyver, churches have been newly established or rebuilt at the following places : Portsmouth • St. Paul's. Eoanoke, St. Andrew's. Petersburg, St. Joseph's. Staunton, St. Francis'. Manchester, Sacred Heart. Norfolk, Sacred Heart. Norfolk, St. Joseph's (colored). Lynchburg, St. Francis' (colored). Palls Church, St. James'. Fort Monroe, St. Mary's. 138 THE CATHOLIC CHUECH, Newport News, St. Vincent's. Keyser, Assumption. Henry, Immaculate Conception. Elk Garden, St. Vincent's. .Gormania, St. John the Baptist. Hot Springs, Sacred Heart. Covington, Sacred Heart. Shepherdstown, . . .Immaculate Conception. Charlestown, St. James'. Woodstock, Mission Church. Kilmarnock, St. Parncis'. Hague, St. Eraneis'. Harrisonburg, Blessed Sacrament. Colonial Beach, St. Elizabeth. West Point, St. Teresa's. Prince George County, Sacred Heart. A new church is also contemplated at Suffolk. The Church of Harrisonburg mentioned above is now being constructed by the generosity of Mrs. Thomas F. Eyan. Its corner-stone was laid by Bishop Van De Vyver Sunday, October 38, 1906. The last three named churches were all built and dedicated during the present year, 1906. Sacred Heart Church, in Prince George County, near Petersburg, dedicated by the Bishop September 38, is the first church for the Bohemians yet constructed in this diocese. As to educational institutions, there is first of all Old Point Comfort College, near Port Monroe, founded in 1899, and placed under the care of the Xaverian Brothers, who also have excellent schools at Eichmond, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Newport News. In location Old Point College is not surpassed, if equalled, by any similar in- stitution in the country. EICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 139 Pour industrial schools, with an attendance of over 300, have been inaugurated by the present Bishop, of which two are for white and two for colored youths. St. Joseph's Institute, Bristow, is the name of the industrial school for white boys. It is under the Benedictine Fathers. St. Anne's Charitable Institute, also at Bristow, and xinder the Benedictine ISTuns, is the industrial school for girls. The colored industrial schools are at Rock Castle. St. Emma's Trade School for the boys is under the care of the Fathers of the Holy Ghost. It was not only generously founded, but is actually supported, by Colonel and Mrs. Morrell. The Institute of St. Francis for Colored Girls owes its foundation and its daily support to the generosity of Mother Catherine Drexel, of Philadelphia. The institute is in charge of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. There are 7 academies for girls, with an attendance of about 1,000. Twenty-one parishes have parochial schools, with an attendance of some 5,000 white children and about 400 colored. Besides at Bristow the Benedictine Sisters teach also at Richmond, and the Sisters of Charity at Richmond, Nor- folk, Lynchburg, Portsmouth, Petersburg, Staunton and 140 THE CATHOLIC CHUKCH, parish in the diocese, except in a few small towns, has its own parochial schools. There are four orphan asylums within the dioceise, where 350 or 300 children are cared for. These are situat- ed -at Eichmond, Norfolk, Eoanoke and Bristow. An infant asylum for colored waifs, at Richmond, cares an- nually for about 100. There are altogether about 7,000 young people