Newspaper Page Text
JANUARY 31. 1936
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
ELEVEN -v.
Pennsylvania Has Given Diocese Three Bishops
Bishops Gartland and Becker
Both Pennsylvania Priests
First Bishop of Savannah Died of Yellow Fever Con
tracted in Line of Duty
fGearge Barton in The Catholic Stan
dard and Times, Official Organ
of the Archdiocese of
Ph'ladelphia
Since the appointment of our own
greatly esteemed Bishop O’Hara to
the See of Savannah interest has been
manifested in the fact that the first
Bishop of that diocese was a church
man who labored in Philadelphia for
some years before going to his mis
sionary field in the South. There
have been fleeting references to his
life and labors, but for the most part
very little is known about him by the
present generation.
Francis Xavier Gartland was horn
in Dublin Ireland, and emigrated to
America during his childhood. His
classical and theological education
was obtained at Mt. St. Mary’s Col
lege. Emmitsburg, and he was or
dained a priest in this city in 1832 by
Bishop Conwell- His first post was as
assistant at St. John’s Church. At
that time the eminent John Hughes
Was pastor of the famous church.
When Father Hughes was made co
adjutor to the Bishop of New York,
Father Gartland became the rector of
St. Jonn’s. Later he was selected to be
Vicar-General of the Philadelphia
Diocese under Bishop Kenrick.
-P
APPOINTED IN 1849
In May, 1849, he was appinted Bish
op of the new See of Savannah, but
he was not consecrated until the fol
lowing year, the pontifical briefs be
ing delayed on account of the trou
bles growing out of the Roman revo
lution. Father Gartland’s consecration
look place at St. John’s Church on
September 10. 1850, being regarded as
a notable event in Philadelphia at a
time when the diocese was much less
Important than it is at the present
day. The consecrator was Archbishop
Eccieston; the ceremony was attend
ed by a great throng, including many
prominent officials of city and state.
The new Bishop hurried to his See
at once and went to work with the
same zeal he had displayed in his la
bors in Philadelphia. The Diocese of
Savannah at that time included not
only the entire State of Georgia, but
also that part of Florida east of the
Appalachiola River. There is a rec
ord of his having gone to Key West.
Florida, in 1852, to dedicate the
Church of St. Mary Star of the Sea
at that place.
6,000 THEN IN DIOCESE
D-
□
When Bishop Gartland first began
his duties in Savannah the Catholics
in his diocese numbered less than 6.-
€00 or not much more than are to be
found • in many a single important
Philadelphia parish of the present
day- It was obvious that he was con
fronted with a great missionary task,
but he faced it with courage and con
fidence. It has been well said that
during his brief episcopate he accom
plished much good for the organiza
tion and advancement of the diocese.
This is particularly true when we
consider, as has been said by one
writer, ‘‘that the limited means at his
disposal were entirely inadequate to
the work to be done.”
The United States was a missionary
country and he could look for little
help here. Accordingly, he went
abroad to obtain assistance for push
ing forward the good works he had
projected. An idea of how successful
he was in this regard may be found
in the statement that with the money
obtained in Ireland and elsewhere he
was able to build three new churches
and enlarge the cathedral church of
St John the Baptist, which he re
dedicated June 26, 1853. He estab
lished an orphan asylum for boys, the
St Vincent de Paul Society, day
schools, Christian Doctrine schools,
and a number of religious and chari
table organizations. So fruitful were
his labors that the Catholic popula
tion was nearly doubled during the
four years of his administration.
-n
r
D-
THE YELLOW FEVER
-Id
In the midst of the promising prog
ress he was making in his ne r field
there came an outbreak of yellow fe
ver in Savannah. Routine work had
to be stopped in order to give atten
tion to this great emergency. The
story of the plague is part of history,
but a glimpse of the part that was
played in it by Bishop Gartland and
his faithful clergy is given vividly in
a letter written by the Bishop to M.
