Archdiocese of Philadelphia

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(PHILADELPHIENSIS)

Adiocese established in 1808; made an archdiocese, 12 Feb., 1875, comprises all the city and county of Philadelphia, and the counties of Berks, Bucks, Carbon,Chester,Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery,Northampton, and Schuylkill, an area of 5043 square miles, in the southeastern portion of theState of Pennsylvania. The population of this area, according to theUnited States Census, in 1910, was 2,712,708, of which number 1,549,008 belonged to the City of Philadelphia. This city, the capital of the archdiocese, was, until 1800, the capital of theUnited States. It is the third city in theUnited States in population; its wealth invested in manufacturing industries exceeds $500,000,000, and it is the leading American city in shipbuilding, the manufacture of locomotive engines, street-railway cars, carpets, leather, oilcloth, and several other important commodities. In 1909 the foreign commerce of Philadelphia amounted to $150,504,095.

History

Penn's colony, founded in 1682, as a "holy experiment", by which each man could without molestation worshipGod according to the dictates of his ownconscience (seePENNSYLVANIA), soon became a welcome haven of refuge to thepersecutedCatholics of the neighbouring colonies. Since the missionarypriests, mainlyJesuits, watched over the movements of the members of their scattered flocks, it is not surprising that in their frequent journeyings between New York andMaryland they should find opportunity to gather the faithful in the house of aCatholic for the celebration of the sacred mysteries and preaching the Word ofGod. There was a steady growth in the number ofCatholics throughout the colony, including some distinguished converts. Repeated complaints were made toLondon, that the "Popish Mass" was read publicly at Philadelphia; but Penn's "Fundamental" shielded theCatholics in his province from molestation. The first residentpriest in Philadelphia was Father Joseph Greaton, S.J., who began his labours among the missions ofMaryland andPennsylvania in 1720. His first concern was to build achapel and rectory. With this object he bought the ground where the first publicchapel was erected in Philadelphia, and where still stands old St. Joseph's church, near Fourth and Walnut Streets. In 1741 Father Greaton received an assistant in theperson of Rev. Henry Neale, S.J. Welcome financial aid came to thePennsylvania missions through the bounty of Sir John James, ofLondon, who made a bequest in their favour. The German immigrants were looked after by two missionaries from the Fatherland, Rev. Theodore Schneider of Heidelberg, who resided in Berks Co., at Goshenhoppen, and Father Wappeler ofWestphalia, who attended theCatholics of Conewago and Lancaster. Father Neale died 5 May, 1748; and the aged Greaton retired toMaryland, where he ended his saintly career, 19 Aug., 1753.

The secondpastor of Philadelphia was Father Robert Harding, born in Nottinghamshire,England, 6 Oct., 1701, who, having entered theSociety of Jesus, came to America in 1732. He assumed charge of Philadelphia in 1749 and laboured with intelligence and success for twenty-three years. During the excitement of the French and Indian War charges of disloyalty were brought against theCatholics, but passed away without causing suffering. Father Harding estimated theCatholics of Philadelphia as about 2000. Another deserving labourer in the vineyard was the GermanJesuit,Father Steinmeyer, known in the colony as Ferdinand Farmer. He laboured first at Lancaster among theGermans, afterwards as assistant to Father Harding. He is described as aphilosopher andastronomer, and in 1779 was a trustee of the University ofPennsylvania. Father Harding purchased land for a new church and cemetery. The church was opened in 1763 as St. Mary's; it became theparish church, St. Joseph's remaining achapel. Father Harding died 1 Sept., 1772, and wasinterred at St. Mary's. He was succeeded by the Rev. Robert Molyneux, who, together withFather Farmer, skilfully guided the infant Church during the stormy days of the Revolution. Like the majority of their flock, they remained neutral, till the coming of the French allies called for repeated services on occasions ofjoy or sorrow; the addresses, however, were mostly delivered by thechaplain to the French ambassador.

