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A BRIEP 
 
 SKETCH OF THE HISTOEY 
 
 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 
 
 BY 
 
 THE REV. J. R. BAYLEY, 
 
 SECRETARY TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF NEW-YORK. 
 
 NEW-YORK: 
 
 EDWARD DUN^IGA^NT & BROTHER, 
 
 151 FULTOjS" STREET. 
 
 MDCOCLin. 
 
33 
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, by 
 
 JAMES B. KIRKER, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for 
 
 the Southern District of New-York. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The materials for the following brief sketch 
 liave been gathered from Mr, Campbell's in- 
 teresting *^ History of the Life and Times of 
 Archbishop Carroll," O'Callaghan's History of 
 the New Netherlands, Bishop Connolly's Jour- 
 nal, the columns of the Truth Teller and Free- 
 man's Journal, some historical notes amongst 
 the manuscripts of the late Bishop Brute, 
 and communications from Mr. J. G. Shea and 
 others, who have made researches in this field 
 of history. Though believed to be accurate 
 as far as it goes, it does not pretend to be a 
 full and complete history of the rise and pro- 
 gress of Catholicity on the island, but rather 
 an attempt to call attention to the subject. 
 Many are still living who could furnish from 
 their own knowledge interesting details in 
 
4 PREFACE. 
 
 regard to events which have occurred since 
 New-York was made an Episcopal See ; and 
 others have in their possession letters and 
 documents which would throw much light 
 upon the subject; and it is hoped that they 
 may be induced by the present publication 
 to furnish the Editor with such information 
 as they are possessed of. The latter portion 
 of the present sketch will at first sight appear 
 meagre, and unsatisfactory; but it has been 
 thought best at present merely to state the 
 more important events simply as they occur- 
 red. Full and accurate records have been 
 kept, and from them, and other abundant 
 sources, the future historian of Catholicity in 
 the State of New- York, will be able to give a 
 more satisfactory account of an administra- 
 tion which has been so beneficial to our holy 
 religion, not only here, but throughout the 
 United States. 
 
C N TENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 French Missionaries at New- York — Jogues — Bressani — Catiio- 
 lic Settlers under the Dutch — The English Rule — A Catholic 
 Proprietor — Governor Dongan — Liberty and Toleration — 
 Fall of James II. — Penal Laws— Negro Plot — End of British 
 Rule 
 
 CHAPTER 11. 
 
 The Revolution — Hostility of the new Government — Proscrip- 
 tive Acts — A Bishopric erected in the United States — Father 
 Farmer founds the first Church in the City of New- York — 
 Early Pastors of St. Peter's— Their Difficulties— St. Patrick's 
 begun — Riot on Christmas Eve '16 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 tSee of New- York erected — The first Bishop — Dr. Concanen — 
 His Death at Naples — St. Patrick's built — The Jesuits in 
 New- York — The Confessional and its Rights — Important 
 Decision — Dr. Connolly, the second Bishop — His Diary — His 
 Clergy — Establishments erected during his Administration — 
 His Death 53 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CUiiPTER IV. 
 
 Vacancy of See — Appoinlineul oi Bishop DuBois — State of his? 
 Diocese — Trusteeism — College at Nyack— 'At Lafargeville — 
 New Churches — Cemetery — German Mission and its Found- 
 er — Eminent Clergymen — Catholic Papers — Libels on Ca- 
 tholics — Maria Monk — Appointment of a Coadjutor— The 
 Bishop resigns the Administration to him TP' 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Administration of Bishop Hughes — St. John's College organ- 
 ized — Conventof the Sacred Heart — New Churches— Church 
 for tlie French — Fathers of Mercy — German Mission of the 
 Redemptorists — The School Question — Diocesan Synod — 
 Church Debts, and attempts to relieve them 105. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Bishop M'Closkey appointed Coadjutor — Native Excitement — 
 Sisters of Mercy — Their House of Protection — Sisters of 
 Charity — The Diocese divided — New- York an Archiepisco- 
 pal See — New Churches — College of St. Francis Xavier— 
 Present state of Catholicity in the City 111> 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 A List of Priests who have died in the Diocese of New- York. — 
 A List of Priests ordained in the Diocese of New- York. — A 
 Table of the Number of Priests in the Diocese at various 
 Times. — Proceedings in the Convention of 1776, as to Catho- 
 lics. — Catholicity in New- York in 1822. — Clergymen officiat- 
 ing in the Diocese of New- York. — Catholicity in New-York 
 in 1S54. — Acts relating to Catholics and Catholic Institutions 
 in the Colony and State of New-York 133. 
 
CHAPTEE I. 
 
 French Missionaries at New- York — Jogues — Bressani — Catholic 
 Settlers under the Dutfch— The English Rule— A Catholic Pro- 
 prietor — Governor Dongan — Liberty and Toleration — Fall of 
 James II. — Penal Laws — Negro Plot — End of British Rule. 
 
 Almost at the same time that the Island of 
 Manhattan was discovered and settled by Eu- 
 ropeans, the Jesuits commenced their labors 
 amongst the Indians of Canada ;"^ from whence 
 they extended them to the tribes inhabiting 
 the present State of jSTew-York. The first 
 
 * In the earlj colony at Port Royal — now Annapolis-^ 
 Nova Scotia, there was a priest, Messire Josue Fl^che, who 
 has left in Lescarbot a portion of his baptismal register con- 
 taining the names of 21 Indians baptized in 1608. He was 
 succeeded by Father Biart and other Jesuits, who were sub- 
 sequently in Maine. In Canada, the first regular mission- 
 aries were the Recollects, whom M. De Champlain caused 
 to visit the colony in 1614. In 1625, three Jesnit priests 
 came to Quebec. — Charlevoix, i. 237-247. Hudson discov- 
 ered New- York in 1609. A fort was erected on Manhattan 
 Island in 1615. 
 
6 HISTOEY OF THE CATHOLIC CHUECH 
 
 missionary who entered within the borders of 
 the State, and the first priest who came to the 
 Island of Manhattan, was Father Isaac Jogues, 
 a distinguished missionary of the Society of 
 Jesus, of whose labors, sufferings, and death 
 a most interesting account is given in the 
 Jesuit Eelation of 1642-43, and in the pages 
 of Charlevoix.^ 
 
 Eeturning, in 1642, from Quebec to the 
 place of his missionary labor, accompanied by 
 a party of Hurons, he was surprised by the 
 Iroquois, f and taken captive. He willingly 
 resigned himself to this misfortune, in order 
 that he might have an opportunity to convey 
 the tidings of salvation to these poor savages. 
 In common with his fellow-prisoners, he was 
 treated with the greatest cruelty. After hav- 
 ing beaten him with clubs and stones, they 
 pulled out all his finger nails, and gnawed the 
 index finger of both his hands. The captives 
 
 •5^- Eelation for 1642-43, p. 243 ; Charlevoix, vol. i., p. 343. 
 
 ] This was the common designation given by the French 
 to the Five Nations, though sometimes applied to the Mo- 
 hawks alone. This tribe was generally called Agiiiers by 
 the French, Maquaas by the Dutch, and Mohawks by the 
 English. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 7 
 
 arrived at the villages of the Iroquois after 
 a round-about march of five weeks, during 
 which they suffered dreadfully from fatigue, 
 being obliged to walk from morning until 
 evening, and carry the baggage of their perse- 
 cutors. Here they underwent fresh tortures. 
 Father Jogues had the thumb of his right 
 hand cut off by an Algonquin woman — a 
 Christian — at the command of her Iroquois 
 master; three of the Huron chiefs were burnt 
 at the stake ; and Eene Goupil, a lay brother, 
 who accompanied Father Jogues, was killed 
 by the blow of a hatchet. 
 
 After some time, Father Jogues was per- 
 mitted to move about at his will, and he took 
 advantage of the opportunity to instruct such 
 Indians as he found disposed, in the mysteries 
 of the Christian faith, and in baptizing chil- 
 dren who were dying."^ He afterwards made 
 his escape by the assistance of Arendt Van 
 Curler,f who had previously made several at- 
 
 * Charlevoix, vol. i., p. 364; O'Callaghan, vol. i., p. 334. 
 
 f It was on account of the impression Van Curler's char- 
 acter and conduct made upon the Indians, that they were 
 accustomed to address all succeeding governors of New- 
 York by the title of "Corlear." Chailevoix and Colden 
 
8 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 tempts in his favor — a man of mnch import- 
 ance amongst the Dutch, and the commander 
 of Fort Orange (Albany). The Mohawks were 
 very much incensed at his escape; but the 
 Dutch protected him even at the risk of war, 
 and finally paid the Indians one hundred 
 pieces of gold for his ransom."^ The minister at 
 Fort Orange, John Megapolensis, took a great 
 interest in him. ^' A volley was fired at his 
 departure, and, as they sailed down the Hud- 
 son, they wished to call an island by his name, 
 with the nautical ceremony of firing a cannon 
 and breaking a bottle of wine."f He reached 
 New Amsterdam in safety, and was kindly 
 received by Governor Kieft and the inhabit- 
 ants. Governor Kieft gave him a suit of 
 clothes, and lodged him in the fort ; so that it 
 may be said, that the first priest who came to 
 what is now New- York, was received and 
 
 give a different origin to the title, but this seems to be the 
 true one. See an interesting account of this brave and ex- 
 cellent man in O'Callaghan's Hist., vol. i., p. 323, note. 
 
 * The Father remitted from France the one hundred pieces 
 of gold which had been paid for his ransom. Creuxiiis, as 
 quoted by Campbell. 
 
 f O'Calhighan, vol. i., p. ooi. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 9 
 
 treated with distinction.^ The people gener- 
 ally showed him great kindness. He was pro- 
 vided with passage in a ship, which sailed 
 shortly afterwards. The vessel was driven 
 upon the coast of England by a violent storm, 
 and plundered by robbers, who stripped Fa- 
 ther Jogues and his companions of their 
 wearing apparel, and left them to pursue 
 their journey as they could. By the as- 
 sistance of the captain of a French vessel, he 
 was carried to France, and landed on the 
 coast of Brittany. He was received with the 
 greatest honor, as a Confessor for the Faith, 
 
 * The "Relation" for 1642-43, p. 243, contains a full ac- 
 count of the captivity of Father Jogues. In his captivity 
 he wrote a letter to Father Lalemant, dated from '*Rens- 
 selaerwick, August 30th, 1643." He found a Portuguese 
 woman and a young Irishman on the Island of Manhattan, 
 whose confession he heard. Father Jogues' " Description of 
 the N^ew Netherlands " was presented to the Regents of the 
 University of j^ew-York, by the Rev. Father Martin, Supe- 
 rior of the Jesuits in Canada, and a translation of it was 
 published by O'Callaghan, in the fourth volume of his Docu- 
 mentary History, p. 20. 
 
 The N'ew-York Historical Society intend publishing an 
 English version, by J. Gr. Shea, Esq., of Father Jogues' Jour- 
 nal, in the next volume of their Collections. The original 
 Latin may be found in Tanner, and a French version in 
 Martin's Edition of Father Bressani's work, hereafter men- 
 tioned. 
 
 1* 
 
10 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 by the members of bis own society, and all 
 classes of people ; was presented at court, 
 and bad, on account of bis mutilated bands, a 
 particular dispensation to celebrate mass sent 
 to bim by tbe Pope (Innocent X.), w^bo re- 
 marked, tbat it would not be just to refuse to 
 a martyr of Jesus Cbrist tbe privilege of drink- 
 ing tbe blood of Jesus Cbrist. ^'Indignum 
 esset Cbristi martj^rem, Cbristi non bibere 
 sanguinem."*^ 
 
 * In 1644, Father Bressani, another Jesuit missionary, 
 had been taken by the Indians, and rescued from them by the 
 Dutch, who dressed his wounds and nursed him until he 
 had recovered from the effects of the cruel treatment he had 
 received; and then, having provided him with proper cloth- 
 ing, sent him to Manhattan. Governor Kieft treated him 
 with great kindness, and on hii departure furnished him 
 with the following letter of safe conduct : 
 
 " "We, William Kieft, Director-general, and the Council of 
 the Xew Netherlands, to all those who shall see these 
 presents, greeting : Francis Joseph Bressani, of the Society 
 of Jesus, for some time a prisoner among tlie Iroquois 
 savages, commonly called Maquaas, and daily persecuted 
 by these, was, when about to be burnt, snatched out of 
 their hands, and ransomed by us for a large sum, after con- 
 ftiderable difficulty. As he now proceeds with our permis- 
 sion to Holland, thence to return to France, Christian charity 
 requires that he be humanely treated by those into whose 
 hands he may happen to fall : Wherefore, we request all 
 governors, viceroys, or their lieutenants and captains, that 
 they would afford him their favor in going and returning, 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEAV-YORK. li 
 
 Father Jogues returned to Canada in 1646, 
 and resumed his labors for the conversion of 
 the Indians, amongst the very people from 
 whom he had received such cruel treatment. 
 
 promising to do the same on like occasion. Dated at Fort 
 Amsterdam, in New Netherlands, this xxth September, Anno 
 Salutis, 1G44, Stylo novo." 
 
 O'Callaghan justly remarks, that "these and similar acts of 
 kindness secured ever afterwards, for both the inhabitants 
 of Rensselaerwick, as of the New Netherlands generally, the 
 warm attachment and regard of the Jesuit missionaries, 
 who, it may be added, allowed no occasion, to pass without 
 giving expression to their gratitude and respect." — O'Calla- 
 ghan's Hist., vol. i., p. SSY : see Rev. Father Pierron's Letter to 
 Mr. Van Rensselaer, from **Tiniontogen," 6th Nov., 1667; 
 Father de Lamberville's Letter to Jeremias Van Rensselaer, 
 from Onondaga, in 1685; and Viceroy Tracy's Letter to 
 Governor NicoU, in 1667, quoted by O'Callaghan. 
 
 The Relation of 1643-44 contains a full account of Father 
 Bressani's sufferings and deliverance. He afterwards wrote 
 an account of the missions in Canada, which was published 
 at Macerata, in Italy (his native place), in 1653, and dedi- 
 cated to the celebrated Cardinal de Lugo. A French transla- 
 tion of this work of Father Bressani's, by the Rev. Father 
 Martin, S. J., was published at Montreal in 1852. 
 
 Father Joseph Poncet (1653), who had been taken by the 
 Mohawks, and doomed to torture, but whose life was saved 
 by his being adopted by an old matron of the tribe, was 
 afterwards sent to Fort Orange (Albany), where he was 
 treated with great kindness, and his wounds healed by some 
 of the persons residing there. He administered the rites of 
 religion to two Roman Catholics residing there, and returned 
 to Canada. — Relation, 1652-53, quoted by Brodhead, Hist, 
 p. 564; O'Callaghan, vol. ii., p. 300-2; U. States Catholic 
 Magazine, VI, p. 306. 
 
12 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 Having taken part in the negotiation of a 
 treaty of peace between the Iroquois and the 
 Hurons, he formed strong hopes of christian- 
 izing the Five Nations. He was sent at his 
 own request — being acquainted with the Mo- 
 hawk dialect — to found the new mission ; but 
 his farewell words, ''Ibo, sed non redibo," were 
 prophetic. On liis approach to the Mohawk 
 castles, he was seized and led in as a prisoner, 
 together with a young Frenchman who accom- 
 panied him. On the following day they were 
 both put to death. Father Jogues' head was 
 fastened to one of the palisades, and his body 
 was thrown into the Mohawk Eiver.^ Thus 
 perished the first missionary that ever visited 
 our island. His memory was long cherished 
 even among the Iroquois, who could not but 
 admire his virtues ; and, though he has never 
 been formally canonized, yet those who are 
 laboring in the same field under more favor- 
 able circumstances, may justly invoke his in- 
 tercession while they endeavor to imitate his 
 zeal and devotion. 
 
 Whilst the wild inhabitants of the interior 
 * Charlevoix, Hist, de la Nov. France, vol. i., p. 480. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 13 
 
 of the present State of New- York afforded 
 opportunity to the persevering zeal of the 
 Jesuit missionaries, and flourishing missions 
 were established amongst the Mohawks, the^ 
 Onondagas, the Oneidas, the Cayugas, and the 
 Senecas,^ we find no record of the existence 
 of any considerable number of Catholics, or 
 the residence of any Catholic priest on the 
 Island of New- York, until the time of Gover- 
 nor Dongan, in 1683.f 
 
 The Dutch, though it must be mentioned to 
 their honor that they were ever ready to suc- 
 cor the missionaries when in danger, were 
 zealous Calvinists. In the first charter of 
 Freedoms and Exemptions, it was implied, 
 and in the amended charter of 1640, expressly 
 
 ^ A chapel was built at Onondaga, another on the Cayu- 
 ga Lake, <fcc. ; "and there in the heart of New-York the 
 solemn service of the Roman Church was chanted as se- 
 curely as in any part of Christendom." — Bancroft, vol. iii., 
 p. 143. A list of the priests on these Indian missions, drawn 
 up by Mr. Shea, may be found in K Y. Doc. Hist., vol. iv., 
 p. 291. 
 
 f Governor Andros, in his answer to inquiries about 
 New-York in 1678, under the head of rehgion, makes no 
 mention of Catholics. — Lond. Doc. No. III. ; Doc. Hist. vol. 
 L, p. 88. Governor Dongan, in his report to the Committee 
 of Trade in the Province of New-York, says, **Few Roman 
 Catholics." — Doc. Hist., vol. i., p. 186. 
 
14 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 provided, that the Protestant religion, as ex- 
 pounded by the Synod of Dort, was to be 
 maintained by the company and its governors; 
 and in the latter document it was declared, 
 that no other religion was to be tolerated.* 
 There is no evidence, however, that this prin- 
 ciple was very strictly enforced in regard to 
 other Protestants — many of whom, driven out 
 of New England, were permitted to settle 
 quietly in the New Netherlands ; and the con- 
 duct of Governor Kieft and the inhabitants 
 of New (York) Amsterdam, towards Fathers 
 Jogues and Bressani, show that they were dis- 
 posed to be kind and tolerant even towards 
 such Catholics as chance or necessity might 
 compel to come among them.f With the ex- 
 ception of some cases of severity exercised by 
 
 * The Hon. B. F. Butler's Discourse before the jSTew-York 
 Hist. Soc, p. 23. 
 
 f That Catholics did not, however, rank very high in the 
 opinion of some of the colonists, is evident from the pream- 
 ble of the act of association of a number of the Sect of the 
 Mennonists, who emigrated about 1662, and settled on the 
 Delaware, in which it is declared, that, though the society 
 was to be composed of persons of different creeds, yet "all 
 intractable pei*8ons, such as those in communion with the 
 Roman See, usurious Jews, English stiff-necked Quakers,** 
 Ac^ were to be excluded. — O'Callaglian, vol. ii., p. 467. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 1-5 
 
 Governor- Stuyvesant against the Lutherans 
 and Quakers, the only instance I find recorded 
 of any thing approaching persecution is in 
 1658, when a Frenchman was brought up by 
 the Sheriff of Breukelen on a charge of refus- 
 ing to contribute to the support of the minis- 
 ter, the Eev. Mr. Polhemus. On his ^'inso- 
 lently pleading the frivolous excuse " that he 
 was a Catholic, he was fined twelve guilders. 
 It should be mentioned, however, that an 
 Englishman, who was brought up at the same 
 time, and who, with the same *4nsolence," 
 pleaded that he did not understand Dutch, 
 was fined a like sum. 
 
 The Catholics, it is true, were probably very 
 few in number, though that there were some 
 residing in the colony, not only appears from 
 the above circumstance, but is also mentioned 
 by the minister, Domine Megapolensis, in a 
 letter written at this time to the Classis at 
 Amsterdam, in which he mentions that Father 
 Le Moyne,* a celebrated Jesuit missionary, 
 
 * Father Le Moyne first discovered the rich and exhaust- 
 less Salt Springs of Onondaga County (August 16, 1654).' — 
 Relation, 1653-54. He gav« an account of them to Domini* 
 
16 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 had been on a visit to the Manhattans, " on 
 account of the Papists residing here, and es- 
 pecially for the accommodation of the French 
 sailors, who are Papists, and who have arrived 
 here with a good prize." 
 
 The number of Catholics on the Island of 
 Manhattan probably increased considerably 
 during the administration of Grovernor Don- 
 gan, who succeeded Sir Edmund Andros, in 
 1683. Smith, who was not likely to be pre- 
 judiced in his favor, says of him,* that ^4ie 
 was a man of integrity, moderation, and gen- 
 tle manners, and though a professed Papist, 
 may be ranked among the best of our gover- 
 nors." He adds, ^^that he surpassed all his 
 predecessors in a due attention to our affairs 
 with the Indians, by whom he was highly 
 esteemed." 
 
 The court of France had made a representa- 
 
 Megapolensis, at New Amsterdam : " but whether this in- 
 formation be true, or whether it be a Jesuit lie, I do not 
 determine." writes the Dominie in a letter to the Classis at 
 Amsterdam. — O'Callaghan's Hist, of the N. K, Yol. ii., p. 308, 
 note. 
 
 * Smith's History of New- York, vol. i., p. 66. Golden 
 calls him an " honest gentleman," and " an active and pru- 
 dent governor." — Hist, of the Five Nations, p. 85. 
 
ON THE ISLAKD OF NEW- YORK. 17 
 
 tion to James II. of the impropriety of oppos- 
 ing the Jesuits in their labors to bring the 
 Indians to the light of faith ; and, in conse- 
 quence, Governor Dongan was instructed to 
 afford them every encouragement. He seems, 
 however, to have entertained different views 
 upon the subject from his sovereign — proba- 
 bly on account of the fact that the French 
 Jesuits, while they spread the Gospel amongst 
 the Indians, necessarily bound them more 
 closely to the interest of France.*^ With the 
 view, no doubt, of reconciling what he be- 
 
 * In pursuance of his plan for resisting the encroachment 
 of the French, he seems to have entertained the idea of 
 bringing colonists from Ireland. In his letter to the Lord 
 President (Lond. Doc. Hist, vol. i., p. 256), he says: "It 
 will be very necessary to send over men to build those 
 
 forts My Lord, there are people enough in Ireland 
 
 who had pretences to estates there, and are of no advantage 
 to the country, and may live here very happy. I do not 
 doubt, if his majesty think fit to employ my nephew, he 
 will bring over as many as the King will find convenient 
 to send, who will be no charge to his majesty after they arc 
 landed." 
 
 I may mention, as somewhat in contrast with these views 
 of Governor Dongan, that the old laws of Maryland (Act 
 1717, ch. X.) imposed a duty of twenty shillings on every 
 Irish servant imported, being Papists, with the avowed in- 
 tention of preventing the growth of Popery, the amount to 
 go to the support of common schools. 
 