A. Frenaye, a distinguished layman
of this jcity. Dated August 29, 1854, it
is a.^ follows:
“We are in a sad condition still—
very sad—and God alone knows
when a favorable turn will take
place. Two of my priests are sick—
both convalescent at present; do not
know that either of them have the
yellow fever positively, but I believe
that one of them had it in its incip
ient stage.
t
DESOLATION
I •
-o
“The place looks very desolated—at
8 o’clock p. m. looks as deserted as at
midnight at other seasons. Every
sight large fires are kindled in va-
zkius parts of the city, and great
quantities of tar burnt- On approach
ing the city in the evening, as I did
the other evening from the country,
you see clouds of dense, black smoke
rising up in all parts of the city so
that one would suppose the city was
on fire, or that our city was some
thing like Pittsburgh is supposed to
he So far I keep well, though con
stantly on the go. Yet I know not
whether T will pass through the
scourge with safety to myself. I hope
our Philadelphia friends are praying
for us.
“I hope this letter will reach you
before the arrival of the steamer as I
wish you to inform my brother that
Miss G. will leave on the steamer to
morrow for Philadelphia. She is not
at all well. Mr. Prendergast and his
two sons and a Mrs. Dillon and her
son will be with her. Great numbers
of our people have left.
“I write in great haste. My buggy is
at the door for me to make my
rounds.”
The saintly man died less than a
month a f ter writing this truly dra
matic letter- It was while making the
rounds of the yellow fever patients
he contracted the disease from which
he died.
DEATH OF THE BISHOP
I
On October 16, 1854, a correspond
ent of the Society for the Propaga
tion of the Faith, wrote a letter de
scribing how Bishop Gartland had
died a victim of the fever, and how
Monsignor Barron, the missionary
Bishop, had passed away as the re
sult of exhaustion and overwork. He
added:
“All of the Protestant journals have
done justice to their memory by giv
ing publicity to their heroic devot
edness in the assiduous care which
they have bestowed upon their af
flicted flocks. The whole country
was in a state of alarm; but these
two prelates, perfectly resigned to the
will of God, and regardless of their
own danger, were indefatigable in
their attention to the sick and in
administering to them the consola
tions of religion. And they have been
nobly seconded by the small number
of priests in Savannah, Messrs- Bar
ry, Kirby and O’Neil. After the death
of Msgr. Barron, Msgr. Gartland was
left alone with but one priest, the
others having been attacked by the
nrevailing epidemic.
□- : —
TWO MARTYRS
“Under these circumstances he
found it necessary to provide himself
with a small conveyance, and with
his assistant, he undertook the oner
ous duty of attending to the spiritual
wants of the sick, a duty which he
joyfully fulfilled, feeling confident
that it was designed for him by the
hand of God, Who had ordained that
his zeal should no longer remain
without its reward.
“His crown was ready and he was
called upon to receive it. When our
two Bishops first perceived the com
mencement of this terrible visitation
they felt bound to offer themselves
as the victims of divine justice. After
the death of the latter, the epidemic
became gradually less violent and is
now considered to have almost en
tirely disappeared.”
No eulogy of these two martyrs could
possibly be more sincere and more
touching than this official report.
They were buried with all of the
honors of the Church they had served
so faithfully and so well. Seven days
after the death of Bishop Gartland a
Pontifical Requiem Mass was said for
him by Archbishop Kenrick, of Bal
timore. It was noted that an unusual
ly large number of prominent Protes
tants were present to do honor to the
deceased.
BISHOP BECKER
-n
r
□—
It is a matter of satisfaction to
think that this former Philadelphian
who was the first Bishop of Savan
nah should now be followed in that
post by another Philadelph'an- In
this connection it is worth noting that
still another Pennsylvanian occupied
the See of Savannah. Thomas A.
Becker, the sixth Bishop of Savan
nah, was born in Allegheny. Penn
sylvania, on December 30, 1831. He
studied for the priesthood at the Pro
paganda, Rome, and was ordained in
1859. On his return to this country he
was assigned to Richmond, Virginia,
and was later sent to Martinsburg
and Berkley Springs. At the close of
the Civil War he went to Balitmore
where he officiated for some time at
St. Peter’s Church. He filled the chair
of theology, ecclesiastical history and
sacred scripture in St. Mary’s College.
Emmitsburg and he also acted as one
of the chief secretaries of the Plenary
Council of Baltimore.
□ — —n
^ TRANSFERRED IN 1886 |
n n
Following a brief period of service
at the Cathedral in Richmond, Dr.
Becker was created Bishop of the
new Diocese of Wilmington, Dela
ware. In 1886 he was transferred to
Bishop Barry Is Spokesman
for Province of Baltimore
Extends Welcome in Its Name to Bishop O'Hara at Din
ner After Installation
OFFICERS OF MASS
AT INSTALLATION
His Eminence, Dennis Cardinal
Dougherty, Archbishop of Philadel
phia, presided at the installation of
the Most Rev. Gerald P. O’Hara, D.