At the end of thewar Father Molyneux opened the firstCatholicparishschool. In Oct., 1785, the sacrament of Confirmation was administered for the first time in Philadelphia by the Very Rev. John Carroll,prefect Apostolic. On 17 Aug. of the following yearFather Farmer passed to his reward. His funeral was attended by the American Philosophical Society, the professors and trustees of the University ofPennsylvania, and by large numbers of non-Catholics. No one had done so much to make theCatholic religion respected by the residents ofNew Jersey andPennsylvania. Father Molyneux soon after retired from active service and was succeeded by the Rev. Francis Beeston, who built the presbytery of St. Joseph's which is still occupied by theclergy. In 1788 a number of GermanCatholics agitated for a new distinctively German church: Dr. Carroll reluctantly consented, warning them against a feeling of separatism and admonishing them that they could not be permitted to name their ownpastors. In 1795 the German church was ready for occupancy and was namedHoly Trinity, being, it is said, the last building for public purposes erected in Philadelphia of alternate red and black glazed brick. This church gave great trouble to Bishop Carroll, on account of the pretensions of the trustees, and had to be placed underinterdict. The three churches now built, St. Joseph's, St. Mary's, andHoly Trinity, were all in the southern part of the city. Provision had to be made for theCatholics living in what was then the extreme northern section. Opportunely, the Augustinians were seeking to found a house in theUnited States and to them the new congregation was entrusted. In 1796 the Rev. Matthew Carr, O.S.A., issued an appeal to the inhabitants of Philadelphia and received a generous response. President Washington figures in the list of subscribers, for $50,Commodore Barry, for $150, and Stephen Girard, for $40. After many vicissitudes, "the largest church in Philadelphia" was dedicated under the invocation ofSt. Augustine, 7 June, 1801. When Father Carr removed to his new residence near St. Augustine's, the trustees of St. Mary's petitioned thebishop to send them apastor capable of sustaining the dignity of "the leading church in theUnited States". Thebishop found them thepriest they were looking for in theperson of the Rev. Michael Egan, aFranciscan stationed at Lancaster. He had come to America in order to establish in this country a house of his order, but found the time premature and became a missionarypriest under thejurisdiction of Bishop Carroll. He was ably assisted at St. Mary's by Father Rossiter.

The time having arrived when Philadelphia should be erected into anepiscopal see,Pius VII, byBullsdated 8 April, 1808, designated the diocese as including "the entire two States ofPennsylvania and Delaware, and the western and southern part of theState of New Jersey". An accompanyingBrief appointed Father Michael Egan to be the first occupant of thesee. Owing to the existing political conditions inEurope, the Briefs did not reach Baltimore until 1810, and during the interval Father Egan remained in Philadelphia asvicar-general to Bishop Carroll. On 10 Nov., 1808, there arrived in Philadelphia theDominican Father William Vincent Harold, who came fromIreland recommended by theArchbishop ofDublin and other dignitaries. Bishop Egan accepted him with eagerness, and the eloquent preacher soon became a great favourite. Bishop Egan having beenconsecrated atBaltimore, 28 Oct., 1810, made Father Harold hisvicar-general and took up his residence at St. Joseph's with him and an uncle of his, the Rev. James Harold, who had arrived fromIreland in March, 1811. Relations between thebishop and the Harolds became strained for domestic reasons not well explained. Trouble arose between theclergy and the trustees, and the Harolds returned toEurope. After a troubled administration of three years and nine months Bishop Egan died at the age of fifty-three. The trustees of St. Mary's had acquired for themselves such a reputation for insubordination, that it was no easy matter to find any one willing to take up the burden of the episcopate. Fathers Ambrose Maréchal, DeBarth and David declined to accept.

Finally, after an interval of five years, theHoly See selected thevicar-general of Armagh,Ireland, the Very Rev. Henry Conwell, seventy-two years old. He wasconsecrated inLondon by Bishop Poynter, 24 Sept., 1820, and arrived in Philadelphia on 25 Nov., of that year. A very disagreeableduty was awaiting him in the case of the Rev. William Hogan, apriest ofAlbany whom the administrator had imprudently admitted to the diocese without sufficient inquiry or credentials.Bishop England states that he was "deficient in the most common branches of anEnglisheducation". But he was a man of fine personal presence, affluent talker, a born demagogue, and able to preach in topics which tickled the ears of men whose religion was a matter of fashion. A clear and impartial narrative of the Hogan Schism is found in Father Kirlin's excellent work, "Catholicity in Philadelphia". (See alsoHENRY CONWELL.) It remains a question whether the Hoganschism, which engrossed the interest ofCatholics throughout the entire nation, did not do more good than harm. It focussed the attention ofCatholics and non-Catholics on the important question of episcopalrights. While some lukewarmCatholics fell away from theChurch, the body of the faithful rallied to theirpastors with ardour and increased intelligence. The question of lay interference in the administration of the affairs of theChurch was settled for all time in Philadelphia. The repudiation by theHoly See and by thehierarchy of theUnited States of the compromise of 9 Oct., 1826, in which Bishop Conwell surrendered to the already beaten trustees several episcopalrights, ended forever in these States the tyranny of trusteeism.

