Columbia intljeCtiptfltogork THE LIBRARIES Bequest of Frederic Bancroft 1860-1945 I ^ONEWAGO.^ A COLLECTION OF CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. GATHERED FROM THE FIELDS OF CATHOLIC MISSIONARY LABOR WITHIN OUR REACH. An Humble Effort to Preserve Some Remembrance of Those Who Have Gone Be/ore, and by Their Lives, Their Labors and Their Sacrifices, Secured for Succeeding Genera- tions the Enjoyment of Happy Homes, and All the Blessings of Our Holy Catholic Religion. By JOHN T. REILY. HERALD PRINT, MARTINSBURG, W. VA., 1885. 0 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF THE LOG CHURCH ENLARGED. Since writing the last few chapters, we have discovered that Father Neale took up a tract of land at Conewago. in his name. Rev. Henry Neale was an English Jesuit, arriving in this country in 1740, and doing missionary work as assistant to Father Greaton, of St. Joseph's, Philadelphia. In 1747, he took up 121 acres at Goshenhoppen, Berks County. He died in 1748, and was buried near the church in Philadelphia. This tract, no doubt, is the large body of land now held by the Society, and was then part of Digges' Choice. Up to the Revolution the church had no head or organi- zation in this country. The Jesuits were the principal mis- sionary workers in the eastern States. The Society was being persecuted in Europe, and was eventually suppressed, in 1773, though it was an act of compulsion, never carried out except in appearance as a matter of policy. The members of the Society in this country continued to live and labor under their rules, as the troublesome circumstances would best permit. — They were governed by the representative of the Superior of the Society who resided in London. The Provincial or rep- resentative so appointed resided at St. Thomas' Mission, near Port Tobacco, in Maryland, still the residence of the Superiors, or so at least up to the recent formation of the tri-State pro- vince of Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York. We do not know that there is any record, giving the names and dates of appointment of the first Superiors in this country. Probably Rev. John Williams, an English Jesuit, was Superior as early as 17G3 ; Father John or George Hunter as early as 1765, and Superior and Vicar-General in 1794, according to Scharff. — Father John Lewis was Superior some time during the revo- lutionary period. As we have said before, there seems to be no definite record of the early missionary priests. Baltimore itself was only a station before the Revolution, supplied once CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 51 a month from White Marsh. When we compare the church to day with the missionary field at that time, we are astonish- ed at the labor they performed and the hardships and incon- veniences they underwent. Now the church has Bishops and Archbishops, a Cardinal ; thousands of churches and priests ; colleges, seminaries and religious institutions, and all the com- forts and conveniences of a progressive age and of a powerful country. The poor missionaries left their homes and were driven from their country ; they came into the new settle- ments, strangers among strangers, without any churches or congregations or friends, looked upon with suspicion by the people and hampered and persecuted by the laws ; but they held their ground, performed a noble work in guarding the infant church and building up what is now the mightiest re- ligious structure in America. May the church never forget her founders, — the poor, scattered Catholics, and the daring, persevering missionaries. They lived, labored and died for the faith. All honor to them, and may God increase their reward for all the ages of eternity. How much we have ! how little we do! How little they had; yet what wonders did they not accomplish. In 1758, June 9th, four priests arrived in the Maryland missions from England. They were James Frombach, James Pellentz, John Williams, but who the fourth was we are not certain. Father Christopher Andrews lived with Father Pel- lentz for nearly forty years, " a faithful servant," and died at Conewago Nov. 2d, 1799, at the age of nearly one hundred years. We may suppose that he was one of the company of four, but are not certain. Father Frombach succeeded Father Maimers as Superior, and remained at Conewago ten years. He spent a year and a half at Lancaster, and then went to Frederick, from which place his missionary travels extended through western Maryland into Virginia, as far as Winchester. He was a model missionary priest, an example of every vir- tue,— mild, patient, modest, obedient, pious and zealous. His death record is entered at Conewago, Aug. 27th, 1795. He 52 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF died of a contagious fever ; some say at St. Inigoes, Md., which may agree with the record of his death, " in comitatu Mariae, in Marylandia." Father Frombach was assisted while Superior of Cone- wago by Father Detrich, a French gentleman, during whose time an addition was built to the old church, and another small room attached thereto. Father Pellentz's name also appears, especially on the different missions, so that he most likely made Conewago his home from 1758 to 1768, and went out on the surrounding missions,— Frederick, Hagerstown and the valleys along the mountains. He succeeded Father From- bach as Superior. Father Andrews was no doubt his assist- ant, both on the missions and after he became Superior. It is sad to think that so little knowledge is preserved of these Fathers and their labors. We know that they rode on horse- back many miles to visit the sick and minister to the wants of the Catholics, that they had to undergo many hardships and dangers, but beyond this little else is known. Whatever information may be gained from kind friends who are inter- ested and better informed on such matters, we shall be only too glad to give later on. THE SACRED HEART BUILT. The Revolutionary period was one of trial and gloomy foreboding for the colonists, and especially so for the Catho- lics. War with the mother country cut them off from all communication or authority with the church in Europe and the head of the Society in England. There were dangers to be feared from such freedom from authority, but in greater straits than this the church had found able men raised up for its rescue. So with the infant church in the colonies. Among the few priests were men of strong mind and determined purpose, — men of example and judgment, who by their labors CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 53 and their virtues inspired priests and people with confidence and encouragement, Independence, like the sun after the darkest storm, brought light and freedom and prosperity to the people ; the church shared in the new life and light thus spread. Many things rendered it necessary that the church should have established authority in America, from Rome and not from London, now that America rendered her no more allegiance. Rev. John Carroll was appointed Vicar- Apostolic, consecrated Bishop in 1790, and raised to the Archbishopric in 1809. Father Carroll visited Conewago in 1784, and adminis- tered the Sacrament of Confirmation, and again about 1811. He placed the number of communicants at Conewago on his first visit at one thousand. There are but few living now who were confirmed by Bishop Carroll. Miss Sallie Lilly, no doubt, is one of them, and there may be several more in the valley, who were born about 1800. From this time the growth of the church was rapid every- where, and on a sound and healthy basis. There were a few weak points here and there which caused trouble, but they deserve now to be forgotten as they served only to strengthen the church the more permanently. Diocese after diocese was formed, new Bishops and Archbishops created, and so the work is now going on successfully to-day. First Conewago was under the Bishop of Baltimore, then it belonged to the Diocese of Philadelphia and now it is in that of Harrisburg. It is subject, of course, like always, to the Superiors and Pro- vincials of the Society of Jesus, and they to the Father-Gen- eral in Rome, or wherever he may temporarily reside. In religious matters it is governed by the rules of the Church as they relate to the Orders and the Bishops in their respective dioceses. We come now to one of the most important periods in the history of the Conewago Church, when the present stone church was built by Father Pellentz. The church was spread- ing and growing everywhere. The greatest trouble experi- 54 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF cnced was the want of priests, especially men of executive ability, who could by their energy and perseverance, with the limited means at hand, build suitable churches for the accom- modation of the increasing number of Catholics. Conewago was truly blessed with such a man, in the person of Father James Pellentz, S. J. As a missionary he had attended to the widely scattered missions of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and as a German his services were required in more places than he could possibly render them. We find him at Freder- ick, at Lancaster, and intervening points ; at Carlisle and through the valley to Hagerstown. and later on having in charge the border settlements along the mountains, of which he was relieved by Father Gallitzin. His principal assistant at Conewago was Father Andrews, whom he calls a ''faithful servant," which implies more than we can express — the whole burden of church work at Conewago, as Father Pellentz had many outside duties and matters of business which claimed his attention. Two other priests' names are mentioned as assistants to Father Pellentz, but no dates can be given. They were Fathers Charles Sewell and Sylvester Boarman, of the Society, and could not have been at Conewago very long before Father Pellentz's death. There were other priests on the Maryland and Pennsylvania missions, who came to Cone- wago off and on, but were never stationed. The building of canals and public roadways shortly after the Revolution, brought many Irish and German Catholics into the States, and wherever they went missionaries were sent among them. Conewago increased rapidly in population, and the rich farming lands brought increased wealth and pros- perity. When Father Pellentz succeeded Father Frombach as Superior about 17G8, the want of a larger church was al- ready beginning to be felt. The log church must have been but a small place, with bare walls and rude benches and hardly a iloor in it except around the altar and the small room at- tached. Everything that entered the building had to be fur- nished in the settlement, and the means for any kind of work CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 55 were very limited. Travel was then yet mostly by horse- back, so that people were depending to a great extent upon their own resources, cut off from the towns by long distances through an unsettled country. Many of the Catholics of Conewago were then consider- ed well-to-do, and were as intelligent and appreciative of the comforts of life as people are now. Father Pellentz saw the need of improvements, so that religion might take the lead in the growth of the country. Any steps towards carrying out his plans were out of the question, on account of the troubles and uncertainties occasioned by the war of Independence. When peace was restored and the country attained a separate and independent existence, the future of the church like that of the land became brighter and more promising. — Father Pellentz lost no time in making preparations for his great work. There was money to be collected, material to be furnished and worked out, and many things to be attended to in the erection of so large and finished a building. The stone for the church had to be quarried and dressed near East Ber- lin, and hauled a distance of ten or fifteen miles. The erec- tion of the Church of the Sacred Heart was begun sometime in 1786 and completed in 1787. It stands to-day as solid and substantial as ever. We have no record of its dedication and consecration. The old log church was removed, and services were probably held in one of the rooms of the house or tem- porary place of dwelling. The parsonage was built at the same time, and like the church has since been enlarged and improved. There was a quaint old cupola on the church, but whether it was put up at the same time, or later by Fathers DeBarth and Lekeu, we are unable to find out. The one hundredth anniversary of the building of this church will be appropriately celebrated next year. The Fathers 'held a pic- nic in the grove adjoining the church on the 28th of July, just passed, and realized nearly $500, which will be devoted to the celebration of this anniversary. In this church, Father 56 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF Pellentz has left a greater monument to his memory than our humble pen can inscribe. " This Father's memory is still, and will ever be, affec- tionately and gratefully cherished by the pastors and congre- gation of Conewago, as one of the most liberal, charitable and zealous of men and benefactors, and as a shepherd who laid down his life for his flock, after many weary years of inces- sant and successful labor, in erecting and perpetuating a church in which thousands and tens of thousands were expected and destined to worship their Maker, and save their immortal souls." A short sketch of the church, written about 1830 by one of the Fathers, from information of one of the oldest inhabit- ants, has the following allusion to the present church as it then appeared : " As it respects the settlement in which it is placed, it is not too much to say that few settlements, if any, will be found in the United States composed of a more dense, wealthy, economical, industrious and intelligent population. The farm attached to the church contains about 500 acres, of probably the very best quality of land in the State of Penn- sylvania. The present church is built of rough-stone, the front of a peculiar sort of red sandstone, found some miles distant from the church, of a very strong texture, and is about GO feet long, 40 feet high and about 80 feet broad, [taking in the whole front of the building and parsonage,] with a semi- diagonal sanctuary at the east end of about 20 feet, this show- ing it to be one of the largest buildings for public worship as yet in the interior of the country, exclusive of towns and cit- ies." * * * " Father Pellentz was a missionary of the most exemplary piety, of untiring zeal, of the most agreeable and fascinating manners, and certainly possessed of uncommon influence, not only over his own flock but also possessing the affection and confidence of persons of other religious denomi- nations, else it would have been impossible for him to have erected at such an early period, and at such heavy expense, a building of such dimensions. Suffice it to say, that those few, CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 57 without distinction of religious creeds, who have survived him, and who were personally acquainted with him, speak in the most exulted terms of his character and by them his memory is held in the highest veneration." James Pellentz, S. J., was born in Germany, Jan. 19th, 1727; entered the Society in 1714, and made his profession in 175G. He filled the office of Vicar-General to Bishop Car- roll in 1701, ami was present at the first Council of Baltimore. lie died, according to the record entered at Conewago. on March 13th, 1800, and was buried on the 15th. He was at old St Joseph's in Philadelphia in Nov., 1705, as appears from the baptismal register. FR. PELLENTZ TO FR. De BARTIL Every effort to obtain some connected account of the history of Conewago during this period, has been fruitless. — There arc conflicting statements regarding the successor of Father Pellentz as Superior in 1800. If Father Brosius was Superior at all, it was for a very short time. We are inclined to think that he was not, but may have been acting as such until a permanent Superior was appointed. Between Father Pellentz and Fathers De Barth and Lekeu, there is a space of some years when there was no permanent Superior, but dif- ferent priests acting in that capacity. The priests who were at Conewago about this time, attended the different missions more or less alternately, as best suited the various conflicting circumstances. The Bishop was then beginning to exercise his authority, and getting his large and scattered household in something like working order. Demands were made upon him for a German priest here, an English one there, and one for the Irish somewhere else. The Provincial of the Jesuits was Rev. Bobert Molyneaux, who had succeeded Father Lewis. The church kept meeting the growing needs of the people, and 58 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF laying the foundations for vast future extensions. Colleges were being founded and native priests supplied, upon whom the church was soon to depend in a great measure. The Sulpitians founded St. Mary's College, and the Jesuits that of Georgetown. Religious orders were beginning to be intro- duced, to aid in the increasing work of the church, and from the humble start of Mother Seton at Emmettsburg, sprang that vast religious body which is now to be found carrying on schools and asylums and charitable works everywhere. It is not our plan or purpose to enter into any details outside of our limited field, for it could not be more than a passing notice. Thanks to able and learned men, these grounds are well covered by the History of the Catholic Church in the United States, the Life of Mother Seton, History of the Cath- olic Church in Western Pennsylvania, Life of Father Gallitzin, and other valuable works. If only Catholics would give more encouragement to this branch of church literature ! Rev. F. X. Brosius was the young priest who came to this country with Prince Gallitzin in 1792. He was a very useful missionary. Just what time he spent at Conewago it is impossible to designate. Father Middleton, 0. S. A., places him here in 1801, and at Baltimore in 1804-5. According to Mr. Griffin he was at Lancaster in 179G, where he issued the " Reply of a Roman Catholic Priest to a Peace-Loving Preacher of the Lutheran Church;" in 1806 in Philadelphia; 1807, he founded a " Seminary " or School at Mount Airy, ad- joining Philadelphia ; 1813, he issued at Philadelphia "The Elements of Natural or Experimental Philosophy;" 1815, at Jamaica Plains, near Boston, where he taught German to Geo. Ticknor; 1816, April 14th, his first baptismal record ap- pears at the Cathedral, Boston, and his last on June 28th — Then he went to Germany, or brobably first to Cincinnati, then started for Europe. His name appears as sponsor on the baptismal records of Conewago on the following dates : Feb. 7th, 1794; May 25th, 1795; Nov. 25th, 1798; Oct. 24th, 1800 ; Nov. 3d, 1800 ; April 28th, 1 803. CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 59 March 2d, 1793, there is a baptism recorded, with the name of Rev. P. Erntzen given as sponsor. The " P." may signify " Father '* from the Latin Pater. There is some doubt as to the correctness of his name, as it is impossible to distin- guish the " n ' from the " u." Father Middleton gives his name as "Enntzen" or "Erntzen/' which latter would corres- pond with the record. Rev. Paul Dominic Enntzen or Ernt- zen was the fifth pastor of Goshenhoppen. from April, 1793, to Ma}', 26th, 1818. The same Father was at Lebanon from 1801 to 1804. It has also been stated b}' some that Father Pellentz was succeeded as Superior by Father Charles Sewell or Father Sylvester Boarman, both of whom labored at Conewago some time before and after 1800. * » These priests were assisted by Fathers Cerfoumont, Manly or Maunly, Mertz, Zocchi, and others. There is men- tion of a Father Zockley, which most likely meant Rev. Nico- laus or Nicholas Zocchi, who succeeded Father Gallitzin at Taney town. Rev. D. Stanislaus Cerfoumont was a missionary priest for nineteen years, and died at Conewago Aug. 2d, 1804, aged 53. He was one of the priests present at the first Council of Baltimore in 1791. Of Father Manly nothing- is known. Father John Nicholas Mertz was at Conewago in 1804. — his name appearing only once on the register of bap- tisms. Father Middleton places him here from Aug.. 1803, to Nov, 1805 ; from Dec. 0th, 1805, to May 20th, at Balti- more ; in 1828 at Java, N. Y. ; 1829, at Buffalo ; about 1836 to 1838, at Eden, and Western New York; dying Aug. 10th, 1844, aged 81. Bishop Timon wrote that Father Mertz was pastor at Conewago in 1826, for three years, and left it in 1829 for Buffalo and Eden, N. Y., " where he labored with the most untiring zeal from the year 1829 till his death.'' — He was a native of Germany, where he was ordained in 1791, and was received into the Diocese of Baltimore by Bishop Carroll in 1811, "by whom he was always much respected and esteemed.'' 60 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF We come to another name in the history of Conewago, of a man the record of whose life and labors would 1111 a vol- ume itself, and that is Demetrius Augustine de Gallitzin. — He was born at the Hague, Dec. 22d. 1770. His father was high in favor at the Russian Court, and the young prince himself was destined for a soldier and statesmen, but Provi- dence ordained otherwise. His mother was of noble birth, and to her training is due to a great extent the religious course of the Prince's life. She herself was misled for a time, but lived and died a model christian woman and a Catholic. There are many traits of character in the life of Father Gallit- zin which challenge our admiration. Catholic youth should study his life. Born to vast estates and all the honors of nobility, he forfeited all and became the humble missionary of Loretto, in the wild and distant country of the Alleghany mountains, in" America. His life was a continual sacrifice of all that the world had to offer. Friends and kindred, home and country and everything, he left to become a poor, travel- ing missionary, living and laboring for others, with never a thought of himself. In coming to this country, he assumed the name of Herr Schmett, from the family of his mother, who was the daughter of Countess Ruffert and Marshal Count Schmetteau. From this he derived the American name of Mr. Smith, which he kept until changed by an act of the Pennsylvania Legislature. He joined the Sulpitians in this country, and was ordained a priest March 18th, 1795, and was sent to Conewago. From here he attended the missions for many miles around. The great aim and object of his life was to found a Catholic colony. Starting with a few Catholic families in 1799, when he left Conewago, he gave all his means and energies towards its accomplishment ; and from this hum- ble beginning at Maguire's settlement, among the Alleghany . mountains, in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, he raised up a church and a Catholic people, cultivated the land and cleared the forests, so that at his death all the blessings of home and religion were enjoyed by thousands of happy souls, where CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 61 once a lone wilderness spread its attending desolation. Father Gallitzin died at Loretto, May Gth, 1840. He visited Cone- wago at different times during his life, and many people } 7 et have a personal recollection of this saintly priest. Poor, dear Father Gallitzin ! When discouraged by the sad failures of life, and disgusted at the hollow deceits of the world, we recall the sacrifices, privations and sufferings of this truly noble man, we become reconciled to fate and feel that we have done nothing to entitle us to the miserable existence an unworthy life affords. FR. De EARTH TO FR. LEKEU. With the growth of the country and that of towns and villages, the days of the traveling missionary were drawing to a close. In the beginning of the present century all the outlying missions had already been supplied with churches, and priests stationed at the most central points, who supplied the wants of the Catholics within their reach. So the priests of the community at Conewago had their respective fields of labor. Littlestown, York and Carlisle were the first places provided with church buildings, and where there were none, services were held at first once a month in a room of some Catholic familj 7 , where the surrounding Catholics would meet. The priests made use of the best means in their power to keep the Catholics who were far from churches well grounded in their religion, and that was " Catechism." Who does not remember the happy days when " going to Catechism !" Be- fore schools or churches were built; the priests would give in- structions at stated times wherever a few Catholic children or people could be gotten together ; at the same time, baptizing marrying, and performing all the rites of the church as neces- sity demanded. All the surrounding towns, villages and 62 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF country places were thus visited by the Conewago Fathers. Those were days of trials for the Catholics, and the sacrifices they made to practice their religion show that the faith was strong in them. Who to-day walks ten and twenty miles to hear Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation ? With all our modern conveniences many ot us are exceedingly care- less and negligent in this respect. Our fathers and mothers tell us that they walked from the "barrens," — from beyond Abbottstown and the Pigeon Hills in Paradise, from East Berlin and Pinetown (now New Chester) to the vicinity of Gettysburg, and down by Littlestown to the country below Hanover, — walked many a time from these places to Conewago Chapel to church, carrying their shoes in their hands as far as Slagle's Run or the Conewago and there putting them on, and feeling as neat and trim in linsey dress and homespun as we do to-day in silk and broadcloth. How times and customs chance, while the church suits herself to every need and cir- cumstance and goes on forever ! We who are proud and haughty and religious only for fashion's sake, might learn a wholesome lesson from the simple manners and true piety of our forefathers of the " good old time." And if some writer one hundred years hence undertakes to teach his generation by the example and practice of this age, what is to become of our boasted civilization ! Among the priests who were at Conewago from 1800 to 1820, and of whom we have nothing but mere mention, are the following: Rev. Matthew Carr, 0. S. A., in 1807. He established the Order of St. Augustine in Philadelphia in 1795, and started the building of the church of St. Augustine. Rev. Francis Rolof from 1808 to 1810, who was in P>altimore in 1828. Father Marshall, in 1814 ; there was a Rev. Francis Xavier Marshall at Reading in 1839, and this may be the same one. Father Middleton puts the date of Father Matthew Lekeu's coming to Conewago as May 26th, 1817, and pro- bably he labored here continuously from that time till his CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 63 departure for France about 1843. Rev. P. Rantzun or Ran- sob was at Conewago in 1818. This was no doubt Rev. Maximilian Rantzau, spelt so himself in his will, a copy of which we have. He was born in Munster near Westphalia, Dec. 23d, 1769 ; died at Frederick, Aug. 7th, 1827. Father Vincent Phil. MayerhofFer was at Conewago in 1819. There is mention of Fathers Cummysky and Stogan, as assistants to Father De Barth ; Rev. J. W. Beschter is also mentioned in that capacity, but we do not know at what time he came to Conewago. A breviary preserved in the old library has the following inscription ; "Ad usum J. W. Beschter, 1816."— This must have been when he was a young priest, for he died at Conewago (Paradise) more than twentj'-five years after- wards. There is a death record at Conewago of Father Pat- rick O'Connor, July 18th, 1816. Whether he labored here any length of time, is not known. He was probably a Mary- land priest. The Revolution in France was a blessing to the church in America. What Europe lost by her wars against religion, this country gained. The Jesuits were great missionaries, teachers and statesmen, and worked for great ends. The So- ciet} 7 of Jesus was founded as an army to battle against the enemies of religion ; to right the battles of the church against infidelity, and to stand between the powers of the world, the flesh and the demon in their attacks upon God, His church and His poor. The prayer of its saintly founder, St. Ignatius Loyola, was for continual persecution of its members, so that the} 7 might become grim warriors used to the struggles that light is bound to meet with darkness as long as time shall exist. Like the soldier, the Jesuits are trained to religious austerities from youth to the grave, and they are practiced in every mode of christian warfare. They are as learned a body of men as the world will ever see. Their school of theology is the grandest in the history of the church. As teachers the}' have hardly an equal, and when they once have the training of a youth his habits as a rule are formed for a life- 04 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF time. No wonder that they are persecuted by the world of cruel and ambitious tyrants ; for if religion is to be crushed, the Jesuits will have to be conquered first. All the intrigues of men have been brought against them in vain, and though their suppression may have been thus accomplished, them- selves slandered, calumniated and persecuted, it only served to make them stronger and more powerful in the cause of re- ligion. Defeated in one place, they turned up in another with half a nation converted to the church before their enemies knew what had become of them. Thus it seems providential that when Europe ceased to be a profitable held of missionary labor, persecution drove the Jesuits into other countries where they met with unbounded success. Among those whose names will ever adorn the annals of the Society in America, Aclolphus Lewis do Barth is not the least, Next to Father Pellentz is his memory cherished at Conewago, and his life and labors here rank with those of such Companions as Lekeu, Enders, Deneckere, Yilliger and Emig, in what they have done for Conewago. He was born Nov. 1st, 1764 ; came to this country shortly before 1800 ; labored at Bohemia Manor, Maryland ; at St. Joseph's, Phila- delphia in 1795 ; at Lancaster a number of years ; Vicar- General to Bishop Egan, and administrator from his death in 1814 to 1820, when he became Superior at Conewago. He remained here until 1828, when he became rector at St. John's Church, Baltimore, where now stands the beautiful church of St. Alphonsus. In 1838, his growing infirmities compelled him to retire for rest to Georgetown College, where he died a saintly death, October 13th, 1 844. His name occurs at Conewago in 1807. He signed his name " L. Barth " and " Lewis Barth." He is further mentioned at Conewago in 1804, 1800 and 1815. His name is pronounced " De Bart " by the old people who knew him. It is said that he was pas- tor at Conewago for twenty-five years, but he could not have been such and performed his official duties to the Bishop and the Diocese. He may have been connected with Conewago CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 65 and had more or less supervision, from the beginning of this century to 1828. In 1820, the pew system was introduced, and on that question there was a decided difference between him- self and Father Lekeu. The sketch of 1830 sa}^s Father De Earth was the " Presiding Pastor " of Conewago Congrega- tion, and Father Britt the "Superior of the Fathers of the same house." Be that as it may, we know that Father De Barth managed the property and all the business and papers were transacted in his name. He received power of attorney from Rev. Francis I. Neale, of Georgetown College, June 21st, 1811, for the estate at Conewago, — then alreadj^ "in his pos- session," which had been bequeathed to Father Neale by Father Mol} T neaux and held by Father Pellentz, and transferred from Father De Barth to Father Lekeu in 1828. Father Neale we presume was the successor of Rev. Robert Molyneaux as Provincial of the Jesuits. When the Society of Jesu.s was reorganized under its rules in this country, a number of Jesuits from Europe joined its ranks. In Russia the Order was protected and it existed there when more or less suppressed and expelled from the other countries. "That good Franciscan of the Vatican," said Frederick the Great of Pope Sixtus V., from whom the brief of suppression had been wrung, — (compulsus feci ! com- pulsus feci !) — " leaves me my dear Jesuits, who are persecut- ed everywhere else. I will preserve the precious seed, so as to be able one day to apply it to such as may desire again to cultivate this rare plant." Conewago received a part of this precious seed. Fathers Adam Britt and Michael Joseph Byrne were priests from White Marsh, Russia, and were among Father De Barth's assistants. Father Britt was stricken with paralysis while on the altar, and was carried to his room. He died July 8th, 1822, in his 81st year, after receiving all the rites of the church. Father Byrne died March 28th, 1823, and was bur- ied on the 30th. He was a missionary in the city of Lancas- ter, and was aged forty -six years. Fathers Larhue and Divin were also assistants about 1822, but of them we know noth- ing more. 66 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF FROM FR. LEKEU to FR. ENDERS. There is never any rest for man in this world, no matter how long his life nor how successful his works. We are speaking of laborers, those who have been brought up busy and active at an} r employment. If old age or infirmity com- pels rest and retirement, it turns into weariness and unrest that betokens approaching dissolution. So with the Fathers who had grown old in the service of the church at Conewago. They always found something to do, and were ever planning some means of temporal and religious improvement for the community. Not one of them but what he had to be pur- suaded that it was necessary he should be relieved of his active duties and take the rest which age demanded, and even then compliance was only in response to authority, sacredly and religiously observed for a life-time. Poor Fathers, they loved their household as parents love their family, and their only desire was to care for it to the end. The people of the valley at present would be surprised could they see Conewago as it was yet in 1830, and along there. Dense woods extended all around. These furnished timber for all the improvements that have since been made. The large tract of woodland reaching back to the Keagy property, and about the last belonging to the Chapel farms, was cleared out some years ago and used in the building of O'Bold's large barn, and in the new house and barn of the third church farm, on the Hanover road. We can only guess at the dates when the farm buildings were erected and the church improvements made. The old stone house, torn down when the present dwelling of James Devine was built, was probably the work of Father Pellentz ; as also the old brick barn ; for this can be called the homestead on the church property. There stood several small houses along the hill, that were built in the beginning of this centuiw. Father En- CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. G7 ders, in his time, removed an old brick house and built a new one, in which Henry Kaehler lived, now occupied by his widow and sons. Henry Kaehler was a "faithful servant" at the church for a number of years, and his sons, especially Joseph, succeeded him, attending to the stables, the grape arbor, and such work. The brother attends to the garden. Father En- ders also tore down an old log house at the toot of the hill and built a new one, now used by the Fathers until the re- pairs of their house adjoining the church are finished. The house and barn on the second church farm, occupied by the Smalls for a number of years, were probably built by Father Lekeu, or near his time. Father Matthew Lekeu received power of attorney from Father Neale, to manage his estate at Conewago, July 24th, 1828, just about the time Father De Barth left. He must then already have been acting as Superior of Conewago.— Father Lekeu is still well remembered by many people who went to instructions to him in their childhood. The missions grew and prospered during his management, and substantial improvements were made at Conewago, in the church and on the farms. In many respects he was " too good and easy," and when he was taken away, Father Lilly was sent on to straighten up business matters and adjust accounts. Father Matthew Lekeu was a native of Belgium, born 1788, entered the Society in 181G, and became a priest about 1823. About 1843, he was stationed at Newtown, Md. Shortly after that he sailed for his native land, where he died some years later. His name is pronounced " Leck-eu ;" the German element pronounced his name short. " Leckie." He wrote his name Lekeu. The sketch of the church written about this time, between 1828 and 1830, says Father Lekeu was assisted by Fathers Kohlman and Dougherty, S. J., " under whose administration the congregation appears in the following truly prosperous and nourishing condition : If we look at the natural advan- tages which the beautiful valley of Conewago presents, in re- 68 . CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF gard to fertility of soil, healthfulness of climate, profusion of all kinds of produce, and the artificial improvements of towns, villages, mills and other water works, together with a ready market, we cannot but place it among the most prosperous settlements in the Union. Yet gratifying as these advantages may appear, when the congregation as a body is taken in a religious point of view, it must afford matter of still more sin- cere and edifying congratulation. The number of communi- cants at Conewago Church is supposed to be about 2400, and taking into consideration the number of infants [children], the whole number of Catholics may be estimated at between 3000 and 4000. This congregation was originally -composed of the adjoining places of Littlestown, Gettysburg, Mountain Church, Carlisle, York and Brandt's in Pigeon Hills ; but as small churches have been erected in each of the above places, they may now he properly considered as branches emanating from the principal or parent congregation of Conewago, — more especially as three of said places still resort to Conewa- go on great festivals, York and Carlisle having been allowed a separate priest, and also Pigeon Hills — Brandt's Chapel, — they may now be considered as separate congregations, under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. Dween (probably Divin,) and Father Beschter." Of the assistants of Father Lekeu, little is recorded. C. Paulus Kohlman, S. J., was a brother of Anthony Kohlman. They were distinguished priests. Father Michael Dougherty was born in Ireland, and made great sacrifices to enter the Society. The Provincial particularly recommended him to the care and kind treatment of his Superiors. He was a val- uable laborer at Conewago, and at the neighboring missions. He was born Aug. 15th, 1701 ; died Aug. 27th, 1803, at Con- ewago. Ferdinand Helias, S. J., labored several years at Conewago, and was then sent to Missouri. The name of Rev. J. Randanne appears about this period, but he was probably among the priests called to Conewago by the Sulpitian Semi- nary at the Pigeon Hills, near Mew Oxford. Priests also came CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 69 down from Mount St. Mary's, and during vacation some priests and students would make the trip on foot ; thus we find such names as Brute, Dubois, Gildea, Elder, O'Brien, and others connected with Conewago. During the latter part of Father Lekeu's ministry, he was assisted by Fathers Barber, Kendler, Steinbacher, Besch- ter, Zacchi, Tuffer, (ribbons, Villiger, Hatting, Cotting, and others. Father Virgil II. Barber has a very interesting per- sonal history, and we shall give a fuller account of his life further on. In the history of the other mission churches we shall find some particulars regarding the labors of these priests. Father Cotting built the church at Gettysburg, and attended Paradise and Littlestown a while. Fathers Beschter and Zacchi served Paradise church for a time. Rev. John W. Beschter died there Jan. 6th, 1842, and he was buried at Conewago. He was for many years a zealous missionary in Pennsylvania and Maryland ; a man of a kind and good- natured disposition, and was much esteemed by all who knew him. July 10th, 1844. an ordination was performed at George- town, D. C, by Archbishop Fccleston, at which Messrs. Michael Tuffer, Milesius Gibbons and George Villiger. of the Society of Jesus, received the sub-deaconship. On the day following they were ordained deacons, and on the 22d were promoted to the dignity of the priesthood. Conewago was their first field of labor. While Father Lekeu was Superior he had pews placed in the church, of a more comfortable make than the old-time seats. He made other improvements around the church and on the farms. He had some friends in France who were in good circumstances, and they sent him a number of valuable presents, among them a fine set of vestments and a rich chime of bells. Father McFlroy had at the same time procured a bell for his church, at Frederick. His bell and Father Lekeu's chimes were taken together from Baltimore to Frederick. Mr. John Lilly was sent with his wagon from Conewago to 70 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF Frederick for Father Lekeu's bells. When he arrived there Father McElroy had them already in use, and the single bell was sent to Conewago. It is said that Father Lekeu did not like the exchange, but this old bell has rendered much valu- able service, and from its lofty place in the belfry of the new spire it may call the faithful to the service of the church for a century or more to come. Father Nicholas Steinbacher, S. J., succeeded Father Lekeu as Superior of Conewago, about 1 843. He is said to have been a man of great determination of purpose, and a very pious priest. He made considerable improvement in the interior of the church. He had it painted by an artist from Philadelphia, Mr. Monaschei, who also painted some of the beautiful pictures still on the walls, and made paintings for some of the mission churches. A brother of Father Stein- bacher was building a church at Lancaster at the same time, and called upon him for help at Conewago, but this Father told him he had all he could do to pay for his own under- takings. Father N. Steinbacher was afterwards pastor of St. Mary's Church, Erie, Pa. The pleasure of writing a history of old Conewago is turned into regret, for the want of fuller records. Many of the priests have to be passed by with the mere mention of their name, for there is nothing to show where they came from or where they went to, and no dates to go by. Rev. Joseph Enders succeeded Father Steinbacher as Superior of Conewago, in 1847. THE WORK OF FATHER ENDERS. People who become dearly attached to a man, through personal friendship or on account of successful accomplish- ments in whatever interests them, are apt to think that after CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 71 him, no more such able leader and great and good man can be found. This is a pleasing delusion, but the grandest tribute that friend can pay to a friend, or inferior to superior. His- tory is filled with such delusions, and the world has learned by many a sad lesson that no matter how great and eminent the man in any profession, work or calling in life, there is always someone to take his place and continue what he may have begun. Soldiers, statesmen and rulers ; learned prelates of the church, men of fame in the arts and sciences — all have shared but the common end of nature, yet the world moves on as fast and unconcerned to-day as if the whole universe was the work of its hand for time and eternity. On the same principle, the good people of Conewago from time to time are favored with a Superior so kind and well beloved, such an able manager and successful laborer, that surely they say his equal will never again be bad. How little did the dear friends of Fathers De Barth and Lekeu ex- pect Conewago to be blessed with such good old priests again ! The young carpenter priest who was appointed Superior in 1847, became not only such a blessing, but a greater benefac- tor, and as noble a father and kind a pastor as any found in the annals of the church. Father Enders ! Go from one end of the extensive parish of Conewago to the other, and from old and young, rich and poor, nothing will be heard but words of praise and fondest expressions of remembrance for Rev. Joseph Enders, who was truly a father to all. The work of his hands will attest his love and devotion for Conewago when the generations now springing up shall have passed away and be known no more. The congregation is larger and more prosperous than ever ; the church farms are better cultivated, and improved with substantial buildings ; the Church of the Sacred Heart is well preserved and greatly enlarged, with handsome spire, marble altar and rich interior adornments ; but better than all this perishable work was the saintly life, — in patience, humility, charity and resignation, — of this faith- 72 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF ful servant, which we may hope has brought him into his eternal reward. In that communion of saints which reaches to the throne of the Most High, we trust to be remembered in the prayers of those who only lived, labored and prayed for these entrusted to their charge here below. The want of a larger church was already felt at Conewa- go in Father De Earth's time. There is a drawing of a pro- posed improvement preserved from 1828. It contemplated additions on each side of the main building, crowned with turrets and centre spire, like many of the great churches of Europe. The first thought of Father Enders when he came to Conewago was to enlarge the church or to build a new one in some other part of the parish. There was no church then at Hanover, New Oxford nor Bonneauville. Meetings were held at Conewago and at the principal surrounding points. — The Rt. Rev. Bishop and the Very Rev. Father Provincial were consulted, and their opinions announced to the congre- gation. Their views were the same as those of the Superior himself and the largest part of the congregation, all agreeing that it would be best to enlarge the Conewago church. Hav- ing thus decided what to do, Father Enders made every pre- paration to begin the work. At a meeting of the congrega- tion, it was decided to appoint a building committee, and the appointment was left to Father Enders. He selected Jacob Dellone, Jacob Smith, Henry Reily, Charles Will and John Busbey, representing the different sections of the parish ; they met and elected Father Enders Chairman and Treasurer. — Subscription papers were drawn up on the 10th day January, 1849, and from that time the work went on successfully to its completion in 1851. The enlargement was in cross-form, 45 feet wide to transept, — which is 85 feet, — 125 feet in depth and 38 feet high. The Sanctuary and part of the old church, had to be removed. The new part then covered the oldest part of the graveyard, where several of the priests had been buried. Thus of the eight or ten Fathers buried there, there is no mark left, except of those buried since the enlarge- CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 73 ment, whose remains were placed in vaults, and inscriptions added. When the foundations for the furnaces were dug, part of some priests' vestments were discovered. The heat of the furnace now almost necessitates the removal of the vaults from under the altar. The church was consecrated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Kenrick, of the Diocese, Aug. 15th, 1850, assisted by seven priests and some scholastics. The sermon was delivered by the Rev. President of Mt. St. Mary's College. The old church having been adorned with rare paintings, it was necessary that the new part should be made to corres- pond in interior decorations. Francis Stecher, a young Ger- man artist who had already gained some reputation as a painter, was engaged, and to his skill and taste Conewago is indebted for the beautiful adornment of its walls. The artist returned to Europe to further prosecute his studies, and visit his parents, but died there soon after his arrival. He certain- ly gave promise of great fame as an artist, and Conewago may well hold his name in grateful remembrance. Father Enders continued Superior until 1862, when he was sent to Leonarcltown, St. Mary's County, Md., where he acted as Superior and built a church. There were a number of priests at Conewago while Father Enders was Superior, but no dates can be given, and only such names as memory hands down to us. Rev. F. X. Deneckere came with Father Enders and spent the greater part of his life on the Conewago missions. Fathers Enders, Deneckere and Manns, constituted a happy family, and labored together for many years. Father Manns survives, and is still at Conewago. He came in 1862. Fathers Villiger, Cotting, Dougherty, Kreighton, Dietz, Rieter, Haller, and others, served from time to time at Conewago. Rev. J. B. Cattani succeeded Father Enders as Superior about I860 or 1862. His death-record says he was a Bavar- ian, born Aug. 30th, 1805, and died at Conewago Aug. 31st, 1865. Father Burchard Villiger probably succeeded him as Superior, assisted by Fathers Deneckere, Manns, Domperio, 74 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF Tuffer, and others. Rev. J. J. Bellwalder was Superior about 1869. There is nothing special to record during these years. The church-work was carried on at home by several of the Fathers, while others were out on the missions on Sundays and holidays, and whenever duty called them. FATHER ENDERS RETURNS. In 1870 or 1871, Father Enders was returned to Cone- wago as Superior. He was then beginning to suffer from the infirmities of increasing years, especially from an ulcerous sore on his leg, which caused him great pain to the end of his life. Though getting old in years, his mind and energy were as vigorous as in former days, and he began the work of church improvement at Conewago with his characteristic ear- nestness. In 1873, he had the old cupola removed and the present attractive spire erected. It is 80 feet in height from the comb of the roof, and is surmounted by a beautiful gilt cross, that can be seen for many miles around. The builder was Elias Roth, of New Oxford. From the upper windows of the spire a wide view of the country may be obtained. — Many of the neighboring towns are visible, and the country extending into Maryland and along the mountains to the north and west. On a clear day late in the fall, Father Den- eckere was sure he could see some of the Mt. St. Mary build- ings. He had a small telescope, and took great pleasure in viewing the valley from this high ground. Father Enders made many improvements around the church. He built the two school houses, one on each side of the churchyard, when he was here the first time, and had the iron railing erected. He also enlarged the kitchen buildings, had the water brought up from a spring at the bottom of the CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 75 hill, and put hot and cold water through the house, supplied from a large tank on the kitchen attic. The water was first forced up by hydraulic pressure, then by a system of water works, and now by a patent wind mill, which also grinds the mill feed and saws the wood. He planted a large vineyard after his return, and made great quantities of wine. Father Enders hardly knew an idle moment. From the time the church was enlarged by Father En- ders, he never gave up the thought of one day erecting in Conewago Chapel a marble altar. The church was otherwise a model of architectural beauty, but in this particular there was a noticeable want. This last object of his life was accom- plished in 1877, when he himself went around through the parish soliciting contributions towards its payment. It is a beautiful piece of art and workmanship, and cost about $^000. The contractor was John Barth, Bel Air Avenue Marble Works, Baltimore, at one time a marble cutter in one of the school houses at Conewago. Its architecture corresponds with that of the church, being of the Romanesque or Com- posite order. The altar is seventeen feet in width, and thir- teen and a half feet in height. The ante-pentium is formed in a crypt, supported by four columns. The marble used is Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Tyrolese, and in its combi- nation taste and skill have brought out the work in all its grandeur. The Tabernacle is of Carrara marble, with col- umns copied from those found at the ruins of Palmyra. At each end of the altar there is a pedestal, surmounted with a capital, having on its face the head of a cherub, and on each side of the Tabernacle is placed a worshiping angel. At this period, Father Enders had a new roof put on the church, the pews repainted, and statues placed in the niches in the walls, vacant since the building of the new part. SS. Ignatius and Aloysius are on the side of the Blessed Virgin's altar, and St. Francis Xavier and Blessed Peter Claver on St. Francis' side. The church was also re-painted about 1880, and the outside walls repaired by pointing, to keep out the 76 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF rain which had begun to show through on the inside and dam- aged the paintings. Father Enders was assisted principally by Fathers Den- eckere and Manns up to 1880. Father Deneckere attended Paradise, Oxford and Littlestown until his death, Jan. 8th, 1879. Father Manns attended the schools, the Sisters in Mc- Sherrystown and St. Joseph's Church, Hanover. Father Emig took charge of the Hanover church sometime before 1 880, and is still its pastor. Father George Villiger succeeded Father Deneckere at Littlestown in 1879. He died at Cone- wago Sept. 20th, 1882, and was succeeded by Father Renaut; shortly after that the Littlestown church, founded by Father Pellentz and Gallitzin, was given over to the Bishop of the Diocese. In 1880, Rev. Peter Flannigan was at Conewago, and Father Archambault attended Oxford and Paradise : Father Richards is now pastor of these places. Fathers Jamieson, Casey, Dufour, and others, were at Conewago for a short time about 1880 and after. The crowning point in the religious life of Rev. Joseph Enders, was the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of his priesthood, at Conewago, Aug. 15th, 1881. He himself was the celebrant of a Grand High Mass, with Father Casey as Deacon, Father Brennan Sub-Deacon, Father Archambault orator, and Father Emig master of ceremonies. The church was filled even to the aisles. The altar was specially decor- ated for the occasion, and the music prepared for the same. It was a happy clay for all, and Father Enders received a number of presents to commemorate his golden jubilee, be- sides the congratulations and well wishes of thousands of his loving children. He was right feeble then already, and had to be supported by a chair on which to rest his afflicted leg, and more or less attended by the Brother while on the altar. He went to the hospital several times, but could only obtain temporary relief. He continued to say Mass to the last, though the book and everything had to be arranged for him. CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 77 He was removed to Frederick in Feb., 1884, where his declining days could be made more easy. He could not reconcile himself to the change, except in obedience and resignation which he had followed all his life ; but his nature wanted active work and duty to which it was accustomed by 3^ears of labor. He complained that now he was of no use, and seemed ready and willing to be dismissed in peace like the servant of old. He died at the Yovitiate, Frederick, Sept. 10th, 1884, in his 77th year, full of merits and good works. To the last, his thoughts were of his old home at Conewago/ where he hoped to die and lie buried, but alas ! the measure of his reliance upon the will of Clod had to be full. Conewago ! Conewago ! you have lost the best of Fathers, who only lived for Grod and His children. Gratitude should have prompted you to have gone to the very gates of the Society and begged the remains of your faithful Superior, carried them home like bereaved sons and daughters as you are, deposited them where his feet loved to stand, and kept his life and virtues in grateful remembrance, unto succeeding generations. Father P. Forhan succeeded Father Enders as Superior of Conewago in June, 1883. He came from Frederick, and was stationed at Washington, Baltimore, and other places in Maryland during his former ministry. He is assisted at Conewago by Fathers Manns and Haugh; Father Richards at New Oxford and Paradise ; Father Emig at Hanover. Here we leave the Conewago Chapel history. It might have been much fuller had we not been compelled to write it while conducting other business, and awa} 7 from Conewago ; or had there been sufficient interest elsewhere to aid us in the work. Sketches of the Fathers, and scraps of local history which the want of time prevented a record in their proper place, will be given hereafter just as they come. Farewell, Conewago, farewell ! The happiest joys of my life and its saddest sorrows and vainest regrets are in thy keeping. Every foot of thy hills and valleys and streams 78 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF is familiar to me, and they change not, but the scenes of my childhood are gone, and its associates scattered like the mists of youth. Ever} 7 nook and corner of thy sacred place have I hunted over by da} 7 with miser care for some scrap of the past, and dreamed by night of treasures of hidden lore, and behold the meagre fruits of my labor ! Time guards well the trusts confided to its care. Conewago, farewell ! Thy happy days and sorrowful chase each other in troubled hurry over the pathway of memory. Friends and dear ones have come and gone in faithful trust, true and lasting, where recreant hopes long since have perished and lie buried in misery and anguish of heart. The past has nothing in common with the present ; the one knew no care ; the other knows no quiet rest free like then from trouble. Where are the bright sunny days of school life, the happy faces and innocent enjoyments, the kind teachers and dear old Fathers ? Look back and see sorrow mingled with gladness : the sad tolling of the bell, the mournful funeral procession winding its way around the hill ; again joyful peals where sorrow echoed still ; happy souls united where festive throngs made merry ; Christmas chimes and Easter carols ; tears to-day and smiles to-mor- row, and forgotten scenes hurry on each passing hour. Why look back or why peer forward ? Has not life been always thus ? Then farewell, once more, but before we part, heed my words generations yet unborn. Conewago has been as dear to us as will ever be to you or was to those before. It is not ours, nor yours, nor was it theirs. It is blessed by every sacred tie from