under Catholic educational and moral guid- ance. St. Sophia's Home for the Aged at Eichmond, houses annually and provides for some 200 old people. St. Vincent's Hospital at Norfolk is an institution that is known far and wide as one of the best equipped and best managed hospitals in the country. It is under the direction of the Sisters of Charity. A few years ago the Hospital was burned to the ground, but phoenix-like has risen from the a«hes more beautiful and more thoroughly up-to-date than ever. In May of this year the hospital celebrated its golden jubilee. His Excellency, the Gover- - nor, and some of the most prominent officials of the State were present. Eight Eeverend Bishop Van De Vyver celebrated the Pontifical Jubilee Mass, whilst His Eminence, the illustrious Cardinal Gibbons, graced the occasion by his presence and at the Academy of Music in the evening delivered a most felicitous address. In the different parishes of the diocese are found vari- ous societies of men and women and sodalities for the young. Some of the organizations have a national charac- ter, such, for instance, as the Knights of Columbus, which is extended into most of the important towns of the State, and is doing a vast amount of good amongst our young men. The Hibernians, the divisions of which are com- posed of men, the auxiliaries of women, are flourishing in a number of parishes. The same may be said as to the EICHMOND, VIEGINIA. 141 Holy Name Societies and those of St. Vincent de Paul. Eiehmond contains societies which number members in the various parishes of the city. Thus, for instance, is the McGill Catholic Union, founded in 1885, the members of which now occupy their splendid quarters on Sixth and Franklin streets; St. Augustine's Literary Association, or- ganized in June,^ 1904, and occupying the old McGill rooms on Mnth and. Marshall Streets ; St. Ann's Benevo- lent Society and the Ladies' Beneficial Society, both of which are doing splendid work. It might be of interest to take up the work of the in- dividual societies of each parish of the diocese, as, for in- stance, that of St. Leo's Club, attached to St. Mary's Ger- man; and that of St. Patrick's Social Club, attached to St. Patrick's, Churches, Richmond, but, by such an under- taking, the present sketch would be prolonged and delay caused in its publication. Altogether, the outlook for Catholicity was never so encouraging as at present. The faithful throughout the diocese are one with their body of zealous priests in the work of upbuilding the Church. Both clergy and people are united by an undying bond of affection to the Chief Pastor of the Church in this diocese. It is their fervent prayer that God may spare, to continue his noble work in their midst for years and years to come, the present be- loved and able Bishop of Virginia, the Et. Eev. Augustine Van De Vyver. With the consecration of the new Cathedral this sketch is fittingly brought to a close, for with that great and im- ,posing event will begin a new chapter of the Church's history in the Old Dominion, a new era of Catholicity in the City and Diocese of Eiehmond. INDEX. Address — Monsignor Falconio, 25-26. Mr. John C. Hagan, 22-26. Et. Rev. A. Van De Vyver, D. D., 20-22. Ahern, Mr. John, 47, 90. Ahern, Mrs. Mary, 47. Alexandria, 43, 44, 82, 84, 88, 94, 124, 139. AUig, Eev. M., C. SS. R., 63. All