com RT. REV. JOHN ENGLAND - fc. : j **• c'i' ' '■>"*»- L ■> j ■•* i & .fc ■A; * 3. ^ x ■ 1 ! - V / vt cv\V £ "V / -r \ -c ■> :\ ( RT. REV. JOHN ENGLAND, FIRST BISHOP OF CHARLESTON By Rev.Tbomaa P.Phelan Jour. Am. Irish Hist.Soc. Vol.14. N.Y.1915 tEtye library of tlje Unibersrttpof^ortj) Carolina Cnbotoeb by Wfyt Btalectic pfrilatttfjropic ibouettes H 2 - P5 RT. REV. JOHN ENGLAND, FIRST BISHOP OF CHARLESTON. BY REV. THOMAS P. PHELAN, A. M. Read at the Seventeeth Annual Meeting of the American Irish Historical Society. On November sixth, 1789, Pope Pius VI by the Bull "Ad Futuram" erected an episcopal see at Baltimore and appointed Rev. John Carroll its first bishop. The new diocese comprised the thirteen original colonies, the territory east of the Mississippi, the missions of Maine and New York and the lands north of the Ohio River — formerly under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Quebec — and the French and Spanish settlements in the South and Southwest, originally attached to the diocese of Santiago de Cuba. (Shea, History of the Catholic Church in the United States, Vol. II, pp. 382-383.) The acquisition of Louisiana in 1803, extended the boundaries to the Rocky Mountains. Bishop Carroll and his co-adjutor, Bishop Neale, yielding to the infirmities of age, were unable to visit this large territory frequently or to minister adequately to the spiritual necessities of the rapidly growing congregations which were springing up along the At- lantic seaboard and in the territory west of the Alleghenies, so in 1808, at their recommendation, four new sees were erected at Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Bardstown. The crea- tion of these new dioceses lightened the labors of the pioneer bishop but the original see was still large and in addition, Dr. Carroll was burdened with the administration of the extensive dioceses of Florida and Louisiana. It was proposed to erect Georgia and the two Carolinas into an episcopal see but the Bishop demurred, lest the small Catholic population could not support the additional burdens. Archbishop Marechal, on his accession to the see of Baltimore, fearing for the religious future of the faithful on account of their isolation from the episcopal see and the irregularities which were creeping in, intimated to the Holy See his desire that these three states should be placed under their own bishop. His recommendation was approved and on July nth, 1820, Pope Pius VII issued a Bull constituting a 115 I* Il6 AMERICAN IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY. new diocese with Charleston as the see and Rev. John England, an Irish priest, its first bishop. John England was born in the city of Cork September 23, 1786. His boyhood was passed amid scenes the most pathetic in Ire- land's sad history — the abortive rebellion of 1798, Emmet's unsuccessful rising, the passage of the act of Union and the de- struction of Irish independence, the death struggles of the in- famous penal laws and the agitation for Catholic emancipation. "His grandfather despoiled of everything had spent years in prison; his grandmother died of a fever caused by the cruelty; his father for teaching a few scholars, without taking a sacri- legious oath was hunted to the mountains." (Shea, Vol. Ill, p. 369.) These harrowing scenes and recollections never faded from his memory and in maturer years made him a sterling lover of liberty and an implacable foe of Albion. When fifteen years of age he entered a barrister's office and began the study of law. After two years he realized his vocation was for the altar rather than the bar so he was matriculated at Carlow college — the nursery of so many distinguished Irish ecclesiastics. During his student days, he visited the barracks, instructed the militia and estab- lished free schools for poor children. In after years he was ac- customed to say, that like St. Francis de Sales, he began his ministry in a military camp. In 1808 he was ordained and returned to his native city. The bishop of Cork at that period was Rt. Rev. Francis Moylan, brother of General Stephen Moy- lan of Philadelphia, the dashing cavalry leader and bosom friend of Washington. Recognizing the brilliant qualities of the young levite, he made him preacher at the Cathedral and President of St. Mary's college. In addition to his regular duties, he founded and edited a monthly magazine, The Religious Repertory, visited the jails and barracks and advocated the establishment of free schools for poor children. During the early years of the agitation for emancipation he was chosen editor of the Cork Mercantile Chronicle and waged unrelenting warfare on the opponents of religious liberty. O'Connell was so pleased with his writings and speeches, that in later years he remarked, "With Bishop England at my back, I would not fear the whole world before me." In a caustic editorial he criticized the jury system and the RT. REV. JOHN ENGLAND. 