Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-08-23
HIS HEALTH nAD BEEN POOR.

dAS HNAAIh HAD BEEN HOO1As
The Late Rt. Rev. Bishop Mcmahon
MOT a Long but a Very Busy and
Useful Career--E4As Traits of Charac-
ter-Some of the More Important |
Tasks Which He Executed.
The news~of the death of Bishop Nc
Mahon, which was announced in our yes
terday's telegraphio dispatches, was re-
oeived with deepest'sorrow by the Catholic
clergy of the state and diocese. He will
be greatly mourned all over the diocese.
He was man of commanding form and
imposing figure and presence, and despite
the heavy burden of care and responsibility
upon his shoulders, preserved geniality
of disposition, federation of spirit and a
most kindly interest in his constituency
that made him loved as well as honored.
His end was as peaceful as that of child.
He was conscious up to the last.
His sister, Miss Rose Mcmahon, was
present at the deathbed, she having been
summoned from Hartford and arriving at
6 o'clock. DR.. Weleh of Norfolk was the
attending physician and was with the
bishop to the end.
Bishop McMahon had been in feeble
health for year past, and was too Ill to
say mass at his anniversary celebration,
/ though he made speech of thanks for the
| good wishes of the priests 80 warmly ex-
| tended. As stated yesterday, he was on
his way to Saratoga for the benefit of his
health when seized with his last illness.
In addition to the telegraphic sketch con-
corning the deceased, the following is the
story Of his life and services:
He was ordained In 1860 In the Basilica
1 ~ Tohr othoron nv fho oord{n al
vicar. Returning to the United States, he
was first stationed in the cathedral at Bos-
ton, but in 1858 accompanied the Twenty
eighth Massachusetts regiment to the field
as chaplain. After the war he was ap-
pointed first pastor at Bridgewater, from
which parish he was on the first day of
July, 1865, transferred to New Bedford.
Here he erected the church in honor of his
patron saint, st. Lawrence. The corner
stone was laid November l, 1866, and the
| edifoe opened to the public December IS,
| which cost nearly $4,000.
When the church was completed in 1878
| he established hospital for the sick and
| wounded-the first institution of its kind
| in New Bedford-and also acquired land
| for religious institutions. When Provi-
| dence became separate see In 1870 Bishop
l Hepdricken appointed the Rev. Father Nc
Mahon his vicar-general, and the next year
the zealous and energetic priest received
the degree of doctor Of divinity from
Rome. He remained fourteen years at
New Bedford, until he was chosen for the
see of Hartford and conseorated by Arch
bishop Williams on August 10, 1870. I'm,
mediately after his conservation Bishop
Mcmahon undertook the legacy which had
been left him of continuing the work of the
Hartford cathedral, and in this he has
been not only wonderfully successful, bu,
has lived to see it consecrated. He found
1t with debt of $50, 900, and his first Ia
Dor was to remove that debt and then to
put into reality the plans of his predeces
sors. At the end Of fifteen years of labor
he has completed the work and also or
gsnizsd forty eight new parishes, dedicated
seventy new churches and established
schools. The cathedral has been erected by
the sacrifice of his own income and thu
voluntary contributions of the Roman Oath
olics of the diocese, as no tax or assessment
was placed upon any parish. Within ter
years he has expended over $500, 00(
on its construction and establishment
To do this the bishop not only sacr1ced hi
means, but his health, and to restore tn
latter he went to Europe in 1891, accom-
panied by the Rev. Thomas W. Brodericl
of St. Peters church, Hartford. He re-
turned on Thursday, November 10, 1891
and never in the history of New Englan,
has bishop been more enthusiast1call
, welcomed. The people demanded that tn
/ cathedral be opened and illuminated TO
| the first time in honor of the man who's
untiring energy and business capacity ha
completed it.
Although ths- seating capacity of tn
church is bat 1000, there were nearly T.
QUO in the interior and as many more Out
4 o.
the cathedral, delivered an address of we
come in behalf of the clergy and the pei
pie. to which the bishop made fitting an
feeling response. His next step was to ST
that it was ready for conservation, 80 th'
May 8, 1892, may be considered the mo-
important day of his life, as well as
Oatholicity in Hartford.
On August 10 of this year Bishop M
Mahon celebrated the fifteenth annivereal
of his elevation to the episcopaoy, an
priests from all over the diocese were pre-
emit. At that time Bishop MoMahon hs
been priest thirty-three years.
BISHOP M'MAHoN's PREDECESSORS.
The Fifth Council of Baltimore, whie
assembled May IA, 1S43, requested Il
Holy See to erect several new episcop
sees, and among them new see at Har
ford. The Very Rev. William Tyler, wi
= was born at Derby, Vt, June 5, 1906, VI
nominated as Its first bishop. The ne
bishop was consecrated March II, 1874,
the cathedral in Baltimore. He select,
Providence as his episcopal residence. II
only Roman Catholic church in Hartfo,
then was the Holy Trinity, q wood.
structure 70x40 feet, and New Haven b,
but one Catholic congregation of any siz
and that was st. Mary's, which for yea
worshipped on Church street in the pls
now known as Music hall. Bishop Tyl
died June 10, 1849, forty three years old.
The Right Rev. Bernard O'Rsilly, D.
was nominated as the SUCCESSOR to Bisht
Tyler on May 6, 1849, and was consecrat
in the Church of st. Patrick, Rocheste
/ The introduction of the Sisters of Mercy
| Connecticut and Rhode Island was Il
work of Bishop O'Retlly. He went
Europe in 1866 to secure the services of
body of religious men to come to this di
| cese to educate boys. He embarked in Il
| i'll fated steamer Pacific in the midst
, winter. The steamer was lost with all {
board. Bishop O'Reilly was born in Lon
ford, Ireland, in 1903.
The Right Rev. Francis P. McFarlar
= was the third bishop of Hartford and W
consecreted March IA, 1858. He was boz
in franklin, Pa, April If, 1919. He can
to Hartford in January, 1872. when Prov
l ueuco pechuo Separate uloceso no GO
ceived the project of erecting a cathedr
and purchased the site where the cathedr
now stands. He died October 2, 1877
after lingering illness.
The Right Rev. Thomas Galberry, O.
A., the immediate predecessor of Bisht
Mcmahon, was born in Mas, ireland,
1888. On March Is, 1875, he was elect,
the fourth bishop of Hartford. Within
year he had laid the corner stone of Il
cathedral. He left Hartford for bri
trip to Villanovs on October 10, 1878, al
while on the train. He was taken to t
Grand Union hotel and died the san
evening.
To be Buried in the Crypt.
THE REMAINS TO LIE IN STATE IN HAIR