Heaven, and as a religious inheritance guard it well, for others are destined here to find their rest, Holy and venerable is the place. Our footsteps follow the traces of hallowed lives, unworthy as we are. Soon we, too, will have passed away, and our children come and go until in God's own good time the angel's voice sound here below. Ye shepherds, while your flocks abide, watch the old building CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 79 with an anxious care. " Guard it as best you may, and at any cost from every influence of dilapidation. Count its stones as you would jewels of a crown ; set watches about it as if at the gates of a besieged city ; bind it together with iron where it loosens ; stay it with timber where it declines ; do not care about the unsightliness of the aid ; better a crutch than a lost limb ; and do this tenderly, and reverently, and continually, and many a generation will still be born and pass away beneath its shadow." EDUCATION AT CONEWAGO. The first schools in the Valley like those through the county, were mostlj T private or subscription schools. The missionary Fathers combined the primary education of the children with their religious instruction, which was never neglected when it could in any way possible be provided. The religious instruction of the children continued to be a part of the ministry until late years, when Sunday-schools and parochial schools relieved the priests to a great extent of that labor. Catechism is now taught in the schools, and one of the Fathers visits them once or twice a week to give catechetical instructions and to prepare the children finally for Confirmation and Communion. Very little is known of the early educational interests of Conewago. Joseph Heront taught a school near the Pigeon Hills before 1800, where afterwards the Sulpitian Seminary was located. Colleges were just then being estab- lished, and he may have had a preparatory course in the higher branches, or for the young men of the Valley whose 80 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF parents were in good circumstances and who desired to give their sons all the educational advantages then possible, for they were limited compared to what they are now. Father Brosius taught a school at Conewago about the period of 1800, but of what nature or how long kept up, we do not know. There were schools at the church then, taught some- times by the Fathers and at others by a lay teacher or a Brother, up to the time when the parochial schools were started. When Father Deneckere first came to Conewago he established a school in which the higher branches were taught, something in the order of a preparatory school for those who might have a vocation for the priesthood. This school was taught by himself with the assistance of a Mr. Gross. In 18G8 or 1870, Father Deneckere started another preparatory school in the school houses then standing in the churchyard, and one of which has since gone to ruin and been removed. He had as high as eighteen scholars at that tirfie, and kept it up until a while before his death. There are several of his students now novices in the Society. During Father Bellwalders Superiorship, Ed. S. Reily, Esq., taught a select school at the church ; he also gave lessons in algebra and mathematics to Father Deneckere's scholars. David Smith, Esq., taught a winter school at the church for several years after Father Deneckere's death. For some years satisfactory arrangements have been made with the Directors of the Free Schools in the parish, by which compe- tent Catholic teachers were employed and the larger scholars sent there. The Free Schools, generally, had only a few scholars of their own, and in some instances they were willing to provide a Catholic teacher and pay him out of the school taxes, of which the Catholics contributed almost the entire amount, besides keeping up their parochial schools. This arrangement was allovved by the Fathers only for the larger boys, — the girls and smaller boys attending the paro- chial schools. In Irishtown there is a Catholic school building and CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 81 church combined, called St. Peter Canisius, built in 1868. Mass is occasionally said there. Francis Noel taught the school for a number of years, and was succeeded by Mr. Topper. A Catholic School was established at Mt. Rock a number of years ago, a frame building having been erected on the free school lot above the hill. Miss J. M. O'Neill taught CD there. A stone church building and school house was erected in I860, on the second hill west of Mt. Rock, on land given by Charles Smith, and called St. Charles. Miss O'Neill taught here awhile and was succeeded by the Sisters from McSherrystown, who are the present teachers. These schools have a large number of pupils. The parochial schools were started when Rev. Burchard Villiger was Superior. Father Manns was the leading spirit in the Catholic School question for a number of years, and gave religious instructions in them once or twice a week. About 1860, Mass was said in a private house at Whitestown, along the H. & G. R. R., now discontinued. In the last few years steps were being taken to build a school house at Flatbush, between Littlestown and Bonneauville. The Sisters of Charity were established in McSherrys- town, by a Board of Trustees, in 1834. They arrived June 20th, and opened their school that month. They were from St. Joseph's, Fmmettsburg, and the School was dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Sisters Anne and Agnes were the two first Sisters. They met with such success that application was made to Rev. Mr. Hickey, then Superior of the Sisters of Charity, for more assistance, and Sister Mary Cecilia was sent to aid them. After that four or five Sisters were employed. Their house became too small for the increasing- number of scholars and boarders ; an unfinished house was purchased from Mr. Slagle for $2200, and their work con- tinued, until the academy building was destroyed by fire in 1840. The house was rebuilt by the trustees and sold with 82 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OE five acres of ground to a branch of the Ladies of the Sacred Heart, by whom it was enlarged and successfully conducted until 1851, when they left and located at Eden Hall. The Sisters of St. Joseph then purchased the house and lands, and the institution received permanent life and success. They were incorporated Aug. 31st, 1854, under the title of the McSherrystovvn Novitiate and Academy of St. Joseph. They have made many improvements and purchased several additional tracts of land. It was managed for a number of years by Mother Mary Magdalene, who died Aug. 22d, 1876, and was buried on the 25th, — Bishop Shanahan and eight priests attending. She was succeeded by Mother Ignatius, who is raising the standard of the institution in every way, enlarging the scope of its work and making such additions to the buildings and property as necessity demands. Their objects are educational and charitable ; the reception of Novices, the education of young ladies, teaching, visiting the sick, and the care of orphans. Since the consecration of the Rt. Rev. Bishop Shanahan, St. Joseph's Convent has become the Mother House for the Sisters of St. Joseph in the Diocese of Harrisburg. It was formerly a branch of Chestnut Hill. A large number of Sisters are employed here in the various departments of the Sisterhood. Several of the Sisters reside at Hanover and teach the parish school at that place. Others teach the Mt. Rock and McSherrystown parochial schools. The boarding- school at the academy is conducted by the best teachers in all the higher branches. A department for the instruction of the blind has been provided, under an experienced mem- ber of the community. The school is furnished with all the facilities for educa- tional purposes. It is located in the Valley of the Cone- wago, well known for its landscape beauty and healthfulness. The buildings are large and roomy, and the grounds laid out in walks, yards, and orchards. The land is farmed and used for dairy purposes, thus providing the best products of farm, CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 83 garden and dairy for their own maintenance. The want of additional buildings was felt several years ago, and efforts were made to erect them. The chapel was too small for the community itself, yet many of the old and infirm people of McSherrystown were accustomed to hear Mass at the Convent. A priest from Conewago Chapel says- Mass every morning for the Sisters. The erection of the new building was begun in May, 1883, and completed in May, 1884. It adjoins and communicates by a two-story corridor with the Convent proper, and covers a site 55x65 feet, three stories and attic in height, with pointed turrets. The architecture is of the semi-Gothic, and was designed by Mr. J. A. Dempwolf, of York, Pa. The building is entirely devoted to the work of education, and the accommodation of the pupils. The rooms are well ventilated and thoroughly heated throughout. The study-hall, dormitories and recrea- tion halls are spacious, and furnished with every appliance for the health, comfort and convenience of the pupils. The Convent property includes thirty-four acres of ground. The recreation grounds of the Academy are extensive, and con- sist of a fine lawn, walks and groves. The property known as Capt. Brogunier's lot was purchased in July, 1880, at a cost of $1246 ; and the Ginter lot was bought in June, 1884, for $3000. The cost of building the Academy, exclusive of expenses for drainage, paving walks and such improvements, is $12000. This does not include the valuation of the original buildings, just the cost of late improvements. New day-school buildings have also been erected. Conewago has not given many sons to the church, but her daughters in religion are numerous. Of those born at Conewago who became priests, we can only name Bishop Timon, Fathers Shanefelter, Shorb, Miller, Sullivan, Marshall. (I think,) two of the Lillys, and Brothers Rimbaugh, Mar- shall and Gulden. There may be a few others. It is impossible to name all the Sisters. McSherrystown received 84 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF quite a number, and many made their profession elsewhere. The Fathers at Conewago were instrumental in many of them being able to carry out their intentions of becoming religious, for there were in some instances great obstacles to overcome. In the correspondence of the Fathers, the most touching tributes of gratitude come from such of their spiritual children who have been counseled and assisted by them in the direction of a religious life. Happy souls ! THE " SEMINARY FARM." The Sulpitian Seminary at the Pigeon ITills has a very important connection with the Catholic Church in the eastern provinces. Many eminent bishops and priests studied at the Pigeon Hills and spent their vacations there. Its history, like that of other old land marks of the church, is lost, and we can only give a general sketch of it as a religious institu- tion. The place is at the foot of Pigeon Hills, in Oxford Township, about five miles north of Hanover, and still goes by the name of the " Seminary Farm." The land was originally taken up b}* warrant from the proprietaries of Pennsylvania, issued July 26th, 1750, to Henry Gearnhart, (or Kingheart, illegible in old deed,) and descended to the Lorimores. It contained about 273 acres, and was conveyed to Joseph Heront. April 4th, 1794, for one thousand pounds, gold and silver, which would seem to have been a very high price. He improved the property, opened a select school and called it " Herontford." To this day, Joseph Heront is spoken of by the older people of the Valley as a monk and a priest, but we are not sure that he was either. Father H. F. Griffin, one of the oldest Sulpitian priests living, informs us that Mr. Harent, or Heront as spelled in the old deeds, CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 85 was an exile from France during the first French Revolution, and that he was a private gentleman, but may have studied for the priesthood after he left Pigeon Hills. The Laity's Director}^ of 1822, records the death of a Rev. Joseph Heront in 1817, in the Island of Martinique. This may have been "the monk of Herontford," as he certainly was, from what we can learn, a ver}' intelligent, seclusive and pious man. Local tradition says he sailed for France, his native land, and died on the way. His name is last men- tioned in the deeds about 1810. John Tessier inherited " Herontford " by the last will and testament of Joseph Heront. recorded in the office of the Register of Wills for Baltimore County, liber W B, No. K, folio 419. Father Griffin thinks Mr. Heront was not related to Mr. Tessier, but bequeathed his farm to the Sulpitians on condition that they should pay some outstanding debts. The lands of Nicholas Bittinger, James McTaggart and Frederick Myers, adjoined the Heront property. Frederick Myers was the grandfather of Rev. Father Myers, dec'd, of pious memory in the Diocese of Baltimore. It was through Joseph Heront, and by his means, that Father Myers became a priest. On the Feast of the Assumption, 1806, the Abbe Dillet, a Sulpitian, founded at Pigeon Hills "a college intended to give a religious education to boys, whose piety and qualities seemed to show a decided vocation for the priesthood." Pupils were received on the recommendation of their confessor. Conewago furnished some of the students. The Sulpitians had a Seminary in Baltimore, St. Mary's, founded in 1791, and Pigeon Hills was the preparatory school for this Seminary. About 1807 or 1809, Rev. John Dubois founded St. Mary's College, Emmettsburg. In the spring of 1809, sixteen scholars were transferred from Pigeon Hills to the Mountain School. June 3d, 1830, the " Seminary Farm " was conveyed by deed from John Tessier, president of St. Mary's. Balti- 86 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF more, to Lewis Regis Deluol, his successor. He also came in possession of an adjoining tract, the deed of which he obtained from Thomas C. Miller, Sheriff of Adams Co. This latter tract was no doubt the property of Francis Marshall, who was very intimate with Father Deluol, and whose history is not very plain. Father Griffin knew him well, and thinks he was of German origin more than French, probably from Alsace. His name is signed to various old deeds and con- veyances, and he wrote it " Franz Marschall." He was no relation to the Marshalls of Conewago, as far as we can learn, and most likely came to the place through some of the priests who were from his own country. In their old age, through the mismanagement of one of their children, mis- fortune overtook them. The farm was sold and bought by the Seminary. Father Deluol allowed the old couple to live on it as their own till the day of their death. There were several other old families of Marshalls, of which Francis and Joseph were descendants. They were doubtless French people, and may have come to that vicinity with the Xoels and Dellones, who settled there from France about the beginning of the 1700 era. There was a Father Marshall, a Brother and a Sister Marshall, but to what family the}' belonged we are not informed. Francis X. Marshall was educated at Mt. St. Mary's, and ordained at the Dominican Convent. Perry Co., Ohio, A. I). 1824 or 1825. Father Griffin was present at his ordination and served his Mass. He afterward returned to Maryland, and was stationed in Alleghany Count}\ Father Deluol fixed up the Seminary property as a retreat for students during vacation. There was a fine chapel there and buildings for the students ; with large gardens and orchards. The premises were laid out in walks and lawns, and everything made attractive and inviting. The students had good times there, and like boj's will be, made things lively in the neighborhood. Mr. Peter O'Neill, then at the Conewago Chapel, did the hauling back and forward and CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 87 lived at the Seminary a while. He was their friend and helped them in their pranks and amusements, or out of them rather, by fixing up things when anything was wrong or complaints made. It continued to be used by the students in the summer until 1849, (so generally given,) when St. Charles College took its place. The deed from Father Deluol to Henry Eichelberger is dated 1847. Once every year, on St. Ignatius Day, the services at Conewago were conducted by the priests and the students from the Seminary, who would march over to the Chapel in grand procession. Man}' men. afterwards distinguished ecclesiastics in the Catholic Church, visited the Seminary and Conewago at that time. Father O'Brien was Prefect of the Seminarians. Father Chance, Professor and afterwards President of St. Mary's, gave lectures to the students during vacation. Father Elder, successor of Rev. Chance as Bishop of Natchez, and other priests, made their retreat at the Seminary. Father Eccleston was there, afterwards Bishop of Baltimore. When the Reign of Terror drove the Trappist Monks from their native land, they resolved to seek an asylum in America. A party of them, eight or ten priests and nearly twenty lay brothers, under the guidance of Father Urban Guillet, embarked at Amsterdam. May 29th, 1803, for Baltimore. They proceeded to Pigeon Hills, and remained about a year, going from there first to Kentucky, then to Missouri, and other places, finally we believe returning to their native country, though there are several monasteries of that order now in America. While at Pigeon Hills the} T dug the well on the " Seminary Farm."' The traditional idea that Joseph Heront was " a monk," very likely conies from his association with these Trappists. It is to be regretted that this place, so dear to the memory of the church, was allowed to come into the possession of strangers. A railroad runs near it now. (through one of the fields, we believe.) on to Abbottstown and Berlin, and it is a valuable property. 88 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF The students to whom it was once a dear home, would know it no more. It was the home of the exile and the sacred enclosure of the religious ; what is now a common farm- house was once the temple of the Lord, where the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was daily offered. Alas ! how Time leaves ever)' barrier broken down in its way. THE PARADISE CHURCH. The Catholic Church, at first called Brandt's Chapel or Pigeon Hills, in Paradise Township. York Co., about one mile north of Abbottstown, has a very interesting history, but much confused. Exercising even the best judgment, it would be difficult to give a clear sketch of the church. — Here we passed nine years of our childhood, and are as well acquainted with the parish as at Conewago. In the settle- ment of the country at an early date, several French, a few Irish and a number of German Catholic families located near the Pigeon Hills, around Abbottstown and towards East Ber- lin. At one time the church was right flourishing in num- bers, but later on many families removed to Conewago and elsewhere. The early Catholics attended church at Conewa- go Chapel. Probably the first Mass said in the neighborhood was at Abbottstown, by Father De Barth, in the beginning of the present century. Mass was occasionally said in the house of Wm. Jenkins, a prominent Catholic of that place. The Jen- kinses were probably a Maryland family, but not related to those at Conewago. There are few descendants of the fami- ly ; none that we know. One son died about forty years ago, and is buried at Paradise Church. One of the Keilys living in the West married a daughter of Wm. Jenkins, and one of the sons of Baron de Bcelen married another. The CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 89 Wises were among the oldest Catholic families ; the property now owned and occupied by the Clunks was their homestead, and there Mass was said at stated times. This might have been about the period of 1800. Among the first Goshenhoppen settlers was the Brandt ancestry from Germany. From there Frederick Brandt re- moved to near Abbottstown. but at what date we have been unable to discover. His tract of land, now the Paradise church property, is called " Brandtsburg " in the patent from the Commonwealth, a full title to which lie obtained June 28th, 1809. The same tract had been granted by warrant from the Proprietaries to Matthias Bouzer, dated Oct. 28th, 1746. Frederick Brandt paid $460.73 into the Treasury of the State, which with the moneys paid by Matthias Bouzer, gave him a clear title to the land. The original grant was bounded by lands of John Abbott. Nicholas Bittinger, Wm. Mummert, John Jacobs, Wardle Kexer, and contained 235 acres, 87 perches, and allowance of 6 per cent, for roads. Frederick Brandt was an intelligent and industrious man, and a good Catholic. He had no children, and no relatives on his side according to litis will. Mrs. Brandt's maiden name was Keens ; she had two brothers, John and Jacob, and her sisters were Catharine Dellone, Fve Heidler, and Magdalene, whose married name we do not know, but the grandmother of Gregory Dellone's wife. Frederick Brandt built the house now on the church farm ; part of it was used for a chapel be- fore his death and after, until the stone church was built about 1844. Brandt's mill was one of the first in that neigh- borhood ; the site and old water courses are yet to be seen. Frederick Dellone hauled the stones for the mill when he was eigteen years old. Fathers DeBarth and Lekeu and their assistants attended the Paradise Catholics from time to time. Frederick Brandt made his will Feb. 9th, 1815, "being of advancing age." He left his personal property to his wife, with whose •' advice and consent ' ; he determined to appro- 90 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF priate his real estate for the benefit of his religion and his country ; " for as God has not blessed us with any offspring, and our brothers' and sisters' children being very numerous, the said estate could be of very little use to them if equally divided among all, and to favor some more than others would naturally produce jealousy and perhaps enmity." Therefore he bequeathed his dwelling, plantation and mills, and a five acre tract lately purchased of Clement Steuthabeker, to his wife during her life or widowhood, and after her death then the same to Rev. Francis Neale of Georgetown College, " his heirs and assigns for ever, in fee simple, in order to es- tablish thereon as soon as convenient a school or seminary, or any other house of education for the purpose of bringing up 3^outh in useful literature and christian piety ; " or if more advisable, for a school or Noviceship for the reception of young men destined for the ministry of the Gospel in the Roman Catholic Church. He desired the property to be used for such purposes and no other, -'and that it be never sold, mortgaged or alienated in any manner, either in whole or in part, for debt, security, or any other reason." He then provided that two boys, the preference to be given to those of relations, be educated either at the school to be established there or at Georgetown, out of the revenue from the farm, ex- clusively for the priesthood, and thus always to have two boys provided for. The entire purpose of his will seems to have been twofold, first the education of youth for the minis- try, and after that the performance of worship on the said plantation. The executors were Michael Dellone, Wm. Jenkins and the testator's wife. Witnesses, Franz Marschall, Michael Strausbaugh and John Brieghner, Recorded in York, Jacob Barnitz, Register. There is a codicil dated Jan. 26th, 1820, in which he bequeaths to Rev. Francis Neale a. five acre lot purchased of Isaac Latschaw, and appoints James Mc- Sherry Executor in place of Wm. Jenkins, dec'd. John L. Gubernator wrote the will. CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 91 After the death of Frederick Brandt, the widow man- aged the farm, and priests from Conewago kept up religious service in the chapel of the house. She made her will Oct. 20th, 1829. in favor of Rev. Francis Neal and Rev. Francis Dzicrozynski, in accordance with the will of her husband. She had a schedule of articles excepted, signed by Rev. Mat- thew Lekeu, who on behalf of the devisees agreed to the conditions of the will, which made allowance for her support and maintenance on the plantation until her death. March 9th, 1839, she executed another writing, by which she con- veyed to Rev. J. W. Besditer all her household goods and schedule of exceptions, for which Rev. Mat. Lekeu was ac- countable, and released him from further obligations. In this writing, all the articles in the front room and second room, which she occupied, were excepted. It is witnessed by F. W. Koehler and Jeremiah Harman. The relations of Mrs. Brandt were somehow under the impression, whether by word oi- promise, that the $200 worth of goods held by Mat. Lekeu were to become the property of Mrs. Heidler after Mrs. Brandt's death, but there is no provision to that effect in any of her legal transactions. In 1838, Aug. 10th, Rev. Thos. Mulledy and Win. Mc- Sherry, of the District of Columbia, purchased of Magdalene Brandt five acres of land for $200 ; Rev. J. W. Beschter, witness. This lot had been confirmed by the Commonwealth unto George Dressier, by letters patent, dated Jan. 7th, 1792; and sold in 1815 to Michael Dellone and Catharine,' (Keens,) his wife, who sold to Magdalene Brandt, Sept. 9th, 1828. Mrs. Brandt died about 1840 ; the provincial's notice for the usual suffrages is dated Oct. 1st, of that year. The relations became very much dissatisfied with the provisions of the will. Frederick Brandt's will is a plain document, repeatedly ex- pressing his demand that religious worship should always be maintained on the farm, and that the propert} T should be permanently vested in the successors of Father Xeale as the 92 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF legal representatives of the Society of Jesus, and that the revenue be exclusively devoted to educational purposes in the ministry of the Catholic Church, and the keeping up of the property. As far as the establishment of the school is con- cerned, there is a provision in case of impossibility to estab- lish or maintain one, for a time, but the ultimate object re- mains the same. The property is valuable, well located, with good buildings, a new barn having been lately erected, and the soil yields good crops. Some years ago it was almost surrounded by dense woodland, but the most of it has now been cleared out. The Jesuits, living in communities, can not serve this parish with much advantage. There would be sufficient income for a resident priest, but for the educational provisions, and such a one could build up a prosperous con- gregation at Paradise. When the disposition of the property was in question after the death of Mrs. Brandt, some correspondence was carried on between the Society and Bishop Kenrick, who in certain events inclined to make a Diocesan Seminary there, but the location then was not convenient, there being no railroads near, and outside of the establishment of a school he consid- ered as too formidable the gratuitous education of two stud- ents. The Society, in October, 1840, through Rev. Francis Vespre, expressed a willingness to relinquish its right to the property, could any other legal claim be established that would insure the carrying out of the will as far as the good of religion was concerned. The letter from Bishop Kenrick to Rev. N. Steinbacher, authorizing him to bless t lie new church, is dated Feb. 18th, 1845. Since the death of Mrs. Brandt the Paradise farm has been under the management of the Superiors of Conewago, who have it farmed. Mr. Allwine was the tenant under Father Lekeu, and after him Lewis Will lived there, about the time the church was built. Since then it has been oc- cupied by the Bradys. Paradise, Littlestown and New Oxford formed a charge until recent years, with alternate CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 93 Sundays at the former and latter places, and on week days and certain festivals and odd Sundays at Oxford. Now Par- adise and Oxford are attended by Father Richards, with early l^ass and High Mass alternating. The Paradise church is a fine stone building, with large yards and graveyard. The church was built about 1843 or 4, by Mr. Kemp, contractor. Messrs. Frederick Dellone, Peter Noel, J. J. Kuhn, and others solicited subscriptions and aided in the work. Father Manns attended about that time, or shortly after the church was built. Mary Dellone (of Peter) had willed money for a bell, which was procured, leaving considerable money over. Fath- er Manns insisted that the money was left for a particular purpose for which it should be used, so another bell was add- ed and two bells were placed on the church. Father Beschter was pastor of Paradise several years and died there. Fathers Dougherty and Getting attended occasionally while having charge of the Gettysburg church. Father Steinbacher was a true friend to Paradise, and took great interest in the congregation, and so did Father Deneckere after him. who served from about 1860 to his death, when Father Archam- bault succeeded him. Fathers Sacchi and Villiger were there for some time about 1850, and other priests from Con- ewago, as best suited the arrangements of the Superiors. Father Deneckere started a summer school there, taught by Misses Shane. Fink and others, but the congregation is too widely scattered to keep up a parochial school. Conewago was the burying place of the Paradise church for many years. Mrs. Elizabeth Hair is said to have been the first person buried at Paradise. As far as we know, no priests have been born at Paradise, though Fabian and Michael Noel and F. X. Brady, of Father Deneckere 's school, are now novices in the Society, and Jos. St nil linger died a Seminarian at Frederick some years ago. A number of young girls have become Sisters. Catharine Dellone (Sister Ann), daughter of Fred. Dellone, went to be a Sister Dec. 5th, 1849, at Em- mettsburg, and died July 16th, 1851, at Cincinnati, where 04 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF she was buried. Henrietta Wise, in religion Sister Bona, and two Misses Kuhn, probably of the Berlin family, became Sisters ; also, Minnie Koehler (Sister John the Baptist), Sa- lome Noel (Sister Josepha), and Annie Brady (Sister Francis) ; the latter three took the veil at McSherrystown. Mary Shane also became a Sister. After the death of Mrs. Brandt, Paradise was disturbed and excited by mysterious noises and appearances, that were attributed to supernatural agencies. The Brandt will matter was assigned as the cause of such unusual happenings, and it excited a great deal of interest. Mrs. Brandt's figure in life was well known to every person in the parish,— a little, old woman, bent under the weight of years, and after her death imagination only needed a ghost story to set it in active work. There is no doubt, however, that there was room for serious thought, and it was so considered by the priests. The mys- terious actions were mostly confined to an old cupboard in the priest's room, — which served as a sacristy, — in which the vestments were kept. Father Steinbacher was a man of de- termined purpose, but failed to account for the disturbances by which he was troubled. At night he would call Mr. Will into his room, and stay together part of the night without hearing the least alarm, but as soon as he was alone the trou- bles were renewed. Mrs. Will, who then waited upon the priests and took care of the rooms, assures us that Father Steinbacher subjected himself to rigorous fasting and contin- ual prayers, until his health began to sutler and he was taken away. Father Deneckere came soon after him, and made in- quiry into the Brandt will affair. He then started a school at Conewago, in which he placed boys from Paradise, and besides he applied some of the revenues of the Paradise farm to the education of young men for the ministry. From his time on nothing more was heard of the disturbances. The old cupboard was placed in a rear cellar of the house where it yet stands or has decayed, like all else ever connected with it. Perhaps this account would have rested as well with the CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 95 past, but the recital of such facts, attested by people of good character and reputation still living, can do no harm. The church daily asks for eternal rest unto the dead. We say on page 89, that Mrs. Brandt had three sisters, and name one Magdalene ; that is a mistake. Her own name was Magdalene. The third sister's name we are not able to give. Most of the families mentioned were intermarried, and it is almost impossible to trace the names and connections of a century ago. Also on page 91, the date of the purchase of the five acre lot from Mrs. Brandt by Fathers Mulledy and McSherry is given in some of the first pages printed as 1848, when it should be 1838 where not so. THE LITTLESTOWN CHURCH. Littlestown is one of the oldest of the Conewago mis- sions. The first Catholics in the valley around Littlestown attended services at Conewago Chapel, but were provided with a place of divine worship at an early period, they being the oldest religious congregation in the town. Erdman's Geography and History of America, published in Germany at the close of the last century, notes the existence of a Cath- olic Church at Littlestown; and so the Boston "American Gazetteer" of 1797. The Fathers at Conewago, beginning with Fathers Pellentz and Gallitzin before 1800, attended the Catholics at Littlestown, and the church was supplied from that place until the fall of 1884 or spring of 1885, when it was given over to the charge of the Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg. The first priest under the Bishop was Father Gormerly, then stationed at Bonneauville. which two parishes were intended to be combined ; but both de- siring resident pastors, Father Grotty, of Columbia, became the first pastor under the secular administration. 96 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF The first building used as a church, was situated on the northern corner of the lot, afterwards used as a burial ground. This building, occupied as a dwelling, was convert- ed into a church about the year 1791. The Trustees at that time were, Patrick McSherry, Joseph Flauth and Henry O'Hara. After the death of Father Pellentz in 1800, the Littlestown Church was attended by Fathers DeBarth and Lekeu, and their assistants. The present brick church was built in 1840, Michael Dougherty, S. J., being pastor ; and the trustees were, Henry Spalding, John Shorb, James McSherry, Jacob Rider, Dr. J. A. Shorb, Jacob Baumgard- ner, Joseph Fink and Joseph Riddlemoser. The old frame weatherboarded church was sold to Joseph Aker, Sr., and turned into a house on the Littlestown and Taneytown road. From that period there was a succession of pastors from the Conewago Fathers, among others Fathers Joseph Dietz, F. X. Deneckere, George Villiger, Peter Manns, Father Rei- ter. Father Deneckere attended Littlestown for nearly twenty years, and died there dan. 8th, 1870. Father Villi- ger succeeded him, dying a few years later. Father Reli- ant was then assigned to the charge for a short time, and was the last pastor attending from the Society. A very fine brick school house was erected in 1867, by Rev. Father Deneckere. The first teacher was Miss Mary Wilson. She was succeeded by the following teachers : Miss Ellen Heath, Joseph Smith, Frank Addelsperger, Miss Mary Fink, A. J. Smith. Miss Emma Shorb. The school is largely attended, and is under the direction of the pastor of the church. The interior of the church is very neat and attractive. The congregation seems to be growing slowly, and is composed of a right well-to-do class of people. One of the oldest Cath- olic families in the town is that of Hon. Win. McSherry, the name of his father, dames, and that of his grandfather, Pat- rick, appearing in this record. The Shorbs are also among the older families, and there are others, descendants of the early Catholics. CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 9? The Littlestown Catholic congregation was incorporated by the Pennsylvania Legislature, April 19th, 1840, under the title of " The Congregation of St. Aloysius." The incor- porators and trustees were, F. X. Deneckere, S. J., J. A. Shorb, Henry Spalding, Joseph Fink, Jacob Baumgardner, Hon. Wm. McSherry. Sebastian O'Bold, Jacob Marshall, Andrew Little. THE HANOVER CHURCH. St. Joseph's Church, Hanover, is one of the most flourish- ing congregations connected with Conewago. Hanover being a growing town and a local railroad center of considerable importance, the church property is a valuable addition to the Society, and may in course of time be further improved by the Jesuits. Conewago had on several occasions been select- ed as the site of some Jesuit institution and as often abandon- ed for want of railroad facilities. Hanover is easy of access from any direction, is surrounded by a prosperous agricultu- ral community, and located in a healthy climate and in a beautiful section of country. At an early date there were a number of Catholic fam- iles, mostly Germans, settled in and around Hanover, attend- ing church at Conewago Chapel. When Father DeBarth came, he exerted himself in every direction to provide places of divine worship, around which Catholics would be induced to locate and grow up into congregations. From about 1 822 to 1 820, he said Mass occasionally in a shop or old school house, on a lot owned by the Jesuits, along the alley east of Baltimore Street, now in possession of Luther Weigle, Wm. Grumbine and Henry Trone. Peter O'Neill, living with Father DeBarth at that time, remembers accompanying him to Hanover on such occasions. Besides, Mr. S. AlthofF is in- formed by an old gentleman who has lived all his life in Han- over, that when a boy, he, with another lad, found the door 98 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF of this old building open, and they entered. They found a few pennies in a drawer, which they appropriated to their use ; and further remembers that there were benches and an altar in the old building at the time. After that we have no knowledge of Mass being celebra- ted in Hanover until about 1863, when a large room in the house qf Jacob Hildt, on Carlisle Street, was used for that purpose by Father Domperio. Mass was continued to be said there and instructions given to the children, until 1864, when it became too small and the desire for a regular place of worship prompted such action as would secure that need. Rev. J. B. Cattani was then Superior of Conewago, to whom the trustees of the M. E. Church of Hanover conveyed their lot and church building on Baltimore Street, 60 feet front and 25 feet deep, for $900, in trust for the Catholic congregation. Rev. Father Manns became pastor, and services were held on the first and third Sundays of the month. He also started a Catholic school there, which soon had a large attendance. To this Father the Conewago settlement is greatly indebted for the establishment and support of parochial schools, under ad- verse circumstances and with many obstacles in the wa} r of starting them. The first teacher of the Hanover school was A. J. Smith, succeeded by Miss Alice Del lone. The Sisters from McSherrystown took charge of the school in 1873 ; Sis- ter Rose, present Mother. School had been kept in the old church building for a while ; now part of the Sisters' house, a fine building between the old and new churches, serves for that purpose. The ground occupied by this house and the new church, 90 feet front and 257 feet deep, was purchased by Father Enders for $4500. The congregation gradually grew stronger in numbers. In 1865 an addition was "made to the church, 35x40 feet, at a cost of $2,145. A cupola was also erected, and a bell costing $945, and weighing 1834 pounds, placed therein. The church, when dedicated, was called St. Joseph's. Then already the congregation desired more regular services. In Feb., 1874, CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 99 a numerously signed petition was addressed to the Superior of Conewago, asking for the regular Sunday service at Han- over. Rev. Father Manns continued as pastor until 1877. During this year, Rev. Father Jamison attended St. Joseph's for several months, and delivered lectures in aid of the new church, then proposed to be built. Rev. Father Enders, the venerable Superior of Conewago. also ministered to this con- gregation every alternate Sunday, during the close of Rev. Father Mann's pastorate. Rev. Father Emig, the present incumbent, became pastor in the fall of 1877 ; since which time the congregation is attended more regularly — there being the entire church service on Sundays, and Mass nearly every morning during the week. The old church becoming too small, and being also need- ed as a school building, it was concluded to build a more creditable place of worship, and to carry on the work in ac- cordance with the means that could be commanded, so that when finished it would also be paid for. This resolution, we believe, has been faithfully carried out so far, through the great perseverance and energy of the venerable pastor, Father Emig. The building was begun in the spring of 1877. The corner-stone was laid Sept. 16th. of that year. There were nearly three thousand people present. A procession, with St. Joseph's, St. Mary's and St. Patrick's I. C. B. U. Societies, of York ; the Citizens' and Spring Garden Bands, in line, marched through the principal streets. Father Clarke, of Loyola College, Baltimore, delivered the address. The Fathers present were : Revs. Enders, Deneckere and Emig, of Conewago ; Revs. Clarke, of Baltimore ; Pape, of York ; Shanahan, of Bonneauville ; Boll, of Gettysburg ; and Koch, of New Freedom. The corner-stone is of marble, with the inscription " 1877." The building Committee consisted of Rev. Joseph Enders, Chairman ; Joseph Dellone, Vice-Presi- dent ; Dr. J. P. Smith, Treasurer ; Wm. Overbaugh, Secreta- 100 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF ry ; Joseph Althoff, John Clunk, Joseph Brockley and Am- brose Schmidt. Only the foundations were raised in 1877. The build- ing was put under roof in 1878, the brick-work of the tower erected, and the bell removed from the old belfry into the new steeple, which is 154 feet in height, The interior of the church was partly finished that year. The building is 130x50 feet, with a neat yard in front and a large rear lot. The new St. Joseph's Church was dedicated on All-Saints Day, 1880. The Fathers present were : Very Rev. R. W. Brady, Provincial of the Society of this Province ; Very Rev. M. J. McBride, Vicar-General of the Diocese of Harrisburg, (Bishop Shanahan being absent in Rome) ; Rev. Louis J. McKenna, of York ; Rev. Hugo Magevney, Professor of Sacred Eloquence in Woodstock College ; Revs. J. B. DeWollf, Ed. McGurk, Dewitt ; Rev. Joseph Enders, Peter Flanagan and Francis Casey, of Conewago Chapel ; and Rev. J. B. Emig, pastor of St. Joseph's. Father McBride performed the cere- mony of dedication. A Grand High Mass followed ; J. B. Emig, Master of Ceremonies ; Father DeWolff, Celebrant ; Father Casey, Deacon ; Father Flanagan, Sub-Deacon ; Fath- er Magevney preaching a very eloquent dedicatory sermon, from the Third Book of Kings, ' ; Building, I have built a house for thy dwelling, to be thy most firm throne forever." The choir rendered the Kyrie, Sanctus and Agnus Dei, from Bollman's Mass ; and at the Offertory, " Justus ut Palma," by Lambilotte. The cost of the building up to its dedication was $17,000. The pews are of very fine finish and style, and cost $1200. The interior of the church is roomy, and is now very attractively finished and furnished. The windows have stained glass ; a handsome set of station paintings grace the walls ; neat altars for St, Joseph and the Blessed Virgin, and a fine main altar, with two sacristies. A large organ, and other embellishments, make the church all that could be desired, and one that will compare favorably with the finest in the Diocese. St. Josephs is the CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 101 crowning work in the life of Father Emig, a monument to his judgment and labor, and a credit to the liberality of the congregation. The Catholics of Hanover buried at Conewago until 1875, when a large Catholic Cemetery was laid out on the west side of Baltimore Street, adjoining Mt. Olivet. Four acres were purchased for this purpose in 1875, at a cost of $800. Dr. J. P. Smith, a very wealthy and prominent Catholic of the congregation, died a few years ago, leaving all his means to the town for a public library. At that time Father Emig, aged and infirm, was going almost from house to house in his efforts to raise the money to build a church. Mrs. Mary Smith, nee Dellone, died about the time it was proposed to build a new church, for which she left $1000, and $700 for Sanctuary purposes. St. Joseph's Catholic Beneficial Society was organized March 7th, 1882, Charles Losman, President. J. A. Renaut succeeded him. The membership is 5G. Mary Elizabeth Barnitz, in religion Sister M. Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel J. and Maria L. Barnitz, joined the Sisters of St. Joseph at McSherrystown, in 1875. Anastasia Hair, Sister M. Gertrude, daughter of Joseph and Caroline Hair, joined same order in 1874. Elizabeth Hildt, Sister Anacleta, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Hildt, became a religious in 1807, with the Sisters of Notre Dame, near Baltimore. There is another daughter of the same family a Sister of Charity, received about 1857 or 1858. THE NEW OXFORD CHURCH. New Oxford is not quite half way between Conewago and Paradise, and the Catholics living there belonged to the Conewago congregation before they had a church of their own. The Conewago Fathers taught catechism in private 102 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF houses there, long before the church was built. Mr. Jacob Martin donated a lot on Carlisle Street for a church, which was erected thereon in 1852, — Rev. F. X. Deneckere being the attending priest. The building is of brick, 75x35 feet in size. It was enlarged and improved several years ago. The church is under the invocation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Father Deneckere had charge of the Littlestown and Paradise Catholic Churches at the same time, holding services at those places on alternate Sundays, and at Oxford only on a week day at first and on certain holy-clays. Fathers Reiter and Cattani also attended New Oxford the few years that Father Deneckere was away from Conewago, after which he returned and continued his attendance at Oxford until his death in 1879. New Oxford and Paradise were then formed into a charge under Father Francis Casey, with services on alternate Sundays at each place. Father Arthur Archam- bault succeeded him, until about 1884. There was a young German Father then in attendance for a few months. Father Richards is the present pastor. A parochial school was es- tablished in 1862, by Father Deneckere. The following are the teachers in successive order : Mrs. Trayer, Miss M. J. Felix, Joseph Smith, Miss Wager, John F. McSherry, E. G. Topper. School was held in the church until 1877, when a school building was added. Over one hundred scholars at- tend. The church membership is between three and four hundred. THE BONNEATJVILLE CHURCH. Bonneauville is a small village midway between Cone- wago and Gettysburg, and about four miles from Littles- town. Among the early settlers of the surrounding country, were many Catholics, who then belonged to Conewago. After CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 103 churches had been built at Littlestown and Gettysburg, some attached themselves to those places, but for a number of years no strict line divided the congregations, and people went to the church nearest and most convenient. An effort was made about 1850 to build a church at Bonneauville : the i undertaking was then thought too great for the Catholics, and was not advised by the Bishop or the Conewago Superior. — Rev. Basil A. Shorb became the founder of the Church of St. Joseph at Bonneauville, the corner-stone of which was laid Aug. 1st, 1859. He was born near Littlestown, educat- ed at Mt. St. Mary's, and ministered to several congregations before he chose Bonneauville for his field of labor. He had considerable inheritance, and donated much of it to the church work in which he was engaged. It was through him, and by this means, that he obtained the necessary encour- agement from his Superiors to form a congregation and build a church at Bonneauville. He died April 4th, 1871, in his sixty-first year and the thirty-first of his ministry. Father Pope succeeded him, and built a large brick school-house near the church in 1873. Sisters were engaged as teachers for a time. A house was purchased for their use, but was sold again after the} r left. The school had a large attend- ance. James W. Gubernator taught a short time. Miss M. Martin teaches this year. Father Pope's management was not as prudent as was demanded by the ordinary circum- stances of the congregation. He was enterprising in other directions, and succeeded in having a daily mail established, changing the old-time name of " Bonaughtown," and that of the Postoffice. " Square Corner," to the more modern name it now bears. The congregation passed through many trials about this period, partly from want of prudent management. Father Mcllhenny succeeded and was followed by Father Shanahan. Father Gormerly is the present pastor. There is a fine parsonage adjoining the church, and several lots are owned by the congregation. The church belongs to the Harrisburg Diocese. In Nov., 1879, a mission was given at 104 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF St. Joseph's by Fathers Bausch and Kolp, of Boston, during which a mission cross was erected on the east side of the church. A cemetery was laid out about 1870, with a vault in the center for the burial of priests. There rest the remains of Rev. Basil A. Shorb, founder and first pastor of St. Jos- eph's. The churchyard served as a burying ground until the cemetery was secured, into which most of the bodies were then removed. When a boy we served Mass at Bonneau- ville, and also at Paradise and Conewago ; we shall never for- get the fear entertained for Father Shorb, but in many wa} 7 s he was a kind man, whom the Bonneauville Catholics will ever gratefully remember. THE GETTYSBURG CHURCH. For many years the Catholics in and around Gettysburg attended divine service at Conewago. a distance of about twelve miles. They were few in number in the beginning of the present century, and not possessed of much of this world's goods, but were devoted to their religion with that character- istic devotion of Catholics the world over, which induced them to go to Conewago to hear Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation, notwithstanding the distance or inclemency of the weather. The erection of the first church building was commenced about 1826, on. ground given by Jacob Norbeck on Washington Street. The church was built under the di- rection of the Superiors of Conewago Chapel — first Father Louis De Barth, then Father Matthew Lekeu ; though it is not certain that Father De Barth visited Gettysburg often, as he left Conewago in 1828 for St. John's (now St. Alphonsus') church in Baltimore. The church was not yet completed in 1831, for on the 18th of May in that year, dur- ing a heavy thunder storm, the church was struck by light- ning. " The fluid passed down the cupola and the wall of the church to the v front door, marking its progress by forming a CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 105 groove to the ground. A plasterer and several other work- men were prostrated, and remained unconscious for some time. The congregation at Gettysburg, while it belonged to the Jesuits of Conewago, had no regular pastor. Conewago had many missions to supply— more so then than now — to which ministers were sent according to the best convenience and judgment of the Superiors. Father Michael Dougherty offi- ciated at Gettysburg alternately with Father Leckeu, who was Superior of Conewago until 1843. After him came Father Joseph Dietz, and some of the older members re- member Fathers Kendler, Geo. Villiger, V. H. Barber, and F. X. Deneckere among the priests who held services in the old church at Gettysburg, between 1831 and 1850. The new brick church on High street was built under Father J. B. Cotting, in 1852. Father Brocard, as Provincial, authorized Father Fnders, Superior of Conewago, to build the Gettys- burg church. The agreement between George and Henry Chritzman, John Gilbert, (or Gailburt), A. B. Kurtz, David Ziegler and Joel B. Danner, and Fathers Enders and Cotting, is dated Feb. 10th, 1852. John Martin, Nickolas Codori, Joseph Smith and Jacob Case were the Building Committee. The contractors were to receive $3870, and the old material. Payment was made in full, June 27th, 1853. Up to this time the church was under the jurisdiction of the Jesuits, who also supplied a small congregation at Millerstown. These churches were then handed over to the Bishop of Philadel- phia, and were formed, with the Mountain Church, into a charge — the minister being resident at Gettysburg. The congregation was now served in turn by Rev. Messrs. B. A. Shorb, L. J. Miller, A. McGinnis, until I860. Rev. Joseph A. Boll became pastor soon after the battle of Gettysburg, and as such serves yet. Gettysburg and Fairfield form the present charge — the mountain church having been later join- ed to the Chambersburg charge — and is under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Harrisburg. A handsome parsonage was built nearly opposite the church in 1870 or 1871, and about 106 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF three years ago a fine school building was erected. The name of the church is St. Francis Xavier's. Father Boll trav- eled through Europe and the Holy Land, in 1881 or '82. On his return he delivered several lectures on the subject for church benefits. Several years later he was appointed to the Lebanon church, but shortly after he was returned to Get- tysburg again. THE " MOUNTAIN CHURCH." St. Ignatius' Catholic Church, better known as the Mountain Church, is situated in the Buchanan Valley, five miles from GraetTenburg, near Mr. Kimple's Mill, on the road to Corwell's. It is about ten miles west of Gettysburg, in Franklin Twp., Adams Co., almost on the Franklin County line. This church was originated by a Mr. Lostetter, who gave 150 acres of land, and the money to build a church was collected through the adjoining counties. The corner-stone was laid Oct. 10th, 1810. There was an old Catholic grave- yard on the tract long before the church was built. The first settlers of the Valley were Irish and named their estates according to the baronial system of Great Britain. Mr. F. Cole's tract was originally called " Armagh." The first church consisted of nothing but the walls, a table being used for an altar. Mr. Lostetter failing in business, the tract was sold at Sheriff's sale, and was purchased by the Jesuits of George- town and Conewago Chapel. The first services at this place were held in Mr. Andrew Noel's house. The ministers serv- CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 107 ing this congregation from Conewago Chapel, were, Revs. Louis De Barth and Matthew Lekeu until 1829 ; Rev. Mich- ael Dougherty from that period until about 1840 ; Rev. Fath- er Kendler in 1843 ; Rev. Joseph Dietz from 1844 to 1850 ; Rev. Father Cattani then attended the congregation for a short period ; Rev, J. B. Cotting from 1850 to 1853 ; Rev. F. X. Deneckere until 1858. These Fathers also attended Get- tysburg and Millerstown, the latter congregation being few in numbers had as yet never been asked to contribute anything for the support of the pastor. They now petitioned the Bishop of the Diocese of Philadelphia to supply them with a pastor, which was complied with on condition that Gettys- burg, the Mountain Church, and Millerstown formed one charge — the pastor to reside at Gett} 7 sburg. The ministers supplying the charge from this time (1858) were, Rev. Messrs. Basil A. Shorb, to 1859 ; L. J. Miller. 1860 ; A. McGinnis until 1863 ; Joseph A. Boll from 1864 to 1873. The congregation was then connected with the Chambersburg charge — Path Valley, Waynesboro', Chambersburg, and the Mountain church — J. M. Boetzkes and D. A. Riley serving from 1873 to 1875. and T. J. Fleming and Joseph Kaelin from that time until 1880, and since that time attended by the Chambersburg priests. Services were held once a month under the Jesuits, and since then twice a month. Father Cotting was desirous of selling the land, but Mr. George Cole suggested that it be laid out in lots, and sold only to Catho- lics, in order to strengthen the congregation and keep them together, which was accordingly done, in lots of ten, fifteen and twenty acres. Messrs. George Cole and John Brady purchased eight acres of woodland, and donated it to the church, to be used only for supplying firewood. The first re- pairs of the church were made by Father Dietz, who built the first altar. Father Cotting put pews in the church, pro- cured a bell and an organ, and made other improvements. Father Fleming repainted, and otherwise remodeled the church during the summer of 1880. 