18 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 lieved to be his duty to the country he repre- 
 sented, with his duty to religion, he seems to 
 have formed a plan for sending English Jesu- 
 its amongst the Indians."^ In his speech to 
 the Five Nations at Albany, in 1685,+ he de- 
 sires them to receive no French priests for 
 the future, and informs them that he had sent 
 for English priests, '' with whom they should 
 be supplied to their content." It was no doubt 
 in pursuance of this object that he sent to 
 England for certain Jesuits, who, not being 
 fitted by their knowledge of the Indian lan- 
 guages to enter immediately on the mission, 
 took up their residences at New-York. 
 
 * In 1848, Mr. Robert Greenhow read a long and inter- 
 esting essay before the Kew-York Historical Society, tend- 
 ing to prove that Fenelon,. the celebrated Archbishop of 
 Cambray, was once a missionary amongst the Indians in the 
 western part of our State: other writers communicated 
 additional facts, making out a very strong array of circum- 
 stantial evidence in favor of the opinion of Mr. Greenhow. 
 It turned out, however, that too much importance had been 
 attributed to the declaration of the gossiping and not over 
 accurate Father Hennepin, and that the Abbe de Salignac 
 Fenelon, who was on the mission in Canada, and amongst 
 the Iroquois there, though of the same family, was a differ- 
 ent person from the illustrious archbishop, and never entered 
 New-York. 
 
 f Golden, Hist Five Nations, p. 84. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 19 
 
 From the Eoman Catalogue of the Society 
 of Jesus, it appears that Father Thomas Har- 
 vey, S. J., was in New-York from 1683 to 
 1690, and subsequently in 1696 — the interval 
 being spent in Maryland, where he died, in 
 1719, aged eighty-four. Father Henry Harri- 
 son, S. J., was in New-York in 1685, returned 
 to Ireland in 1690, and was in Maryland in 
 1697. Father Charles Gage, S. J., was also 
 employed there in 1686-87.^ It was no 
 doubt under their supervision that the school 
 was opened to which Leisler refers in his 
 letter to the governor at Boston (Aug., 1689), 
 when he says,f ^^I have formerly urged to in- 
 form your Hon^ that Coll: Dongan, in his 
 time, did erect a Jesuite College upon cuUour 
 to learn Latine to the judges West. — Mr. 
 Graham Judge Palmer and John Tudor 
 did contribute their sones for some time, 
 but no boddy imitating them, the collidge 
 vanished." 
 
 * "In missione ad Nov: Eboracum, sunt duo sacerdotes. 
 Vivunt ex puris eleemosynis et sunt P. Harvaeus et P. H. 
 Harrisonus. — Rom. Catalog. An. 1685," quoted by Camp- 
 bell. See also IST. Y. Doc. Hist, vol. iii., p. 110. 
 
 f Doc. Hist.» vol. ii., p. 23. 
 
20 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 Col. Dongan was, of course, obliged to re- 
 sign his office in leSS.*^ 
 
 Smith, describing the disposition and tem- 
 per of the inhabitants of the colony at the 
 time, shows, that notwithstanding the personal 
 popularity of the governor, the increase of 
 Catholics was looked upon with a suspicious 
 eye.f *^ A general disaffection," he says, *^to 
 the government prevailed among thd people. 
 Papists began to settle in the colony under 
 the smiles of the governor ; the collector of 
 the revenues and several principal officers 
 threw off the mask, and openly avowed their 
 attachment to the doctrines of Eome. A Latin 
 school was set up, and the teacher strongly 
 suspected for a Jesuit : in a word, the whole 
 body of the people trembled for the Protestant 
 cause." The news of the revolution in Eng- 
 
 * Col. Dongan had in fact been superseded in his office 
 Bome time previous to this (April, 1688 : Chalmers' Annals), 
 and was residing on Staten Island, where some of his de- 
 scendants remained down to the time of the Revolution. 
 After the usurpation of Leisler, he returned to Ireland, and 
 was created Earl of Limerick by James II. He had previ- 
 ously been in the service of France (Letter to M. Denon- 
 ville, Doc. Hist., vol. i., p. 210), and I believe that ho 
 returned to it nflcr the fall of tTames. 
 
 I Smith's HIbI. of New-York, vol. i., p. 90. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 21 
 
 land, and the subsequent proceedings under 
 Leisler, probably caused such Catholics as 
 were in a situation to get away, to withdraw 
 at the same time with the governor. The 
 documents connected with Leisler's usurpation 
 of authority, as published by O^Callaghan in 
 his Documentary History of New- York, show 
 how studiously he appealed to the religious 
 prejudices of the people, in order to excite 
 odium against the friends of the late governor, 
 and establish his own claims.* The ^^ security 
 of the Protestant religion," and the " diabolical 
 designs of the wicked and cruel Papists," are 
 made to ring their changes through his vari- 
 ous proclamations and letters. Depositions 
 and affidavits were published, in which it was 
 sworn that Lieutenant-governor Nicholson has 
 been several times seen assisting at mass ; that 
 the Papists on Staten Island ^'did threaten to 
 cut the inhabitants^ throats," and to come and 
 burn the city; ^Hhat M. De La Prearie had 
 arms in his house for fifty men ; that eighty 
 or a hundred men were coming from Boston 
 and other places, that were hunted away (no 
 
 * Doc» Hist., vol. ii., p. 1, et seq. 
 
22 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 doubt not for their goodness), and that there 
 were several of them Irish and Papists ; that 
 a good part of the soldiers that were in the 
 fort already were Papists," Ac."^ Among other 
 depositions, is one of Andries and Jan Meyer, 
 in which they declare that, ** being delivered 
 from a Papist governor, Thomas Dongan, 
 they thought that the Deputy Governor in 
 the Fort would defend and establish the true 
 religion ; but we found to the contrary. 
 There was a cry that all the images erected 
 by Col. Thomas Dongan in the Fort would 
 be broken down and taken away ; but, when 
 we were working in the Fort with others, it 
 was commanded, after the departure of Sir 
 Edmond Andros, by said Nicholson, to help 
 the Priest, John Smith,f to remove, for 
 which we were very glad ; but it was soon 
 done, because said removal was not far 
 off, but in a better room in the Fort, and 
 ordered to make all things for said Priest, 
 according to his will, and perfectly, and to 
 
 * Doc. Hist., vol. ii., p. 28. 
 
 f Some one of the Jesuit Fathers mentioned above had 
 evidently adopted this, to them, no doubt convenient, but 
 to us not very distinctive nam& 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 23 
 
 erect all things, as tie ordered, from that 
 time," &c. 
 
 The views of Leisler were probably suffi- 
 ciently supported by his party to make the 
 colony rather an uncomfortable place for Ca- 
 tholics ; and whatever numbers may have 
 come into it under the protection of Dongan, 
 we find that seven years afterwards, in 1696, 
 there were only nine of them in the city, if 
 the return made by the mayor to Governor 
 Fletcher may be depended upon."^ 
 
 It affords rather a curious commentary 
 upon Leisler's proclamations, and the subse- 
 
 ^ Lond. Doc, vol. x., p. 12: 13th June, 1696. Governor 
 Fletcher ordered William Merritt, Mayor of the City of 
 New- York, to return in writing a list of all the Roman 
 Catholics within that city. In obedience to his excellency's 
 command, this return was made, and the following is the 
 list of all the names sent in : 
 
 Maj. Anthony Brockholes, Mr. Thomas Howarding, 
 Mr. William Douglass, Mr. John Cavalier, 
 
 Mr. John Cooly, Mr. John Patte, 
 
 Mr. Christians Lowrence, Mr. John Fenny, 
 
 Mr. Philip Cunninghanu 
 Major Brockholes was a distinguished man in the province, 
 and was one of the council in Governor Dongan's time. 
 The above note was furnished to me by the kindness of Dr. 
 O'Callaghan, who has done so much towards illustrating 
 the history of his adopted State. 
 
24: HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHUP.CH 
 
 quent legislation in regard to Catholics, to 
 call to mind that the first legislative assembly 
 of New- York, was convened by a Catholic 
 governor, under the orders of a Catholic pro- 
 prietor. The first act of the first assembly^ 
 of New- York thus convened by Col. Dongan, 
 was the ^^ Charter of Liberty," passed October 
 30th, 1683, which, amongst other things, de- 
 clares, that ^^no person or persons which pro- 
 fess faith in God by Jesus Christ, shall, at 
 anj time, be any ways molested, punished, 
 disquieted, or called in question for any dif- 
 ference of opinion, or matter of religious 
 concernment, who do not actually disturbe 
 the civil peace of the Province ; but that all 
 and every such person or persons may, from 
 time to time, and at all times, freely have, 
 
 * Bancroft (Hist.,yol. ii., p. 414) and others allude rather 
 slightingly to this assembly convened by Governor Dongan, 
 as if it promised much more than it ever performed. Yet 
 the very fact of such an assembly is something. Their 
 ** Charter of Liberty," was a good deal in advance of the 
 "Bill of Rights," which came after it. Several of the laws 
 passed had an important influence on the future welfare of 
 the colony. The late Court of Chancery originated with 
 this assembly. Nothing but prejudice kept its acts from 
 forming part of the collected laws of the State. See Murray 
 Hoffman's Chancery Practice, vol. i., p. 1. 
 
ON THh] ISLAND OF NEW-YOKK. 25 
 
 and fully enjoy, his or their judgments or 
 consciences, in matters of Religion, through- 
 out all the province — they behaving them- 
 selves peaceably and quietly, and not using 
 this liberty to licentiousness, nor to the civil 
 injury or outward disturbance of others." By 
 another enactment, all denominations then in 
 the province were secured in their liberty 
 and discipline, and the like privilege was 
 granted to others who might come into it. 
 Such enactments, however, were found to be 
 rather too comprehensive in New- York, as 
 they had been in Maryland; in that they 
 extended toleration to the religion of those 
 who had enacted them, and one of the first 
 steps taken by the legislature, convened un- 
 der the new order of things, was to abrogate 
 these excellent laws. 
 
 The Assembly of New- York, in 1691, passed 
 a resolution^ that all laws passed by the late 
 Assembly were null and void. Having thus 
 got rid in an illegal manner of the " Charter 
 of Liberty," they passed a ^' Bill of Rights," 
 which, though a copy of the charter in many 
 points, differed from it in the very essential 
 2 
 
26 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 particular, that Catliolics were expressly excluded 
 frora 'participating in its p)rivileges. 
 
 From this time the spirit of bitterness to-, 
 wards the Catholic Church, which, devel- 
 oped by the expulsion of James II., and the 
 accession of William of Orange, had swelled 
 up like a torrent in England, extended it- 
 self into the colonies and the legislation, and 
 acts of the Government in the colonies take 
 their tinge from English bigotry. Leisler 
 owed not a little of his short-lived success to 
 the skilful manner in which he took advan- 
 tage of this feeling ; and the address of the 
 legislature to Governor Burnet, son of the 
 celebrated Bishop of Sarum, in 1720, on hts 
 arrival — in which they address him as ^' the 
 son of that worthy prelate so instrumental 
 under our glorious monarch, William III., in 
 delivering us from arbitrary powers, and its 
 concomitants, popery, superstition, and slav- 
 ery " — shows that the feeling was still lively 
 in the breasts of the colonists. 
 
 The bill of 1691 was repealed by King 
 William in 1697, probably as being too lib- 
 eral; and, in 1700, an act was passed more 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 27 
 
 Strictly in accordance with the spirit of legis- 
 lation in the mother country. The preamble 
 of this act sets forth that, *^ Whereas divers 
 Jesuits, Priests, and Popish missionaries have 
 of late come, and for some time have had 
 their residence in the remote parts of this 
 Province, and others of his majesty^s adjacent 
 colonies, who, by their wicked and subtle 
 insinuations, industriously labored to debauch, 
 seduce, and withdraw the Indians from their 
 due obedience to his most sacred majesty, and 
 to excite and stir them up to sedition, rebel- 
 lion, and open hostility against his majesty's 
 government." It is then enacted that every 
 priest, &c., remaining in, or coming into the 
 province after November 1st, 1700, should be 
 ^* deemed and accounted an incendiary, and 
 disturber of the public peace and safety, and 
 an enemy to the true Christian religion, and 
 shall be adjudged to sn&ev ^^erjoeiual imprison- 
 menty In case of escape and capture, to 
 suffer death. By the same enactment, har- 
 borers of priests, were to pay a fine of two 
 hundred pounds, and to stand three days in 
 the pillory. Smith speaks of this law as 
 
2S HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 "one for hanging any Popish Priest who 
 should come voluntarily into the Province," 
 and adds, that "it continues in full force to 
 this day, as it for ever ought.""^ 
 
 In 1701, a law was passed, by which " Pa- 
 pists and Popish recusants are prohibited from 
 voting for members of assembly, or any oflSice 
 whatever, from thenceforth and for ever." 
 
 In the commission issued by Queen Anne 
 to Lord Cornbury (1702-3), liberty of con- 
 science was extended to all persons except 
 Papists. The general effect of this intolerant 
 legislation was to prevent Catholics from set- 
 tling in the province ; f but there is no in- 
 
 ■^ It is, however, just to the colonists to say, that this 
 law was suggested and drafted by the Earl of Bellamont, 
 who was so bent on having it passed, that, when his coun- 
 cil voted against it, he voted as a member of the council, 
 and thus produced a tie, on which his casting vote as presi- 
 dent gave a majority, and, as governor, he approved it. 
 He was a native of Ireland, and seems to have been re- 
 markably fanatical. The act was so little regarded, that 
 a few years after. Father Peter Mareuil, a Jesuit, was 
 invited to Albany, by Schuyler, on the breaking out of 
 war. 
 
 f The few poor Catholics who lived here must have suf- 
 fered many trials. Watson, in his "Notes on the History 
 of ^"ew-York," says that the cry of " The Church in dan- 
 ger," was often heard on elections and other occasions in 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 29 
 
 stance recorded of its severe penalties having 
 been carried into effect, except in the case of 
 the unfortunate John Ury, who was hung 
 in 1741, ostensibly on account of a pretended 
 participation in the notorious Negro Plot, but 
 in reality on account of his being supposed to 
 be a priest. As the history of his trial and 
 execution throws much light upon the state 
 of feeling in the province in regard to Catho- 
 lics and their religion, it may be well to dwell 
 upon it at some length."^ 
 
 New-York. A man did not dare avow himself a Catho- 
 lic — it wa3 odious : a chapel then would have been pulled 
 down. It used to be said, "John Leary goes once a year 
 to Philadelphia to get absolution." — Mis. Facts in Appendix 
 to Watson's Annals of Philadelphia, p. 60. 
 
 * The account here given is taken from a work entitled 
 "The New-York Conspiracy, or a History of the Negro 
 Plot," (fee, published in New-York in 1744, and republished 
 in 1810. It was written by Daniel Horsmanden, one of the 
 judges who presided at the trials, with the avowed purpose 
 of putting to silence certain "wanton and wrong-headed 
 persons amongst us, who took the liberty to arraign the 
 justice of the proceedings, and set up their private opinions 
 in superiority to the court and grand jury, and declared 
 that there was no plot at alir It is impossible to read the 
 judge's account of the matter without coming to the same 
 conclusion with these ** wrong-headed persons." Chandler, 
 in his Criminal Trials, who has ably abridged Hoismanden's 
 rambling and confused journal of the affair, declares: 
 
30 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 The year 1741 was made memorable by one 
 of those popular excitements, which shows 
 that whole communities as well as individuals 
 are sometimes liable to lose their wits. Upon 
 a rumor of a plot made by the Negroes to 
 burn the city and massacre the inhabitants^ 
 the whole body of the people were carried 
 away by a sudden excitement. The lieuten- 
 ant-governor offered a reward of one hundred 
 pounds, and full pardon, to any free white 
 person who would make known the author 
 or authors of certain attempts to set fire to 
 houses in various parts of the city. A serv- 
 ant girl, named Mary Burton, living with a 
 man named Hughson, who had been previ- 
 ously condemned for receiving stolen goods, 
 
 *'XJpon a review of the evidence^ as reported by one who 
 had implicit fai+h in the existence of a conspiracy to burn 
 the city and murder the inhabitants, we have no difficulty 
 in pronouncing the whole thing to have been a complete 
 delusion." Though Horsmanden's journal is calculated to 
 give one a very poor opinion of either his natural or legal 
 abilities, yet he was a person of considerable note in his 
 day. He was member of his majesty's council ; recorder 
 of the city ; third justice of the court of king'^s bench : was 
 employed to digest the laws of the colony, which, Smith 
 says, he neglected to do, hoping greater gain by compiling 
 the history of the Negro Plot. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 31 
 
 came forward to claim the reward, declaring 
 that certain Negroes who frequented her mas- 
 ter's house (he kept a small tavern) had made 
 a plot: one of the accused, named Cuflfee, she 
 declared, had said that ^^a great many people 
 had too much, and others too little," and that 
 such an unequal state of things should not 
 continue long.*^ The pretended disclosures 
 increased the excitement, and the lawyers of 
 the city, to the number of seven, with the 
 attorney-general, were called together to take 
 counsel in regard to the matter. They cer- 
 tainly manifested very little coolness or judg- 
 ment, and may be said to have led on the 
 unfair and unjust trials which followed. The 
 accused had no counsel allowed them ; the 
 attorney-general and the whole bar were on 
 the side of the prosecution ; the evidence was 
 loose and inconclusive, and came without 
 exception from the mouths of interested per- 
 sons of bad character. Yet, upon such evi- 
 dence as this, four white persons were hanged, 
 
 * The city of New-York at this time contained about 
 12,000 inliabitants, of which one-sixtli, in all probabilitj, 
 were Negro slavey. — Pref. to 2d Ed. ISlegro Plot. 
 
32 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 eleven Negroes were burned at the stake, 
 eighteen hanged, and fifty were transported 
 and sold, principally in the West Indies. 
 Amongst those hung was the unfortunate 
 person alluded to. Whether he was really a 
 Catholic priest or not, he was certainly con- 
 demned and hung as such. We have no 
 other evidence upon the matter than Hors- 
 manden's account, and from this it does not 
 clearly appear whether he was really a priest 
 or a. non-juring clergyman of the Church of 
 England.^ The most conclusive fact in favor 
 of his being a priest, is founded upon the 
 circumstance that, when arraigned as a priest, 
 tried as a priest, and condemned as a priest, 
 he never formally denied it, nor exhibited 
 any evidence of his being ordained in the 
 Church of England.f 
 
 ^^ Campbell, in his Life and Times of Archbishop Carroll, 
 lias given a clear and able analysis of the trial and of the 
 evidence, upon which he concludes that the unfortunate L^ry 
 was undoubtedly a priest. Horsmanden always speaks of 
 him as "Ury the Priest," in his history of the plot. 
 
 f Smith, in his "History of New-York," vol. ii., p. 73, 
 says "that Mr. Smith, his father, assisted, at the request 
 of the Government, on the trial against Ury, who asserted 
 hirt innocence to the last. And when the ferments of 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 33 
 
 The persons most to blame were the judges 
 and lawyers. The speech of the attorney- 
 general on the trial of Ury, the sentence given 
 by Horsmanden npon certain of the Negroes, 
 and that by the chief justice on others, are 
 so harsh, cruel, and abusive, that we could 
 hardly believe it possible that they had ut- 
 tered them, if they were not published with 
 the authority of Horsmanden himself. It is 
 evident, however, that their ^^holy horror of 
 Popery " had as much to do with the whole 
 matter as their fear of insurrection amongst 
 the blacks. The evidence given upon these 
 trials, shows that there were several Catholics 
 at that time in New- York, but they must 
 have scarcely dared to acknowledge it even 
 
 the hour had subsided, and an opinion prevailed that the 
 conspiracy extended no further than to create alarms for 
 committing thefts with more ease, the fate of this man was 
 lamented by some and regretted by many, and the proceed- 
 ings against him generally condemned as harsh, if not cruel 
 and unjust." Ury was the son of a former secretary of the 
 South Sea Company. He was executed on an island in the 
 Collect, near where the Halls of Justice now si and. " Hugh- 
 son was executed on the southeast point of H. Rutgers' 
 farm, on the East River, not ten rods from the southeast 
 corner of Cherry and Catharine streets." — Notes on New- 
 York in the Appendix to Watson's Notes on Philadelphia. 
 
 2* 
 
84: HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 to one anotlier ; and it continued thus, un- 
 doubtedly, down to the time of the revolu- 
 tionary contest. 
 
 The first priests who ofiiciated in the city 
 in any way in a public manner, were the 
 chaplains of the French troops,, who had been 
 -sent over to aid the colonies in their struggle. 
 I "find a manuscript note amongst the late 
 Bishop Brute's papers, in which he speaks 
 of hearing " Mother Seton say, that it was a 
 great object of curiosity amongst the New- 
 Yorkers to attend the celebration of mass by 
 the chaplains of the French troops at the time 
 of the war.""^ 
 
 * I have let the note stand in the text as originally 
 inserted, though evidently erroneous. ]N"ew-York was in 
 possession of the British troops during the whole of the 
 war. The French auxiliaries, under Rochambeau, landed 
 at K'ewport, and passing through Connecticut, crossed the 
 Hudson a short distance above the city. They remained 
 some time in Philadelphia, but were not in N'ew-York. The 
 Abbe R6bin, who was a chaplain in Rochambeau's army, 
 published an interesting account of the campaign in a small 
 12mo. vol., under the title, "Noveau Voyage dans I'Amer- 
 ique Septentrionale, en 1781, et Campaigne de TArmee de 
 M. Le Conte de Rochambeau: Phil, et Paris, 1782," a copy 
 of which is in the library of the New- York Hist. Society. 
 Mother Seton may have referred to M. de la Motte, or to 
 some subsequent time. 
 
ON TJIE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 35 
 
 In 1778, in the month of February, a large 
 French ship was taken by the British, near 
 the Chesapeake, and sent for condemnation 
 into New-York, at that time still in possession 
 of the English. Amongst her ofj&cers was 
 a priest, of the name of De la Motte, of the 
 order of St. Augustine, who was chaplain of 
 the vessel. Being permitted to go at large in 
 the city, he was solicited by his countrymen, 
 and by those of his own faith, to celebrate 
 mass. Being advised of the existence of a 
 prohibitory law, he applied to the command- 
 ing officer for permission, which was refused : 
 but M. de la Motte, not knowing the language 
 very well, mistook what was intended for a 
 refusal as a permission, and accordingly cele- 
 brated mass. For this he was arrested, and 
 kept in close confinement until exchanged. 
 This was under Governor Tryon's administra- 
 tion."^ 
 
 * Account in New- York Herald, published at the time of 
 the opening of New St. Peter's Church. Greenleaf, in the 
 ** History of the Churches of all Denominations in New- 
 York," relates this circumstance on, I suppose, the same 
 authority. The writer was, I believe, Thomas O'Connor, 
 Esq. 
 
86 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 CHAPTEE II. 
 
 The Revolution— Hostility of the new Government— Proscriptive 
 Acts — A Bishopric erected in the United States — Father Farmer 
 founds the first Church in the City of New-York— Early Pastors 
 of St. Peter's— Their Difficulties— St. Patrick's begun— Riot on 
 Christmas Eve. 
 