117 attitude of the judges in political cases. He was taken into custody, indicted, found guilty and fined five hundred pounds, and in default of payment was committed to prison. Owing to a technicality in the law he was speedily released. In 181 7 he was made pastor of Bandon, a town noted for its intense national and religious prejudices. Here he supported the national cause so vigorously that on one occasion he narrowly escaped death at the hands of an infuriated opponent. While engaged in these multifarious duties, the news of his nomination as Bishop of Charleston came, and although loathe to leave his native soil, he bowed to the voice of authority, and bade farewell to his family and parishioners. He was consecrated on September 21, 1820, and with characteristic independence, refused to take the oath of allegiance to the English government; "As soon as I reach my see, my first step will be to renounce this allegiance ; therefore the form is now idle and useless." Three months later he set sail from Belfast accompanied by his sister, a priest and some students who were to labor in his diocese. The territory assigned to the new bishop comprised the states of North and South Carolina and Georgia, embracing an area of 127,500 miles. Lying between Virginia and Florida, it had witnessed the struggles of three great European nations to form settlements on its hospitable shores. "It was ths frontier upon which were waged the last remnants of the piracy and bucaneer- ing that had grown out of the mighty Elizabethan world struggle between England and Spain." (Fiske, "Virginia and her Neigh- bors," Vol. II.) By the discoveries of Ponce de Leon and the subsequent voyages of Vasquez de Allyon, the Spanish crown laid claim to all the lands from Florida to Chesapeake Bay. The voyages of the Cabots, and the ill-fated expeditions of Sir Walter Raleigh were the basis of England's claim to the entire region. The French Hugenots undertook to found settlements in the disputed territory but were defeated and massacred by the Spaniards under the leadership of Pedro Menendez. The trans- fer of French activities to the basin of the St. Lawrence, the defeat of the Spanish Armada, and the decline of that once great nation gave England undisputed title to the entire region. During the seventeenth century, the Albemarle and Clarendon colonies were established in North Carolina, the Ashley colony in South Il8 AMERICAN IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Carolina, and finally in the early years of the eighteenth century James Oglethorpe laid the foundation of a colony in Georgia, destined as a refuge for oppressed English debtors. These settle- ments grew slowly, when compared with their northern neigh- bors, being oppressed by the Spaniards and hostile Indians on the southern frontier. When the revolutionary struggle began, they cheerfully joined fortune with the men of Virginia and New England and during the last three years of warfare, bore the brunt of the hostile attack. The triumphs of Cromwell and William of Orange and the subsequent enforcement of the infamous penal laws, drove thousands of Irish exiles to the American colonies. The Carolina settlements received a large quota of these immigrants. "Scarce a ship sailed from any of its ports for Charleston that was not crowded with men, women and children. The Moores, Rutledges, Jacksons, Lynchs, Polks, Calhouns and many other Irish families whom we might name, not only distinguished themselves in the Carolinas, but became leaders of the very highest reputation in national affairs, at least two of them becoming Presidents of the United States, and many of them governors, senators and chiefs of the army and navy. (Haltigan, "The Irish In the Revolution.") "Of all other countries none has furnished the province with so many inhabitants as Ireland." (David Ramsay, "History of South Carolina.") Georgia, a more distinctively English colony, received few Irish settlers until previous to the Revolution, when large numbers emigrated from the northern colonies. Knox, Hunt, Dooley, McCall, Pollock and Crockett are a few of the distinguished Irish names enshrined in the annals of Oglethorpe's colony. The remembrance of the many cruelties endured by their ancestors never faded from the memories of their descend- ants, and when the struggle for freedom came, they kept alive the spirit of patriotism, at a time when the liberties of the South were well nigh destroyed by the capture of Charleston and Sa- vannah and the disastrous campaign of Gates. Although visited early in the sixteenth century by Dominican, Franciscan and Jesuit priests, who accompanied the Spanish expeditions, Catholicity never took root in these colonies. The laws of the two Carolinas prevented Catholics from acquiring lands or holding office, and the charter of Georgia expressly denied RT. REV. JOHN ENGLAND. 