108 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF THE TANEYTOWN CHURCH. This is the oldest town in Carroll Co., Md. It was laid out about the year 1750, by Frederick Taney, who came from Calvert Co., Md. He was a Catholic, and a member of the family of Roger B. Taney, the late Chief Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court. By the way, Roger B. Taney, Catholic, and Anne P. C. Key, Baptist-Protestant, (a sister of F. Scott Key,) were married Jan. 7th, 180G, by Rev. Nicholas Zocchi, Pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Taneytown. As far back as 1790, there are records of Mass having been celebrated at private dwellings by Fathers Frambaugh, Pellentz, Brosiusand Cerfoumont, S. J., all of whom came hither from Cone- wago. Prince De Gallitzin, who was ordained by Bishop Carroll, March 18th, 1795, although a Sulpician, was located for a time at Conewago, and also attended this mission, as well as Hagerstown and Cumberland in Md., Chambersburg, Path Valley and Huntingdon, in Penn. Rev. A. A. Lambing, in his History of the Catholic Church in Western Pennsylva- nia, says that Father Gallitzin left Taneytown and went to the Alleghany Mountains because he was opposed to the pew- rent system. This statement is inaccurate, for pews were first rented here in 1876, when the present St. Joseph's Church was built. Previous to that time the subscriptions for the support of the priest, (and they were very meagre,) were collected by the Trustees. Prominent among the early Catholic settlers hereabouts, were the Taneys, Coskerys, Brookes, Hughes, Spaldings, Boyles, Elders, Adlespergers, Diffendals, Gougers, Toppers, Riffles, and others. About 1796, Mr. Brookes built the first Catholic Church here, at his own expense. It was of brick, made near the town. Father Gallitzin was the first pastor of St. Joseph's. From a letter of Bishop Carroll to the Rev. Pastor, dated Washington, March 1st, 1799, (Brownson's Life of G. p. Ill,) we infer that Father Gallitzin left here about that time. From 1799 to 1804, Taneytown was again at- CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 109 tended by priests from Conewago. Rev. Nicholas Zocchi, a secular priest, was born in Rome, Italy, in 1773, and was or- dained at Milan, probably in 1797. He came to this country and was appointed pastor here in 1804. He is said to have been a priest of great learning, and remarkable executive ability. In addition to the places mentioned, he visited Mar- tinsburg, Va., (now W. Va.) and Westminster, Md. At the latter place, in 1805, he built a neat brick edifice, called " Christ Church ; " the first church, a frame structure, was built in 1785. four acres of land having been given to the Catholics by John Logston, after the Revolutionary War. The church built by Father Zocchi. made way in 1866 for the present handsome brick church, built by the zealous and be- loved Father John Gloyd, P. P. After a pastorate of 41 years, good Father Zocchi died at Taneytown, Dec. 17th, 1845, and was buried here on the 20th hist. The celebrated Rev. Dr. McCaffrey, then Presi- dent of Mt. St. Mary's College, preached the sermon. The funeral was the largest ever seen here, — Catholics and Pro- testants coming in their sleighs from all parts of the county. One may form some idea of the extent of his labors, when it is known that at least twelve priests are employed on those missions. It is true that Catholics and Churches have multi- plied, but Father Zocchi had to travel over that vast territory in the interest of the few Catholics (comparatively speaking) scattered over his several missions. It was certainly no small labor to go a distance of 150 or 200 miles at times to attend a sick call, especially as the journey had then to be made on horseback or in some unwieldy conveyance. From the death of Father Zocchi until the close of the year 1851, this mission was served by the secular priests, Flautt, McCaffrey, D. D., Elder, of Mt. St. Mary's College ; and Rev. Messrs. Stelzig, Tapput, and Krutel, Redemptorists, of Baltimore. Frequent visits were also made by Father Dietz, S. J. In Dec, 1851, Rev. Thos. O'Neill was appointed pastor, 110 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF and remained in charge until Nov., 1862. He also attended Westminster and New Windsor, in the same county. At the latter place, in 1861, he built St. Thomas' Church. Leaving here in 1862, Father Tom became pastor of St. Paul's Church, Ellicott's City, where he remained several years, zealously discharging his duties. He then retired to Mt. St. Mary's College, where he died Nov. 21st, 1874, aged about 72 years. A tall marble monument, of beautiful design, marks his grave, placed there by his friend and executor, Rev. John Gloyd. In Nov., 1862, Father Gloyd succeeded to the pastorate here, and in 1869 removed to Westminster, which then be- came the headquarters of the mission. This was done in ac- cordance with the wishes of Archbishop Spalding, — West- minster being the county-seat. In May, 1871, Rev. R, W. Hazeland, a native of England, was appointed assistant to Father Gloyd, and they attended Taneytown, Deer Park Chapel, and St. Mary's, Union Mills, Carroll Co. Father Hazeland left for the West in Jan., 1873, and was succeeded by Rev. Casper Schmitt, who was ordained in Baltimore, Dec. 21st, 1872. In Nov., 1873, Rev. John T. Delaney was made assistant to Father Gloyd ; and in 1876, St. Bartholo- mew's, Manchester, was added to the missions. This church was built by the Redemptorists, and served by them until placed under the care of the priests at Westminster. In Jan., 1879, the mission was divided,— Father Gloyd retaining charge of St. John's, Westminster, and St. Bartholomew's, Manchester, while Rev. John T. Delaney took charge of St. Joseph's, Taneytown, and St. Thomas', New Windsor. He is a kind and zealous Father, deeply interested in his church work. The present church at Taneytown was built in 1876, when the old church built by Mr. Brookes was torn down. The church is a neat brick building, 40x70, and was erected by Father Gloyd, who raised the amount necessary for its completion before the work was begun. CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. Ill The remains of Father Zocchi rest in the cemetery at Taneytown. A plain marble monument about five feet high, marks the spot and has the following inscription : Sacred to the memory of Rev. Nicholas Zocchi, late pastor of Taney- town Catholic Church, who departed this life Dec. 17th, 1845, in the 72d year of his age. Christian, say " May God have mercy on his Soul." Rev. Henry B. Coskery, Y. G., I). U., who died in Bal- timore in 1872, was born here in the house adjoining the par- ochial residence, July 19th, 1808. He was ordained at Bal- timore in ] 834, and in the same year assigned to missionary duties in Belair. Md. In 1837, he was transferred to Elli- cot's Mills, and there built St. Paul's Church, and discharged the various and laborious duties of the missionary priest in the most edifying and efficacious manner. In 1839, he was called to the Cathedral by Archbishop Eccleston, and in that important field labored late and early for 32 years. He died Feb. 27th, 1872, and was buried at Bonnie Brae Cemetery. A sister of his, Matilda Coskery, became a Sister of Charity, and died a few years ago at St, Joseph's, near Eni- mitsburg. She was a Sister fifty years and more, and was born here March 25th, 1805. Sister Helen Josephine (Swope), now at St, Joseph's, was born here April 11th, 1826. Sister Elizabeth (Case), born near Taneytown, Oct. 13th, 1832, and died at New Orleans. Josephine Baumgartner, born near Taneytown about 1830, became a Sister of Mercy in 1849. Matilda Sullivan, born near Taneytown, also became a Sister of Mercy. Pastors of St. Joseph's, Taneytown : Demetrius A. De Gallitzin, born on the Hague, in Russia, Dec. 22d, 1770 ; or- dained at St. Mary's Seminary, Balto., March 18th, 1795; died May 6th, 1840. Rev. Nicholas Zocchi, born at Rome, Italy, 1773, ordained about 1797, at Milan, died Dec. 17th, 1845, at Taneytown. Rev. Thos. O'Neill, born in Ireland about 1802, ordained in Balto. 1830 ; died at Mt. St. Mary's, 112 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF Nov. 21st, 1874. Rev. John Gloyd, bora in Montgomery Co., Md., Oct. 22d, 1831 ; ordained at St. Mary's, May, 1858 ; now pastor at Westminster. Rev. John T. Delaney, born in Balto., Feb. 1843 ; ordained at St. Mary's Seminary Dec. 21st, 1872 ; now pastor of St. Joseph's, Taneytown. THE WESTMINSTER CHURCH. The church property at this place, consisting of four acres, was donated by John Logston. Upon this a frame church was built about the year 1789. There is nothing to show who had charge of the church at that early period ', probably the Fathers from Frederick and Conewago. The second, called Christ's Church, a brick building, was erected by Rev. Nicholas Zocchi, in 1805. This venerable priest was ordained when he was twenty-two years and six months old. He visited Westminster once a month on Sundays until his death in 1845. The entire mission was then without a resi- dent pastor until 1851. During this interval, irregular visits were made by different clergymen— Revs. John F. Hickey, Henry Myers, Joseph Dietz. Francis Krutel, and others. In 1851, Rev. Thomas O'Neill was placed in charge of the mis- sion, with residence at Taneytown. He was succeeded by Rev. John Glo} 7 d in Nov., 18G2, who also resided at Taney- town until Westminster was made headquarters in 1869. The third, St. John's Church, brick, was commenced in 18G5, and dedicated Nov. 22d, 1866. Mr. John Orendorf gave all the bricks for the building. The assistants until the mission was divided in 1879, were Revs. Richard Hazeland from 3 871 to 1873, Casper Schmidt from 1873 to 1874 ; John T. De- laney from 1874 to 1879. The parochial school house was built in 1872. Rev. John Gloyd is the present beloved and zealous pastor. CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 113 THE FREDERICK CHURCH. Many Catholic families, among them the Carrolls, were connected with the earliest settlement around Frederick Town, now in Frederick Co., Md. When first founded it was in Baltimore Co., and was an important point on the princi- pal stage routes which then traversed the country. Frederick is an old Catholic mission, and being the location of the Jesuit Novitiate, has a very interesting history and should have valuable records. All that we are able to give is taken from Scharfs History of Western Maryland. Many Catholics had settled on Carroll's Manor, on the Monocacy, at the close of the last century. They were at- tended by Rev. John Dubois, from Mt. St. Mary's. The ground on which the original chapel was built, was deeded to Father John Hunter, by John Carey, Oct. 2d, 1765. Fred- erick was attended by priests from St. Thomas' Mission, near Port Tobacco, for a long time the residence of the Superior of the Jesuits in Maryland. From this was supplied all the adjacent country, from the headwaters of the Potomac to the Eastern Shores. The German Fathers from Conewago also attended the mission at Frederick. The first residence and chapel were built in 1763, by John Williams, an English Jesuit, who came to the Maryland Missions June 9th, 1758, with Fathers James Frambach and James Pellentz. He re- turned to Europe about 1774. There is reason to believe that Father George Hunter succeeded Father Williams. He was Superior of the Jesuits in Maryland in 1765, and Super- ior and Vicar General in 1794. Father James Frambach was pastor of Frederick in 1773, according to Campbell. He had the whole of Western Maryland and part of Virginia, and traveled far. visiting the sick and administering the Sac- raments. Many a time he slept near his horse, on the banks of the Potomac and its tributaries, and early in the morning 114 CONE W AGO— A COLLECTION OF was up and off again. He was succeeded by Father James Walton, an Englishman, who came to Md. in 177G, died at St. Inigoes 1803, aged 65. The chapel was then attended by Father Dubois. The residence forms part of the Novitiate. The small chapel of Father Williams was for nearly forty years the only place of worship for the Catholics of Freder- ick. The Jesuits remained during the Suppression. Father Dubois began to administer at St. John's about 1792. He also attended the Western Missions, Hagerstown, Cumber- land, Martinsburg and as far South as Winchester. Scharf says he " was for a long time the only priest between Balti- more and St. Louis." We do not wish to contradict the cele- brated historian, but Father Lambing's Researches furnish much information on early Catholic settlements. The Cone- wago Fathers themselves attended the western missions from Frambach's time, 1700, to Father Gallitzin's, 1800. The history of the Carroll families in Maryland would also throw additional light on early Catholic missionary work. Father Dubois began the erection of a church at Fred- erick in 1800. It was of brick, 82x45 feet. The building was partly torn down and changed in 1859, and has since been used for other purposes. After he removed to Emmetts- burg in 1806, he visited Frederick once or twice a month. Francis Maleve, S. J., took charge in 1811. He had the church repaired in 1812, as the congregation was then increas- ing. He was born Dec. ], 1770, a native of Russia. He be- longed to the order of St, Francis Assisi, but when the Order was dispersed he labored as a Secular priest. Father Maleve entered the Society in Russia in 1804 : came to this country while a Novice, and took his last vows June 29th, 1815. He commenced the building of St. Joseph's Church on the Manor, about seven miles from Frederick, which was completed in 1820. The lot and part of the funds were gifts from Charles Carroll of Carrollton. Father Maleve died Oct. 3d, 1822. In 1821, Mr.Coale gave land on which to build a church, CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 115 at Liberty, twelve miles from Frederick. The old church was torn down several years ago and a new one built by Gen. Coale, a son of the donor of the original lot. Father John McElroy took charge after the death of Father Maleve. He built churches and schools, and is well remembered for his zealous labors in the cause of religion. He died in 1877 at the Novitiate. He was the oldest priest in America, aged 95 years, having been born in the town of Innis Killin, Ireland, in 1782. In 1824, five Sisters came to Frederick from Emmetts- burg, and were lodged in a log cabin. St. John's Academy was opened Jan. ,3d, 1824. In 1825, a larger establishment was built; Rev. P. W. Walsh was assistant in 1825. A church was built at Petersville in 1826, on land given by Mr. West, a Protestant. Aug. 7th, 1828, St. John's Literary In- stitute was begun ; opened in 1829. It has given many great men to religion and the professions. The new church was contemplated as early as 1830. The corner-stone was laid in 1833. It was finished after many difficulties in 1837, consecrated April 26th., The steeple was completed in 1854, by Burchard Villiger, S. J. Father Peter Kenney was Su- perior at that time. Father Wm. McSherry succeeded him. In 1833, a large addition was made to the residence. A wing and the chapel were added by Father Samuel Barber. Improvements were made by Father Brocard, and in 1859 by Father Parasce. The Sisters' building was burned down in 1845, and was rebuilt. In 1839, Father James Ryder was assistant to Father McElroy, and teacher of French and writing. Thomas Lilly, S. J., succeeded Father McElroy in Sept., 1845. The assistants were Revs. George Villiger, Stonestreet, Meredith, Jenkins, Finotti, and Bogue. In 1846, the Sisters of Charity withdrew, and the Nuns of the Visita- tion from Georgetown took their place. In 1848, Rev. Charles H. Stonestreet succeeded Father Lilly. The assistants were Revs. Bogue, Finotti and Ciampi. When Rev. Stone- street had charge, Rev. Francis Dzierozyuski, a saintly man. 116 COiNEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF died there. He was a native of Orsani, in Poland, born June 3d, 1777. Father Thomas Mulledy succeeded in 1850. After him came Revs. Villiger, Barber, Hippolyte Deneck- ere, Blenkinsop and McAtee ; the two latter, with M. Tuffer, 8. J., being there in 1860. From 1853 to 1860, the assis- tants were Revs. Bogue. Duddy, and Tuffer. Father Sourin was in charge from 1860 to 1870 ; the assistants were Revs. O'Kane, Smith, Jenkins, Ciampi and Fulmer. After an ab- sence of twenty-five years, Father Stonestreet returned as parish priest. THE HAGERSTOWN CHURCH. This sketch of Catholicity in Hagerstown is nothing more than the interesting and valuable data collected by Father Jones when he was pastor, and left by him as a church record. The Hagerstown Church was long attended by the early missionaries of Conewago, Taneytown and Frederick. A very full and interesting history of the church might be written from these records, but as it serves our purpose of preserving names and dates, we give them as they appear : The deed of the old Catholic graveyard, from Jonathan Hagar to Rev. James Frambach, for three lots (Nos. 319, 320, 321,) in Hagar's addition to Klizabethtown, is dated Aug. 16th, 1786, recorded in liber E, folio 38. The deed of the present church property, from Adam Miller, of Bedford Co., Pa., to Luke Tieman, of Baltimore Co., Md., Charles Carroll, Denis Cahill (priest,) James McClellan, John Adams, James McCardell, Jos. Clark and Wm. Clark, of Washington Co., and to the survivors and their heirs in trust, is dated May 25th, 1794 ; recorded in liber H, folio 847 to 849 ; property given for the nominal sum of five shillings. From this time until about 1820, the church was at first served by Father Cahill and other priests who did missionary work in the country bordering the Potomac and Shenandoah ; after them ■ & ULV. ^ WUV-W.^V, m.-l ^,V...* U ^VU,I. , CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 117 by Father Zocchi, of Taneytown, and the Frederick and Mountain priests. Father Cahlll left Baltimore for Ireland in the spring of 1806, and died there in 1817. As a mis- sionary priest his labors were equal to those of the Conewa- go Fathers and Maryland Jesuits, and we regret that so little information of his life can be obtained. Rev. Timothy Ryan took charge of the Hagerstown church in 1822. The old log church, which stood where the main building of the " presbytery " now stands, was removed and a new church built. The corner-stone was laid July 4th, 1825. He attended the congregation while the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was being built, and labored during the cholera of 1833 ; died June 2d, 1837. Rev. Geo. M. Guth succeeded until 1844, latter part, when Father Henry Myers came. He took charge of Hagerstown and the missions Aug. 15th, 1845. In this year he was taken seriously ill, and re- ceived the last Sacraments from Rev. Charles Stonestreet, S. J. The deed of the Williamsport church is recorded in liber I N, No. 10, fol. 110, and is from Robert Lemon, executor of Peter Light, to Rt. Rev. F. P. Kenrick and his successors, for $1,000 ; dated Dec. 8th, 1854, delivered to Father Myers Sept, 4th, 1856. Rev. Joseph Maguire was assistant to Father Myers in 1851, and died Sept. 18th, 1852, buried in front of the church where a monument marks his grave. Father Myers left about Nov., 1857 ; Rev. George Flaut left in July, 1858 ; Rev. Edmund Didier left Sept., 1861 ; Rev. John Gloyd attended from Hancock until Dec, 1861, when Rev. Malachy Moran, O. S. B., took charge. He left about the middle of 1864, succeeded by Thos. McDonough, S. J., from Frederick ; Rev. Aloysius Janalick, S. J., left in the summer of 1865, and was succeeded by Rev. Ed. Didier, who remained until May 7th, 1868. 118 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF 1867, Aug, 17, deed from Charles Tieman and G. R. Tieman his wife, to Rev. Ed. Didier, James I. Hurley, Jacob A. Wright, Jerome B. McClery, Jacob H. Wills and John Eck, trustees of St. Mary : s Church at Hagerstown, which includes church property and priest's house. The survivor of the original trustees of May 5, 1794, was Luke Tieman, and from him the legal title descended to Charles Tieman. Deed from Dennis and Margaret Galvin, of St. Louis, to same trustees, for the school house, afterwards sold to C. V. R. R. for depot, is dated Aug, 21st, 1867. The deed for all the church property, from the trustees to Most Rev. M. J. Spal- ding, and his successors the Archbishops of Baltimore, is recorded in liber I N, No. 18, fols. 693 to 696. The church property became invested in Rev. Ed. Didier and five trus- tees, according to article 26, sec. 88 to 101, of the Public General Laws. The number of trustees was increased to seven and the pastor. By the agreement of March 25th, 1875, Rev. J. M. Jones, J. F. Smith, Jacob A. Wright, P. M. John, H. H. Keedy, James I. Hurley, C. B. Boyle and W. F. Orndorf became trustees. Rev. John M. Jones became pastor May 7th, 1868, — Father Didier leaving the next clay for St. Peter's, Baltimore. Father Myers introduced the new pastor at High Mass. There was then need of church and house improvements, furniture, and repairs, which were made by degrees. The mission then consisted of Hagerstown, Williamsport, Boonsboro, and Smith- burg. Clearspring was given to Rev. M. Daush, of Hancock. First Fair held in Lyceum Hall in Nov., 1868 ; the proceeds, $1900, expended in repairing church and furnishing house. Gas was put in the church in May, 1869. June 6th, 1869, mission commenced by Revs. Wayrich, Gross and O'Dono- hue, C. S. S. R. Wayrich was an eloquent speaker. There were several converts and 320 Communicants. The congre- gation gave the missionaries $180 at their departure. Rev. CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 119 Michael Daush left Hancock in the spring of 1861, when Father Jones was given the whole mission, including Little Orleans, afterward attached to Cumberland, with Rev. Chas. Darner as assistant. The Booonsboro church was built by Dr. Josiah Smith, with money, left by Dr. Otho Smith. Aug. 22, 18G9, Forty Hours, Fathers T. Lee and John Kain, of Harper's Ferry, assisted. Festival held in Williams- port ; $175 cleared ; expended for organ ; congregation there small and poor. Dec. 22d, Jubilee began in Hagerstown, Revs. Richard Barry, of Harrisburg, and F. Fields, of Cham- bersburg, assisted ; 280 Communicants ; Jubilee followed at Hancock and Clearspring — 180 Com. at former, 49 at latter place. June 10th, 1870, Corpus Christi ; began addition to church in Hagerstown, Mr. Frederick, Baltimore, brother of Father Frederick, architect ; Oliver, contractor. Old school house and lot sold to C. V. R. R, for $3000 ; rest of money raised by subscription. Mission divided in Nov., Father Ryan took Hancock, Father Jones the rest. Jan., 1871, church in Hagerstown dedicated by Father Myers, who said High Mass ; Rev. D. Lyman preached ; Forty Hours followed held by Revs. S. F. Ryan and John Kain. While church was being repaired. Mass said in Miss Eliza Monahan's house, Franklin Street. Faster morning this year, 105 Communi- cants. Sept. 28, 1871, Rev. J. M. Jones returned to St. Peter's, Balto. Rev. D. DeWulf succeeded ; Rev. S. F. Ryan changed from Hancock to Cumberland about this time. — Rev. C. Darner appointed to Hancock. 1873, Sept.. Arch. Bayley administered Confirmation. 1874, Jan. 25 to 29 — Rev. J. J. Kain, of Flarper's Ferry, gave mission at Wil- liamsport ; when Rev. John Boetzkes, of Chambersburg, assisted ; 72 Com. 1873, July 21st, Father Myers died at St. Vincent's. Baltimore, buried on the 24th. 1873. Oct. 14 — Rev. Jones returned to Hagerstown as pastor ; Rev. DeWulf left next day for St. Matthew's, Wash. 1874, Jan. 12 to 13, Dr. Chapelle, of St. Joseph, Baltimore, gave two lectures for 120 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF Altar Society. Aug. 28, Sisters of St. Joseph came to open school ; small house rented for them from Mr. Keerl. Mother Liguori taught small boys ; Sister Angela, head of the school ; Sister Basil, small children. Sister Winfred, lay Sister — "all strangers to each other and to us." Congrega- tion furnished house, paid $200 rent, $200 to Sisters and $200 to Chestnut Hill for Novitiate ; Priest has all responsi- bility of collecting money and attending to material prosper- ity of the school. This was the arrangement made by Moth- er St. John and approved by Arch. Bayley. 1874. Fair Oct. 13; $1089.05 realized; went to pay $1300 debt remaining from church repairs. Jan. 19, F. X. Boyle, of Washington, lectured for benefit of school. Sisters moved into new house, purchased from Mr. Ogilly at a cost of $6,750. Additions made in summer of 1875, Property held in name of Trustees. Sept. 17, Arch. Bayley confirm- ed at Hagerstown, and at Williamsport, Miss Eliza Mona- han died in November ; left $1000 for marble altar ; money was needed at the time and put in school building. [Father Manley, present pastor, intends to have marble altar erected in accordance with bequest.] 1875. Upstairs of priest's house improved. Sept. 19 to 26th, Revs. Wayrich and Oberhart, C. S. S. R., gave mis- sion. Fair in Williamsport Dec. 23d ; proceeds $700 ; con- gregation began to tear down church, walls were giving away ; Arch. Bayley added $100 ; men gave their labor free ; church so far completed fourth Sunday in July, 1870, as to have Mass for the first time ; during building services were held in public hall. Mr. Eli Stake generously undertook building, without charge for his work ; congregation worked well, and gave according to means ; dedication deferred to spring of '77 for want of funds. 1876. Strawberry festival held in Hagerstown, June 10 to 13th ; $145.14 made. July 4th, bell rung for Centen- nial, and High Mass. July 19, picnic for Williamsport church, — $147.96. Aug.— addition of second and third CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 121 stories to school building at Hagerstown ; cost $300 ; Heil contractor. Nov. — Fair in new church, Williamsport, $562 realized ; good fair, well conducted ; Mrs. Barry obtained her- self all articles on her table. Christmas, — James I. Hurley presented Hagerstown church with handsome pair twelve- light candelabra. 1877. Easter, 106 Communicants. April 2d, concert by Dr. Dielman ; cleared $42.25. April 29, Williamsport Church dedicated by Rev. J. J. Kain, of Wheeling, W. Va. ; Mass by Rev. Desire De Wulf ; Rev. S. F. Ryan. Deacon ; Thomas Fleming, Sub-Deacon ; present, Revs. J. O'Sullivan, [now Bishop of Mobile,] and C. Darner. Mercadantes Mass iri'B flat ; Bishop Kain preached, Heb. xii.. 22-24. In even- ing. Rev. J. O'Sullivan, of Westernport, preached in Hagers- town. May 6, — Forty Hours same place, Father Watterson, Mt. St. Mary's, preached ; Rev. C. P. O'Connor, from Over- brook, and Revs, (iloyd and Kaelin assisted. Nov. 25, — St. Catharine's Day ; great flood of Potomac ; water higher at Williamsport than since 1852 ; houses and barns and C. V. R. R. bridge swept away. Oct. 3d, — bell tolled from 9 to 10 p. m., for death of Arch. Bayley ; news of his death not received until evening. Last of Sept.,— collected $100 on Williamsport Church debt, balance $300. Oct. 13th,— High Mass of Requiem at Hagerstown for Arch. Bayley. Nov. 27, — fair for Sisters' school ; almost all articles came from Rev. C. P. O'Connor and from Visitation Convent, George- town, and from Sisters of St. Joseph. Dec. 25, — Rev. Jones, pastor, sick ; Rev. Fowler sang Mass. 1878. Rev. J. P. Casey came as assistant at Hagers- town. March 2d ; left April 22d. Rev. John M. Jones went to Europe, May 4th ; returned Sept. 20 ; Charles Stonestreet, S. J., supplied. New Missal purchased in Oct., for $22. New cope and white vestment arrived from Toulouse, France. Thanksgiving Dinner in Williamsport cleared $67. Dec. — Rev. DeWitt, S. J., of Frederick, assisted at Christmas ; new vestments used for first time. Dec. 23d, new furnace put in 122 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF Williamsport Church at a cost of $110. 1879. March 11th, Forty Hours at Williamsport, Revs. Fleming and Darner assisted. May 4th, Arch. Gibbons con- firmed 61 at Hagerstown, 23 converts ; preached in evening on the Infallibility ; large attendance. Sixteen persons en- tertained at dinner by pastor. Very Rev. O'Connor sang Mass. May 5th, 19 confirmed at Williamsport, 5 converts. Mr. Victor Cushwa gave dinner to Archbishop and clergy. May 11th, Forty Hours at Hagerstown ; sermons by Revs. C. Darner, J. O'Sullivan, and T. Lee ; Rev. J. Kaelin finished Devotions ; Jubilee followed ; Sermon in German, about the last here, by Rev. Smith, of Frostburg ; 300 Com. During month of Oct., Rev. Jones resigned on account of ill health ; acceptance from Feb. 1st, 1880 ; Rev. J. A. Frederick suc- ceeded. 1879, Dec. 25th, C. Stonestreet, S. J., assisted ; Dec. 28th, fine sermon by the same, on the Immortality of the Soul. 1883, Jan. 25th, Rev. H. Voltz succeeded Father Frederick ; introduced Jan. 28th. May 20th, Forty Hours, present Revs. Gloyd, Delane} 7 , Meade and McKeefry ; 230 Com. June 28th, Commencement of St. Joseph's Academy. July 15, began new story on school building. Sept. 4th, fair for school ; proceeds $1500. Sept. 4th, Dr. Josias Smith, trustee, died ; buried on the 7th, large funeral. 1884, Feb. 10th. Mission by Lazarist Fathers, Leievre and Krabler ; 400 Coin. April 10 and 11, office of Tenebrae for first time in many years. April 13th, Easter, meeting of church mem- bers ; decided to put new roof on church and another story on house ; improvements begun in May, completed in June. July 27th, Arch. Gibbons preached and confirmed. 1885. Rev. Henry Voltz left Jan. 1 6th ; was succeeded by Rev. D. Manley ; who was met and welcomed by members of the congregation and Father Meade, of Williamsport. Father Manley is an earnest and prudent worker, and a kind priest. During the summer of 1885, he said Mass at Pen-Mar, a summer resort on the Blue Ridge. The Hagerstown Mission is now divided ; Rev. Manley attending points nearest Ha- CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 123 gerstown ; Rev. Meade those near Williamsport, and Rey. Peter Weider at Hancock. " Father Myers was one of the most highly esteemed pastors of the church." He was born at the " Seminary Farm," Conewago, Adams Co., Pa., in 1806 ; studied at St. Mary's, Baltimore ; educated by the Sulpitians, and ordained in 1830. He was stationed at St. Patrick's Church, Wash- ington, then at Cumberland where he built a church. After laboring twelve years at Ha gerstown, he went to Pikesville, Balto. Co., Mel. In 1860, he succeeded Rev. Leonard Ober- myer as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul's in Baltimore, and died there in July, 1873. The Hagerstown missions are also greatly indebted to the labors of Father Jones, whose memo- ry is cherished with love and veneration. Among the church improvements in 1870, was the erec- tion of the present beautiful steeple, crowned with a large cross. YORK AND OTHER CHURCHES. York, a growing city on the banks of the Codorus, in York Co., Pa., is a place full of historic interest. The Con- tinental Congress, driven from Philadelphia b}^ the British invasion, retired to -'York Town," Sept. 30th, 1777, and held its sessions there until June 27th, 1778. Here was printed the first Continental Money ; Philip Livingston, one of the New York delegates, died here June 11th, 1778, and was buried in the German Reformed graveyard ; John Han- cock resigned his presidency of Congress at York, and Henry 124 CONEWAGO-A COLLECTION OF Laurence elected in his place ; early in Nov J 1777, -Col. Wilkinson brought despatches to Congress at York, announc- ing Burgoyne's surrender; Lafayette was /appointed to the command of a division in the Continental Army, and Baron Steuben's offer of service was accepted here. While in ses- sion at York, an unsuccessful attempt was made by Gen. Conway and others to displace Gen. Washington and put Gen. Gates in his place ; Lafayette discovered and exposed the plot. " Pulaski's Legion " .made York its place of ren- dezvous while preparing to march South ; leaving York in March, 1779 ; Count Pulaski fell in an unsuccessful assault on the British at Savannah, Oct. 3d of that year. A battal- ion of French troops known as " Armand's Legion," was quartered at York from Jan. to Nov.. 1783. We have a copy of a letter of thanks from the citizens of York, to " Brigadier Gen. Armand, Marquis De La Rouerie," for the kind services, aid and protection of his troops to the country and to the town, dated Nov. 18th, 1783 ; and his reply to it dated the 19th, when he says his troops and himself are pre- paring to return to their country, and oiler their services to America whenever in need of assistance, signed "Armand, Marquis De La Rouerie." Mr. Griffin, in his recent sketches of Catholicity in Philadelphia, makes mention of Count Ar- mand, and if we mistake not, says he died at that place. Another distinguished personage at York at that time and afterward, was Baron de Beelen Bertholf, Belgian minister to this country, also a Catholic, of whom we will be able to give further particulars. There is no record that there were any Chaplains with the troops quartered at York. The Catholics at that time were attended by the Conewago missionaries, at first every sixth week, and later every fourth Sunday. April 17th, 1750, John Moore entered his name for a lot marked No. 295, in the general plan of the town of York, founded and situated on the cast side of Beaver Street, con- taining in breadth north and south, 57 feet and 6 inches, and in length to a 20-foot alley, 230 feet. June 20th of the same CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 125 year, Moore sold to Casper Stillinger, who built a dwelling house on the lot. The property passed from the possession of the Stillinger heirs to Joseph Smith, May 4th, 1770, who purchased it for the use of the Catholic congregation, pre- senting it to that body and for that purpose. The house was converted into a place of religious worship and used as such until 1810, when the old stone dwelling was torn clown and a brick church was built on the same site. A deed was given to perfect the title, by Hons.' John and Richard Penn, by their attorney John R. Coates, "to the Reverend Thomas Neale, (should have been Francis, Provincial of the Jesuits at that time,) in trust for the Roman Catholic Congregation of York Town/' dated June 2d. 1808, for the nominal sum of five shillings, conveying Lot No. 295, on Beaver St., York, to Rev. Thomas (Francis) Neale, intrust. &c, "it being the same lot whereon a chapel is erected. " The first resident priest at York was Rev. Lorence Huber, who came there in Dec, 1819, and remained six months. Rev. George D. Hogan came in the summer of 1820 ; Rev. P. J. Dween in the summer of 1822. and was there yet in 1834. The name of the church was St. Patrick's. We have been unable to obtain the names of succeeding priests. In 1850, Rev. Father Hatting, from Conewago, built a Catholic Church at York. He was probably the last of the Jesuits attending that place. When Fathers Enders and Deneckere were first sent on the Conewago missions, they attended York ; so did Father Cotting and others. In. 18G0, Rev. Silvester Eagle was pastor of St. Patrick's, and Revs. Mat. J. Meurer and John Vollmeyer in charge of the Immaculate Conception church. In 1877, Father Kennedy was pastor of St. Patrick's, and John Geo. Pape of St. Mary's. There were different pastors at various times, whose names we have not. The Catholic Church at York is very flourishing. Resides churches and pastoral residences, there are large and well attended schools, taught by the Sisters ; and three strong Beneficial Societies. There are several missions outside of York. Father Huber 126 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF is pastor at Shrewsbury. Rev. Pape is still pastor of St. Mary's. He has just completed a very handsome church at a cost of $47,000. The corner-stone was laid May 25th r 1884. The church was dedicated May 25th, 1885. The dedicatory services were conducted by Rev. J. F. Shanahan, Bishop of Harrisburg. A Grand High Mass followed, Rev. Koppernagle, of Harrisburg, Celebrant, assisted by Rev. Louis Grotenmeyer, of Lancaster ; Rev. Michael Reily, of Columbia ; Rev. J. A. Huber, of New Freedom, Master of Ceremonies. Rev. Joseph Wissel, of Annapolis, who was a former pastor of both York churches, preached a sermon in German. There were present the following clergymen : Revs. J. G. Pape, Pastor; James Gormley, of Bonneauville ; J. A. Boll, of Gettysburg ; Wm. Pieper, of Columbia ; John Koeper, of Williamsport ; Clement Schleuter, of Chambers- burg. The church is of brick, built in the Gothic style ; 129 by 57s feet, with two side towers 70 feet each and a centre steeple of 185 feet. The interior has stained memorial win- dows, three altars, is tastefully ornamented and furnished with steam heat and a $3,000 organ. The new church walls were built up around the old church, in which services were held at the time. Father Pape is a hard-working priest — He visited Europe several years ago. Rev. John Shanahan was the late pastor of St. Patrick's, resigning in Aug., 1885. and going to Rome to further prosecute his studies in philos- ophy and theology. Rev. O'Reilley, of Shamokin, succeeded in September. A sketch of St. Mary's, prepared by a committee of St. Patrick's Society,— Messrs. J. C. Maguire, Henry Boll. J. H. Garrety, John Mayer, Wm. Chambers and M. M. Little,— furnishes us with the following facts in the history of that church. The Germans were long deprived of the blessings of religion in their native tongue, and were often obliged to go to Conewago and Baltimore to make their confessions. — CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 127 Rev. Shorb, an American of German parentage, was pastor of St. Patrick's for a short while, with great satisfaction to the Germans. Bishop Kenrick sent a German from Cone- wago, Rev. Jacob Cotting, in 1851-2. Bishop Neuman sep- arated the two congregations. The Germans then purchased an acre of ground on the Baltimore pike for a cemetery, which was blessed June 27th, 1852. At the same time, a lot, 140 feet front and 220 deep, was purchased on South George Street, for a church, the corner-stone of which was laid July 25th, of that year. By the united efforts of pastor and congregation, a brick church, 42x80 feet, was erected by Oct. 25th, when the august sacrifice of the Mass was celebra- ted in it for the first time. An organ and a bell were pro- cured in 1853. A school-house was built soon after adjoin- ing the church. Rev. Cotting came twice a month. Rev. J. Wachter, a newly ordained priest, a Tyrolean by birth, be- came the first resident pastor July 4th, 1853. He was a faithful and zealous pastor, and was assisted by Rev. F. Ru- dolph, who attended the country missions. In 1843, through the efforts of a Catholic gentleman named Muller, from Bad- en, Germany, a church was built at New Freedom, nineteen miles south of York. Bishop Kenrick gave the building of it to the Redemptorists. Revs. Kronenberger and Neuman, (afterwards Bishop of Philadelphia,) had charge of St. John's Church, New Freedom, for several years. It was then at- tended from St. Mary's, York. In 1850, the few Catholics around Dallastown built a substantial stone church, which was served from the same place. After the removal of Rev. Kuntzer from York, Rev. Wachter was assisted Rev. F. X. Tryer, who succeeded him at his death in 1859. Rev. Tryer was a native of Switzerland ; he was succeeded by Rev. M. Meurer, a native of Wurtemburg, who remained until Oct., 1861. Rev. Joseph Hamm, from Baden, succeeded him, and in 1863 built a two-story brick parsonage adjoining the church, at a cost of about $4,000. Rev. B. Baummaster, a native of Muenster, had charge from 1866 to 1868. In Nov. 128 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION" OF of that year, Rev. J. G. Pape, also a native of Westphalia, was transferred from Ashland to York. In 1869, he built a new brick school-house on the lot in the rear of the church, and this year completed a magnificent new church edifice. — He is a very active and energetic man, both in spiritual and temporal matters. The Sisters of St. Francis, of Philadel- phia, have been in charge of the school, which has a large attendance. They have been faithful teachers. The Diocese of Philadelphia was divided in 1868, when that city became an Archiepiscopal See. At the formation of the Diocese of Harrisburg, Rev. J. F. Shaiiahan was con- secrated its Bishop, over which he now presides. The dio- cese was extensive enough, but poor in churches and religious work. New congregations were organized, churches built, schools established and priests ordained, and now everywhere are evidences of his zeal and labor. For a number of yenrs the good Bishop has been trying to establish a Diocesan Seminary, and we trust his object will be accomplished be- fore lie is called to his reward. We know very little of the early Catholic history of Harrisburg. It came within the limits of the missions already outlined, and whatever Catho- lics were scattered through this section of the Cumberland Valley, were ministered to by the early Jesuit missionaries. St. Patrick's Church was built in 1826, by Rev. Michael Curran. Rupp, in his history of Dauphin County, about 1840, says it is a beautiful edifice, with a handsome tower and a large bell, situated on State Street, between Second and Third. Its size is about 50x75 feet, and cost $7,000. — It was consecrated Oct, 2d, 1827, by Rt, Rev. Henry Con- well, Bishop of Philadelphia, St. Patrick's became the pro- Cathedral in 1808, and was enlarged and improved in 1874, dedicated July 12th, live Bishops being present and a num- ber of priests. Rev. John Foley succeeded Rev. Curran. — A German priest from York attended the Germans for a time. They have a church now. Father Koppernagle labored very hard in its interest. There is also a church at Steelton. CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 129 Rev. Pierce Mather was pastor of St. Patrick's for many years. He was a priest of more than ordinary zeal and abil- ity ; a learned and generous man, well-known in religious circles, and at his death the church paid him distinguished funeral honors by the presence of many priests and several Bishops. He was born April 6th, 1812, near Clonmel, Ire- land ; studied for the priesthood under Bishop Kenrick ; or- dained May 25th. 1837. He labored at Harrisburg from that time until the arrival of Bishop Shanahan in 18G8, when he was sent to Norristown, where he died Dec. 28th. 1873. — Father Mather improved or rebuilt partly the church at Car- lisle. He may well be ranked with the most zealous and faithful missionaries of Southern Pennsylvania. The Conewago Jesuits had a lot and chapel at Carlisle, long before 1800. Sherman Day, in his Collections, says the Jesuits had a small log church there. The present brick church was built in 1807, and enlarged in 1823. There is an old graveyard attached to the church, and no doubt many interesting facts of Catholic history might be gathered from the place. It was occasionally visited by the Fathers on the Catholic missions in Western Pennsylvania. In 18G9 Father Kelly attended Carlisle from Chambersburg. The present pastor is Rev. McKenna. There is a fine brick parsonage adjoining the church. — The church bears evidence of age. Rev. Huber, of the York missions, has lately been transferred to Carlisle. The early Jesuit missionaries also had a log church at Chambersburg before 1800, where the present stone church stands, built in 1812. There are several old missions belong- ing to the Chambersburg charge, one in Path Valley, at Waynesboro. The Mountain Church, and at adjoining towns. The present pastors are Revs. Schleuter and Kaelin. THE KEYSER CHURCH. Keyser is situated on the T5. & O. R. R„ 215 miles from 130 CONBWAGO— A COLLECTION OF Baltimore. It was formerly called New Creek, and was a place of little note until the B. & 0, made it their Second terminal division in 1874. The Catholic mission was opened by Rt. Rev. J. O'Sullivan, Bishop of Mobile, Ala., then pastor of Westernport, five miles west of Keyser. Owing to a want of priests in his diocese, Bishop McGill could not supply either Keyser or Piedmont, a large and prosperous town across the Potomac River from Westernport. Father O'Sullivan began the erection of a little church in Sept., 1874. At that time, Mrs. Thompson, a widow with six orphans, were the only Catholics in the town. Terence Corrigan and Daniel Maloney then lived about a mile east of the town. These three fami- lies comprised the congregation. The carpenter work was begun Sep. 14th, and the first Mass was said Sep. 20th. The little church stands almost on the very spot where Col. James A. Mulligan, Twenty-Third Illinois Volunteers, Irish Brigade, erected a temporary chapel during the late war, in which Dr. Butler, of Chicago, officiated. Rev. H. J. McKeefry, of the Richmond Diocese, took charge of the congregation Dec 19th, 1875, then numbering 225 persons. During his pastorate, besides paying off a debt of $443 ; Father McKeefry enlarged the church to twice its original size, and erected a parsonage. He also organized a school, which he himself taught for five months. This good priest suffered many privations, for shortly after his arrival the terminal division of railroad was removed back to Piedmont, leaving scarcely a dozen families to main- tain a priest. But this true shepherd remained with his little flock, when finally the railroad shops were again located at Keyser. After a successful pastorate of nearly three } T ears, Rev. McKeefry was succeeded in Oct. 1878, by Rev. P. Fitz- simmons, assistant pastor at Staunton, Father McKeefry tak- ing his place. During Rev. Fitzsimmons' pastorate the church at Paw-Paw, Morgan Co., (Keyser is in Mineral Co..) West Ta., 48 miles east, was assigned to Keyser as an auxiliary mission. After carrying on the work of his predecessors for nearly two years, Father Fitzsimmons was called to his eter- CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 131 nal rest Aug. 4th, 1880. He is buried in St. Joseph's Ceme- tery, Martinsburg, where a neat marble stone marks his last resting place. After an interval of eight months, Rev. P. J. Hasty, assistant pastor of Lynchburg, Va., was called to take charge, April loth, 1881. This brilliant young priest, after a stay of four months, was removed to St. Vincent's Hospital, Norfolk, where he died Dec. 30th, 1881. from the effects of the amputation of his right leg, rendered necessary by an ab- scess from blood poisoning. In Aug., 1881, Rev. Eugene Mahony, assistant at Martinsburg, became pastor, who, during the short period of his stay, eight months, built a handsome parsonage and school house, the greater part of the work be- ing done by himself in person. He w T as recalled to his own Diocese, Brooklyn, in April, 1882. May 29th, 1882, Rev. H. .J. Cutlor took charge, and remained until Jan. 3d, 1883. He paid the remaining indebtedness, $700, incurred in build- ing the Pastor's house and the school house. Jan. 3d, 1883, Rev. Cutlor was transferred to Norfolk, as assistant to Rev. M. O'Keefe. On the same day, Rev. J. Frioli took charge of Keyser, and lias proven a faithful and worthy pistor, still presiding, Oct. 12th, 1885. In the Summer of 1882, a mis- sion was started in Elk Garden, a mining town, 13 miles from Piedmont, on the W. Ya. C. & P. R, R. Father Cutlor said Mass there several times. This mission is attended JVom Keyser. A church, 30x55 feet, was built there in the Fall of 1883. There are now 52 families, numbering about 270 souls. Besides Paw-Paw and Elk Garden, Catholic families, eleven in number, in Hampshire and Hardy Counties, W. Va., are ministered to several times a year by the Pastor of Keyser. During all these years, from 1876 to the present, a Catholic school has been maintained in Keyser, though the number of school children never exceeded 35. It is now taught by Miss Bee Ahem, of Martinsburg, where she was principal of the Catholic School for a number of }^ears, and also at Winches- ter. The Keyser congregation now numbers 51 families, and about 250 souls. At Paw-Paw there are eleven families and fifty-three souls. 132 COKEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF The Catholic church in West Virginia is just in its mis- sionary state, but great progress is being made everywhere. The Diocese of Wheeling will one clay be an important one. There are several fine churches in Wheeling, and a large re- ligious scholastic institution at Mt. cle Chantal. At Parkers- burg, Charleston, Clarksburg, Weston, Morgantown, Fairmont, and at most of the towns in the State, are flourishing Catholic congregations and zealous laborers. For want of missionary priests in the early settlement of this Little Mountain State, the church lost many of its faithful. Quite a number of Catholic families from Southern Pennsylvania settled through the Eastern Panhandle counties in the latter part of the last century and the beginning of the present. The Maryland and Conewago Jesuits followed them up as long as possible, but increasing age and labors, and removals by death, in course of time confined the limit of their ministry east of the Blue Ridge. The children of these emigrants, some in Hampshire and adjoining counties, drifted away from the faith through the negligence of their parents and the want of religious in- structions. The seed of faith is still there, and being now cultivated by good laborers, will bring an abundant harvest to the church. We have not time to extend our researches much farther. At Grafton, Taylor Co., 100 miles from Keyser, the Catholics are well established. St. Augustine's was the first religious organization in the town. Father Dillon celebrated Mass there in 1853. A church was built in 1850, and Revs. Cun- ningham and Malone visited the Catholics in the surrounding communities. The first church is now used as a parish school for the girls, and the first parsonage is now occupied as the Sisters' Home. Rev. Malone died and was buried there in 1867. Revs. Duffy and Welsh succeeded. Father Walters, a w r ealthy priest, built the present fine church at his own ex- pense in 1872. He died several years ago. Rev. Keleher took charge in 1879. Since that schools, societies and church work generally, have been carried on very prosperously. — There are a number of Sisters at the Home, Mother Staney, Superior. Sister Genevieve conducts an excellent music department. CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 133 THE MARTINSBURG CHURCH. When the Diocese of Richmond was divided in 1 850, Mar- tinsburg and a few adjoining churches in West Virginia fell to the old Diocese, and are now under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Richmond, Va. There were Catholics among the first settlers of the Shenandoah Valley, who crossed the Blue Ridge into Virginia from Maryland and Pennsylvania as early as 1750. Many of the early Catholics families have died out or removed farther Westward, and not a few turned their backs upon the religion of their fathers from wordly motives. There have been many converts to the church since the first establishment. The first missionaries through here came from Frederick, Taneytown and Conewago. Fathers Frambach, Gallitzin and Zocchi rode a circuit of two hundred miles be- fore 1800, which extended to Cumberland and south to Win- chester. There is a tradition that French priests traveled through this valley, doing missionary work among the Indians. We have not been able to trace anything positive of them, except in regard to the Abbe Jean Dubois, who landed at Norfork in 1791, traveling from there to Frederick and on to the mountains where he founded Mt. St. Mary's. It is evident that he said Mass in the house of the McSherry's, who were among the first Catholic settlers of this valley ; and also with a family in the vicinity of what is now known as Orleans Church, where there was an old log church at an early day. The tradition of the French priests may also refer to Brad- dock's expedition, and the French and Indian wars at that time, and later to the French allies under Washington, as many of the troops in those wars traversed this country, and where there were French soldiers there were Catholic priests. Another priest who did active missionary work through this valley, from Hagerstown to Winchester and from PVed- erick and Micldleway to Martinsbiirg and West, was Rev. Denis Cahill. Business transactions also called him here as 134 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF early as 1800, as some of the law proceedings in the Berkeley Courts will show. He celebrated Mass in a private house from time to time, until the spring of 1806. when he left for his native Ireland. It is said the first marriage celebrated in Martinsburg was by Father Cahill, and that it caused consid- erable interest among Protestants, who at that time yet en- tertained peculiar ideas about the appearance of Catholic priests. It is very likely, therefore, that he also said Mass in Martinsburg, either at the McSherry's or at the house of John Timmons. It is the supposition of some that Father Carroll visited this section, but there is no record of his labors except at Middleway. Richard McSherry, Sr., had a homestead near there, called "Retirement Farm,"' which was a well-known stopping place for the missionary priests before 1800. He was born in 1747, died in 1822. Wm. McSherry was also born in that year, died in ] 834 ; they were probably broth- ers' children. Richard McSherry, Jr., lived in Martinsburg, nearly opposite the present Catholic Church. The Catholics were attended occasionally by priests from Frederick and Hagerstown. Mass was said in the house of John Timmons for the period of nineteen years, probably from about 1810 to near 1830. From the time Father Cahill left, 1806, to about 1820, we can ascertain nothing definite, but are of the opinion that several priests on the Maryland missions passed through the valley occasionally. In those early days before there were churches or congregations, the missionaries had different points through the country which they visited, where Mass was said, and baptisms and marriages and other ceremonies of the church performed. These places were mostly the houses of well known Catholic families. Priests from Georgetown may have been occasionally called to these places by sickness or death. The name of Anthony Kohlman is remembered by some. — He was Superior of the Maryland Missions in 1817, and Rec- tor of Gonzaga College in 1821. From the baptismal registers we gather some names and dates, which are reliable as far as CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 135 they go. The missionary field to which Martinsburg belonged, was extensive, and it is not likely that the priests were resi- dent anywhere much before 1840. To give some idea of the extent, there are entries of baptisms, marriages and deaths at the following places, taking them as they come : Harper's Ferry, near Clarksburg, Valley River, North River, Bath, Upper Dam, Martinsburg, Leetown, Dugan's, Waterford, Smithfield, Sleepy Creek, Hillsboro, Shepherdstown, Boland's, Winchester, Lovettsville, Loudon Co. Frederick Co., Wash- ington Co., Warren Co., Romney, Hampshire Co., Berkeley and Jefferson, Front Royal, Strasburg, &c. This was especi- ally the field covered by Father Whelan, though Father Plunkett yet attended many of these places. Is there not a priest or anyone -in the Virginias who will do justice to the life and labors of Richard Whelan ? For many years he kept the faith alive from the Ohio to the boundaries of the Poto- mac and the Shenandoah. He traversed hills and mountains, through rain and shine and cold and heat ; many a death-bed was gladdened by his presence, many a heart made happy and a soul saved through his labors. Great and grand was his charity, sincere his life and disinterested his sacrifices, for he sought no temporal reward and received no earthly pay. He is the Frambach or the Gallitzin of the Virginias. Though a stranger to us in a strange country, his life's work challenges our admiration. The first record is that of Rev. James Redmond, May 30th, 1819, and his last Aug. 13th, 1821. In 1820, Father Redmond married a couple " in the chapel room." Whether he commenced the building of the old stone church, is not known. Rev. John Mahoney's name appears in 1822. Then there is no record until 1834, in which year are the names of Revs. Geo. Flautt and Francis B. Jamison. In 1835, the lat- ter baptized eight children, slaves, the property of Miss Ann O'Neal, of Montgomery Co. Rev. Richard Whelan's name appears Jan. 3d, 1835, and continuously until 1840. In 1838, there is the name of an assistant, Rev. Jos. Strain. Rev. P 136 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF Danaher signs himself temporary pastor in 1841. Rev. John O'Brien pastor from 1842 to ; 44, and occasionally in '45, 6 and 7. Rev. Jos. H. Plunkett was pastor continuously from 1844 to 1851 ; from that year until 1853, Rev. Andrew Talty was with him; from that time until Jan. 5th, 1856, Rev, Plunkett's name appears alone. Sept. 19th, 1845, baptism in Moorefield by Bishop Whelau. After he was Bishop of Rich- mond he traveled through Western Virginia more like a mis- sionary than a Bishop, and there are baptismal and marriage records by him as Bishop on many of the missions. There is the signature of Rev. A. Grogan once or twice from 1848 to '52. The only Jesuits whose names are found are Fathers Ciampi and Bague, about 1850. Rev. Father Leitte signed in 1 854. Bishop McGill baptized Joseph Plunkett, of Mobile, in 1851.. Rev. L. E.Leonard took charge Feb. 1st, 1856, remaining a few months. Rev. Andrew Talty was pastor from that until 1860, with the names, occasionally, of Revs. Plunkett and W. Kenney. Rev. Thos. A. Becker was pastor from Jan. 1860, until 1863. So much for the records. The date of the erection of the first church building is put by some at 1828 ; others make it 1830, by Father Red- mond. He must have been a Virginia priest, as his name is strange to us. There were about fifty Catholic families here, who aided liberally in the work, as did also their Protestant friends. The church cost about $4,000, and was located on the ground of the present Catholic Cemetery. He was called to Rome, before the church was completed. He died there, much beloved and regretted by the Catholics of Virginia. Rev. Patrick Kelley was appointed Bishop of Richmond when the Diocese was formed in 1820. He resided at Nor- folk. The Laity's Directory of 1822, says that the Catholics of Martinsburg, Winchester, Bath, and Shepherdstown were formerly attended by priests from Maryland, but in the future would be in charge of the priest stationed at Winchester. — Rev. J. B. Gildea attended the missions from 1830 until 1835. . Besides completing the Martinsburg Church, he built St. Peter's CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 137 at Harper's Ferry, and St. Vincent's in Baltimore. His name is not on the records. Rev. Richard Vincent Whelan took charge in 1836, remaining four years. He was a noble priest and a true missionary. He was the second Bishop of Richmond, consecrated March 31st, 1841. In 1846, he visited Wheeling, and seeing the great need of laborers in the vine- yard at that place, he never returned to his See. He became the first Bishop of Western Virginia, and labored, died and is buried at W neeling. Rev. John McGill became Bishop of Richmond in 1850. The Rt. Rev. James Gibbons, now Arch- bishop of Baltimore, succeeded him in 1872. Bishop Keane is the present prelate in charge of the Diocese, a very elo- quent and learned man, much beloved by priests and people. Rev. John Kain succeeded Bishop Whelan in the West Vir- ginia Diocese. His parents resided in Martinsburg, where he spent his childhood years. He had three sisters, one living, one in religion, and another one died from the fright of sol- diers entering the house during the war. His aged mother has just been buried at Wheeling; she was in her 81st year, and came to Martinsburg from Ireland fifty years ago. Rev. J. O'Brien succeeded Father Whelan as pastor at Martinsburg. about 1840, and remained seven years. Rev. J. H. Plunket was sent in 1845, who commenced the erection of the present St. Joseph's Church on South Queen St. The subscription paper is dated Feb. 17th, 1850. The corner- stone was laid in 1850. The church was dedicated Sept. 30th, I860, by Bishop McGill ; it cost about $40,000. It is a very substantial building, with a beautiful marble altar. The plan of architecture provided for a steeple, the massive stone front at the church being intended for its foundations. It is said that the old church at Martinsburg was built by Rev. J. B. Gildea ; he may have finished it. St. Peter's Church, Harper's Ferry, was built by him. He attended Martinsburg and the missions along the canal route. He died in Baltimore and is buried under the altar in St. Vincent's Church. This priest frequently said Early Mass at the Ferry,. 