Hallow's College, Ireland, 68, 97, 101. American (North) College, Rome, 86, 99, 115, 132. Andrews, Rev. Robert H., 84, 94, 96, 99. Aquia Creek, Settlement of, 37- 38. Arrival of His Excellency, Most Rev! Diomede Falconio, 17- 26. . Asehwander, Rev. J. J., S. J., 82 Ashland, 97, 104. Anthony de Motesinor, Rev., 35. Anthony de Cervantes, Rev., 35. Ayllon and his colony, 34-35. Axacan, 35-36. B Baltimore, Lord, Attempt at Virginia Colonization, 36. Baptistery of Sacred Heart Ca- thedral, 11. Barnabo, Cardinal, 84. Bath, 58, 76, 79, 82, 88, 89, 94, 96, 98. Barry, Rt. Rev. John, 84. Baumgartner, Very Rev. Willi- bauld, 0. S. B., 121. Baxter, Rev. John, 42-43. Bayley, Archbishop, 113, 114. Becker, Rt. Rev. Thomas A., D. D., 86, 88, 93, 96, 98, 99, 113, 118, 132. Benedictine Fathers, 86, 109 135, 136, 139. Benevolent Fund Societv Nor- folk, 77. Berkeley, 136. Berkeley Springs, same as Bath, 58, 105. Billion, Rev. Joseph, 72. Bixio, Rev. Father, S. J., 94, 97. Bliley, Mr. Joseph W., 130-131. Bohemian Parish, 138. Bolington, 76. Boudar, Mrs. Constance R. 53, 98. Boudar, Miss Mercie, 53. Boudar, Mrs. Thomas, 53. Bowler, Very Rev. John J., Vicar-General, 19, 22. Brady, Rev. J., 84, 88. Brady, Rev. Thomas J. 97, 98, 121, 122. Brazil, Rev. Father, 73. Brannan, Rev. Dennis, 71, 73. Brauer, Rev. Father, 70, 71. Brennan, Mr. James, 125. Brent, Capt. George, 37. Bristow, 124, 139, 140. Brown, Mr. C. B., 12-15. Brute, Rt. Rev. Bishop, 41, 57. Burke, Rev. Patrick J., 123. Bushe, Rev. James M., 43. C Caldwell, Mr. William Shakes- peare, 111, 112. Canary Mr. David, 45. Carmody, Mr. M., 131. Carne, Rev. Richard L., 123. Carroll, Archbishop, 38, 40, 59. Cathedral of Savannah, 12. Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Richmond, 9-33, 126. Catholic Benehcial Society, 131. Catholicity, Condition of in 1785. Catholic Knights of America, 131. 144 INDEX. Charleston, 138. Charlottesville, 62, 77, 88, 94, 136, 138. Cherrystone Station, 97. Chevallier, Mr. John A., 48, 55, 101. Civil War, 87-95. Clifton Forge, 123. Coleman, Eev. David F., 123. Collins, Rev. James E., 123. Colonial Beach, 138. Consecration of Sacred Heart Cathedral, 16, 17, 33, 141. Corcoran, Rev. Father, 60. Corner-Stone Laying of Cathe- dral, 26-33. Cooper, Rev. Dr. Samuel, 47. Costello, Mr. D. J., 131. Costello, Rev. M., D. D.. 88, 94, 97. Covington, Virginia, 138. Crowe, Rev. Timothy, 123. Culpeper, 104. Cumerford, Rev. Eugene, 65. Cunningham, Rev. James V., 60, 73. Curran, Rev. John A., 123. Cutler, Eev. Henry J., 122. D Danville, 136-138. David, Rt. Rev. Bishop, 74. Delaney, Rev. Father, 48. De Montholon, Count, 56. De Muynck, Rev. Cyril, 123v Denis, Rev. Narcisse P., 124. Devlin, Rev. Francis, 60, 65, 79, 80. Dinneen, Rev. Michael F., D. D., 122, 125. Disney, Mr. John, 90. Doherty, Rev. John, 102, 103, 122. Dominican Fathers, 34-36. Donlon Rev. Patrick, 0. S. B., 124. Donahoe, Rev. Charles B., 121- 122. Donahoe, Rev. Patrick 121, 134. Donahoe, Rt. Rev. P. J., 20, 30, 133. Donelan,; Rev. P., 62, 96. Dooley, Major John, 55, 75, 90. Downey, Miss Catherine, 55. Downey, Mr. Mark, 119. Downey, Mr. and Mrs. F., 52-53. Downey, Rev. Daniel, D. D., 60, 63, 65, 68, 77, 82. Drake, Rev. Richard A,, 122. Drexai, Mother Catherine, 139. Dubois, Rt. Rev. Bishop, 38-39, 59. Dunwoodie Seminary, New York, 125. Eastville Station, 97. Eccleston, Archbishop Samuei, 53, 55, 57, 58, 