119 them liberty of conscience. (Cobb, "The Rise of Religious Liberty in America.") When the Acadians were expelled from their homes after the fall of Louisburgh, five hundred were landed in North Carolina and one thousand five hundred in South Carolina. Some were placed on ships and sent to France, others migrated to Louisiana, a remnant took up lands. Four hundred were assigned to Georgia, but were not allowed to land. The patriotism of Catholics during the revolutionary struggle and the alliance with France and Spain, brought about kindlier feelings, and Catholics began to settle in the three southern colonies. In 1786 a vessel having a priest on board came to Charleston. He said Mass in the house of an Irish settler for a congregation of twelve persons. Two years later, Dr. Carroll sent Father Ryan to visit the three states. During the next twenty years several priests came, but the paucity of Catholics, the disputes between the clergy and the trustees, and the irreg- ularities which arose, retarded the growth of the church. To this diocese, rich in memories of Irish and Catholic achieve- ments though poor in numbers and resources, the new bishop came in December 1820. "When I was appointed Bishop of the diocese of Charleston, I found myself burdened with the spiritual care of three large states, together containing about a million and a half of people, in fact about one seventh of the whole population of the United States. There were Catholic refugees from the island of St. Domingo; also a few Frenchmen who had succeeded in escaping the horrors of the Revolution; lastly a number of immigrants from Ireland and the state of Maryland. In general the Catholics were poor and the objects of immense prejudice and they had no clergy. Many of the slaves, especially such as had accompanied the French refugees were Catholics. Several Indian tribes also were found within the diocese, but they were sadly neglected through lack of priests. I found upon my arrival one small brick church in South Carolina ; in Georgia one log and two frame edifices — in all four churches. In South Carolina there were probably two hundred communicants; in Georgia one hundred and fifty; in North Carolina, twenty five — a total of three hun- dred and seventy five. In Georgia and South Carolina there were only three priests. In coming over from Ireland, I had brought 120 AMERICAN IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY. along at my own expense three more whom I have ordained. Those who were already here have died or did not long remain. I managed to obtain three others, so that I was enabled to assign two to Georgia, three to South Carolina, and I personally attend to the wants of North Carolina." ("Annales de L' Association de la Propagation de la Foi." Letter of Bishop England, May 27, 1829.) Since the days of the Apostles, no bishop had faced such trying conditions in a civilized country. Undaunted however by the uninviting prospect Dr. England set out on a visitation of his vast diocese. Riding in a rude wagon drawn by two stout ponies and driven by a negro boy he covered hundreds of miles over rough roads and along paths blazed through the pine forests. In every hamlet where he found Catholic settlers he said Mass, heard confessions, baptized, married, confirmed, preached and instructed. He encouraged these little groups to meet every Sunday and appointed a person to read prayers and teach cate- chism. Wherever he found a growing settlement, he advised the faithful to purchase ground, erect a church and hold their or- ganization until he could send them a pastor. "The desire to hear sermons and lectures brought many non-Catholics to hear a man who was famous for his eloquence." He lectured and preached in churches, chapels, halls, concert rooms, private houses and oc- casionally in the open air. On one occasion he met a convoy of wagons carrying cotton to market. The leader of the cavalcade respectfully approached him and saluting him as "Mr. Bishop," asked him to preach them a sermon, as they had heard "He was the most all fired powerful preacher in the country." The Bishop acquiesced, and mounting the stump of a tree spoke to them of their duties to God and their fellow men. At the close of the address the leader thanked him for his kindness and his followers gave three cheers for "Mr. Bishop." On another occasion, a minister who had attended the lectures during the week, begged Dr. England to occupy his pulpit on Sunday as he had had no opportunity to prepare a sermon. The Bishop assented, and on Sunday morning read some selections from the scriptures, recited some prayers and preached a solid discourse on a moral topic. During the first visitation he called on Hon. William Gaston, the distinguished lawyer and former member of Congress, later a RT. REV. JOHN ENGLAND. 