138 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF then rode on horse back to Martinsburg and said Late Mass. The Frederick priests attended Harper's Ferry for many years. It is related that some fanatical Virginians in pursuit of Rev. James Frambach, S. J., made him swim his horse across the Potomac, under fire of their guns. As we have seen, Harper's Ferry was served by many priests who attended Martinsburg and the other missions. So was Shepherdstown, which has never yet had a church, services being held in private houses. An effort is now being made to build a church. Rev. Denis Cahill said Mass there before 1800. Among the late pastors of Harper's Ferry, are Revs. Kain, Van de Vyver, O'Reilley ; and Wilson, lately from Petersburg, Va. He has several missions in Loudon, Frederick and Jefferson Counties. The ground for the cemetery and old church at Martins- burg, was given by Richard McSherry. His house was a home for every one in need ; priests and people, all found in him a friend. Mrs. McSherry, (the Anastasia of Wizard Clip.) would send word far and wide to gather together the few Catholics, so they could receive the Sacraments. His charity was unbounded ; many a poor Irishman owes his start in life to him, and she was equally good to poor girls. Among the priests who occasionally attended Martins- burg from the Western Maryland missions were Revs. Flautt, Jamison and Myers, and perhaps others. Rev. John O'Brien left the Virginia Missions about 1858, and went to Lowell, Mass., where he died. The Sisters of Charity were establish- ed in Martinsburg many years ago, probably under Rev. Whelan ; they left for want of support, as the congregation was small and poor. One of the Sisters. (Victoria we believe,) died and was buried here, but whether she was afterwards removed to Emmettsburg we can not ascertain. Father Whelan was a hard worker. He fenced in the graveyard, and laid a stone walk from Pendleton's corner to the church- yard gate. With his own hands he made the large double cistern, still used at the new church. Unlimited was his care for the poor, for whom he solicited in person, and with his own CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 139 arms would take them wood and supplies, — when going to say Mass in early winter mornings, some poor widow would find an armful of wood at her door when she awoke. He would give when he was in want himself. Father Plunkett was also a faithful missionary priest. He began the stone work of the present church ; for want of means work was suspended and the walls covered over. He was removed to Portsmouth ; where he built, or partly so, a large church, and died there, much beloved by all who knew him. Rev. Andrew Talty, his assistant at Martinsburg, finished the church here as far as funds would allow. He put wooden steps before the church, which were replaced with stone by Rev. J. J. Kain, who also finished the basement. During the War it was used by the Jessie Scouts for a stable for sixty horses, and the sacristy rooms were used as prisons. Capt. Kyd Douglass was con- fined there six months. The church was only used twice by the soldiers, as the wooden steps were too frail and inconven- ient. Rev. Talty died in Washington, in the hospital. Bishop Becker was a convert under Father Plunkett ; he was bap- tized in Winchester, made his First Communion at the Ferry and was confirmed in St. John's (the old church,) Martinsburg, Nov. 6th, 1853, by Bishop John McGill. Bishop Kain was confirmed by the same in 1851. He was born "near Bath," (probably near North Mountain,) May 22d, 1840. His par- ents were Jeremiah and Ellen Kain. He was ordained about 1866. Bishop Becker was sent through the lines to Balti- more by Gen. Stevenson, for praying for President Davis. — He was ordained in Rome about 1860 ; became Bishop of Wilmington in ] 868. There is mention of Rev. E. O'Flaherty having been sent to Martinsburg in Jan., 1856, but nothing is known of him here, Rev. Oscar Sears succeeded Father Becker. He remained until compelled to leave by ill health, when he went to Lynch- burg, where he died Oct. 30th, 1867. He was a convert. — The present parsonage was purchased when he was pastor, in 140 CONE W AGO— A COLLECTION OF ] 866. Father Kain succeeded. He improved the church in many ways ; built the stone steps, finished the basement so it could be used for school rooms, frescoed the church, estab- lished parochial schools and paid off many debts. He built the present church at Berkeley Springs, which is also an old Catholic mission. It was famous for its springs before the Revolution, and the Carrolls, Washington and other great men visited the place. There was a brick church there before the present one was built, and before that an old log church. — There was a Jesuit priest named Brady had a property there, known as the priest's place. Some Sulpitians were also there vears ago. It is now attended several times a month by Rev. H. J. McKeefry, from Martinsburg. Rev. P. J. O'Keefe was for a time the assistant of Father Kain at Martinsburg. and succeeded him. Ill health compelled his removal. Rev. J. Kelley, of Richmond, took charge Jan. 19th, 1874 ; he continued the good work and paid off some of the debts. He was succeeded Nov. 8th, by Rev. C. Van Quackelburg, of Natchez, Tenn. He built the church at Paw- Paw, and made many improvements in Martinsburg. He re- turned to Natchez in 1877, and died there of Yellow Fever. He is kindly remembered as " Father Charles." Rev. John Docherty, of Warrenton, Va., followed and remained until 1880; paid off considerable of the debt, and was much be- loved and respected by the people. He is now stationed at St. Patrick's, Richmond. Rev. O'Donohue was an assistant of Father Kelley, and remained with Father Charles ; he was appointed pastor of Warrenton and surrounding missions. — Rev. J. B. O'Reilley then came for a short period. He then became pastor of Harper's Ferry, and is now at Winchester, where he succeeded the learned Dr. O'Connel, Secretary of the late Council of Baltimore and now Rector of the Ameri- can College at Rome. Rev. H. J. McKeefry, the present pastor, came from Norfolk in 1881. He was born at Kilsea, County Derry, Ireland ; took his classical course at Visnage College, Belfast ; CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 141 studied philosphy and theology at St. Vincent's College, Pa., and was ordained at St, Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, by Bishop Becker, June 28th, 1871, for the Richmond Diocese. He is a young man, full of energy and zeal in his church work. He is a prudent manager, a successful financier in the raising of money and the payment of purchasing and building prop- erty, — abilities that may point him out in course of time for more important ecclesiastical stations. He is well liked by his congregation, who work together with him in perfect harmony in all church work. Years ago there were a good many Germans in St. Jos- eph's congregation, but since the building the B. & 0. R. R. the Irish form the greater part of the congregation. Their native fidelity to the church shows itself here. They are mostly poor workers on the railroad and in the shops, but in raising a church subscription we have seen poor men sub- scribe far more than they were worth. We note this in vol- untary testimony to their liberality and their true Irish faith, which have always challenged the admiration of the christian world. In 1883, the Judge Hall property was purchased for $5,000 ; improvements costing $1500 were made and the school building remodeled this summer at a cost of $700. — Through the perseverance of the pastor and the generosity of the congregation, the whole amount has been paid. The par- ochial school was long taught in the basement of the church ; among the teachers were A. S. Goulden, D. C. Westenhaver, Mr. Kennedy, Miss B. Ahern, Miss Mary C. Doll, and others. The Sisters of Charity, from Emmittsburg, took charge Sept. 1st, 1 883. The school is very successful, there being about 200 children in attendance. The Sisters have a large music class, and teach other higher branches. They have an insti- tution beautifully situated, and every advantage and require- ment for a boarding school for young ladies. The church membership is 1500. There is a large Sunday-school attached to the church ; also Sodality of the Blessed Virgin, Sanctuary 142 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF Society, St.. Joseph's Cadet Corps, St. Patrick's and St. Jos- eph's I. C. B. U. Societies, a Widows' and Orphans' Fund So- ciety, Knights of America, and a Catholic Drum Corps. Ad- joining the church is a two-story residence for the pastor, which has been greatly improved this year. St. Joseph's Cemetery is a large burying ground, fronting Norborne. — Many of the old Catholics of the Valley are buried here. — There is a priest buried there, noted in the Keyset* Church record. A number of missions have been given from time to time at St. Joseph's : by the Jesuits Bernard Maguire and C. King, 1866; Fathers Shea, Gaveney and another Jesuit in 1868; Revs. Sourer, Kreuss and Furley in 1870, when a mission cross was erected in the church ; Revs. Ratki and Keitz after that ; Revs. Elliott and Smith, four years ago ; and two years ago by Revs. Doyle and Brady, Paulists. The Forty Hours were held Oct. 4th, 1885 ; Revs. McKeefry, Frioli, Weider, O'Reilley, present. Bishop O'Sullivan preached in the even- ing. There were 450 Communicants. Besides Berkeley Springs, the pastor of St. Joseph's oc- casionally says Mass at Rock Gap, in Mr. John Neary's house and at Mr. Michel's, in Morgan Co. ; at Charles Minghinni's and Mr. Thomas's, in Back Creek Valley. Berkeley Co. The erection of a steeple, according to the original design of St. Joseph's, is now in contemplation. This valley has given to religion a number of priests and sisters. Francis Patrick Duggan, a well-known Baltimore priest, was born near North Mountain, educated at St. Charles and St. Mary's Seminary, John Joseph Kain, now Bishop of Wheeling, was born along the B. & 0., near North Mountain, and his pious mother carried him from there to church at Martinsburg. She was a noble christian woman, true to the country of her birth in faith and every virtue. His father was injured on the railroad and is buried in St. Joseph's Cem- etery, so is his sister ; steps are being taken to remove their remains to Wheeling where the mother is buried. Bishop CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 143 Becker, though born in Pittsburg, spent his early life in the Shenandoah. John Boler, priest, was born near Kearneys- ville. August, son of Charles Thurael, now preparing for or- dination, was born in JVfartinsburg. Michael Ahern, student at St. Charles, also born here ; and Anthony McKeefry, student there, born in Ireland, is a brother of the pastor of St. Joseph's. James O'Farrel, Wm. Lynch, Edw. Tierney, and John Hagan, priests, were born at Harper's Ferrv. — Father Tierney was educated at the Propaganda and ordained at Home. Wm. Dubourg, son of Richard McSherry, born in Martinsburg in 1824, a Novice of the Society of Jesus, died at Georgetown in 1845, and is buried with his fathers in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Bernie Doll, brother of Mary Cecilia, a Sister, was born in Martinsburg. He deserves notice as a christian hero. During an epidemic of Yellow Fever at Shrieveport, La., he gave up a good business, accompanied the parish priest in his attendance upon the sick, and died at the bedside of the Yellow Fever patients. Sept. 7th, 1862, Albert, third son of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, was shot by the Confederates, near Darkesville, Berkeley County, and buried at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Martinsburg, Sept. 9th. Rev. M. Costello, D. D., was at Harper's Ferry in I860, and visited Winchester monthly, Martinsburg occasionally. He was a promising young Irish priest, educated at All-Hallows ; died at Harper's Ferry Feb. 17th, 1867, and is buried there. The following young ladies of the parish became Sisters : Rose McGeary, Sr. Elizabeth of the Good Shepherd ; Evaline Blondell, dec'd, Sr. Redempte, received at Philadelphia ; Car- oline Piet, dec'd, Sr. Samuel ; Rose Dunn, Frederick, Sr. Paula ; Ella Montague, Sr. Genevieve ; Maggie McDonald, Emmittsburg, Sr. Rose ; Mary C. Doll, Visitation, Wilmington, Del., Sr. Bernard ; Ella Kain, St. Joseph's, Wheeling, Sr. Jos- eph ; Susan V. Cunningham, Emmittsburg, Sr. Loretto ; Mol- lie O'Connors, Emmittsburg, now at Mt. Hope, Sr. Agnes ; also a Miss Neumann, niece of Father Plunkett, and a Miss Timmins. Bridget O'Leary. North Mountain, received at 144 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF Frederick, Sr. Madeline. Mary Hall, a convert, daughter of Capt. Hall, Supt. U. S. Armory, Harper's Ferry, joined the Sisters of Mercy at Wilmington, N. C, as Sr. Elizabeth. For considerable information concerning the Martinsburg Church, we are indebted to Mrs. Helen Scharman, a descend- ant of Anastasia McSherry, nee Lilly, mention of whom is made by Father Finoti, in his Clip book. She is an intelli- gent woman, having an extensive knowledge of early local church history, through tradition from her grandmother and mother, and from personal recollection. The old Missal used by Prince Gallitzin on his missionary travels, is in her pos- session. The Catholic church is strongly established at Cumber- land, Md., both in numbers and church institutions and prop- erty. The Sisters have fine buildings there, and the Capu- chins a large monastery. Father Frambach, S. J., did mis- sionary work at Cumberland as early as 1780. The first church was built in 1794. The old church, St. Mary's, was torn clown in 1850, and Carroll Hall built. The new church is of brick, Ionic order of architecture, is called St. Patrick's and was built under Rev. Obermeyer. In 1866, St. Edward's Academy was built, in charge of Sisters of Mercy. Rev. F. X. Marshall pastor in 1833 ; Rev. Henry Myers in 1837, and for a number of years. He was greatly beloved and respected by Catholics and Protestants. Rev. B. S. Piot assistant from Mt. Savage until 1852,— Leonard Obermeyer, pastor. 1853, Rev. John B. Byrne, assistant. 1855, Rev. P. B. Lenaghan ; 1856, Revs. James Carney, Michael O'Reilley ; 1859, Rev. Geo. Flautt, Rev. Edw. Brennan, asssistant ; 1860, Rev. Edw. Brennan ; successors, Revs. Edmund Didier, Father Barry, James Casey, Charles Damur, F. S. Ryan. 1881, Rev. F. Brennan ; Rev. J. Mattingly, assistant. Father Brennan died there several years ago; he was a very able and popular priest; Father McDivitt succeeded him. There are a number of small missions in the surrounding mining regions. CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 145 Some BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Remember your prelates, nho have spoken to you the word of God, con- sidering' well the end of their conversation, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ yesterday and lo-day and the same forever,— Hep. xiii., 7. THE MISSIONARY PRIEST GALLITZIN. The following is from Chap. XI of MacLeod's Devotion of the B. V. in North America ; partly taken from a Discourse on the Life and Virtues of Father Gallitzin, by Very Rev. Thomas Heyden : * * * * As early as 1795 there was. one Fattier Smith who Was missionary for an enormous district in Western Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. There, for forty-one years, he toiled In humble faith- fulness; from thence his soul ascended to the judgment which his life had merited. It will not be uninteresting to consider some points in the life of this servant of Mary, this glorious, although unrenowned pioneer of her honor in this country. This Father Smith, missionary of Hae- erstown and Cumberland in Maryland, of Martinsbnrg and Winchester in Virginia, of Chambersburg and the Alleghany mountain sweep in Pennsylvania, arid 146 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF thence southward ; of far more, in a word, than what now constitutes the entire dio- cese of Pittsburg; this rival of Gomez in the south, and of Father Chaumonot in the north ; this founder of Our Lady of Loretto in the centre of the continent, was not al- ways known as Father Smith. In his own country, the vast Muscovite empire, then ruled by the Czar Alexander I., he was known as the Prince Augustine de Gallit- zin. His father. Prince Demetrius Gallit- zin, was ambassador of Catherine the Great to Holland," at the time of the mis- sionary's birth. His mother, the Princess Am elia.was daughter of that famous Field- marshal Count von Schmettau who illus- trates the military annals of Frederick the Great. The young Gallitzin was decorated in his very cradle with military titles, which destined him from his birth to the highest posts in the Russian army. High in the favor ot the Empress Catherine, his father, a haughty and ambitious nobleman, dreaming only of the advancement of his son in the road of preferment and worldly honor, was resolved to give him an education worthy of his exalted birth and brilliant prospects. Religion formed no part of the plan of the father, who was a proficient in the school of Gallic infidel- ity, and the friend of Diderot. It was carefully excluded. Special care was tak- en not to suffer any ministerof religion to approach the study room of the young prince. He was surrounded by infidel teachers. His mother, a Catholic by birth and early education, was seduced into seeming Voltairianism by the court fash- ion of her native country, and her marri- age with Prince Demetrius confirmed her habits of apparent infidelity; we say ap- parent, for she retained, even in the salons of Paris and in the society of Madame du Chatelet. a fervent devotion to Saint Aug- ustine, that grand doctor of the Church who had been a great wordling and here- tic. After the marriage of the elder Gal- litzin with the Princess Amelia, he brought her to Palis and introduced her to his literary infidel friends, especially to Diderot, in whose company he delight- ed. This philosopher endeavored to win the princess over to his atheistical sys- tem; but though she was more than indif- ferent on the subject of religion, her na- turally strong mind discovered the hol- lowness ofhisreasoning. It was remarked that she would frequently puzzle the philosopher by the little interrogative- why ? And as he could not satisfy her objections, she was determined to examine thoroughly the grounds of revelation.— Though having no religion herself, she wasdetermmed to instruct her children in one. She opened the Bible merely fortiie purpose of teaching her children the his- torical part of it. The beauty of revealed trulh, notwithstanding the impedimental' indifference and unbelief, would some- times strike her— her mind being of that mould which, according to Tertullian. is naturally Christian. A terrible illness called her mind back to God: she saw the truth and beauty of the Catholic faith, and she returned tothe protection of Mary on the Feast of St. Augustine, in the week following the Oc- tave of Our Lord's Assumption. It is to the happy influence and bright example of his mother, to whom, under God, we must mainly ascribe the conver- sion of the young Demetrius. As the illustrious Bishop of Milan, St. Ambrose, consoled the mother of Augustine, when he used to say " that it was impossible for a son to be lost for whom so many tears were shed;" so we may believe that the pious Furstenberg, her son's tutor, cheered, in a similar manner, this good lady, in her in- tense solicitude for a son whom she so tenderly loved. At the age of seventeen the young prince was received into the Church. He was,in the year 1792, appointed aid-de-camp to the Austrian Seneral Von Lilien, who commanded an army in Brabant at the opening of the first campaign against the French Jacobins. The sudden death of the Emperor Leopold, and the murder of the king of Sweden by Ankerstron, both sus- pected to be the work of the French Ja- cobins who had declared war against all kings and all religions, caused the govern- ments of Austria and Prussia to issue a very strict order disqualifying all foreign- ers from military offices. Inconsequence of this order theyoung Princede Gallitzin was excluded. Russia not taking any part in the war against France, there was no occasion ottered to him for pursuing the profession of arms for which he had been destined by military education. It was therefore determined by his parents that he should tiavel abroad and make the grand tour. He was allowed twoyeai s to travel; and lest, in the mean time, his acquirements, the fruits of a very finished education, might sutler, he was placed un- der the guidance of the Rev. Mr. Brosius, a voiiug missionary then about to em bark for America, witli whom his studies were to be still continued. In the company of this excellent clergyman he reached the United States tn 1792. The next we need see of him isasasem- inarian with the Sulpicians in Baltimore, November 5, 1792. In this moment of his irrevocable sacrifice of himself to God, the feelings of his inmost soul may be gath- ered from a letter which he wrote at the time to a clergyman of Monster, in Ger- many. In it he begs him to prepare his mother for the step he had finally taken, and informs him that he had sacrificed himself, with all that he possessed, to the service of God and the salvation of his neighbor in America, whi.re the harvest was so great and the laborers so few, and where the in issionary had to ride frequent- ly forty and fifty miles a d »y, undergoing difficulties and dangeis of every descrip- tion. He adds, thai he doubted not his call, as he was willing to subject himself to such arduous labor. Father EtienneBadin was the first priest ordained in the United States; Prince Gallitzin was the second, and lie, as early as 1799, was settled for lile in the then bleak and savage region of the Alleghan- ies. From his post to Lake Erie, from the Susquehanna to the Potomac, there was no priest, no church, no religious station of any kind. Think, then, of the inevitable labors and privations of this missionary; and again understand how the devotion to Mary has spread over North America. During long missionary excursions, fre- quently his bed was the bane floor, his pillow the saddle, and the coarsest and most forbidding fare constituted his re- past. Add to this, that he was always in feeble health, always infirm and delicate in the extreme, and it was ever a matter of wonder to others how the little he ate CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 147 could support nature and hold to- gether so fragile a frame as his. A verit- able imitator of Paul, "he was in labor and painfulness, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fastingoften, in cold and nakedness." When he first began to reside perma- nently on this mountain, in 1799, he found not more thanadozen Catholics, scattered here and there through a trackless forest. He first settled on a farm generously left by the Maguire family for the mainten- ance of a priest. A rude log-church, of some twenty-five or thirty feet, was suf- ficient for a considerable time for ihe first little flock that worshipped accordina to the faith of their fatlierson the Alleghany. He commenced his colony with twelve heads of families; he left behind him when he died six thousand devotees of Mary. But the population grew rapidly, allur- ed by the saintly reputation of Father Smith. It was he who purchased enor- mous tracts of land, who built the grist and saw mill, he who found himself op- pressed by debt in his old age. Of course he expected his lather's inheritance, and when that prince died in 1803, he was pressed to quit his beloved Loretto and go to claim his rights in Russia. His mother and friends urged him to come; his pre- late was on the point of commanding him; but when he met Bishop Carroll, he gave reasons for remaining among his flock which that prelate could not in the end refute. He stated that he had caused a great number of Catholic families to settle in a wild and uncultivated region, where they formed a parish of a considerable size; that the Legislature had proposed to establish there a county-seat ; and that numbers still continued to flock thither. The bishop at length fully acquiesced in his remaining, as he could not send an- other in his place. The apostolic mission- aiy then wrote to his mother, that what- ever he might gain by the voyage, in a temporal point of view, could not, in his es- timation, be compared with the loss of a single soul, that might be occasioned by his absence. Had he gone, it would have been in vain, for the Emperor and Senate of St. Petersburg settled the question by disin- heriting him for "having embraced the Catholic faith and clerical profession." — Nevertheless, he hoped to share with his sister, who had inherited all. \nd she did supply him, until the ruined German Prince de Solm, whom she had married, made away her fortune as he had done with his own, Then came his days of debt, dreariest of all days to men. But he lived so that none should suffer but him- self. He neither ate nor drank nor was clothed at the expense or loss of any cred- itor or others. His fare was often but some black bread and a few vegetables ; coffee and tea were unknown luxuries in those limes. Hisclothing was home-made and of the most homely description; his mansion was a miserable log-hut. not de- nied even to the poorest of the poor.— With the prodigal son of the Gospel, but in a most meritorious and heroic sense, he could say: "How many hired servants in my father's house have plenty of bread, and I Here perish with hunger !" "Being now," he says, "in my sixty- seventh year, burdened, moreover, with ihe remnant of mv debts, reduced from $18,000 to about $2,500, I had better spend my few remaining years, if any, in trying to paj' off that balance, and in preparing for a longer journey." On that Loretto of his love he expended, from the wreck of his fortune, $150,000.— So is it with the servitors of Mary. Three centuries ago, tney gave their bodies to be burned, their heads to the scalping-knife, their flngei-joints to the teeth of the Iro- quois; later, they gave their lives and fortunes, counting them as nothing if so they might win souls to Christ. Let his frienu and biographer tell the secret of all this, and thus show what a Muscovite prince can have in common with this book : "Ashe had taken for his models the Lives of the Saints, the Francis of Sales, the Charles Borromeos, the Vincents of Paul, so like them he was distinguished for his tender and lively devotion to the Blessed Virgin; and he lost noopportuni- ty of extolling the virtues of Mary. He endeavored to he an imitator of her as she was of Christ. He recited her rosary every evening aiuony his Itousehold. and inculca- ted constantly on his people this grand devotion, and the other pious exercises in honor of Mary. The church in which he said daily Mass, he had dedicated under tlie invocation of this ever glorious Vir- gin, whom all nations call blessed. It was in honor of Mai y , and to place his people under her peculiar patronage, that he gave the name of Loretto to the town he found- ed here, after the far-famed Loretto, which, towering above the blue wave of the Ad- riatic, on the Italian coast, exhibits to the Christian pilgrim the hallowed and mag- nirtcenttemple which contains the sainted shrine of Mary's humble house inwhich she at Nazareth heard announced, the mystery of the Incarnation, and which the mariners, as they pass to encounter the perils of the deep, or return in safety from them, salute, chanting the joyous hymn, Ave Maris Stella! For, like St. John, he recognized in her a mother recommended to him by the words of the dying Jesus: " He said to the disciple, behold thy mother!" And so, when the frame was worn out in her service and her Son's, he went up to see her face on high. JAS. PELLENTZ, S. J. Of this worthy missionary priest, we have little more to add, except the record of his death. He began pre- parations for the building of the Church of the Sacred Heart at Cone- wago in 1785, and completed the walls and roof in 1787 ; Fathers De Barth and Lekeu had pews put in, stone steps erected infiont, procured bell and large organ ; cupola put up, and made other improvements. — Father Steinbacher had the interior painted. Father Enders built school houses, put up iron fence, made cru- ciform addition, with paintings, erected steeple and marble altar, and made great improvements on all the Chapel property. Father Pellentz 148 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF also built the house adjoining, and the old farm buildings, besides sev- eral smaller log houses along the hill that have long since disappeared.— His name is spelled " Pellentz," but wherever found on the old writings it is "Pellantz," doubtless from the German. He is buried under the church which he built, but all trace of his grave is lost. The nearest that can be ascertained is towards the south wing, and there is no telling but what his remains have been dis- tuibed by the construction of foun- dations and the diguing of a gang- way towards the front of the church to put in the furnace and heaters. — The record of his death is in Latin, as are all the early records and may be thus rendered : On the 13th of March, of the year 1800. at half-past seven A. M., died James Pellentz. and was buried on the 15th. He dies in peace, by the grace of Him who by his death regenerated him. Not death, but lite, rather should itbe called. The name of Pellentz has many claims to consideration. A stranger in a foreign land, he erected this house and church, and with zeal and devotion lie made it the object of his life to gather men within the fold of the Church. CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART. Taken without the steeple, so as to look like the old church before improv- ed. At first it had a small wooden cross on the front neak of the roof. Near the top of the front wall is a stone with the names 17K7 cut in. Below a circular scroll work with the letters I. S. H., is a heart cut in stone or marble. CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 149 JAMES FRAMBACH, S. J. This was the companion of Father Pellentz. His name is spelled " Frombach " and Frambach ; the first probably correct; the last most gen- erally used. The extent of his missionary labors caunot be comprehended. His death record is entered at Conewago. probably because he labored there so long, or it may be that the priest who ministered at his death was either a Conewago priest at the time or afterwards, as few of the entries were made at the time of death, but seem to have been entered or copied very irregularly in every way. We infer that the priests on the missions before 1800 kept their records something like memoranda just as they went, and these were brought together later, some at Conewago and some elsewhere perhaps, and entered by other hands. He died at St. Inigoes, Md.. and if we are correctly informed, nothing marks the place. The record reads : On the 27th of Aug., 1795, died Father James Frombach, professed Of the Society, at the age of 73. He lived here for ten j^ears, a year and a half at Lancaster, and later at Frederick. He came to America in 1758, from the Province of Lower Ger- many, with Father Pellentz and two other Jesuits. He traveled the country, strengthening tepid christians ; and was a source of edification to all by his devotion, zeal, meekness, obedience, modesty and patience. He suffered for years from ulcerations of the legs and arms, and finally, full of merits, he died of a contagious fever, in St. Mary's County, strengthened with all the rites of the Church. Father Finotti says, that owing to the scarcity of Catholic books in the early days of this country, he copied the whole of the Roman Missal, preserv- ed, he thinks, in Georgetown College. The same is said of Theodore Schnei- der, S. J., the first priest of Goshenhonpen. Some descendants of the Baxters, (who lived somewhere between Hagerstown and Frederick in early times, and which was a stopping place on Father Frambach 's travels.) now belong to Father Manley's mission at Hag- erstown. They relate as a tradition from their grandmother, that Father F. traveled on horseback and stayed all night at their house. After it had been noticed for a longtime that his clothes were very poor, they made a suit of homespun and laid it on the bed in his room. When he came again he went to his room, but returned immediately to the kitchen, and said that some- body's clothes were on his bed. Being told that they were for him, he ex- claimed, lt A new suit for me ! well, then I must go and try it on." When he came down again, he walked up and down the kitchen flocr, vei'y much overjoyed that he had better clothes to wear. This shows the pious humility and humble sincerity of that truly noble missionary priest. BISHOP JOHN TIMON. About the year 1790. Edw. Reily, Sr., came from Ireland and settled on a tract of land adjoining the estate of Samuel Lilly. It was close by the Conewago, which winds through the valley with many a curve and crook. — At that time, the lands along the creek were covered with heavy timber. — 150 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF remnants of the old forests yet remain. The great, clumsy wheels of an old mill creaked in the quiet stillness of the night, and from the rippling waters rose a heavy mist that disappeared over the tree tops, with the earliest rays of the morning sunlight. It must have been a wild and romantic place.— Even now, the broad fields, bordered with woodland ; the sounds of a dash- ing waterfall that drives a mill near by ; and large farm buildings scattered around, form a scene of rural beauty, the grandest in the valley. Just over the hill-tops, about a mile away, rises the beautiful spire of old Conewago.— In 1796, the father of Bishop Timon came from Ireland and with his mother the Bishop. They lived in a log house, adjoining the residence of Edw. Reily, probably the temporary home of the Reily family until they had built themselves a house. There was born the future Bishop of Buffalo. John Ti- mon, Feb. 12th, 1797. In 1802, they moved to Baltimore, and afterwards to Missouri. About 1830, after the death of Bt rney. a brother of Edw. Reily, the log house of Bishop Timon was moved up to the public road and made a home for the widow, Margaret Reily. grandmother of the writer. About the earliest recollection we have is of the old log house, with its dark looking cellar and crumbling walls. It was torn down about 1860, and the logs used in building an old stable on the same lot, after the death of Daniel Reily, the property of Lewis Will. It has been enlarged since, but the old part yet re- mains. Father Timon was ordained priest by Bishop Rosatti in 1825. He be- came a great missionary priest in Missouri, Texas, and other States. Many touching incidents of his missionary life are related. He was an able man, a good speaker, and kind and generous to a fault. His vocation was a mission- ary life, and it was never his ambition or his will to be elevated above an humble missionary priest. As a Bishop he had trials, troubles and tribula- tions, but he passed through them all with that spirit of right and duty which governed him in early life. He was consecrated Bishop in 1847 : died April 16th, 1867 ; and was buried under the altar of the Cathedral in Buffalo. He visited Conewago once or twice during his life. — once about the year 1856, when the name of this saintly priest and noble prelate was conferred upon us, to bear it, the most unworthy. The life of Bishop Timon is worthy of study and of imitation. Conewago is blessed in having given him birth. GEORGE VILLIGER, S. J. No priest had more devoted friends on the Conewago missions than '• Little " Father Villiger. His disposition was so gentle and amiable that he could never have given any offense. He was born in Switzerland, Sept. 14th, 1808, and died at Conewago, Wednesday morning, Sept. 20th, 1882, and was buried there Friday morning following, at 8 o'clock. He entered the Society Oct. 4th. 1838, and came to this country in 1843. He was ordained at Georgetown by Archbishop Ecclestou. July 22d, 1844, and sent to Cone- wago. The Paradise, Gettysburg, Millerstown and the Mountain territory comprised his mission, and there he labored faithfully for a number of years. Wherever a few Catholics could be found, he was sure to hunt them up, instruct their children and keep the faith in them alive. He was full of zeal and energy in his sacred calling. He served several Maryland missions, and was Superior at Bohemia from 1862 until 1878. Father Villiger was a good CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 151 scholar, and always ready to give a reason for the faith that was in him. — His " Letters to a Protestant Minister by a Catholic Priest." give a clear ex- position of the doctrines of the Catholic religion. After the death of Father Deneckere, he was sent to Conewago again, and attended Littlestown until his death. Age and years of active labor were then already laying a heavy hand upon him, but like a true Jesuit warrior, he would rather die at his post of duty than surrender God's peace be with him. May that genera- tion with whom his memory is most dearly cherished, never forget to breathe a prayer for the repose of the soul of their spiritual father in days gone by, — he who taught them their catechism, prepared them for the Sacrameuts of the church, which he administered to many. PETER MAXNS, S. J. He was born in the Diocese of Limbing, Province of the Rhine, Germany, June 25th, 1810, and studied there. He lived in the Archdiocese of Cologne. Studied twelve years, theology and philosphy five years. Entered the So- ciety March 20th, 1853, and was ordained June 17th. He labored in Mary- land and Massachusetts, and was sent to Conewago June 4th, 1862. His health, which was rated " middling " when entering the Society, has been failing for a number of years, and he walks with perceptible pain and diffi. culty, for he is getting old in years as well as in the labor and service of God. The schools were his especial object for many years. In matters of discip- line and morality he is unusually strict; and, though his ideas and views are not in harmony with the progress of the age, no one hereafter or even in this world, will regret having followed his advice. In piety and humility he is worthy of imitation ; the lives of the saints are his daily spiritual food, and it is their example he tries to follow. If he has faults, they are not of the mind or heart nor intention. He expects to be judged by his conscience, and scrupulously follows its dictates. If he has suffered much for it, his reward will only be the greater. The Society has learned men and popular priests, but it has no more faithful worker than Father Manns. His spiritual children are numbered by the thousand, and it may be truthfully said that he is always in his confessional. A scrap of a report to his Superiors, for the first few years he was on the Conewago missions, carries out our estimate of his labors : Confessions at Littlestown 1200, at Paradise 8306, at Conewago 6200 ; General Confessions, of which he was a great advocate, 309 ; sermons 282 : Catechisms 434 ; converts 9 : Retreat to Sisters 1. F. X. DENECKERE, S. J. Father Deneckere left all to follow Christ. He was of a distinguished family, and his whole appearance and carriage were in keeping with his princely blood, but he labored among the humble and lowly with the same zeal and charity as though he were the poorest of them. His family, with the exception of one brother, were all religious. Two of his sisters were nuns of Notre Dame, Paris ; and a brother, who died young, was also a 152 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF Jesuit. Bishop Guy De Neckere, of New Orleans, was his uncle. They were a family of saints. His love for his faith we have already seen in his works. His sermons were most sublime, and his perfect style of oratory inspired every one with awe and devotion. A man of his eloquence and ability would never have been sent to retirement at Conewago, except to give his active mind and wonderful energy the necessary occupations on a laborious mission, that best assured their safety. His disposition and temperament were too excitable to come in contact with a jarring world. Yet he was the kindest of men, the truest of friends, and self-sacrificial of all he possessed, dying in the very performance of his duty. He was born in the Diocese of Bruges, Flanders, Feb. 2d, 1810; and died at Littlestown. Adams Co., Pa., Wednes- day, Jan. 8th. 1879, at 5 o'clock P M. He entered the Society in the Diocese of Ghent, Sept. 16th, 1844, and after his ordination was sent with Father Enders to the Maryland missions. He was a great teacher and student all his life ; he was a good French scholar, and his favorite authors were those of his own nationality. He sel- dom or never spoke of himself, and all we heard from him of his own life was that he spent his vacations at school. As a boy he was fond of the inno- cent amusements of youth, and when a teacher in his old age. nothing gave him greater pleasure than to assist in making the pJay-time of the scholars exciting and amusing, always planning something new for their enjoyment. He was exceedingly strict and systematic in all things. Nothing was too laborious for him, if it added to the greater honor and glory of God and the salvation of souls, or aided in making the ceremonies of the church or its re- ligious devotions still more grand and inspiring. He had a saintly devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and her rosary was his constant companion. He had a great ayersion to criminals, and would not remain at the church during the burial of any who had taken their own life, or those who died refusing to be reconciled to their God. His solicitude for the conversion of sinners was unbounded. He was called from the school-room one clay to attend a dying man who for years had neglected his duties ; but all efforts to reclaim him had been fruitless. He left the man, ordering that he should be sent for at once if he showed signs of returning grace. He came back to the school- room, leaving his horse in waiting, and with his scholars he went up to the church before St. Francis Xavier's altar, (his favorite place.) to pray. A lit- tle after noon, word reached him that the dying man had relented and sent for him. Had he been a boy of sixteen years instead of an aged man, he could not have reached his carriage any quicker, and as we watched him going out the road it seemed every minute as if his carriage must be dashed to pieces at the rate he was driving. The object of his prayers and solicitude for years, was reconciled to the church ; and the joy and happiness it gave him could not be concealed the remainder of that day. Father Deneckere practiced the confidence in that supplication in prayer which he taught by word of mouth. His first recourse in all things was to prayer. For years, the Processions of the Blessed Sacrament on Corpus Christi were the dearest objects of his devotion. No time or labor was spared to make them grand and inspiring, and great was his sorrow and regret if anything interfered with their success. One year, Corpus Christi morning dawned with many indications of showers, as characteristic of spring days as snow-storms are of fall weather. Everything was in readiness for the Procession to start, CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 153 and thousands of people were waiting, yet the black clouds overhanging were too threatening to venture out with the Blessed Sacrament. Father Deneckere had been watching the weather intently, and after a time his ab- sence was noticed. Those in charge sought him everywhere, and at last went to his room where they found him deeply engaged in prayer. Soon after the clouds parted, the sun shone forth, and the Procession went on in its usual splendor to a happy ending. Though the skeptic mock his inten- tions, he must admire his faith. Many feared him for the moment, but memory has nothing but love and respect for him now. Noble priest, dear Father ! But for thee we would never have had a taste of that Pierian Spring of which thou didst drink so deeply ; and better not, perhaps, for regret is the more poignant over wasted opportunities ; over what might be and is not, or could be and cannot. Still far from us be ingratitude. The happiest days of our life, and the saddest, are those filled with the memory of this saintly teacher s virtues. R. I. P. Nearly all of the older priests at Conewago were born beyond the seas ; of their native homes and childhood days, whether in some quiet mountain place, by lake or river, or quaint historic town, little is known, for their lips were ever sealed by the virtues they practiced. Many a time, perhaps, cherished memories came over them that swayed every generous impulse of the heart, like the soft south-wiud that brings new life to the fields in spring- time, but they died away again as the distant peal of thunder, leaving no trace of the mighty forces disturbed. About 1870. two small boys, sons of Gen. Ewing, who represented this government in some capacity in France, spent a few days at Conewagj. Father Deneckere, in company with a few of his school boys, took them down to seethe Blue Spring one beautiful after- noon in October. He asked them many questions in French of what they had seen and heard in Paris, which they simply answered in the affirmative or negative, for their youthful minds were captivated with the attractions around them, and they ran now here, now there, climbing a tree or search- ing for something to throw in the water ; the venerable priest's thoughts must have been carried back many, many years ago, to scenes remembered in his own dear Belgium for tears stole down from his bright, flashing eyes, and he turned away from their joyful capers to hide his own sad emotions. With scrupulous correctness Father Deneckere regarded all holy things, and paid the highest reverence and veneration to the sacredness of religion in the performance of all the ceremonies of the Church. It was nothing unusual to find him in the church before the Blessed Sacrament at night when about to retire, and regularly at five o'clock in the morning at the altar saying his Mass. Well can we apply to him the words of the great Lamar- tine, and thus show the exalted thoughts and devotions of his inmost soul, for we have no language at our command to picture the grandness of the in- ner life of this beloved Father and pure and noble priest : " Hail ! sacred tahernacles, where thou, O Lord, dost descend at the voice of a mor- tal ! Hail, mysterious altar, where faith comes to receive its immortal food. When the last hour of the day has groaned in thy solemn towers; when its last beam fades and dies away in the dome : when the widow holding her child by the hand has wept on the pavement, and retraced her steps like a silent ghost; when the sigh of the dis- tant organ seems lulled to rest with tneday to awaken again with the morning; when the nave is deserted, and the Levite attentive to the lamps of the holy place, with a slow step hardly crosses it again— this is the hour when I come to glide under the ob- scure vault, and to seek, while nature sleeps, Him who aye watches ! Ye columns, who veil the sacred asylums where my eves dare not penetrate, at the feet of thy immove- able trunks I come to sigh. Cast over me your deep shades, render the darkness more 154 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF obscure, and the silence more profound ! Forests of porphyry and marble, the air which the soul breathes under thy arches is full of mystery and of peace ! Let love and anxious cares seek shade and solitude under the green shelter of groves, to soothe their secret wounds! O darkness of the sanctuary, the eye of religion prefers thee to the wood which the breeze disturbs. Nothing changes thy foliage, thy still shade is the image of motionless eternity! Eternal pillars, where are the hands that formed thee? Quarries, answer, where are they? Dust, the sport of winds, our hands which carved the stone, turn to dust before it, and man is not jealous! He dies, but his holy thought animates the cold stone, and rises to heaven with thee. Forums, palaces, crumble to ashes, timecasts them away with scorn ; the foot of the traveller wno tram- ples upon them lays bare their ruins; but as soon as the block of stone leaves the side of the quarrv, and is carved for Thy temple, O Lord, it is thine ; Thy shadow imprints upon our works the sublime seal of Thine own immortality? Lord, I used to love to pour out mvsoul upon the summit of mountains, in the nightof deserts, beneath rocks where roared the voice of mighty seas, in presence of heaven, and of the globes of to mount but thou vouchsafest to descend ! Thou art near to hear us. Now obscurity! Inhabited alone by Thee and by death, one hears from afar the flood of time which roars upon this border of eternity ! It seems as if our voice, which only is lost in the air, concentrated in these walls by this narrow space, resounds better to our soul, and that the holy echo of thy sonorous vault, bears along with it the sigh which seeks Thee in its ascent to heaven, more fervent before it can evaporate. How can it signify in what words the soul exhales itself before its author ? Is there a tongue equal to the ecstacy of the heart? Whatever my lips may articulate, this pressed blood which circulates, this bosom which breathes in Thee, this heart which beats and ex- pands, these bathed eyes, this silence.all speak, all pray in me. So swell the waves at the rising of the king of day, so revolve the stars, mute with reverence and love, and Thou comprehendest their silent hymn. Ah, Lord, in like manner, comprehend me. Hear what I pronounce not; Silence is the highest voice of a heart that is overpower- ed with Thy glory ! " Or, with the celebrated Lavater, on finding himself in a Catholic Church, exclaim : " He doth not know Thee, O Jesus Christ, who dishonoreth even Thy shadow? I honor all things, where I find the intention of honoring Thee, 1 will love them be- cause of Thee. 1 will love them provided I find the least thing which makes me re- member Thee! What then do I behold here ? What do I hear in this place? Does nothing under these majestic vaults speak to me of Thee? This cross, this golden image, is it not made for Thy honor > The censer which waves round the priest, the gloria sung in the choirs, the peaceful light of the perpetual lamp, these lighted tapers,— all is done for Thee. Whv is the Host elevated.if it be not to honor Thee. O Jesus Christ, who art dead for love of its? because it is no more, and Thou art it, the believing church bends the knee. It is in thy house alone that these children, early instructed, make the sign of the cross, that their tongues sing thy praise, and that they strike their breasts thrice with their little hands. It is for love of Thee, O Jesus Christ, that one kisses the spot which bears Thy adorable blood; for Thee, the child who serves, sounds the little bell and does all that he does. The riches collected from distant countries, the magnifi- cence of chasubles, all that has relation to Thee. Why are the walls and the high altar of marble clothed with verdant taoestrv on the day of the Blessed Sacrament ? For whom do thev make a road of flowers? For whom are these banners embroidered ? When the Ave Maria sounds, is it not for Thee ? Matins, vespers, prime, and nones, are th< y not consecrated to Thee? These bells within a thousand towers, purchased with the gold of whole cities, do they not bear Thy image cast in the very mould ? Is it not for Thee that they send forth their solemn tone ? It is under Thy protection, O Jesus Christ, that every man places himself who loves solitude, chastity, and pover- ty. Without Thee, the orders of St. Benedict and St. Bernard would not have been founded. The cloister, the tonsure, the breviary, and the chaplet, render test.mony of Thee, O delightful rapture, Jesus Christ, for Thy disciples to trace the marks ot Thy finger where the eyes of the world see them not ! O joy ineffable for souls devoted to Thee, to behold in caves, and on rocks, in every crucifix placed upon hills, and on the high-ways, thy seal and that of thy love ! Who wilt not rejoice in the honors of which Thou art the object and the soul ? Who will not shed tears in hearing the words, 'Jesus Christ be praised?' O the hypocrite who knoweth that name and answereth not with joy, amen. Who saith not with an intense transport, Jesus be blessed for eternity, eterni- ty. . J. B. EMIG, S. J. This venerable and distinguished Father was born July 26th, 1808, at Bensheime, Grand Duchy of Hesse Darmstadt, Diocese of Magunties. He arrived at Baltimore July 27th, 1832, after a voyage of sixty-three days. He entered the Society Sept. 24th, 1832, at White Marsh, Prince George County, Md., and completed his studies at Frederick ; was ordained priest March 12th, CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 155 1839. His labors have been very great and useful, and as a missionary priest he is unsurpassed, his sermons being all deep and logical, as well as most impressive. He considers that he was miraculously directed to Conewago ; having been uncertain of his whereabouts, and imagining he was near Mt. St. Mary's. For several years he taught in the St. Louis University, Louis- ville, and other western places, and came East about the year 1852. The greater part of the time then he spent at Frederick, preparing young men lor the priesthood, and also doing missionary work in the surrounding States. He was sent to Hanover in 1877, and has now completed there a magnificent church, costing over 820,000, all paid for. At present he is rais- ing subscriptions to frescoe the church, which will cost about $1400. In Sept., 1882, he celebrated his Golden Jubilee at Hanover with a High Mass, and received many marks of the respect and esteem in which he is hold by the congregation. His health has been declining for a number of years, and he is a great sufferer all the time, but bears all patiently and with peifect resignation. He has his room at Mr. S. Althoffs, where he boards, but sleeps in the sacristy of the church. We hope he will be spared yet many years. J. B. COTTING, S. J. We have no dates in the religious life of Father Cotting. He was born about the same year Father Enders was ; they studied and were at the Novitiate together. He was a native of Switzerland, and came to America about the year 1845. He was a faithful laborer on the Conewago missions. Father Cotting was an active missionary, and was noted for his many jokes and great sprightliness, but his influence was unbounded. At one time when in St. Louis, he was trying to get his German congregation to buy a graveyard, but they did not seem inclined to furnish the money. You will not purchase a grave yard, said he ; but remember what I tell you : When the day of Judgment comes you will be buried among the Yankees and the Irish. You know their tricks. They will jump up and steal your bones, and you will have none with which to appear at judgment. This argument was so convincing that the3 r gave in immediately, and the purchase was made. About the time he attended the York Congregation, the Hanover Junc- tion Railroad was made, and anyone who traveled that road will remember the long waiting at the Junction. Father Cotting used to say that he could go to York with his horse quicker than the cars could go, and he really did succeed on one occasion in getting ahead of them. The Irish laborers were devoted to him, and presented him with a fine carriage. He labored several years at Conewago. and after that in Prince George Co., Md.. and is still stationed in that State. His life, like those of his com- panions living and dead, is filled with good deeds, and usefulness in the So- ciety. His labors everywhere were crowned with success. The old people at Conewago and Paradise, recall with great pleasure their recollections of the days of dear Father Cotting. At one time when he was attending the South Mountain Church, a Ger- man complained to him that he never gave them German sermons. Come to 156 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF my room, said he. The man went, and locking the door, Father Cotting made him sit down and preached to him over an hour in German. Now, said he, never complain any more about my sermons. He was stationed for a number of years in the lower counties of Maryland. He was riding out one day and passed the house of a Protestant minister, who was feeding his hogs. " Why, Father Cotting," said the minister, " you seem to have a great deal of time to ride about ; how does it happen ?" " Oh I" said Father Cot- ting, " you see, your reverence, I haye no children to support aud no hogs to feed." He was always traveling for the salvation of souls, and God crowned his labors with great success. JOSEPH ENDERS, S. J. Rev. Joseph Enders. S. J., died at the Novitiate. Frederick, Md., Sept. 10th, 1884, and was buried there Sept. 12th ; aged 77 years, 9 months and 23 days. What does this simple notice not contain ? A life-time of years spent in the practice of every Christian virtue, and a life so full of good and exem- plary works that it seems a pity to bury it in the humble and scanty records of so great a Society as that of Jesus, in which there is little individuality in life and less in death. It knows when a member entered the Society and when he departed this life, outside of that it is as silent as the grave. Its members have their being together in life aud share each other's merits in death ; the highest is the lowest and the lowest is the highest — Jesuits. — Since they are so humble as to forget self and live for others, how dare we of the world disregard their wishes and their humility, and speak of what they live to forget — themselves. But we are to remember our prelates who have spoken to us the word of God, considering well the end of their conver- sation and imitating their faith ; and how can we do this better than by re- moving the veil of humility which in life hid their greatest virtues from the sight of men, that seeing and admiring the good they have done we may be moved to overcome our wordly attachment and draw closer to those heaven- ly desires which the inspired Word tells us are most necessary to the end for which we were created. Father Enders was born in Bavaria, Germany, Nov. 17th. 1806. His par- ents were farmers, and pious people who taught him from the cradle the practice of his holy religion. At an early age he expressed his desire to be- come a priest, and his father took him to the nearest town to begin his stud- ies. At the age of twenty-five he was ordained a secular priest in the diocese of Munich. Later he felt drawn to the Society of Jesus, and entered that order in a novitate of Switzerland, Sept. 28th, 1836. He came to this coun- try soon after, and was sent to Conewago. Adams County, Pa., of which community he became Superior in 1847. From 1862 to 1869, he was Superior at Leonardtown, St. Mary's County, Md. He was returned to Conewago in 1871 as Superior. July 1st, 1884, Father P. Forhan took his place. He was then getting old and feeble and suffering from a painful ulcer at his leg. — Though the body was weak the will was strong, and he took the change very hard, — complaining that now he was no longer of any use. He continued to say Mass and very often forgot that he was no longer Superior. In the win- CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY, 157 ter of 1884, he was removed to Frederick where his declining days could be made more easy. Saturday, Aug. 16th, 1884, the writer visited him there. He seemed in good health and spirits, having said his Mass that morning. — He asked all about Conewago, expressed a desire to see it once more, but thought the end was near, for which he was ready and waiting. Father Enders, with Fathers Emig and Cotting still living, was the last of the missionary priests who labored at Conewago. Fathers Greaton, Wap- peler. Manners, Frambach, Pellentz, and others, were the pioneer mission- aries of Southern Pennsylvania. They began the settlement and put up the primitive churches. Fathers De Barth, Lekeu and others, followed from 1800, and kept the growing Church together ; they began the improvements demanded by a growing age. Fathers Enders and Deneckere came before 1850, and attended the missions that are now surrounded by populous towns and have resident pastors. We have already seen how much Conewago is indebted to the labors of Father Eaders. For fifty years he lived only for those in his charge. Year in and year out with him was a continual round of works of mercy and charity. Day or night, rain or shine, sick or well, DUTY was to him an imperative command. Rest he never knew, and never thought of his own wants. All were his friends, and he was a friend to everyone. Kind, humble, patient, warm-hearted, hospitable and hard- working. — in life and in death resigned to the will of God. REV. ADOLPHUS LEWIS DE BARTH (Walbach) was at Conewago off and on from 1800 to 1828. He became manager of the estate in 1811, for those who held the title on the part of the Society, and was at that time a resident of Adams County, according to the Letter of Attorney from Rev. Francis Neale. on file in the Recorder's office of said county. Father De B. was the son of Count De Barth and Maria Louisa de Rohme ; born at Muns- ter, Upper Rhine, Nov. 1st, 1764 : ordained atStrasburg in 1790 ; driven from France by the Revolution, he came with his father to America ; assigned to missionary duty by Bishop Carroll, he labored at Bohemia Manor, Lancas- ter, and Conewago ; was Vicar General to Bishop Egan, and after his death Administrator of tlie Diocese, and himself twice declined the Bishopric. — He was the brother jf Col. John De Barth Walbach, IT. S. A. Father De B. is remembered by some of the old citizens of Conewago, as a very earnest, faithful priest, and a cultured man. He was very severe and strict. Many little incidents are related of him, by which he is remembered. Some friends at Littlestown once gave a dinner to the Fathers, to which the young gentry of Conewago were invited. The learned Father White, then a stu- dent, was spending some time at Conewago for the benefit of his health. — He joined the company. When Father De Barth saw the young student and Miss Sallie Lilly coming riding together, he was very much displeased, and after dinner they ordered their horses and returned to the Chapel. After that he would not allow him to ride out with youna ladies. In former times the Fathers frequently dined out, but seldom within our recollection. The names of two distinguished priests are met with at Conewago, who deserve a short notice, for few are acquainted with their history ; they are. Rev. Virgil Barber, in 1836. and Father Samuel Barber, about 1845. Daniel Barber, a Congregationalist minister in New England, became a Catholic in 158 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF 1816. Virgil Barber, his son, also a Protestant minister, entered the Church with his father. He was born May 9th, 1782 ; went to Rome in 1817, was ordained there, labored in Pennsylvania and Maryland, became Professor of Hebrew in Georgetown College, where he died March 27th, 1847. Mrs. Virgil Barber and their four daughters became Sisters, and the son, Samuel, joined the Society of Jesus. REV. JOSEPH HERONT was born in Lyons, France, Nov. 2d, 1755. He came to America in 1794, and purchased " Herontford," near Pigeon Hills, afterwards the '" Seminary Farm." Aug. 1st, 1812, he was ordained, and admitted to the Order of St. Sulpice : he was for a short time occupied on the missions of lower Maryland ; was Treasurer of St. Mary's College, Bal- timore ; and in Nov., 1817, went to the Island of Martinique, where he died April 8th, 1818. He was not related to Rev. John Tessier, President of St. Mary's, but bequeathed the farm to him as Superior when he prepared to enter that Order. Rev. Louis Regis Deluol, connected with the •'Seminary Farm " as President of St. Mary's, was a priest in France several years be- fore he came to this country. He returned to Fiance near about 1850. and died in Paris, Oct. 15th, 1858. Father Matthias Manners, (Sittensberger,) the first resident pastor at Conewago, about 1750, was born Sept. 29th, 1719. in the Diocese of Augs- burg, Germany ; labored in Maryland and Pennsylvania : died at Bohemia. June 17th, 1775. Father Bernard Diderick, from Belgium, a Walloon, is referred to in Father Lambing's Researches. He was at Conewago in the early part of Father Pellentz's pastorate, and we have alluded to him as Fr. '* Detrick." BARON DE BEELEN.