 The last act of the British rule in New- York 
 towards us was, as we have seen, one of hos- 
 tility and oppression. A new Government 
 now arose, independent of the crown. The 
 mind of the people was, however, adverse to 
 Catholicity, and prejudice, deep-rooted al- 
 ready, had gained new strength in the border 
 colonies, by the toleration or rather protection 
 extended to the Church establishment in Can- 
 ada, by the celebrated Quebec act. In New- 
 York both parties seemed to be unison in 
 their hostility to the Church of Eome. On 
 the assumption of power by the Provincial 
 Congress, the Catholic alone was fettered and 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 37 
 
 deprived of civil rights. It would seem na- 
 tural that all distinctions should have been 
 abolished at this auspicious moment, but the 
 fetters had been put on so tightly that they 
 were not immediately struck off, even by the 
 freedom of the colonies. Though Catholics 
 had borne no unimportant part in the strug- 
 gle, and the success of the colonies had been 
 attained by the assistance of foreign Catho- 
 lics, yet the members of the convention which 
 framed the Constitution of New- York in 1777, 
 at Kingston, were disposed to keep up the 
 restrictions upon them. A clause in regard 
 to naturalization having been introduced, 
 by which persons coming into the State were 
 made citizens by taking an oath of allegiance, 
 the celebrated John Jay, afterwards chief jus- 
 tice of the United States, moved that a clause 
 be added, requiring them *Ho abjure and re- 
 nounce all allegiance and subjection to all 
 and every foreign king, priest, potentate, and 
 state, in all matters ecclesiastical and civil." * 
 
 * See Journal of the Provincial Convention, vol, i., p. 551, 
 et seq., published by order of the Legislature in 1842. See 
 App., No. III. 
 
38 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 Messrs. Morris, Livingston, and some others 
 in the convention, opposed Mr. Jay's amend- 
 ment ; but it was finally carried, and Catholics 
 coming from foreign countries were conse- 
 quently excluded from citizenship by the 
 State Constitution of 1777.^ Congress, how- 
 ever, having reserved to itself the power of 
 making laws of naturalization, this clause and 
 the accompanying amendment became inoper- 
 ative. 
 
 With this attempt to keep up the intoler- 
 ance of the English colonial government, all 
 legislation opposed to the free exercise of the 
 Catholic religion ceased; and such Catholics 
 as were in the City of New-York at the time 
 of its evacuation by the British troops, in 1783, 
 began to assemble for the open celebration of 
 the offices of religion.f 
 
 * The Hon. B. F. Butler, in his discourse before the New- 
 York Historical Society, praises the Constitution of 1111 on 
 account of its containing no provision repugnant to civil 
 and religious toleration ; and yet he mentions this act ex- 
 pressly. — Col. Hist. Soc, 2d ser., vol. ii., part I., p. 45. 
 
 f The law of 1700, in regard to "Popish Priests and 
 Jesuits," was repealed by an express act of the Legislature 
 of the State of New-York in 1784. Although the law re- 
 quiring the oath as a condition of naturalization was 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 39 
 
 The first priest who officiated for them was 
 the venerable Father Farmer, who came on 
 from Philadelphia occasionally for that pur- 
 pose. For a while they were obliged to make 
 use of any large room that could be obtained 
 for the purpose. Tradition says that mass 
 was celebrated, in 1781-82, in a loft over a 
 carpenter's shop, near Barclay-street, then in 
 the suburbs of JSTew-York. It was also some- 
 times celebrated in the parlor of the Spanish 
 Consul, Don Thomas Stoughton, and, in 1785, 
 in the house of Don Diego de Grardoqui,^ the 
 
 annulled, yet the clauses were inserted (Act concerning 
 Oaths, passed 2d April, 1801) in the official oath, and re- 
 mained so until 1806, when, on a petition from the Catholics 
 of New- York, got up by the Trustees of St. Peter's Church, 
 it was finally abrogated, on the occasion of the late Mr. 
 Francis Cooper being elected a member of the Assembly 
 from this city. It is mentioned, in a note to the minutes of 
 the Trustees of St. Peter's, that the petition was signed in a 
 short time by 1300 persons. Whether these were all Catho- 
 lics I have no means of knowing, though, from the w^ording 
 of the petition, I would suppose it was so. Under the Eng- 
 lish Colonial Government, the usual oaths against Transub- 
 stantiation, and of allegiance to the House of Hanover, were 
 taken by the members of the council and other officials. See 
 Communication from J. C. Devereux, Esq., to the U. States 
 Catholic Magazine, for July, 1847. 
 * :^7ew-Yo^k Packet, Nov. V, 1785. 
 
40 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 Spanish Ambassador, then resident in New- 
 York, which was at that time the temporary 
 seat of the General Government. Mr. Vel- 
 asquez informs me that Stoughton lived at 
 that time in Water-street, and that mass was 
 first celebrated in the second story of a small 
 frame-house near his residence.^ 
 
 Mr. Campbell, in his ^^Life and Times of 
 Archbishop CarrjDll," has given quotations 
 from Rev. Mr. (afterwards Archbishop) Oar- 
 roll's- letters to his friend, the Eev. Charles 
 Plowden, written at this time, which give the 
 most authentic account of the formation of 
 a regular Catholic congregation in New-York. 
 In a letter, dated 15th of December, 1785, he 
 says, ^'The congregation at New- York, begun 
 by the venerable Mr. Farmer of Philadelphia, 
 
 * Mr. Greenleaf, in his "History of the Churches of K'ew- 
 York," says that their first place of worship, after they (the 
 Catholics) became organized, was a building erected for 
 public purposes in Vauxhall Garden, situated on the margin 
 of the North River. The garden extended from Warren to 
 Chambers-street. He also adds, that, in 1785, not being 
 well accommodated with a place of worship, they applied 
 for the use of the ** Exchange," a building then standing on 
 the lower end of Broad-street, and occupied as a court- 
 room ; but failing in this, measures were immediately taken 
 for the erection of a church building. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YOKK. 41 
 
 he has now ceded to an Irish Capuchin resident 
 there. The prospect at that place is pleasing 
 on the whole. The Capuchin is a zealous, 
 pious, and, I think, humble man. He is not 
 indeed so learned or so good a preacher as I 
 could wish, which mortifies his congregation ; 
 as at New- York, and most other places in 
 America, the different sectaries have scarce 
 any other test to judge of a clergyman than 
 his talents for preaching, and our Irish con- 
 gregations, such as New-York, follow the 
 same rule," 
 
 The person referred to in this letter was the 
 Eev. Charles Whelan, an Irish Franciscan, 
 who had served as chaplain on board of one 
 of the French ships belonging to Admiral De 
 Grasse's fleet, engaged in assisting the cause 
 of the colonies. At the close of the war he 
 determined to go on the American mission, 
 and became the first regularly settled priest 
 in the City of New- York.* 
 
 Not only as vicar, but as founder of the 
 
 * I have been informed that Lafayette strongly recom- 
 mended the Rev. Mr. Whelan to the kindness of the au- 
 thorities of the State, at the time he left to return to France. 
 
42 HISTOKY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 little Catholic congregation in the City of 
 New- York, Father Farmer continued to take 
 an interest in it, and to visit it occasionally 
 until his death, which occurred in 1786."^ 
 
 In a letter written to Eev. Mr. Carroll, and 
 dated 21st February, 1785, he says, '^The 
 Eev. Mr. Whelan, from New-York, writeth to 
 me that he counts about two hundredy Soon 
 after this, Father Farmer paid a visit to New- 
 York, and on his return he writes to Eev. Mr. 
 Carroll, that ^'the congregation there seems to 
 me to be yet in a poor situation, and under 
 many difficulties." '' Father Whelan, since get- 
 ting faculties, had only twenty odd communi- 
 
 * The Rev. Ferdinand Farmer, whose real name was 
 Steenmeyer, was born in Suabia, October 13, 1720; entered 
 the Xovitiate at Landsperge at the age of twenty-three ; was 
 admitted to the profession of the four vows 2d February, 
 1761. United to the English province, he was sent to the 
 Maryland mission, where, Dr. Carroll said, *'he did much 
 good until his death, I7th August, 1786." — Oliver's Collec- 
 tion towards Illustrating the Biography of the Scotch, Eng- 
 lish, and Irish Members of the Society of Jesus, p. 89. For 
 a. more extended account of the labors of this most zealous 
 missionary, see Campbell's Life and Times of Archbishop 
 Carroll ; Catholic Magazine, vol. iv., p. 256, et seq. Bishop 
 Brut6, in some manuscript notes on the Pennsylvania Mis- 
 sion, alludes to him thus: "Father Farmer came to America 
 in 1762, died at Philadelphia in 1786, in odore sanclitatis." 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 43 
 
 cants, and I had eighteen, three of whom were 
 Germans. When I left New-York they were 
 
 entirely out of place for keeping church 
 
 Scarce was I arrived there/' he adds, *^when 
 an Irish merchant paid me a visit, and asked 
 me if Mr. Whelan was settled over them. My 
 answer, as far as I can remember, was, that he 
 had only power to perform parochial duties ; 
 but if the congregation did not like him, and 
 could better themselves, they were not obliged 
 to keep him. Some days after, another see- 
 ing Mr. Whelan's endeavors to settle himself 
 there, as it were, in spite of them, declared to 
 me he had a mind to apply to the Legislature 
 for a law that no clergyman should be forced 
 upon them, which he thought he could easily 
 obtain. I endeavored to reconcile them, by 
 telling Mr. Whelan to make himself agreeable 
 to his countrymen, and by telling these to be 
 contented with what they had at present, for 
 fear of worse." 
 
 Soon after Mr. Whelan was appointed over 
 the Catholics of New-York, another clergy- 
 man of the same order arrived there, the Eev. 
 Mr. Nugent. The Eev. Mr. Carroll would not 
 
44 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 permit him to exercise functions for some time 
 after his arrival, in consequence of a prohibi- 
 tion from Rome, forbidding him to employ 
 any clergyman on the mission who had not 
 been approved of by the congregation of Pro- 
 paganda. Afterwards, however, the Eev. Mr. 
 Carroll was left to his own discretion in the 
 matter, and the Rev. Mr. Nugent received 
 permission to assist the Rev. Mr. Whelan in 
 his duties at New-York. 
 
 They do not, however, appear to have got 
 along very well together ; and Father Farmer, 
 in a letter to Rev. Mr. Carroll, dated Decem- 
 ber 20th, incloses one from Mr. Whelan, with 
 ^' great complaint against his confrere." 
 
 In a letter, dated Philadelphia, December 
 27th, 1785, it appears that there was also at 
 this time a French priest at New-York, named 
 La Valiniere, who was employed in look- 
 ing after the Canadians and French who were 
 in the city. 
 
 The contest between Father Whelan and 
 Nugent came at length to such a height that 
 the Rev. Mr. Carroll was obliged to interfere. 
 The congregation, it seems, were not over 
 
OK THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 45 
 
 friendly toward Father Whelan, and Eev. Mr. 
 Farmer alludes in one of his letters to a vote 
 taken in the congregation, whether Father 
 Whelan should be removed, and that only 
 four of the congregation were in favor of his 
 remaining; and he adds: ^' Mr. Whelan in- 
 forms me that ever since Christmas they have 
 taken from him the collection, which is usual- 
 ly made on Sundays after church, and which 
 was his support. Your Eeverence is very 
 sensible of the irregularity of these proceed- 
 ings." 
 
 Father Whelan being driven out, in Feb- 
 ruary, 1786, went ^Ho pay a visit to his 
 brother, forty-five miles beyond Albany.""^ 
 Father Nugent expected to be appointed in 
 his place, with full faculties, but his previous 
 conduct does not seem to have gained for him 
 
 * Amongst the subscribers to Gary's edition of the Catho- 
 lic Bible, Philadelphia, 1790 (the first edition of the Catholic 
 Bible published in the United States), I find Rev. William 
 O'Brien, JSTew-York; Charles Whelan, Johnstown^ New- 
 York. Father WTielan was subsequently sent by Bishop 
 Carroll on the Kentucky Mission. He was the first mis- 
 sionary in that State. See Bishop Spalding's Sketches, p. 
 42. He returned and died in Maryland, 1809. 
 
46 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 the good opinion of Father Farmer.^ In a 
 letter to Rev. Mr. Carroll, dated March 6th, 
 1786, he (Father Farmer) remarks : *^ What to 
 me is the greatest difl&culty in the appointment 
 of Father Nugent, is the arbitrary and ungen- 
 erous manner in which they forced poor Fa- 
 ther Whelan to depart, who, though he was 
 not very learned, yet he was ready to ask and 
 take advice, which I believe is not the quality 
 of the former. The second is, they who take 
 upon them to be the trustees (at least some of 
 them) have the principle that they can choose 
 for themselves whom they please, whether 
 approved by the Superior or not, as I formerly 
 heard they said, and now the fact proves. 
 The principle is of the most pernicious conse- 
 quences, and must be contradicted." 
 
 In a subsequent letter, dated April 13th, 
 1786, Father Farmer writes that, *' the trustees 
 at New-York offered Mr. Nugent, for his 
 yearly salary, three hundred dollars, the Sun- 
 
 * After Father Whelan went away, Father Farmer sent 
 to M. de la Yalioiere, the French priest, who was still in 
 the city, "powers to perform parochialia without restric- 
 tions to the French." 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 47 
 
 day collections included; but he demanded 
 four hundred, upon which they declared to 
 him, if he was not satisfied he had liberty to 
 depart and welcome." ^ 
 
 As Mr. Campbell very justly remarks in 
 producing these letters, ^'It may serve to 
 illustrate the history, and to show the per- 
 nicious tendency of the trustee system, to 
 remark, that, at the period of this presumptu- 
 ous interference of the trustees of the Catholic 
 congregation of New- York with the spiritual 
 government of the Church, they were not in 
 possession of an edifice of their own in which 
 to perform divine worship, but were under 
 the necessity of hiring a room for the pur- 
 pose."! 
 
 In 1785, an act of incorporation of St. 
 
 * In the New-York City Directory for 1786 (the first 
 published), Father Nugent is put down as "Rev. Andrew 
 Nugent, parish priest of New- York, No. 1 Hunter's Quay." 
 In the directory for 1792, appears the name of the Rev. 
 Nicholas Burke, pastor of St. Peter's Church, apostolic 
 priest, 41 Partition-street, though I find no mention of his 
 name in the books of the church. Partition-street was the 
 portion of Fulton-street between Broadway and the North 
 River. 
 
 f Address of Thomas O'Connor, Esq., Sunday evening, 
 July 19th, 1840, at a meeting of St. Peter's Society. 
 
48 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 Peter's Church was obtained from the Legis- 
 lature of the State of New- York, and early in 
 1786 five lots were purchased from the trustees 
 of Trinity Church, at the corner of Barclay 
 and Church streets, upon which old St. Peter's 
 Church — the first Catholic Church in the city 
 of New-York — was built. The Spanish Am- 
 bassador to the United States, Don Diego de 
 Gardoqui, laid the first stone/^ Its chief 
 benefactor was Charles III., King of Spain, 
 who contributed, Mr. Campbell says, ten thou- 
 sand dollars towards its erection, on the con- 
 dition of reserving two seats for Spaniards 
 passing through the city ; but I am disposed 
 to think that the sum is very much exagger- 
 ated, and the condition thought of after- 
 wards. Mr. O'Connor enumerates amongst 
 its early benefactors St. John de Crevecoeur, 
 Consul-general of France ; Don Thomas 
 Stoughton, Consul-general of Spain ; Jose 
 Euiz Sylva, Dominick Lynch, James Stew- 
 ard, Henry Duffin, Andrew Morris, Gibbon 
 Burke, Charles Naylor, William Bryson, 
 
 * The corner-stone was laid on the Feast of St. Charles 
 Borromeo, patron of the king. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 49 
 
 William Mooneyj George Barnwell, and John 
 Sullivan. 
 
 In the same year Father Farmer died at 
 Philadelphia, and, in 1787, Bishop Carroll 
 found it necessary to deprive Mr. Nugent of 
 his charge over the congregation.^ The Eev. 
 William O'Brien, a Dominican, ^^well recom- 
 mended by Archbishop Troy, of Dublin," as 
 Bishop Carroll mentions in a letter to Father 
 Plowden, dated 7th November, 1787, was sub- 
 stituted in his place. 
 
 The Eev. Mr. O'Brien was an intelligent 
 and faithful priest. Soon after his appoint- 
 ment to the charge of St. Peter's, he visited 
 Mexico for the purpose of collecting means to 
 finish and adorn the church. Mr. Velasquez 
 states that the Archbishop of Mexico, at 
 that time, Don Alonzo Nunez de Haro by 
 name, had been a fellow-student with Father 
 O'Brien at Bologna, in Italy, and that he re- 
 
 * Mr. Campbell gives a copy of an interesting exhortation 
 addressed to the congregation by the bishop on the occasion 
 of making this change of pastors. I find in the minutes of 
 the Trustees of St. Peter's in 1790, that a collection was made 
 amongst themselves to pay Rev. Mr. Nugent's passage to 
 France in a vessel called La Telemaque. 
 
 3 
 
50 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 ceived him very kindly. I find from the 
 minutes of the Board of Trustees of St. Peter's 
 Church, that he collected $4920 in Mexico, 
 besides a donation of $1000 from the Bishop 
 and Chapter of Puebla de los Angeles. He 
 also obtained some paintings which he placed 
 in the church."^ 
 
 Doctor O'Brien continued to perform zeal- 
 ously the duties of a good pastor for many 
 years after his return. He was quite infirm 
 the last few years of his life, and died the 14th 
 May, 1816.t 
 
 * Mr. Velasquez informs me that the painting of the 
 Crucifixion in St. Peter's was bj Jose Maria Vallejo, a cele- 
 brated Mexican painter. 
 
 f He was buried by the side of the church. The original 
 monument erected over his remains, has been inserted in the 
 wall of the passage leading to the sacristy, in the basement 
 of the new church. It bears llie following inscription : 
 
 UNDER THIS HUMBLE TURF 
 
 REPOSE THE MORTAL REMAINS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MUCH TO BE REGRETTED AND ONCE VENERABLE 
 
 PASTOR OF ST. PETER's, 
 
 THE REV. WILLIAM V. O'BRIEN. 
 
 Who departed this life on the lith of May, 
 
 1816, 
 
 AGED SEVENTY-SIX YEARS. 
 
 Who is there that has not heard of his piety, 
 His benevolence, his charity, his zeal during 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 51 
 
 The affairs of tlie church, went on quietly 
 under his management ; and the only thing I 
 find worthy of being recorded for some time, 
 was the establishment of a free school in 
 1800* 
 
 Some years after, his assistant, the Eev. 
 Matthew 0'Brien,f received into the Church 
 Mrs. Elizabeth A. Seton, afterwards the foun- 
 dress of the Sisters of Charity in the United 
 
 The ravages of the yellow fever 
 
 In the memorable years of '95 and '98 ? 
 
 Yesl "I was sick and you visited me." — Matt.y xxv., 36. 
 
 Reader ! pass not by without offering up some 
 
 Short prayer for the benefit of his soul ; 
 
 For Kemember that " It is a holy and wholesome 
 
 Thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed 
 
 From their sins." — Macc^ ii., 12, 46. 
 
 R. L P. 
 
 * From a report made by the trustees to the superinten- 
 dent of common schools, in 1824, it appears that the average 
 number of scholars had been from the commencement about 
 :five hundred, and the same number at St. Patrick's School. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Tissoraut, an estimable French priest, was 
 at this time (1806) living at Elizabethtown, where there were 
 some French Catholics who had been driven from the French 
 West India Islands. See account of him in Dr. White's Life 
 of Mother Seton, p. 171. Bishop Brut6 remarks, in speak- 
 ing of old St. Peter's: "Many worthy priests have officiated 
 there : M.Tissoraut, F. Kohl man, Cheverus, M. Matignon, <fec." 
 
 f The Rev. Matthew O'Brien was a brother of Doctor 
 O'Brien, and for many years assisted him at St Peter's. He 
 died at Baltimore^ on tlie 20th of October, 1816. 
 
52 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 States. She made her first communion in St, 
 Peter's Church, on the 25th of March, 1805.^ 
 On Christmas Eve, 1806, a number of riot- 
 ous persons assembled about the church, and, 
 being disappointed that there was no mid- 
 night mass, attempted to make a disturbance, 
 but were driven away by some members of 
 the congregation. The next evening a riot 
 took 23lace in Augusta-street (now City Hall 
 Place), in consequence of an assault made by 
 the same persons upon the Catholics living 
 there (it was chiefly inhabited by the Irish), 
 and in it a watchman, named Christopher 
 Neurwauger, was killed, and several persons 
 injured. The Evening Post of December 
 26th, 1806, says, that the party who made 
 the attack upon the church, and who caused 
 the subsequent riot, belonged to a set of row- 
 dies who at that time infested the city, called 
 High- Binders. The mayor, DeWitt Clinton, 
 issued a proclamation, offering a reward for 
 the apprehension of the ringleaders, and for 
 the discovery of the person who killed the 
 watchman. 
 
 * See her Life by Dr. White: Dunigan, 1853. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YOEK. 53 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 See of New-York erected — The first Bishop — Dr. Concanen — Hig 
 Death at Naples — St. Patrick's built — The Jesuits in New-York 
 — The Confessiona and its Rights — Important Decision — Dr. 
 Connolly, the second Bishop — His Diary — His Clergy — Estab- 
 lishments erected during his Administration — His Death. 
 
 Up to this time New- York formed part of the 
 Diocese of Baltimore, the only one in the 
 United States: but it had now become evi- 
 dent that the increasing number of Catholics 
 would require a subdivision of its immense 
 territory, and additional bishops to meet the 
 increasing wants of churches and clergy. 
 Accordingly, Pius VIL, in 1808, erected Bal- 
 timore into an Archiepiscopal See, and, re- 
 serving a considerable district to it, divided 
 the rest between four new sees. Of these 
 suffragan sees, New- York was one. 
 
 The Eev. Luke Concanen, of the order of 
 St. Dominic, was named as the first Bishop of 
 
54 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 New-York, and was consecrated at Eome on 
 the 24th of April, 1808, by his eminence, 
 Cardinal Antonelli, at that time Prefect of the 
 Sacred Congregation of Propaganda. Father 
 Concanen was distinguished in his order as a 
 man of great learning and capacity for busi- 
 ness, and had filled several distinguished sta- 
 tions in it; having been Professor of Theology, 
 and Prior of the Convent at Lisbon ; Prior of 
 St. Clements at Eome, and Librarian of the 
 Minerva."^ 
 
 Soon after his consecration, he left Eome on 
 his way to his new diocese, and was intrusted 
 with the Pallium for Archbishop Carroll. He 
 went to Naples, where he hoped to find a ship 
 to convey him to the United States ; but the 
 French authorities, who at that time had pos- 
 session of the city, detained him as being a 
 British subject, and he very soon after died 
 
 * Father Concanen was mucli esteemed in Rome. Bishop 
 Brut6, speaking of the new appointments in a manuscript 
 Sketch of Catholicity in the United States, mentions Bishop 
 Concanen as being " tr^s cher a Pie VII." From a letter 
 of his to Father O'Brien, dated Rome, February 2 2d, 1800, 
 in my possession, it appears that he had previously been 
 nominated to a See in Ireland, but had declined. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 55 
 
 suddenly^^ — not without suspicion of having 
 been poisoned, to obtain possession of such 
 effects as he had with hini.f 
 
 Though deprived thus prematurely of its 
 bishop, New- York had received an impulse 
 from its erection into a see, and religion ad- 
 vanced under the administration of vicars 
 general.:]: 
 
 In 1809, it was found necessary, on account 
 
 * " On a appris la mort de M. Concanen, Dominicain, de- 
 sign6 Ev^que de New- York, mort a Naples, etant empeche 
 de partir par la Police, son passage deja paye." — MS. Note 
 by Bishop Brute, 13th Sept., 1810. 
 