121 judge of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. This was the beginning of a friendship which endured during the lifetime of these illustrious men. This visitation was repeated yearly during the two decades of his episcopate. He was usually absent from his cathedral from three to nine months on these missionary trips. Although his health was often precarious and the fatigues and privations he underwent were gradually undermining his strength, he persevered in this work until called to his eternal rest. In his episcopal city he performed all the duties of an ordinary parish priest, preaching, saying Mass, administering the sacraments and visiting the sick. During the yellow fever epidemic, he labored day and night, his heroic conduct winning encomiums of praise from every side. He was especially devoted to the slaves, saying Mass for them every Sunday, instructing them in Christian doctrine, and treating them with paternal care and tenderest solicitude. His revenues were so meagre he could scarcely obtain the bare necessities of life and the arrogance of the trustees brought sorrow to his heart. Yet with true mission- ary zeal he never faltered, but spent himself in building up the diocese entrusted to his care. During these journeys, the Bishop found many of his people ignorant of the doctrines and practices of the faith. To correct these evils he organized a Book Society in Charleston and en- deavored to establish a branch in every parish. Lack of funds and popular apathy retarded the success of the movement, but he was not discouraged and in 1822, obtained an act of incorpora- tion from the state legislature. He edited and published a cate- chism and a new edition of the Missal in English, thus hoping to create a taste for reading among his scattered people. To afford his co-religionists a medium of communication as well as to remove false and erroneous ideas from the minds of non- Catholics, he founded, in 1822, The United States Catholic Miscellany , the first Catholic paper issued in the United States. Its motto was, "Candor, Moderation, Fidelity, Charity, and Diligence." Lack of funds caused it to suspend publication be- fore the end of the year, but with characteristic courage, he began again, and it survived until the Civil War. It was the period of controversy, religious and political, and the Bishop was ever ready to break a lance with a worthy adversary. His 122 AMERICAN IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY. sister, Johanna, who had accompanied him from Ireland, assisted in the work, contributing to its columns, and occasionally toning down the sternness of his logic. In its pages he discussed religious, literary and historical subjects and his works issued after his death, in five volumes, consist chiefly of articles from the Mis- cellany. His example was followed in more populous centers and soon Boston, New York and Philadelphia boasted of Catholic papers. There was neither college nor academy in Charleston at this time, so in 1822 the Bishop founded "The Philosophical and Classical Seminary of Charleston." It was a success from the beginning, Catholics and non-Catholics entering their sons as pupils. However, religious animosity somewhat retarded its growth and in course of time it became almost exclusively a Catholic institution. In conjunction with the college he opened a seminary which supplied many priests to the home and neigh- boring missions. "He was not only president but teacher, com- pelled frequently to attend almost all the classes, though gradually he was assisted by some candidates for orders, whom he found extremely well qualified to communicate knowledge by teaching." For the education of girls he founded a community — The Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, under the rules of St. Vincent de Paul. These sisters opened an academy for the girls of the middle classes, a school for free colored girls, and visited the sick poor. During the cholera epidemic, they nursed the victims, their superior succumbing to the dread scourge. In 1834, he brought the Ursulines from Ireland to his diocese but after a struggle with poverty and privation they left Charleston. Twelve years later, they returned to the scene of their former labors. Although struggling with poverty in a small diocese, Bishop England found time to interest himself in the welfare of religion in other parts of the republic. He visited the important cities of the Union, preaching and lecturing, everywhere greeted by large and enthusiastic audiences. "He has been justly styled, The Father of Our Provincial Councils." Realizing the neces- sity for concerted action, he urged his fellow-bishops to meet oc- casionally to plan ways and means for the betterment of religion. He attended several convocations and aided in framing rules for the guidance of the clergy and laity. In 1822 he was commis- RT. REV. JOHN ENGLAND. 