— This was a man of some distinction in his time, and as he is buried at Conewago, we give a short sketch " When Joseph II. attempted to open the river Scheldt, he designed to establish commerce between Belgium and the United States, and to promote this end he sent the Baron de Beelen Bertholff to reside in Philadelphia, not as an accredited minister, but as an observer and correspondent." When the Continental Congress adjourned its sessions to York, the Baron also removed there, and made that his home pretty much until his death. Local tradition says he lived there in great style. The Conewago Jesuits were well acquainted with the family. His son. Anthony, lived in Pittsburg, (see Lambing). He had another son who died East, and a death record at Conewago of a Francis Beelen may be the same. Old people inform us that he married a daughter of Wm. Jenkins, of Abbottstown, against which his parents were much op- posed. The Fathers assisted the widow and kept trace of her. She lived a while in Baltimore. An old teamster of Father De Barth. still living, says he was sent to see her by that Father. The Baron and his wife are buried at Conewago. When the new part was built in 1850, it covered their graves, and the marble slab was laid in the floor, in the aisle near the Blessed Vir- gin's altar. It reads : " In memory of Frederick E. F. Brn. de Beelen Ber- tholf , who departed this life the 5th April, 1805, aged 76 years. Joanna Ma- ria Thresia, his wife, who departed this life the 11th Sept., 1804. aged 72 yrs. May they rest in peace." It is said that a contagious disease prevailed when the Baron died. The man who brought his bodj from York, left the coffin standing in front of the church and hurried away. There it stood all day. everyone in dread of the disease. Towards evening Father De Barth sent over to the Lilly farm for help, and two colored men came and assisted him in the last sad duty in the burial of the ouce distinguished man. CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 159 THE WINCHESTER CHURCH. For the following sketch of the Winchester Church, we are indebted to Father O'Reilley ; and to Mr. Wm. McSherry, Jr.. for the Gettysburg Church history. Both were received too late for insertion among the other churches. The early history of the Catholic Church in Winchester is almost entire- ly unknown. Perhaps the only certain fact about it is, that it was one of the oldest churches in the Valley. From an old gentleman, John Heist, a Pro- testant, it has been learned that in 1794, when he settled in Winchester, the Catholic Church was in appearance the oldest in town, and public opinion conceded the claim of its antiquity. Of those instrumental in its building, little is known. The ground was given by Mr. McGuire, an Irish gentleman, the ancestor of a family famous in Virginia as physicians and surgeons. Its present representatives are Dr. Wm. McGuire. of Winchester, and Dr.. Hun- ter McGuire. of Richmond. The latter was Stonewall Jackson's physician, and the Surgeon-General of the Confederate Army. The old church, a stone building of moderate dimensions, was almost entirely built through the lib- erality of a wealthy Frenchman. Most of the pioneer Catholics slumber in nameless graves in the old cemetery. A moss-clad tomb is inscribed to the memory of a daughter of John Holker, Esq., 1794. late Consul-General of France, and Agent of the Royal Marine. This may have been the wealthy Frenchman to whose christian liberality tradition ascribes the old stone church. The first priest of whom tradition speaks, is Father Dubois, who visited this place from Conewago, Pa., about 1790. After him came Fathers Cahill and Whelan. the latter the first priest known to visit Winchester reg- ularly. There were few Catholics here in the early part of this century. A marble headstone in the old graveyard reads, lv In memory of Patrick Den- ver, a native of County Down, Ireland, who departed this life March 31st, 1831. in the 85th year of his age.'"' This is the grandfather of Gen. James Denver, prominently mentioned as the Democratic candidate for President in 1884. Denver, Colorado, and more than a score of other cities and towns in the West have been named in his honor. About 1840, came upon the scene the grand and venerable old pillars of the present congregation, who have manfully withstood the storms and shocks of most half a century, for its s; ke, and who like true sons of St. Patrick, which they boast to be, never wavered in the faith— the only inheritance they brought from their own Isle of Saints. These hoary veterans of the faith are. John Fagan, Michael Hasset, M. Lynch, and Denis Sheehan. Of these, John Fagan alone lived in town. For four long years they had not the happiness of being present at the Holy Sacrifice At last, in 1844, their dear Saviour had compassion on their loneliness and sorrow, and sent them Rev. John O'Brien, then station- ed at Harper's Ferry, who visited Winchester once in three months, and of- fered the Holy Sacrifice for the half dozen Catholics present. It was not until 1847, that things began to change for the better. In that year turn- pikes were being built, on which many Irishmen and Catholics worked. A priest from Harper's Ferry now came regularly once a month, and contin- ued to do so until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. Fr. O'Brien was suc- ceeded by Father Plunket. a most popular and eloquent priest, whose mem- ory is still honored by all who knew him. Protestant and Catholic alike, not 160 CONE W AGO— A COLLECTION OF only here but throughout the Shenandoah Valley. After him came Fathers Talty and Costello. In 1861, came that thrice unhappy event, the war. The little church and hopeful congregation at Winchester did not escape its rav- ages. They were scattered, and the dear little church they loved so well was left in ruins. Among the most fearless of Stonewall's and Mosby's fol- lowers were numbered Winchester Catholics. The dashing bravery of a Russell or a Reardon is to-day a password in the Valley After the war they returned to find no temple in which to worship. In the years of bloodj r strife that had passed. God seemed to have been forgotten and his temples to have lost their sacredness for men. A stable was made of the sweet little church upon the Hill. The ruins alone were left after the storm was over. Undaunted, however, were the few Catholics. Their own Soggarth Aroon still visited them and that was enough. With Michael Hasset and his good wife they well knew the priest and his people would always find a Caed Mille Failthe, and in his cosy little parlor month after month they assembled for divine service. Through the zeal of their young pastor, Rev. J. J. Kain, the congregation soon grew too large for the little parlor chapel, and larger rooms were provided. A future church was contemplated ; plans were then made for raising the funds, and successfully carried out through the great efforts of Father Kain, ably assisted by Mrs. Hasset and Routzhan. In 1870 the corner-stone of one of the largest churches in town was laid, and in the following year the little congregation of about a dozen families worshiped in its basement. Hard were the struggles to complete the work. To add to their troubles, in May, 1875, their beloved pastor was taken from them and consecrated Bishop of Wheeling. Father Van De Vyver succeeded, and the church was completed in 1878, and dedicated under the special patronage of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On this joyful occasion the celebrant was no other than Bishop Kain, who had started the enterprise in 1868, and for six long years labored hard for its completion. The Catholic spirit was not yet satisfied. The congregation yearned for a resident pastor. Through all the weary years of labor and waiting. Winchester was only an out mission be- longing to Harper's Ferry, long visited once a month, and that on a week day. Rev. J. Hagan became the first resident pastor in 1878. For him the congregation built a comfortable residence on the lot adjoining the church. A steeple was added, and placed in it one of the largest and sweetest toned bells in the Valley of Virginia. Father Hagan also founded a parochial school, which now flourishes with an average attendance of 45, — a number more than equal to all the Catholic souls in Winchester in 1865. Rev. Hagan was succeeded in June, 1882, by Rev. D. J. O'Connell, D. D.. at present Rec- tor of the American College, Rome. He remained pastor until Oct., 1883. when he was succeeded by Rev. J. B. O'Reilly. In that short period no pas- tor ever endeartd himself so much to the congregation and people of Win- chester. He purchased a most beautiful site for a new Catholic cemetery. — Finally, the little congregation of not more than a score in 1865, worshiping in a small private parlor, is now grown to over 300 souls. The Catholics have a handsome church, a school, a pastoral residence, and a resident pas- tor. All their property is paid for, and no debt hangs over them to encum- ber their future. Let us add that Rev. Father O'Reilly, the present pastor, is a worthy suc- cessor of the faithful priests who have labored before him in the Valley. CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 161 THE GETTYSBURG CHURCH. The early Catholics in and about Gettysburg were chiefly Germans. They were poor, few, and widely scattered ; but whether the sun shone or the rain fell, in the dust of summer and the snow of winter, they went, (many on foot) tv to hear Mass on Sunday and Holydays of obligation." A few attended church at Emmettsburg, Maryland ; some at Littlestown, Pennsylvania ; others at St. Ignatius, in the Mountain ; but most at Conewa- go Chapel, in the valley. The first two named are about ten and the last two about twelve miles distant from the town. Rev. Matthew Lekeu, S. J., the Superior of the Jesuits at Conewago, and Rev. Michael Doughercy, S. J., one of his assistants, were the first to establish the congregation and build a Catholic church at Gettysburg. The task was a hard one ; but where God's glory or the salvation of souls is concerned the Jesuit knows no hardships. The good Catholics generously responded to their appeal, and even deprived themselves to contribute to the new edifice. Early in the year 1830, the mat- ter assumed definite shape. Among the largest contributors were Peter Eline and Peter Martin, who each gave one hundred and fifty dollars, and Jacob Norbeck, who gave, as his subscription, a lot of ground (of about the same value) situated near the south end of West (now Washington) street, on which the church was erected. The following advertisement appeared in the county papers in reference to the building of the church.— -1 Notice. —The subscribers having been appointed Agents by Rev Mat. Lakieu to re- ceive proposals from the date hereof until the first of May next for the build- ing of a Roman Catholic Church in the borough of Gettysburg, of the follow- ing dimensions, viz : The church to be 40 feet in length and 30 feet in breadth, outside, with a semi-circular or semi-decagon Sanctuary at the East (it should read West) gable end of the Church of 15 (afterwards printed 71) feet radius inside. A steeple to be raised in front, one-half thereof within the church, of 12 feet square, and to be 65 feet in height. The foundations of the church, sanctuary, and steeple to be composed of sufficient rough stone work, and the body of the same to be of sufficient brick work ; the side walls of the church to be 22 feet from the floor, and the walls of the sanctuary of the same height. The roof of the church, sanctuary, and steeple to be covered with pine shingles. The roof of the steeple to be a polygon roof : and that of the sanctuary to correspond with the shape. The contractor will have to find all the material, hands, etc., necessary for the erection of said building, a plan whereof has been deposited with the sub- scribers, agreeably to which the said church will have to be built. The altar, pulpit, and ornamental \rork will not be included in said proposals, as they will be added after the erection of the church. It will be required that the contractor finish the church agreeably to the plan, during the ensuing sum- mer. Persons desirous of contracting for the building of said church, will please apply to Samuel Lilly and Joseph Sneeringer, Sen., near Conewago Church. April 5, 1830." The contract was given to a Mr. Barkley, who did the carpenter work ; and under his direction Ephraim Hanaway did the mason work, and James Bonn the plastering. The corner-stone was laid on Wednesday, the 11th day of August, 1830. There was no Bishop present. Two sermons were delivered in the old Court House, one bv Rev. Paul C. 162 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF Kohlman, a Jesuit. The building was almost completed, when on Thurs- day, the 19th day of May, 1831, it was struck by lightning, ,l the conductor not being completed." "A plasterer (Jonathan Gilbert) at work in the steeple, was prostrated, and remained senseless for some time, but recover- ed. The fluid passsed down the cupola, then passed off at right angles to a saw on a post, split the post, and passed down the wall of the steeple to the frontdoor, making a groove. " The church was dedicated on Sunday, Oct. 2, 1831, by Rt. Rev. Frs. P. Kenrick, Bishop of Philadelphia. The music was furnished by the choir from Emmettsburg, Maryland. The text of the ser- mon was, " Make unto yourselves friends of the Mammon of iniquity. " The church was called St. Francis Xavier's. It cost about $1800. To the des- cription as already given, (in the proposal) it may be added that the ceiling was caved, and there was a gallery over the door. The church contained twenty pews with one center aisle. Among the original members were Ja- cob Norbeck, Peter Eline, Peter Martin, Michael Gallagher, a lawyer, Dr. C. N. Burluchy, George Richter, Nicholas Codori. George Codori, Mrs. Eliza- beth Allen, the McLoughlins, McAleers, Lazarus Shorb, Nicholas Ecken- rode, Daniel Sherkey, Mrs. Thompson and but a few others. Rev. Michael Dougherty, S. J., was the first pastor, Lewis Norbeck and Daniel Shirkey were the first altar-boys. The lot given by Mr. Norbeck was also used as a grave-yard. The first burial authenticated, was that of Mrs. Elizabeth Al- len, who died November 10, 1831. Among the early marriages after the church was built are Margaret Eisenman to Michael Zhea, by Father Dough- erty, in September, 1834, and John Hamilton to Laurah A. Eline, by the same pastor, April 23, 1837. Mr. Hamilton was one of the first convertD. The congregation increased rapidly under the guidance of good Father Dougherty. Among the members of 1840 are to be added to the original ones the Doersums, Warners, M. Zhea, John Martin. John Carver, Smiths, Hemlers, John Ertter and some others. A bell weighing about 400 pounds was procured for the church in 1842 or 3. Father Dougherty closed his long and successful pastorate in the latter year. About this time there was Mass about every two weeks, before this it was only once a month. Rev. F. Kendler (from Conewago, but not a Jesuit. ) came here about the 6th day of June, 1843. He was followed by Rev. Joseph Dietz. S. J., who was in charge from about the 27th day of August, 1843, until March 11, 1848. Fath- er Dietz made a sacristy in the church, prior to that the priest robed behind the altar. He also organized a choir, before his time the whole congrega- tion sang in German. Mr. Weigle was the leader ; the music was all vocal. He also had a picture of the Crucifixion placed above the altar. Father George Villiger, S. J., the next attendant, came about March 16, 1848, and left in Oct. of the same year. About the 27th of Dec, 1848. Rev. J. B. Cattani. S. J., assumed charge and remained until about the 10th of Nov., 1849. He was succeeded about Dec. 8th, 1849, by Rev. James B. Cotting (he was from Conewago, but did not sign S. J. to his name.) The following were the pew holders, Jan. 1, 1851 : Jacob Norbeck. John Norbeck, Jacob Case, Andrew Stock, Francis Booty, John Hamilton, John Carver, John Martin. Nicholas Codori, George Codori, John Weikle, Valentine Warner. Lazarus Shorb, Joseph Smith, Nicholas Hoffman, Jacob Kuhn, George Jacobs, James Waga- mon, Joseph Shillen, Anthony Codori and Philip Krixer. A pew was re- served for the poor. In the first years the pews were free, but in 1851 the CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 163 pew rents amounted to $145.56. The congregation from 1840 increased so rapidly that the church soon became too small. Father Cotting took upon himself the burden of providing a new place of devotion. He was a most zealous worker, and being popular with all classes, was a most successful canvasser for contributions. Catholics and Protestants alike generously re- sponded to his appeal, and among the contributors was Rev. S. S. Smucker, D. D., the President of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. On the 22d day of Dec, 1851, the following notice appeared in the local pa- pers ; " To Church Builders.— Sealed proposals will be received by Nicho- las Codori in Gettysburg, until Saturday, the 10th day of January next, for building a Catholic Church in Gettysburg. Plans and specifications for the church can be seen at any time by persons wishing to build by calling on Nicholas Codori, one of the committee, in Gettysburg. By order of Rev. J. Cotting. Nicholas Codori. John Martin, Joseph Smith, Jacob Case, commit- tee. N. B.— Rev. James B. Cotting yet continues the officiating clergyman, and by his libeiality and good conduct the congregation is in a prospeious condition." The contract was awarded in Jan., 1851, to George and Henry Chritzman. The contract price was §3800, but many extras were added. They gave out the mason work to Henry Kuhn, and the plastering to James Bohn. The old church was torn down in March, 1852, and on Friday the 26th, while the South wall was being prepared for removal, it fell on Henry Hollinger and Charles Buckmaster (colored), two of the workmen, and kill- ed them. The bricks were used in the new church, having become the prop- erty of the contractors. In about April, 1852, a lot 75 by 180 feet, situated on West High street, on which the church was built, was purchased for §750 from Ferdinand E. Vandersloot : the deed seems to have been made to St. Joseph's College, of Philadelphia. Pa., in trust for the Catholic congregation worshiping in St. Francis Xavier's Church in Gettysburg, Adams County, Pa. The corner-stone of the new church was laid on Sunday, June 20th, 1852, by Rt. Rev. John Neumann, Bishop of Philadelphia. About a year later, (Sun- day. July 31, 1853), the same prelate (who had laid the corner-stone,) dedi- cated the church to the service of the Living God. The following is a des- cription of the Church as it appeared about the time of its dedication : The building is of brick, 48 feet wide, 90 feet long, and about 40 feet high. It has a Roman cupola of about 60 feet. It contains a fine sanctuary, accompa- nied on either side by a sacristry or confessional. The height of the inside walls is about 26 feet, and the ceiling is plain or level. It contained 64 pews and room for more. There is a center and two side aisles. A broad gallery used by the choir extends over the entrance from wall to wall. It has also a fine pipe organ. There was a large oil painting representing the raising of a dead man to life by St. Francis Xavier, (painted by Francis Stecker,) plac- ed back of the altar. There were alcoves above the sacristy , from which the sermons were sometimes preached. The old bell was transferred to the new cupola. The first marriage after the completion of the new church was that of Charles McFadden to Laurah Amanda Mclntire, by Father Cotting, Au- gust 1. 1853. Among the first baptisms was Anna.R., daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Lee, August 3, 1853, also by Father Cotting. This faithful pastor did not remain to enjoy the fruits of his successful labor but in obe- dience to the call of his Superior, left August 29 1853, for other fields or. usefulness, followed by the prayers of his devoted and grateful flock. He was succeeded September the 11, 1853, by the learned and eloquent Fathei 164 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF F. X. Deneckere, S. J., who greatly improved the interior of the church and established a Library and also a Rosary Society. This holy priest was the last regular Jesuit pastor, and about the time he left, (November 2, 1858,) the Jesuit Fathers gave over the congregation and church property into the care and control of Rt. Rev. James F. Wood, Bishop of Philadelphia. A new charge was now formed out of St. Ignatius Church in Buchanan Valley, Im- maculate Conception, of Fairfield, and St. Francis Xavier's, of Gettjsburg, with but one pastor residing in the latter place. About Nov. 14, 1858, Rev. Basil A. Shorb was appointed the first secular pastor. He remained until about the 24 of Feb., 1860. He was followed by Rev L. J. Miller, who was in charge from about March 14, 1860, to August 15, of the same year. The Rev. F. P. Mulgreu was stationed here from Sep. 16 to Dec. 27, 1860. Then came Rev. Michael F. Martin, who was here a short time. The next pastor was Rev. A. M. McGinnis, who was in charge from July 16, 1861. to about Oct. 27, 1863. In common with the other churches of the town, St. Francis Xavier's was used as a hospital during the Battle of Gettysburg. It was first occupied as such before noon of July 1, 1863, and was used for this pur- pose for several weeks. While the church was so occupied, Mass was said in a room at the house of Nicholas Codori. Father Joseph A. Boll assumed charge of the congregation Jin. 4, 1864. He at once repaired the damage done the church during the battle. In June following his corning, he had the church frescoed and ornamented with shadow statuary painting, repre- senting the twelve apostles. The work was done by Mr. George Seiling, of Reading, Pa., and was finished in the following Sep. Mr. Philip Doersom had purchased the Crucifixion, (painted by Mr. Gephart, of York,) which hung in the old church, from Father Deneckere. He had it newly framed and the painting repaired. Father Boll desired to purchase it, but Mr. Doer- som declined to sell ; but consented to its being placed in rear of the altar, if a proper recess were frescoed for it. This was done, and the words " Co- piosa Apud Eum Redemptio " forming a suitable arch were painted above it. The picture is still there, but owned by Mr. Doersom. The large paint- ing was removed to a side wall of the sanctuary and is still there. About the same time an elegant walnut pulpit, designed by Mr. Seiling. but made in Gettysburg, was placed in the church. During August of 1865, the last cent due by the church was paid. Gas was first used in the church in 1871. In the latter part of the same year a lot was purchased almost opposite the church and the building of a parsonage was commenced theron Dec. 1, 1871, and completed Oct. 5, 1872. It is a fine large brick dwelling, and cost, com- pleted and furnished, over $7000. It was mainly paid for by monthly con- tributions, lasting four years. In the spring of 1873. the Mountain Church was detached from the Gettysburg charge, and since Mass is celebrated the first three Sundays at the latter place, and the fourth Sunday at Fairfield, other church days being divided. The parochial school house was commenc- ed in June and finished in August, 1877. It is a roomy frame building fur- nished in modern style, and is located in rear of the parsonage. The first school session began Sep. 1, 1877. Father Boll took charge personally and taught the classes. His assistant was Miss Kate Marley, of Columbia. Pa. The following year he continued to teach, being assisted by Misses Mary Kummerant and Emily L. Martin, of Gettysburg. The school continued under the same control until Feb. 1880, when Mr. Martin F. Power took CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 165 charge of all the classes, the pastor still being the nominal head, but no lon- ger teaching, excepting Christian Doctrine. It was a success from the be- ginning, and still continues so. Its course is high, full and practical. There are about 90 pupils. In Dec, 1877, the old bell was exchanged for a new one weighing 1233 pounds. On the 8th of the same month— the feast of the Immaculate Conception— its sweet notes rang forth the Angel's Salutation of 4000 years ago— being the first time the Angelus was regularly rung in Get- tysburg. In the fall of 1880, Fathers Bouch and Trimple— two Redemptor- ists — gave a mission which resulted in much good. They also erected a mission cross, which is attached to the inside wall of the church near the Confessional. In the summer of 1881. Father Boll replaced the old church windows by beautiful burnt memorial ones, which are historical and of su- perior workmanship. They were made by F. Hoeckel, of Baltimore, and cost about $1000. Father Boll having obtained a nine months' leave to trav- el in Europe and Palestine in the fall of 1881, Rev. Henry Relt was appoint- ed to take his place. He remained in charge until the following summer. His gentle and dignified manner at once won him the affection and respect of the congregation. Father Boll resumed charge after his return from abroad. He had only returned a few weeks when he was appointed pastor at Lebanon, Pa Rev. John J. Shanahan was then appointed pastor. He was only here a few months, long enough to arouse a new spirit of devotion among the people, and by his eloquence and learning fill their hearts with in- creased love of God. There were many links that bound Father Bull to the earliest charge he filled, and at the first opportunity he returned to the scene of his early labors, in Dec, 1882. Jan. 3. 1885, the last debt due by the con- gregation was paid. St. Francis Xavier's Catholic Beneficial Society was or- ganized Jan. 4. 1885. with about 35 members. It has about 50 now. The Library was re-organized in April of the same year, and has about 600 (hun- dred) books and 40 members. There were 5 acres, 29 perches of land bought June 4, 1885, and laid out for a cemetery. Ex-Sheriff Jacob Klunk, Esq., was the first buried, on September 8, 1885. The cemetery was blessed by Rt. Rev. J. F. Shanahan, Bishop of Harrisburg, Sunday, September 13, 1885. The school children, society, and congregation went in procession from the church to the grounds before High Mass. The congregation numbers about 600. The title to the church property is in the Bishop of Harrisburg in trust. It is worth about $18,000. The congregation do not owe a cent of debt. They have the finest parsonage, the best bell, and the handsomest church in the town. Among the present members are found some of the wealthiest and best citizens of the county. The liberality of the past generation has de- scended to the present, and as the generous contributor looks about him and sees what he has helped to accomplish for the church, he recalls the words of the Psalmist : " I have loved. Oh Lord, the beauty of Thy House and the place where Thy glory dwelleth." Wm. McSherry. Jr. Gettysburg, Oct. 12, 1885. 166 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF GATHERING UP THE SCRAPS. A. M. D. G. ET B. M. V. H. We gather up the fragments that remain. ,l lest they be lost. 11 They may seem trifling to some ; others can appreciate their importance, to whom such scraps of our early church history that is lost and forgotten would in- deed be valuable. So with these : they will grow in interest. They might be put in better shape, and come in more consecutive order, but time will not allow. The object we have most in mind is their preservation. Rev. James Stillinger, a priest in Western Pennsylvania, (see Lambing , s Hist, of Western Pa., p. 402), died Sept. 18, 1873. His father was born in York Co., Pa. Fr. S. worked as a printer in Chambersburg and Gettysburg, when a boy ; entered St. Mary's College through Father Dubois, and became a priest in 1830. Lambing mentions a priest at Conewago in 1789, named John B. Causey, who did missionary work in Western Pennsylvania. He came from Philadelphia to Conewago and from there was called to attend the death-bed of Father Browers, in Westmoreland Co., Pa. This Father, among other bequests, willed some personal property " for the use of the Poor Roman Catholic Irish, that does or shall live at the Chappel, on Cone- wagga." There is no record of what became of Father Causey, (see Lam- bing, p. 364.) Rev. Francis Fromm came from Germany in 1789. and from Conewago he went to the Western Pa. Missions. Father Pellentz visited these missions from Conewago. Rev Peter Heilbron was among the early priests in Western Pa. He died at Carlisle about 1816. Father Brosius. while at Conewago, also visited McGuire's settlement, in Cambria Co., and after him came Father Galhtzin. Rev. Jas. Bradley, a priest in Blair Co., was ordained at Conewago, Sept. 20th, 1830, by Bishop Kenrick. Father O'Brien, one of the first priests in Pittsburg, spent a short time at Conewago about 1820. when his health compelled his retirement from active labor in the ministry. Rev. A. A. Lambing 's father was baptized at Conewago April 12th. 1807, and became one of the pioneer Catholics of Western Pennsylvania. Father Lambing is widely known for his valuable and extensive research in Catho- lic history , and also as a learned writer on Catholic subjects. His labors in the interest of Catholic local history have been very successful. The most laudable effort of his life is the establishment of a publication devoted to the early history of the Catholic Church in this country. Catholics should en- courage it, and make it permanent. Fragments of names and dates, gathered from the old account books at Conewago : Among those employed as laborers when the priests yet farmed the land, we find the following : John Strasbaugh, blacksmith : Henry Small, Alex. Robinson, Peter Majors, George Nace, Julian Plunket, Mary Koch, Cath. Chambers, Mary O'Neil, Susan and Mary Will, Eliz. Dellone, Mary Major, Cath. Baker. Mar. Strasbaugh ; Peter O'Neil. who entered the house on Monday, July 23d, 1827 ; Madalene Shaffer. John Adams. 1833, Aug. 23d, to Rev. Mr. Curley, of Georgetown, for expenses to return to col- lege. May 19th. Father Vespre on stage to Georgetown. 1834, paid to Rev. CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 107 Mr. Divin on account of the Masses discharged for Father Provincial. 1835, March 20, to Trappist Brother, of Nova Scotia, for Father Docherty. July 13, for the voyage of Father Helias ; when he arrived. Father C. Paul Kohl- man was recalled to Georgetown. The sketch of Conewago heretofore allud- ed to, thought to have been written about 1S30, is of a later date, as the fol- lowing scrap, which belongs to it, clearly shows : lu Father Barber arrived heie to make his retreat, and will probably stay with us. Father Helias re- ceived orders of our Father Provincial to go to Missouri ; he started the 6th of Aug., 1835, with the stage of Littlestown.'" Father Helias died in Mis- souri in 1874, at an old age. He came from Europe with Father De Smet and his companions, for missionary work in the West, and was one of the first priests west of St. Louis. 1850, Rev. Wirzfeld collected for Waynes- burg. The collection for Episcopate fund of that year sent by Brother Lan- caster. 1851, collection for il Milwauki " by Rev. Latzman. 1852, Rev. Moore visitor at Conewago. 1845, collection by Father Dietz for Rev. Wacth- len. 1852, loan to Fr. Early, sent by Bro. Redman to St. John's. 1853, Nov., boarded Bro. Logan ; at Conewago for his health. 1854, Feb. 6th, boarded Fr. Kreifihton : most likely there for his health. Thomas Will entered our house April 1st, 1830 ; was to be furnished with "cloth of our own man j- factory." 1844, names of Brothers Quinlan and Cavanaugh. About this time, a painter named Gephart, was at Conewago ; painted picture of Miss Sally Lilly's father, one of Mr. McSherry's father, and Mr. Bauge's father ; also, picture of St. Ignatius, long on B. V. altar, and picture of St. Francis Regis; a little painting for Nippero's Valley; and a painting to be sent to Gettysburg, " which shall remain in my possession until that congregation pays S30. 1 ' Clotilda Stigers mended priests'" vestments and attended altar. Sister Ann. Superior at McSherrystown. There is a list of young ladies who attended the school at that time, as follows : Mary E. Adelsperger ; Adeline, Catharine and Susanna Kenney ; Louisa Maria Shorb, Harriet Linco Walms- ley, Catharine Baker, Alphonsia Walsh, Catharine Stephens, Margaret Col- gan, Anna Mary Linn, Catharine Sneeringer ; book for M. Euphrosina. It is gratifying to see that the young ladies of that time, from about 1834 to 1840. had real solid christian names, and no fancy prefixes like young ladies now have. 1844, Thus. Lilly Proc. Prov.. settled accounts of Fr. Lekeu. Names of Steinbacher, Dietz and Kendler, the latter no Jesuit. 1845. Revs. Dietz, Kendler and Philip Sacchi. April 8th of that year, P. J. Verhaegen, S. J., signed as Visitor. There is mention of a Mother Boilvin among the first Sis- ters at McSherrystown. Dec. 30th, 1845, ,l Madame" Boilvin gave $20 to Mr. Kendler at his departure for Milwaukee. 1847, May 18th, Father Ver- haegen. Visitor. 1850, Oct. 17, Ignatius Brocard, Visitor. Sept. 16, 1865, An- gelus M. Paresre, Visitor. Rev. J. B. Causey, or Cause, came to Conewago from Philadelphia, be- tween 1787 and 1789. Nov. 10th, 1845, letter from Francis Patrick Kenrick, Bishop of Phila., to Rev. N. Steinbacher, Superior of Conewago, in regard to Sisters leaving McSherrystown. He submits the matter to the judgment of the Sisters, who, notwithstanding the great sacrifice to them, incline to remove on account of the difficulty of access to McSherrystown. 1860, Father Manns attended Par- adise. Petition from Paradise congregation to Superior for permission to haye court grant a road from the Berlin Turnpike to the church, through 168 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF farms of A. W. Storm, Joseph Clunk and church. Road was made, and comes out immediately in front of church. When the Hanover and Baltimore Turnpike was built, $1000 stock was entered in the name of Charles Neal, 1811, Superior of the Maryland Mis- sions. The Conewago priests from time to time drew the dividends, which at first were a fair per cent., and towards later years did not amount to much and the matter was entirely lost sight of for some years. Father Bell- walder was about the last to draw a dividend. Father Etnig, of St. Joseph's, Hanover, took up the matter and writes to Father Enders, Superior, March 27th, 1882, as follows : Says he attended to the business as good as if a law- yer had been employed. Wants nothing for it but a habit, kt mine is wear- ing out ; " health has been very bad, coughing day and night, with pains in the head. The following names and dates are gleaned from the letters of the Super- iors of the Society : 1858, Oct. 20th, shall be obliged to diminish priests at Conewago — Father Reiter probably be taken. To Father Cattani, Superior at Conewago, Feb. 23d, 1858 : We have lost Brother Marshall, in his 51st year in God's holy service in the Society. 1852, Brother Mattingly sent to replace Bro. Doyle. Fathei Manns re- called to Frederick in 1853, to make a year of Third Probation. Father Dom. perio succeeded Father Cattani as Superior for a short time, between 1865 and n 66. Father N. Steinbacher did suddenly at St. Mary's, Boston, Feb. 14th, 1862. Father Roger Dietz died in 1860, He was "a man of prayer." In Oct., 1861, Father Sheerin was called to Baltimore from Conewago. Jan., 1863. Father Barrister sent to Conewago, to rest a while from the great labors and exertions, both of body and of mind, which he has endured for the past two years. He took Fr. Deneckere's place, who went for a short time to Boston to assist Father Reiter. Feb. 24th, 1863, Father Dom perio sent to Conewago from Balto. In Jan., 1862, Mr. J. Shorb, architect, was sent from Balto. to superintend building at Conewago : the plans were soon after changed, and he was recalled. 1841, Thomas F. Mulledy, S. J., on a visit to Nice, appointed Father McEIroy his attorney. There is a scrap of a letter of introduction from a Conewago priest for a Protestant gentleman about to start for Rome, to Padre Trasset. No date or name ; says it is his seventh year on this continent ; came in company with Fathers Rey and Dietz, the former gone to receive his reward, the latter " with us at Conewago." Anthony Rey was Socius Prov. in 1845. John H. Nipper writes to Father Steinbacher from Frederick, April 6, 1845 ; sends respects to Bro. Quinlan ; says Father Sacchi is well, and he and Bro. McFadden send respects to the Fathers. Release, Feb. 28, 1816, Lewis DeBarth and successors. By will of John Anselm, dec'd, of Hanover, he ordered 200 pounds to be given to Rev. DeB., for which he was to pay to Eve Anselm 6 per cent, interest ; she having mar- ried James Dullehide, of Berwick Twp., they gave release. Father Deneckere writing from Frederick, 1858, says Latin class there is not superior to the few boys of the same category at Conewago. Bishop Neumann, 1859, paid Mother Magdalene #50 a year for each of the orphan girls at McSherrystowt. April 23d, 1863. Bishop Wood acknowledges re- CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 169 ceipt of $336.15, from Rev. J. B. Cattani, collection for poor Ireland, " with our little share added." Florence J. Sullivan, S. J., Santa Clara College Cal. ; baptized at Littlestown by Father DeBarth, 1823 ; his father was Tim- othy, and his mother Joanna O'Neill ; Archbishop of San Francisco unwill- ing to confer orders unless certificate of baptism be produced. He was a Novice at Frederick about a year, when his health failed. Father Villiger writes in 1858 : Father Deneckere gave liberal subscrip- tion toward establishing a free school for girls with the Sisters, and for boys at Conewago : of which Father Enders was President and German ; Deneck- ere Prefect and Latin ; Bro. Redmond, Disciplinarian and English : Mr. Gross, History and Mathematics. He says, Father Dougherty attends Lit- tlestown ; myself and "Billy," Paradise and Millerstown. "Tom," poor thing, was run blind by Fr. Wigget, at St. Thomas'. The priests always had good horses, and valued them highly. Father George Villiger, who died at Conewago. was called " Little Father Villiger," and Fr. Burchard Villiger, now at St Joseph's, Phila., " Big Father V.," because they were the oppo- site in stature. These trivial items, seemingly of little account, are given with the best intentions : to many they will recall vivid recollections ; and outside of their priestly character, they show the kind heart and cheerful spirit in the every day life of the missionary. Father Enders attended Mil- lerstown four years without any compensation, and gave $50 to silence some claims. In 1863, Father Enders writes from Leonardtown to Fr. Cattani at Conewago, for small picture of the Nativity, by Overbach, and St. Stanis- laus by Stecher ; desires to get copies for St. Joseph's, which was built chief- ly through the exertions of Fr. Cotting. St. Joseph's, Phila., Jan. 13, 1860. —Father Ryder died yesterday morning at 10i, after six days' severe ill- ness. We are only two for work now. Father Barbelin and myself. Thos. Lilly, S. J. His remains were taken to Georgetown. Father Stonestreet al- ludes to the apportionment of the funds from German benefactors, between German missions of Boston and Richmond : and in 1855, by " Rev Mr. Mul- ler's express order. I sent a ciumb to Conewago." Feast of St. Mark, April 25, 1858, Father General constituted Rev. Bur- chard Villiger Provincial of Maryland, to succeed Chas. H. Stonestreet, who writes : k " In this, my last official communication to the ever dear Province of Maryland, I c»nnot forbear to mention for encouragement and edification, that while Provincial I have never been disobeyed ; and, moreover, have been always humbled personally, but aided officially, by the superior virtues of my brethren in Christ." He died suddenly of heart disease at Holy Cross College. Worcester, Mass., July 4, 1885, aged 72. He was a native of Mary- land, stationed at Washington, Georgetown and Frederick. 1860, Fathers Enders. Deneckere and Cotting were at Newtown, St. Mary's Co., Md. Loyo- la College, Ap. 9, 1862.— The Bishop of Boston left here to-day with Father Early for Phila. Father Emig, from St. Louis, has been attached to our Province, and is now at St. Mary's, Boston. C. C. Lancaster, S. J., to J.B. Cattani, S. J. Phila., Dec. 30, 1859. — Rev. Father Sopranis will visit you (Conewago), Jan. 4. Father Ciccaterri and myself (C. C. L.) will accompa- ny him. April 11. 1858.— Thomas Lyndon, Pastor of Chambersburg, to Father En- ders, Superior of Conewago, for priest to hear German confessions during Pascal season. Loyola. July 25, 1862, Fr. W. F. Clark sends bv Fr. Vassi, 170 CONE W AGO— A COLLECTION OF &c, to J. B. Cattani, Sup. at Conewago. July 18, 1858, Fr. Clark sends Bro. Riordan to Conewago for his health. Mother Ignatius, of St. Joseph's, Mc- Sherrystown, has in her possession a chair, which once belonged to Fr. Gal- litzin. It was purchased of an aged lady, who in her childhood was a pro- tege of that saintly man. It is said to have been the most pretending article of the kind in his household, and was even used by the Bishop when admin- istering Confirmation. William Arter did the plastering of the Conewago Chapel when first built. He was a peculiar man and did some very foolish things. At one time he kept a tavern at Hanover, and was well known. Among the pewholders in 1820, were : Edw. Reily, Elizabeth Steigers, Nicholas Ginter, Margaret Storm, Samuel Lilly, Samuel Brady, Martin Clunk, John Dellone, Denis Carnahan, Michael Dellone, John Cook, Henry Lilly, Francis Marshall, Ignatius O 'Bold, Michael Gallaher, John Smith, Adam Smith, Jacob Will, John Shenefelder, John Strasbaugh. The descendants of a few of these yet occupy the same pews, or at least the corresponding lo- cation, as new pews were put in by Fr. Enders. Father Villiger, writing fi-om Paradise in 1855 : Buried John Dellone last Dec, and early in the spring old Mrs. Noel from the Pigeon Hills. Old Mr. Alwine returned to his duties. Miss Cath. Strasbaugh, at Mr. Wise's, a conyert, desires to become a religious. Aug. 9, 1856.— Fr. Stonestreet ap- points J. B. Cattani Sup. of the church at Boston, of which we have charge for the Bishop, to succeed Rev. Ryder (also spelled Reiter, but no doubt the same) ; Father Lachat to take Fr. R. 's place. To have nothing to do with anything but spiritual matters. 1834, June 25, Joseph Wehrner, son of Ben- edict W., ofPhila., born July 27, 1822, apprenticed to Mat. Lekeu, Rector and manager at Conewago, until he is 17. 1855. — Paradise Church robbed of its remonstrance, chalice and ciboriam. Blessed Sacrament not there. Fr. Villiger, pastor. Michael Noel and old Mrs. Brieghner gave him money to replace them. Jos. Kuhn, Frederick, Peter and Michael Dellone presented chandelier, worth $60. Peter Noel will pay the half for stations ; Pius FiE.k the other half. Father V. adds : If we can we will make Paradise look like a paradise. Writing to a friend at Frederick, Father Villiger says : Freder- ick and Peter Dellone send respects ; also Mr. Will and his amiable family. He is getting rich, notwithstanding his liberality ; and fat, in spite of his chewing so much tobacco. Father Moranville, one of the early priests of Baltimore, went with Mrs. Harper, daughter of Charles Carroll, of Carroll- ton, to Berkeley Springs for his health. Wrote Aug. 20, 1823, health not much improved. In 1784, Charles Sewell, S. J., became first resident pastor of St. Peter's, Balto. He was a faithful and zealous priest, but no orator. He was at Conewago with Father Pellentz. Near the church stands a large mission cross, erected in 1857, by the great missionary, Father Weininger. Father Maguire, and others, gave missions at Conewago. The galleries at Conewago were erected about Fath- er Lekeu's time. They were removed by Father Domperio, on account of the opportunities they afforded for those inclined to distraction. The old bell at Conewago bears this inscription : v ' Andreas Vanden Cheyn, me fudit Lovanii Anno 1816 ; Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, Dei Paroque Virginis Mariae." It is no doubt one of the many confiscated church and convent bells brought to this country in the revolutionary days of Europe. Some of CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 171 them found their way to Protestant churches. One so in use at Gettysburg, has the inscription : kt Maria de la Concepciun, per tvam immaculatam Dei Genetrix, Virgo defende nos ab hoste maligno, 1788. ,1 When the new steeple was finished at Conewago, the bell was pulled up into its place with ropes, by the boys then at Father Deneckere's school. Conewago is more or less connected \vith the mystery of Wizard Clip, in Virginia, but as we have nothing new to throw additional light on the affair, not much account will be given of it ; Father Finotti has left full particulars in his Wizard Clip. Father Gallitzin wrote an account of it when at Conewago, after having giv- en it a full investigation. His sketch was given out to read, and has never been heard of since. Some of the clipped clothes were brought to Conewa- go, and attracted so much notoriety that to avoid the importunities of the curious, Father Lekeu had them burned. Father Mulledy, when a scholas- tic at Conewago. saw them ; so did Mr. Peter Smith, now dead, and others. Father Finotti was an Italian priest, with considerable patrimony, which he employed in his Catholic history researches. His collection of Catholic books and authors of America is a valuable work, and it is to be regretted that the second part was never finished. He had written a history of the church in Virginia, unfortunately destroyed by an accident. What a valuable addition it would be to our Catholic history V what labors it cost ? what sad regrets to him who valued it more than gold or silver ? Father Finotti died from an ac- cident, in California, about 1878— see sketch in his Wizard Clip. His library, a valuable collection of rare books and pamphlets, treating on Catholic local history,— the work of a life-time at a cost of nearly all he possessed,— was sold at public auction in New York in 1879, and scattered to the four windb of the earth. Though a stranger to this country, he sought under many dif- ficulties to reclaim our early history, and by his interest and labors did a great deal to create a taste and a desiie on the part of Catholics to have the early history of their church preserved. Let the name of Finotti stand among the first of our Catholic historians. The novices of the Society of Jesus in Frederick taught the colored chil- dren the catechism and gave the colored people instructions in ante-bellum days. The Oblate Sisters of Providence, colored, were established in Balti- more in 1829, by^ Father Joubert, a priest from San Domingo. In slavery times, the colored people had their part in the churches through Maryland, where they attended services. Bishop Kain, of Wheeling, opened the W. Va. Senate with prayer dur- ing legislative session of 1885; he also made the invocation when Gov. E. W. Wilson was inaugurated, March 4th of that year. Bishop Keane. of Richmond, was called upon to open the Virginia House of Delegates with prayer, March 17th, 1879 ; the first time within recollection that a Catholic prelate was so called upon in that State. The consecration of Rev. J. J. Keane, Bishop of Richmond, took place in St. Peter's Cathedral, Richmond, Aug. 25th, 1878. Archbishop Gibbons was the celebrant ; Rev. A. Van de Vyver, of Harper's Ferry, Deacon of the Mass ; Archiepiscopal Cross-Bearer, Rev. J. J. Doherty, of Martinsburg ; among the Bearers of Offerings, was Rev. Hugh J. McKeefry, then of Key- ser ; present as a Seminarian, Father Frioli, now of Keyser. Bishop Lynch, of Charleston, delivered the consecration sermon, from which the following is taken : 172 CONE W AGO— A COLLECTION OF In the Diocese, over which he has been appointed to preside, he has had apostolic predecessors. Its first Bishop was Rt. Rev. Patrick Kelly. Learn- ed, pious, mild and amiable, coming at his age, and coming from a profes- sional chair, and finding what was, ecclesiastically speaking, a wilderness before him, with. I believe, only two priests in the entire State, he found himself unable to meet the hard physical work there required of a pioneer Bishop. Still he labored on until called to a more congenial field. He was transferred, in 1822, to the See of Waterford. For nineteen years he had no successor, and the church of Virginia was administered by the Archbishop of Baltimore. " In 1841, Richard Vincent Whelan came as second Bishop, young, active, zealous, learned, with a large measure of that American tact which enables a man to look at difficulties undismayed, to rejoice at and overcome obsta- cles, to understand the needs and the circumstances surrounding him, and to undertake any work that may come before him. No wonder that in ten years the Church had so grown that the Diocese of Richmond might well be divided into two. Bishop Whelan took the new See of Wheeling, and his place in Richmond was filled by Right Rev. John McGill, your third Bishop. Of him what shall I say. I knew him too well, I honored him too highly, I loved him too dearly, to allow roe to speak of him without emotion. You cannot forget him. Learned, eloquent, gifted with intellectual powers of the highest grade, he was respected by all, — while his earnest piety and the loveable, almost childlike simplicity and gentleness of his character, his di- rectness in all things, and his boundless charity of heart could not but force all that knew him to love him. For twenty-two years he ruled the Diocese, and it prospered. He has passed away full of years, and his memory is still sweet among us. Of the fourth Bishop I am forbidden to speak. For he is present in that sanctuary. That he had so administered another office as to be chosen to fill the vacant chair of Bishop McGill, and that he so adminis- tered this Diocese of Richmond as after a few years to be chosen to occupy, as he does, the highest episcopal chair in the hierarchy of the United States. Long may he worthily preside over the venerable Metropolitan Church of Baltimore." The old organ which was used in Old St. Joseph's Church, Phila., as early as 1748, came into the possession of the Catholic Church at Chambers- burg, Pa., where it was used as late as 1875, and may be yet. It is said to be the first organ used in the U. S. It was used on several great occasions during the Revolutionary War, and no doubt is the same one alluded to by Kalm, the Swedish traveler. In Nov., 1879, anew roof was put on Conewago Chapel, the old one having been on since 1848. In March, 1878, the contract was awarded to Pius Smith, dec'd, for building the new brick house on the farm, below the Chapel. This contrac- tor did a great deal of work for the Jesuits at their College, Woodstock. May 26, 1878, Mrs. Joanna Sullivan, mother of Father Sullivan, was bur- ied this week at Conewago, aged about 86 years. Peter Shanefelter. pension- er of the war of 1812, died May 27, 1878, aged 86. He was of the same fam- ily as was Father Shanefelter. of Goshenhoppen and the eastern part of Pa., in the beginning of this century. Father DeBarth, an Alsacian bj- birth, was the second son of Count Jo- CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 173 seph DeBarth, of a noble family for many generations Catholic. His brother, the late General E. Walbach, was John DeBarth Baron de Walbach, and when expatriated from France retained the name of Walbach. This explains the difference of names of the two brothers. In 1803, Rev. Michael Egan, O. S. A., attended Lancaster from Conewa- go, where he had been assistant to Father DeBarth. He became the first Bishop of Philadelphia, consecrated Oct. 28th, 1810. He died in 1814, and was succeeded in 1820 by Bishop Conwell. In this interim Father DeBarth acted as administrator of the Diocese. The name of Rev. John Blox appears on the Register at Conewago about 1840 or '50. He was an assistant at St. Joseph's, Philadelphia, in 1845. Father Rey was killed in Mexico in the war of 1846. He went there with Father McElroy as volunteer chaplains of the U. S. Army. Father Vespre died March 26th, 1860. In March, 1862, Father Lilly died at Philadelphia. In Father DeBarth 's time, the extensive bottom lands along the creeks were well cultivated and yielded the best crops. After him they were left grow wild until reclaimed by Father Enders. In old times, as high as thirty and forty mowers were at work, coming together from different parts of the parish and giving their labor gratuitously. It was customaiy in those days to set out drink for the hands, though drunkenness was not as common then as now. In this respect Father DeBarth was very strict. A man, becoming drunk while thus working one day, quit his work and fell asleep. When Father DeBarth saw him, he commanded the men to haul him up to the house and placed in one of the pig pens, saying that as he made himself like unto a swine, he should keep like company. Corpus Christi, 1876, Bishop Shanahan present at Procession. In Catho- lic countries on this day, the streets of the towns and the public roads are strewn with flowers and evergreens, as the Blessed Sacrament is carried along in Procession — a devotion intended to draw the blessings of God upon the growing harvests and the budding fruits of the earth,— a blessing in which the Valley of the Coneu^ago has always liberally shared. This pious practice was instituted at Conewago by F. X. Deneckere. S. J., when he first came, and continued until late years, when it had to be discontinued on ac- count of the thousands of people it annually attracted and the public show they made out of it by their irreverence. Father Deneckere spared no labor in making it grand and inspiring. The altars were arranged at a distance from the church and one in the church-yard. They rivaled in beauty and adornment the altars of many a church. The Blessed Sacrament was carried under a splendid canopy ; acolytes preceded and children strewed the road with flowers ; choristers dressed in white, young men and women bearing banners, emblems and statues, followed, and thousands of people came after, reciting the rosary. At each altar, the Benediction would be given, while the organ played, the choirs sang, bells were rung, and where the incense arose little children scattered flowers with their innocent hands ; not unfre- quently bands played and volleys were fired. Among the most beautiful of the altars was that of Miss Sally Lilly, erected near her house, every year that the Procession was held Poor Father Deneckere ! it gave him more pleasure to thus render honor and glory to the Blessed Sacrament, than to have participated in the grandest demonstrations of men. 174 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF July 4th, 1876, High Mass in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of American Independence. By permission of Father Enders, the American flag waved from the steeple of the church. The priests were never found wanting in loyalty and patriotism, as far as right with their sacred calling, and consistent. At the death of a President, or for any other national calam- ity, the bells of Catholic Churches toll in sympathy, and from Catholic altars a sacrifice is offered in mediation or atonement. Aug., 1876, Father Coppens, S. J., gave a mission in Hanover. 