The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-10-28
HOW THE GHAL|CE WAS SAVED
"REMINISCENCES OF CHURCH
OF THE HOLY CROSS.
Saving of the Chalice During the Big
Confagration - Bishop Foley's
Characteristics.

day at the present cathedral on the
northeast corner of Superior and State
streets. The first church bearing the
title Of the present big one was a small
wooden structure built on the site now
occupied by the cathedral, though it
looked toward the south, instead of the
west. The cornerstone of the second
Holy Name Chuch, which was located
on the southeast corner of Superior and
Wolcott streets, the latter now called
State, was laid on Aug. s. 1853 by Right
Rev. Bishop Vandevelde, the second
Catholic bishop of Chicago, and the ser
mon of the ceremony was preached by
Right Rev. Michael O'Connor, bishop of
Pittsburg. The style of architecture
was purely Gothic, and the material of
Which the church was built was Mil
Waukee brick The building was near
ly complete the following fall Mass
for the first time was celebrated on
Christmas day. 1854 There was no plas-
ter finish. and the walls were running
water, much 20 the discomfort of the
congregation. Among the present resi-
dents who attended the first mass were
Philip Conley Redmond Prindiville,
John Prindtville Frank Murphy, Thom-
as Brenan. E. B. McCagg, DR.. n. S.
Davis and Joseph Mcdonald All dur
ing the Cos the cathedral was famed
Tor its magnificent music. Bishop Dug
gan's love of art and culture made him
a private favorite with all he prominent
! musicians of that time. They were only
| too willing to lay their gifts at his feet
Artists of international reputation have
! given of their best talents to the old
church During a short stay in Chicago
! Adelina Patti sang solos there, and,
strange to say, refused all compensa-
ton. The diva was then nearly 10
, years old. Her sister, Carlotta, was
| equally amiable in favoring cathedral
Catholics. The well-remembered Pare
pa Rosa of English opera fame, found
| time to give forth her voice frequently
to the old church. When Christina Mill
son first visited America she twice IA
vored the North Side Catholics with her
bird-like, sympathetic voice. Always
when Italian opera was given in Chica-
CO. during their stay over Sunday it
supplied gratis a. quartette of its lead
ing members. To this day there are
some Of the old paTishioneTS who recall |
with delight the soulful rendition of
Rossinis ''Stabat Mater" and especial |
ly Karl Formes' bass solo, Pro Per-
catiS"
From 1862 until 1868 Rev. Joseph P. |
Roles, d. D., was pastor of the Holy |
Name. He was an English convert to |
Catholicism, and many of his former |
''isms" clung to him for years after |
d
good pulpit orator, and with his SER
mons he made a deep impression upon
the minds of his hearers When preach
ing he always used notes. but only for
facts and the order of his points, then
trusted exclusively to the moment for
his words. Personally he was extreme
ly dignified, yet cheerful, and had the
happy gift of always having on hand
plenty of good stories which were al
ways most apropos. He displayed great
zeal for the welfare of souls, and his
life was truly priestly one. He died
suddenly about three years ago of heart
disease in his own rooms at the parish
house of st. MarY's. Who does not
know the story of Father Roles and the
bishopric? Richard O'Hara, the time
honored sexton of the old Holy Name
had his own opinion of converts. One
day he overheard two clergymen speak
ing in the Vestry of Father Roles as a
man Of intellectual power. who ought
to attain to SINE eminent position in
the church Why, yes, a, bishop at
least" suggested one of the party.
o Haras who was arranging some vest
ments. chimed in Immediately and
said: 'Ah, no; Father Roles is a fine
looking man. good thinking men, but ;
he haven't the right canonical shape o. :
the headr'
Righ Rev. Thomas Foley was the last
bishop of the old cathedral. He was an :
unselfish man, whose dominating quali- .
ties were tact and determination. He :
was gentle satirist. but incapable of {
anyone's feelings. He never :
went into fashionable society. and de- :
spised oStentation. Above all things
he disliked publicity, and during his
entire administration he never once con-
sented to Journalist interviewing him.
The Church of the Holy Name was
IL l-...- nAI
Very expensive repairs had been made
4 short time before. and it was prac- l
ically new church the night of the 2
great fire. 1t took scarcely three hours = =
20 burn, intiicting upon the parish a !
oss of nearly 100000. About / o'clock |
n the morning DR.. McMullen rushed
nto the church and tried to save the >
sacred vessels Of the altar, but found
he fire had made too great headway. q
lust then the spire fell in toward the o
BODY of the church. The only souvenir |
Dr.. McMullen had to show from the =
Chicago fire was a. little ivory min {
ature of the Virgin and Child. which a
lie picked up from his own nantel- n
'iece at the last moment. 1t was |
ear to him for its associa- +
ions. When he was in Rome it was 81
laced in a niche on the wall of the re- G.
option room of the Propaganda Col q
sge. Everything about the church was q
total loss, with the exception of Bish- u
p Foleys chalice, which was saved bp d.
'ichard O'Hara, the faithful sexton "
with the Holy Name work n
Or over thirty six years. Having COW OF
red the chalice with a part of an old ci
ed quilt he carried it through flying II
parks and burning brands UP to Dr.. fc
utlers church on North Franklin it
treet, the Immaculate Conception. He q
BON found it was no longer safe to hi
Amain there. The relentless flames ad- W
anced hunting before them the home it
IS people. sparing nothing and no II
ody. O'Hara walked over to Father CT
urke's on West Indiana street Just nj
5 he was nearing the parochial resi- di
ence an old expresGman, a former ac- nj
laintance with a, frantic horse nearly
rove over them. whereupon O'Hara ii,
,ared out: Stand back, stand back p1
II the bishop" The eXpressman tried ct
manage and pull up his horse but or
hen he recognized his old friend the W
xton he was indignant and used DC
,uss' words. Then he screamed out: or
3lazes. man! Have you gone mad tn
ith the fire? Do you really think you bi
e the bishop?' nj
There was no time for explanations. no
ut by this ruse O'Hara gained his
lint and passed He delivered the ca
lalice to the bishops hands IT was ou
iluable for its associations as well as co
+ its intrinsic worth. Being made of m;
ire gold and studded with precious OK
wells, it had been a recent gift from ne
voted friends in Baltimore, the bish- wi
IS old home fo
'RoTESTANTISM AND BoERS. so So