1 23 sionecl to take charge of the diocese of East Florida. He visited that historic region and labored zealously to restore the ancient discipline. Ten years later he was appointed Apostolic Delegate to Hayti, to revive religion in that unhappy republic. After two visits he was able to report to Rome that order was restored and the spirit of faith rekindled. While visiting Philadelphia he en- deavored to compromise the troubles between Bishop Conwell, the trustees and the refractory Hogan but his labors were un- successful, and he received the reward of all peacemakers, criticism and ingratitude. He made four trips to Europe, visiting his native land and the tomb of the apostles, obtaining aid for his scattered missions. Indeed his activities were most extraordinary, and in the service of religion his mind and body knew no fatigue. In civic affairs he took a prominent part in his city and state. His voice was ever raised in defence of his adopted country and in praise of its institutions. During the nullification troubles he acted and spoke with such prudence and moderation as to merit the encomiums of every party. A blight on the moral character of the American people was the duelling habit. He aided in forming an anti-duelling society with the venerable Thomas Pinkney as President which materially helped to dis- credit the system. In his paper he published an article setting forth the immorality and cruelty of the pernicious practice. In 1826 he was invited to address Congress in the hall of the House of Representatives at Washington, the first Catholic ecclesiastic so honored. He spoke to them on revealed religion and their duties to God and their fellow-men. "Nothing can excuse us from the discharge of this duty. No difference of re- ligion can form a pretext for non-compliance. In these happy and free states we stand upon the equal grounds of religious right; we may freely love and bear with each other and exhibit to Europe a contrast to her jealousies in our affection." Nor was he forgetful of his native land. As while pastor of Bandon he had nobly seconded the efforts of O'Connell and Shiel to obtain emancipation for their co-religionists, so in the free republic, he encouraged the Irish exiles to aid their brethren in the struggle without forgetting their duties to their adopted country. His speeches and essays on Irish nationality did much to soften the prejudices against these strangers to our shores. 124 AMERICAN IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Twenty-two years of labor had undermined the strength of the illustrious prelate. Never robust, his missionary travels and arduous literary occupations had sapped his vital strength. To lighten his burdens, a co-adjutor was appointed but after a year in Charleston became dissatisfied and was transferred to another field. Returning from Europe in the spring of 1842, sickness broke out among the steerage passengers and the Bishop although broken in health, devoted himself to the sufferers, and contracted the dread malady. On reaching his episcopal city he was completely prostrated and on April nth, 1842, was called to his eternal reward. The news of his death came as a shock to the entire country. His fidelity to duty had endeared him to the entire church, and his whole-souled patriotism was admired by every citizen, ir- respective of creed. Letters and resolutions of condolence came from every state in the Union, Catholic and Irish societies and the members of the hierarchy deploring his untimely loss. In Charleston, men of every religious belief joined in praising his many virtues. The public buildings were draped in mourning, the daily papers spoke most feelingly of his services to the city and state, and the Washington Light Artillery and other civic and military bodies passed resolutions of respect. The Charleston Patriot, a leading newspaper of the time, voiced the sentiments of his fellow-citizens: "A divine who illustrated the duties of his lofty calling by his personal example — whose philanthropy knew no discrimination of class, creed or country, whose ability was unquestioned, whose learning was ample, whose energies knew no abatement — gone to the tomb, with the profound regret of the country in which he lived, the intense sorrow of his afflicted congregation, and the agonizing grief of a large circle of friends. Honor to his memory and reverence to his virtues." Bishop England was a scholar of rare literary attainments, and a polished and eloquent orator. His labors in his native land left him little leisure for books and his missionary career in America so occupied his time, that he could not acquire that fund of theological knowledge, the fruits of years of patient study. His essays in the Catholic Miscellany were often hurriedly written and without proper revision, and books for extensive RT. REV. JOHN ENGLAND. 