1877, Dec. 23d, Mass said on B. V. altar, on account of work on marble altar. Father Brady, Provincial, said Mass and spoke. 1877, June 3d, fif- tieth anniversary of Pius Ninth's episcopate and 31st of his Pontificate ; many Communions, — plenary indulgence. New Year's morning, 1878, first Mass said on marble altar by the vener- able Superior, Father Enders. 1878, April 27th, masons commenced work on the new brick house at the Chapel ; old stone building torn away ; was doubtless erected by Father Pellentz. 1878, May 5th. Father Deneckere preached on the Month of Mary, a beau- tiful and touching sermon — his streaming locks of silver gray flowed grace- fully on his shoulders : and though his hands trembled, his voice was strong and clear, as he extolled the praises of the Mother of God, exhorted his hearers to be faithful and obedient children and follow in the footsteps of her Divine Son. Well do I remember the holy severity, edifying life and faithful teachings of this venerable Jesuit. 1878, Decoration Day, Maj. Jen- kins Post G. A. R., of Hanover, decorated graves in Conewago Cemetery ; Father Deneckere made address — a beautiful comparison between the chris- tian warrior and the soldier of the world ; favorably impressed all present. 1878, June 9th, Father Brady, Provincial, preached. June 23d, Father Haugh, of Frederick, delivered sermon on the Real Presence. July 4th, Lewis Will died, at an advanced age. He farmed Paradise Church a num- ber of years ; his brother and his father, Charley and Jacob, lived on the Conewago farm for many years, from about 1830. Before them, the land was farmed by the Superiors, who had men hired to do the work, especially teamstering. John Weaver became tenant after the Wills, and remained fifteen years ; James Devine is now on the farm almost that long, if not lon- ger. This is the oldest farm-house on the Chapel land, which originally comprised a section, or 640 acres. The old barn was blown down in 1825, and rebuilt. The second house and barn were built forty years ago, along the McSherrystown road ; John Small, first tenant, remained until 1876 ; his sons, John and Ignatius, succeeded ; in 1881, Ignatius took the farm, and soon after married a daughter of James Devine. Good farmers are never removed. When the third farm-house and barn were built along the Han- over road, about five years ago, John, son of James Devine, became the far- mer. 1878, July, the marble altar was taken down ; foundations gave way, owing to intense cold weather when first erected. July 10th, Frederick Del- lone died and was buried at Paradise ; was near 80, and a good Catholic to the church for a life-time. His father was Michael, and his grand-father Nicholas, who came to the Abbottstown settlement from France, returned and came again. 1878, collections for relief of Yellow Fever sufferers. Sept. 23d, Nicholas Fleigle died, aged over 80. Mr. O'Neill relates that when he CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 175 lived at the church about fifty years ago, a man and woman were observed one day praying before the church, with extended arms. Father Lekeu learned that they were fulfilling a vow made during a storm at sea, where they lost a child. He assisted them to settle near Conewago ; they were good Catholics and industrious people, and their children's children are now scattered through the parish. The early pastors of Conewago interested themselves in getting poor emigrants to settle in the Valley, and in some in- stances put up temporary shelter in the church-yard until homes could be secured for them. Oct., 1878, statues placed in the vacant niches in the walls. Oct. 13th, Bishop Shanahan confirmed 101 bDys, 96 girls. Cave good instruction to parents and children ; warned them against evil literature scattered broadcast now-a-days. He gave Communion. Oct. 20th, Father McGurk preached. Nov. 20th. Father Emig preached funeral sermon of Miss Annie O'Bold. Dec. 8th, Father Casey preached his first sermon at Conewago. Mat. Dolan died this day. Feast of Blessed Virgin ; he was one of Father Deneckere 's school-boys. Father Jamieson preached at funeral of Mrs. Stormbaugh in Jan.. 1877. Death of Father Deneckere.— Epiphany, 1879, Rev. F. X. Deneckere very sick at Littlestown ; Father Enders went up to see him. Saturday, Jan. 4th, 1879 was a piercing cold day,— raining;, blowing and freezing. Father Enders, Superior, did not want Father Deneckere to go, but he drove to Littlestown, and was nearly frozen when he got there. He lost his way or was confused and benumbed by the icy rain and cold ; and stopping to ask the road, wo aid not allow those who directed him to go along and drive, saying it was too cold for them to be out. He would not remain with any of his congregation at Littlestown, but went to the church where he had his sleeping apartment in one of the sacristies. There he was found sick and was properly cared for. Father Enders arrived the next day and ad- ministered the Sacraments. He died Wednesday, Jan. 8th, 1879. His re- mains were put in a neat coffin and placed before the altar. Thursday after- noon he was taken to Conewago, and interred in a vault under the altar, Friday morning at 9 o'clock, during a High Mass of Requiem. Father Casey said the Mass, and Father Euders made a few remarks. He said it was not customary for one of a family to proclaim the good deeds of anoth- er. As there was a large congregation present, he could not help but say a few words. Many years ago he and Father Deneckere were appointed on the Maryland missions, where they labored together ; sometimes in the sad- dle day and night, attending sick calls and other duties of the missions. They were, with another Father, (Cotting.) removed to Conewago, where they had five missions to attend,— Conewago. York. Littlestown, Paradise and Gettysburg. God prospered their labors, and since that many new con- gregations have sprung up around them. They had been sent to other fields several times, but as often returned to " patch up " the old structure ; and liow as their days are being numbered, they have no other desire but to find rest near the altar where they served. [Poor Father, even that consolation was denied him, for he died and was buried at Frederick.] Lastly, he would fulfill the dying request of the late beloved Father, namely, to beg for him of the congregation and all with whom he came in contact dur- ing his life, pardon for any offence he may have given them, and to ask all to pray for him. Father Deneckere was a devoted teacher, and though ad- 176 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF vised by his Superior to give up his school on account of his increasing age and infirmities, he would not, but gave lessons yet to one poor boy even up to his death. He loved his school next to his sacred calling, saying that if he gained one addition to the priesthood, all his labors would be fully re- paid. Eternal rest give unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace, Amen. Rev. F. X. Deneckere was a brother of Rev. Hippolytte Deneckere, who was six or eight years his junior. Rev. F. X. Deneckere was a student all his life, and while he taught his boys at Conewago, he himself took lessons in German from Father Enders, toper- feet himself more in that language. Besides French, his mother tongue, he spoke English and Latin as well, and was a good Greek scholar. His name from the French is properly spelled tk De Necker,"but we have followed his own way of writing it " Deneckere.' ' 1879, Jan. 25th, Rey. Geo. Villiger came to Conewago to take Father Deneckere's place. May 25th, Fathers Casey and Emig gave the Jubilee. Procession on Corpus Christi ; large crowds, not the best order ; Super- ior preached of the want of respect and reverence for holy things. Dec. 13th, Sister Amelia (McSherry,) buried at St. Joseph's Convent, Mc- Sherrystown. 1880. Feb., collections for famine sufferers in Ireland ; Sis- ters collected aid, seeds, &c, and sent to friends in need. No procession this year ; Father Dufour preached on Corpus Christi. Decoration Day, May 30th, Rev. Dufour made address in Conewago Cemetery, and Ed. S. Reily at Mt. Olivet, Hanover. July 18th. Father Flanigan went to Bonneau- ville, Rev. Shanahan, its pastor, being absent on a visit to Ireland. Father Enders announced that Sisters intended building a larger chapel ; old chap- el was too small and unhealthy. Aug. 1st, Father Archambault preached his first sermon at Conewago ; is to succeed Father Casey at Oxford and Paradise. He went to finish his studies ; was an energetic young priest ; hed the churches in his charge re- painted and improved. Aug., 1880, letter from Father Dufour. from Louisiana, to a friend ; re- quests prayers for several converts that they may remain steadfast in the faith . Oct. 17th, Father Gutti, of Philadelphia, said early Mass Christmas, seven Masses, over 1000 Communicants. Library remodeled, catalogued and put in order. Have a very large library, many rare and val- uable works. The Little Chapel is used for a library. There used to be nothing but a small passage connect the church with the priests 1 house. Father Enders, about 1870, had it enlarged and a beautiful altar erected therein, where he said Mass in winter, and had his confessional in the room adjoining, — a room long occupied by Father DeBarth. whde the front room adjoining was used by Father Lekeu. Father Manns' confessional is unaer the north gallery steps ; Father Deneckere 's was the first in the south wing, and the one nearest the Sanctuary was used by Father Enders and different priests. For twenty-five years, Father Manns has never been away from his confessional on church days, and oftentimes is found there, praying, when there is no one about. He is a great confesssor. The room adjoining the parlor was occupied by Father Enders as Supeiior. The house was plainly furnished under him. His room had nothing but the necessary furniture, a folding cot, erected in a boarded up doorway, was opened out and arrang- CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 177 ranged for him by Brother Donohue in the evening, and in the morning closed up again Under Father Foran, the house has been remodeled and refurnished. Father Deneckere's room was above the parlor. Those who were in it once will never forget the various collection of invention, science, toys, mechanism, &c, which he had in use, some lor one purpose, and some for another, and at which he spent the very few leisure moments at his com- mand. The Bishop's room was diagonally across from his. The rooms fronting south were occupied, one by Father Manns, the rest by other priests and students, as they came. The saintly Brother Donohue occupied the at- tic. He was a faithful servant. About 1884, he was sent to Frederick, his health failing. In another attic room was stored the ;t old library. " It was a valuable collection of books, probably brought together by the priests and accumulated in one way or another. There are thousands of books out of use and print now, old Bibles, and treatises on theology, philosophy, and various commentaries by the old scholars ana masters. They are in all lan- guages ; some printed as early as the sixteenth century. In the spring of 1885, the small (old) window glass in the church was taken out and modern glass put in, some stained. Aug. 29th, 1885. the work of enlarging the priests' house nearly completed. The building is now three-story all around, with a French roof, and a large porch fronting the churchyard. During vacation at the Convent in McSherrystown this summer, the old day school houses were torn down and new ones erected. Sister Pat- rick, who has charge of the boys' school, collected the funds herself to build the new school house, and assisted in the work of building with her own hands. She is an energetic Irish Sister, a great favorite as a teacher with the boys. Will of Charles Hughes, made Feb. 7th. 1831. witnessed by C. Paulus Kohlman, S. J., and Andrew McManus. Wills to Father ,w Lague " (Lekeu) *■ all due him " and his weaver's loom. He lived in one of the small houses below the hill at the Chapel. His father's name was Patrick ; he died near Abbottstown, and was carried to Conewago by his sons. Charles Hughes had a weaver shop near Bonaughtown; there Peter Smith, (dec'd, at the age of 86.) learned his trade. To all people, to whom these presents shall or may come: I., Francis I- Neale, of Georgetown, Dist. Col., send Greeting. Whereas, I, the said Fran- cis I. Neale, by the last will and testament of Rev. Robert Molyneaux, be- came heir to an estate in Conewago Twp., Adams Co., Pa., lately held by the Rev. James Pellentz, and now in occupation by Rev. Lewis DeBarth, &c. . filed in the Register's office for the city and county of Phila., &c, I do here- by constitute, &c. Rev. Lewis DeBarth, of Adams Co., Pa., my lawful at- torney, &c. Signed June 21st, 1811. R. Mclllhenney, John Larentz, James McSheny, Franz Marshall, witnesses. Francis Neale, of Charles Co., Md., appointed Rev. Matthew Lekeu his attorney for the Conewago property, signed in the City of Washington, July 24th, 1828 ; acknowledged before Geo. Naylor, J. P. ; attested by Wm. Brent, clerk of Circuit Court ; Certified by W. Cranch, Chief Judge Circuit Court; and by " H. Clay." The following tradition comes down to us through good and intelligent people of Conewago '. One of the ancestors of the Marshalls, Jacob or Joseph, 178 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF was a close man and self-willed. He had one son a priest, and one or two were Brothers. His daughter desired to become a religious, but the father would not consent ; all her entreaties were in vain. She was a young girl, very good in every way, and had never been away from home. After fruit- less prayers and entreaties, she left her father's house one night, and made her way in the direction of Westminster. Dense forests then covered most parts of the country, and she was soon lost, not knowing which way to go. Recommending herself to the care of the Blessed Virgin she continued her journey, when a young man came riding along on a snow white horse, and asked her where she was going. She told him her story, and he assisted her to mount tbe horse with him, nothing uncommon in those days. After rid- ing all day, he halted his horse before an humble-looking house, and told her they were at the Sisterhood she wished to enter, and she was kindly re- ceived by the good nuns. The young man rode off, no one knew whither. Even if the young man was only a traveler passing the way, she had reason to thank God for her guidance and protection. Years ago, Conewago was called the Chapel of the Blue Spring, but the name was never very generally accepted. A young student at Dickinson, named Barnitz, from Hanover, wrote a romantic story about 1840, entitled The Recluse of the Conewago, in which he uses the expression "• Blue Spring Chapel." The Blue Spring is a strong stream of water, issuing from the limestone rocks in the church bottom, below the Chapel, and flowing into the Conewago. The water has a bluish cast, and hundreds of feet of rope let down failed to reach any bottom. There are large fish in it. It seems to be more or less affected by tbe actions of the tide, and has never been known to go dry. The students had a boat on it, and it has always been something of an attraction. Such caves, springs or sink holes are common in lime- stone countries. From a diary kept by one of the Fathers at Conewago, from Feb.. 1844, to Oct., 1846, we glean some interesting notes. The writer evidently was a German, and was either Father Steinbacher, or Dietz. In the month of February. 1844. Father Nicholas Steinbacher, in his 47th j ear, the 24th of his priesthood, and the 12th of his admission to the Society, was transferred from Goshenhoppen to Conewago, by the Provincial, Father J. Ryder. The resident priests at Conewago were, Fathers Philip Anthony Sacchi, Roger Joseph Dietz and Rev. F. X. Kendeler. a secular priest. That was the time Father Thomas Lilly was sent there to adjust the vi old accounts'" of Father Lekeu. who had been an easy manager, having allowed long standing accounts without settlement. The first Provincial of the Society for the Province of Maryland was Rev. Wm. McSherry. S. J., and prior to that there were no Visitors to examine the accounts and to keep business matters straight as they now do. At that time much of the Society's busi- ness management in other places was not so systematically conducted as it is now. No blame is attached to the Superiorship of Father Lekeu. except that he was too easy in conducting business. He is remembered as a kind and generous priest, who tried to make all around him happy. Conewago gained more through his labors and the liberality of his friends in France, than the Society lost by his want of financial ability. He was removed to White Marsh, where his health suffered. His Superiors said he might re- CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 179 turn to Frauce, where he died. 1844, May 13-Rev. Kyle came here from Phila., after the burning of St. Augustine's ; remained eight days. July 4, Madame Murphy died at Mc- Sherrystown ; she is the fourth nun dying there since its commencement. Aug. 5, Rev. Fathers Rey and Tuffer, Messrs. Earley, McGuire, McSherry, Lynch, Gillespie and Kreighton, Scholastics, arrived to spend vacation. They held services at the adjoining churches. Father Tiffer (or Tuffer) preached his first sermon at Paradise. Sept. 11, Bishop Kenrick arrived to give confirmation at our churches. Father Steinbacher used to be gone two weeks, attending the Mountain Church and doing missionary work in Nip- per's (also - written Nippero's) Valley, probably somewhere along the South Mountains. The other Fathers attended McSherrystown, Littlestown, Get- tysbuig, Paradise and the home church ; all preached English and German ; sometimes Father Steinbacher would preach English and German at one Mass at Conewago. Oct. Oth, there was a long letter from Father De Smet, from Lima ; he is in excellent health ; gives a very interesting account of his travels, and particularly when they discovered that he was a Jesuit ; since they had not seen one since the Suppression of the Society. Oct. 17, Revs. Curry and McCloskey called here on their way to McSherrystown ; will say Mass there in the morning. Oct. 22d, Mass was said for the repose of the soul of Father DeBarth, by Father Steinbacher. 23d, Father Ryder, Provin- cial, arrived. Will leave fur Phila. on the 25th, where he is to preach a charity eermon, for the building of a small church near the ruins of St. Augustine's. Dec. 25, Father Steinbacher said Mass at midnight at McSher- rystown. 28th, He received a letter from Father Fenwick. announcing the death of Father Young at Alexandria. 1845, Jan. 1st, Wm. Detrick, a school teacher, became a convert under Fr. Steinbacher. Jan. 9th, John Smith buried, Father Steinbacher played the organ. 15th, The Provincial, Fr. Verhagen, ordered Fr. Sacchi to Frederick to take the place of Fr. Vespre. who goes to Phila. Father S. left Feb. 7th with the stage to Balto., where betakes the cars to Frederick. Feb. 17th, Samuel Barber, S. J., arrived here in place of Fr. Sacchi. April 10, Fathers Provincial and Rey arrived, will go to Phila. April 24, sixteen men put up scaffolding to paint the church. 28, Messrs. Monachesi and Uberti here from Phila. to paint. April 30, Father Steinbacher left for Reading to lay the corner-stone of a new church. May 1st, an altar decorated in the school room, where Mass will be said during May, as the painting of the church prevents its celebration there. May 29th, Father Zocchi, from Taneytown, paid us a visit and took dinner. June 11, the painters finished and scaffolding taken down. 14, John Nippers and Barlholomee, Novices, arrived here from Frederick for a cow, which Father Steinbacher presented to the Novitiate. 28th, Brother Macarius, of the Trappist order, from Mount Mallory, County Waterford, Ireland, arrived here, he got §1000 in two weeks at Phila. ; he got about $70 at Conewago, $16 from the Boarders and $2.50 from the Mother. July 7, Rev. Galligher, from Brownsville, came to collect for his church. 14, Rev. O'Hara, of Chambersburg, stopped with us a few days. 27, Rev. Myers, from Washington, said Mass and preached. Oct. 9, Rev. Kendler left for Milwaukee ; Father Lynch came in his place. (He left for the College at Worcester, Nov. 24th.) Dec. 2, Father Provincial by order of the Father General, ordered solemn fast for suffering Jesuits in Europe. (Father Gib- 180 CONE W AGO— A COLLECTION OF bons' name now mentioned.) Dec. 12, 1845. Father Dietz went to Taney- town to give last Sacraments to Father Zocchi. He died on the 19th, and Father D. sang the High Mass at his funeral on the 20th. 1846, Jan. 15, Rev. McCaffry and McClosky paid us an agreeable visit. Feb. 28, 1846, Father Dietz took his departure ; ordered by the Provincial to Bohemia. (Gave the diary to Fr. Gibbons.) They were all sorry when he left, except Broth- er Quinlan who was laughing. March 15, Father Verhagen, Prov., said Mass and preached. 16, Fr. Tuffer ,k arrived here to take charge of the con- gregation. ; ' (He might have been Superior between Frs. Steinbacher and Enders.) April 2, Brother Patrick Carroll arrived fioni Georgetown. 4th, Bro. Quinlan left for Alexandria. May 24, Father " Vandevil " preached at Conewago, after the lapse of 21 years since his last sermon at the Chapel. June 10, " got an account of the death of Brother Quinlan, by letter from Father Coombs." 11, Father Samuel Mulledy preached a very eloquent ser- mon. July 12, Brother Marshall arrived from Georgetown. 14, Rev. Mr. ''Curry, 1 ' from the College, paid us a visit. Aug. 2d, Rev. Mr. " Vero " preached panegyric of St. Ignatius. There is mention of a Brother Leary at Conewago at this time. Aug. 20th, Messrs. McGuigan aud CCallahan, schol- astics, left here for Frederick. (This must have been the Father O 'Callahan who was fatally injured on a vesssel during a storm.) Aug. 24th, Messrs. Duddy and Gillespie arrived from the College ; Rev. Messrs. Jenkins and Griffin, from the Seminary, paid us a visit. " It is learned that old Father Barber has arrived safe at Georgetown College." There are many little details in the every-day life at Conewago, that would be interesting to many of our readers, but space forbids. Father Dietz 's strong voice is playfully referred to It is said he could easily be heard down at the Church jard gate, while reciting the Introibo at the foot of the altar. When Edward Reily, Sr., died, Father Dietz came to the house and walked with the funeral to the church as the corpse was carried there. Sunday, Nov. 22d, 1885. — Spent a few days at Conewago. ' Last Sunday the mission cross erected by the great missionary, Weininger, about 35 years ago, was removed from the north side of the church to the rear of the grave- yard, and raised there, after having been reincased with boards. It is the intention to remove the priests from under the altar, and bury them around the cross. Many a prayer was said at the foot of the old mission cross. It was erected in 1857. Father Finnegan, a very old priest, has been at Conewago since 1870. He was a Maryland priest, born in Ireland, and ordained by Bishop Mare- chal in 1826. His mind was affected for some years, and now he is quite childish. There was some question about the validity of his ordination. He was a learned priest, and during the month of May, we remember while at school, he would sing the office of the Blessed Virgin every morning in his room. Every Sunday morning he would feel his way into the Sanctuary, a venerable looking little man with flowing white hair, and receive Com- munion. He seldom spoke to anyone. When the school boys did him any little service in his room, they would some times take advantage of the occa- sion to ask assistance in their lessons, which he would kindly answer in a very few words, but say nothing more. Poor Brother Donohue took great pleasure in assisting the boys with their lessons, for which he received many a severe scolding from Father Deneckere. Father Di Maria, another aged CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 181 priest, spent a few years at Conewago about that time, and found great pleas- ure in taking part with the school boys in their play. He was a delightful old Father, smoking his long meerschaum pipe, and always looking for some fun. He put the weather-vane on the stable, which we believe is still there. He was fond of snow birds as a delicacy, and on the coldest day he might be seen with an old musket looking for these birds, and if he had hit all he shot at, few would have been left. Mrs. Strausbaugh, a very old Ger- man woman, lived below the hill at that time, and every day came up to the church to pray. Father Di Maria thought he would have some fun with her one day, and began telling her some wonderful story he had made up for the purpose. Sh« listened earnestly, then walked off. saying, " Es kent sei, ovver ich glaubs net,'"— It might be, but I don't believe it. The joke was turned, and the Fathers enjoyed themselves at his expense. In looking over the old records, not much additional matter was found to note. Many of the names of the forefathers of the families now living in the valley, appear in baptismal, marriage and death records. Their publi- cation would be interesting to the generations now living at Conewago, and those to come. To prepare and publish them would necessitate great labor and expense. Nicholas Will died Jan. 1st, 1808. doubtless the great-grand- father of the present Wills ; so with the Overbaughs. Smalls. Lillys, Storms, Shorbs. and hundreds of the early settlers, on the different missions attend- ed from Conewago. Lorenz Gubernator has the title of organist after his death record. He must have conducted some kind of a choir in old times. John L. Gubernator played the organ in Father Lekeu's time. Father Stein- bacher changed organists, and Anthony Smith took his place Then John S. Brady had charge of the choir for many years. Father Forhan had a new choir organized, with David Smith as organist,— a son, we believe, of the old organist. A few more names of priests were found on the records, as sponsors : Rev. John N. Mertz in 1803, 4 and 5 ; Rev. N. Zocchi in 1804 ; Rev. Carr in 1808 ; Rev. D. Carolus Nagot in 1813 ; Rey. A. Marshall in 1817. The first baptismal record by Father Enders is on Sept. 26th, 1847 ; and that of Father Manns in Sept., 1853. He was ordained at Frederick, June 17th. 1853. After a short stay at Conewago, he labored elsewhere until 1862,— since that at Conewago. He now attends the Sisters at McSherrys- town. His spare moments are devoted to the translation of some religious works in German in the original, and has quite a collection of manuscript copy. One of the Sisters aids him in the English translation. Father Her- man Richard attends Paradise and Oxford from Conewago. He is a very genial Father ; born May 8th, 1834 ; entered the Society Oct. 1st, 1857. Conewago, though not a classic land of artists and poets, has its charms, many of which are derived from its religion. " The palaces of Genoa and Venice, without their churches, would not compensate for their scorched and unhealthy marshes. The monotonous plain of Milan would be no delight- ful recollection without the thought of its Cathedral. The formal hills which border the pale and turbid Po at Turin, would inspire no interest if they were not crowned with that votive Church of the Superga. The low, sandy banks of the Arno would not arrest the pilgrim at Pisa, if there were not the soil of Calvary in the Campo Santo, the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Campanile. The vale and hills of Florence, with their famed but 182 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF disappointing stream, are unquestionably surpassed in natural beauty by the English valleys of the Severn or the Wye; but art, inspired by the Catholic re- ligion, has raised that dome and tower in the Tuscan plain, and crowned the hills which encircle it with those beautiful convents which Michael Angelo used to regard with rapture. How hideous would be the range of the Ap- penines, if it were not for Camaldoli and Alvernia ! Who would be attached to Sienna, if it were not for its cathedral and Gothic towers ! and what pil- grim from the North would be attracted to Ancona by the scenery of that level shore of the Adriatic, if it were not for the hope of arriving at the house of our Blessed Lady." Though fair and fertile the Valley of the Conewago, it is surpassed in extent by that of the Cumberland, and in abrupt and ever- changing scenery by the valleys of the Potomac and the Shenandoah ; but the Church of the Sacred Heart fills the mind of the Catholic with thoughts of the early missionaries, and his own pioneer forefathers of the faith in days of Colonial hardships and persecutions ; it touches his heart by the dearest memories there cherished for time : and raising it to heavenly desires, car- ries him back over the pathway of the Catholic Church to the fountain-head of all that we have in this world or hope for in the next. Though the fields may be green and the harvests rich ; — though man be in the enjoyment of all the comforts and pleasures of life, health and wealth ; there are times when his soul complains and will not be satisfied. " With- out an altar, not the shade of the lofty groves, not the soft meadows, not the stream descending from the rocks, and clearer than crystal, winding through the plain, can satisfy the soul of man. Left in the presence of nature alone, it faints and becomes like earth without the dew of heaven : it is oppressed by the contemplation of that vast immensity ; it loses its tranquility and its joy. Man in himself can find no rest or peace ; and how should he find re- pose in the works of nature, when these themselves are forever restless V The fire mounts in a perpetual course, always flickering and impatient ; the air is agitated with conflicting winds, and susceptible of the least impulse ; the water hurries on, and knows no peace ; and even this ponderous and solid earth, with its rocks and mountains, endures an unceasing process of disintegration, and is ever on the change." " Even to the mere poetic soul, what a delightful accompaniment to the silent hymn of nature, is that chiming of angelus bells which rises at even- ing and at noon, and at the sweet hour of prime, from all sides of a Catholic valley V — bells that may well be termed of the angel ; that are not rung, as in other lands, by base hands, through love of sordid gain, to celebrate some occasion of sensual joy, temporal and vain, soon to change to mourn- ing as vain ; but by pious hands, through the devout intention of inspiring men with thoughts of prayer." After all our efforts to arrange some kind of a history of Conewago, many things yet remain that might be worthy of preservation. Some ac- count could be given of the many humble and holy lives that were passed unseen by the hurrying crowds of the world, but what cares the world for such ? Cold and ungrateful are even our best friends : those who were near- est and dearest to the Fathers in life, it grieves us to say, are found most in- different to their memories after they have passed away. At most, it will only be a few years until others take our places. Life is too short and busy to have much thought except for the present. Why then any further record ? CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 183 The birds sing the same among the trees this year as they did in the long ago. The seasons bring the same joys and pleasures as of old. Some rejoice to-day. while others mourn. The bells ring as sweetly and toll as sorrowful- ly though centuries have elapsed and generations disappeared. The sound of song or the organ's peal may die out to some while first reaching the ears of others. Eloquent sermons, ceremonies most grand and imposing,— every- thing that pleases the eye or touches the heart, shall be heard until time is no more. The Church inspires man with the same lofty desires as she did in the days of the great Masters at the Cradle of Arts, and Literature may still find the Rise and Decline of Nations among the rich memories and everlast- ing beauties of an Ara Coeli. What matters it whether nations are unborn or buried ; one is the same as the other ; life is death and death is life, and though to-day be full of memories, to-morrow all will be oblivion. Why rehearse all that is dear to me in the Book of Memory V Why turn its pages, and search for faded scrapsand treasured relics ; why look for thecornersof bright leaves turned down, and drop tears over pages that are dark and stained with remorse V Has the vulgar crowd nothing more to mock at ;— nothing less sacred for its amusement than the memories of the past ? Shall my farewells amuse them, while the hoary ferryman plys his oar V Fate in- exorable ! Destiny eternal ! Never has man evaded thee, and mortal never will. tw Unhappy guest at the banquet of life, I appear for one day and die ! I die, and on my grave no one will scatter flowers. Farewell, fields that I love ! and thou, sweet verdure ! and thou, smiling solitude of woods ! Sky, beauteous canopy for man ! admirable Nature ! for the last time, farewell!" " Not always full of leaf, nor ever Spring ; Not endless night, nor yet eternal day : The saddest birds, a season find to sing ; The roughest storm, a calm may soon allay. Thus with succeeding terms, God tempereth all, That man may hope to rise, yet fear to fall." c«£»a THE OLD CONEWAGO CHURCH. [Commenced in 1785, Enlarged and Improved up to 1886.] 184 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF Enlargement of Conewago Church in 1850.— From some memoran- da of an official report of Father Enders, Superior, made Feb. 29th, 1852, we glean some facts in regard to the enlargement of the Conewago Church in 1850. So many changes are constantly taking place in everything, that the surroundings of Conewago only this short time ago seem strange to us. This was the more forcibly called to our miud when a few weeks ago we overheard several middle-aged people before the Church at Conewago, re- calling to each other the changes that had taken place since they as boys had attended catechism there ; few of their companions remained : the old Fath- ers were all gone, and marked changes on every hand impressed them with the flight of time. In considering the enlargement of the church, one source of regret was the necessity of removing part of the walls of the old church and destroying some of the artistic decorations that had shortly before been executed. But the need of more room and accommodations was felt, and it was the will of the Bishop, Superior and the greater part of the congregation, that the old church be enlarged instead of building and maintaining a new church in some other part of the parish. The enlargement was effected by taking down the sanctuary and replacing it with transepts, making the building cross- form and the church fully as large again. As the old part of the church was painted in the very best style, there was no alternative but have the new part painted in harmony with the old. The title of the church is of the Sac- red Heart ; this was to guide in the choice of the objects represented. " It was our good fortune to find an artist who was fully equal to the task, hav- ing carried off the first premium in the historical art of painting in one of the best European Academies/ ' The three wonders of divine love in the Re- demption, i. e., the Incarnation, Death of the Saviour, and the Institution of the Blessed Sacrament, form the principal subjects of the painting, to which correspond His coming from Heaven, His return to the Father, the Adora- tion of the Holy of Holies by Angels, in the ceiling ; the representation of the Blessed Trinity forming the center-piece, in a blind cupola of about 20 feet diameter, bordered with stucco leaves in gilt and bronze. In the Bless- ed Tiinity the Son is represented in the bosom of the Father, receiving the Sceptre of Supreme Dominion, with the left hand, holding at the 6aroe time the cross, whilst the right hand is raised to bless ; the heart being visible ; the Holy Gho&t appears in the form of a dove. This is a most imposing com- position, carried out with all the splendor that color is capable of imparting. In the left side against the wall is the Nativity, the Infant lying in the man- ger, the Blessed Virgin on her knees, whilst St. Joseph is prostrate in an act of adoration : an Angel hovers on high, whilst the background presents a landscape, covered by the darkness of night ; close by the crib where lies the new-born babe on a pallet of straw, is a stall for cattle, which reach over to- wards the child, as if to impart warmth by their breath on the tiny body of the Creator of all Nature, now exposed to the cold and dampness of the man- ger at Bethlehem. Above this in the ceiling of the transept, is represented the Saviour, who was the expectation of the nations, descending from Heav- en, and as it were taking leave of His Father, returning with one hand the Crown of Glory, whilst the other hand is receiving from the Father the cross with the ci own of thorns. Two Archangels are supporting the holy group, holding a scroll with an inscription. In the other transept against the wall. CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 185 is the tbe Death of the Saviour, with which corresponds His Ascension into Heaven above in the ceiling, His entering into glory in contrast with the act of His deepest humiliation. Christ on the Cross, having already ex- pired, is masterly carried out in design and in its anatomical dispositions. At the right side are standing the Blessed Virgin with an expression of im- mense sorrow, and St. John also overwhelmed with grief, close by in readi- ness to support her. At the foot of the cross is Mary Magdalene on her knees, drying up with her veil the blood that flowed from the holy Victim. The master-piece was reserved for the Sanctuary, — The Last Supper and the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The Sanctuary forms a half circle, presenting a surface of some sixty feet in breadth. Little less than half of that space is taken up with the picture proper, the rest in decoration of the grandest style. The artist chose the moment when Christ consecrated the bread, holding it with the left hand, whilst the right is raised to bless it, and the eyes to Heaven. The twelve Apostles are around the table in the most reverential attitude, and with expressions of the deepest interest and devo- tion. Above in the ceiling is the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, which is surrounded by myriads of angels, intoning in full chorus the Taatum Er- go, Sacramentum, accompanied by music on various instruments. The rich- est decorations surround these scenes ; vines encircle the whole Sanctuary, over gilt columns with arches, where clusters of grapes are ranged, and the root or main step of the vine proceeds from a chalice in the hands of a figure of our Saviour. Stars are shining in the blue sky background of the paint- ing in the ceiling, and the full moon rises in the east on a background of the shades of night in the Last Supper. All these paintings are done on the plastering of the walls. The same artist painted the death of St. Francis, on canvas, which is now over his altar, and the Fourteen Stations, of four by six feet, which adorn the walls. " If the latter bear marks of hurry, the former is elaborate, and succeeded perhaps best of all." * w All the paintings, which bear the stamp of originality, and genius, are of brilliant colors and present a most imposing view ; and whilst they are attracting numbers of the curious, they fail not to contribute to the edification and instruction of the faithful." After the completion of the improvements, the church was first used for the celebration of the half-centennial Jubilee, which was held in most of the congregations with a retreat, — at Conewago, March 16th to 23d, 1851. Two Fathers of the Tertianship conducted the exercises at Gettysburg and Lit- tlestown. The next event was the solemn consecration of the Church, Aug. 15th. While the ceremonies were going on inside the church, one of the Fathers preached in German to the assembled crowd outside. Sunday fol- lowing the solemn benediction of the graveyard took place, which in conse- quence of the enlargement of the church, had to be extended. It has been several times since enlarged, and now almost reaches the public road pass- ing back of the church. Many changes were made in the outbuildings, stables, fences, and gardens, at that time. The priests' house was enlarged, so as to throw the kitchen farther away from the church. A large cistern was dug near the new kitchen ; the old carriage house was turned into a bake and wash house ; the stables were removed farther down : the gardens and yards enlarged and fenced in, and a high stone wall built between the garden and the graveyard, separated before by a " slight plank fence." 186 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF Among the letters of the Fathers, there are few that add anything to the history of Conewago. There is some correspondence between Father Enders and Rosalie Stecker, Innsbruck, Austria, about some paintings. Francis Stecker painted the Conewago Church, and executed several paintings pre- served there. What relation between them, we cannot say. There is a let- ter from Thaddeus Brzozowski, St. Petersburg, to Father Adam Britt, June 20th, 1809. One from Ehl, Ehrenbreitstein, Prussia, to Fr. N. Steinbacher, (of whom the writer was a former student,) Aug. 10, 1837. Circular letter from Pope Pius VII., (Savona,) Aug. 25th, 1809, to Cardinal Caprara, Arch- bishop of Milan, about the state of religion. Encyclical letter issued at Dub- lin, 1810, III Kalends of March, by the General Assembly of Bishops of Ire- land, in reference to the state of the Church. July 31st. 1859, corner-stone of the Church at Bonaughtown, (Bonneau- ville,) Adams Co , Pa., was blessed by Fr. John Baptist Cattani, S. J. ; the sermon by Father Hitzelberger, S. J. Where private letters of the Fathers throw any light on Catholic history, or give any reference to Conewago, we have taken the liberty of using them, from the great desire to do what we can for the Conewago history. If we have done well, it is reward enough, if not so well, we hope it may be par- doned us. Mach. xv. 39. Bishop John Timon, when deacon, was resting a while at St. Mary's set- tlement. Arkansas. One day he turned up missing. No one could give an account of him. Father Odin, Father Ball and others, became alarmed. It was in the days of bears and wolves. A grand search was instituted. To- wards evening the Rev. John Timon was discovered at a small cabin several miles distant, sleeves l'olled up, axe in hand, and beads of sweat on his brow. It seems that he had heard of the poor and lonely old widow who had lived there, with no one to chop her winter's wood. Having stolen away, unawares, from his companions, he was finishing his first cord when the hunting party came upon him with horns and rifles. They did not ex- actly take up a subscription for the widow. Each one gave a turn till the woodpile disappeared. When Rev. Samuel Mulledy was at the point of death, he begged re-ad- mission to the Society of Jesus from Rev. A. M. Paresce, Provincial, which was granted. Though in the agony of death, he was so moved by the joy and happiness it gave him, that he sprang out of his bed and on bended knees pronounced the Formula of the Society, in the presence of Father Jos- eph Loyzance, Rector of St. Francis Xavier College, New York. He died a most saintly death on the night of the 8th of Jan., 1866, assisted in his last moments by one of the Fathers of the Society. Father John Barrister, S. J., writes to a friend at Conewago, from Loyo- la, (Balto.) Oct. 31st, 1859, sending his respects to Fathers Dougherty and Manns, and to Brothers Redmond and Donohue. He says Father Sopranis, the Roman Visitor, arrived, accompanied by the brother of Fr. Ciccaterri, S. J., acting as his Secretary ; went straight to Georgetown. " Father Tom. Mulledy saw them, who reports that the old gentleman, notwithstanding his age, is in excellent health and spirits, and extremely glad to see his Ameri- can friends once more. His accounts from Italy are very gloomy. Our Fathers in the Pontifical States are in daily expectation of an outbreak, es- pecially in Rome ; they all hold themselves in readiness for another ex- CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 187 pulsion. Napoleon begins to quarrel with the Pope, because the latter will not come over to his views ; he intends to withdraw his troops from Rome, which, of course, will be the signal for a revolution in central Italy, and then, Pio Nono, farewell." He says Father Dougherty was the patron and admirer of the nephew of the great Uncle. He says, " Father Enders was here some time ago ; the fracture of his collar bone has been cured,'" though the use of his left arm is not quite restored. " Father Deneckere went to see his sister in Philadelphia, not long ago, who, he writes, is declining fast with consumption." The bell on Christ Church, (Protestant,) Gettysburg, Pa., has the follow- ing inscription in Latin, " Mary of the Conception, by thine Immaculate Con- ception, Virgin Mother of God, defend us from the malignant foe." There is a Portugese inscription, giving the date of its manufacture as 1788. It was a confiscated convent bell f uom Portugal. One of the christian ministers of the Lutheran College at Gettysburg, talks about its having been "■ super- stitiously baptized," and having " many a day rung out the matins or vespers for lazy monks or cloistered nuns." We are very glad that the bell is not otherwise deformed. It is a grand and lasting testimonial to the Immaculate Conception. The organ in the Paradise Church was purchased through the efforts of Fr. J. B. Cattani, while Superior of Co~ewago, at a cost of $500. He drew up the subscription papers, to which are attached the following names : Pius Fink, John Klunk, Mary Hoffman, Geo. and Michael Strubinger, Valentine Shulz, Francis J. Wilson, Joseph Weil, Mich. Hoffman, Daniel Miller. Sam. Hair, John Felty ; Samuel, Michael, Catharine, Eliza, Levi. Cornelius, and Noah Bievenour ; Frederick, Michael, Peter, Sarah, Rose and Mary Dellone ; Caleb, Levi, and Aloysius Brieghner : Albert Storm ; Peter, Michael, Joseph, Sarah A., and Caroline Noel ; Francis Wise, Lewis Will, Anthony Shane, Cath. Strausbaugh. Klunk family. Jac. Sterner, Jacob Wise. Ed. L. Kuhn, Anne Little, Wm. Dahlhammer, Sebastian Wise, N. Long, Francis Mayer, John Elder, Mich, and Sam. Alwine. Magdalene and Ann Burger Briechner, Eliz. Chambers, Jane Car, Mar. and Mary A. Chambers, N. Welker, Martin Gephard, Lewis Weaver, Andrew and Eliz. Kuhn, Geo. and Moses Moore, J. F. Koehler, Jos. J. Kuhn, Geo. A. Goy. Father Steinbacher contracted with Mr. Monachesi, ofPhila., for the painting of Conewago Church, at $700, in the presence of Father Vespre, S. J. The work was done from April 23d to June 12th, 1845. He was allowed $100 more kl in order to have a quite excellent altar piece." This was the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, now on the B. V. Altar. The following are some of the names appearing on the subscription papers for repairing Conewago Church in 1844-5, Father Nicholas Steinbacher, Superior : Igna- tius, Vincent and Catharine O'Bold ; John Groft, Mary Strausbaugh, B.J. McManus, Teresia Swartz, Francis Little, Geo., Anne, Mary and Cath. Eline. Eliz. Adams, Barbara and Catharine Oaster, Eliz. Will, J. A. Eline, John and Thomas Little, J. W. Busbey, Anthony Strasbaugh, Edw. Nugent, Adam Foller, Cath. Miller, Samuel Stormbach. Thomas McKinney, Anna Stormbach, Lilly & Reily, Leonard Shaffer, Patrick Harkins, Francis Bauer, T. Owinss, John McKinney, Sr., S. J. Owings, John Burkee, John and Mat. Ginter, Henry Horat, Eliz. Egan, Geo. Ginter, John, Peter and Cath. Krich- 188 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF ton, J. S. Adams, Conrad Fink, the Klunks, the Adamses, Swartzes, Leonards, Kuhns, John Oaster, Joseph Coopser, Josephine Kelly, Matilda McClain, Charles L. and John L. Gubernator. the Wills, Conrads, Littles, Jacob Del- lone, Busbeys, the Smiths, Renauts, Hildts, Wises, Althoffs, Peter Neider- er, John Marshall, Wm. Detrick, Joseph Sneeringer. and others. This seems to be the McSherrystown, Hanover and Brushtown list, and is the only one found among the old papers. Thos. A. Fitzgerald writes to Father Reiter at Conewago, from Fairfield, Adams Co., Pa., Aug. 31st. 1858 : says congregation is very anxious that one of the Conewago Fathers attend their church, and they will make every ef- fort to pay off the debt and make up something for the pastor ; speaks very kindly of Father Villiger, who attended them previously ; gives names of families of the congregation : Jesse P. Topper, Adam Sanders. Samuel Cole, Casper Meyers, Gregory Topper, B. Kebel, James, Anthony and Peter San- ders, Peter Dick, Michael Lauver, Joseph and James Bowling. Mrs. Butt, Alex. Weaver, Michael Cole, Michael Finnegan, Mrs. Peters, Daniel Beiseck- er, with whom priest stayed ; Mrs. Butler, Zacharias, Andrew, Charles and widow of John Sanders, Andrew, Barney and Samuel Bigham, Mrs. Beiseck- er, Mrs. Finnifrock. P. J. Verhaegen, S. J., writes to Fr. N. Steinbacher at Conewago, under date of Phila., May 31st, 1845 : asks for more information about the war-like spirit manifesting itself at Paradise, if not under inviolable secrecy ; says he entertained the Chief of the Chippeway Nation at the College, Georgetown, last Friday, and had an hour's conversation with him in French ; had a let- ter from Rev. Fr. Verreyde, Jesuit Superior of the Indian Missions : Chief told him that the Indians " got completely bewildered by the contradictory doctrine preached to them by the Protestant ministers, and that they want- ed Catholic Blackgowns to instruct them." Henry Eckenrode, of Mountpleasant Twp., Adams Co., Pa., bequeathed to Father Enders the " principal of his property," to be equally divided be- tween the Conewago and the Paradise Churches. Will of Maximilian Rantzau, S. J., made Jan. 15th, 1824, at St. Inigoe's Manor, in favor of Rev. J. W. Beschter, Rector of St. John's. Baltimore : Witness : Joseph Carbery, Enoch Combs. Father R. had a sistei in Europe, to whom Fr. Beschter wrote through Mr. Springger. of New York, that she could keep what property tk is to come yet," or send it on, at her option. Father Rantzau died at Frederick, Aug. 7th, 1827. at 8 o'clock a. m., after having preached the Sunday before the panegyric of St. Ignatius ; he was at- tacked by palsy or appoplexy. He was born " in Germany, at Alberstre, near Munster, in Westphalia," Dec. 23d, 1769. There is a notice of the death in Paradise Twp., York Co., Pa., of Mrs. Catharine Wise, aged 80 years, 11 months and 4 days ; and two days after, her husband, Sebastian Wise, died, aged 85 years. 4 months. Several verses to their memory are added. From the artistic pen flourishes following, we are sure it is in the hand writing of Rev. Ferdinand Helias, S. J., but no name nor year appear. Novitiate, Frederick, Aug, 15th, 1862, Patrick H. Lower, S. S. J., in the name of the Scholastics who spent their vacation at Conewago, thanks the Superior for the " kindness, generosity and more than fatherly care over us during three happy weeks we spent at Conewago." They returned to Fred- CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 189 erick in hacks ; stopping at Taneytown for dinner, where they found that Father O'Neill was not at home. They send respects toFrs. Dougherty, Manns and Deneckere. and Bros. Redmond, Donohue. and Doyle. James A. Ward, S. J., adds : " They were full of their visit and continually mention in their conversations some of the many kindnesses they received. I was glad to perceive how much they appreciated the good order of your .house and the piety of your devoted congregation. I trust that it will remain ever a bright spot in their memories, and be a new reason for them to bless the good God who called them to His service." There is a letter from Rev. J. Barrister, S. J., St. Mary's, Alexandria, July 17th, 1863, to one of the Conewago Fathers, which for the local infor- mation it contains we publish nearly entire. It is a long time since the great event he speaks of, and many changes have taken place. Fath. B. was at Conewago a short time, where he is remembered. The letter is in a pleas- ant vein of humor, and shows the genial disposition of the Father. From this distance we can look back upon the war without fear or favor. There is but one sentiment now, North or South. Except at Gettysburg, the North had little experience of the ravages of war. in comparison with the South, which is only now rightly beginning to recover from its effects. Conewago was not molested. There was a rumor abou t the time of the battle that troops were coming to destroy the church. Preparations were made, home compa- nies organized, and whatever could be done for its defense and protection, but no hostile soldiers came. The people fed the passing troops of whichever side, and after the battle at Gettysburg, hastened to the field with provisions and clothing for needy friend or foe. The Southern soldiers behaved well and fought bravely. Those were days of terrible fear and danger. Remem- bering now at what great peril was the safety of our country, we shudder to think how much indifference existed in the North, and are surprised at the gieat sacrifices made in the South, where men, women and children threw all they had into the cause. The bitterest remembrances North or South are not from any acts of the true soldier, but from the contempti- ble treachery of traitors at home, who perhaps in times of peace fed from the table of those whose lives and property they placed at stake when the enemy came. In their zeal for the cause, we might give extremes by Catholics North and South. In one of the Southern churches, when the priest came on the altar to say Mass one morning, he was surprised to see a small Union flag at one of the front pews, where sat a strong and aged Union man. The priest refused to ascend the altar until the flag had been removed. Doubt- less he would have done the same had it been a Confederate emblem. In the South the women were the hardest to reconstruct. To this day we know an intelligent lady, and a good friend and Catholic, who has left the word Federal (States) erased and Confederate in its place, in the prayers for the people and the government, in her prayer book. In the North it is related of several prie&ts, who refused to give the Sacraments to those who took up arms against the Union. To return to Father Barrister's letter : " I suppose you have had quite exciting times in Conewago on the occasion of Lee*s visit. Did any of his pious followers come up the hill to worship in your beautiful chapel V If so, woe to the two tl Bills," they must long have swum the Potomac with other horseflesh, as prisoners of war, never to be paroled. Lee's recrossing over 190 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF into Virginia is now a fixed fact ; it took the world by surprise, much more than his landing in Maryland and penetrating into Pa. This is already the sec- ond attempt and failure to make conquests for the slave power. I trust id will be the last. Providence, it would seem, does not wish that slavery should be saddled again on any free State in which it has been abolished. * * * * Many troops must have passed through Adams County during the past two weeks. Are their tracks anywhere visible, except on your miry roads V * * * * Poor Brother Redmond and his chickens ! To what a fright they must have been put when the Rebels came to take the eggs, and then the Federals came, who. because they were weak and faint with marching, were sure to take the whole roost for broil and soup. The rea- son I speak of Bro. R.'s henroost, in connection with such grave events, is because to-day is a Friday and Bro. Cassiday gives us eggs, which invariably makes me think of Conewago eggs." [Priests from the cities always enjoy- ed the fresh country produce at Conewago.] '' Father Kroes has been away from here most of the time ; his health is, however, no better. * * " :f * About Alexandria everything bears the impress of the war. Most of the churches and public buildings are still used for hospital purposes, as also the homes of rich Secessionists who left for the South. All the farms for 16 or 20 miles are lying waste ; as all the fences are gone, the poor people of the town and country, who formerly perhaps could hardly feed a goat, now can keep as many cows in summer as they can pay for, and find plenty of pasture on the farms of the rich Virginians who have skedaddled to Dixie. * * * * Many destroyed and broke up their furniture, to prevent it from falling into the hands of their supposed persecutors ; others sold it to the Jews for a trifle to raise a few dollars for traveling expenses. * * * When they returned to their homes, they had perhaps not a straw mattress to lie on. How the Almighty now punishes American pride by the very thine which once made these people so boastful and haughty, I mean their 'Glorious Union and Heavenborn Constitution.' O tempora. O mores! There was a time when the haughty Virginian looked down upon the poor Irishman or the humble mechanic from his arched window with an air of contempt. Now an Irish soldier or a Massachusetts cobbler with a shoulder strap, sits on his lofty porch of Corinthian columns, smoking his pipe or chewing his tobacco. How capriciously the wheel of fortune can turn ups and downs in a little time. Please remember me to Aunt Sally, Mrs. Reily, the Lillys and Jenkinses, and give my special love to Fathers Manns and Dougherty, and him who drew his first breath either on the top or at the bottom of the classic hills whereon the Eternal City rests her foundations. * * * * Nor do I forget your worthy cook, Br. Redmond, and Brother Donohue, Grand Almoner and Privy Counsellor to the Patriarch of Gettys- burg and the Mountains. 