The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-03-24

in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, so our Father FItton really had R. ]. and Conn. to minister to. It was not an unusual thing for our Catholics in New Haven to walk to Hartford on Sundays, when mass was to be said in that city, and MT. Pagan performed this pilgrimage time and time again. For many years after Christ church was built the Catholics of the Nauga- tuck Valley regularly attended service in this church.
 Upon the return of Father Fitton, mass was said either on the corner of Chapel and Brewery, at Slyneys cor ner. or on the corner of Wooster and Brewery, in MT. Woolroby's store, but probably the service took place altern- ately at these two locations.
 This condition continued until 1888 when Father Fitton informed his charge that he would send them a priest if they felt they could provide a chapel. This was good news to the poor Catholics, who were delighted when in May of that year the first pas tor of a Catholic church arrived in the person of Rev. James McDermott, who purchased a lot on Davenport avenue and proceeded to build chapel.
 One day as the clergyman was seat ed upon a pile of timber during the construction of his little church, young man passed by and noticed the peculiar dress of the clergyman, asked if he was a Catholic priest; upon being informed the student passed a pleasant hour with the priest, and invited him to visit his room in college, a privilege the priest availed himself of, and soon through the kindness of the young man enjoyed the use of the Yale library. The young student of '34 is our honor ed friend and associate tonight, MT. Horace Day.
 Father McDermott was a native of the town of Mohil, Ireland, but very readily took upon himself the new con- ditions, and thanks to the influence of Young Day, there was no question about his political faith, for he did not hesitate to ride in a democratic parade, in honor of Jackson, and Mrs. l Ellen Downes remembers destinctly of seeing him seated in a carriage with MT. Jackson, MT. Ralph Ingersoll and | the Rev. Harry T. Croswell. There is no doubt but the good example set by | this priest had an influence reaching | even to this time, for be it known, I there are even to-day some Irish dem ocrats in our city.
 The priest struggled with his under taking until success crowned his la- bours, and he had the happiness to an nounce it's dedication on Ascension Thursday, May 8, 1884.
 This was no ordinary event in the lives of the few Catholics of New Ha- ven, for to them the church was the center from which radiated all bless ings spiritual. and the pastor was the | one to whom they confided when their souls were weighed down with the af- l fiction of temporal, or spiritual mat ters. On this beautiful May morning | when nature looked happy and all things propitious, the congregation as- sembled, some to pray and be edified others through curiosity to see a Cath olic bishop. After the ceremonies were completed and the bishop was about tc begin mass, an accident took place l which perhaps is best described by the New Tor Weeklyn Register and Catho. lie Diary, under the date of May "A 1894
 The misfortunes which befell the lit tie band of worshippers was not soor forgotten, though they soon overcam' their financial troubles and became { recognized society in the community.
 The sympathy and assistance whic1 the Catholics offered to Fathel
 McDermott's flock was not soon for
 gotten, and many little acts of cour
 tesy extended to these people wer,
 cherished as some of the happiest incl
 dents of the cordial relations which ex
 isted betwen the two sects The Protes
 tants never failed to show their toler
 ation and never allowed an opportunit.
 to pass which gave them this privi
 lege. In 1886, Christ church was brok
 en into by thieves and the altar servic
 and priests vestments were carrie'
 away The consternation of the Cath
 olics was unbounded, who were unabl
 to believe anyone would be capable O
 performing so sacrilegious an act
 They attributed the motive to greed
 that led to the dissertation of the Tab
 ernacle, and grieved sorely over thei
 affliction. But their sorrow was 500
 turned to joy, for the Protestants vol
 untarily took up subscription, sent
 committee to New York and replace
 the gold altar service and vestments.
 Is it surprising then that this cit has ever been free from controversie
 and recriminations? It is acts like tn
 above that carried with them cement ing material to unite these people to gether more than any other acts whic the wit of man could devise. Truly doe this illustrate the doctrine that ther should be but one flock and one shep : herd.
 Irish immigration had now begun t
 fairly set in. Though the parish C Christ church included the towns ( : the Naugatuck Valley to Waterbury Meriden Middletown and Bridgepor
 in 1886 it embraced less than two hur
 dred souls.
 The most prosperous Irishman at thi time was perhaps MT. Morgan Moone. | who lived on Water stret, and did mo. , | of the trucking on Long wharf, havin i | fifteen horses and trucks. He and 2 relative, MT. Connolly, had a monopol
 of the freighting business and fc | years guarded their privilege success:
 fully.
 r MT. Charles Pagan, before mention ed was for years a farmer for M } l Whitney. The Healy brothers, Danie Bartley and Michael, all engaged
 business after they had earned a sta f | hv honest toiI MT Bernard Reilly an