1 25 and accurate research were wanting. Often when short of funds or help, he went into the printing office and composed brilliant articles, not in writing but in type. He had little leisure for preparing his sermons and lectures, often collecting his thoughts as he rode in railway trains or in his rude carriage. "He was a writer well acquainted with the important subjects which he treated, and singularly gifted with the power of close and exact logic, and with the happy talent of communicating his thoughts in a style remarkable for perspicuity and strength — always easy and natural — often charming by its beauty, or warm- ing by its fervor — and sometimes elevating us by its sub- limity." As a citizen he was loyal and true to his adopted country. He loved and admired the constitution and customs of the re- public and endeavored to instil the same principles in the hearts of the emigrants who came to our shores. When delicate questions arose threatening the integrity of the Union, he was singularly tactful and prudent, counselling moderation and compromise. He was not a partisan in politics but a sincere patriot anxious for the welfare of the republic. As an Irishman, he revered the land of his forefathers. The pathetic scenes of boyhood days never faded from his memory and he was always ready to assist any movement for the ameliora- tion of his suffering countrymen. To the last he was a friend of the great Liberator, aiding him in the struggle for emancipa- tion, approving his crusade for the repeal of the Union. As a bishop he was a worthy successor of the Apostles. His see was poor, his flock small and widely scattered. He received little aid from without in the herculean task of upbuilding his diocese. Yet in two score years, he had removed scandals, aroused a spirit of faith, enforced discipline, crushed the tyranny of trusteeism and placed his diocese on a fair financial basis. He had established a seminary, a college, two schools for girls, and a newspaper and developed a taste for good literature among his scattered flock. Among the pioneer bishops of the republic his name stands high on the roll of fame for his courage, perseverance and zeal. As a churchman, patriot and scholar, Bishop England has left 126 AMERICAN IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY. his mark on the pages of Irish and American history, and his name and fame will endure as long as love of God and country are the cardinal principles of the American people. BIBLIOGRAPHY. Cobb, Sandford H. "The Rise of Religious Liberty in America." Condon, Edward O'Meagher. "The Irish Race in America." Dunn and Lennox. "The Glories of Ireland." Fiske, John. "Virginia and Her Neighbors." Vol. II. Griffin, Martin I. J. "American Catholic Historical Researches." 1905- 1911. Haltigan, James. "The Irish in the American Revolution." Hayes and Mahon. "Trials and Triumphs of the Catholic Church in America." Kirlin, Rev. Joseph L. J. " Catholicity in Philadelphia." Maguire, John Francis, M. P. "The Irish in America." Murray, John O'Kane. "The Catholic Pioneers of America." McElrone, Hugh P. "The Choice Works of Rt. Rev. John England." McGee, Thomas D'Arcy. "A History of the Irish Settlers in North Amer- ica." O'Connell, Rev. J. J., O. S. B. "Catholicity in the Carolinas and Georgia. O'Gorman, Rt. Rev. Thomas. "A History of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States." O'Hanlon, Rev. John Canon. "Irish American History." Ramsay, David. "History of South Carolina." Reynolds, Rt. Rev. Ignatius A., D. D. "The Works of Rt. Rev. John England." Shea, John Gilmary. " History of the Catholic Church in the United States." Vols. II and III. Smith, Rev. John Talbot, LL. D. "The Catholic Church in New York." United States Catholic Historical Society. "Historical Records and Studies." Vols. II and III. Winsor, Justin. "History of America." Vols. Ill— IV and V. UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 00034004354 FOR USE ONLY IN THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTION Form No. A-368. Rev. 8/95 A ? ■Jh /x ; '■' . -» ' -v / ^ FT ..v- I 7 §©l }