D., J. U. D., as Bishop of Savan
nah, Bishop O’Hara being celebrant
of the Solemn Pontifical Mass.
Assistants to His Eminence were
the Rt. Rev. Joseph D. Mitchell, Sa
vannah, assistant priest, the Very
Rev. James T. Reilly, S. M.- Atlanta,
and the Rev. Peter McDonnell, S.
J„ Macon, deacons of honor, the Rev.
James E. King, Athens, bookbearer,
the Rev. Thomas I. Sheehar, Wash
ington, candle bearer, the Rev. T.
James McNamara, crozier bearer, and
the Rev. Thomas A. Brennan, Al
bany, mitre bearer.
Assistants to His Excellency, Bish
op O’Hara were the Very Rev. Boni
face Bauer, O. S. B., Savannah; as
sistant priest- the Rev. Dan J. Mc
Carthy, Columbus; deacon of the
Mass, the Rev. Gustave Qbrecht, S.
M. A., Savannah; sub-deacon, the
Rev. Nicholas J Quinlan, Atlanta,
and the Rev John J. Mullins, Savan
nah, acolytes, the Rev. George T.
Daly, Athens, censer bearer, the Rev.
Thomas L. Finn, Savannah, book
bearer, the Rev. Daniel J. Bourke,
Savannah, candle bearer, the Rev.
J. Joseph Malloy, crozier bearer, the
Rev. P. J. O’Connor, Atlanta, mitre
bearer, and the Rev. Harry J. Hon-
eck, sub-deacon of the cross.
The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph F.
Croke, chancellor, was notary, the
Rev. Harold J. Barr, Savannah, read
the papal bulls first in Latin and
then in English, the Rev. Dr. Francis
Furey, secretary to His Eminence, the
Cardinal, was master of ceremonies,
and the Rev. Joseph Kavanagh, sec
retary to Bishop O’Hara, assistant
master of ceremonies.
CATHOLIC U. WINS
IN MIAMI CONTEST
Eleven Defeats Mississippi
U. in Orange Bowl Festival
Game New Year’s Day
MIAMI, Fla.—The football team of
the Catholic University of America,
Washington, D. C.. defeated the Uni
versity of Mississippi eleven here
in the second annual Orange Bowl
festival here New Year’s Day.
The Catholic University eleven,
playing in a brighth sunlight that
sent the thermometer readings up
to 80 degrees, scored a touchdown
in each of the first three quarters
and converted the point after touch
down in two instances. The Univer
sity of Mississippi teeam scored in the
second quarter and then ‘ registered
12 points in the final quarter. The
Mississippi eleven was successful in
but one of three tries for the point
after touchdown, a department in
which it was strong during the regu-
’ar football season.
The Catholic University team
which a number of authorities had
picked to lose, won warm commenda
tion from a large number of sports
writers for its brilliant performance-
JOSEPH SCOTT AWARDED
CATHOLIC ACTION MEDAL
Noted California Layman
Honored by St. Bona-
venture’s
ST. BONA VENTURE, N. Y. — As
in previous years St. Bonaventure
College announces on Gaudete Sun
day its choice for the Catholic Ac
tion Medal for 1935. The medal was
awarded to Joseph Scott, lawyer and
orator, of Los Angeles.
Mr. Scott was chosen, it was an
nounced because of his devoted,
consistent and outstanding services
in the field of Catholic Action un
der the leadership of his ecclesiasti
cal superiors. He is an alumnus of
St. Benaventure College and served
as professor at this institution from
1890 to 7983.
The Catholic Action Medal has the
approval of the Holy Father and is
conferred with episcopal sanction. In
1933 the recipient was former Gover
nor Alfred E. Smith. In 1934. it was
awarded to Michael Williams, edi
tor of The Commonweal.
the See of Savannah, where he re
mained until his death, July 29, 1899-
Bishop Becker was a man of unusual
intellectual attainments- He was a
frequent contributor to the reviews
and gained prestige by reason of his
series of articles on the idea of a
true university, published in the
American Catholic Quarterly.
