Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-23
THE MOTHER CHURCH.
Rapid Growth of the Catholic Church
in Allegheny County.
FIRST SERVICE IN FORTDUOUEsNE.
The Erection and Dedication of st. Pauls
Cathedral.
INTERESTING FACTS AND FIGURES

From Pittsburg as a center has gone forth
strong influence for Catholic rule and unity.
An influence not to be counted small by
those who have given heed to the steady up
ward trend of her march of progress, and
although not first in the organization of
church in Pittsburg, not last to see her op-
portunity. as she contemplated the interests
of the future, and saw through those same
prophetic visions inexhaustible supplies of
work that would invite and supply the in
coming tide of immigrants for possible CEN
turies. "In medias res" might have been
the rallying cry of this great church as,
with customary foresight, she unfurled her
banners upon soil that must yield harvest
satisfactory to her most extrayagant de-
mands.
The first Catholic service held in this city
was mass celebrated in the little chapel at
Fort Duquesne (during the occupation of
the fort by the French) and was dedicated
under the title of ''The Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin of the Beautiful River"
(The French designated the Ohio and ALE
gheny rivers by the common term Ohio or
Oio, but on account of its Iimpid waters and
enchanting scenery it was known as ''the
beautiful river.) To the Catholic Church
this is significant, for, according to Rev.
Mr.. Lambing, this occupation by the
French, though transitory, forms an inter-
esting episode in the eity's history. For
the Catholic it possesses a special interest.
It shows how the august Queen of Heaven
claimed what was afterward to be the do
cese of Pittsburg as she had claimed from
the beginning the entire New World.
A COINCIDENCE.
It was coincidence that the little chapel
at the fort in its dedication should haYe
borne that name and afterward that at the
first synod of the new diocese of Pittsburg,
the diocese was placed under the protection
fthe Holy Virgin under the title Of the
Assumption, though no one at that time
knew of the previous dedication. Were the
words prophetic? If figures tell the truth
less eloquently than words, they tell it more
surely. Judging from the rapid growth the
church has made in this country, we may
at least conclude they are signif-
cant Looking toward the outlying
western lands, with their wonderful
possibilities for wealth and power, we see
with her accustomed sagacity, she is con-
centrating her forces in the Western Terri
tories, and so increasing her population at
rate it is hard to credit, doing it all in the
face of much self sacrifice and devotion to
cause that cannot but elicit the admira-
tion of all. According to Strong, the
Catholic population, not including Arizona
and New Mexico, which have a large native
Catholic population, the six remaining
Territories had in 1880, four times as many
Romanists as there were members in all
DrNf faeko = 1arA IL.
Jesuits, when driven from Berlin, sought
an asylum in the Western Territories and
here without opposition they plan for the
larger growth of the Church. In California
there are four times as many Romanists as
there are Protestants, and yet the Catholic
population in this country was Insignificant
until 1900
A RAPID GROWTH.
The average annual growth of the Catholic
population from 1774 to 1900 was 1878,
from 1888 to 1884 it was 2S1 ,322, increasing
always according to the rate of immigration
From 1853 to 1908 Catholic priests fire.
quently visited Pittsburg, but it was not
until 1908 that the city boasted resident
priest, and that priest was w. F. x.
O'Brien, and it was not until 1911 that
Catholic church was built These mission
aires were not popular at that time, and
NAeOOuAdRCLACub Wdo buCn HOILLOu IudQY
times, but it was speedily seen that a new
element, whose wants could not be minis
tered to by the Protestant church, waited at
the doors of the Catholic eager to witness
again the rites of the true church. This
element was largely foreign, and formed the
bulk of the Catholic church.
In 1911 Colonel James O'Harra decided to
Philip Gilland and Anthony Beelan lot
60x64, at the corner of Liberty and Wash
ington streets, ''in consideration of 81 and
divers other considerations, thereunto more
moving, on which the Roman Catholic
Chapel is erected. \ In trust for the
Roman Catholic congregation of Pittsburg
and vicinity, to and for the only proper use,
and behoof of the said congrega-
ton and their posterity forever,
and for no other purpose what
ever" The deed is dated November 6, 1881,
and was recorded by Lazarus Stewart, JUS
tice of the Peace, December s. This is con-
elusive showing that the first Catholic
church of Pittsburg was not built until 1911.
Bishop Eager, of Philadelphia, then visited
the city the latter part OF the year. This
was the first visit of a bishop to the western
part of the State.
THE FIRST CHURCH.
After time the new church was COM
pleted and dedicated to st. Patrick.
The building was brick, so feet in
length by 80 in width, and stood at the
head of Eleventh street in front of the pres
ent depot, and is to-day Familiarity known
as Old st. Patrick's. This made the begin
ming of the Catholic Church In our CITY.
and most certainly has it kept pace with
the rapid growth of the city. Very soon St.
Patrick's, ample as it was at the time of
building, did not suffice for the increasing
congregation. In 1920 Father O'Brien, the
hal0 rva1 Nd G.
work too arduous for his failing
strength, resigned his pastorate. He was
succeeded on March 90 1920, by Rev.
Charles B. Mcclure, o. S. F., who
had been pastor of a church in Westmore-
land county, noting the increase that must
be made in the Catholic population, because
of the construction of a new canal from
Philadelphia to Pittsburg, he determined to
plan for new church that should rival in
point of beauty and workmanship any sister
church in the United States.
A meeting of Catholics was called August
q, 1927, to consider and execute
the command of the church in
regard to the new building.
ALI were enthusiastic and committee was
appointed to purchase a site. They
selected the lots on the north
west corner of Fifth avenue and Grant
streets, but before Father Mcclure could
behold the completion of his work he was
called hence, where he could be at rest in
those mansions Christ himself had gone to
prepare for those who own and work for His
cause in this world. Father Mcclure had
many assistants, among whom were Fathers
Kenny and O'Reilly. Father Kenny sue
ceeded to the work Immediately after the
death of Father Mcclure, but very soon he
was to leave his unfinished work to the
hands of another and follow his worthy
predecessor to an everlasting abode
COMPLEXION OF THE CATHEDRAL.
The work then fell to Father O'Reilly.
He was peculiarly fitted to the work. his
untiring efforts and rare executive ability
marking him for the completion of this
great work The dedication took Mace
Sunday, May 4, 1884 The church at the
time was among the largest in the United