 •(• Bishop Concanen is still remembered in his order as 
 having taken a lively interest in the American Mission. It 
 was at his instigation that the first House of Dominicans 
 was founded in Kentucky, and he was afterwards a consid- 
 erable benefactor to it. — From Letter of Rev. Mr. Young, of 
 Ohio, O. S. D. 
 
 if In a list of clergy in the United States from 1632 to 
 1828, by Bishop Brute, under the date of 1814, he writes 
 the name of Father Anthony Kohlman, Yicar General of 
 New-York, sede vacante. It appears, however, from a letter 
 of Father Grassi to Bishop Brute, that, though Bishop Con- 
 canen had named Father Kohlman V. G., his superiors would 
 not permit him to accept the appointment. However this 
 may be, he certainly exercised the office, for I have seen 
 letters signed by him as Vicar General, sede vacante, in the 
 archives of the Diocese of Quebec. FatherFe nwick signs 
 his name as Y. G. in the register of St. Peter's during the 
 year 1816. 
 
56 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 of the increase of the Catholic population, to 
 erect another church; and the corner-stone of 
 St. Patrick's Cathedral was laid on the 8th of 
 June of that year. The Eev. Father Anthony 
 Kohlman seems to have been very active in 
 his exertions to collect the necessary means. 
 It was consecrated on Ascension Day, 1815, 
 by the Eight Eev. Bishop Cheverus, at that 
 time Bishop of Boston, who also preached on 
 the occasion.*^ At that time the situation it 
 occupies was on the outskirts of the city. The 
 temporal affairs of the new church were man- 
 aged by the Trustees of St. Peter's ; both 
 churches forming but one corporation, until 
 1817, when, by an act of the Legislature, they 
 were divided. 
 
 At this time the Catholic inhabitants of 
 the city enjoyed the services also of two dis- 
 
 * "Yesterday the elegant new Cathedral Church in Prince 
 Street was consecrated by the Right Rev. Bishop Cheverus, 
 attended by many of the clergy belonging to the Catholic 
 Church. His Hon. the Mayor and Aldermen, and the Trus- 
 tees of the Church, attended the procession. About half- 
 past nine o'clock the church was crowded. It is supposed 
 the church contained between three and four thousand per- 
 sons. Many were disappointed." — New- York Gazette, May 
 5th, 1815. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YOEK. 57 
 
 tinguished priests: Father Anthony Kohl- 
 man, already named, and Father (afterwards 
 Bishop) Fenwick, of the Society of Jesus. 
 They were for several years stationed at St, 
 Peter's Church,- they afterwards had much 
 to do with the erection of the new cathedral, 
 and the establishment of the school known 
 under the name of the ^^ New-York Literary 
 Institution," situated at the intersection of 
 what is now known as the Fifth Avenue and 
 Fiftieth-street. They were both men of a 
 high order of talent, and labored most zeal- 
 ously in doing good.. Amongst other inci-' 
 dents connected with their residence here, 
 was a visit which they paid to the celebrated 
 Thomas Paine on his death-bed. Bishop 
 Fenwick wrote an account of the interview, 
 which was published in the Catholic Magazine 
 of Baltimore, October, 1846.*^ 
 
 After the erection of the Cathedral of St. 
 Patrick, they both officiated in it till they 
 
 * I have in my possession a letter from Father Kohlman 
 to Mother Seton, in which he alludes to this interview. He 
 speaks of Paine as " one worried in mind, afflicted in body, 
 and unwilling to suffer ; in fine, as given up to all the hor- 
 rors of despair." 
 
 3* 
 
58 HISTOKY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 were recalled from New- York by their supe- 
 riors in ISIT,*^ 
 
 * Father Fen wick was born in Maryland, September, 17 82^ 
 of an old English Catholic family long settled in that State. 
 He was ordained in 1807, and, in 1808, was stationed at St. 
 Peter's Church. On being recalled from jS'ew-York in 1817, 
 he was made president of Georgetown College, and after- 
 wards occupied various responsible offices in his order. Id 
 1825, he succeeded Bishop Cheverus in the See of Boston, 
 and was consecrated on the first of November in that year. 
 Having accomplished much for the good of religion, he died 
 in his episcopal city on the 11th of August, 1846. Mr. 
 Brownson has given a very just sketch of this eminent pre- 
 late in his Review for October, 1846. 
 
 Father Anthony Kohlman was born at Kaiser sburg, July 
 13th, 1771. During the French Revolution he was ordained 
 in Switzerland, and, as a member of the Association of the 
 Sacred Heart, labored for several years in Austria and Italy, 
 In 1805, he entered the Jesuit ]S^o vitiate at Dunebourg, and 
 two years after was sent to the United States, where he re- 
 mained for twenty -two years. Leaving JSTew-York in 1817, 
 he was made Master of Kovices at Georgetown. In 1821, 
 he published a very learned work, under the title of " Uni- 
 tarianism Theologically and Philosophically Examined," in 
 answer to certain letters written by Mr. Jared Sparks and 
 other Unitarian ministers. Summoned subsequently to 
 Rome, he taught theology in the Roman College, and, en- 
 joying the esteem of successive Popes, held several high 
 ofl&cial stations. Much esteemed as a spiritual director, he 
 died in April, 1838, after a few days illness. He had a 
 brother, the Rev. Paul Kohlman, of the same society, who 
 assisted him for some years at St. Peter's, and who died at 
 Georgetown College on the 11th of October, 1838, aged 68 
 years. 
 
OK THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 59 
 
 It was during their ministry in the city of 
 New-York that a circumstance occurred which 
 excited a good deal of interest at the time, 
 and led to a decision of much importance to 
 the Catholic community. Restitution had 
 been made to a man named James Keating, 
 through the Rev. Father Kohlman, of certain 
 goods which had been stolen from him. 
 Keating had previously made a complaint 
 against one Philips and his wife, as having 
 received the goods thus stolen, and they were 
 indicted for a misdemeanor before the justices 
 of the peace. Keating having afterwards 
 stated that the goods had been restored to 
 him through the instrumentality of Father 
 Kohlman, the latter was cited before the 
 court, and required to give evidence in re* 
 gard to the person or persons from whom he 
 had received them. This he refused to do, 
 on the ground that no court could require a 
 priest to give evidence in regard to matters 
 known to him only under the seal of confes- 
 sion. Upon the case being sent to the grand 
 jury. Father Kohlman was subpoenaed to at- 
 tend before them, and appeared in obedience 
 
60 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 to tlie process, but, in respectful terms, again 
 declined answering. On the trial which en- 
 sued, Father Kohlman was again cited to 
 appear as a witness in the case. Having been 
 asked certain questions, he entreated that he 
 might be excused, and offered his reasons to 
 the court. With consent of counsel the ques- 
 tion was put off for some time,^ and finally 
 brought on for argument on Tuesday, the 8th 
 of June, 1813, before a court composed of the 
 Hon, De Witt Clinton, mayor of the city ; the 
 Hon. Josiah Ogden Hoffman, recorder; and 
 Isaac S. Douglass, and Eichard Cunningham, 
 Esqs., sitting aldermen. The Hon. Eichard 
 Eiker, afterwards for so many years recorder 
 of the city, and Counsellor Sampson, volun- 
 teered their services in behalf of Father Kohl- 
 man. Mr. Eiker argued the case at consid- 
 erable length, and with great ability. He 
 
 * The district attorney, Mr. Gardinier, had determined to 
 enter a nolle prosequi in the case, but the Board of Trustees 
 of St. Peter's Church requested that it might be brought on, 
 in order that the point should be determined. Mr. Gardi- 
 nier behaved in the whole affair with great fairness, and 
 seems to have been disposed to let the matter pass, rather 
 than excite dissension and religious animosity. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 61 
 
 showed that certain contrary decisions — espe- 
 cially that of Sir Michael Smith, Master of the 
 Eolls in Ireland, who decided that Eev. Mr. 
 Gahan could not plead his profession as a 
 reason for refusing to give evidence in the 
 celebrated case of Lord Dunboyne— were con- 
 trary to usage, and made rather from preju- 
 dice against the Catholic religion than from 
 any sound reasons. He showed that, under 
 the Constitution of this State, which allowed 
 the fullest toleration to religion, every princi- 
 ple of any religious denomination was pro- 
 tected which did not ^^ lead to licentiousness, 
 or to practices inconsistent with the peace and 
 safety of the State." Counsellor Sampson fol- 
 lowed on the same side, and in a speech of 
 great eloquence urged the broad protection 
 of the Constitution, as a sufficient and ample 
 reason for not obliging a priest to give evi- 
 dence in matters known to him only through 
 the confessional. 
 
 The decision was given by De Witt Clinton 
 at some length. Having shown that, accord- 
 ing to the doctrine and practice of the Catho- 
 lic Church, a priest, who should reveal what 
 
62 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCS 
 
 he had heard in the confessional^ would be- 
 come infamous and degraded in the eyes of 
 Catholics ; and as no one could be called upon 
 to give evidence which would expose him to 
 infamy, he declared that the only way was to 
 excuse a priest from answering in such cases."^ 
 He also developed the constitutional ground^ 
 and urged that religious toleration v/ould be a 
 mere mockery if it did not protect all equally. 
 The decision of the court was unanimous. 
 
 ''.We speak of this question," says Mr. Clin- 
 ton, "not in a theological sense, but in its 
 legal and constitutional bearings. Although 
 we differ from the witness and his brethren in 
 our religious creed, yet we have no reason to 
 question the purity of their motives, or to im- 
 peach their good conduct as citizens. They 
 are protected by the laws and constitution of 
 this country, in the full and free exercise of 
 
 * **The witness in this case evidently believes that his 
 answering in this case would expose him to punishment in a 
 future state, and it must be conceded by all that it would 
 expose him to privations and disgrace in this world. If he 
 tells the truth, he violates his ecclesiastical oath; if he pre- 
 varicates, he violates his judicial oath. The only course is 
 for the Court to declare that he shall not testify or act at 
 all" — Decision, p. 102, 103. 
 
OK THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK:. 68 
 
 their religion, and this court can never coun- 
 tenance or authorize the application of insult 
 to their faith, or of torture to their con- 
 sciences."^ 
 
 The decision, as well as the whole manner 
 in which the discussion was carried on, shows 
 that a great change had taken place, not only 
 in the form of government, but in the dispo- 
 sitions and character of the people, since the 
 days when a Horsmanden had presided at the 
 trial (if it may be 'so called) of the unfortunate 
 victims of the Negro Plot ! f 
 
 * The principle of this decision was afterwards embodied 
 in a statute. "No minister of the Gospel, or priest of any 
 denomination whatsoever, shall be allowed to disclose any 
 confessions made to him in his professional character, in the 
 course of discipline enjoined by the rules or practice of such 
 denomination." — Key. Stat, of the State of New- York, Part 
 III., eh. vii., art. 8, sec. 72 : Passed as part of the Rev, Stat. 
 December 10, 1828, and signed by N. Pitcher, Lieut. Gov. ; 
 Governor Clinton having died in February of that year. 
 
 f The whole case was reported by Counsellor Sampson, 
 under this title: "The Catholic Question in America: 
 Whether a Roman Catholic Clergyman be in any case com- 
 pellable to disclose the secrets of auricular confession; de- 
 cided at the Court of General Sessioos, in the City of New- 
 York; reported by William Sampson, Esq., one of the 
 counsel in the case. New-York, printed by Edward Gilles- 
 pie, No. 24 Wiiliam-street, 1813." 
 
6i HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 Some Trappists from France, and a few 
 Ilrsulines,^ were here for a short time in 
 1813-15 ; but neither made any permanent 
 establishment. 
 
 Amongst the earliest acts of Pius VII., after 
 his return to Eome in 1814, was the appoint- 
 ment of a successor to Bishop Concanen in the 
 person of the Eev. John Connelly, of the same 
 illustrious order of St. Dominic, and at that 
 time Prior of the Convent of St. Clement's, 
 in Eome. Bishop Connelly was a native 
 of Drogheda, in Ireland, but had spent most 
 of his life in Eome.f I have been fortunate 
 enough to obtain possession of a couple of 
 note-books which belonged to him, and which 
 show with how much care and exactness he 
 managed the affairs of his convent, at a time 
 
 * The Ursulines were incorporated by the Legislature, by 
 an act passed the 25th of March, 1814: "An act to incor- 
 porate the Ursuline Convent of the City of JSTew-York," by 
 which Christina Fagan, Sarah Walsh, Mary Baldwin, and 
 others are incorporated, <fec^ for the purpose of teaching 
 poor children. 
 
 f He was appointed to New- York in the autumn of 1814 
 (letter to Dr. Troy, Oct. 1, 1814); was consecrated on the 
 6th of November, 1814 (Henrion, Eccl. Hist.). He left Rome, 
 January, 1815 (letter to Bishop Plunkett), 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 65 
 
 when all the religious houses in Eome were 
 reduced to great straits on account of the con- 
 fusion attendant upon the occupation of Eome 
 by the French troops. He also acted for sev- 
 eral years as the agent of the Irish Bishops in 
 Eome, and conducted their affairs with great 
 prudence. His experience in these matters, 
 joined to sound learning and much zeal, fitted 
 him very well for his intended post. In his 
 new diocese, however, every thing was to be 
 created ; and, whilst his resources were very 
 small, the obstacles in his way were great. 
 The trustee system had not been behind its 
 early promise, and trustees of churches had 
 become so accustomed to have every thing 
 their own way, that they were not disposed 
 to allow even the interference of a bishop. 
 Bishop Connelly was not lacking in firmness, 
 but the great wants of his new diocese made 
 it necessary for him to fall in, to a certain ex- 
 tent, with the established order of things, and 
 this exposed him afterwards to much difficulty 
 and many humiliations. 
 
 His diocese, which embraced at that time 
 the whole State of New- York and a part of 
 
66 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 New Jersey, had but four priests, though the 
 number of Catholics in the city alone was from 
 fifteen to twenty thousand. In such a state 
 of things he was obliged to assume the office 
 of a missionary priest, rather than a bishop; 
 and many still living remember the humility 
 and earnest zeal with which he discharged 
 the laborious duties of the confessional, and 
 traversed the city on foot to attend upon the 
 poor and the sick. 
 
 The reader will be pleased with the follow- 
 ing extracts from his note-book, which will 
 give, better than any description, an idea of 
 the state of things at that time : 
 
 ''Ilarch iOth, 1816.^ [Wrote] to Dr. Troy 
 
 * About this time (1816) the Rev. Mr. Kewlej, Rector of 
 the Episcopal Church of St. George, in this citj, became a 
 Catholic. He has previously written a work on Methodist 
 Episcopacy. He went abroad after his conversion, and, I 
 have understood, entered a religious House in Belgium. 
 Since that time several Protestant ministers in Xew-York 
 have embraced the Catholic religion. To mention those 
 only who were connected Avith Protestant churches in the 
 city: In 1840, the Rev. Mr. Oertel, a Lutheran minister, was 
 received into the Church by the Rev. William Quarter, of 
 St. Mary's Church; the Rev. J. R. Bay ley. Rector of St. 
 Andrew's Church, Harlem, in 1842; the Rev. Mr. Thomas, 
 a Baptist minister, in 1847 ; the Rev. J. M. Forbes, Rector 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 67 
 
 an account of my voj^age to America ; illness 
 here for nearly two months. Catholics dis- 
 persed through the country parts of the State 
 of Pennsylvania, New- York, Jersey, and New 
 England, where they seldom see a priest: 
 they are not able to maintain one in any par- 
 ticular district — ambulatory zealous priests, 
 necessary for them to prevent their children 
 from conforming to the persuasions of neigh- 
 boring sectaries, who all of them have their 
 respective ministers. Only four priests in 
 this diocese, though the Catholics of New- 
 York and its district are about seventeen 
 thousand. Those of Albany wish to have 
 the Eev. Mr. Corr, of Mary's Lane Chapel, for 
 their priest : they allow about eight hundred 
 dollars a year." 
 
 ''March 8th, 1816. Wrote to Eev. Mr. Har- 
 old, jr., St. Thomas College, near Black Eock, 
 Dublin, informing him that Messrs. Stoughton 
 and Dennis M'Carty prayed to me to write to 
 
 of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, in 1849 ; the Rev. J. S. Pres- 
 ton, Assistant at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, in 1849 ; the 
 Rev. F. E. White, of the Episcopal Church, in 1851; the 
 Rev. William Everett, of the Episcopal Church, in 1851 ; the 
 Rev. Donald M'Leod, and others. 
 
6S HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 him in their name, and that of the other trus- 
 tees, to come here to serve them, and they 
 will settle his annual salary, and pay the 
 expenses of his voyage on his arrival here." 
 
 ''Dec, 1th, 1817. Set out for Philadelphia, 
 where I arrived at seven o'clock in the even- 
 ing, on my way to Baltimore to assist at the 
 consecration of Eev. Mr. Ambrose Marechal, 
 as Archbishop of Baltimore. His consecra- 
 tion took place on Sunday, the 14th, at his 
 old Church of St. Peter's. It was performed 
 by Mons. Cheverus, of Boston. Monsieur De 
 Barth, Y. Gr., of Philadelphia, and I attended. 
 At Baltimore and Philadelphia I received 
 great civilities from many Catholics there, 
 though my stay was short, as I arrived at 
 New-York the 20th of said month." 
 
 ''May 30th, 1817. [Wrote] to Rev. Michael 
 Gorman, Albany : Should the faithful of dif- 
 ferent places around and within the district 
 of Albany be required to contribute to the 
 support of the priest at Albany, it is right 
 that the latter should from time to time give 
 them mass at their respective places of abode 
 on Sunday, and, in that case, an arrangement 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YOEK. 69 
 
 agreeable to all parties on that subject should 
 be prudently formed by Mr. Gorman. Some 
 trustees desirous that I should write for Rev. 
 Messrs. England and Taylor, of Cloyne." 
 
 '' Oct. 22d, 1817. I addressed a letter to 
 Eev. Arthur Langdill, empowering him to 
 celebrate mass, administer the sacraments, 
 preach, teach, and perform all other priest- 
 ly duties that do not require the Episcopal 
 character, throughout this Diocese of New- 
 York (excepting the districts of New-York 
 and Albany, unless with the consent of clergy 
 serving those two districts), until farther or- 
 ders, or as long as I do not consider it neces- 
 sary to recall said powers." 
 
 *' Oct 23c?, 1817. Answered Monseigneur 
 Marechal's letter of the 18th inst., informing 
 me that he and Monseigneur Cheverus are for 
 Mr. de Barth being made Bishop of Philadel- 
 phia, informing him that, as none of the 
 actual prelates of this province consulted me 
 on this business since the Pope's acceptance 
 of his (Mons. Marechal's) renunciation of that 
 diocese, I commissioned my agent at Eome to 
 mention to Cardinal Litta the name of the 
 
70 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHUECH 
 
 person whom I thought most worthy of said 
 vacant see, and that, as I cannot now contra- 
 dict what I wrote then to said cardinal, I shall 
 write to him again on this subject by the first 
 vessel that shall sail from hence to Europe." 
 
 ''Jan. 22c?, 1818. Empowered the Eev. 
 Charles French, after having preached on the 
 foregoing Sunday at St. Peter's Church, to 
 administer the sacraments, and perform all 
 other priestly duties in the diocese, as other 
 priests do. Sent the Eev. Michael Gorman 
 the Indult for the ensuing Lent. Mentioned 
 the Eev. Mr. French's sermon." 
 
 ''Jan, 29th, 1818. I answered the Eev. Ar- 
 thur Langdill's three letters, and sent him 
 said Indult, and addressed the letter to the 
 care of Mr. M'Intire, New Burg." 
 
 "Feb, 25th, 1818. In a letter to Cardinal 
 Litta, dated this day, and delivered by me to 
 Mr. James Irvine, under cover addressed to 
 Mr. John Joseph Argenti. — It filled seven 
 pages — and mentioned that I received his Em- 
 inence's letters of the 5th of February, 19th of 
 April, and 20th of September, 1817 : that I 
 find by them that he had received neither of 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YOKK. 71 
 
 my two letters of 1816, nor that of 1817 — all 
 of which I sent by sure hands going to Leg- 
 horn : that ray voyage hither in sixty-seven 
 days from Dublin, in stormy weather, was 
 painful, and at times dangerous. A report 
 prevailed here that I was lost at sea : that I 
 found about thirteen thousand Catholics here, 
 with only three Jesuits and F. Carberry to 
 attend them : that I was soon deprived of 
 two of the Jesuits, and thereby forced to dis- 
 charge both night and day the duties of a 
 parish, priest or vicar, more than those of a 
 bishop, till I got lately three good priests 
 from Ireland. At present there are here 
 about sixteen thousand Catholics, mostly 
 Irish ; at least ten thousand Irish Catholics 
 arrived at New- York only within these last 
 three years. They spread through all the 
 other States of this Confederacy, and make 
 their religion known every where. Bishops 
 ought to be granted to whatever State here 
 is willing to build a Cathedral, and petition 
 for a Bishop as Norfolk has done. The pres- 
 ent Dioceses are quite too extensive. Our 
 Cathedral owes fifty-three thousand dollars, 
 
72 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHUECH 
 
 borro^yed to build it, for which it j^ays inter- 
 est at the rate of seven per cent, yearl}^ This 
 burthen hinders us from supporting a suffi- 
 cient number of priests, or from thinking to 
 erect a seminary. The American youth have 
 an almost invincible repugnance to the eccle- 
 siastical state." 
 