Thus Pennsylvania has presented
Gartland, Becker and O’Hara to
Georgia. It should thrill the faithful
in Penn’s Woods to feel that they
have given so much for the good of
a region which has hitherto been cold
to Catholicity. As the faith prospers
in Georgia—and prosper it must—
none will take more joy in its growth
than the clergy and laity of the Arch
diocese of Philadelphia.
(Address of the Most Rev. Pat
rick Barry, D. D., Bishop of St.
Augustine, at the dinner to the
visiting prelates and clergy at the
DeSoto Hotel after the installa
tion) .
Today the two great Provinces of
Philadelphia and Baltimore combine
in paying honor to the new Bishop
of Savannah.
His Eminence, the Cardinal Arch
bishop of Philadelphia, comes to in
stall his former Auxiliary, who, by
commission of the Holy See- has
been transferred from the City of
“Brotherly Love” to the historic See.
of Savannah, which embraces the
Empire State of the Southland.
The Province of Philadelphia,
comprising the important Sees of
Altoona, Erie, Harrisburg. Pitts
burgh and Scranton under the
Metropolitan Archdiocese of Phila
delphia, sends its quota of disting
uished prelates to the South for this
great celebration; all these dioceses
are located in the Suite of Pennsyl
vania, all have large Catholic popu
lations and all command splendid
educational institutions—elementary
schools, high school, academies, col
leges and seminaries.
The illustrious Bishops who guide
the destinies of the faithful in the
great industrial centers of Pennsyl
vania leave nothing to chance in
caring tor the spiritual and tempo
ral weliare of their people. Institu
tions for the sick, the aged, the
helpless and homeless and the or
phan are numerous and efficiently
fulfill their diversified missions, and
no phase of charity or Catholic ac
tion is forgotten or overlooked. The
ever active zeal of the prelates, cler-
r ‘ and religious has borne abundant
fruit in the extension of Christ’s
Kingdom and in safe-guarding the
faith of those intrusted to them.
They have found opportunity to
withdraw for a few hours from
their onerous duties to accompany
one who has labored with them so
tirelessly to see him safely settled in
his new field of labor in the neigh
boring and neighborly Province of
Baltimore. This Province is honored
by their presence and, with its usual
generous hospitality, bids them a
most cordial welcome.
The Province of Baltimore which
welcomes today so many disting
uished guests comprises the most
important See in America — the
Archdiocese of Baltimore—and sev
en suffragan Sees together with the
Abbatia Nuliu:- of Belmont, N. C.
Baltimore Archdiocese embraces the
State of Maryland and the District
of Columbia, the seat of the Nation
al Government. This principal See
has had a glorious history. Disting
uished prelates have ruled the
Church of God there; foremost
among them may be mentioned the
first Archbishop Carroll and the late
beloved and much lamented James
Cardinal Gibbons. .The latter for
over forty years presided over the
Metropolitan See of Baltimore. His
fame and works still linger. As a
diplomat and ardent lover of his
country he has never been surpassed
in this Republic.
To succeed him the most youthful
Bishop in America was summoned
from the call timbers of Florida. On
his installation in Baltimore he
adopted the slogan—“A Catholic
School in every parish, and every
Catholic child in a Catholic school.”
He has almost achieved this noble
ambition, as the latest figures report
tile number of young people under
Catholic care to be over 60,000—in
elementary and high schools and
academies. A gallant array of Cath
olic institutions of higher learning
add lustre to the Archdiocese—the
comparatively young Catholic Uni
versity with its tributaries of Reli
gious Houses of Studies is the most
fascinating in the land; Georgetown
University with a century of out
standing achievement to its credit;
St. Mary’s Seminary which has giv
en devoted priests to almost every
diocese in America and Canada;
Mount St. Mary’s College and Semi
nary—the mother of Bishops, and a
host of other colleges and seminaries
conducted by Religious Orders add
glory to 'he Archdiocese.
His Excllency, the Most Reverend
Archbishop, encourages and helps
them all. He not only promotes and
fosters education but he is the fear
less champion of the oppressed of
every land. He is the ardent and elo
quent defender of religious liberty
and the rights of conscience. He
wishes .he whole world to know the
truth a'jou. tyrannical governments
everywhere and he would arouse
public interest in behalf of the vic
tims of nolitical, racial or religious
tyranny either at home or in for
eign nations. He is true to the tra
ditions of Maryland, the land of
sanctuary and the home of civil and
religious liberty, and believing in
these principles he labors to have
all peoples enjoy their benefits and
blessings.