On 7 July, 1830, there arrived in the city of Philadelphia a man who was to shed lustre on the diocese and on theUnited States,Francis Patrick Kenrick. Having been appointed coadjutor of thediocese, he found a valuable lieutenant in theperson of the Rev. John Hughes, a man five or six months his junior, who remainedBishop Kenrick's right hand and secretary until his own elevation to the See of New York. After fruitless admonitions to the trustees of St. Mary's, the administrator, on 16 April, 1831, closed the church and cemeteries of St. Mary's. On 18 May the trustees surrendered, and on 28 May the church was reopened. In 1832Bishop Kenrick opened what eventually became thediocesanseminary of St. Charles Borromeo, the beneficent results of which were soon apparent. During the first two years of this administration the number of churches was doubled, the first addition being the church ofSt. John the Evangelist built by Father John Hughes and dedicated 8 April, 1832, which was soon followed by that of St. John Baptist, Manayunk, with the Rev. Thomas Gegan as firstpastor. On 8 April, 1833, was laid the cornerstone of St. Michael's church at Kensington, organized by the Rev. Terence J. Donoghue.

When the awful cholera scourge visited Philadelphia in 1832, the intrepidity of thepriests and sisters presented an example of heroicChristian charity which was long remembered. On 14 May, 1837, death called away one of the most valiantpriests of the city, Father Michael Hurley, O.S.A., who almost from the beginning of the century had given great edification by hiszeal and saintly life. Later in the same year the Rev. John Hughes was elevated to the episcopal See of New York. About the same time St. John's became thecathedral. In 1839 theparish ofSt. Francis Xavier was founded for the Fairmount district, and St. Patrick's church was organized for the Schuylkill suburb. The following year saw the founding of St. Philip's in the extreme south. Its firstpastor was the Rev. John P. Dunn. In 1842 theGermans of Kensington were provided for by the building of St. Peter's and the installation of theRedemptorist Fathers. In 1843 the church of St. Paul was opened in Moyamensing by the Rev. Patrick F. Sheridan. To the north, thechurch of St. Stephen was built near the spot in Nicetown where the first Masses were celebrated by itinerant missionaries. On 15 Nov., 1846, St. Anne's church at Port Richmond was dedicated by Father Gartland of St. John's, Bishop Hughes of New York preaching the sermon. During the year 1845, St. Joachim's was founded at Frankford by the Rev. Dominic Forrestal. On the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, 29 June, 1846, thebishop issued a pastoral letter announcing his determination to build acathedral. He chose for the site a plot of ground adjoining theseminary at Eighteenth and Race Streets. The architect was NapoleonLebrun. It was thebishop's intention to avoid running intodebt, so thecathedral was long in building. In 1848 he founded the church of the Assumption, with the convert, Charles I. H. Carter, forpastor. The ancient suburb of Germantown contained very fewCatholics, but theLazarist Fathers, who conducted theseminary, were willing to assume the risk of building a church in that section, and the church ofSt. Vincent de Paul was opened for worship on 13 July, 1851, the firstpastor being the Rev. M. Domenec, afterwardsBishop ofPittsburg. In 1849 a church was built at Holmesburg and named St. Dominic, the Rev. Charles Dominic Berrill, O.P., being appointedpastor. In 1850 theparish of St. James, in West Philadelphia, was founded by the Rev. J. V. O'Keefe, who took a census and discovered fortyCatholic adults in the district. The last evidence in Philadelphia ofBishop Kenrick's activity was the church ofSt. Malachy, the cornerstone of which he blessed 25 May, 1851. Before its completion he was transferred to themetropolitan See ofBaltimore. The western portion ofPennsylvania was formed into the Diocese of Pittsburg, 8 Aug., 1843, with the Rt. Rev. M. O'Connor, D.D., for its firstbishop. (For the burning ofCatholic churches in the Philadelphia riots of 1844, seeKNOWNOTHINGISM.)

