The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-16
NORFOLK LOCAL NEWS
RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE In NOR
FOLK.
The NcnSOns That Have Led to This
RcSuit-SOmc "Reminiscences of II
Catholic.

Just at this time ii may not be out of
place FOR IA Catholic" to present some
OF the "Reminiscences of the relationship
Of Catholics with the n-Catholic fell
low citizens of Norfolk. especially so
when an oath bound political asSocia ton
has been formed, whose members are
compelled 10 swear that they have so
sympathy with Roman Catholism
that the institutions OF the country are
III danger from the Vaccinations of
that church that only by the removal
OF Catholics from offices Of public trust
can justice right and true American
sentiment be SubServed and American
liberty contaminated and continued.
and In these declarations he binds him
self by ii VOW sacred and inviolatc."
From the earliest years of the settle
ment of Norfolk it's resident Catholics
have lived and mixed with it's other
citizens without Il break in the rcla-
tionships which cement and strengthen
liberal and unbigottcd people. These
ties are not alone those of frienGship
but the stronged ones OF blood ana kin
ship. The only period in the history
Of Norfolk when an effort was made to
weaken them was during the period of
the existence of the American OF Know
Nothing party. i'll 1858. and the good
voters Of Norfolk stamped their protest
very severely on the organization In
this city by the election of Catholic
Mayor the heroic Hunter Woods. who
in the discharge Of his duties fell victim
To the dread yellow fever postilence Of
that year. 1t was at the same period
that Nirginians. under the leadership
of that great tribune Of the people,
Henry a. Wise. overthrow his oath
bound party In the Commonwealth
victory that was tho death kGcll Of re-
ligous prescription in this republic. So
far as Norfolk WAS concerned the dread
l.1i ~
that had arisen. Catholics ana Protes-
tants alike arose to the emergency of
these terrible days. Priests and minis
tiers worked side by side among the
stricken ones. and alike offered their
lives as sacrifices to duty. Those min
istcring angels. the Sisters of Charity.
moved in close contact with their nom
Catholic associates Of the Howard Asso-
citation. and dying al their most of duty.
their souls were together waited before
the great white throne. To receive the
reward m"eted TO the blessed Of my
Father" Thu, people OF Norfolk will
never forget these days OF III" darkest,
saddcst period of its history.
NorcGlk's freedom from a spirit Of
religious intolerance is. rs precisely
stated. due To a great extent Ivy the
close ties of friendship and kin and
blood that connects the families of non
Catholic and Catholic citizens from
the earliest days Of its history. Among
the names that first comes 10 mind. be-
cause of its prominence. Is that OF VIII
liam Plume. He was an Irish Catholic.
and first cousin Of the first commo-
dore Of the American Navy, Saucy Jack
Barry. who made the first capture un
der the first American flag and who
fought the last battle OF the revolution
under lis folds. Previous Ia the Revulu-
ton William Plume, with his famous
cousin. visited Virginia. and while Bar
ry concluded 10 sail the seas" he de-
cided to settle In Virginia. ana located
at Yorktown as merchant. From
Yorktown he came To Norfolk AMI soon
| made his mark as Il man Of business
and the owner nf property. The site
OF ST. Nincent's Hospital was his
| home. ana here a lavish and princely
hospitality prevailed. He married Miss
ioggard. Of Princess Anne county He
was the owner OF nearly all the property
| now known as Client" Upon his in
vitatipn his nephews, the Morans. came
to Norfolk from Ireland and with them
Walter Heron. names Well known in
Norfolk history. Mr.. Heron married
Mr. Pmmc's adopted daughter ON ;he
death of Mr.. Plume his estate was di-
vidcd between his ncrhGws. the Nor
ans ana Mir. Heron. The latter diving
without Issue. his property was be-
qucathed To Miss Ann Bchaa, his niece.
who adopted his name. The memory
of Miss Ann Heron is Vcnerattd III
Norfolk. II was her ma Sniiicent cift
OF this property for II 'spital purposes
that Norfolk possesses the hospital OF
ST Vincent de Paul. an institution
which. under the many years of man
accment OF that sain;ed and purest wo-
man. Sister lsadorc. is blessed by all
classes of our people because of the
good II has done. irrespective of creed
race or condition. The ncphews of MIR.
Walter Heron We're the late esteemed
Messrs. John L. ana Walter H. Doyle.
Away before. or about the beginning
Of the century, James O'Connor. a
Catholic and n printer. established the
Norfolk Herald. and under his tutalapp
the late rhos. q. Iiroughton, ST. the
venerable l!rouShton. for years the
ncstOr of the Virginia press was ini,i-
aicd into the art pleservative of arts
Mr. Rrouehton afterwards became tho
owner Of The Herald. O'CoRnor was a
sturdy character. who made many
warm friends. by reason of tho terri
bic insu"rectiln in the French posses
sions of South America, Norfolk ba
came tho home OF many French rafu
gees from that country. The La Pages
the Hobccs. Gianiers Pidgeons Ear
retts. Mountalants. PaschalIcs S,1is
ammo Laussctte and others were amnn,r
the French Catholic families Of Norfolk
When la l'ayette visited Norfoll; ,bis
element of Norfolk's population was
Stipnr. bermuda stree; with lie old
hcmes and gardens and it's pleasant So
ciety was q delightful u,lart.r nc ~