 ^' Oct. 'dlst^ 1818. Wrote to Monseigneur 
 
 Marechal. I approve of his plan of erecting 
 
 Charleston into a bishoprick, and wish that 
 
 -every one of the seventeen United States had 
 
 each a Bishop " 
 
 " Nov,^ 1818. Wrote to Cardinal Litta, 
 thanking his Eminence for his kind letter of 
 the 25th of July, and mentioned to him my 
 wish expressed to Monseigneur Marechal, 
 that each of these United States had its own 
 bishop, as the best means for steadily propa- 
 gating religion in them. That the two Caro- 
 linas, with Georgia and the Mississippi Terri- 
 tory, will, in less than twenty years hence, 
 require eight bishops, as they form an im- 
 mense space. That, therefore, it would be 
 better to erect Charleston with South Caro- 
 lina only into a bishoprick, and to give the 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 73 
 
 bishop powers of administration only over 
 the rest during the pleasure of the Holy See. 
 I prayed him to give them for their new 
 bishop the Eev. Thomas Carberry, whom they 
 wish for. I again prayed him, also, to confer 
 the See of Philadelphia on the Eev. William 
 Harold, since Mr. De Earth has declared pub- 
 licly that he will not accept of it unless forced 
 to do so.- . . . . " 
 
 ''April 20th, 1820. Wrote to Eev. John 
 
 * The Catholic Almanac for 1822, published bj William 
 H. Creagh, imder the title of " The Laity's Directory to the 
 Church Service, for the Year of our Lord, 1822," has the 
 following list of the clergy in the diocese : 
 
 Rev. Dr. John Connolly, ) g p^^^;^^,^ 
 
 Key. Michael O Gorman, ) r fh f\ ^ ] 
 
 Rev. Charles French, ) ^i. ^:> 4. » 
 
 Rev. John Power, |- St. Peters, 
 
 Rev. Mr. Bulger, Paterson. 
 
 Rev. Michael Carroll, Albany and vicinity. 
 
 Rev. John Farnan, Utica and vicinity. 
 
 Rev. Patrick Kelly, Auburn, Rochester, and other dis: 
 tricts in the western part of the State. 
 
 Rev. Philip Larissy, attends regularly at Staten Island, 
 and different other congregations along the Hudson 
 River. 
 
 The above almanac was the second Catholic Directory 
 published in the United States. The first was published at 
 IN^ew-York in 1817, by Mr. Field, and contained 163 pages. 
 The present series was commenced at Baltimore in 1833, 
 under the title of " The United States Catholic Almanac, or 
 Laity's Directory, for the year 1833. Baltimore, published 
 by James Myers, near the Cathedral." 
 
 4 
 
 Cathedral, > K'ew-York. 
 
74 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 DuBois, Mount St. Mary's, near Emmetsburg, 
 Maryland, praying him in the name of the 
 Trustees of the Cathedral, to send us Sister 
 Jane as soon as possible to take charge of our 
 female free school. 
 
 *^ Sept^ 1823. Wrote to Giovanni Giuseppe 
 Argenti, recommending Bishop Hobart to his 
 kindness ; that I am to send him in a few days 
 the state of this Diocese, my health and fa- 
 tigues during these fourteen months past in 
 the yellow fever and other kinds of fevers. . .'' 
 
 It is to be regretted that the Bishop's jour- 
 nal is so brief and imperfect, as otherwise it 
 would no doubt have afforded us many inter- 
 esting particulars connected with the rise and 
 progress of Catholicity in this city. 
 
 During his Episcopate, he ordained the fol- 
 lowing priests: Eev. Michael O'Gorman, in 
 1815 ; Eev. Eichard Bulger, 1820 ; Eev. Pat- 
 rick Kelly, 1820 or 1821 ; Eev. Charles Bren- 
 nan, 1822 ; Eev. John Shanahan, 1823 ; Eev. 
 John Conroy, 1825. The Eev. Messrs. O'Gor- 
 man and Bulger were both natives of the city 
 of Kilkenny, in Ireland, and were educated in 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 75 
 
 the college of that city, under Dr. Kelly, after- 
 wards Bishop of Eichmond, in Virginia, and, 
 finally, of Waterford, in Ireland. 
 
 Mr. O'Gorman exercised for some years the 
 duties of a missionary priest at Albany and its 
 vicinity, and, in 1819, was brought to the city 
 by Bishop Connolly, to be his assistant at the 
 Cathedral. He was a zealous priest, and 
 much beloved by the Bishop. 
 
 The Eev. Mr. Bulger was first sent on the 
 mission to Paterson, in New Jersey, where he 
 labored with great fidelity."^ During his mis- 
 sionary expeditions through various parts of 
 the State, he was often exposed to insults, and 
 underwent many hardships, which his ardent 
 zeal and buoyant spirits enabled him to bear, 
 not only with patience, but cheerfulness. A 
 
 * He was accustomed to teU many laughable stories of his 
 adventures. Trudging along one daj on foot, carrying a 
 bundle, containing his vestments and breviary, under his 
 arm, he was overtaken by a farmer and his wife in a wagon. 
 The farmer invited Mr. Bulger to ride ; but it having come 
 out in the course of the conversation that he was a priest, the 
 wife declared that he should not remain in the wagon, and 
 he was consequently obliged to get out and resume his jour- 
 ney on foot. It should be added, that the farmer afterwards 
 applied to Father Bulger for instruction, and was received 
 into the Catholic Church. 
 
76 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 large stone was thrown at him through the 
 window of his bed-chamber, which nearly cost 
 him his life. On this occasion he published a 
 letter addressed to the inhabitants of Paterson, 
 which excited a good deal of attention, and 
 made him many friends even amongst those 
 who had been most opposed to him. He was 
 afterwards on the mission in Albany and 
 Utica, but did not confine his labors to those 
 places, but visited the scattered Catholics 
 through all parts of what is now the Diocese 
 of Albany. The Eev. Mr. Shanahan informed 
 me that he had read letters addressed by him 
 at that time (1828-24) to the Eev. Mr. O'Gor- 
 man, full of interesting details in regard to his 
 missionary labors, and the condition of the 
 Catholics in those parts. 
 
 Both Mr. O'Gorman and Mr. Bulger died 
 within eight days of one another, at Bishop 
 Connolly's house, in Broadway, in the month 
 of November, 1824, and are buried on the left 
 hand as you enter the Cathedral, near the 
 south door. The good Bishop, worn out by 
 his labors and anxieties, soon followed his 
 faithful associates. He died at his residence 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YOKK. 77 
 
 in Broadway (No. 512) on the 5th of February, 
 1825, and was bnried under the Cathedral, 
 near the altar. "^ 
 
 The Sisters of Charity were first sent here 
 from Emmetsburg at Bishop Connolly's solici- 
 tation, to take charge of the Orphan Asylum, 
 which was incorporated in 1817, under the 
 title of the ^* New-York Catholic Benevolent 
 Society." The first Superior was Mother Eose 
 
 * From a letter of Sister Elizabeth's to the Rev. Mr. Brute, 
 I find that he was taken sick immediately after his return 
 from Mr. O'Gorman's funeral. *' I write," says the Rev. Mr. 
 Shanahan, in a letter (Feb. 8) to the same, " to inform you 
 of the death of our venerable Bishop, who, after attending 
 a funeral this day week, departed this life at seven o'clock 
 on Sunday evening. He was taken to St. Peter's last even- 
 ing, from which church the procession will proceed to St. 
 Patrick's, where he will be buried to-morrow (Wednesday), 
 as near the altar as the custom of the Church will allow." 
 When the new vaults were built, his remains were placed 
 
 in the one appropriated to the clergy. **The remains of 
 
 the pious, worthy, and venerable Bishop Connolly were en- 
 tombed yesterday afternoon, attended by a larger concourse 
 of people than is usual on such occasions. For the last two 
 days the body of fhis good man lay in state in the central 
 aisle of St. Peter's Church, in Barclay-street, and it is said 
 that not less than thirty thousand persons visited this novel 
 exhibition. Every thing connected with this ceremony was 
 conducted in a most solemn, appropriate manner, and reflects 
 much credit on the Catholics of our city." — ^. Y. Gazette^ 
 Thursday, Feb. 10, 1825. 
 
78 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 White. They occupied a small wooden build- 
 ing on the site of the present Orphan Asylum, 
 in Prince-street. Sister Elizabeth (Boyle) was 
 Superior from 1822 until 1846, when the new 
 arrangements were made in regard to the Sis- 
 ters of Charity. As the Catholic population 
 increased, other charitable institutions were 
 committed to their care: in 1830, the asylum 
 in Brooklyn ; in 1830, the school attached to 
 St. Peter's Church, and St. Joseph's School, 
 East Broadway; in 1833, the Half Orphan 
 Asylum, at the corner of Eleventh-street and 
 Seventh Avenue ; and, in the same year (1833), 
 St. Mary's Schools. 
 
 The present asylum in Prince-street was 
 commenced, and the main building erected, 
 in 1825 ; the west wing in 1833, the east wing 
 in 1834. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 79 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Vacancy of See — Appointmenl of Bishop DuBois — Stale of his Dio- 
 cese — Trusleeism — College at Nyack— -At Lafarg-evilie — New 
 Churches — Cemetery — German Mission and its Founder — Emi- 
 nent Clerg-ymen — Catholic Papers — Libels on Catholics — Maria 
 Monk — Appointment of a Coadjutor — The Bishop resigns the 
 Administration to him. 
 
 DuEiNG the nearly two years that the See 
 of New-York remained vacant, it was ad- 
 ministered by the Very Eev. John Power, 
 who had been appointed Vicar General by 
 Bishop Connolly ; Dr. Power was born near 
 Eoscarberry, County Cork, in Ireland, of a 
 very respectable family, on the 19th June, 
 1792. He was educated at Maynooth, where 
 he distinguished himself as a scholar — was 
 for a time Professor in the Episcopal Semi- 
 nary at the Cove of Cork, and afterwards 
 Curate at Youghal. In 1819, at the solicita- 
 tion of the Trustees of St. Peters, he came to 
 
80 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 this country and became pastor of that church, 
 and vicar general to Bishop Connolly. He was 
 an eloquent preacher, and for many years an 
 active and zealous missionary. In the yellow 
 fever of 1819 and 1822, and the first cholera 
 of 1832, he performed faithfully the duties of 
 a good pastor. He was from the commence- 
 ment a most zealous friend of the Orphan 
 Asylum, took the liveliest interest in all that 
 concerned it, and preached many admirable 
 sermons in its behalf. His last years were 
 harassed by the most painful attacks of rheu- 
 matic gout, which he suffered with the most 
 cheerful resignation. The embarrassment 
 which had gathered around his church from 
 the extravagant expenditure of the trustees, 
 saddened his declining days. He died on 
 April 14, 1849, and was buried under the 
 Cathedral of St. Patrick. 
 
 The Eev. John DuBois, President of St. 
 Mary's College, Emmetsburg, Maryland, was 
 chosen by the Holy See to succeed Bishop 
 Connolly in the Diocese of New-York. 
 
 Bishop DuBois was born in Paris, on the 
 24th August, 1764, of respectable parents, in 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YOEK. 81 
 
 the middle rank of life. Bishop Brute speaks 
 in a manuscript note, in my possession, of hav- 
 ing seen his mother at Paris in 1815, " a vener- 
 able woman," he says, ^^over 80 years of age, 
 with a heart full of tenderness and a mind still 
 strong, even at that age. I was much impress- 
 ed with her lively sensibility, when I spoke to 
 her of her worthy son.'' He was educated at 
 the College of Louis le Grand, which had 
 been the chief college of the Jesuits, at Paris, 
 and of which they had been so iniquitonsly 
 deprived. The government, however, had 
 endeavored to keep up its reputation, by pro- 
 viding the most eminent professors. At the 
 time that young DuBois entered it, the Abbe 
 Proyart was the principal, and the Abbe de 
 Lille was one of the teachers. Many of his 
 fellow-students were afterwards distinguished 
 men, among others Father McCarthy, the 
 Abbe Le Grris Duval, the Abbe Leontard who 
 afterwards founded the College Stanislaus, and 
 others. Eobespierre and Camille Desmoulins, 
 characters of a very different sort, were also 
 his fellow-students. He himself was naturally 
 of bright and penetrating intellect, and dis- 
 4^ 
 
82 HISTOKY OF THE CATHOLIC CHUKCH 
 
 tinguished himself so much in his studies, as 
 to attract the particular attention of De 
 Juigne, at that time Archbishop of Paris. He 
 made his theological studies at the Seminary 
 of St. Magloire, conducted by the Oratorians, 
 and distinguished himself by the brilliancy 
 of the ^Theses' which he sustained in this 
 seminary and at the Sorbonne. While yet a 
 student he received a benefice (a Prieure) in 
 the vicinity of Paris, and was ordained, by a 
 dispensation, when under age, in 1788 or 89. 
 He was appointed an assistant priest at the 
 Parish Church of St. Sulpice, and had the 
 charge of some of the houses of the Sisters of 
 Charity, which were in that parish, particularly 
 of the Hospice de Petits Maisons for the insane, 
 a charge which he afterwards often spoke of as 
 having prepared him, in the designs of Provi- 
 dence, for the responsible duties which he ex- 
 ercised in after years towards the Sisters of 
 St. Joseph, at Emmetsburg. He distinguished 
 himself as a faithful and zealous priest, and 
 remained in Paris some time after the breaking 
 out of the Eevolution; but at length, being 
 hindered by the violence of the persecution, 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YOKK. 83 
 
 from exercising his duties as a priest, he de- 
 termined to go to America. Having obtained 
 letters from La Fayette, through the influence 
 of the family of De Noailles, to several distin- 
 guished persons in the United States, he went 
 in disguise to Havre de Grace, and sailed from 
 thence to Norfolk, where he arrived in August, 
 1791. 
 
 Having received faculties from Bishop Car- 
 roll, he exercised the holy ministry in various 
 parts of Virginia and Maryland. He lived for 
 some time with Mr. Monroe, afterwards Pre- 
 sident of the United States, and in the family 
 of Gov. Lee, of Maryland. After the death of 
 Father Frambach, he took charge of the mis- 
 sion of Frederick, in Maryland, of which 
 mission he may be said in reality to have been 
 the founder. When he arrived there he cele- 
 brated mass in a large room which served as 
 a chapel, and afterwards built the first church. 
 But though Frederick was his head-quarters, 
 he did not confine himself to it, but made sta- 
 tions throughout all the surrounding country, 
 at Montgomery, Winchester, Hagerstown, and 
 Emmetsburg, every where manifesting the 
 
84 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 same earnest zeal and indomitable persever- 
 ance: Bishop Brute relates as an instance 
 of his activity and zeal, that once, after hear- 
 ing confessions on Saturday evening, he rode 
 during the night to near Montgomery, a dis- 
 tance of 35 to 40 miles, to administer the last 
 sacraments to a dying woman, and was back 
 hearing confessions in the morning, at the 
 Mountain, singing high mass and preaching, 
 without scarcely any one knowing that he had 
 been absent at all. 
 
 In 1808, the Eev. Mr. DuBois, having previ- 
 ously become a member of the Society of St. 
 Sulpice, in Baltimore, went to reside at Em- 
 metsburg and laid the foundation of Mount 
 St. Mary's College, which was afterwards des- 
 tined to be the means of so much usefulness 
 to the Catholic Church in America. From 
 this point, now surrounded by so many hal- 
 lowed associations in the minds of American 
 Catholics, by the sound religious education 
 imparted to so many young men, from various 
 parts of the United States, " by the many 
 fervent and holy priests, trained under his 
 direction," and by the prudent care with which 
 
ON" THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 85 
 
 he cherished the rising institute of the Sisters 
 of Charity at St. Joseph's, he became the 
 benefactor, not of any particular locaHty, 
 but of the whole Catholic body throughout 
 the United States. When the history of St. 
 Mary's College shall be written, the account 
 of its first establishment will present an in- 
 stance of unwearied perseverance, and energy 
 such as has seldom been seen. 
 
 On the death of Dr. Connolly, the Rev. Mr. 
 DuBois was called from the scene of his 
 most beneficial labors, though now advanced 
 in years, to administer the Diocese of New- 
 York. As soon as he was informed that the 
 Sovereign Pontiff had directed him to take 
 charge of the vacant see, he immediately ad- 
 dressed himself to his new work, with the 
 same alacrity and earnestness, as when years 
 before he had entered upon his missionary 
 labors amongst the scattered Catholic popula- 
 tion of Virginia and Maryland. He was con- 
 secrated on the Sunday before All Saints,"^ 
 (October 29th 1836) by Archbishop Marechal 
 
 * Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, gave him his cross and 
 ring. — ^ Letter to Propag. de la Foi, p. 451, vol. iv., Annales. 
 
86 HISTOEY OF THE CATHOLIC CHUKCH 
 
 in the Cathedral of Baltimore^ and took pos- 
 session of his new see on All-Saints Day. 
 
 I have in my possession a letter written by 
 him a short time afterwards, to his friend and 
 fellow-laborer in Maryland, the Eev. Mr. 
 Brute, in which he gives a sad picture of his 
 new field of labor. A large and rapidly in- 
 creasing Catholic population, with only four 
 priests,"^ and without the means of providing 
 more. The few churches were loaded with 
 debt, and most of those who had the tempo- 
 ral management of them, under the title of 
 trustees, by their carelessness and inexpe- 
 rience, only rendered the matter worse. 
 Eeasonable as the system would seem to be in 
 theory, and advantageous as it might be in 
 many respects, if properly exercised, it can 
 hardly be conceived how far the greater part 
 of these persons forgot the object for which 
 
 * The Truth Teller for the J 6th of September, 1826, con- 
 tains the following list of clergy in the City of New- York: 
 
 oi. -r. ^ » ni. 1, \ Very Rev. J. Power, Y. G., 
 
 St Peter's Church, j Rev: Mr. Malou. 
 
 oj. T> i • 1 > /-IT, I ( Rev. T. C. Levins, 
 St. Patricks Church, j Rey. wilham Taylor. 
 
 di. Tia > /^i- 1 \ Hev. Hatton Walsh, 
 
 St. Mary's Church, ] Rev. T. Maguire. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 87 
 
 they were appointed ; puffed up by the pride 
 of office, and the influence which their posi- 
 tion gave them, they came to consider them- 
 selves as representatives of the popular inter- 
 ests, and without any accountability to the 
 bishop for the manner in which they managed 
 the temporal affairs of the various churches. 
 This bad spirit which, as we have seen, began 
 with the very commencement of Catholicity 
 in New- York, had increased with the growth 
 of the Catholic body, until all the lavrs of the 
 Church were subverted by them, while they 
 still pretended to yield obedience to the bishop 
 and clergy in spiritual matters, they endeav- 
 ored under the plea that their consciences 
 would not permit them to pay the money of 
 the congregation to persons unacceptable to 
 them, to interfere in the appointment of 
 clergymen, and to force such priest as they 
 became attached to, upon the bishop. I find 
 on the record of St. Peter's trustees, an in- 
 stance where an expressed wish of the bishop 
 was unanimously voted down by the board of 
 trustees, and thus disposed of — they drove 
 out priests from serving the Church, who said 
 
8::^ HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 things displeasing to them, as in the case 
 of the Eev. William McNamara. It is not 
 to be doubted that Bishop Connolly's days 
 were shortened by the vexations he had to 
 suffer from them, and their constant interfer- 
 ence with him in the discharge of his duties. 
 
 When Bishop DuBois arrived here, he 
 found the system established in its most 
 odious form, and the trustees had virtually 
 the entire government of every thing. On ac- 
 count of circumstances, he was not able to 
 extirpate the evil, but he resisted it manfully. 
 On one occasion, when he had appointed a 
 clergyman to the pastorship of the Cathedral, 
 instead of another priest, more acceptable to 
 the trustees, they refused to give any support 
 to the priest thus appointed, and finally suc- 
 ceeded in having the appointment withdrawn, 
 while they were at the same time paying a 
 salary to the other though he was suspended. 
 A committee of the trustees waited upon 
 Bishop DuBois, and informed him with many 
 expressions of respect that, having been ap- 
 pointed by the congregation as the represent- 
 atives of their interest, they could not consci- 
 
OK THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 89 
 
 entiously vote the bishop's salary unless he 
 gave them such clergymen as were acceptable 
 to them. The answer of the bishop was one 
 worthy of being recorded. He listened to 
 their representations with great patience, and 
 then quietly answered, ^' Well, gentlemen, you 
 may vote the salary or not, just as seems good 
 to you, I do not need much, I can live in the 
 basement or in the garret ; but whether I come 
 up from the basement, or down from the 
 garret, I will still be your bishop." Still he 
 was not in a situation to put an end to the 
 evil, and was hampered and interfered with 
 by them during the whole course of his ad- 
 ministration.'^ He set himself, however, to 
 
 * The trustee system, as it had been carried on in the 
 Diocese of New-York, was done away with by the Right 
 Rev. Bishop Hughes, in 1838. Soon after his appointment 
 to the Coadj utorship of the Diocese, the trustees, by certain 
 high-handed measures (especially by sending a constable 
 into the Sunday-school to remove one of the teachers who 
 had been appointed by him), afforded him an opportunity 
 of calling the Catholics to a sense of their duties in this 
 respect, and of restoring the discipline of the Church, which 
 had been so widely departed from. In February of that 
 year, he issued a pastoral address to the congregation of St. 
 Patrick's, giving a clear exposition of the whole subject — of 
 the abuses which were practised, and of his firm deterraina- 
 
90 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 work with his accustomed energy, and did all 
 that was in his power to meet the difficulties 
 by which he was surrounded. Like his pre- 
 decessor, he was obliged on account of the 
 limited and inadequate number of clergymen, 
 to discharge the duties of a missionary priest 
 in his episcopal city, in visiting the sick, and 
 hearing confessions — all of which he did with 
 his accustomed zeal and cheerfulness. *'I am 
 '^obliged," as he says in a letter written to the 
 Council of the Propagation of the Faith at 
 Lyons, ^^ to fulfil at the same time the duties 
 of a bishop, parish priest, and catechist." 
 
 Soon after his establishment in New- York, 
 he made a visitation of his diocese, an ac- 
 count of which he has given in a letter to 
 the secretary of the Association for the Pro- 
 pagation of the Faith, and which was pub- 
 lished in their Annals."^ He computes the 
 
 tion to correct them. A meeting was held in the school- 
 room on the afternoon of the Sunday on which the pastoral 
 was issued, and he presided. It was there determined that the 
 whole system should be regulated for the future in accord- 
 ance with the principles laid down by the Bishop. The 
 whole evil may be said to have ceased from that moment. 
 * Dated Rome, the 16th of March, 1830. An.,vol. iv., p. 449. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 91 
 
 number of Catholics in the city at that time 
 at 35,000, and 150,000 in the whole diocese. 
 To supply the spiritual wants of this great 
 multitude, there were in the city but four or 
 five priests, and but four churches: the old 
 Church of St. Peter's ; the new Cathedral, not 
 yet entirely finished ; the old Church of St. 
 Mary's, in Sheriff-street, purchased from the 
 Presbyterians in 1826;"^ and Christ Church, 
 in Ann-street, purchased from the Episcopa- 
 lians in 1827.f There were but nine edifices 
 in all the rest of his vast diocese, that could 
 be called churches in any proper sense of the 
 word. It might be mentioned, as affording 
 an idea of the state of the diocese at that time, 
 that he found from seven hundred to eight 
 hundred Catholics in Buffalo, instead of the 
 sixty or seventy which he had been led to 
 expect, and that he was obliged to hear the 
 confessions of two hundred of them by means 
 of an interpreter. In the letter above referred 
 
 * In 1829, notice is given of an intention to enlarge St. 
 Mary's Church, on account of the rapid increase of the 
 Catholic population in the upjjer part of the city. 
 
 f Letter to the Propag. de la Foi. — Annales, vol. iv. p. 454. 
 