The fourthBishop of Philadelphia, John Nepomucene Neumann, wasconsecrated 28 March, 1852. (See JOHN NEPOMUCENE NEUMANN.) Ten churches sprang up during the first year of his episcopate. The constant topic of his exhortations was the necessity ofparishschools. Failing to bring the contumacious trustees ofHoly Trinity to their senses, he undermined their influence by putting up thechurch of St. Alphonsus. On 19 Oct., 1854, he left forRome to assist at the proclamation of thedogma of the Immaculate Conception, and he returned in March, 1855. On 26 April, 1857, the Rt. Rev. James Frederick Wood wasconsecrated in thecathedral ofCincinnati as coadjutor to theBishop of Philadelphia. Bishop Wood was acknowledged by the financial world as thoroughly acquainted with every phase of the banking business, which had been the occupation of his earlier years. At a meeting of theclergy, Bishop Neumann announced that the work of completing thecathedral had been committed to his coadjutor. In October, 1857, he held his last synod: there were 114priests present, and 32 had been excused from attendance.

James Frederick Wood, the fifthbishop of thediocese, was born at Philadelphia 27 April, 1813. His father, James Wood, was an English merchant and had his childbaptized by a minister of theUnitariansect. In 1827 James Wood and hisfamily removed toCincinnati, where the boy obtained a position as clerk in a bank. Eleven years later (7 April, 1838), in his twenty-fifth year, the futurebishop was received into theCatholicChurch byBishop Purcell, and next year he was sent toRome to prosecute his studies at the College of thePropaganda, where he wasordained to thepriesthood by Cardinal Fransoni, 25 March, 1844. After a short term as assistant at thecathedral ofCincinnati, he was appointedpastor of St. Patrick's church. Though the main object of his appointment to Philadelphia was to relieve Bishop Neumann of the temporal cares of thediocese, yet he by no means confined his efforts to that sphere. He waszealous in preaching the Word ofGod and gave confirmation in all the churches. On the death of Bishop (Venerable John Nepomucene) Neumann, which took place on 5 January, 1860, theCatholic population of thediocese, which still included Delaware, was estimated at 200,000souls. There were 157 churches (besides in course of erection) and 7chapels, attended by 147priests. The preparatoryseminary at Glen Riddle, under the Rev. J. F. Shanahan, and thetheologicalseminary adjoining thecathedral, under the Rev. Wm. O'Hara, D.D., were in a flourishingcondition. There were 36parishschools, attended by 8710 pupils. Thediocese was well supplied with colleges, academies, asylums,hospitals, andreligious orders of both sexes. In the first year of his administration Bishop Wood established, at the two extreme ends of the city theparishes of the Annunciation and All Saints, Bridesburg.

Thebishop had the erection of thecathedral well in hand, when the outbreak of the Civil War came to retard its completion. Nothing daunted, however, he continued his efforts and on 20 Nov., 1864, had thehappiness to sing the firstMass in the immense edifice. Scarcely had he finished thecathedral, when he purchased a large tract of land just outside the city limits, as the site of a newseminary. The pastoral letter in which he announced the purchase at Overbrook isdated 8 Dec., 1865; on 16 Sept., 1871, the beautiful building was filled with 128 students from the two oldseminaries. During his visit toRome, in 1867, he petitioned theHoly See for the creation of the Dioceses ofScranton and Harrisburg, and his wish was granted 3 March, 1868. He was prominent at theSecond Plenary Council of Baltimore, and, indeed, at every assembly of thehierarchy his counsels were reverently listened to. He attended the Council of the Vatican, but being in poor health leftRome early in March. He took a great interest in the newly established North American College, wisely insisted that the funds of the college should be kept in America, and was unanimously appointed treasurer of the board.

