New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-28

"a IT,.
the petition were. sent for them to como ana
ETC.,, their names. They refused. and demanded
@ or,sv-er I'm writing or the return OF their Pc
titfon- The answer was given to them verbally
"tbot their wishes would be respected ana the
natitIon was returned. Then followed the Leis-
Ier incident. which was told OF in another part
Of the chronology
In 1921 William ordained a government for
New-York which continued substantially In op-
Grafton for nearly century. To the new Gov
ernor SIoughtec, orders were given TO grant lib
erty Of conscience to all peaceable inhabitants
"except papists." and to annuI the Charter OF
Liberties" by which religious tolerance was
e-ivar 10 the people. Catholics were no longer
safe I'm the city and those OF the faith who had
means removed to other parts OF the country.
while those without means found 1t necessary
for their safety to show no outward evidences OF
their faith. In a report transmitted to Eng
land in 1896 by Governor Fletcher IT was stated
that there were nine Catholics IN New-YOrk
CITY. and that these we'll as other mem
Ders Of their faith IN other parts OF the colony
should be away from priestly Intervention" IN
100 under the Governorship OF Lord Bellamont
and through his influence. the New-York Legs
Iature passed a law prohibiting the entrance OF
any Catholic priest within the colony or its
limits as claimed by England" A heavy pun
isbnent was set down I'm the law for violation
Of it. Enactments were also made prohibiting
Catholics holding office or voting for any civil
or other position in the colony. From this time
for a large number Of years the history OF the
Catholic Church in New-York is lost In dark
ness or. on account Of the penal laws. was never
written.
In 1741 the Negro Plot occurred. and as some
Irish Catholics had arrived short time pre-
viously to it. it was supposed that they had lent
in he r,1o 20 hrr~
the city. Ignorance and Liberal prejudice uni
versaIIy prevailed" says the historian OF the
event. and it is hoped that the veil OF hlial af
lection will be drawn over the errors OF our fore
fathers"
In 1T56 Bishop Cha1Ioner. OF London. dsscrfo-
Ing the condition Of his transatlantic flock. said
OF New-York: If there be any struggling Cath
clicks they can Rave no exercise of their re-
Iigion, as priests ever come near them: nor
to Judge by what appears to be the present dis
position Of the Inhabitants, are ever like 70 be
admitted amongst them" At the time written
of the Catholic settlements Of America were
looked upon as "appurtenances or appendices Of
the English mission" and the Wears Apostolic
OF London since the time of James II always
had authority over the English colonies and
islands in America"
In 1864 we find that on the death Of the Rev.
Theodore Schneider. founder Of the German
Catholic congregation in Philadelphia, the Rev.
Ferdinand Farmer. of the Catholic mission in
Pennsylvania. appointed 10 take charge Of
his field and also to minister to the Catholics In
New-Jersey. and that he extended HIS labors to
New-York and ministered to a little cOngrega-
ton worshippIng in the house Of a German CO.
religionist IN WaII-st. At what precise date he
labored in the city it is impossible to tell His
work was carried on secretly, however. as an act
was In existence up to and during the ReyOlu-
ton prohibiting the presence Of a Catholic
priest within the limits Of the colony.
In the New-YOrk convention Of 11I1 for the
framing OF constitution. Catholicism was at
tackled by John Jay in n amendment offered by
him to the section on naturalization as follows:
That the person applying for naturalization be
required to "abjure an& renounce all allegiance
and subsection to all and every foreign king.
prince, potentate and state in all matters eccIes-
astical and civil and. though earnestly OPP
posed, was carried. BY it Catholics could not be
naturalized until they renowned subsection 20
the Pope I'm ecclesiastical affairs Another
amendment was offered by Jay when the sec
ton on liberation came up-"that the Legis-
lature have power at any time to deny tolera-
ton 10 any sect or denomination" This ex-
cited so much debate that he withdrew it and
oneTed anOther-'except the professors OF the
religion Of the Church Of Rome who ought not
to hold any lands or be admitted to a participa-
ton Of the civil rights enjoyed by the members
OF this State. until such time as the said pro-
fessors shall appear in the Supreme Court OF
this State. and there most solemnIy swear that
they verify believe IN their consciences that no
pope priest or foreign authority on earth hath
power to absOlve the subjects OF this State from
their allegiance to the same And further that
they renOunce and believe to be false and wicked
the dangerous and damnable doctrine that the
Pope, or any other earthly authority hath
power to absolve men from their SINS described
IN and prohibited by the Gospel Of Jesus Christ;
and particularly that no pope priest or foreign
authority on earth hath power to absolve them
from the obligation OF this cath" This amend
ment was defeated. though another one intro
duced by Jay and not broadly put was car
ried. which contained these words as an intro
duction to the free exercise OF worship within
the state: And whereas. are required by
the benevolent principles OF rational liberty. not
only TO expel civil tyranny. but also to guard
against that spiritual oppression and intolerance
wherewith the bigotry and ambition OF weak
and wicked princes have scourged mankind. this
convention" etc. The legislature adopted Jays
idea. and wOrded the oath Of office IN con-
formity with his suggestion. so that Catholics
from abroad were prevented from becoming
naturalized citizens OF New-Yorx State.
The prohibition Of citizenship and the exercise
OF priestly functions was also extended. before
the Revolution. to the printing Of Catholic books
in the State. which at that time contained a
little over a thousand wOrshippers. But with
the establishment OF peace change occurred.
and the Catholics OF the city resolved to worship
publicly. The Rev. Ferdinand Farmer. who left
after the fire OF 1876. came openly to the city
and organized little body OF eighteen com