92 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 to, he expresses his desire to obtain the means 
 of erecting a hospital and a college. The 
 first design he was not able to realize ; but 
 soon after his return he commenced the erec- 
 tion of a college at Nyack, on the Hudson 
 Eiver."^ This institution he intended to be on 
 the plan of the one he had so successfully found- 
 ed at Emmetsburg, including a seminary for 
 ecclesiastical students, with an ordinary colle- 
 giate school, where the ecclesiastical students 
 should take part in the instruction : a system 
 liable to many objections, but at the same time 
 not without great advantages, especially in a 
 new diocese and new country, where there are 
 not sufficient means for the erection of a pro- 
 per ecclesiastical seminary.f The good bishop 
 was, however, disappointed in the fond hopes 
 he had indulged. The building was nearly 
 completed when it was entirely destroyed by 
 fire ; and, as it had not been insured, he was 
 obliged for the time to suspend the undertak- 
 ing. A portion of the materials were ear- 
 
 * The corner-stone of the college at Njack was laid on 
 the 29th of May, 1833, by Bishop DuBois. 
 
 f See his pastoral letter on the subject, Feb. 23, 1834. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 93 
 
 ried to Brooklyn, where Mr. Cornelius Heeny 
 had offered some lots for the erection of a 
 college ; but, as he afterwards refused to give 
 a proper deed until the building was com- 
 pleted, the design was abandoned, and no 
 other effort was made until 1888, when the 
 estate of Grovemont, in Jefferson County, was 
 purchased of Mr. Lafarge.*^ 
 
 Bishop DuBois, encouraged by the success 
 that had attended upon Mount St. Mary's 
 College, was disposed to have that of his dio- 
 cese at a distance from all large cities, as being 
 in every respect more favorable to the pro- 
 gress and happiness of the students. It was 
 found, however, that in the case of the insti- 
 
 * An attempt was made, in 1829, to introduce a higher 
 order of Catholic schools into the city, and an institution 
 was opened, under the supervision of a person spoken of as 
 Brother Boylen, which seems to have been encouraged by 
 the clergy, and the more respectable portion of the laity, 
 but which, apparently through the inefficiency of the supe- 
 rior, fell through. 
 
 In 1830, the Sisters of Charity opened a pay school for 
 female children at 261 Mulberry-street. This was during 
 the absence of Bishop DuBois in Europe. The notice call- 
 ing the public attention to it was signed by the Very Rev. 
 John Power, Y. G., and by Messrs. Dennis McCarthy, Francis 
 Cooper, and Cornelius Heeny. 
 
94 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 tution at Lafargeville, the distance was too 
 great, and the access to it inconvenient; it 
 was therefore determined to obtain a proper 
 locality for the purpose nearer to the City of 
 New-York, and, in consequence, the farm 
 known as that of Eose Hill, at Fordham, West- 
 chester Co., was some years after purchased 
 by the Et. Eev. Bishop Hughes, at that time 
 coadjutor and administrator of the diocese. 
 Though not successful at the time in carrying 
 out the views which he had so much at heart 
 for the education of the youth of his diocese, 
 and the establishment of an ecclesiastical sem- 
 inary. Bishop DuBois continued to labor with 
 his usual zeal for the establishment and dif- 
 fusion of religion throughout his vast diocese. 
 He made several visitations, and did all that 
 was in his power to provide for the spiritual 
 wants of the people committed to his care; 
 and before his death he was cheered by be- 
 holding the fruits of his exertions in the gra- 
 dual increase of churches, and in the number 
 of zealous and devoted priests. In addition 
 to the churches erected in various parts of the 
 diocese, the new Church of St. Mary's, corner 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 95 
 
 of Grand and Eidge streets,^ was erected in 
 1832-33, the old one in Sheriff-street having 
 been destroyed by fire in 1831, as was sup- 
 posed, the work of an incendiary. 
 
 In 1833, it was discovered that the walls of 
 Christ Church, in Ann-street, were insecure ; 
 and the celebration of Divine worship was 
 discontinued in it, and measures were imme- 
 diately taken for the erection of the new 
 Church of St. James, in James-street. It was 
 completed in 1837, and blessed by the Eight 
 Eev. Bishop. f 
 
 In 18::l4, the new Church of St. Joseph's, 
 corner of Barrow-street and Sixth Avenue, 
 was blessed and opened for Divine service.:}: 
 
 In the same year it was found necessary to 
 purchase a large plot for a cemetery, as the 
 grounds attached to the churches were insuf- 
 ficient,§ 
 
 * The corner-stone of St. Mary's Cliurch was laid on Mon- 
 day, April 30, 1832, by Bishop DuBois. 
 
 f While the new church was building, the congregation 
 occupied the second story of a large building, 33 Ann-street. 
 The Rev. Mr. Sclineller was at that time pastor. 
 
 if The corner-stone of St. Joseph's Cliurch was laid on the 
 10th of June, 1833; blessed in March, 1834. 
 
 § The following notice fixes the time: *' Saturday, De- 
 
96 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 In the same year (1834) the Grerman Catholics 
 purchased of John J. Astor lots for a church 
 in Second-street, between First Avenue and 
 Arenue A, upon which the old Church of St. 
 Nicholas was erected. 
 
 The first priest who labored exclusively 
 amongst the German Catholics in the City 
 of New-York, was the Eev. John Eaflfeiner, 
 from the Diocese of Brixia in the Tyrol, who 
 came to this country in 1833. The first 
 place where he officiated in the City of 
 New- York, was in a small Baptist meeting- 
 house, at the corner of Delancey and Pitt 
 Streets, which they hired for the purpose. 
 In 1835; he commenced the erection of St. 
 Nicholas Church, in Second-street, and went 
 
 cember 21, 1833. — Notice is given, that the new Burying 
 Ground on Eleventh-street, between Avenue A and First 
 Avenue, is prepared to receive the dead ; the old one being 
 nearly full." The first Catholic burying ground in the 
 City of New-York was at St. Peter's Church ; the second, 
 the grounds about, and the vaults under, St. Patrick's 
 Church ; and the third on Eleventh-street. The last having 
 become full, the Alsop Farm, on Newton Creek, L. I., was 
 purchased for the purpose of a cemetery. A portion of it 
 was consecrated for the reception of the dead, under the 
 name of Calvary Cemetery, in August, 1848. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 97 
 
 to New Orleans to collect money for the pur- 
 pose."^ He remained seven years pastor of St. 
 Nicholas, having for assistant the Eev. Father 
 Bailies, O. S. B. During this period his labors 
 were not confined to the City of New- York. 
 It was chiefly through his exertions that the 
 church at Macopin,f New Jersey, was erected. 
 He was accustomed also to pay a yearly visit 
 to the German Catholics in the City of Boston, 
 and laid the foundation of the Church of the 
 Holy Trinity there. He was also the first 
 
 * The corner-stone was laid on the 28th of April, 1835, 
 by the Very Rev. Dr. Power. It was blessed and opened 
 for service on Easter Sunday, 1836. 
 
 f Three German families settled at this place some years 
 before the Revolution. They were from Baden (Silva Ni- 
 gra) ; their names were Marion, Schulster, and Stobel. Sto- 
 bel was a Protestant, but most of his descendants became Ca- 
 tholics. They form still a little Catholic colony at that place, 
 remarkable for their fervent piety. The son of the founder 
 of the colony, Marion, who was four years old when he came 
 to this country, lived to be upwards of a hundred years old. 
 In the notice of the blessing of the church, in the Truth Tel- 
 ler of December, 1849, he is spoken of as being one hundred 
 and five years old, and in good health. They were for many 
 years attended from time to time by priests from Philadel- 
 phia ; amongst others, by Father Farmer, whose memory 
 is still in benediction amongst them. When 'New Jersey 
 was divided between the Sees of Philadelphia and New- 
 York, they came under the jurisdiction of New-York. 
 
 6 
 
98 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 German priest wlio officiated at Utica, Eo- 
 chester, and Albany. He also visited the 
 Germans scattered throngli New Jersey ; and, 
 in 1839, lie erected the old Church of St. John 
 Baptist, in Thirtieth-street, and took charge 
 of it until Father Kunze came, in 1840. In 
 1841 he commenced the erection of the Church 
 of the Most Holy Trinity, in Williamsburgh, 
 where he has since resided. 
 
 In 1835, St. Paul's Church, Harlem, was 
 erected, under the supervision of the Eev. 
 Michael Curran, Sen. 
 
 In 1836, Transfiguration Church was opened 
 for service under the pastoral charge of the 
 Yery Eev. Felix Varela,"^ in Chambers-street. 
 
 * The Yery Rev. Felix Varela, D. D., was born at Ha- 
 vana, on the Island of Cuba, in I'ZSY. He early distin- 
 guished himself for his talents and zeal for every good work. 
 In 1821, he was sent by the clergy of Havana, as their 
 delegate, to the Spanish Cortes, and, after the abrogation of 
 the Constitution by Ferdinand, came to this country in 1828. 
 He landed at Philadelphia; but the next year (1824) he 
 came to New- York, and, having received faculties from 
 Bishop DuBois, he entered upon that career of charity and 
 self-devotion which has made his name one of benediction 
 in the City of New- York. He was at first assistant at St. 
 Peter's; then pastor of Christ Church, in Ann-street; and 
 afterwards of Transfiguration Church, in Chambers-street. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 99 
 
 In the same year (1836), the old Church of St. 
 Peter's having exhibited evidence of decay, 
 it was determined to erect a new church. 
 Mass was celebrated in the old church for the 
 last time on the 28th of August. The corner- 
 stone of the new edifice was laid by Bishop 
 DuBois, on the 26th of October. On the first 
 Sunday of September, 1837, mass was cele- 
 brated in the basement ; and on the 28th of 
 February, 1838, the church itself was blessed 
 and opened for Divine service by the Et. Eev. 
 
 He died at St. Augustine, Florida, where he had gone for the 
 benefit of his health, on the 18th of February, 1853. See an 
 extended notice of his life and labors in the Freeman's Jour- 
 nal j March 19, 1863. 
 
 ^he name of the Rev. Alexander Mupietti is associated 
 with that of Father Varela in the minds of the Catholics of 
 New-York. Father Mupietti, a native of Italy, was of the 
 Order of the Carthusians, and had been, I believe, on the 
 mission in Turkey. Passing through New-York on his way 
 to New Orleans, he was prevailed upon by Father Varela 
 to remain and assist him at Transfiguration Church. Though 
 afflicted with an oppressive and incurable disease, he labored 
 here for five years with a zeal which no suffering could 
 abate. His day was divided between the confessional and 
 the bedsides of the sick; and all flocked to him for advice 
 and direction. He died the death of the just on the 21st of 
 March, 1846; and the immense crowds of people who fol- 
 lowed his body to the grave, testified to the impression 
 which his virtues had made upon every heart. 
 
100 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 Bisliop Hughes. During this time, also, sev- 
 eral churches were erected in New Jersey, on 
 Long Island, and in other parts of the diocese. 
 This slow but sure progress of the Church 
 was not made without much opposition. The 
 Kev. Dr. Yarela, the Eev. Dr. Power, and the 
 Eev. Mr. Schneller, did good service to the 
 Church, by many able controversial articles, 
 defending its doctrines and principles against 
 the bitter attacks of the notorious Dr. Brown- 
 lee and others.^ Amongst the many unprin- 
 
 * Most of these articles appeared in the pages of the New- 
 York Weekly Register and Catholic Diary, edited by the 
 Rev. Mr. Schneller. It was commenced on tke 5th of Octo- 
 ber, 1833. In October, 1834, the Rev. Thomas C. Levins 
 was associated with him in the editorship. It was discon- 
 tinued in October, 1836. The first number of the Truth 
 Teller was published on the 2d of April, 1825, under the 
 editorial charge of Mr. William Denman. Many other 
 journals and periodicals, intended for the explanation and 
 defence of Catholic principles, were started, but had gen- 
 erally a comparatively short existence. The New-York 
 Catholic Register was commenced in 1839; the New- York 
 Freeman's Journal in 1840. In January, 1841, the two 
 papers were united under the title of the "New- York 
 Freeman's Journal and Catholic Register." It was first 
 edited by James W. AVhite, Esq. ; afterwards by Mr. Eu- 
 gene Casserly, John T. Devereaux, Esq., <fec. In 1842, it 
 came into the hands of the Right Rev. Bishop Hughes ; and, 
 in 1847, was sold by him to Mr. J. A. M'Master, its present 
 proprietor and editor. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YOEK. 101 
 
 cipled efforts made to arrest the progress of 
 the Catholic Church at this time, was the pub- 
 lication of false and impure books, pretending 
 to disclose the secrets of monasteries and con- 
 vents (Louise, or the Canadian ; Eebecca Eeid's 
 ISTarrative, &c.). One of the most remarkable 
 was that printed under the title of ^' Awful 
 Disclosures by Maria Monk," in 1836. A 
 more infamous attempt was probably never 
 made to bring discredit on the Catholic 
 Church. It was published with the approba- 
 tion and assistance of many Protestant minis- 
 ters; but was denounced by several of the 
 secular journals as a libelous and infamous 
 book from the very outset. For a while it 
 had a very large circulation ; and, being be- 
 lieved by the ignorant and prejudiced, ex- 
 cited a strong feeling of hostility against the 
 Church. In attempting, however, to do their 
 work thoroughly, its authors rather over-did 
 it. Its charges were so atrocious that they 
 had the effect of exciting suspicion of untruth 
 even in the minds of prejudiced persons. The 
 authorities of Montreal, and even the Protes- 
 tant clergy of the city, denounced the work 
 
102 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 as untrue soon after it was published ; but the 
 full and complete exposure of the imposture 
 was made by Colonel Stone, editor of the 
 New-York Commercial Advertiser.^ Deter- 
 mined to investigate the matter thoroughly, 
 he went to Montreal, and having been per- 
 mitted to examine every portion of the Hotel 
 Dieu, the pretended scene of the enormities 
 described in the book, he became convinced 
 that the author of it was not even acquainted 
 with the locality she pretended to describe. 
 Assured that the whole was an entire and 
 base forgery, he did not hesitate to denounce 
 it as such ; and, in the course of his exposure, 
 gave good evidence that some of the reverend 
 persons connected with it had known that it 
 was an entire fabrication from the commence- 
 
 * I suppose that the petition presented by Mr. Clay to the 
 Senate of the United States, in 1837, from sundry inhabitants 
 of Sullivan County, in this State, must have been one of the 
 fruits of this precious forgery. The petitioners pray Con- 
 gress to deny the privilege of citizenship to Roman Catholics, 
 or, in other words, to exclude persons of that creed from 
 exercising the elective franchise, unless they should renounce 
 their religion : also, to appoint sheriffs and officers to inspect 
 monasteries and convents, and other religious establishments 
 of Catliolics. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 103 
 
 merit: in fact, it could not be otherwise, for 
 the lies were so palpable, that, as the Courier 
 and Enquirer remarked at the time, ^' to read it 
 would most thoroughly remove any lingering 
 doubt that may perchance remain on the 
 minds of a few, as to the fathomless falsehood 
 of this shameless imposture."* 
 
 In 1837, the Eev. John Hughes, pastor of 
 St. John's Church, Philadelphia, was appoint- 
 ed by the Holy See as Coadjutor of New- York. 
 He was consecrated in St. Patrick's Cathedral, 
 New-York, on the 9th of January, 1838, by 
 the Et. Eev. Bishop DuBois, assisted by the 
 Et. Eev. F. P. Kenrick, Bishop of Philadel- 
 phia, and the Et. Eev. Benedict Fenwick, 
 Bishop of Boston. He immediately entered 
 upon the active discharge of the duties of his 
 office, under the title of Bishop of Basileopolis, 
 in partibus infidelium. 
 
 Bishop DuBois's health had been gradually 
 failing; and, in about a fortnight after the 
 
 * I remember seeing in the police reports of 1849, that 
 the pretended authoress was taken up in the Five Points for 
 stealing, and placed in the Tombs. She died shortly after- 
 wards, I believe, on Blackwell's Island. 
 
104 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 consecration of his coadjutoij he was attacked 
 by a partial paralysis, from which he never 
 fully recovered.^ 
 
 * The Right Rev. Bishop DuBois died at his residence in 
 Mulberry -street, on Tuesday, the 20th of December, 1842. 
 After the appointment of Bishop Hughes as administrator, 
 his health did not permit him to take any active part in the 
 government of the Diocese ; but his interest in every thing 
 that was contemplated or done for the advancement of reli- 
 gion remained unabated amidst all his infirmities. He was 
 buried at his own request under the pavement immediately 
 in front of the main entrance to the Cathedral. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 105 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Administration of Bishop Hughes — St. John's College organized — 
 Convent of the Sacred Heart — New Churches — Church for the 
 French — Fathers of Mercy — German Mission of the Redemptor- 
 ists — The School Question — Diocesan Synod — Church Debts, 
 and attempts to relieve them.- 
 
 In 1839, Bishop Hughes was appointed by 
 the Holy See Administrator of the Diocese. 
 In the previous part of the same year he had 
 purchased the property at Fordham, with the 
 intention of erecting there a college and sem- 
 inary ; and soon after being named adminis- 
 trator he made a voyage to Europe, for the 
 purpose of obtaining persons and means to 
 enable him the more efficiently to carry out 
 his plans for the good of religion. He re- 
 turned in the summer of the following year, 
 after an absence of nine mxonths. 
 
 One of the first objects to which he devoted 
 his attention after his return, was the organi- 
 se 
 
106 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 zation of the college at Fordham. The un- 
 finished mansion on the property was com- 
 pleted at a considerable expense, and put in a 
 suitable order for the purpose.^ The Eev. 
 John M'Closkey, at that time pastor of St. 
 Joseph's Church, New- York, was appointed 
 President, and an efficient Faculty was pro- 
 vided to commence at once a complete system 
 of instruction. The success of the institution 
 was such as fully to justify the undertaking.f 
 
 * It was opened for the reception of students on the 24th 
 of June, 1841, under the title of St. John s College, Fordham, 
 though for some time it was known as Rose Hill College, 
 from the name of the estate. 
 
 f In 1842, the Rev. Mr. M'Closkey resumed his pastoral 
 duties at St. Joseph's, and was succeeded by the Rev. Ambrose 
 Manahan, D. D., who was in turn succeeded bj the Rev. John 
 Harlej. Mr. Harley was eminently fitted for the important 
 post to which he had been called. Though young in years, 
 he possessed those qualities of mind and heart which inspire 
 respect and affection ; and by the steady and efficient system 
 of study and discipline which he introduced, placed the in- 
 stitution at once upon a solid foundation. In the midst, 
 howevei', of his useful and successful labors, he was seized 
 by the fatal disease which eventually de[)rived him of 
 life. During the time of his absence in Europe, where he 
 accompanied the Bishop in the hope of obtaining health, the 
 affairs of the college were administei-ed by the Rev. J. R. 
 Bayley, the vice-president. In the meanwhile, the Rt. Rev. 
 Bishop determined, in order to obtain a more permanent 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 107 
 
 One of the results of the Bishop's visit to Eu- 
 rope was the introduction and estabhshment 
 of the Community of the Sacred Heart in the 
 diocese. In the same summer (1841) that the 
 college was opened at Fordham, they com- 
 menced a school for the education of young 
 ladies in the building at the corner of Houston 
 and Mulberry streets, now occupied by the 
 Sisters of Mercy. The first Superior of the 
 Community in this diocese was Madame de 
 Galitzin, of the illustrious Eussian family of 
 that name ; the second was Madame Bathilde ; 
 and the third and present Superior, Madame 
 Hardey. 
 
 In 1844, they purchased the property of the 
 late Colonel Gibbs, at Astoria, and removed 
 
 administration, to pass the college over to the Jesuit Fa- 
 thers j and in the autumn of 1846, a number of them who 
 had previously been employed in the Diocese of Louisville, 
 arrived and took charge of it. The State Legislature had 
 granted a charter to the institution, on the I7th of March, 
 1845, conferring university privileges upon it. The first 
 Commencement was held for conferring degrees on the 15th 
 of July, 1845 ; after which the college was committed to the 
 Jesuits. The Rev. Auguste Thebaud was the first president 
 under the society. In 1851 he was succeeded by the Rev. 
 John Larkin, the present president. 
 
108 HISTOEY OF THE CATHOLIC CHUECH 
 
 to that place ; but finding tliat it was rather 
 inconveniently situated for that purpose, they 
 purchased, in 1846, the estate of the late Jacob 
 Lorillard, at Manhattanville, and fixed their 
 residence there in January, 1847. They have 
 besides a day-school in the City of New York. 
 The number of members of the Community at 
 first was seven, — two of whom came from 
 Louisiana, two from France, and three from 
 Missouri. The present number (1853) is 
 twenty-six choir religious, twenty choir no- 
 vices, and twenty coadjuting or lay sisters. 
 They have since established a house at Buffalo, 
 and another at Albany. They have been 
 most successful in the important object to 
 which they devote their labors : while they 
 give the most complete and finished education 
 in all those accomplishments which adorn the 
 female character, they pay particular attention 
 to the still more important matter of religious 
 culture. They also conduct gratuitous schools 
 for the poor children in the vicinity of their 
 establishments. 
 
 In 1810, the Church of St. John Baptist, 
 erected by the Germans on Thirtieth-street, 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 109 
 
 between tlie Seventh, and Eighth Avenues, 
 was blessed by the Et. Eev. Bishop Hughes. 
 
 On the 9th of May, 1841, he also blessed 
 the new Church of St. John the Evangelist, 
 on the corner of Fiftieth-street and the Fifth 
 Avenue. 
 
 On the 17th of March, 1842, the Bishop 
 blessed the addition which had been made to 
 St. Patrick's Cathedral, forming the new sanc- 
 tuary and sacristies. 
 
 On the 19th of March, 1842, Carroll Hall, 
 which had become somewhat celebrated on 
 account of the meetings held there in regard 
 to the School Question, was converted into a 
 church, under the invocation of St. Andrew, 
 and blessed by the Bishop. 
 
 In 1841-42, the holy and zealous Bishop of 
 Nancy, in France, Monseigneur the Count 
 Forbin Janson, being on a visit to this coun- 
 try, interested himself in the erection of a 
 church for the French population in New- 
 York ; and, chiefl}^ owing to his exertions, 
 the Church of St. Vincent of Paul, in Canal- 
 street, was commenced. Mr. Louis B. Binsse, 
 of New- York, did much by his zealous exer- 
 
110 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 tions to bring the work to a successful com- 
 pletion. It was blessed by Bishop Hughes on 
 Sunday, the 21st of August, 1842. The Eev. 
 M. Deydier, a worthy priest of the Diocese of 
 Vincennes, who happened to be in New- York 
 at that time, seeking aid for his own mission 
 at the West, took care of the parish provision- 
 ally. It was afterwards placed under the pas- 
 toral charge of the Fathers of Mercy, who, 
 under the supervision of their superior, the 
 Eev. Annet Lafont, have since discharged 
 the duties of the church. It was enlarged and 
 beautified in 1850. 
 