On 15 Oct., 1873, with all possible pomp, Bishop Woodconsecrated the diocese to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 1875 he was prostrated by rheumatism; a journey to the South gave him slight relief; and when the instruments arrived creating himarchbishop and making Philadelphia ametropolitansee, it was with evident pain he went through the longceremony of the conferring of thepallium. He had wonderful recuperative powers, however, and in 1877 went toRome with $30,000Peter's pence to assist at the celebration of the golden jubilee ofPius IX's episcopate. Recovering from another bad attack inRome, he returned home. On 23 May, 1880, he presided over the FirstProvincial Council of Philadelphia. After this he was for the most part confined to his room, where, however, he continued to transact business with his usual energy. His end came on 20 June, 1883. The entire City of Philadelphia turned out to show its affection for one whom it regarded as its most distinguished citizen. Archbishop Wood is buried with the otherbishops of thediocese in thecrypt beneath thecathedral. He had administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 105,000persons. In 1868, in the curtailed diocese, there were 76 churches and 21chapels; at his death there were 127 churches and 53chapels. He found, in 1858, 33parishschools in this section; he left 58.

The choice of a successor to Archbishop Wood demanded thought on the part of the Roman authorities, and they took a year to come to a decision. At first they seemed to consider favourably the venerable Bishop O'Hara ofScranton, who, asrector of theseminary andvicar-general of thediocese had done valuable service in Philadelphia. There is littledoubt that he would have been selected, had it not been for his seventy odd years. The deliberations ofPropaganda finally concluded with the choice of the coadjutor of St. Louis; the Rt. Rev. Patrick John Ryan, who was in his fifty-second year, had administered an important diocese for ten years, and seemed to lack no qualification demanded by so eminent ametropolitansee as Philadelphia. (See PATRICK J. RYAN.)

On 20 Aug., 1884, he took formal possession of hisarchiepiscopal see and received the homage of 250priests of thediocese. In November of that year he opened the proceedings of the Third Plenary Council, and on 4 January, 1885, was invested with thepallium. After 24 Feb., 1897, he was ably assisted by hisauxiliary bishop, the Rt. Rev. Edmond F. Prendergast. On the death of Archbishop Ryan, which took place on 11 February, 1911, Bishop Prendergast assumed the administration of thediocese.

Philadelphia is also the residence of the Rt. Rev. Soter Stephen Ortynski, theRuthenian Greek Catholicbishop for theUnited States (seeGREEK CATHOLICS IN THE UNITED STATES).

There is probably no diocese in the world better provided with institutions of religion,education, and charity than Philadelphia. Theparishschool system is admirably organized. There are 141schools teaching 63,612 children. There are 149ecclesiastical students preparing for thepriesthood, and there is never a lack of vocations. TheCatholic population of thediocese was estimated in 1910 at 525,000, whose spiritual needs are supplied by 582priests, regular and secular. There are 434churches,chapels, and stations. The religious institutes established in thediocese are:Redemptorist Fathers (14),Augustinian Fathers (Villanova and six other establishments, 33 fathers),Congregation of the Holy Ghost (4 houses, 1novitiate, 1 industrialschool, 15 fathers),Vincentian Fathers (3 houses, 1seminary, 24 fathers),Society of Jesus (2 houses, 1 college, 22 fathers),Christian Brothers (10 houses, 89 brothers). There are in the diocese (1911) 2565 religiouswomen,novices, andpostulants and 11schools for girls under the care of religiouswomen. The religious institutes forwomen are:Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, Sisters of Charity,Sisters of Christian Charity,Felician Sisters,Franciscan Tertiaries, Missionary Sisters of theThird Order of St. Francis, Sisters of the Good Shepherd, Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus, Sisters of the Most Holy Family of Nazareth, Sisters-Servants of the Immaculate Heart, DiscalcedCarmelites,Sisters of St. Joseph,Sisters of Mercy (Philadelphia foundation and Scranton foundation), School Sisters of Notre Dame,Sisters of Notre Dame (Namur),Little Sisters of the Poor, Religious of the Sacred Heart,Sisters of St. Dominic,Bernardine, Sisters of St. Francis (Polish), Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart,Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, Filiæ Mariæ.

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