78. Ecker, Rev. Augustine, O. S. B., 124. Edmonds, Rev. Father, 37. Elder, Most Rev. Archbishop, 117-118. Elk Garden, 138. Emmet Guards, 90. England, Rt. Rev. John, D. D., 60, 92. English, Captain William, 90. Episcopal Residence, 12. Evarts, Mr. Herman, 131. Ewin, Eev. J. J., 98. Fairfax Station, 84, 87, 94, 96. "Faith of Our Fathers," 109. Falconio, His Excellency, Most Rev. Diomede, 9-33, 141. Fallon, Eev. William A., 123. Falls Church, 136, 137. Farrell, Rev. Charles, 60, 65, 96, Ferren, Eev. Michael 93, 94, 96. Flaget, Et. Eev. Bishop, 74. Flaherty, Eev. Edward, 79. Floyd, Hon. Rush, 56. Fort Monroe, 87, 90, 137, 138. Fox, Rev. Edward, 60, 62, 65, 67, 68, 76. Fredericksburg, 83, 84, 85, 94, 96, 104, 105. Frioli, Eev. Joseph, 121-122. Fulton, Eichmond, 105. INDEX. 145 Gallego, Mr. Joseph, Will of 41-42, 51. Gaynor, Mrs., Organist, 55, 64. Geisinger, Mr. Joseph, 17, 26. Gensheimer, Eevi John, 124. German Benevolent Society, 99. Gibbons, His Eminence James Cardinal, 16, 22, 107-115, 118, 128, 133, 140. Gill, Mr. William, 125. Gilsenan, Rev. James, 123. Goetz, Rev. Albert, 0. S. B., 124. Gordonsville, 104. Gormania, 138. Grogan, Rev. Austin, 60, 65, 71. Guandape, Colony of, 34-35. Guerdet, Rev. Joseph, 60, 66. H Hagan, Mr. John C, 33. Hagaji, Mrs. Catharine Dow- ney, 52-56, 64, 75, 119. Hagan, Rev. John, 88, 94, 96, 98, 99, 102. Hague, 138. Haid, Rt. Rev. Leo, O. S. B., D. D., 133 135. Haier, Rev. Martin B., 123. Halbleib, Mr. Augustus, 125. Hamell, Rev. Father, 60. Hampshire County, 62, 71, 76. Hanley, Rev. William B., 101, 121, 134. Hannigan, Rev. Charles F., 124. Hardy County, 62, 71, 76. Harper's Ferry, 49, 59, 76, 79, 82, 88, 94, 97, 104, 105, 112-113, 127. Harrisonburg, 88, 94, 104, 138. Henry, 138. Hewitt, Rev. James, 60, 62. Hibernians, 130-131, 140. Higgins, Mr. Daniel, 131. . Higgins, Mr. John M., 131. Hitzelberger, Rev. Alexander, 60, 76, 79, 94. Hoerner, Rev. James, 48, 60, 65. Holmes, Mrs., 69. Holy Name Societies, 140-141. Holzbaeh, Mr. Charles, 131. Hore, Rev. Thomas, 46-48. Horsigh, Rev. Joseph Van, 62. Hot Springs, 138. Houses, Dioscesan, 10. Houlihan, Rev. Edward J., 124. Hughes, Most Rev. John, 39, 57. I Industrial Schools, 124^ 139. Infirmary of St. Francis, Rich- mond, 86, 91. Jamestown, 34-35. Janssens, Most Rev. Archbishop Francis, 100, 104, 114, 117- 118, 131-132. Jesuits in Virginia, 35-37, 68. Johnston, Dr. George Ben 19, 26, 69. Johnston, Mrs., 69. Josephite Fathers, 120, 124, 136. K Kain, Most Rev. John J., 97, 104, 112-113. Kaup, Rev. Felix F., 123. Keane, Most Rev. John J., 9, 16, 22, 112 116-128. Keegan, Rev. Kendall J., 134- 135. Keiley, Judge A. M., 42, 44, 46, 50, 51, 54, 68, 69, 70, 71, 76, 81, 93, 101, 102, 105- 106, 107, 110, 111, 132. Keiley, Rt. Rev. Benj. J., 12, 16, 19, 20, 30, 132-133. Kelliher, Rev. John A., Ph. D., 123. Kelly, Rev. Lawrence F., 122. Kelly, Rev. Thomas, 102. Kelly Rt. Rev. Patrick, D. D., 44-45, 75. Kenefeck, Rev. James, 134. Kenrick, Most Rev. Archbishop, 75, 84. Keyser, 105, 137, 138. Kilmarnock, 138. Kingwood, Preston County, 62, 71. 