 In the same year (1842) the Eev. Grabriel 
 Eumpler was sent from Baltimore, by the 
 Eev. Father Alexander, Superior of the So- 
 ciety of the Eedemptorists, at the request of 
 the Bishop, to take charge of the German 
 church in Second-street ; but the trustees be- 
 ing unwilling to give the Society such control 
 over the aifairs of the church as was necessary 
 for the carrying out of its objects, the Eev. 
 Father Eumpler purchased, with the approba- 
 tion of the Bishop, twelve lots in Third-street, 
 between Avenues A and B, upon which they 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. Ill 
 
 erected a convent, schools, and the temporary 
 Church of the Most Holy Redeemer, which 
 has given place in the present year (1853) to 
 the noble church of the same name, and which 
 was solemnly consecrated by the Most Rev. 
 Archbishop, on the 28th of November, 1852. 
 The Rev. Ambrose Buchmayer, from the 
 Diocese of Strigonia, in Hungary, of the 
 Order of the Capuchins, took charge of St, 
 Nicholas when Father Rumpler left it ; and, 
 with the assistance of the Rev. Father Felicien 
 KreberS; of the same order, has since admin- 
 istered the affairs of the church. In 1848, 
 the old Church of St. Nicholas was replaced 
 by the present handsome edifice. 
 
 The year 18il was made famous in the 
 history of Catholicity in New- York, by the 
 agitation of the ^'School question," as it was 
 called. Previous to that time, the public in- 
 struction had been in the hands of a close 
 corporation, under the title of the Public 
 School Society, which administered and dis- 
 tributed according to its own good pleasure, 
 the funds provided by the city for the pur- 
 pose of education. The books used in these 
 
112 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 schools abounded with the usual stereotyped 
 falsehoods against the Catholic religion, and 
 the most vexatious and open system of pro- 
 selytism was carried on in them. The evil 
 became, finally, so great, that no alternative 
 was left for Catholic parents, but either to 
 prevent their children from attending the 
 schools at all, or to cause an entire change 
 to be made in the system ; under the advice 
 and active leadership of the Bishop, a system- 
 atic attempt was made to call the attention of 
 the community and public authorities to the 
 subject, and after a severe contest it resulted 
 in the establishment of the present Common 
 School system. The Bishop delivered two 
 lectures upon the subject, in Carroll Hall, but 
 one of the most triumphant defences of the 
 principle contended for by the Catholics, w^as 
 made by him in a speech before the Common 
 Council of New- York, in which he replied to 
 the arguments of Messrs. Ketchum and Sedg- 
 wick, who had been employed by the Public 
 School Society as their counsel, and also to Dr. 
 Bond, Dr. Spring, and others who had volun- 
 teered in its support. Experience has since 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 113 
 
 shown, however, that the new system, though 
 administered with as much impartiality and 
 fairness, as could be expected under the cir- 
 cumstances, is one, which, as excluding all 
 religious instruction, is most fatal to the mo- 
 rals and religious principles of our children, 
 and make it evident that our only resource is 
 to establish schools of our own, where sound 
 religious knowledge shall be imparted at the 
 same time with secular instruction. If we 
 needed any evidence upon the matter, it 
 would be found in the conduct and behavior 
 of those of our children who are educated 
 under the Christian Brothers, when contrasted 
 with those who are exposed to the pernicious 
 influences of a public school. 
 
 The same year (1842) was made an import- 
 ant one as regards the Catholic interest of this 
 diocese, by the holding of the first Diocesan 
 Synod. By a circular letter, dated July 28th, 
 1842, the clergy of the diocese were convoked 
 to meet at St. John's College, and, after a 
 spiritual retreat of several days, conducted 
 by the Eev. Father M'Elroy, the synod was 
 opened in St. Patrick's Cathedral, on the 15th 
 
114 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 Sunday after Pentecost (28tli August, 1842). 
 On Monday they returned to the college, and 
 continued in session three days. Twenty- 
 three decrees were put forth in regard to 
 various matters of discipline, and the admin- 
 istration of the sacraments; many practices, 
 such as the baptism of infants in private 
 houses, and others of a similar nature, which 
 had been permitted on account of the exigen- 
 cies of the times, were entirely forbidden. 
 The most strict regulations were made in re- 
 gard to secret societies, and the manner of 
 holding and administering ecclesiastical prop- 
 erty. The regulations were enforced by the 
 Bishop in a pastoral letter dated the 8th of 
 September, 1842. The Bishop's pastoral, es- 
 pecially in reference to the points regarding 
 secret societies and church property, was at- 
 tacked by the various sectarian and secular 
 newspapers, in the most violent manner, but 
 the enforcement of the decrees has been attend- 
 ed by the most happy effects upon the whole 
 Catholic body, especially in regard to these 
 particular points. 
 
 One of the greatest obstacles to the pro- 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 115 
 
 gress of the Churcti in this city was the im- 
 mense amount of debt hanging over the 
 churches."^ The increase in the number of the 
 
 * The history of St. Peter's Church affords an instance of 
 mismanagement which should serve as a warning to all 
 ecclesiastical corporations for the future. When the new 
 church was erected in 1836-8, most of the funds for the 
 purpose were obtained from deposits made with the trustees, 
 for which notes, bearing an interest of six and seven per 
 cent., were issued. The funds thus received were spent in 
 the most extravagant manner ; and when the trustees made 
 an assignment in September, 1844, on account of their 
 inability to meet their engagements, the debt of the church 
 amounted to $134,381 — 1100,381 of which consisted of 
 these notes. The assignees sold the church, which was 
 purchased by the Right Rev. Bishop ; but they were hin- 
 dered from settling the affairs of the corporation for many 
 years, on account of suits brought against them by note- 
 holders, contesting the validity of the assignment. The 
 Court of Appeals confirmed the assignment in 1849. The 
 original assignment was made to the Rev. Drs. Powers and 
 Pise ; but Dr. Powers having died in the meanwhile, and 
 Dr. Pise having resigned, the Supreme Court appointed the 
 Rev. J. R. Bayley and Mr. J. B. Nicholson as new assignees. 
 The church having come into the possession of the Most 
 Rev. Archbishop by the confirmation of the assignment, he 
 immediately took measures to have the debt paid off. The 
 Rev. William Quinn, who was appointed to the pastorship 
 of the church, exei'ted himself for that purpose, and a con- 
 siderable sum of money was raised by the zeal of the con- 
 gregation, towards the liquidation of the more pressing 
 demands. The new assignees were enabled, by the rise in 
 the value of property, to sell certain lots belonging to the 
 
116 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 Catholics was so great, and they at the same 
 time so poor, that in order to provide them 
 with places to worship God in, it was neces- 
 sary to borrow large sums of money at a 
 ruinous interest ; the evil was increased by 
 the mismanagement of the trustees, so that at 
 the time we are speaking of, all the church 
 edifices in the city were mortgaged or encum- 
 bered with debt, about to their full value. 
 As soon as the Et. Eev. Bishop Hughes was 
 named administrator of the diocese, he turned 
 his- attention to the subject, and in 1841 a 
 vigorous effort was made, under his direction, 
 to correct; and as far as possible to remedy the 
 evil. With this view he organized the Church 
 Debt Association. The first meeting for the 
 purpose was held in Carroll Hall, on the 8d of 
 May, 1841, when the Bishop proposed his plan, 
 which was promptly taken up. A system of 
 collection by district was adopted. During 
 the single year it continued in operation, about 
 
 church to great advantage; and, in the present year (1853), 
 the whole face of the notes have been paid off. It would 
 be impossible to give any idea of the heart-burnings and 
 bad feeling engendered by this mismanagement of the trus- 
 tees, or the injury done by it to religion. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 117 
 
 $17,000"^ was collected and paid out. If the 
 system could have been carried out as con- 
 templated, the most beneficial effects would 
 have followed ; but the churches which stood 
 the most in need of its help were the most 
 negligent in co-operating in the work, and the 
 others were not disposed to take all the work 
 ■upon themselves. The chief hindrance, how- 
 ever, to the success of the undertaking, was 
 the immense debt upon St. Peter's Church, 
 which made it a complete mill-stone about the 
 neck of any undertaking of a similar nature. 
 The Bishop also made an effort, when in Bel- 
 gium in 1843, to obtain a loan sufficient to 
 take up all the mortgages, and at a lower rate 
 of interest than they were obliged to pay in 
 this city. His idea was to consolidate the 
 church property in New-York, raise a loan 
 upon it in Belgium sufficient to pay off the 
 mortgages, and, by means of the Church 
 Debt Association and income of churches, to 
 pay the interest, and gradually, by means of a 
 sinking fund, pay the principal. He was not 
 able, however, to carry out his plan. 
 
 * $16,997 924c. See report in Freeman's Journal, 1842. 
 
118 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 The system adopted at the Diocesan Synod, 
 and carried out by liim in his ^'Eules for the 
 Administration of Churches without Trustees," 
 issued in 1845, has had great success. A stop 
 was put to all careless and useless expenditure 
 — the plan of raising money by deposits was 
 discouraged — regular reports of the condition 
 of churches were made each year — and the 
 result has been, that all the Catholic Churches 
 in the diocese are gradually freeing themselves 
 from debt, and are able to extend their use- 
 fulness in the establishment and support of 
 parochial schools, and other ways. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 119 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Bishop M'Closkey appointed Coadjutor — Native Excitement — Sis= 
 ters of Mercy — Tlieir House of Protection — Sisters of Charity — 
 The Diocese divided — New-York an Archiepiscopal See — New 
 Churches— College of St. Francis Xavier — Present State of Ca- 
 tholicity in the City. 
 
 The exigencies of the diocese requiring it 
 an assistant, the Eev. John M^Closkey, Pastor 
 of St. Joseph's Church, was, in 1844, created 
 Bishop of Axiern, in partibus infidelium, and 
 Coadjutor of New- York. He was consecrated 
 on the 10th March, 1844, at the same time with 
 the Eev. William Quarter, appointed Bishop of 
 Chicago, Illinois, and the Eev. Andrew Byrne, 
 appointed Bishop of Little Eock, in Arkan- 
 sas. The ceremony was performed in St. 
 Patrick's Cathedral, by the Et. Eev. Bishop 
 Hughes, assisted by the Et. Eev. Bishop Fen- 
 wick, of Boston, and the Et. Eev. Bishop 
 
120 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 Whelan, then of Eichmond, and now of 
 Wheeling, Yirginia. Bishop M'Closkey was 
 born in Brooklyn, Long Island, and educated 
 at Mount St. Mary's College, and in Eome. 
 He was ordained priest on the 12th of Jan- 
 uary, 1834, by Bishop DuBois, was the first 
 President of St. John's College, and for many 
 years Pastor of St. Joseph's Church. In 1850 
 he was transferred to the newly erected See 
 of Albany. 
 
 The bad spirit which in the City of Phila- 
 delphia resulted in the destruction of several 
 Catholic Churches, and many scenes of vio- 
 lence, in 1844, also extended itself somewhat 
 to New-York. For several weeks much ex- 
 citement existed, and a spark would at any 
 time have set the whole in a blaze. The good 
 conduct and forbearance of the Catholic body, 
 however, averted the evil, and prevented any 
 outbreak. On this occasion the bishop ad- 
 dressed a letter to Mr. Harper, mayor of the 
 city, and another to Col. Stone, editor of the 
 Commercial Advertiser, ^' On the moral causes 
 which have produced the evil spirit of the 
 times." These letters had a very happy effect 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YOKK. 121 
 
 upon the public mind, and materially strength- 
 ened the position of the Catholics throughout 
 the United States. They were republished 
 by the secular press throughout the country, 
 and tended, by their straightforward and cou- 
 rageous tone, and successful vindication of 
 Catholics upon those points on which they 
 were assailed, to allay very much the bitter 
 feelings which had been excited. 
 
 In the meanwhile the increase in the num- 
 ber of Catholics made the want of priests more 
 evident ; and the bishop determined to erect 
 an Ecclesiastical Seminary, where such young- 
 men as wished to devote themselves to the 
 service of God might be trained in ecclesiasti- 
 cal learning. The corner-stone of the new 
 edifice which was erected on a portion of the 
 college property, was laid on the 27th March, 
 1845, by the Et. Eev. Bishop M'Closkey, Co- 
 adjutor Bishop. The Et. Eev. Bishop Hughes 
 delivered an address on the occasion, which 
 contained many interesting facts connected 
 with the rise and progress of Catholicity in 
 the diocese. The faithful Catholics through- 
 out the diocese contributed generously to the. 
 
 6 
 
122 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 new work, and the present handsome edifice 
 and chapel were erected in the course of the 
 summer at a cost of about forty thousand 
 dollars. 
 
 In 1846, the diocese received a most impor- 
 tant addition to its charitable institutions in 
 the Order of the Sisters of Mercy. In the 
 spring of that year, six choir religious, from 
 Dubhn,^ came to this country, and immedi- 
 ately entered upon the faithful discharge of 
 those corporal works of mercy — the visitation 
 of the sick, and the instruction of the ignorant 
 — for which their institute was formed. They 
 were first located in West Washington Place, 
 but the building not being sufficiently large 
 for the purpose of a House of Protection, the 
 property at the corner of Houston and Mul- 
 berry streets was purchased in 1848, and, in 
 1849, a large and commodious House of Pro- 
 tection was built, in addition to the building 
 already upon it.f A generous subscription 
 
 * The Archbishop was led to seek for them by the desti- 
 tution and consequent danger, ahke to faith and morals, to 
 which so many poor girls are exposed in a large city. 
 
 f The establishment has cost about r$60,000. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 123 
 
 was made by the Catholics of the city towards 
 defraying the expense. 
 
 The good done by this devoted body of 
 women is incalculable. The register of the 
 institution shows that, up to the 1st of March, 
 1853, seven thousand three hundred and six- 
 ty-five poor girls were placed in respectable 
 situations, one thousand six hundred and fifty- 
 six of the most destitute of whom had been 
 protected in the institution. Many hundred 
 sick persons had been visited, consoled and 
 instructed, and, in a large number of cases, 
 their temporal wants relieved. The sisters 
 also visit the city prisons twice a week ; they 
 also have a free school for poor children, where 
 about two hundred (as many as their limited 
 space will allow) are educated. They also 
 give instruction in their religious duties to a 
 large number of persons every day. The 
 community now numbers about thirty mem- 
 bers, including lay sisters. 
 
 In 1846, it having been found very in- 
 convenient to carry out certain regulations 
 made by the Superiors of the Sisters of 
 Charity, at Emmetsburg, in reference to the 
 
,124 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 administration of the institutions under their 
 care, the Council of the community deter- 
 mined to recall the sisters, with the permis- 
 sion, however, to such as might prefer to 
 remain in the diocese to do so, and form the 
 nucleus of a community, devoted to the same 
 holy object, and living under the same rule. 
 The Yery Eev. Superior of the Sisters of St. 
 Joseph's, at Emmetsburg, addressed a circular 
 to the sisters in the Diocese of New- York, dis- 
 pensing such as were disposed to remain from 
 the vow of obedience, and granting the neces- 
 sary permission. Of the fifty sisters at that time 
 in the city, thirty-two remained, and continued 
 to carry on the various institutions under their 
 care in the same manner as before. An elec- 
 tion was held on the 30th of December, 1846, 
 for the purpose of choosing the proper officers 
 of the new society, and Sister Elizabeth (Boyle), 
 who had presided for so many years over the 
 Orphan Asylum, in Prince-street, was chosen 
 superior. The Eev. William Starrs, Pastor 
 of St. Mary's Church, was appointed to be the 
 ecclesiastical superior of the community. A 
 handsome property was purchased at Bloom- 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 125 
 
 ingdale (near the corner of Fifth Avenue and 
 107th-street), in 1847, for the foundation of a 
 Mother House, under the name of Mount St. 
 Vincents. A boarding-school was opened in 
 connection with it, which has. been very pros- 
 perous. The community has also increased, 
 and at present (1853) numbers one hundred 
 and forty -three members. Since their reor- 
 ganization, they have also sent out a colony to 
 Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1849, having charge 
 of an orphan asylum and free school. The 
 large asylum on Fiftieth-street, for boys, was 
 opened in 1851. The Hospital of St. Vincent 
 of Paul, which is also under their charge, was 
 opened in 1849: they have also a free school 
 attached to the Mother House, and another at 
 Jersey City, opened the present year (1853). 
 
 The Jubilee, published on the accession of 
 the Sovereign Pontiff, Pius IX., was com- 
 menced in this diocese in March, 1847 : the 
 exercises were well attended, and produced 
 abundant fruit. 
 
 In August, 1847, the bulls erecting the new 
 Sees of Albany and Buffalo were received. 
 The Rt. Rev. Bishop M'Closkey, Bishop of 
 
126 HISTOKY OF THE CATHOLIC CHUKCH 
 
 Axiern in partibus and Coadjutor of New- 
 York, was transferred to Albany; and the 
 Eev. John Timon, Superior of the Congrega- 
 tion of the Mission, was made Bishop of Buf- 
 falo. He was consecrated in St. Patrick's 
 Cathedral on the 17th of October, 1847, by 
 the Et. Eev. Bishop Hughes, assisted by the 
 Et. Eev. William Walsh, Bishop of Halifax, 
 Nova Scotia, and the Et. Eev. John M'Clos- 
 key. Bishop of Albany. 
 
 In 1848, the Brothers of the Christian 
 Schools were introduced into the diocese, with 
 the approbation and cordial co-operation of 
 the Et. Eev. Bishop, under the auspices of the 
 Eev. Mr. Lafont, Pastor of the Church of St. 
 Yincent of Paul. They have a select school 
 and pensionate connected with their house in 
 Canal-street, and have charge of several paro- 
 chial schools in the city and Brooklyn. They 
 are extending their labors as rapidly as possi- 
 ble, with the most beneficial effects, to the 
 rising generation of Catholics. 
 
 The new Church of St. Bridget, erected 
 through the exertions of the Eev. Eichard 
 Kein, near the corner of Eighth-street and 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-YORK. 127 
 
 Avenue B, opposite Tompkins Square, was 
 blessed by the Et. Eev. Bishop, on the 2d of 
 December, 1848. On the 23d of December, 
 the new Church of St. Stephen, in Twenty- 
 seventh-street, near Madison Square, erected 
 under the supervision of the Eev. Dr. Cum- 
 mings, was blessed by the Et. Eev. Bishop. 
 
 In 1850, the Fathers of the Society of Jesus 
 purchased a number of lots on Fifteenth-street, 
 between the Fifth and Sixth Avenues, on 
 which they immediately commenced the erec- 
 tion of the College of St. Francis Xavier, for 
 day scholars. It was opened in September, 
 1850, and has since been in successful opera- 
 tion. At the same time the Church of St 
 Francis Xavier, fronting on Sixteenth-street 
 and abutting on the college, Avas erected under 
 the direction of the Eev. Father Eyan. It was 
 dedicated by the Most Eev. Archbishop on the 
 6th of July, 1851. They have since erected a 
 large building, as a free school for boys, which 
 was opened in May, 1853. 
 
 The brief of our Holy Father, Pope Pius 
 IX,, erecting New- York into an Archiepisco- 
 pal See, with the Sees of Boston, Hartford, 
 
128 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 Albany, and Buffalo as Suffragan Sees, was 
 received on the 8d of October, 1850. The 
 Most Eev. Archbishop sailed for Europe the 
 following month, and had the honor of receiv- 
 ing the Pallium from the hands of the Holy 
 Father himself. 
 
 I have thus brought this brief and imperfect 
 sketch of the history of Catholicity on this 
 island down to the time when New-York was 
 erected into a Metropolitan See. Since then, 
 several new churches have been built or com- 
 menced, and the various institutions already 
 founded, have gone on prosperously in their 
 career of usefulness. The corner-stone of the 
 new Church of St. Lawrence, at Yorkville, 
 was laid by the Most Eev. Archbishop, on the 
 20th of October, 1851. The Church of St. 
 Ann," in Astor Place, was purchased in Feb- 
 ruary, 1852, and blessed on the 2d of June in 
 the same year. Sites for new churches have 
 
 " This church was originally erected in Murray-street, by 
 the Presbyterians, in 1812, for Dr. Mason, one of their most 
 distinguished ministers. In 1842, the lot upon which it 
 stood in Murray-street was sold, and the building taken 
 down and rebuilt in Astor Place, stone for stone. The con- 
 gregation afterwards became embarrassed, and sold out. 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW- YORK. 129 
 
 been purchased in various parts of the island. 
 The Church of the Holy Cross, in Forty- 
 second-street, between the Eighth and Ninth 
 Avenues — the corner-stone of which was laid 
 on the 25th of November, 1852 — is rapidly 
 progressing. The Church of St. John the 
 Baptist, in Thirty-first-street, has been rebuilt 
 in a style of great beauty. The Church of the 
 Transfiguration, in Chambers-street, which 
 was purchased from the Scotch Presbyterians 
 in 1831, having been always too small for a 
 Catholic Church, and becoming to a certain 
 extent unnecessary, on account of the move- 
 ment of the population towards the upper part 
 of the city, was sold in 1853. With the money 
 obtained for it, its debts were paid ; the Epis- 
 copal Church, called Zion Church, a large 
 substantial stone edifice, at the corner of Mott 
 and Cross streets, was purchased ; and a balance 
 remains on hand for the purchase or erection 
 of another church, as soon as an opportunity 
 occurs. Zion Church was blessed and opened 
 for Divine service under the title of Transfig- 
 uration Church, on the 14th of May, 1853. 
 The property on Twenty-seventh-street, near 
 6^- 
 
ISO HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 Madison Avenue, upon whicli the temporary 
 Church of St. Stephen had been erected, being 
 found unfitted for a church, on account of its 
 proximity to the Harlem Eailroad Depot, was 
 sold, and a more eligible site purchased on 
 Twenty-eighth-street, between the Third and 
 Lexington Avenues, upon which the new and 
 elegant Church of St. Stephen, under the 
 charge of the Eev. Dr. Cummings (the corner- 
 stone of which was laid on the 17th of April, 
 1853), is being erected. Churches have also 
 been commenced at Manhattanville and Car- 
 mansville. The Brothers of the Christian 
 Schools are also erecting a suitable head- 
 house and schools on property purchased for 
 that purpose at Manhattanville. 
 
