The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-11
NEW FOURTH'S CHAPLAIN
Sketch Of Father Joseph ].
Mcdowell Of st. Paul's
Church.

The Rev. Father Joseph J. Mcdowell of
ST. Pauls Catholic Church, Greenville,
was appointed chaplain to the new regl-
ment which is to go to Sea Girt tomorrow
and which is to be known as the Fourth
New Jersey. Father Mcdowell was APP
pointed by Governor Voorhees, Saturday.
but up to eleven o'clock this morning he
had received no official notice of his APP
pointment. He win probably receive it in
this evenings mail.
The appointment is due to the promise
made to Father Mcdowell some six weeks
ago by the Governor, who, when he in con-
versation with the rector of st. Paurs
Church, said that when the opportunity
presented itself he would muster him into
service. He is very much pleased at his
appointment, as he Is a thorough pa
triot, and no one follows the war more
closely thar he. Father Mcdowell will in
all probabilities leave for Sea Girt either
Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.
This will give the Bishop ample time to
fill the vacancy caused by the departure
time ago gave his consent to the appoint
ment.
When seen this morning by a reporter
of THE News Father Mcdowell said
that he was pleased with his appointment
and that for some time he was anxious
to go as chaplain to a regiment.
Father Mcdowell is one of the most
widely known Catholic clergymen in the
Newark Diocese, and is an ardent mill
tary enthusiast. While a curate in
Orange his interest in military affairs
led him to seek an appointment as chap
lain of the Third Battalion, N. G.. N. j.,
which was then a separate organization.
Ha 61il1 tha nAcfftnr s1nfil tho pnnr0anf-
cation of the Guard took place. and the
Third Battalion was merged into the Sec
ond Regiment. Father Mcdowell is a
splendid specimen of manhood, standing
over six feet in his stockings. He is as
straight as an arrow. which gives him a
splelpGld military appearance. At the out
break of the war with Spain. his patriot
ism showed itself. and a large American
flag was placed on the flag pole of the
paroch1al school. on Old Bergen Road.
Father Mcdowell viii be missed i'm Green
vile, as he is much admired In that Sec
ton.
Church shortly after the death of the
lamented Father Tighe. He was born in
Hoboken some thirty-ive years age and
seSools Of Fl hat se city. lis studies e FOR the
priesthood began in st. Francis Xavier
College, New York. Upon graduating
HAN c snae lns at orang ne f niS pro sgsoa
there was watched by the Bishop, who re-
marked that he would make a brilliant
man. When he had completed his studies
and had passed the examination for the
priesthood he was only twenty-five years
old. His first appointment was as a
curate of st. Miehael's in this city, and
from there has was sent to st. Johns in
Orange. Early in 1895 Bishop Wigger
notified Father Mcdowell that he wanted
him to go to Rome to study canon law
and to prepare himself as a diocesan at
torney. In May of that year he left st.
Johns Church and went to st. ~Joseph's
in Newark, where he studied Italian with
the Rev. Father O'Donnell. Shortly after
that he left for Rome and he returned
last spring. He was given charge of all
the ecclesiastical legal questions of the
diocese and after the demise of Father
Tighe he was sent to Greenville, where he
has labored ever since.
During his stay in italy he studied the
army and nav of that country very close
iy, and while he says that that country
has some very fine fighting ships, it has
not the men to handle them, and that it
would be no match for this country.
Father Mcdowell also spoke about the
conduct of American sailors on a visit to
Italy while he was there. and he said they
acted like perfect gentlemen, much diff
ferent from the sailors of other countries.
Everywhere / have travelled he said.
II lave found the American sailors and
officers perfect gentlemen and very quiet
men. Very different from the French,
German and Russian sailors, who were
inclined to be bigoted at times.
Father Mcdowell also spoke about the
strength of the naval forces of those coun-
tries, and in conclusion he said, Ever
England, with her tremendous ayy would,
/ believe, fall before this country eventu-
ally In a war, while we would have no
trouble in disposing of any other nation