146 INDEX. Knights of Columbus, 19 33, 140. Know-Nothingism, 81. Konicek, Kev. John 123. Kioes, Kev. P. P., S. J., 88, 94. L Lackey, Rev. Frederick P., 123. Lacy, Rev. Michael, 43. Ladies' Beneficial Society, 141. Ladies' Benevolent Society, 98. Lawrence, Rev. Robert J., 70. Lenaghan, Rev. Father, 60. Leonard, Rev. L. B., 82. Leroux, C. S. Sp., Rev. Charles, 124. Lewis, Mrs., 69. Lexington, 62, 77, 88, 94, 98, 100. Llbby Prison, 91. Little Sisters of the Poor, Rich- mond, 111-112, 119, 139. . Louis de Quiros, Rev. S. J., 35- 36. Lynch, Most Rev. Archbishop, 84. Lynch, Rev. John W., 122. Lynchburg, 46, 60, 63, 65, 67, 72, 76, 82, 88, 93, 94, 99- 100, 137, 139. M McCarthy, Rev. Francis X., 122 134. McElroy Rev. Father S. J., 41. McGill, Rt. Rev. John, D. D., 10, 22, 33, 50, 74-106, 132, 134. McGill Catholic Union, 131, 141. MoGuire Mr. Joseph H., 9-12. McGovern, Mr. P. Florist, 64. McGovern, Rev. James, 82. McGurk, Rev. James J., 99-100, 121-122 MeKeefry, Rev. Hugh J., 104- 105, 122. MeKeefry, Rev. William A., 123 McMullan, Rev. A. L.. 87, 93. McVerry, Rev. John, 104, 122. Magnien, Very Rev. A. L., D. D., President St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, 133. ri. Rev. F. Josepn, D. D., Chancellor, 123. Maher, Mrs. 53. Mahoney, Rev. John, 43. Manassas, 124. Manchester, 120, 136, 137. Marechal, Most Rev. Archbish- op, 46. Martin, Mr. P. J., Jr., 131. Martinsburg, 48, 57, 58, 76, 79, 82, 87, 88, 94, 96, 105, 112, 139. Martyrs, First of Church in Virginia, 35-36. Mary Baptista, Mother, 95. Mary Innocent, Sister, 98. Mary Vincent Cunningham, Sis- ter, 99. Mass, First Celebration of, in Richmond, 39. Massey, Rev. John J., 123. Matthew, Fatner, Apostle of Temperance, 71. Matthews, Capt. John P., 62. Mayer, Very Rev. Leonard, O. S. B., 87, 93, 94, 97, 100. Mayer, Very Rev. William, 0. S. B., 121, 135-136. Menendez, 35-36. Mercer Rev. Thomas J., 122, 134. Meyer, Very Rev. Edward O. S. B., 124. Michel, Father Xavier, 40-41. Monaghan, Rt. Rev. Bishop, D. D., 133. Montgomery Guards, 90. Mongrand, Rev. T. C, 39. Monroe Park, Richmond, 10, 27. Montague, Hon. Andrew J.. Governor, 29, 30, 32. Monte Maria Academy, 96. Montholon, Count de, 56. Moore, Captain P. T., 90. Moran, Miss, 55. Morgantown, 63. Moriarty, Rev. Dr. O. S. A., 56, 62. Moriarty, Rev. Walter, 61, 65. Morrell, Colonel and Mrs., 139. Mother Rose White, 52. Mountain Top, 88, 94. IlfDEX. 147 Mount Calvary Cemetery, Rich- mond, 120. Mount St. Mary's College Em- mettsburg, Md., 39, 57, 58, 60. Mulvey, Very Rev. Thomas 71, 72, 76, 82, 84, 88, 94,'l01, 102, 103. Murphy^ Colonel John, Rich- mond, 58, 131. Murphy, Mr. John, Norfolk, 130. Murphy's Hotel, 33. Murphy's 'New Annex to Hotel, 58. Murray, Dr., 64. Murray, Rev. Thomas J., 103- 104, 134. N Neale, Very Rev. Leonard, 43. Newport News, 136, 138, 139. News-Leader of Richmond 32 Norfolk, 43, 45, ^rf, 58, 62, 7oi 77, 79, 88, 90, 94, 97, 101, 103, 124, 130, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140. North Carolina Vicariate Apos- tolic, 107, 109, 114, 134, 135. Northrop, Rt. Rev. Bishop, 133. Nota, Rev. L., S. J., 82. O O'Brien, Rev. John, 61, 75. O'Brien, Rev. Timothy, 49-75, 101. O'Connell, Rev. Lawrence, 30, 121. O'Connell, Rt. Rev. Dennis J., D. D., 17, 19, 20, 114-115. O'Donoghue, Rev. Francis, 65. O'Farrell, Rev. James T., 121- 122. O'Hara, Rev. William A., 122. O'Kane, Rev. Dennis, 8. J., 121. O'Keefe, Rev. Matthew 79, 80, 83, 84, 88, 94, 97, 101, 103. O'Keefe, Rev. P. J., 95, 96, 104. Old Point Comfort College, 123, 138. Old Point Comfort Mission, 47, 60, 76, 88, 94, 97. O'Neille, Rev. Jeremiah, 60. O'Reilly, Rev. James B., Pas- tor ;Sacred Heart Cathe- dral, 122. Organ of New Cathedral, Des- cription of, 12-15. Ouelett, Rev. 