Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1898-08-19
Celebration ofst Igna-
tus, Church at st. Thomas Manor.


The centennial celebration Of ST. lgnaius'
Church. st. Thomas Manor which TOOK place
on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday las, was
pronounced decided success. The extensive
preparations which were made for the occasion
proved worthy Of the cause The pretty and
commodious church building which has stood
for one hundred long years since the ing
Of the corner stone in 1898 vas beautifully
and deliberately decorated with white bunting,
flowers greens and many other adornments
Of taste and at,ractiveness On each day Of
the celebration Solemn High Mass was said.
followed by an appropriate sermon or tistori-
cal lecture. Bishop Alfred Curtis vas ponti-
hcate on Sunday. Rev. Dr. Whitney, Of
Georgetown College, Monday and Rev. John
A. Morgan, Of Loyola College, Tuesday The
high Masses as said on the several days Of
the celebration we're offered first in thanks
giving second for the living and the last for
the deceased members OF the parish The
Music rendered by the ohoirs from Baltimore
was ofa very high order The sermons de-
livered on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday by
Rers Fathers Shealy, of Woodstock College,
j. Dewitt, Of Georgetown College, and Rev
Father Fill, of New Jersey, respectively were
most entertaining to the unusually large con-
greganous which were presen, each day. The
historical lecture delivered by Rev 4. J. Dewitt
on Monday WAS Of particular interest and de-
serves special mention. 0n Tuesday evening
q concert was given to defray acme Of the eH-
penss Of the centennial Jubilee ia The pavilion
at Chapel Point under the leadership Of Prof.
George O'Connor After high Mass on each
day Of the celebration dinner was prepared
in excellent style foe the priest and the schol-
asties who participated in the exercises many
guests also pArtook Of the kind hospitality eH-
tended by the lady managers. It was home.
like gathering and everything was served in
regular Maryland style. Persons Of all ereeds
and no ereeds sat side by aide to sample the
kindness Of their hosts. The celebration both
socially and religiously was pronounced a
decided success and no words of praise can
be uttered too good on behalf Of the ladies
OF the congregation xbs we're 10 charge.
Amoug those who deserve special mention
for the active part taken in the mao gement
were: Mrs A. W. Neale, Mrs John 3 Ham
ilton, Mrs. W. N. Howard and Mrs James
Matthews. The following is brief history |
9th earlier days of the present church
Tie cornerstone OF the church, as APP
pears from the inscription thsreop, was laid |
by Bishop Carroll on August Z, 1898. When |
the site OF St. Thomas' Manor was 6rst visited |
by the missionaries the ccnatry was the hunt |
ing.ground Of the Potopaeo Indians In the |
old records the names Potopaeo ami st. |
Thomas Manor are often used indiserimin-
siely. The church, though n century old, is |
not the Grst plses of worship at the Manor.
The small building attached 10 the residence,
and now used as a sacristy, is its immediate
predecessor, while the original place Of wor-
ship was probably on the spot elose to the
river at Chapel Point.
In 1912, eight years after the landing of
the Maryland Pilgrims, one Of tbs mission
aries, writing home detailed account of the
labors Of the same year, continues thus; At
the sane time the town called PotapacJ, to
great extent received the faith, together
with baptism. This town, from its situation
on the river. Is almost In the centsr Of the
Indians, and from the convenience OF making
excursions from it in all directions, we have
determined 10 make it our residence
Many years ago the church and residence
were destroyed by FIRE. and afterward rebuilt.
Though the parish records were destroyed
at the same time, from other sources are
learned the names Of those who labored at the
Manor since 1896. The fret death recorded
at the Manor is that Of Matthew Brooke, in
l702.