The Washington herald., 1908-05-31
FIRST FREE SCHOOL
Catholic Established lit in
New York in 1900.
OLD-TIME LAYMEN RECALLED
Celebration OF Centenary Brings Up
RecOllectiOns of Early Days in An
Remembered Is Pierre TOussaini,
COlOred Man from West Indies.

New York. May SO-The magnificent
Catholic celebration in New York recalls
TO mind a galaxy Of eminent laymen who
were prominent in the history of the arch
diocese during its first hundred years, an
archdiocese which enjoys the distinction
OF having opened the first free school in
New York State in old ST. Peters Church
in 1850, six years in advance Of any State
public school
Her laymen were found In all the walks
OF life. But we feel strongly inclined TO
place at their head, in order of merit. al
though not In order Of time, the well-re.
membered Pierre Toussaint, a colOred
man and formerly a slave in the West IN
dies. He was one of the early members
Of ST, Peters congregation on Barclay
street He was the fashionable hair
dresser Of the day. and the money thus
eorned was spent unsuntingly in works
OF charity. For sixty years he never once
failed 10 attend daily mass at ST. Peters.
He died June 30, 1853. aged eighty-seven: !:
and the speaker at his funeral declared
that there were few left among the
clergy superior TO him In devotion and
God; among laymen none"
First Native Priest.
Rev. James A. Nein was the first native
New Yorker ordained 10 the priesthood
The list Of physicians included Joseph
ODwyer. whose intubation tube has been
considered one OF the greatest contribu-
tions 10 modern medical science. Charles
OConnor stands at the head Of the dis
ungushed members of the bar, the list
including Frederic R. COudert, George
Bliss, and many others The first CathO-
lie 20 be chosen as a judge was Charles =.
Daily. elected 10 the Court OF Common
Pleas In ia. who served for forty-five
years John r. Brady was the first Cath
Ole judge OF the Supreme Court OF New
York. John Kelly and William r. Grace
are. OF course. well remembered among
the politicians.
Bernard Dornin was the first Catholic
publisher. Thomas O'Connor, father OF
the great Charles, the first editor. Others
following include James 4. McMaster. OF
the Freeman's Journal: Orestes A Brown
son. the philosopher and essayist; j. Max
Oertcl a convert from Lutheranlsm;
John r. Hassard. first editor of the Cath
olic World. and an editor OF the New
York Tribune; John Culinary Shea. the
historian; George Parsons Lathrop and
Lorenzo Da Ponte. who wrote the libret-
tos for Mozarts operas. Don Giovanni.
la Nozze di Figaro" and "CosI Fan
Tute." and who Is buried IN the old Elev-
enth Street Cemetery. His daughter was
the wife of DR. Henry James Anderson.
He was the first 10 teach the beauties %
Dante 10 American pupils.
MA
Among the old teachers may be recalled
Charles Coudert. father Of the lawyer,
and Mrs. Catherine Melmoth, retired
English actress. who was the first in
structor OF Cardinal McCloskey. and 10
whose lessons he attributed the perfect
articulation for which ne was noted in
his public speaking. She was buried in
old St Patrick's graveyard. Gems. John
Newton and Thomas Francis Meagher are
the only two Of a long list Of brilliant
military characters.
II has been said that during the century
the four greatest demonstrations among
the laity we're at the laying OF the cor
ner-stone OF ST. PatriCk's Cathedral IN
1858. the Columbus procession. In 1852; the
opening Of the new diocesan seminary at
Dunwoodie, In 1896. and the mammoth
protest, IN lyJt, against the persecution of
Catholics in France.
According 10 Official records. more than
a million persons are at rest in old ST
Patrick's, the Eleventh street. Calvary,
St. Raymonds, and other burying
grounds II has. therefore, been well re-
marked that ''at the close Of its first cen
tury the quick. 800, ,O00-and the dead OF
the diocese OF New York about balance
Thomas Lloyd lies buried at old st. Au-
gustinc's. Philadelphia. About three years
ago the National Association OF Short
hand Reporters erected over his grave a
IN recognition OF his official
position as the first reporter OF Con-
gress, and Of his being the founder OF the
first American system OF shorthand re-
porting. He is one OF the laymen recalled
by the New York celebrations.
When Washington was inaugurated for
the first time in Federal Hall, New York.