1 ' A clipping from the Herald, Hanover, dated Blue Spring Chapel, June 29th, 1835, gives an account of a tornado that passed over the Conewago Valley June 27th of that year. The houses and barns of Mark Little, Joseph Sneeringer, Jacob Little. Peter Kraft, Samuel Forsyth, Edw. Reily, Joseph Schilling, were more or less injured and destroyed. Fences, trees and small buildings were scattered and blown down by the storm. In the same paper, under date of Jan. 26, 1837, is an account of an unusual meteoric display in the Valley: under date of Ap. 19, 1837. there is a notice of the burning of the CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 191 large property of Samuel Lilly, near the Conewago Church, now occupied by John L. Jenkins. Births from the Conewago Registers.— 1793, Feb. 19. Salome, daugh- ter of J. and Cath. Shuiy ; sponsors. Maria Fink and ''Rev. P. Erntzen. 1 ' 1794, Jan. 25, Jos. A., son of Wm. and Schlusser, sponsor, F. X. Bros- ius. 1794, Feb. 8, John Timon, son of Henry and Cath.; John " Cunes " and Christina Wolf. 1794, born Feb. 12, bap. on 19th, John, son of Jacob and Helen Timon : spons., John "■ Coon " and Christina Wolf. This was Bish- op Timon. There were a number of JohnKuhns, and we have not been able to learn who was his god-father, or god-mother, further than the names. Some think Christina Wolf was a servant girl on the church farm. The Wolfs are and were Protestants. There is some connection between these two last baptism entries, as will be seen. 1796, May 2, Wm. Shorb, son of Jacob and Christina ; spons., Stanislaus Cerfoumont, S. J , and Margaret Sneeringer. 1796, Oct. 5, James, son of John and Cath. Shorb ; Spons., S. Cerfoumont and Maria Coopser. 1796, Nov. 25, bap. Jan., 1797, Anna Cath. daughter of Peter and Cath. Lambing; spons., Robert and Mar. Owings. This was a relative of Rdv. A. A. Lambing's father. 1798, Nov. 25, Mary, daughter of Jacob and Helen " Timmons " ; spons. F. X. Brosius and Maria Kuhn. This must have been a sister of Bishop Timon. The name was spell- ed " Timmons,"" and the two were originally of one family. We have fre- quently heard it said that the first Timmonses of Conewago were related to the Timons. 1795, May 25, John Phil., son of Phil, and Ger. Weber ; spons. J. Schumacker : signature, "* R. Fran. Xaverius Brosius. " 1800, Oct. 24th, bap. Nov. 3d, Stanislaus Xav., son of John and Mary Eckenrode ; spons. F. X. Brosius and Mar. Marshall. 1796, April 25, signature of k ' R. Jacobus Pel- leutz." 1800. Oct. 22d, Sarah, daughter of Anna (Coopser) and Samuel Lilly ; spons. Henry Lilly annd Sarah Owings. This is the present aged Miss Sally Lilly, well known at Conewago, and also in the Society for her kind hospi- tality to visiting priests. 1803, April 28, Sarah Cath., daughter of John and Maria Fink ; spons. F. X. Brosius and Cath. Martin. Father Brosius was the companion of Father Gallitzin. Deaths. — 1802, March 6th, Thomas Dorditch, alias Bush, nearly 70 years old, natus natione Uogarus. He may have been an exile or a refugee. 1800. Dec. 3d,NicholausDelow, aged 84. born in France. His posterity remains to the fourth and fifth generation. 1799. Oct. loth. James Small, aged 58. 1806, Francis, an aged colored man. 1790, March 25, Paul . a widower, ag- ed 77. who served as sacristan. 1798. May 22d, Jasper Michel Felder, l 'Sac- ristanus noster, 11 aged 58, '• natus prope Bruschsal in Germania. Oremus. 1 ' 1798, July 20th, Joseph Herman, a good man, humble and patient, confined to his bed for five years, aged nearly 70. There are a number of old tomb- stones in the graveyard, but many of the oldest are so worn by time as not to be discipherable. while others are lost. When the new part of the church was built, many of the old tombstones were stood outside along the church, and few remain after half a century. We append a few : Mary Ann Weis- en (Wise), il gebohrne Hitzelbergerin,' 7 born Jan. 4th, 1775, died 1781. An- na Mar. Kleinin (Little), born Feb. 1st. 1723, died April 30, 1796. Thomas Adams, b. July 15, 1735, d. Dec. 5, 1776. Mary Regina Breighner, b. Aug. 26, 1785. d. Sept. 13. 1787. John Faller, b. Nov. 21. 1717, d. Dec. 4, 1784. 192 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF John Storm, b. Jau. 21, 1725, d. Jan. 1, 1803. Anna Margaret, wife of Rob- ert Owings, died April 12, 1802. John Kuhu died in 1826, aged 73, and his wife, Theresa, in 1821. This may have been the god-father of Bishop Timon. Anna Cath. Ehrweinin, b. ap. 30, 1725, d. March 15, 1799. Abolonia Ehr- man, born in 1763, died in 1801. Julianna Sneeringer, b. Aug. 1st, 1742, d. Oct. 9, 1813. Catharine Becker, b. Ap. 6. 1746. d. July 7, 1790. Christian Dabber, b. Dec. , 1715, d. July 13, 1789. Anna Mar. Eckenrode (" Ecken- roden "), b. Aug. 1st, 1709. d. Dec. 6, 1790. Samuel Lilly, born in 1699, when William III was on the throne of England ; died June 8, 1738. Besides other valuable information of Cone wago already obtained, we are indebted to Mrs. Jane Jenkins for the following interesting notes of its history : Father Boarman never lived at Conevv ago, but visited it once a month from Maryland. Father Divin died at York or Carlisle about 1830 ; was no Jesuit. [The priest who labored at York from 1822 to 1838, was Rev. Pat- rick J. Dwen or Dween. From the fact that the name on the Cone wago records as early as 1820, is always spelled " Divin," we are of the opinion that they are not the same, but different priests. If the name " Divin " does not appear in the records of the Society of Jesus, then they are one and the same.] Father Wm. Marshall was at Conewago in 1817 ; he went to sea, died on board and was buried in the ocean. When the church was enlarged by Father Enders. there was a desire to build instead a new church in Han- over. Lilly's mill was built by Henry Lilly, about 75 years ago. He was the father of Revs. Thos. and Samuel Lilly, S. J. ; the former labored for many years in the lower counties of Maryland ; died in Phila. about 1863, aged 53 : Samuel only lived a year after ordination ; was Vice President Loyola College, Balto., when he died, aged 35 ; he was a holy man and gift- ed, writing fluently prose or verse. Father Lekeu came about 1820 ; he was greatly beloved for his sweetness and charity, but was no financier, and after his removal the management of the property was put into the hands of lay- men ; he came of a wealthy and aristocratic family, who sent him many val- uable things— vestments embroidered on velvet, altar service inlaid with precious metals and stones ; from Conewago he was sent to Whitemarshi where he became unhappy on account of the influence of the climate on his health, and the great change in his habits, and he returned home to die among his friends. There were two Fathers Mulledy, Thomas and Samuel. Father Tom was Provincial and freed all the slaves in the communities of the Jesuits ; he was a Virginian, rather rough and read}', but a man of grpat character and pow- erfully built. Father De Barth was no Jesuit, but lived among them many years. Father Tuffer was pastor after Father Stein bacher, and was succeed- ed by Father Enders. [In the diar}' of Father Steinbacher and on the books, he says he tv hands over " the money and affairs to Father Gibbons.] Fath- er Cattani was a Bavarian ; came to America during the troubles in Europe in '48 ; he was not always a Jesuit, only after his mother's death, whom he cared for while a secular ; he was all zeal and holiness and his charity for the poor was boundless. Father Dom Pieri or Domperi, an Italian, succeed- ed Father Cattani at his death Aug. 30. 1865, he had a great dread of horses and his heart longed for the gentle donkey of his native land ; he was removed to Boston 1 , where he still has charge of an Italian congrega CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 193 tion, who idolize him. Father B. Villiger succeeded him : he was Provin- cial at one time, and his management in spiritual and temporal matters was very successful ; he was a fluent speaker and greatly beloved. He was re- moved to the Gesu, Phila. ; he was a Swiss, ordained in this country, and from his wonderful mastery of the English language no one would imagine him a foreigner. Father Cotting was, I believe, a Swiss, and was in the Novitiate with Fathers Enders and Cattani, being about their age. Father Bellwalder succeeded Fr. Villiger ; he was a German and did not suit for a large English congregation ; he is now at Buffalo, in a German College. Father Charlin was pastor for a few months ; he was a Frenchman, and a saintly man ; removed to Boston where he still remains. Father Di Maria was at Conewago for his health, in 1870, about a year ; he went to Philadel- phia and died at St. Joseph's hospital. Father Jamison went to Troy, N. Y., from here, and afterwards to Boston where he still remains. Father Casey left Conewago for Frederick to make his tertianship : was at Washington after that. Father Quinn went from here to Europe to make his tertianship ; his relatives live there ; he returned in 1884 and is now at Troy. Father Brocard was the first Provincial I remember ; he was a Belgian ; Fathers Stonestreet and Villiger followed ; Father Paresce, an Italian, was the next ; he was a holy man and well liked. Father Keller, of the Western Province, was Provincial two terms ; so was Father Brady, who was a great favorite, now President of Worcester College. Father Fulton the present Provincial, is a Virginian, an able man, and seems to be succeeding ad- mirably. Father Finnegan was an Irishman but became a Jesuit in the U. S, He labored at St. Inigoes, but his mind giving away he was no longer allowed to perform his priestly offices. He remained there as a pensioner until the house was burned in 1870, when he was sent to Conewago wheie he still re- mains. He had great talents and was a fine scholar and preacher. He is now in his 85th year, and is blind. There was a Fr. Timothy Kelley here about Fr. Steinbacher's time ; he was an Irishman : also Brother Quinlan, who taught a small school. Brother Gahau, an old Irishman was cook for years, also Bro. Redmond, an excellent scholar : there was a Bro. Doyle, a painter, about 1858 or '60, who gave the interior of the church some touches. Bro. Maurice Cavanaugh was also one of the cooks ; he was original and warm-hearted, and thought the Germans had not a single virtue. The great- er number of Brothers who were here might be called " institutions " ; they all remained so long. The present Brothers are. Donovan, McGonigle and Hamilton, all worthy representatives of their native land. The Sisters of Charity were the first who had a school at McSherrys- town. The Ladies of the Sacred Heart came about 1840 ; Madam Gallitzin, niece of the great Father, was the General of the order. They imagined the climate was unhealthy and left ; the house remained vacant for about four years, when some members of the order returned. Their school was suc- cessful until Madam Verhulst, a Belgian, was sent as Superior, who did not believe in American customs, especially of having fires in winter. The house was again vacant, when in 1854, the Sisters of St. Joseph took posses- sion and have been very successful. Many have been received into the Order from among the Catholics of the Valley. Two daughters of Samuel Sneeringer entered about 1858 ; Matilda, a daughter of Bernard Noel, Sister 194 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF Lucy ; Mary Fleshman, Sister Berchman ; Miss Creighton, of McSherrys- town, entered about fifteen years ago, Sister Stanislaus, teacher of drawing and painting ; a lady of remarkable talents. Samuel Sneeringer has two daughters at Chestnut Hill, Sister St. Ephreni and Sister Raphael, both teachers of music. Miss Poist, of McSherrystown, is a useful member at Lebanon. Miss Busby, daughter of J. Busby, is in religion Sister St. John ; she has two Sisters at Chestnut Hill. Salome Noel, sister of the Jesuits Fabian and Michael, is a member of St. Joseph's, also Anna Brady. Joseph Sneeringer had a daughter, Kate, who joined the Sacred Heart, and died many years ago. Madames Gubernator. Sullivan and Bumgardner, were all from these parts, also Madam Donaho, an orphan, who was raised by the Lilly family. Madam Bowles was a daughter of Mrs Sullivan, a poor widow, whose children were raised by strangers ; there was a Jesuit among them, now in California, a most talented man now over sixty. Mad- am Bowles was a widow, very talented, and the nuns educated her; she was afterwards Superior at Eden Hall until her death. Sister Willet, daughter of George W., is a religious of the Sacred Heart. Sister Tuttle. an orphan raised by Miss Sally Lilly, belongs to the S. H.; she entered at Eden Hall. Norrisdale, in 1855, where she still resides, aged about 50. Ann Smith, daughter of the late Joseph Smith, near Irishtown, is at Chestnut Hill as Sr. Bridget, aged about fifty, twenty-five in religion. Miss Noel, of Paradise, entered many years ago; Madie Noel, of New Oxford, and Miss Koehler, of Abbottstown, have been lately received at St. Joseph's. Two sisters of David C. Smith died in that Order, Helen and Verliuda. Matthias Martin, dec'd. of Irishtown, had a daughter who entered at McSherrystown about 12 years ago, Sister Agnes ; she died s*bout two years ago, aged 34. He had two daughters Sisters of Charity ; one died young, Caroline ; the other, Agnes, is still living, and has been a member for thirty years. Two of the Dellones, and Miss Shorb, of Littlestown, became Sisters of Charity years ago ; the latter, Sr. Ann Alexis, was widely known as one of the most useful and zealous members of her order ; she died a few years ago in St Louis, at an advanced age, beloved by all who knew her. Sister M. Clare, of Frederick, is a sister of the Fathers Lilly ; she joined the Visitation Order at the age of eighteen, and is now fifty-four. Her life has been spent in teaching the higher branches, and she is a beautiful penswoman, and always teaches one of the first classes in writing. There is one, though of the colored race, must not be forgotten, she was taken from the county alms- house by Mrs. Valinda Jenkins, who raised her with a mother's care ; Susan Jones was her name ; she showed remarkable piety in her childhood and youth, and no weather ever kept her from Mass or Holy Communion. At length her pious wishes were crowned with success and she became an Oblate Sister at Baltimore, where she lived a most holy life and died Jan. 17th, 1868, the very day on which her good and beloved Mistress breathed her last. May they both rest in peace. Mr. Joseph Clunk, of McSherrystown, has two daughters of St. Joseph,— Mary entered about 1870, Sister Antoinette ; Alphonse entered about 1880. Annie Kuhn, daughter of Edw. J., and grand- daughter of the late Judge Kuhn, is a Sister of Charity at St. Louis. She entered at McSherrystown in 1877, at the age of sixteen. Rosa, daughter of J. E. Smith, entered at McSherrystown several years ago ; she has an aunt there,— Sister De Sales. Annie McSherry, of White Hall, became a Sis- CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 195 ter at Chestnut Hill. There may be others, whose names have escaped memory, or who joined the orders years ago. Wm. Gubernator, a German, was the first organist at Conewago. He was self-taught. His son, John L., succeeded and held the office many years, through Father Lekeu's time. He was a fine musician, and had a deep, sonorus voice. Miss Baumgardner, who taught school, had charge a while ; she joined the S. H. about 1849. Prof. Bolster and family acted in that capacity for a short time, and also one of the elder Smiths. John Brady succeeded, having taken lessons in Baltimore ; he served faithfully for thirty-two years. D. C. Smith has charge at present ; he is also a good mu- sician and a fine singer. Rev. Patrick Duddy was at Conewago for two years, about 1865, rather as an invalid though he did considerable duty. He was born in Ireland about 1820, and was for a long time a prefect and teacher at Georgetown College. He has been stationed at St. Joseph's. Phila., since, and is still in delicate health. Father McNierny was there about the same time ; he was born in Washington about 1824 ; ordained about 1862 ; he afterwards left the Society, but died an edifying death about 1870. Fathers Lynch and Gibbons were at Conewago about the time of Fathers Steinbacher and Tuffer, 1844 to 1846. Father GibboDs died young, at White Marsh ; he was born about 1820. Father Lynch died recently ; he was born in Ireland about 1814. Father Dora Pieri, I think was born in Trent and educated in Rome ; and place the date of his birth at about 1820. Father Charlin, who succeeded him for two months at Conewago, was a Frenchman, born about 1814 or '16. Father Cattani was a Bavarian, but hib father was an Italian. Fathers Enders, Cattaui and George Villiger were educated together at the same College ; and if Father Enders had been buried at Conewago where he desired to be, and which had such great claims as a fit resting place for him. all three would have lived together in death as they did in life, though I am sure their souls are happy in Heaven. As the dates are given only from memory, they may not be exactly correct. Fathers Thomas and Samuel Lilly were born in the red brick house along Lilly's dam, standing yet. They were sons of Henry Lilly, who was a son of John, and he a son of Samuel, who came from Bristol about 1730. He was a fuller in England ; the Lillys carried on a woolen mill for many years along the Conewago. Several of them represented York County in the General Assembly before 1800. In Conclusion.- There are yet many things connected with the growth of the Catholic Church, that we should like to notice, but more time and labor have already been given than can well be spared. The Councils form an interesting part of the history of the Church in America, and so her various institutions of religion and learning, but we are compelled to forego further mention. The history of Conewago dates back to the time when there were only a few priests and a few Catholic churches in America ; now there are thousands, and millions of the faithful. One hundred years ago we found no colleges ; now the great project of founding a Catholic Univer- sity has taken definite shape and Washington has been selected as its site. During the Council in Baltimore, in Nov., 1884, a pious and wealthy Cath- olic lady presented several hundred thousand dollars for the purpose, and 196 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF the Bishops and priests are making: every effort t) has en on the gieat desire of the Church in America. Will this country ever have a Catholic daily paper ? The Catholic press is stronger and more prosperous than ever before. Rome has showered favors on the Church in our country, by bestowing bless- ings on her, and honors and titles on her most worthy clergy. Leo XIII. is a watchful Vicar of Christ, a^d the needs of the Church and the care of the faithful find in him a noble guardian,— a worthy successor of the saintly Pontiff, Pius IX., who truly bore many crosses from Heaven that the light might come after him, and some day they will be numbered among the saints by the church militant. The American Church is now without a Car- dinal, but Catholics are looking hopefully and expectantly towards Rome, from New York, from Baltimore and from the West. They who next bear this high rank will be eminently deserving, and there is none more so than the Primate of the Church in America who presided at the late Council, Archbishop Gibbons of Baltimore. As yet the Church in the East commands attention by reason of age, strength and wealth ; but already the church in the West is making itself heard and felt, and the day will come when the East will pay tribute to the West in ecclesiastical affairs as well as in mat- ters of politics, trade and finance. Catholics have everywhere their schools, and the question now agiteted. of greatest interest to them, is their being compelled to support the public schools where they send no children. This can only be accomplished by supporting men and measures, and not blindly following any party as has been too much the case heretofore. The Catholic Church as an institution in this country has succeeded so prudently and wisely thus far, that it occupies a most desirable vantage ground in Ameri- can history, past and present, and has a most hopeful future. Never has it been found wanting in true religion, education, science and patriotism. While skepticism and infidelity are now proclaiming themselves boldly in the public places, and millions are following the vvorldliness and tendency of the age to unrestraint in mind and morals, threatening ultimate chaos to all profession of faith in revealed truth and the teaching of ages, the Cath- olic Church stands firm as the Rock on which she is built. Many are led away, alas ! by the false glamor of a progress as deceptive as it is base and hollow. This age " lives too fast," without the fear of God before it or a thought of what is to come hereafter. In many things the Church is led away by the vvorldliness of the age. and is bound to share eventually in its results. At all times and under all circumstances, God has raised up some one for its safety and protection, and the gates of hell shall never prevail against the Church that He has promised to be with for- ever. Never was there greater necessity for the watchfulness of the Cath- olic Church than now. May she not be found sleeping when the bridegroom cometh ! The Church has every reason to rejoice, while at the same time there are causes of regret in the spiritual and natural order of things. Even now she is mourning for the loss of her highest prelate and first Cardinal. John McCloskey. He was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., March 20th, 1810, and was baptized by Father A. Kohlman, S. J., the first pastor of Old St. Peter's, in New York. Cardinal McCloskey was educated at Mt. St. Mary's, and or- dained by Father Dubois Jan. 22d, 1834 ; consecrated Bishop March 10th, 1844 ; succeeded Archbishop Hughes in 1864, and created a Cardinal Priest CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 19' in 1875. The history of his life is the history of the Catholic Church in New York. He was loved, honored and respected by all. When created a Cardinal, it surprised the Ameri- can world and gave rise to much speculation as to the intentions of the Catholic Church, but when he died not a voice was raised except to praise and bless him. His life was full of great works and good deeds, that will live after him to the glory of God. He died on Saturday, Oct. 10th, 1885, at 12-50 a. m. He was buried beneath the altar of the mag- nificent Cathedral in New York, Oct. 15th. Thousands attended the fu- neral ceremonies, and many priests and Bishops were present. Arch- bishop Corrigan celebrated Pontifi- cal Mass. Archbishop Gibbons preached the sermon. The last moments of the late Car- dinal were happy and peaceful. It was midnight Friday night when the dying Cardinal opened his eyes, and a smile came upon his white lips. The strong, saintly spirit seemed to shine for a moment in the thin feat- ures, aad then the eyes closed again. Slower and slower the white raiment of the couch rose and fell. One wasted hand held a silver crucifix and the other pressed it to his bosom. There was deep peace upon the still face, and the snowy locks were brushed back upon the pillow. — Worn with watching and nursing. Dr. Keyes sat near his patient and looked into the venerable counte- nance with great tenderness. — Archbishop Corrigan stood at the foot of the bed, robed in black cas- sock with purple sash. His head was bowed and his lips moved. Mgr. Farley gazed upon the dying man with moistened eyes, and the Rev. Dr. McDonnell, tall, clear- eyed and sorrowful, stood beside Mgr. Preston. Soon the doctor OLD ST. PETER'S. We close this sketch with an engraving from an old print of the first Catholic church in New York city. 'It was here the cardinal was baptized, and he was the last living priest to remember the old building. It was completed on Nov. 4, 1775, and will shortlv celebrate its 100th anniversary. On its site stands the present St. P ter's, in the rear of the Astor nous 3. Thousands upon thousands of emigrants landing on our shores hav^ sought out this church to return thanks to Providence for their safe passage 198 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF raised his hand and whispered that it would all be over. Then the Cardi- nal's nieces entered the room. They were clad in black. As the ladies ap- proached the deathbed several pale nuns stole softly in at the door, and four pi iests from the Vicar General's house came in after them. All the watchers knelt. The weary eyes opened for the last time. At the feet of the dying man was a small table, whereon, between two burning tapers up- held by golden angels, was a glittering crucifix, and in the center of it two pieces of the true cross of Christ. At the left was another bright taper, and beside it lay the scarlet cap of the Cardinal. From the walls pictures of St. John, the Cardinal's patron saint, and of the Virgin Mary looked down in the dim light. At the side of the bed was Father Dubresse murmuring prayers for the dying. The priest's eyes dwelt lovingly upon those of his superior when they opened. There was a soft sound of crying as the ladies ap- proached the death couch. Again the strong soul and fine intellect dwelt in the face, and again the eyes closed. The light sparkled on the little silver crucifix, and shone in the well-worn Bishop's ring upon the white hand. Still Father Dubresse prayed for the gentle spiritual shepherd. The low trembling voice vibrated all through the room. Then the light seemed to die upon the white walls as the Cardinal met his last soriow. The dying face writhed with pain, the weak hand clasped the crucifix still closer, and the sobbing of the ladies was heard as they knelt. Now the white raiment of the couch hardly moved at all. The loving priest had ceased his prayers. A strong sigh broke from the lips of the dying man, and then there came into his face the smile of one who has reached home after a day of labor. No one said it. The doctor did not move from his place. The broken hearted women and the meek-eyed priests still knelt. But there came into the room a hush, and the watchers knew that the Cardinal's throne was vacant Corrections and Additions. In the hurry and confusion of a printing office, wherein most of the labor on this book was done, many typographical errors have crept in. and on the same account its grammatical construction is often faulty and com- monplace, much in the line of newspaper work. The facts and dates have received more particular attention, and are as nearly correct as possible un- der the circumstances interposed by time and life's fitful tide. The really intelligent reader will understand Ml this and more. For the rest we care not. The mite we have to offer will never be noticed by the great buil- ders of the Church's history. If it affords an humble soul any little satis- faction, our greatest expectations are more than realized ; and from such, a fervent prayer in our behalf will be a greater reward than is deserved. The encouragement and assistance given us by many good priests and pious persons," will ever be kindly remembered. To Father Thomas C. Mid- dleton, O. S. A., of Villanova, we are especially indebted ; also to Father John A. Morgan, S. J., of Woodstock, now of St. Joseph's, Philadelphia ; and to Martin I. J. Griffin, Esq., the Catholic historian of Old St. Joseph's. May their labors in the great work before the Church in America be suc- cessful ; and their reward, promised to every faithful servant by the good Master of us all, full beyond measure. Our obligations are gratefully ac- CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 199 knowledged to the Catholic Publication Society, of New York, Laurence Kehoe, Esq., Manager ; and to the Catholic Mirror Publishing Co., of Balti- more, for courtesies extended. Such corrections and additions are here made as> seem most necessary, leaving the rest to the reader's intelligent judgment and kind forbearance. Page 41. — The Franciscan Missionaries sent to Maryland were, Father Massey, 1672 ; Polycarp Whicksted, 1674 ; Basil Hobart, 1675 ; Henry Fran- cisco, 1675 ; Edwaid Golding, Henry Carew, Superior of the Missions, 1677., Olivers Collections, p. 541. Page 43. — " Josiah Creighton " is a traditional name. Father Greaton's name was Joseph, and Old St. Joseph's, Phila., was built by him and named after him. Page 45.— Some claim Fr. Henry Neale died at St. Inigoes. Conewago was always subject to the Maryland Missions to which it belonged. Page 47.— Reference to Gov. Gordon, who died in Phila., in 1736: Mr. Griffin thinks Gov. Morris is meant. ( See Pa. Archives and Rupp's History of Lancaster Co.) Fr. Wapeler, also spelt Wappelar, was in America eight years, and the date of his purchase in Lancaster may have been earlier than 1740. Page 50. — Two last lines and first two lines of first paragraph refer to each other. St. Tiiomas Manor not alwaj^s the residence of Superiors ; ceased to be so fifty years ago. John Baptist De Ritter, S. J., was second pastor of Goshenhoppen, 1765 to 1785 ; visited Haycock, Reading. Makunzie, Cedar Creek, Sharp Mount- ain ; was at Allentown in 1774: died Feb. 3d, 1787. Page 52. — Father Pellentz made Conewago his home from 1758 until his death in 1800. Page 53. — Father Carroll at Conewago : Mr. Griffin makes the date 1785. Page 55. — Erection of Conewago church begun: From a scrap of a report to the Society b> Father Enders, we see that preparations were made as early as 1785, as great labor was involved by the dressing of the stone and hauling them from near East Berlin. Page 57.— Father Molyneaux, ( so spelled by Father Neale. to whom the title of the Conewago property descended ; spelled nenx in Soc. rec.,) was Superior of the Jesuits ; died Dec, 9th, 1808 ; was President of Georgetown College, where he is buried. In his diary there is the following entry : May 15th. 1775, would speak to Mr. Cauffman about signing over lands in Pigeon Hills to Mr. Lewis. Father Lewis succeeded him as Superior ; but we do not know what land was meant, except that it was a tract about two miles from Abbottstown. It may have been the "'' Seminary " land, and that Joseph Heront came into possession of it through his acquaintance with Father Molyneaux, as they were both exiles from France. Page 58.— Father Brosius founded a school at Mount Airy, where not so. Page 60.— Herr Schmett, ( Mr. Smith,) Father Gallitzin : James McSher- ry, member of the Penn. Legislature from Adams Co., in 1811, introduced the resolution authorizing Father Smith to assume his right name of Gallitzin. Page 62.— Father Roloff was pastor of the Holy Trinity ( German ) church, Philadelphia, in 1826. 200 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF Page 63. — Fr. James Cummiskey, a secular priest, pastor of Old St. Joseph's, Phila., in 1824-5, was a brother of Eugene Cummiskey, Catholic publisher about forty years ago, and uncle of the late Eugene C, also a publisher. 1830, Sunday; Sept. 26th. at Conewago. by Bishop Kenrick, Rev. James Bradley ordained priest ; Thomas Gegan, Thos. R. Butler, F. X. Gartland, Edward Sourin, sub-deacons ; 368 confirmed at 9 a. m. Page 63. — Father Beschter was stationed at Frederick in 1816-18, with Father Maleve ; was Rector of St. John's, Balto., in 1824 ; was at Georgetown College in 1829. Father Randanne came to this country in 1817 ; was Pro- fessor of Latin at St. Mary's College, Balto., died at St. Charles College, Howard Co., Md., in 1864. Father Alexius Elder was born in Oct., 1791; died in Jan., 1871. Page 63. — The Pope who suppressed the Jesuits against his will, was Clement XIV. Page 65.— For reference to Frs. Britt and Byrne see Laity's Directory of 1822, nut now in our reach ; maybe White Marsh, England, but we think Russia is correct. Page 68. — Dween and Divin are no doubt the same ; he attended the York church and was at Carlisle as late as 1840. Page 69. — Zacchi should be Sacchi, and Readier Kendeler. Hatting we can find no trace of and think it a mistake for Cotting. as Father Cotting built the York church and not Hatting as we have stated. Father Sacchi attended York from 1841 to 1843. Page 69. — Rev. Nicholas Steinbauher. S. J., in May, 1842, blesses corner- stone of the Immaculate Conception Church. Nippenose Valley ; in June, 1842, blesses corner-stone of St. John the Baptist Church, Pottsville ; visits Dan- ville from Nippenose Valley, where he goes four times a year ; was at Leb- anon in 1843. Father Steinbacher would be gone from Conewago two and three Weeks, attending the Mountain Missions and those in '•Nipper's 11 Valley, as he entered the name in his diary, 1844 to '46. Page 70. — Monaschei should be Monachesi. Page 74.— The statement that Father Enders built the old school houses is doubted, and believed to have been built by Father Lekeu. Father Enders put up the first iron fence before the church. Page 75. — 16th line— Bellair or Bell Air ; 21st line— ante-peni7i vessels that bore to an ignorance and superstition flooded land the olive branch of the peace of Christ and the little family of religious that was to people the new world with children of God. Two centuries and a-half ago Fathers Andrew White, John Altham and Timothy Haves, of the Society of Jesu«, landed on the Maryland shore of the Chesapeake May, erected a Catholic altar, on it offered the infinitely Precious Sacrifice that represents and perpetuates the sacrifice of Calvary, planted the emblem of Chris- tianity— the Cross of the Crucified Redeemer— preached the Gospel to the aborigines ; by baptism closed the gates of hell and o .ened the gates of heaven to their chief, the Indian King of Piscata wav, his queen, their children, and the principal men of the nation, and founded the mother of all the churches of the thirteen original States— the Church of Maryland. Maryland is aptly called the cradle of Catholicity and the day-star of liberty in America. And whence was Maryland the day-star of liberty ? Whence was the banner of freedom, which nearly everywhere else had been furled and laid upon the dusty shelf of history, unfolded here to woo the breeze and kiss the sunlight of heaven? It was at the suggestion and urgent recommendation of Jesuits. Mr. Thomas Kennedy, a Presbyterian gentleman, and member of the Assembly of Mary- laud, published a speech, in which he asserted that "a Jesuit was the author of the first bill for libe ty of conscience in Maryland;" and this was conclusively shown by a distinguished lawyer, the gallant General Bradley T. Johnson, in a late lecture before'the Historical Society of Maryland. We do not forget, but we publish with joy, that previous, even a century previous to the com- mencement of the .Maryland Mission, in the Spanish and French colonies, which since have become parts of the United State-, Franciscans, Dominicans and Jesuits had moistened and sanctified the soil with their sweat, their tears, their blood, their mangled and lire-charred limbs. Where is the Jesuit whose eyes do not glisten and whose heart is not aglow at the remembrance of the cruel and glorious martyrdom of our brethren -Rasle. Brebeuf, Lallemant and Jogues, and others. This last- named had been tortured with fire and scourge four years before his martyrdom. His nails were torn out and his fingers gnawed to the bone ; but he escaped, and Pope Innocent II. granting him a dispensation to say Mass, to grasp with the stumps of his mutilated fingers the Sacred Host, and the chalice of precious blood divine, remarked that it was " but just that the martyr of Christ should drink the blood of Christ.'' Nor do I forget, but— glorying in every conquest of our leader, Christ, and deeply interested in the history of the country in which we live and which we love, my own, my native land— I turn with admiration and bow profound to the first of all the missionaries in America, the children of St. Benedict, members of that grand old Order, which has given more martyrs, more Popes and more Bishops to the Church than any other Yes, centuries before the birth of the canonized founder of the Society of Jesus, centuries before what is gen-rallv called the discovery of America by the pious and heroic Christopher Columbus, the Benedictines had built churches, offered the Divine Sacrifice, administered the sanctifying and saving Sa-raments. made converts, lived saiirs, and some of them die I martyrs, not onlv in Iceland and Greenland, but upon the shores of Alt. Hope Bay, within the limits of what is now the State of Rhode Island. As Pennsylvania is not only indebted to Maryland for the faith, but forms and has always formed a part of the Jesuit .Mission and Province of Maryland, mav we not, should we not mention one of the churches of that State which celebrates to-day a fourfold jubilee, ft. Joseph's, Philadelphia, which, in one sense, is the oldest church in what was the British colonies of America ? There was a much older church in St. Mary's city, St. Mary's county, Maryland, and other much older crmrohes in St. Mary's, Charles and Prince George's counties, of this State. But scarce a vestige of St. Mary's city remains, and now I believe there is no church standing on the exact site of any of those old churches. St. Joseph's. Philadelphia, stands on the very site where our Fa*her Joseph Greaton erected the Chapel of St. Joseph in 1733, one hundred and fifty years ago. The church that succeeded it, built also by Jesuit Fathers, after having been in the possession of other priests for nearly forty years, was restored to the Jesuits by Bishop Kenrick in April, 1833, exactly fifty years ago. In I hat church General Washington and his stall', and Chevalier de la Luzerne, Alinister of France, with his suite, attended the High Mass and solemn Te Deum sung in thanksgiving for the crowning victory of tha War of Independence, won by the combined forces of America and Catholic France at Yorktowu, Virginia. From the time of Father White and his companions, the Jesuits here were subject to the Pro- vincial of Eugland, until the suppression of the Society by Clement XIV., July 21, 1773. After the suppression the Fathers formiug the .Mission and laboring in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Xew Jersey and New York— but having residences only in Maryland and Pennsylvania— continued to cling fondly together, preserved their organization, and thus there has been a regular succession of Superiors from Father Andrew White to Robert Fulton, the present Provincial. Frederick II, King of Prussia, and Catharine II, Kmpress of Russia— the one, as he calls him- self, a heretic, the other, a schismatic— appreciating the learning and virtues of the Jesuits, espec- ially as educators of youth, preserved in their dominions the Society of Jesus, which the infidel 210 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF ministers of the so called Catholic kings of France, Spain, Portugal and Naples, had doomed to destruction. Pius VI and Pius VII, the immediate successors of Clement XIV, approved of the action of Catharine and her successor, Paul I. The Jesuits of Maryland petitioned to be aggregated to the Society in Russia ; their request •was granted, and, in 1805, Father Gruber, then General of the Society in that country, appointed Father Robert Molyneux Superior of the Maryland Mission. On the 7th of August, 1814. Pope Pius VII went in solemn procession from the Q.uirinal Palace to the Gesu, the great church of the Society in Rome, accompanied by the College of Cardinasl, and greeted everywhere by the countless multitudes who thronged the streets with shouts of " Long live the Holy Father !" " Long live the Society of Jesus !" The Bull for the re-establish- ment of the Society in the whole world was read amidst the manifestation of extraordinary joy in every countenance, tears of happy gratitude coursing meanwhile down the cheeks of the hoary- h^aded and age-bowed members 'of the old Society, who had assembled in the church they so much loved, to look upon the countenance of their benefactor, to listen to the voice of the Vicar of Christ, thesuccessor of Peter, bidding the Society of Jesus to live again-live to love and to labor as it had loved and labored before ; live that, in serried ranks, like an army in battle array, it might bear the name of Jesus in triumph, as it had otteu borne it before, over land and sea, from country to country, and be a witness to the Saviour even to the uttermost parts of the earth.— (Acts i, 8.) The first Superior of the Maryland Mission, after this solemn and total restoration of the Society of Jesus, was Father Anthony Kohlman, famous in history as the central figure in the celebrated case known in the courts of this country as the Catholic question in America— the ques- tion, whethei a Roman Catholic clergyman can, under any circumstances, be compelled to reveal the secrets of auricular confession; which was decided negatively, in the Court of General Sessions, in the city of New York, in the year 1843, the Hon. De-Witt Clinton, the mayor of New York and the presiding officer at the trial, delivering the judgment of the court : that the Rev. Anthony Kohlman, rector of St. .Peter's Church, New York, had a right to decline answering the questions proposed to him by the police magistrate and the grand jury in regard to the restitution of property made by him as a minister of the Sacrament of Penance. Catholicity in Maryland and the Jesuit* were identified from the advent of the Ark and the Dove to the death of Archbishop Neale, in 1817. At Bohemia, the name of our farm and residence, in Cecil county, Maryland, in the only Catholic school in this country, John Carroll and Charles Carroll of Carrollton were prepared by our Fathers for the collegiate course which they made in Europe. Charles Carroll of Carrollton, true to the lessons of his Jesuit preceptors, signed the Declaration of American Independence, in July, 1776. John Can-oil entered the Jesuits' Noviti- ate at St. Outer's in 1753, was ordained in 1759, became a professed Father in 1771, returned to America in 1774, was made Vicar-Apostolic, with power to administer Confirmation, in 17S4, and in 1790 was consecrated Bishop of Baltimore, the limits of his diocese being the boundaries of the United States. As the first missionary in this country was a Jesuit, so die first Bishop and Archbishop of this country was a Jesuit, and the second Archbishop of this country, Most Rev. Leonard Neale, was a Jesuit. Their signatures appear, with those of other Jesuits, on our books as trustees of our property in Maryland and Pennsylvania until the respective death of each. Hence the body incorporated by the Assembly of Maryland to administer the property of the Jesuits was entitled simply the "Roman Catholic C'ergymen." Archbishop Carroll wished to have for his coadjutor and successor, first, Father Molyneux and then Father Gressel, both Jesuits. Father Molyneux declined, and Father Gressel died at Philadelphia, a victim of charity, during the yellow fever in 1793. So Archbishop Neale offered the nomination of coadjutor and successor to several Jesuits, but all declined. This city was indebted to the Jesuits for the faith, and the facilities of practicing and enjoy- ing it until the close of Archbishop Neale's administration, and particularly so indebted after that period. Here, indeed, were the Sulpitians from 1791. But their labors were almost exclu- sively confined to the education of subjects for the sacred ministry, in which, thank God, they are still zealously and successfully occupied. Nearly 140 years aen, when this now beautiful city was a little village, too poor to support a resident priest, a Jesuit Father from White Marsh, in Prince George's county, visited it regularly, celebrated Mass and administered the Sacraments. In 1784 Father Charles Sewall was stationed here. Father John Carroll joined him in 17S6. Father Francis Beeston was here from 1794 to 1805. Father Enoch Fenwick, who built the present cathedral, was rector of old St. Peter's, then the Cathedral, from 180S to 1820, and Father J. Wm. Beschter was pastor, from 1821 to 1829, of old St. John's, which stood where now .s St. Alphon- sus's. But from 1S29 to 1S49 the Jesuit was unseen in Baltimore, save as a pilgrim, and might exclaim as did holy Job : "They that knew me, have forgotten me. They that dwelt in my house have counted me as a stranger." (Job xix, 14, 15.) In 1849 Archbishop Eccleston wel- comed the Jesuits back to the scene of their labors, the old homestead of their Carroll and their Neale. I had the pleasure of opening my pastorate at St. Joseph's, in tnis city, informing our Very Rev. Father General of that Archbishop's uniform kindness to us, and the happiness of being, by commission of the General, the bearer of his compliments and thanks to the Archbishop. At the invitation of his successor, Most Rev. Francis Patrick Kenrick, our Fathers opened Loyola College, in Baltimore, September 15, 1852. When the Mission of Maryland became a Province, July 8, 1833, Rev. William McSherry was appointed Provincial. Of him it is related t iat when he was an infant in his mother's arms, a mysterious voice from mid air bade her take special care of that child, for he would be of service to the Church of God. He admitted me to the Novitiate shortly after his accession to office, and consequently I was well acquainted with him and with his successors, and I know something of the history of the Province. But that history I do not propose to rehearse. I would merely and briefly call your attention to the wondrous change wrought not in the Province only, but in the Church in this country and in the country its* if. Fitty years a?o the Province of Maryland was confined to the Slates of Maryland and Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. Now, be- sides Maryland, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia, it includes New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Then there were but six Catholic colleges in the United States; one-half of them were in the Diocese of Baltimore, and two of the six were Jesuit Col- leges—the present Universities of Georgetown, District of Columbia, and St. Louis, Missouri. — Then our Province had but one college, now it has nine. Then we had but four city churches ; now we have 17. In the Province then there were only 38 priests, now there are 211 ; then 17 CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 211 scholastics or candidates for the sacred ministry, now 156 ; then 30 lay brothers, now 1T3 ; the total then being 85 ; the total now 540. In 1S33 the Jesuits, Augustinians and Dominicans, were the only religions Orders in this country. Now the Benedictine and the Franciscan, the Carmelite, the Capuchin and the Pas- sionist'are in the land ; and of the religious Congregations, besides the Redemptorists and the Lazarists, who were here, there are many others— all building churches and schools, preaching Christ crucified, and converting and sanctifying souls. Norshouldl forget those whose proto- types stood most numerous at the foot of Calvary's Cross and were the first to visit the sepulchre of their resuscitated Saviour— the female religious, who fifty years ago were as nume-ous as the males; and much less will I forget that the female Orders first in this country were introduced by the Jesuit Archbishops of Baltimore, and that to them is due the existence of Mother Seton's Congregation of the Sisters of Charity, which has done more than any other to conciliate the mind and win the praise of Protestants, who appreciate what is done to alleviate the miseries of the bodv. Equal, even greater, has been the progress of the Church in general. Thousands of other strong and active laborers have entered into the fields "white already with the harvest, which was great, but the laborers were few," and from my heart I cry out with Moses, who, when Josue appealed to him to forbid others to prophecy, exclaimed : "Why hast thou emulation for me? O. that all the people might prophecy and that the Lord would give them His spirit." (Num. xi, 29.) Yet, more. I cry, O Lord ! yet more laoorers for Thy vineyard. So that in the language of St. Paul to the Philippians, "bv all means, whether by occasion or by truth, Christ be preached : in this also I rejoice, yea. and I will rejoice." (i, 18.) Let no one, brethren, say, " I, indeed, am of Paul ; and, another, I am of Apollo. What then is Apollo, and what is Paul ? The ministers of Him in whom you have believed. I have planted, Apollo watered, but God gave the increase. Therefore, neither he that planteth is any thing, nor he that watereth, but God that giveth rhe increase. We are God's coadjutors ; you are God's husbandry, you are God's building. I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. L^f no man, therefore, glory in men. For all things are yours, whether it be Paul, or Apollo, or Cephas, or the world, oi life, or death, or things present, or things to come, for all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's." <1 Cor. lii.) So that God be served, honored, loved, it matters not by whom, rejoice and be ex- ceedingly glad. Rejoice, then, brethren, that, whereas in 1S33 there were but ten dioceses in the United States— but one of these dioceses comprised all the New England States, another all the country west of the Mississippi— there are now 63 dioceses and eight Vicariates Apostolic. Then there were 12 Bishops, two of them being coadjutors ; now there are a Cardinal, 13 Arch- bishops and 59 Bishops. Then there were scarce 250 priests, and a Catholic population of half a million ; now there are more than 6.500 priests, 7,400 churches and chapel*, 31 ecclesiastical sem- inaries, SI colleges, 580 academies, 275 asylums, 186 hospitals, and a Catholic population of nearly 7,000,000. Of all the Prelates and priests who attended the first Council of Baltimore, only one is now living, the Archbishop of Cincinnati; and of all who were members of the Jesuit Mission of Maryland when it became a Province. July 8, 1S33, only four are living, three who were priests — Fathers Finnigan, Havermann and Curley— and one who was a novice, Father Ward, now of Loyola College. All the others have passed in funeral procession through the gate-way of death into the regions of eternity ; and with them have passed, almost without an exception, the people whom they sought to enlighten, sanctify and save. The Church in America.— That long before the ninth century, Catholicity was trans- planted from the shores of Europe, Asia or Africa to those of America, by bold navigators and hardy adventurers is highly probable. But, interesting as the examination of such a question might prove, we cannot attempt it, now, but must be satisfied with the statement that, according to the records which have thus far come to light, the first Christians who visited this country came from Greenland and Iceland, known to geographers as Danish America. In 829 Catholic missionaries visited Danish America— more than a thousand years ago. In 834 Pope Gregory IV. placed Iceland and Greenland under the jurisdiction of Ansgar, Archbishop of Hamburg, whom he appointed his Apostolic Legate for the North. Iceland and Greenland being entirelv Catholic as early as 1004, the interest of religion in those countries required the erection of Episcopal Sees, and in the year 1055 Adalbert, Archbishop of Bremen-Hamburg— these two cities then formed one Archiepiscopal See— consecrated Jon Bishop of Skalhoit in Iceland, and Albert Bishop of Gardar in Greenland. Bishop Jon, who was a Scot, after a four years' residence in Iceland, came to this country in the year 1059, to convert the natives and administer to the spiritual wants of the Catholic Scandinavian population— colonists from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Greenland— who from time to time had formed settlements in what they called Viueland, a tract of country described in old maps as extending over the entire portion of Massachusetts and a part of Rhode Island, commencing at Cape Ann and terminating with Narragansett Bay. More, then, than eight hundred years ago, and consequently nearly six hundred years before the Puritan pilgrims set foot upon Plymouth Rock, the Catholic Church had a Bishop there ; yes, and a martyr too, for the saintly prelate fell a victim of zeal and charity beneath the deadly arrows of those for whom he was endeavoring to open the gates of heaven. More than fifty years before this time, in the year 1003, one of the headlands of Massachusetts, near the present city of Boston, was called the Promontory of the Cross, from the grave of Thorwald, a Catholic explorer, whose dying request, when he had been mortally wounded by the Esquimaux, was that his companions should bury him there and place a cross at his head and anotuer at his feet. The first birth from Catholic parents, and therefore the first baptism in America, was that of Snorre, who was born in 1009, or Thoi dun and Gudrida, on the western shore of Mt. Hope Bay, in Bristol county, Rhode Island. This family returned to Iceland, and then<-e, after the death of her husband and the marriage of her son, Gudrida went ou a pilgrimage to Rome and gladdened the heart of the Holy Father with news from his chu Iren in the New World. Thus you perceive that the first Catholic mother of America was the first pilgrim from the Western World to the shrine of St. Peter and the Court of the Vatican— and this more than eight hundred years ago ! A historian, who records this fact, writes: "Rome lent a ready ear to accounts of geographical discoveries and carefully collected maps and narratives. Everv discovery seemed an extension of Papal dominion and a new field for the preaching of the gospel." I might disappoint your laudable 212 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF curiosity, were I not to add that this pious woman returned to Iceland and ended her days as a nun in a Benedictine convent built by her son ; and that son had among his grandchildren three who were Bishops of Iceland. The martyr Jon was not the only Bishop who visited what is now Rhode Island. In t^e year 1121 Erick, Bishop of Gardar, in Greenland, went to Vineland, and, like Bishop Jon, ended his life in this countrv. What, more than two centures ago, people called "the old stone mill,'" at Newport, admitted by all to be a work of the Norsemen, antiquarians say was erected about the time of Erick, and was a baptistery, built after the style of many of the baptisteries of the mid- dle ages. As the Catholic colonists of America were for centuries dependent on the Bishops of Greenland and Iceland, it may be well to remark that these Bishops were, by order of Pope Gregory IV., in 834, suffragans of the Archbishop of Hamburg ; that in 1039 they became suffra- gans of the Archbishop of Lund, by order of Pope Urban II. ; and finally, in 1154, they became suffragans of the Archbishop of Drontheim, in Norway, by order of Pope Anastasius IV.; and history testifies that from time to time they crossed the oceau to attend the Provincial Councils held in those metropolitan cities. In 1276 the Crusades were preached iu America, and Peter- pence were collected here and sent to Rome by order of Pope John XXL, and subsequently by order of his successors, Nicholas III. and Martin V. Catholicity, in a word, was in a flourshing condition in Iceland and Greenland, and consequently we may infer iu Vineland, till the mid lie of the sixteenth century ; when, the northern nations of Europe having to a great degree apos- tatized from the faith, King Christian, of Denmark, in 1540, sent preachers to Danish America to substitute Lutheranism for the old faith, a substitution which was inaugurated by dragging off one of the Bishops of Iceland, Augmund of Skalhoit, to a prison in Denmark, and beheading the other, Jon Arleson, of Horlum, in 1551 ; the people meanwhile protesting against the change of religion, with the declaration that it belonged not to the King of Denmark, but to the Roman Pontiff to teach them what, they were to believe. This adhtsion to the teaching of the Roman See characterized the Greenlanders also, as Pope Nicholas V. testifies in a letter written in 1448, in wliich he also states that they had then been Catholics for nearly six hundred years. The last Bishop of Gardar was Vincent, who was conse- crated in 1531— forty-five years, as you perceive, after the discovery of America by Columbus, and nearly five hundred years after the erection of t n at. See. We may reasonably conclude that, for several years the Divine Sacrifice of the Mass, with its inseparable thanksgiving, was simul- taneously offered in Vineland by the descendants of the Norsemen, and on the shores of Florida and iu the islands off our southern coast by the missionaries who followed in the track of Colum- bus. Finally, deprived of their pastors, the scattered flock gradually lost their faith ; and ihw nothing remains to tell of the Christianity of Vineland but the ancient documeuts from which I have quoted, the remains of the stone baptistery at Newport, R. I., which some of you no doubt have seen, and some tombs of those early adventurers which are occasionally discovered, one of which, found in Virginia, some fifteen miles southwest of Washington, besides its Catholic in- scription, "May the Lord have mercy on her," bears the date of 1051. If I have dwelt long upon the Catholic history of the Norsemen in what are now the New England States, it was because I supposed the subject would be equally novel and interestiug. Nor can I leave it without stating that the form of government iu Iceland, Greenland and Vin- land was republican from the foundation of the respective colonies till the year 1021 when they became dependencies of the crown of Norway. There was, therefore, a little Catholic republic on this continent seven hundred, perhaps eight hundred years ago. Referring to these early republics, Malte-Brun remarks: "The genius of liberty arid of poetry brought into action the brightest powers of the humanmind at the ends of the habitable earth."— Front Reo. F. W. Clarke's Centennial Discourse. From a Lecture of Rev. E. A, McGurk, of Loyola College, Baltimore.