'l nomas, S. J., 94. Pardow, Very Rev. William, S. J., 2,9, 31. Parkersburg, 63, 70. Parke, Very Rev. Henry F., 50, 58, 59, 60, 65, 67, 68, 70, 73. Parochial Cathedral Rectory, 12. Paulhuber, Rev. Father, S. J., 76, 78. Payne, Rev, W. Gaston, 123. Perrig, Rev. Joseph, 123. Perry, Mrs. John, 55. Petersburg, 60, 62, 66, 79, 82, 88, 94, 103, 130-131, 137, 138, 139. Pieot, Miss, 55. Picots, The, 40. Plenary Council of Baltimore, Second, 96, 108. Plenary Council of Baltimore, Third, 120. Plunkett, Rev. Joseph H., 60, 65, 77, 82, 88, 91, 94, 101. Pohl, Very Rev. Julius, 0. S. B., 124. Polk, Rev. Joseph, S. J., 78, 82, 86. Pope, Gregory XVI., 57. Pope Leo XIII., 20, 26, 32. Pope, Mr. John, 119. Pope Pius VII., 44. Pope Pius IX., 79. Pope Pius X., 16, 114, 133. Portsmouth 58, 60, 65, 76, 79, 80, 82, 88, 91, 94, 97-98, 101, 130, 137, 138, 139. Prince George County, 136, 138. Purcell, Most Rev. Archbishop, 70. Purcell. Mr. John, 55. 148 INDEX. Pureell, Mrs. John, 41, 55, 98. Purcell, Mrs. Sarah, 41, 55. R Eanldn, Rev. Thomas A., 123. Eaymond Rev. Father, at Nor- folk, 37. Reception to His Excellency, the Apostolic Delegate, 17- 26. Eeddy, Hon. William F., 131. Residence, Bishop's, 10. Residence, Cathedral Parochial, 10. Eettger, Rev. Charles, 0. S. B., 124. Riley, Mr. F. T., 130. Roanoke, 137, 139, 140. Rock Castle, 124, 139. Roeketts' Church, 41-42, 44. Rogel, Rev. Father, S. J., 36. Romanesque Architecture, 16. Romney, 58. Roosevelt, Hon. Theodore, Presi- dent of United States, 32. Rosalia, Mother, 77. Ryan, Mr. Thomas Fortune, 9- 33. Ryan, Mrs. Thomas Fortune, 9-33, 137, 138. Ryder, Dr. James, S. J., 56, 62. St. Joseph's Academy and Asy- lum, Richmond, 47, 77, 78, 83, 99, 101, 102. St. Joseph's Benehcial Society, 131. St. Joseph's Church, Morfolk, 124. St. Joseph's Church, Peters- burg, 62, 130-131. St Joseph's Church, Richmond, 119-120, 124. St Joseph's Institute, Bristow, 124, 139. St. Joseph's Society, Richmond,, 78. St. Joseph's Social Union, Rich- mond, 130. St. Leo's Club, 141. St. Mary's Boys' School, Rich- mond, 79, 93 98, 101. St. Mary's Church, Norfolk, 84, 103. St. Mary's German Church, Ribhmond, 68, 78, 82-83, 86, 87, 97, 104, 110, 124, 131, 133-135, 141. St. Mary's Girls' School, Rich- mond, 84, 93, 101. St. Mary's Orphan Asylum and Academy, Norfolk, 70, 82. St. Mary's Seminary, Balti- more, 46, 68, 101, 108, 116. St. Mary's Sodality for Young Men and Ladies, Richmond, 85. St. Sophia's Home for the Aged, Richmond, 112, 140. St. Patrick's Beneficial Socie- ty, 131. St. Patrick's Boys' School, Rich- mond, 98. St. Patrick's Church, Norfolk, 61, 84, 85. St. Patrick's Church, Rich- mond, 85, 94, 96, 98, 99, 102, 104-5. 110, 141. St. Patrick's Sisters of Chari- ty, Richmond, 52-53, 86, 98, 101, 139, 140. St. Patrick's Social Club, 141. St. Paul's Church, Portsmouth, 76, 79, 97. St. Peter's Academy for Boys, 102, 110, 119. St. Peter's Church, the old Ca- thedral, Richmond, 50-56, 78-80, 99, 103, 111, 117-118, 127, 132, 134, 137. St. Vincent de Paul's Societies, 98, 141. St. Vincent's Hospital, Norfolk, 83, 140. St. Vincent's Seminary and Col- lege, 60-62. Stack Rev. Bartholomew, 71, 73. Stadelman, Rev. William F., C. S. Sp., 124. Statistics, 21, 76, 96, 139-141. INDEX. 