The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-03


tary education was acquired in the
public schools OF Philadelphia and his
early classical training was gained in
the same city, under II private tutor,
to whom his parents entrusted his ed
ucation when they perceived that he
had an inclination TO the priesthood.
Then he went 10 Rome and there for
ten years pursued his philosophical and
theological studies.
He was ordained Il priest on Dec. n,
1912 by Cardinal Franzoni in the ca
thedral of st. John Lateran. Rome,
where the bishop later received holy
orders.
Immediately after his ordination he
returned to his home in Philadelphia,
where for a time he was an assistant
at the cathedral. From Philadelphia
he was transferred to Chambersburg
whore he was given his first pastoral
charge and where he first displayed
the evidences of the remarkable execu-
tive ability which so characterized his
after life and figured SO extensively in
the upbuilding of this great diocese.
His talents soon attracted attention
and demanded a larger and more inn
portant field. st. Patrick's parish in
Philadelphia was assigned him, serv-
Ing there, first in the capacity of as
sistant. and after a short time being
promoted to the pastorate.
PRESIDENT OF SEMINARY.
The next step in his advancement
was his election to the first presidency
Of st. Charles Barromeo Seminary
where he occupied the chair of theol-
ogy, filling at the same time the re-
sensible position Of vicar general of
the diocese.
In 1856. Right Rev. John Newman,
then bishop of the Philadelphia diocese,
applied to Rome to have his bishopric
divided. The diocese Of Philadelphia,
in those days, embraced the entire state
of Pennsylvania. While the necessity
or desirability of a division was not
conceded at once, it became apparent
to the authorities at Rome, in the
course of a few years, and on March
8, 1868, see was established at Scran-
ton, with ten counties comprising the
diocese. This was eight years after
the death of Bishop Newman, and
while Bishop Wood was al the head
of ecclesiastical affairs in Pennsylva-
mia.
The nomination of Rev. William
O'Hara for the new episcopal chair
was coincident with the establishment
of the see. His conservation occurred
on Sunday. July II. 1868, in the Cathe-
dral at Philadelphia. Bishop Wood was
the consecrating prelate, and the as
sistants were Right Rev. Bishop Domi-
| nick and Right Rev. Bishop McGill.
There were present at the ceremony
Bishop Whalen, of Wheeling: Bishop
Lynch, Of Charleston: Bishop Bailey.
of Newark, and Bishop Mcfarland, oe
Hartford.
After a quarter of century's work
in this elevated office and half a CEN
tury in the priesthood, came another
great event in his life, the celebration
of his silver and golden jubilee, at
Christmastide, 1893. Prelates and
priests from many dioceses came to do
him honor and the laity OF all religions
We'd with each other in showing their
appreciation of one who had accom-
plisheG so much, not only spiritually,
bue socially and materially, for the ad-
vancement of this region.
Feebleness, brought on by his ad-
vanced years. led him to accept the ad-
vice of his intimates to share his bur-
denS with an assistant, and in 1895,
Rt. Rev. NJ. ]. Hoban was made his
| COadjutor bishop.
HIS GREAT WORK.
What Bishop O'Hara accomplished
! can not be told by figures. To form an
| idea of the VaStnesS of his work, one
must picture in mind the condition of
! this diocese three decades ago, when
| he came to Scranton to build his cathe-
| dral and contrast it with the Scranton
| diocese of today, one of the largest,
! wealthiest, most important and best
! governed in the United States.
| Thirty-one years ago-to make a
| striking cOmparison--the total number
! of priests in the diocese, Twenty-Five
scarcely exceeded the number who now
! care for fiocks that require a pastor
| who can speak foreign tongue, such
| as Italian, Polish, Lithuanian, Syrian
| Greek and the like.
! Then there We're only fOrty-seven
! churches, two religious schools, four
! hundred pupils, and a Catholic popu-
! latiOn Of about 25,0O0, widely scattered
! Now there are IS churches, with resi-
| dent priests. 20 missions with churches
over so stations. several chapels, and
| about 100 priests; there are nearly 500
| religious women. including novices,
postulants, and about twenty-five the
ological students who We're under the
patronage of Bishop O'Hara.
From the cathedral there has branch-
ed out in this city ten churches: ST.
Patricks, Jackson street: ST. Johns
(German). South Main avenue, Holy
! Rosary, William street: St. Mary's
(German. River street: st. Johns, Fig
street st. Paul'S Penn avenue: Holy
Cross, Fourth street, ana Polish church
ana a Greek church on the South Side:
an Hungarian church in Pine Brook,
and an Italian church in the cathedral
parish.
There are over 40 parochial schools,