The Suffragan Dioceses of the
Province may receive only brief
mention; Wilmington in Delaware,
Wheeling in West Virginia- Rich
mond in Virginia deserve a volume
in themselves, as do Charleston, St.
Augustine and Raleigh. Raleigh, the
Bambino of the Province, claims a
special mention because of the ad
vance made in the past ten years, all
of its existence under its active and
zealous first Bishop. It inherits the
honor of a century’s glory achieved
by the renowned jurist and patriot,
Gaston, who practically single-
handed fought for and won Catholic
Emancipation in North Carolina.
The Diocese of Charleston too has
had its distinguished patriots and
Bishops—witness the world famed
Bishop England whose memory is
enshrined in every Catholic heart
for his eminent talents used in de-
f nse and exposition of the doc
trines of the faith.
We must not pass over the ever
young diocese of St. Augustine
which has within its 47,000 square
miles of territory many ruins of an
cient glory. It was in St. Augustine
that American history was started
for it was there the sturdy Spaniard
set up the first colony in what is
now the United States; there was
founded the first city, the first
church; there the first school, and
'.here the first martyrdom of her mis
sionaries took place. From St. Au
gustine treked forward the mis
sionaries who marched along the
Atlantic seaboard to the banks of
the Hu Ison and away west to the
Father of Waters to follow the no
madic Indians to civilize and save
them. Florida today is the sanctuary
and hope of thousands who visit this
Cradle of Christianity for the health
of soul and body, though many pil
grims with other less holy aspira
tions invade this peaceful smiling
land.
At last a W'ord about our host Dio
cese. We have been invited here to
witness the advent of a new shep
herd who succeeds the retiring gen^_
tie, kindly, generous and zealous ~ r
Prince who now lays down the bur
dens of office.
This new Prelate comes in the
name of the Lord of Hosts to rule
over a warm-hearted loyal people.
He shall find them as their forbears
ever have been, courteous and gen
erous and, nowhere in America can
he find a more enthusiastic or better
organized body of Clergy and devot
ed laity.
The Catholic Laymen’s Association
of Georgia needs no introduction to
any prelate in Canada or the Unit
ed States. Here in this soil of Geor
gia he shall always find a cordial
welcome from his own flock and
from the thousands who do not be
long to this flock. Here in the land
of ancient Chivalry and romance he
shall enjoy the finest hospitality
that anyone could crave or dream
of.
We notice the prefix of this new
Prelate’s name, but we are sure it
does not inspire awe or wonder or
alarm. We know it is indicative of
royal descent from the kingly war
riors of a fighting race. He comes,
however, not with a sword to slay
but with the Cross to shrive and
save. He comes with good will to all
and malice to none.
In the name of the Prelates, priest#
and good people of the entire Prov
ince of Baltimore 1 bid Your Excel
lency a “Cead mille failthe” — A
hundred thousand welcomes—trans
lated into the liquid tongue of Holy
Mother Church—ad multos et felt
cissimos annos!
ST. PAUL’S GUILD ^
REPORTS EXPANSION
Thirty-One Members of HieiNi
archy Among Its Patrons
(By N. C. W. C. News Service)
NEW YORK. - Growdh of the
Saint Paul Guild during 1935 is re
corded in The Epistle, quarterly bul
letin of the guild, by the Rev. Henry
P. Fisher, C. S. P., the Editor. The
guild has as its chief purpose the
extending of assistance to convert
clergymen and religious who, by
becoming CathoEcs, have lost their
means of livelihood.
At the present time, it is stated 3
members of the Hierarchy are among
its patrons and 983 members of the
clergy are members, twenty being
patrons. Forty-nine groups among
the Sisterhoods and the laity have
sent donations.
“The Rev. George Hefferman, of
St. Lodis,” it is announced, “is bus
ily engaged in developing a local
branch to give financial support to
the Convert- Aid Fund.”
Six pastors permitted Father Fish
er to speak about the guild to their
parishioners from the pulpit on
Sunday and seven more have grant
ed this permission for the early
months of 1936. The late Monsigndfc.
Chidw'ick allowed the guild to hold
the Church United Octave in St
Agnes’ Church. New York, last Jan
uary. It will be held this month at
the Church of St. Ignatiu- Loyola,
through the kindness of the Rev. WC
Coleman Nevus,. S, J. . i