149 Staunton, 62, 77, 88, 82, 98, 103, 104, 137, 139. Stephens, Rev. Thaddeus, 100. Suffolk, 138. Sullivan, Rev. Father, 60. Summerville, 65. Swanson, Hon. Claude A., Grov- ernor, 140. Synod, First of Richmond Dio- cese, 82. Synod, Second of Richmond Diocese, 120-122, 125. Sacred Heart Cathedral, Rich- mond, 9-33, 141. Sacred Heart, uld Parochial Church, Richmond, 31, ki5- 126. Sacred Heart Cathedral School, Richmond. Sacristies, Sacred Heart, Ca- thedral 11. Sanctuary Sacred Heart Cathe- dral, 11. Schmitz, Rev. P. A., 124. Schreiber, Rev. Father, 49. Sears, Rev. Oscar A., 82, 88, 94, 96. Segura, Very Rev. S. J., 35-36. Sheperdstown, 58, 138. Shea, John Gilmary, LL. D., 34-35, 40, 43, 71, 118. Sisters, Little, of the Poor, 111- 112, 139. Sisters of Blessed Sacrament, 139. Sisters of Charity, 52-55, 83, 90-91, 99. Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, 139. Sisters of Holy Cross, 139. Sisters of Mercy, 91, 109. Sisters of Notre Dame, 85, 97. Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, 139. Sisters of St. Benedict, 139. Sisters of St. Francis, 139. Smith, Rev. John, O. S. B., 124. Societies, 140-141. Sodalities, 140. Southe;ate Building, 44. Spalding, Most Rev. Arch- bishop, D. D., 96, 99, 107, 112. St. Ann's Benevolent Society, 141. St. Ann's Charitable Institute, Bristow, 139. St. Augustine's Literary Asso- ciation, Richmond, 141. St. Benedict's Society, 131. St. Charles' College, EUicott City, Maryland, 108, 112, 116, 119, 125. St. Francis De Sales Institute, Rock Castle, 139. St. John's Seminary, Norfolk, 101. Tabb, Rev. John B., 125. Talty, Rev. Andrew, 73, 79, 82, 86. Taney, Chief Justice, 56. Taylor, Hon. Richard M., May- ov\ 29, 30, 32. Taylor, Mr. Charles F. 131. Tearney, Rev. Edward M., 121- 122. Teeling, "The Teeling Law," 80-81, 84. Teeling, Very Rev. Dr. John, 73, 78-82, 86, 90, 91, 94. Thayer, Rev. Father, 43. Tlernan, Rev. John L^ 121, 134. "Times-Dispatch," The, Rich- mond, 17-33. Toale, Rev. P., 94. Tuam, Archbishop of, 108. U University, Catholic of Wash- ington, 17, 115, 126-128. University of Louvain, 127. University of Virginia, 69, 86. Valley of Virginia, 104, 113-114. Vanderplas, Rev. Gerard, 101, 103. Van De Vyver, Rt. Rev. Au- gustine, D. D., 19-32, 103, 104, 105, 113, 118, 120-123, 126-141. Van Horsigh, Rev. Father, 49, 62. 150 INDEX. Van Ingelgem, Eev. A. J., 123. Vanino, Rev. Erhardt, 0. S. B., a04. Van Queckelberge, Eev. Chas., 110. Vatican Council 102, 105, 107. Virginia Apostolate, 136-138. Visitation Nuns in Richmond, 95, 139. Vollmer, Rev. Dominie, 0. S. B., 124. Wakeham, Rev. Richard K., 125. Walsh, Mother Mary Eleanora, 70. Walsh, Mrs., 53. Walsh, Rev. Edward J., 123. Walsh, Rev. James, 44, 45. Warrenton, 83, 86, 88, 93, 96, 104. Waterford, Diocese of, 45, 58. Waters, Rev. Thomas E., 123. Weed, Rev. J. Ambler, 96, 98, 101, 103. West Point, 105, 138. Wheeling, 60, 65, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73 113. Whclan, Rev. David, 66, 68, 113. Whelan, Rt. Rev. Richard Vin- cent, D. D., 22, 57-73, 136. Whitfield, Most Rev. Arch- bishop, 48, 49, 53. Whitty, Mr. J. H., 37-40. Williamsburg, 37. Wilmington, Diocese of, 99, 113, 118, 132. Wilson, Rev. Thomas J., 122. Wimmer, Archabbott Bonifice, O. S. B., 87. Winchester, 58, 76, 79, 88, 89, 94, 113. Wise Governor, 81. Witt, Judge S. B., 27, 28, 30. Woodstock, 138. Wythe County, 67. Wytheville, 64, 65. X Xaverian Brothers, 119, 138. Y Yellow Fever at Norfolk, 80. Yellow Fever at Portsmouth, 80. Young Catholic Friend's Socie- ty, 83.