 But though much has been done, much re- 
 mains to be accomplished. The ''two hun- 
 dred Catholics" of 1785 were better provided 
 for than the two hundred thousand who now 
 dwell within the boundaries of the City of 
 New- York. It is true, that no exertions could 
 have kept pace with the tide of emigration 
 which has been pouring in upon our shores, 
 especially during the last few years. The 
 
ON THE ISLAND OF NEW-\t!>j:iK. 131 
 
 number of priests, churches, and schools, 
 rapidly as they have increased, are entirely 
 inadequate to the wants of our Catholic popu- 
 lation, and render it imperative that every 
 exertion should he make to supply the defi- 
 ciency. What has been done so far, has, by 
 God's blessing, been accomplished by the Ca- 
 tholics of Xe\Y-York themselves. Compara- 
 tively very little assistance has been received 
 from the liberality of our brethren in other 
 countries. And whilst we have done so much 
 for ourselves, we have contributed liberally 
 towards the erection of churches and other 
 works of piety in various parts of the United 
 States. 
 
 Though the Catholic Church in this country 
 has increased much more largely by conver- 
 sions than is generally supposed, yet, for the 
 most part, its rapid development has been ow- 
 ing to the emigration of Catholics from foreign 
 countries ; and, if we desire to make this in- 
 crease permanent, and to keep the children in 
 the faith of their fathers, we must, above all 
 things, take measures to imbue the minds of 
 the risini^ generation of Catholics with sound 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 A LIST OF PRIESTS WHO HAVE DIED IN THE 
 
 DIOCESE OF NEW-YORK. 
 
 Rev. William V. O'Brien, May, 1816; buried under St. 
 
 Peter's Church. 
 Rev. Michael O'Gorman, November, 1824; buried in front 
 
 of St. Patrick's Cathedral. 
 Rev. Richard Bulger, November, 1824; buried with the 
 
 Rev. Mr. O'Gorman. 
 Rev. Charles Brennan, March, 1826; buried with the Rev. 
 
 Mr. O'Gorman and the Rev. Mr. Bulger. 
 Rev. Peter Malou, Assistant Priest of St. Peter's Church ; 
 
 died at lOY Duane-street, on Friday at 12 o'clock, 18 27; 
 
 buried under St. Patrick's Cathedral. 
 Rev. William Taylor, for several years on the Mission in 
 
 the City of New-York ; died at Paris in 1828. 
 Rev. Luke Berry, Pastor of St. Mary's Church ; died on the 
 
 6th of December, 1831, aged 35 yeai's. He was the first 
 
 Priest ordained by Bishop DuBois. 
 Rev. N. M'Namara, died at Rochester, New- York, on the 
 
 2d of August, 1832. He was at one time Assistant at St. 
 
 Peter's Church. 
 Rev. James Smith, A.ssistant at St. Peter's ; died at sea on 
 
 his voyage from New-York to Liverpool, January, 1832. 
 Rev. William Byrnes, on the Mission for some time in New- 
 Jersey ; died at Plattsburg, in 183Y. 
 Rev. Gregory B. Pardow, on the Mission at Newark, N. J. : 
 
 died on the 24th of April, 1838. 
 Rev. Paul Kohlman, formerly Assistant at St. Peter's ; died 
 
 at Georgetown College, on the 11th of October, 1838, 
 
 aged 68 years. 
 
134: APPENDIX. 
 
 Rev. James Neale, some time Assistant at St. Peter's ; died 
 
 in New- York, on the 6th of November, 1838. 
 Rev. James Drummond, died on the 4th of October, 1839. 
 Rev. -Patrick Foley, died at Ogdensburg, N. Y., on the 14th 
 
 of August, 1839, aged 45 years. 
 Rev. William Grace, Pastor at Auburn, N. Y. ; died on 
 
 the 9th of April, 1840. 
 Rev. Bernard MArdle, Pastor at Belleville, N. J.; died on 
 
 the 30th of August, 1840. 
 Rev. Francis Farrell, Pastor at Utica; died on the 5th of 
 
 December, 1840. 
 Rev. James Dougherty, attached to St. James's Church, 
 
 Brooklyn; died on the 29th of March, 1841. 
 Rev. Carberry J. Byrne, died at St. Mary's Parish House, on 
 
 the 19th of March, 1842; buried imder the Cathedral. 
 Rev. Thomas C. Levins, died on the 6tli of May, 1843, aged 
 
 54 years; buried under the Cathedral. 
 Rev. Nicholas Mertz, died at Eden, on the 10th of August, 
 
 1844, aged 81 years. 
 Rev. Patrick Kenny, died at Charleston, S. C, on the 21st 
 
 of March, 1845. 
 Rev. Alexander Muppietti, died on the 21st of March, 1846. 
 Rev. John Harley, died on the 8th of December, 1846, aged 
 
 30 years. 
 Rev. Patrick Murphy, Pastor of Staten Island ; died on the 
 
 11th of February, 1848 ; buried at New Brighton. 
 Rev. John N. Smith, Pastor of St. James's, New-York ; 
 
 caught the ship fever in administering the last sacrament 
 
 to the Rev. Mr. Murphy, and died on the 16th of February, 
 
 1848 ; buried under the Cathedral. 
 Rev. William Whelan, Pastor at Buffalo; died on the 2'7th 
 
 of April, 184^7. 
 Rt. Rev. William Quarters, for many years Pastor of St. 
 
 Mary's, and first Bishop of Chicago; died on the lOtli of 
 
 April, 1848. 
 Rev. Felix Larkin, Pastor of St. John's, Fiftieth-street; died 
 
 on the 20thofMay, 1848. 
 
APPENDIX. 135 
 
 Rev. Peter Le Breton, S. J., died at ISew-York, on tlie 10th 
 
 of October, 1848. 
 Yevj Rev. John Power, Y. G. ; died on the 14th of April, 1849. 
 Rev. Miles Maxwell, Pastor at Rondoiit; died on the 31st 
 
 of August, 1849. 
 Rev. James Cummiskey, Assistant at St. Columba's Church ; 
 
 died on the 14th of Api'il, 1850. 
 Rev. Patrick Waters, died on the 28th of April, 1850, of ship 
 
 fever, caught in the discharge of his duties on Ward's Island. 
 Rev. Matthew Higgins, Pastor of Westchester ; died at his 
 
 father's residence, in Ireland, on the 5th of March, 1851, 
 Rev. James Quinn, Pastor at Paterson, N. J. ; died on the 
 
 13th of June, 1851. 
 Rev. Henry Du Merle, S. J,, died at Montreal, on the 21st 
 
 of June, 1851. 
 Rev. Adolphus Kettel, of the Order of the Redemptorists; 
 
 died on the 22d of June, 1851, of ship fever, caught in the 
 
 discharge of his duties on Ward's Island. 
 Rev. John McDonnell, S. J., died atFordham, on the 14th of 
 
 January, 1852. 
 Rev. Charles Schianski, S. J. died at Montreal, on the 5th of 
 
 March, 1852. 
 Rev. Wenceslaus Cublu, of the Redemptorists: died on the 
 
 nth of March, 1852, of ship fever. 
 Rev. Charles Landsheer, of the Redemptoriats; died on the 
 
 1st of April, 1852, of ship fever. 
 Rev. John Walsh, Pastor at Harlem; died on the 8tli of 
 
 August, 1852. 
 Rev. John J. Regan, Assistant at St. Paul's, Brooklyn ; died 
 
 on the 10th of December, 1852. 
 Rev. Thomas Mulrine, Assistant at the Cathedral ; died on 
 
 the 25th of February, 1853. 
 Very Rev. Felix Yarela, D. D., died at St. Augustine, Florida, 
 
 on the 28th of February, 1853. 
 Rev. Patrick Duffy, Pastor at Xewburg, X. Y. ; died on the 
 
 20th of June, 1853. 
 
136 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
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142 
 
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146 
 
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148 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 A Table of the Number of Priests in the Diocese at 
 various times, from 1822 to 1853, inclusive. 
 
 YEAR 
 
 1822 
 
 BISHOP. 
 
 COADJUTORS. 
 
 PRIESTS. 
 
 8 
 
 one 
 
 none 
 
 1836 
 
 one 
 
 none 
 
 35 
 
 1837 
 
 one 
 
 none 
 
 40 
 
 1838 
 
 one 
 
 one 
 
 45 
 
 1 1839 
 
 one 
 
 one 
 
 58 
 
 1840 
 
 one 
 
 one 
 
 61 
 
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 one 
 
 one 
 
 66 
 
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 one 
 
 one 
 
 67 
 
 1843 
 
 one 
 
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 73 
 
 1844 
 
 one 
 
 one 
 
 85 
 
 1845 
 
 one 
 
 one 
 
 101 
 
 1846 
 
 one 
 
 one 
 
 111 
 
 1847 
 
 one 
 
 one 
 
 124 
 
 In 1848 the 
 
 Diocese was divided into three Dioceses: 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 PRIESTS IN THE 
 DIOCESE OF NEW-YORK. 
 
 IN THE 
 THREE DIOCESES, 
 
 1848 
 
 88 
 
 140 
 
 1849 
 
 92 
 
 160 
 
 1850 
 
 99 
 
 187 
 
 1851 
 
 109 
 
 223 
 
 1852 
 
 122 
 
 242 
 
 1853 
 
 134 
 
 258 
 
APPENDIX. 149 
 
 PKOCEEDINGS IN THE CONVENTION OF 1776 
 AS TO CATHOLICS. 
 
 State of New- York, 1776. 
 The Colony of New-York had, by its representatives 
 in the General Congress, declared itself a free and inde- 
 pendent State, absolved of all allegiance to the British 
 Crown ; and following the recommendation given by 
 that Congress (on 31st May, 1776) to form a State gov- 
 ernment, the Congress of New-York called a conven- 
 tion to settle the frame of the new government. The 
 Convention met on the 6th March, 1777, at Kingston. 
 
 NATURALIZATION. 
 
 On the 21st, the 36th paragraph of the proposed 
 Constitution, relating to the naturalization of persons 
 coming into this State, was read. The same being again 
 read, Mr. Jay moved, and was seconded by Mr. Duns- 
 comb, that between the word " State " and the word 
 '^ shall " the following words be inserted, to wit : " and 
 abjure and renounce all allegiance and subjection to 
 all and every foreign king, prince, potentate, and stati, 
 in all matters ecclesiastical and civil." Debates arose 
 thereon. — Postponed. — Journal Conv.^ p. 846. 
 
 26th. Mr. Morris, after some attempts to modify it, 
 proposed ^^ that it shall be in the discretion of the Legis- 
 lature to naturalize all such persons and in such man- 
 ner as they shall think proper." Mr. Jay again proposed 
 his amendment, which was finally carried. 
 
 April 1st. Mr. Morris again moved to obliterate the 
 whole. Debates arose, some amendments were made, 
 
150 APPENDIX. 
 
 but Morris's motion lost, by 5. Philip Livingston gave 
 notice of his intention to move for a reconsideration. 
 
 As passed it read thus : — 
 
 " XLIL And this convention doth further, in the name 
 and by the authority of the good people of this State, 
 Ordain, determine, and declare, that it shall be in the 
 discretion of the Legislature to naturalize all such per- 
 sons and in such manner as they shall think proper ; 
 provided all such of the persons so to be by them natu- 
 ralized, as being born in parts beyond sea and out of 
 the United States of America, shall come to settle in 
 and become subjects of this State, shall take an oath of 
 allegiance to this State, and abjure and renounce all 
 allegiance and subjection to all and every foreign king, 
 prince, potentate, and state, in all matters ecclesiastical 
 as well as oivil.'" — JouTnal of the Provincial Conv.^ vol. 
 40, 1842. 
 
 TOLEEATION. 
 
 March 20. The section as to religious toleration was 
 brought up, which declared " that the free toleration 
 of religious profession and worship, shall for ever here- 
 after be allowed to all mankind." Mr. Jay moved an 
 amendment, '^ Provided that nothing in this clause con- 
 tained shall be construed to extend the toleration of 
 any sect or denomination of Christians, or others, by 
 whatever name distinguished, who inculcate and hold 
 for true, doctrines inconsistent with the safety of ciyil 
 society, of and concerning which the Legislature of this 
 State shall from time to time judge and determine." 
 
 Many debates arose, and Jay finally withdrew it, and 
 proposed, ''Except the professors of the religion of the 
 Church of Rome, who ought not to hold lands in or be 
 admitted to a participation of the civil rights enjoyed 
 by the members of this State, until such time as the 
 said professors shall appear in the Supreme Court of 
 tliis State, and there most solemnly swear, that they 
 
APPEND!^. 151 
 
 verily believe in their consciences that no pope, priest, 
 or foreign authority on earth, hath power to absolve 
 the subjects of this State from their allegiance to the 
 same. And further, that they renounce and believe to 
 be false and wicked the dangerous and damnable doc- 
 trine that the Pope, or any other earthly authority, hath 
 power to absolve men from their sins, described in and 
 prohibited by the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and particu- 
 larly that no pope, priest, or foreign authority on earth, 
 hath power to absolve them from the obligation of this 
 oath." 
 
 Long debates arose, and the motion was lost, 19 to 
 10.— p. 844. 
 
 21. Mr. Jay moved, seconded by Wisner, to amend by 
 adding, '' provided that the liberty of conscience hereby 
 granted shall not be construed to encourage licentious- 
 ness, or be used in such manner as to disturb or endan- 
 ger the safety of the State." 
 
 Mr. Morris moved fpr the sense of the House, 
 whether it was not the same as that proposed and 
 withdrawn by Mr. Jay the day before. The House de- 
 cided it was not. 
 
 R. Livingston proposed as a substitute for Mr. Jay's 
 the following amendment, " provided that this tolera- 
 tion ghall not extend to justify the professors of any 
 religion in disturbing the peace or violating the laws 
 of the State." Lost by 19 to 11.— p. 846. 
 
 The amendment of Mr. Jay was then carried, 19 to 11. 
 
 April 1. Morris moved amendments, making it as 
 it now stands, and his motion prevailed. It reads : 
 
 ^'Provided, that the liberty of conscience hereby 
 granted shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of 
 licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the 
 peace or safety of this State." — Jour. Conv., p. 860. 
 
152 APPENDIX. 
 
 CATHOLICITY IN NEW-YORK IN 1822. 
 
 The following is the full account of the Diocese of 
 New- York, as published in the Almanac of 1822. The 
 reader of the preceding pages will be able himself to 
 correct its inaccuracies : 
 
 BISHOPRIC OF NEW-YORK. 
 Rt. Rev'd Dr. John Connolly, Bishop. 
 
 The bishopric of New- York comprehends the whole 
 State of New- York, together with the northern parts of 
 Jersey. The residence of the Bishop is in New- York. 
 This city contains two Catholic churches, viz., the Ca- 
 thedral (St. Patrick's), and St. Peter's. 
 
 The Cathedral is a superb edifice, 120 feet long by 80 
 feet wide, finished in a superior manner in the inside, 
 and is capable of holding 6000 people. The exterior, 
 as to the ornamental part, is yet unfinished. The style 
 of the building is Gothic ; and from its great extent and 
 solidity, must have cost upwards of 90,000 dollars. No 
 church in the United States (the Cathedral in Baltimore 
 excepted) can compare with it. 
 
 St. Peter's, which is the first Catholic church erected 
 in N'ew-York, is a neat, convenient, and handsome build- 
 ing. It was erected about 20 years ago, at which time 
 the number of Catholics did not exceed three hundred. 
 At present they number upwards of twenty thousand. 
 They are mostly natives of Ireland and France. 
 
 There are in this city two extensive Catholic charity 
 schools, conducted upon a judicious plan, and supp-ortcd 
 
APPENDIX. lOo 
 
 partly by the funds of the State, and partly by moneys 
 raised twice a year by the two congregations. Inde- 
 pendently ofthese two establishments, the Emmettsburg 
 Sisters of Charity have a branch here of their pions in- 
 stitution, exclusively for the benefit of female orphan 
 children, whom they board, clothe, and educate. Their 
 house fronts the side of the Cathedral, and is one of the 
 most healthy situations in iSTew-York. 
 
 In Albany there is likewise a Catholic church — a neat 
 and compact building. It was erected about 14 years 
 ago, and is attended by a growing congregation. The 
 clergyman officiating in this church, visits occasionally 
 Troy, Lansingburgh, Johnstown and Schenectady. 
 
 In Utica, a large and beautiful church has lately been 
 erected and consecrated, v^hich reflects great honor 
 on tlie Catholics residing there. Their number is not 
 great ; neither are they generally wealthy — their zeal 
 however/(?r the house of God^ and the x^lcice where his 
 glory dtcelleth^ has enabled them to surmount every ob- 
 stacle to the exercise of their piety. From the multitude 
 flocking annually to this flourishing village, no doubt 
 can be entertained but this will shortly become one of 
 the most numerous and respectable congregations in 
 the diocese. 
 
 In Rome (15 miles distant from Utica), there is as 
 yet no Catholic church, but a beautiful lot is reserved, by 
 the liberality of Dominick Lynch, Esq., on which one 
 will be erected, as soon as the number of Catholics set- 
 tling there will render its erection necessary. The situ- 
 ation of this little town is healthy and beautiful. 
 
 In Auburn, an agreeable little towm, still farther dis- 
 tant in the State, there is likewise a Catholic church, 
 recentlv erected. 
 
154: APPENDIX. 
 
 In New Jersey, in the town of Paterson, there is also 
 one, w^hich is regularly attended by a clergyman. 
 
 In Carthage, near the Black River, a small and neat 
 church has been lately erected. 
 
 THE FOLLOAVING ARE THE CATHOLIC CLER- 
 GYMEN OFFICIATING IN THIS DIOCESE. 
 
 NEW- YORK, 
 
 Rt. Rev'd De. John Connolly, ) St. Patrick^ Catlie- 
 
 Rey. Michael O^ Gorman, \ dral. 
 
 Rey. Chaeles Feench, ) o* -n ^ -, 
 
 Rev. John Power, f St.Peier.. 
 
 Rey. Me. Bulger, Patterson. 
 
 Rey. Michael Carroll, Albany and vicinity. 
 
 Rey. John Farnan, Utica and vicinity. 
 
 Rev. Pateick Kelly, Auburn.^ Rochester.^ and other 
 
 districts in the Western parts of this State. 
 Rey. Philip Laeissy, attends regularly at Staten-Isl- 
 
 and., and different other congregations along the 
 
 Hudson Rixer, 
 
 CATHOLICITY IN NEV^-YORK IN 1854. 
 
 To judge of the progress of Catholicity in New-York, 
 the reader may compare this account with that in the 
 Catholic Almanac of 1854. In the same territory, 
 there are now five dioceses, nearly three hundred 
 priests, three colleges, numerous free schools, com- 
 munities of seven religious orders, twelve orphan 
 asylums, with several hospitals and other charitable 
 institutions. 
 
APPKNDIX. lor 
 
 ACTS RELATING TO CATHOLICS AND CATHOLIC 
 
 INSTITUTIONS IN THE COLONY AND 
 
 STATE OF NEW-YORK. 
 
 1683, Oct. 30. — Charter of Liberties, granting Toleration. 
 
 1691. — Bill of Rights, excepting Catholics from Toleration. 
 
 1700, July 31. — Against Priests and Jesuits ; first penalty, Impris- 
 
 onment; second. Death. 
 
 1701, Sept. 11. — Papists and Popish Recusants disfranchised. 
 
 1777, April 20. — Constitution. Free exercise of Religion; but For- 
 eigners, when naturalized, to abjure all Ecclesias- 
 tical Allegiance. 
 
 1784, April 6. — Act of Religious Corporations. 
 
 1784, April 20.— Law of July 31, 1700, repealed. 
 
 1787, Feb. 21.— Constitution of the United States reported, and 
 
 1789, Mar. 4. — Same went into operation, repealing the Naturali- 
 zation Clause in that of New-York. 
 
 1801, Mar. 27. — Act incorporating Religious Societies. 
 
 1806, Mar. 14. — Act amendmg the same. 
 
 1806, Mar. 21.— Act giving St. Peter's Free School public Money. 
 
 1813, April 5. — Act for incorporating Religious Societies (now in 
 
 force) . 
 
 1814, Mar. 25. — Act incorporating Ursuline Convent. 
 
 1816, April 12 —Act vesting in St. Peter's Church the Right of the 
 
 State in the property of Ann E. Graham, deceased. 
 
 1817, April 11. — Act incorporating St. Peters's Church, New-York. 
 1817, April 14. — Act incorporating St. Patrick's Cathedral, N. Y. 
 1817, April 15. — Act incorporating Roman Catholic Benevolent So- 
 ciety. 
 
 1819, Mar. 5.— Act amending Act of April 5, 1813. 
 
 1820, April 1.-- -Act giving Roman Catholic Benevolent Society 
 
 power to bind out Children, part of School Money, 
 
 and the Right of the State in the Property oi' 
 
 Robert Finn. 
 1824, April 3. — Act amending Act of April 11, 1817, as to elections. 
 1824, Jan. 2«.— Christ's P. E. Church, in Ann-street, changed to 
 
 Christ Church, in Ann-street. 
 1826, Feb, lo,— Act amending Act of April 11, 1817, not to forfeit for 
 
 omitting to elect, (Now in force ) 
 
15B APl'KNDIX. 
 
 1830, April -20.— Act incorporating St. Mary's Church, New- York. 
 1832, April 25. — Act amending- the same, 
 
 1834, April 3 — Act applying the Provisions of the Act of March 30, 
 
 1811, concerning the O. A. Society in the City of 
 New- York, to the Orphan Asylum in Prince- 
 street. 
 
 May 6. — Act incorporating the R. C. O. A. Society, in the City 
 
 of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings. 
 
 1835, May 2.— Act incorporating " The Asylum for the Relief of 
 
 the Children of poor Widowers and Widows;" in- 
 come not to exceed $50 for each child, of realty and 
 personalty. 
 
 1836, April 20.— R. C. Benevolent Society changed to R. C. O. Asy- 
 
 lum in the City. To last twenty Years. 
 
 1837, April 3. — Act incorporating O. A. of St. John's Church, in the 
 
 City of Utica, in the County of Oneida. 
 1842, April 12. — Act incorporating St. Joseph's O. A. Society, in the 
 County of Albany. 
 
 1845, May 14. — Act incorporating R. C. A. Society of Rochester. 
 
 Real and Personal Estate not to exceed the yearly 
 value of $40 per Orphan, over and above the Build- 
 ings occupied by them. 
 
 1846, April 10. — St. John's College, Fordham, incorporated with full 
 
 powers. 
 
 1847, Dec. 15. — General Act for allowances to Orphan Asylums. 
 
 1848, April 12. — Corporation of St. Mary's Church, Rochester, not 
 
 to dissolve for want of Trustees. 
 
 1849, April 11. — Academy of the Sacred Heart, Rochester, incor- 
 
 porated. 
 
 1851, July 9. — The Female Academy of the Sacred Heart, New- 
 
 York, incorporated. 
 
 1852, April 13. — The Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum, and the 
 
 Asylum for the Relief of the Children of poor 
 Widowers and Widows, united. 
 
 1853, July 21.-— The Orphan Asylum of the Holy Family, at Au- 
 
 burn, incorporated. 
 
 THE END. 
 

 
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