— From this very place we can almost touch the soil on wliich the Jesuit Fathers stepped from the Ark and Dove. They came in the company of honorable men, weary of the struggles for conscience sake. Governmental intolerance of their peculiar tenets d ,- ove the Qiakers to Pennsylvania, the Episcopalians to Virginia, the Puritans to Plymouth and the Catholics to Maryland. The circle of freedom which all of them but one drew around them was only large enough to inclose them- selves. The banner of but one ship proclaimed universal tolerance, and that was the ship which brought the Cathoiics to Maryland. To Sir George Calvert were our Catholic ancestors indebted for this. Until 1024 he was a Protestant. His conversion involved great personal sacrifices. He held the high and lucrative office of secretary of state under James 1. To continue to hold office was to share in the iniqui- tous iaws which persecuted his Catholic fellow-citizens, and that he could not do. He led in per- son a colony to Newfoundland, but its soil was too sterile. He sailed southward, but failed in his attempt to associate with the Episcopalians of Virginia. They wanted freedom, but if was only freedom for themselves, not for Catholics, and they would have exacted an oath from him which would have degraded him below the slaves on their plantations. He returned to Eugland and obtained a liberal grant under which his son Leonard planted the colony of freemen in ivlarylaud. The gallant lit;ie ship left England November 22, 1033. The colony was numerically Protestant, but politically, socially and religiously Roman Catholic. The expedition consisted of Leonard Calvert as Governor, Jerome Hawley and Capt. Thos. Cornwallys, assistants, with 20 gentlemen, and 200 mechanics, laboring men, servants and others. The superior of the three Jesuit priests of the party was Father Audrew White, the apostle of Maryland. At the outset they placed then- ships under the protection of God, committing their success to the keeping of the blessed St. Ignatius and the guardian Angel of Maryland. All denominations respect tne influence of their ministers, but a Catholic's need of a priest is founded on a deeper fattli in his holier usefulness. He has power to say thy sins are forgiven thee. He leaves the land of stateiy temples, but bears authority to offer the victim of mercy on altars rude as the unchiseled rocks. Tne two most no- table personages who gazed on the new land were Leonard Calvert and Andrew White. There the missionary felt his prayer and chants might mingle with the soi;gs of birds and his words flow free as the rivers that poured their waters into the oceau. Noae knew better than Father White what havoc of faith tyranny had made. A site for a city was chosen, and St. Mary's the name given to it. But in days when traveling through a county was like a journey across a cantinent, it had to be abandoned for a place more accessible as a capital to the interior of the colony. Annapolis, its successor, though it has never grown to be a giant, is not without its title to fame. CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 213 The author of old Maryland Manors says "it was at Annapolis that soft crabs, terrapin and can- vas-back ducks obtained their renown as the greatest delicacies of the world." He quotes from a Frencn traveler of the last century : "In that inconsiderable town at the mouth of the Severn at least three-fourths of the houses may be styled elegant and grand. The State House is a very beautiful building— I think the most— of any I have seen in America. Female luxury exceeds what is known in France. A French hair-dresser is a man of importance among them, and it is said a certain dame here hires one of that craft at one thousand crowns a year." In 1638 Father While wrote to his superior in Rome: "By the spiritual exercises of St. Igna- tius we have formed most of the inhabitants to the practice of pietv, and the sick and dying have all been atteuded in spite of the distances of their dwellings." His labors were equally fruitful among the Indians. It is an honor of Maryland not shown by the other colonies, that from the beginning friendly relations existed between the white man and the Indians. Need it be repeated that Father White and his missionaries were Jesuits? At that time the order was in the zenith of its glory. The superiors of the order, true to their sagacity of sending the best men to China, Japan and Paraguay, appointed for Maryland men of great learning and ability. The history of the Jesuits shows that the most gifted men were the best for this humble work. Xavier, Riccis, Ortega, Father White, were all men of distinction in the great schools of Eurone. The first his- tory of Maryland is from his pen in Latin. Will any one wonder that the Jesuit loves Maryland? He'has lived here two centuries and a-half, and is hot likely soon to move. St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits, was the patron of the Ark and Dove, and the State is still under his patronage. The provincial of the order gave up to the proprietary the manors of Mattapony, Immaculate Conception and St. Gregory. The act of religious toleration of 1648 is a cherished memory. It was passed in the Assem- bly sitting in St. Mary's City. But what is religious toleration? The question is pertinent, because it is said the church's teachings are inconsistent with toleration. There is aright kind of toleration and a wrong kind. The wrong kind advocates the license of believing just what a man chooses. Revelation has fixed bevoud the right of man to change it to just what we shall believe. He must submit to slavery and death rather than yield up that truth. But there is a kind of toleration consistent with Catholic principles. While we hold in the abstract that unity of religion would conduce oest to the best interests of man, there may be conditions of society when freedom of differing in religion is altogether necessary for the happiness and prosperity of the State. In such conditions of society 'he Catholic says, I will not force you to believe as I do. I will not debar you from any position of honor or gain because you are not a Catholic. This was the character of religious toleration in Maryland; this kind of toleration is necessary for the well being of our republic. Other colonies were colonies of persecuted msn for their religious opinions ; Maryland was a colony of persecuted Roman Catholics. It is not to the purpose to say there were Protestants on the Ark and Dove. It was emancipation of Roman Catholics that inspired the emigration from the mother country. Maryland atone— a Catholic colony — granted freedom to every man. The charter granted to the first Lord Baltimore secured religious ireedom long before the act of toleration was passed. The second Lord Baltimore (Cecilius) was most earnest in carrying out that charter. Not one case of intolerance can be cited against Leonard Calvert. "Peace to all, persecution of none," was his favorite motto. He convicted John Lewis, an ardent Catholic, for forbidding his Protestant servants reading the Protestant Bible. The same chapel was used at one hour for Catholic sacrifice, at another hour for Prot- estant prayers. In the memorable Assembly of 1649, while the Catholics were in the majority, the Protestants acknowledged the act of toleration was adhered to, and Dassed a resolution to that effect, which was sent to England. These were glad tidings to every nation of Europe and where religious dissensions prevailed. The lecturer argued that to atti ibute the toleration in Maryland to motives of self-interest in Lord Baltimore and the Catholics was to give him no nobler views and motives than a Yankee peddler might claim. But Lord Baltimore is safe in Protestant as in Catholic hands from such an imputation. He quoted the recent historical review of the circumstances of those times by Gen. Bradley T. Johnson in proof of the nobler claims of Lord Baltimore on the admiration of posterity, Marylanders, and all friends of liberty. A Missionary's Death.— Rev. Judocus Francis Van Assche, S. J., departed this life Tues- day, June 26, at 12 o'clock noon, in his seventy-eighth year. On the 26th of last May he started on horseback to visit the sick, carrying with him tne Blessed Sacrament. Wnen two -miles from Florissant, Mo., out on the Cross Keys Roads, he was suddenly attacked with paralysis, falling from his horse. The faithful animal stood still, seemingly waiting for him to rise and remount. He lay helpless on the ground, till a gentleman, happening to pass that way, assisted him upon his horse. He wished to go on to the house of the sick person, but after riding a short distance he felt that he could proceed no further, and he turned about and returned to his home at Florissant, which he reached with much difficulty. Dr. Hereford being called, found the attack to be a serious one, and to offer little hope of recovery. The patient was removed to the St. Stanaslaus Novitiate, where, despite all that the medical art and the kindness of friends could do for him, he gradually sank until he breathed his last. The word rapidly travelled to the village and through the surrounding country to this city that " good Father Van Assche is dead ;" and perhaps none that knew him personally, ever knew another person to whom the epithet ' good" in all its meaning, could be so appropriately given— for Father Van Assche was a man of remarkable goodness, both by nature and from every availa- ble virtue. He NEVER HAD AN ENEMY and an unkind word was never spoken against him. He had the simplicity of a child ; he was so cheerful, so kindlv in his manners, so ready to serve others, and to give the peference to any one over himself, that no man knew him that did not love him, and no one could meet him without desiring again to see him and converse with him. Every member of his congregation looked on him as a special friend, and all revered him as a wise and saintly man He was a father to the poor and those in sorrow ; and he never turned away a beggar from his door without giving some- thing, even when having little for himself ; "for," he would say to his friends, "even if the beggar be an undeserving drunkard, he must be in great need if he will come to ask a small pittance of me." Father Van Assche realized in his whole life and conduct the ideal of a Christian pastor, made perfect beyond all ordinary men, by a charity that was unfeigned, because it knew no ex- 214 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF ception, it refused no work, and it feared no sacrifice. His zeal was not like that of the Pharisee, fiery and intolerant; it was persuasive and gentle, making duty a pleasure, not an insupportable burden. He was distinguished for his practical good sense and the solidity of his judgment con- cerning all the affairs of human life ; he was observant and thoughtful; his opinions showed so much wisdom and prudence on all matters falling under his notice that his advice was sought for and most highly valued even by most learned acquaintances. It was instruction to hear him express his thoughts on public and social questions. Having spent in the United States tiftv-six years of his long life, he had become attached to the country and its institutions as if he had known no other. He often said pleasantly to his young friends who were born h;re : '• I am more of an American than you for two reasons ; one is, I am here longer than vou have been ; and the other is, that I am an American by choice, whu> you are one by accident." He lamented the rapid growth of avarice among our citizens during late years, saying " Now the people no longer work for a living, but all are now working to become rich." He FIRST BEGAN TO MINISTER at the altar in 1S27, now fifty years ago ; he baptized in their infancy the grand-parents of many now living in St. Louis and in St. Louis County. "Good Father Van Assche." as he was for many years styled by every one, was buried on the spot— a little mound— where repose the remains of Father be Smet, the illustrious Indian missionary, and tho«e of Father Meurin, who died at Kas- kaskia in 1777. Fifty long years ago Father Van Assche heard the whip-poor-will's nightly song from its perch on the tall trees covering the ground beneath whose sod he will now sleep his last long sleep. When this good and much-loved old missionary first reached St. Lonis, May so, 1823, it was then but a struggling frontier town. Father Judocus F. Van Assche was born at St. Amand, which is on the banks of the Scheld, and is five leagues above A ntwerp. His father, Judocus Van A ssclie, dealt in spun cotton and flax. Young Van Assche wished to be a sailor, and his father applied to a captain, known to be a good man, to receive him, but the captain whom he applied to declined to accent any more boys. The youth was sent to school at Mechlin. His playfulness caused his te.icher, by not rightly estimating the innocent vivacity of a boyish nature, to request his father to recall him from school. His father declined to do so till his son was given further trial The youth soon became distinguished for his diligence in study, obedience to rules, success in his classes, and all virtues becoming his age. In 181G, the illustrious Kentucky missionary, Father Chas. Nerinckx, went to his native coun- try, Belgium, in the interest of his various missions in the diocese of Bardstown, Ky. On his return to the United States, in 1817, he was accompanied by James Oliver Van de Velde, who joined the Jesuit Society at Georgetown College, D. C In Belgium the latter was tutor of French to young Judocus F. Van Assche, who would have accompanied him had not his youth and the lack of means rendered such a step impracticable at that time. His desire to join his friend at George- town he however kept, and he only waited for an opportunity to go to America. In 1820, Father Neriuckx again visited Belgium, and passing by way of Georgetown, he was made the bearer of a letter from Mr. Van de Velde to young Van Assche, which was delivered to the parents of the youth. Young Van Assche resolved to accompany the Kev. Mr. Nerinckx on his return to America, ami revealing his intention to his schoolmate. John B. Elet, he too determined to go with the mis- sionary to America. A little after, John B. Smedts joined them in their proposed journey, and then P. J. De Smet. Felix Verreydt, and P. J. Verhaegen also determined to join the party. In order to raise the funds necessary for the trip they disposed of their books, furniture, pawning their pianos and watches for redemption by their parents. After overcoming many difficulties they collected together on the Texal. a small island off the coast of North Holland. Near the island the ship " Columbus,'' on which they were to sail, rode at anchor waiting for them. They boarded and went quietly out upon the main sea. They seemed to have cast no lingering, longing looks back upon the shores which most of them were never to see again ; for their purpose was to give up all in order to devote their lives to the Indian missions of America. THEY REACHED PHILADELPHIA on Sunday, September 23, 1821, whence they proceeded at once, by way of Baltimore to Georgetown. They were received as novices and sent at once to the house of probation, at Whitemarsh ; the place was so named in commemoration of the illustrious Father White, S. J., who accompanied the first colony of English Catholics, who, leaving their country for conscience sake, settled in Maryland. In the year 1S23. Bishop Dubourg, who was bishop of Upper and Lower Louisiana, went to Georgetown to request a colony of Jesuits to be furnished him by the provincial of the Maryland province, for the evangelization of the Indians in the State of Missouri. Father Van Quicken- borne, with Messrs. Van Assche, De Smet. Verhaegen, Verreydt, Smedts, Elet and Brother de Meyer, who still survives at the good old age of eighty- four, offered themselves for the missions in the far West. They left Whitemarsh about the middle of April. 1823, went to Baltimore, where they procured wagons for their luggage and started on their journey to Wheeling, W. Va. They went by way of Frederick, Md., Conewago. Pa., Cumberland. Md., thence across the Allegheney Mountains, reaching Wheeling after a journey of about two weeks They were here entertained for a few days by a kind gentleman, Mr. Thompson, whose daughter subsequently became a dis- tinguished member of the Sacred Heart order. They procured two flat boats, which they lashed tosether, placing upon one of them a wagon, some negroes that accompanied them, their stock of provisions for the journey, etc.,— the Reverend gentlemen, with their library and various articles of Church furniture, being in the other boat. After atrip down the river of some twelve days, without striking incidents, they reached Louisville, where they met the Rev. Charles Nerinckx, who was there awaiting their arrival, he having a few days previous gone to Louisville to start for the "Barrens'" in Perry Co.. Mo. —a colony of his sisterhood, the Loretto Nuns— there to establish a school. A "Falls pilot" was engaged to get their boats safely over the falls, and in his trip down the rapids, Mr. Van Assche accompanied him. They went down the Ohio to Shawneetown, where they disembarked, and sending their baggage around to St Louis by steamboat, they journeyed across the land to the same destination. THEY REACHED ST. LOUIS May 30, and on the evening of the same day Father Van Quiekenborne rode on horseback out to Florissant. The present novitiate farm, or at least that part of it on which the houses stand, had been donated by Bishop Dubourg to Father Van Q. and companions. They took posssession of the CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 215 place, and began at once to clear land around the dwelling in order to make a garden ; and on July hi they began 10 dig the cellar for a dwelling winch, in the style of that day, was a log cabin. .Mr. Van Assche was ordained priest in 1827, and assumed two years later the regular charge of the congregation at the village of Florissant. The congregation had been for a year in charge of the Trappists, who gave it up in 1S10, removing to Monks' Mound, on Cahokia Creek, 111. \\ lien the mouks lett Illinois in IS 13, to return to Europe, Hev M. Durand, a member of their order, remained in Missouri and had charge of tie congregation at Florissant for some seven years, residing a part of that time in the village His congregation was afterwards under the care M l.'ev. .Mr. De Lacroix, from 182 > to 1823, during which time he built the present brick church of that place. In iK-i:; Mr. lie Lacroix made over the church to the Jesmlt Fathers, under whose charge it has re- mained till the present time. In lSo'2 Father Van Assche began to reside at Florissant. He lived a couple id' years at Portage des Sioux, but in 1st Hie was required by his physicians to leave the place, which was subject to malarious influences, on account of the low, wet lands surrounding it. He returned to Florissant, and with the exception of three years' residence at St. Charles, Father Van Assche made Florrissant his home till his death. He lived 54 years of his long life in .Mis- souri ; and, except lor two short visits one to Cincinnati, and one to Chicago, he never in that tunc went beyond St Louis and s-t Cfiarles' Counties He has now gone to tne reward of a long and useful life, followed by the praises and the benisons of all that knew him. lie was a man of God, who gave up native country, a home among loved ones— and all that is near and dear to the human heart, in order to make himself useful as a missionary in a strange land. HE SET THE EXAMPLE of a pious and blameless life ; and full of days, and full of merit, he expired calmly at about noon, on Friday. June 26, at St Stanislaus' Novitiate, Florissant, Missouri. He bore his last illness with- out one murmur or complaint, and seemingly without any pian. No one, knowing h*m personally, will fail g ving assent to the prayer. May lie rest in peace ! and may my last end be like to that of good Father Van Assche !— St. Louis Time*, July, 1877. Miss. Sally Lilly remembers having heard Father Van Quickenborne preach a very eloquent sermon at Littlestown, when passing Conewago for the West. They came from Baltimore in wagons, having servants with them. They collected blankets and other things at Conewago. Old St. Inigo's Manor.— St. Inigo's, Md., Januarv IS —There is but one spot in Mary- land which can be said to have remained in the hands of its original occupants and their legitimate successors since the planting of Lord Baltimore's colony. This spot is St. Inigo's Manor, still the property of the religious community that settled it— the Society of Jesus. Two rustv old cannon, insecurely mounted on loose piles of bricks, look out on the blue waters of the St. Mary's river as they did two centuries and a half ago ; and, with the sweet-toned beil which has rung the Angelus three times a day since 1082, are the sole relics visible at the site of tne manor-house of the old colonial days. For many years there was exhibited at St. Mary's an elliptical table of English oak capable of dining thirty persons, which was brought over in the Ark, and used by the first Governor of the Province, Leonard Calvert, both as his dining and council table. Rev. Father Joseph E. Keller, late Superior of the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus, in a letter to a friend in England some years ago said : "We have got at St. Inigo's, Maryland, the original round-table at which the first Governor and his wise men sat in council, and on which were written the laws of the Colony and the famous statute of liberty of oon-cience." After passing through a num- ber of hand3, the table became the property of a Mr. Campbell, at whose death it was purchased Jan. 7, 1832. by Rev. Joseph Carbery, g. J., for ten dollars, and placed at St. Inigo's, where it remained until a year or so ago, when it was removed to Georgetown College. Here it is exhibited to all who care to see it, and is an object of much curiosity and interest on the part of visitors. The cannon were fished out of the St. Mary's river, into which they had tumbled owing to the gradual washing away of St. Inigo's Fort, (built by Leonard Calvert on a point jutting out into the river from the manor lands,) by Captain Thomas Carbery, of Washington, brother of Father*Carbery. in 1824. In 1841, at the suggestion of William Coal, member of the House of Delegates from St Marv's, one of them was presented X>y Father Carbery to the State of Mary- land "and placed in the State-house yard at Annapolis. Of the remaining three, (four in all were stated by Father Carbery io have been taken up,) one was used as a boundary mark on the manor line, and the other "two were placed on the lawn at St. Inigo's, where they have since remained. It is the intention of tne present superior of the mission to have them mounted on pedestals of masonry near the water side, and eieaned and renovated, so that they can be used for filing salutes. The metal has become rough and flaky from long immersion in mud and water, and their appearance is sufficient proof of their antiquity. The bell, which has graven on it. the date 1682, is suspended from a pole in front of the mission house, and its silvery roues steal over the waters three times every dav to the distant, fisherman, who reverently doffs his cap aud murmurs his prayers after the fashion of his forefathers generations baon. The founder of the Jesuit settlement at St. Inigo's was Rev. Thomas Copley, a father of the society, who on account of the penal laws against the Catholic clergy appears in the records, in common with many other Jesuit fathers, by the simple designation of "esquire" or "genl man." Under tne "Conditions of Plantation," published by Lord Baltimore in 1636, Thomas Copley, Esq., demanded grants of laud in consideration of transporting Andrew White, Jo Altham (Fathers White aud Altham) and others, thirty in all, to Maryland in 1633, and Mr. John Knoles and others, to the number of nineteen, in 1637. He received in all twenty-eight thou- sand five hundred acres, of which lie distributed the gr< ater part to others, reserving S,00 i for the society. The first tract taken up was St. Inigo's, situated on St. Inigo's creek and St. Ma river, including 2,000 acres on the mainland, St. George's Island 1,000 acres, and "town land" in and about St. Mary's city, 400 ac es The "town land," after remaining in the han is of the Jes anc Ced„, maiibrlto still thVprop'eity of"~theJesuits',as is also Newtown manor, formerly an estate of the lord proprietary, situated on the peninsuia formed by Brettou's and St. Clement's bays, not far from Leonardtowu. 216 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF Mattapany, afterwards the home of Charles, Lord Baltimore, was given to the Jesuits by King Pathuen, a chief of the Patuxent Indians, but was relinquished by them a few years later in pursuance of a contract entered into by them with Lord Baltimore, in which they agreed not to receive gifts of land in Maryland directly from the Indians. The present condition and appear- ance of Mattapany have already been described in a recent letter to The Sun. At Newtown there is an ancient church, supplied by Father Jenkins and the other priests of tbe Leona v dtown mission, and a manor-house almost if not quite as venerable. The bell, which bears the date of 1692, and the library, one of the oldest in Maryland, were removed to Leonardtown some years ago, and are now at the parochial residence there. The house at St. Thomas was burned in 1866, and a number of valuable old records and documents destroyed. Six years later the manor-house at St. Inigo's, erected in 1705, together with the library and records, met with a similar fate. The present building, a small brick structure, occupies the original site, and is composed in part of material from the ancient edifice, which was built of bricks from the old Catholic church at St. Mary's, erected about 1644. About two thousand acres of iand are comprised in the Jesuit estate at St. Inigo's, divided into farms, which are leased on libera! terms to tenants, who are selected with great care and usuallv remain on the property for long periods. The manor lands are owned by the Maryland- New York province of the Society of Jesus, anil the revenue is applied to the support of Wood- stock College and the Novitiate at Frederick. The ground allotted for the support of the priests stationed at St. Inigo's is only about forty acres, and the impression which generally prevails that they have the resources of the entire estate at their coiutnaud is therefore erroneous. The present superior of the mission, Father David B. Walker, who succeeded Father Livius Vigilante a few months ago, was formerly treasurer of Mt. St. Mary's College, Emmittsburg, and more recently of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. He is a gentleman of great energy and business tact, and has addressed himself resolutely to the task of restoring the dilapidated buildings and surroundings of old St. Inigo's. The house has been repaired and repainted, and the work of improving the garden, grounds and farm land attached to the residence will be commenced as soon as practicable. His assistant, Father J. P. Neale, has been stationed at ttie mission about ten years, and is well known to the people of the entire county for his tireiess activity and en- thusiatic devotion to his work. Father Neale is descended from the old colonial families of Neale and Pye, and cherishes a deep reverence for the local ass 'Ciations and traditions. Three thousand persons are included in the cure of the two priests of St. Inigo's, whose churches are scattered many miles apart, thus necessitating almost ceaseless activity. The parish church, which was built some sixty years ago, Is situated about half a mile from the residence, and is a plain and unpretentious structure of brick. About six years ago a large frame struc- ture was erected on the river bank for the accommodation in summer of the scholastics from the Frederick Novitiate, and here for about three weeks everv year the young men enjoy a de- lightful holiday, inhaling the fresh, pure breezes from the St. Mary's, and spending much of their time in boating, bathing and kindred diversions. The Jesuits in Thig Country.— There are in North America twenty-two Jesuit establish- ments, and twenty-one of the Jesuit colleges are in the United States. Until a few weeks ago the Jesuits in North America were divided among Ave provinces, but this number has been reduced to four by the consolidation of the provinces of New York and Maryland The district which was called New York province includes New York State and British America, and at tne latest count had 86 priests, 122 scholastics and 121 lay brothers. The oldest province, Mary- land, which, in addition to the territory acquired by the late consolidation, embraces New England, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the District, of Columbia, had 207 fathers, 217 scholastics and 203 lay brothers. The province next in importance to Maryland is that of Missouri, which includes almost the entire Mississippi valley north of Louisiana. The fathers in these two provinces are all English-speaking. The third province is ohat of Lyons, with its headquarters at New Orleans and Mobile. The fathers there speak French. The fourth and last province, called Taurin, whose clergymen are Italian, is in California. There are also some German fathers at Buffalo, which is now in the province of Maryland. The head of the Mary- land province is Father Brady ; of the Missouri, Father O'Neill ; of the Lyons, Father Jourdan ; and of the Taurin, Father Varsi. THEIR SUPPRESSION HERE. In the oldest province, Maryland, the Jesuits were established early in Colonial history, but in 1773 were practically suppressed, together with all the remainder of the order except that part of it which existed in Russia, by a brief of Pope Clement XV., who was forced to take that step by the hostile stand made against the followers of Loyola by France, Spain, Portugal, Parma, Naples and Austria. Prussia remained friendly to the order, and so did Russia, whose sovereign, Catharine, although a member of the Greek Church, manifested the warmest admi- ration for the Jesuits and kept them within her dominions because she believed that such a course was the best she could take for the cause of education. Her son, Paul, grandfather of the present Czar, was also a strong friend of the Jesuits, and some notable writers express the belief that but for his early death the Greek Church would have bten reconciled with Rome. Under the papal brief, the property of the order was confiscated, although in most countries the members received annuities and were allowed to live privately. It has been a mooted ques- tion whether the utterance of Pope Clement was a real suppression of the Jesuits, in accordance with the laws of the Church, the argument having been advanced that a bull would be required to suppress the order and that its abolition could not have been effected by a simple brief. In 1801, however, Pope Pius VII., after continuing the Russian branch of the order, under the head of a Vicar General, granted permission for the Jesuits in the Province of Maryland to resume their establishments upon condition of being considered as joined to the Russian brauch, and in 1814, immediately after the fall of Napoleon, tho same Pope re-established the order under its old form. THE HEAD OF THE PREACHERS, Father Masruire, who is to lead the mission that, begins to-day a' St. Edward's, is one of the ablest priests in his order. He was born in Ireland, and came to this country when very young. His mother died in Frederick, Maryland, leaving him apparently friendless and without re- sources. Father McElroy, of St. John's College, Frederick, took a fancy to the bright lad, low- ever, adopted him, and put him to study. While a scholastic at that Institution he proved an CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 217 unusually excellent teacher of the junior students, and he had not been ordained priest a year when he was taken from the pastorate of Gonzaera Church, Washington, and made president of Georgetown College. His success in that position was remarkable, but his oratorical powers proved the cause of his removal from the presidency in order that he might be made head of the missionaries. In persou he is tall and slim, with iron-gray hair, and, although having an ascetic expression of countenance, possesses a magnetic geniality. He would seem to be sev- enty years of age, but is not more than sixty-one. The ceaseless labor that has proved so effective has made its mark upon him, and yet he was never more eloquent than now and never undertook a task with greater energy. Whenever he preaches the building is densely thronged with people, and the cowd is by no means made up entirely of those professing the faith he teaches. St. Edward's Church, of which the Rev. Edward Sullivan is pastor and the Rev. John Mellon assistant priest, was formerly an Episcopalian place of worship. It stands close t^ the Diace which was the headquarters of Washington at the time of the battle of Germantown. Upon the conclusion of the mission at St. Edward's the three Fathers, reinforced by two or three others of their order, will begin a mission at the Cathedral or St. Peter and St. Paul.— From a ■sketch publislted when the Jesuits gave a Mission in Philadelphia, about eight or ten years a#o. Toleration in Maryland.— At a meeting of the Maryland Historical Society, several years ago, Gen. Bradley T. Johnson read a paper on the foundation of Maryland The paper recited the three theories of the origin of religious toleration in Maryland : First, that it was adopted by Lord Baltimore to attract settlers This is the theory of Lodge and Dovle. the latest writers on the sub- ject. Second, that he founded a Catholic colony as a refuge for Catholics, and declared freedom of conscience, moved by the teachings of the church. This is the theory of Cardinal Manning and Catholic writers generally. Third, that the Protestants were in the majority, and thus adopted and enforced it because it was the principle of their religion. This is the position of Mr. Glad- stone and Protestant authors. Gen Johnson contended that none of these is correct. Lord Baltimore, satisfied that free institutions were about to perish in England in the reign of Charles I, formed the deliberate purpose of founding a State in which all the rights, liberties and franchises of Englishmen should be enjoyed, secured by all the guarantees of magna charta.— Many facts made known in 1878 by the publication of the "Records of the English Province of the Society of Jesus," preserved at Stonyhurst, prove this purpose of Lord Baltimore. The original colony was organized by the appointment of Leonard Calvert governor and Je- rome Hawley counsellor. Catholics and Capt. Thomas Cornwallys, Protestant. The colony was largely Protestant, and was undertaken under the advice of Mutius Vitelleschi, general of the So- ciety of Jesus at Rome, and of its provincial, Father Richard Blount, of England, who sent out two Jesuit priests with the expedition The emigration of all Christians was encouraged by the promise of freedom of conscience by his proclamation in 1634. Gen. Johnson referred to the code of laws prepared by Lord Baltimore and the early historv of the proprietary government in support of his proposition." After the battle of Naseby had decided the fate of the English monarchy, in 1645, Lord Baltimore was obliged to reconcile 'the condition of affairs in his colony with that in England. In July, August and September, 1648, he counseled with Father Henry More, provincial of Jesuits in Eneland, as to the proper measures to be adop- ted to reconcile Puritans and Roman Catholics— the Jesuits and his government in Maryland. Father More was a great grandson of Sir Thomas More, Lord High Chancellor of England, who was a martyT for his religion. He was historian of the Jesuits, able, pious and learned. He prepared and proposed to Lord Baltimore the scheme which he adopted, to wit : That he should appoint Protestants to govern the province ; that he should bind them by official oaths to disturb no one on account of his religion, especially no Roman Catholic ; that he should forbid the Gover- nor assenting to any law concerning religion ; that he should issue new conditions of plantation, enforcing the statutes of Mortmain, and he prepared a code of sixteen laws, which the proprietary assented to beforehand, and which he stipulated must be adopted within twelve months without amendment or alteration. The first one of these sixteen laws was the act concerning religion— the Maryland act for religious toleration. The terms of the settlement were sent to Maryland. The Assembly in 1649 adopted seven of the sixteen laws, first among them the toleration act, and in 1650 adopted the other nine of the proposed acts Thut it is shown that the act concerning religion was but a part of the mature purpose of Lord Baltimore to found the State on the institutions of magna charta, and it was drawn up and proposed to him as part of a general scheme of compromise and settlement for Pu- ritan and Catholic in the colony by Father Henry More, the provincial of the English province of the Society of Jesus. Among the Jesuits.— Yesterday was the feast of St. Ignat'us, the apostle of the Jesuits, and was fittingly observed at the church of that name in Baltimore. To-morrow the celebration will be continued by a grand high mass at eleven o'clock and a sermon by one of the most dis- tinguished members of the order in this country. In the evening there will be solemn vespers, followed by benediction of the sacrament and another sermon. As usual on St. Isrnatius' Dav, the appointments and changes for the year were announced. Rev. Edward A. McGurk, who has been president of Loyola College, adjoining the church, for eight years, was transferred to the rectorship of Gonzaga College, Washington. This change was not unexpected, since it rarely happens that any Jesuit ever remains longer than three years atone college. Yet, Father McGurk had so endeared himself to all his parishioners that not a few of them hoped he would be continued here at least another year. No priest in the h'story of the order in this city has done so much for Loyola College and St. Ignatius' Church as Father McGurk. It was mainly through his indefatigable work that the interior of the church was recently made one of the handsomest in the city, and the college one of the leading institutions of learning. Besides this, he labored hard to reduce the debt on the property, and succeeded in doing so by many thousands of dollars. His successor will not be named for a few days, but he will probably be Rev. Francis A. Smith, S. J., at present stationed at Loyola, now in New York on a visit. In the meantime, Rev. Fater Dougherty, who last year taught the poetry and rhetoric classes here, is acting president. Afterward he goes to Washinaton to assist Father McGurk. Prof. E. Spillam has likewise been transferred to Washington. Prof. M. Cunningham, who had charge of the preparatory department of Loyola, has gone to Jersey City to replace Prof. J. 218 CONEWAGO— A COLLECTION OF Hann, who comes to Baltimore. Professors Morrison, Quigley and Van Renssiaer will goto Woodstock, the theological seminary of the order. Professor Woods, of Fordham University, and two members of the Woodstock scho'.asticate, will be stationed in Baltimore during the coming school year. Rev. P. Daly will be minister of Loyola next year. Changes at Woodstock and Frederick will be announced to-dav. Loyola, as well as Woodstock. Frederick, Gonzaga and Georgetown Colleges are within the precincts of the New York-Maryland province, in charge of Very Rev. Robert Fulton, S. J., provincial, although he has no power to make chan- ges or appointments. These are regulated by Father General Becks, through his vicar, the Very Rev. Anthony Anderledy, who, since the banishment of the Jesuits from France, has resi- ded at Fresole, near Florence, Italy. New York, recently consolidated with the Maryland pro- vince, was formerly anuexed to the Canadian province, which in turn has been consolidated with the province of England. The New York-Maryland and Canadian provinces are the only provinces in America. The former embraces, besides those two states, the territorv of Penn- sylvania and Massachusetts. Missions have been estaolished in New Orleans, Buffalo, Califor- nia, New Mexico, and in the Rocky Mountains. The most important college in the province is at Woodstock where theological studies are pursued. The number of candidates is alwa> s large notwithstanding the very rigid course of studies and discipline. Great discrimination, however, is used in the choice of candidates for membership. Some circumstances or qualities form ahsolute imoediments to admission ; such as membership even for a day in another order, or notab'e weakness of intellect. Less serious impediments like ill-temper, ob3t'nacv, injud cinus enthusia m or visionary devotion, etc., may be compensated for by other redeeming qualities and circumstances. The h>st pro- bation consists of a period of some weeks spent in a house of the society where certain ques- tions as to habits are asked and answered. The second probation consists of two yea^s given up to spiritual exercises. At the end of this time the novice pronounces the simple vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, with a formal promise to enter the society at a future day. Then two more years are spent in the study of the Latin and Greek languages, after which three years are devoted to mental and moral philosophy and the sciences. Every six months the scholastic undergoes a searching examination before four sworn examiners. After this he is sent to teach in a college both for the purpose of enabling him to applv his acquired knowledge and to train him to the science of governing men. Three years later he is elevated to the prist- tiood. But. few Jesuits rise to a position above the priesthood, as the order provides against all honors. — Baltimore paper of August \st, 18S5. Keenan- The late Father Keenau, of Lancaster, Pa., whose death occurred on Monday, the 19th ult., was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and came to Philadelphia in 1820 with Bishop Con- well, second Bishop of Philadelphia. He was ordained in 1821 and went to St. Mary's College, Emmittsburg, Md.. where he remained until the death of Father Holland, the pastor of St. Mary's, Lancaster, which occurred in 1823. He was then appointed to his first and only parish— St. Mary's, whose congregation then worshipped in a small stone edifice which still stands next the present church. Father Schenfelder, who was then assistant at Lancaster died shortly afterwards ; and from that time until 1S52 Father Keenan labored at Lancaster alone Priests were then few and far between, and Father Keenan had to attend at Columbia, Harrisburg, Lebanon, Elizabethtown, Coldbrooke, and other places. During the progress of state works he was frequently called to at- tend the sick thirty and forty miles The construction of canals and railroads was begun and large numbers of poor Irish laborers were employed on them. His life runs parallel with tha f of the celebrated Rev Father John McElroy, S. J., who was o'dained in 1S17 and who took charge of the little church in Frederick City in 1822, a year before Father Keenan settled in Lancaster, whom he yet survives. Close by St Mary's new church, a handsome brick church, built by Father Keenan in 1852, stands the old church in which the Catholics of Lancaster and many miles around heard Mass for many long ye:irs It is of stone, and well built, and has stood since 1762 The first church was a log structure, built in 1745, located on Vine street, near Prince. In 1760 it was destroyed by tire, and was replaced by rhis building, which was then reputed "a very commodious structure." *n incident of its erection recalls the days of the primitive Christians, for the women mixed ttr; mor- tar, and the men, after gathering stones in the fields, helped the masons to lay them. Only think ! Thirty years before Independence Bell rang out the glad tidings of freedom to the land, when Catholics were few and poor, scattered and unpopular, when the Penal Laws were still unrepealed, a Molineaux, a Farmer, a Schneider, Pellentz, Ailing, Brosius Hellron, Rossel- ler, Stafford, Geissler, Hamm, Montgrand, Fitzsimmons, Lewermond, Janin, Rntzen, Coleman, Egan (afterwards Bishoo of Philadelphia). De Barth. Becher, Stoecker, O'Connor, Byron, and Hol- land—all true priests ; some Jesuits, others seculars ; some Irish, some German— successively la- bored and toiled in the spiritual vineyard, and kept alive the faith in Lancaster and a wide circle of country. In the graveyard near test many of the faithful; in the church— the old, dilapidated, plain edifice, now abandoned— once ministered the Most Rev. John Carroll, D. D., first Archbishop of Baltimore, and first Bishop consecrated for the United States. In the old graveyard are monuments to the Flynns, (,a very large handsome one near the road) Hoovers, McGranns, Donnellys, Thomsons, Stockslegers, Hooks, McConomys, Lachlers, Dalys, &C— Standard, March lot It, 1^77. Frederick, Md., Sept. 12, 1877.— The venerable Father John McElroy, of the Society of Jesus, died this morning at the Novitiate in this city, aged 95 vears, having been b^rn in the town of Innis Killin, province of Ulster, and county of Fermannaugh. Ireland, in the year 1782. At the time of hie death he was in the sixtieth year of his priesthood, and was the oldest living member of the Society of Jesus. Till within one year he had remained at his priestly duties, his practical retirement being enforced by blindness. For a short while in his early life he engaged in com- mercial pursuits, but soon entered the Georgetown College, where he was treasurer of all the tem- poralities of the institution for eight or nine years, studying during his leisure hours for the min- istry. He was ordained in Georgetown Col'ege Chapel by Most Rev. Leonard Neal. Archbishop of Baltimore, on the 3d of May, 1817. at 35 years of age. During his ministration here he built the large and elegant church of Saint John, and also a large portion of the building now known as the Academy of the Visitation. CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. 219 The Mexican war having broken out, President Polk called upon the Bishops for a chaplain for the army, and Father McElroy had the honor of being selected by them, with Father Ray, to accompany the troops. These were the only two chaplains in the army. Father McElroy took a very active part in the campaign, and had charge of the sick and wounded at Metamoras. After the war he was stationed at Boston, Mass., where he built the Church and College of the Immac- ulate Conception. A s an evidence of his Influence and the estimation in which he was held by his people, a single instance need be referred to. While the Washington branch of the 'Baltimore and Ohio railroad was being built a riot broke out among the laborers, and the military had to be cal- led on to suppress it. Father McElroy hastened to the scene, and it was wholly due to his influ- ence over the rioters that bloodshed was prevented. Father McElroy lost the use of his eyes about the year 1868 : still he remained active enough to attend to his essential duties as a priest, and these he continued to perform with all the fidelity that marked his earlier years. On the 2d of January. 1876, he preached his last public sermon in Saint John's Church. An immense congregation assembled to hear him, among whom were manv Protestants. The scene as this man of God was led into the church by two attendants whs deeplv impressive, and manv eyes were suffused with tears as thev gazed upon his sightless orbs, trem- bling steps and long flowing hair, whitened by the frosts of more than four score winters. He was still a man of splend'd physique, and as he sat uttering words of wisdom to his attentive auditors he reminded r >ne of the patriarchs of old. In Frederick, where he lived more than twenty years as pastor, he was much beloved by all denomina'ions, and his name is held in benediction." His funeral will take place Saturday. The sermon on the occasion will be preached by Father Mc- Guire, of Httsburg, and a number of prominent priests will be present. Rev. Angelo M. Paresce, S. J., one of the most learned and distinguished member of the Jesuit Order in Mai'yland, died at Woodstock College, Howard County, on Wednesday, the 9th inst., in the 62d year of his aee. Deceased was a Neapolitan bv birth, but his long residence in this country Americanized him to such a degree that the closest observer could scarcely tell he was of foreign birth. In 1S45, when the late Dr. Ryder was seeking recruits of voung Jesuits in Italy for the pro- vince of Mary'and, Father Paresce was Professor of ChemiPtry and Natural Sciences in the College of his Order at Benavento. He agreed to accompany Dr. Ryder to America. Arriving here in 1846, he prosecuted his studies in theology, and was ordained priest in 1848. Immedi- ately on his ordination, he was appointed minister of Georgetown College under Dr. Ryder, where he continued in charge of the internal economy of the institution until 1851. His zealousness and executive ability won the appreciation of his superiors, and he was appointed to the government and direction of the vouncer members of ttie Order in the Novi- tiate at Frederick. Here, as at Georgetown College, he was eminently successful in the dis- charge of the duties assigned him, and in 1861 he was appointed provincial superior. His government in that capacity, though in troublesome times, was marked hv the comple- tion of Woodstock House of Studies. He was the first rector of the institution, and by his admirable tact and prudence, as displayed in former charges. Woodstock became famous even among the most famous of the colleges of which Europe boasts. Dec'ining health compelled him of late years to give up all active employment, but he remained still at Woodstock to help with his counsel those who succeeded him in its government. A man of the most broadened views and commanding talent, he could direct and supervise at, The same time the highes, and lowest studies, while his nrbanitv could smooth every difficulty and attract to himself the love and respect and veneration of all who dwelt in the same house, or were subject to him in the various houses of his jurisdiction. His death, from paralysis of the brain, was very srdden, and his remains were interred among those of his hrethfen who had gone before, in the beautiful cemetery adjoining the college.— April 19th, 1879. Death of an Eminent Theologian.— Many priests in this and other countries will regret to learn that their erudite and amiable professor. Rev. Joseph M. Dnvernev. S. J., is no more. He d'ed in the midst of his religious hrethren of the Society of Jesus at the Novitiate. Frederick, Md., s>t three mi- utes before nine on the evening of the Wtn ins'., having been carried away by an at- tack of pleuro-rneumonia, that just manifested itself on the previous Saturday. During his last illness, even during his last moments, he was, as he had always been during his long life, gentle and cheerful, with his life's exeat object as near to his heart and full in his mind as ever. Almost his last words were a commendation to those whom it concerned to teach thoroughly and at any sacrifice the young religious, themselves destined to be professors, that had of late- been the spe- cia' objects of his 'ove and 'abor. Three years ago he ce'ehrated the go'den jubi'ee of his fiftieth year as a Jesuit, during which period he had filed chairs of theology, Hebrew, canon 'aw, philo- sophy, and modern languages at various times, but with unvaried success at the Universities of Friburg, in Switzer'and, of Georgetown, D. . at the Colleges of Fordham. N. Y., Boston. Mass., and Woodstock, Md., and fina"y, for the 'ast few vears, at the Novitiate. During a short interva'. he was engaged in parochial ministrations at St. Joseph's Church. Philadelphia Tru'y, his sev- enty-two vears of 'ife were given who'iy to God and hi" fellow-man : and he fe't the sweetness of it at 'ast, for he died witn a smi'e on his lips, and his eyes looking wistfully to futurity for his re- ward exceeding great. R, I. P.— Nov. 23d, 1878. Virginia Catholic —"Let it suffice to say that as a part of the Snanish province of Florida, Virginia was Catholic before she was Protestant ; that she was the co'ony of a Catho'ic power be- fore the first Eng ishman trod her soil ; that her first governor was Don Sedro Mendez, a devout Catholic : that in company with a Catholic priest, this Catho'ic governor visited her shores eight vears before Captain John Smith was born ; that the beautiful bay which washes her eastern shore was first named by Catholic discoverers in honor of the Rlessed Virgin. Santa Maria Bay : and that there was s» log chapel dedicated under the protection of the Immaculate Mother of God on the banks of the Rappahannock more than three centuries ago : a dozen years before the first voyage by Eugishmeu to the New World was undertaken by Sir Humphrey Gi bert, more than a third of a century before the first successful landing was made by the English at Jamestown, and fifty vears before the Mayflower touched at Plymouth Rock. "The Virginia Catho'ic of 1S74 may, with some pride, reflect that the only civilized feet that 220 CATHOLIC LOCAL HISTORY. trod Virginia's soil in 1574 were Catholic feet-cliietty the feet of members of that wonderful Soci- ety of Jesus, to whose zeal, devotion and heroism the discovery and christianization of the New World owe more than to ail other human agencies combined."— Memoranda of the History of the Catholic, Church in Richmond, Va., by A. M. Keiley. Philadelphia, June 27, 1885.-Rev. Domenic P. Coppens, S. J., died last evening of heart disease at the pastoral residence of the Church of the Gesu. His brother, Rev. Alphonse Coppens, is one of the assistant priests at the Gesu. The deceased was thirty-seven years of age. He came to this city from Washington, D. C, where he was assistant priest at the Church of St. Ignatius. He was born in Belgium, and was ordained a priest about seven years ago. His longest mission was at Frederick, Md. Brute.— One of our exchanges in its report of the burial of the late Bishop de St. Palais, of Vincennes, says that the corpse of Bishop Brute was found in the vault in a state of perfect preservation, so that those who were familiar with his features could not fail to recognize him. "Corpora sanctorum in pace sepulta sunt et vivunt nomina eorum in perpetuum."— July 21, 18Ti. When, in 1S68, Bishop Shanahan took charge of the Diocese of Harrisburg. he had but twenty priests— he has now forty-one.— Freeman's Journal, Dec. 18, 1ST5. Right Rev. John Timon, D. D. Humble Missionary Priest and Holy Bishop. Born at Conewago, Feb. 12th, 1797. Died April 6th, 1867. From an Engraviug in Catholic Family Annual, 1886. The edition of this Collection of Catholic History is very limited. As it is a history of the growth of the Catholic Church in the East, from missionary times, we hope the clergy, the religious, and those of the laity who appre- ciate our expense and labor, will encourage its sale. It is put up in cloth binding, and will be sent to any address, postage prepaid, on receipt of $2. Address, JOHN T. REILY, Martinsburo, West Va. jfa. CON TE NTS. j&> Photograph Pictures of Fathers Enders, Deneckere, Villiger and Emig ; View of Conevvago Church with old Cu- pola; View of Interior, showing Marble Altar. Dedicatory. Introduction. The Church and Its Heroes ; The Discoverers of page America; Labors of the Jesuits, 1 Perm and Calvert, Settlement of Maryland and Penn- sylvania, Laws against Catholics 10 Boundary Difficulties, Troubles between Proprietar- ies and Settlers, 17 " Digges' Choice," Takes in the Conewago Valley, Early Settlers, Fatal Difficulty between Digges and Kitz- miller, 21 The Conewago Valley, Location, Settled by Catholics, 20 Early history of Conevvago, Claims of the Car rolls, The Indians, Stage Roads, Hanover Settlement, 30 The Conewago of the Indians, Its Origin, 34 The First Place of Worship, Lands Taken Up, First Missionaries, Introduction of Catholicity into the Province, Father Greaton, 37 The Log Church Built, Theodore Schneider, S. J., Win. Wapeler, S. J., 45 First Resident Priest, Matthias Manners, S. J., Num- ber of Catholics, 47 The Log Church Enlarged, The Md. Jesuits, Arrival of Revs. Pellentz, Frambach, Williams and Andrews, 50 The Sacred Heart Built, Bishop Carroll's Visit, Growth of the Church, Father Pelientz, 52 Father Pellentz to Father DeBarth, Fathers Brosius Erntzen, Sewall, Boarman, Manly, Mertz, Zocchi, Gallit- zin, 57 Father DeBarth to Father Lekeu, Fathers Carr, Roloff, Marshall, Lekeu, Rantzau, Mayerhoffer, Cummiskey, Stogan, Besfhter, O'Connor, DeBarth, Britt, Byrne, Lar- hue, Dvveen or Divin, 61 Father Lekeu to Fr. Enders, Improvements at Cone- wago, Fathers Kohl man, Dougherty, Dween, Beschter, Barber, Kendeler, Steinbacher, Sacchi, Tuffer, Gibbons, Villiger, Cotting, &c 06 The Work of Father Enders, Church Enlarged, Fath- ers Deneckere, Manns, Villiger, Dougherty, Kreighton, Dietz, Reiter, Haller, Cattani, Dora Fieri, Tuffer, Bellwal- der, &c 70 Father Enders Returns, New Steeple Built, Marble Al- tar Erected ; Fathers Deneckere, Manns, Emig, Villiger, Flannigan, Archambault, Richards, Jamieson, Casey, Du- four : Father Enders' Golden Jubilee ; His Death, Father Forhan succeeds, 74 Education at Conewago, Schools Established, The Sis- ters of McSherrystown , 79 The "Seminary Farm," Fathers Heront, Tessier, Grif- fin, Myers, Dubois, Dillet, Deluol, Marshall, Trappist Monks at the Pitreon Hills, 84 The Paradise Church 88 The Littlestovvn Church :.95 The Hanover Church 97 The New Oxford Church, 101 The Bonneauyille Church, 102 The Gettysburg Chuich, 104 The Mountain Church, 106 The Taney town Church, 108 The Westminster Church, 112 The Frederick Church, 113 The Hagerstown Church, 116 The York, Harrisburg, Carlisle and Chambersburg Churches, 123 The Keyser Church, 129 The Church in West Virginia, 132 The Martinsburg Church, 133 The Cumberland Church, 144 Biographical Sketches, Engravings of Fathers Gallitzin and Pellentz and Conewago Chapel ; Sketches of Fathers Gallitzin, Pellentz, Frambach, BishopTimon, Frs. Villiger, Manns, Deneckere, Emig, Cotting, Enders, DeBarth, Bar- ber, Heront, Baron De Beelen, 145 The Winchester Church, , 159 The Gettysburg Church, 161 A Collection of Scraps About Conewago and the Priests, 166 Beat h of Father Deneckere, 175 A Diary of One of the Conewago Priests, 1844 to 1846, 178 Outline Drawing of the Old Conewago Church, 183 Enlargement of Conewago Churcn, 1850, 184 Conewago Notes by Mrs. Jane Jenkins, 192 Sketch and Picture of Cardinal McCloskey and Old St. Peter's Church, New York, 197 Corrections and Additions, 198 List of Jesuit Superiors of Maryland, Presidents of Colleges, Ac, 204 List of Catholic Archbishops and Bishops of U. S., 206 Addenda, Early Priests and Old Families, 208 Newspaper Clippings, — Jesuits' Golden Jubilee, Old St. Inigoes, Missionary's Death, Church at Lancaster, Deaths of Fathers Parasce, Duverney, McElroy; Lecture by Fath- er McGurk, Church in America, Jesuit Matters, Toleration in Maryland, The Church in Virginia, Engraving of Bish- op John Tiraon , 209 BRITTLE DO NOT PHOTOCOPY COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES This book is due on the date indicated below, or at the expiration of a definite period after the date of borrowing, as provided by the library rules or by special arrangement with the Librarian in charge. DATE BORROWED DATE DUE DATE BORROWED DATE DUE ■ C28 (449) M50 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES 03 h 5024008 936.73 R273