Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05
ST. PATR|CK'S PARISH
Founded by Father Caffrey
More Than a Century Ago.
PASSING OF THE PASTORS
The Late DR.. Stafford the Sixth in
It's Service.
CITY'S OLDEST CATHOLIC BODY
Progress of the Church Since Its Or
ganization in 1794-History
in Brief.

which is the oldest Catholic congregation
| in this CITY, even antedating the local gov
ernment by six years. Both in point OF
years. in location. influence and through
the personality of its ministers st. Pat
rick's Church has ever been regarded as
| the leading edifice of that fMth IN tins
| city With the advance of business houses
| in its environs this position has neen
| hard to maintain, it is thought. but owing
to the influence eXerted by It's dlstln-
guished pastor and his efficient clergy St.
Patrick's is regarded as having held her
laurels with credit
1t has been LA years since St. Patrick S
parish was organized at 10th and +
streets. The educational work was car
ried on by the erection of Washington
Seminary, afterward Gonzasa CeHeSe'
founding parochial schools and bringing
to Washington the Christian Brothers
and the Visitation Nuns. Under the pro-
lection of this parish two orphanages
We're set up-St. Nincent's Asylum
for Girls and ST. Josephs Asylum for
Boys, and Carroll Institute was organ
lied.
The most potential events in the his
tory of this nation and country have oc-
fcurred during the lifetime of this parish:
Dr.. Caffrey First Pastor.
Rev. DIR. Anthony ,Caffrey, the first pas
tor of ST Patrick's Church, April II. 1874,
purchased from the United States govern
ment two lots, Nos and 6, in square
$40 bounded by 9th and 10th, f and G
streets northwest, for which he paid ESQ.
A number of other parcels of land We're
also secured. The parish archives are not
agreed as to the first location of tNe
church, one authority stating that the
parish originally worshiped in a house at
the corner of 10th and E streets north
west. This has given rise to a suggestion
that the foundation of the church ante
dates the year 11q-that there was the
nucleus of a congregation Worshiping in a
house on + street. and that the increase
in numbers made it necessary to build a
church. for which Father Caffrey secured
a site in 1874.
Father Caffrey, having laid the founda-
ton of the parish and transferred the lots
to Bishop Carroll resigned the pastorate
in 1904, and some time afterward returned
to Ireland. Father Caffrey thus had the
distinction while at St. Patrfcks of being
the pioneer of the Catholic Church in
Washington. He had the pleasure of see
ing the little congregation on + street so
Increase in numbers as to require larger
church, which was intrusted to his sue
ceSSor to build
Rev. William Matthews Next.
Rev. William Matthews was the second
pastor of st. Patricks He was regarded
as one of the most remarkable church
men of his age. and his biographers have
declared that ito his restless energy fore
sight and zeal for the interest of church
and state, both st. Patrick's parish and
the National capital are indebted largely
for their present prosperity Father
Matthews not only blaZed way for his
but added to his duties. for a time
the presidency of Georgetown University
The Catholic Church in New York and
Philadelphia Drofited by his learning and
executive ability.
The only authentic record of q struc-
ture for st. Patricks parish relates to
an edifice set up on 10th street near F.
street. In 1908 Father Matthews was
made president of Georgetown College.
and assumed the duties of his office in
presidency in 1910 Old ST. Patricls's
contained an organ purchased by Father
Matthews from the Episcopal Church at
Dumfries Va. and said to be the first
Eorgan set up in the District of Columbia.
The church was also provided with a
handsome pulpit of rich foreign wood
presented by Mr.. Ribelo. the represen-
tative in Washington from the empire
Of Brazil This pulpit is now in St.
having been donated to Rev Charles
Bart. the pastor. by DIR. Stafford.
There were no pews in the building
until 1910, when some Were provided
by Mr.. Barry of East Washington. Be
fore that time the people were in the
habit of taking chairs or other seats to
the church. 1t was Father Matthews
who donated the land on f street adj
joining St. Patrick's Church on which
Washington Seminary later Gonzaga
College. was built Father Matthews
was the founder of st. Vincents Orphan
Asylum in 1895. By the advice of Father
Matthews the Visitation Nuns established
in 1850 the present academy on Connecti-
cut avenue.
Father Matthews died April so. 1854. For
fifty years he was spared to minister to
the spiritual wants of his congregation.
During these years he led a busy life.
AS pastor of growing parish. president
of Georgetown College president of Wash
ington Seminary and vicar apostolic of
Philadelphia he carried on the work TO
which he in his young, manhood had dedi-
Gated his life His death was mourned by
the entire city. for he was not only a
Jealous priest. but most useful citizen.
He was buried in the grounds adjoining
the church, May 3, and his remains were
! finally transferred to Mount Olivet Gene
terry. His body. when taken up for re
moval was found to have turned to stone.
Five years ago the monument marking his
grave was repaired by DR.. Stafford.
Rev. T. j. O'Toole Serves Six Years.
Rev Timothy j. O'Toole became the
tIllTu pastor OF St. 1dllIch anu S'-INeI
! in that capacity for six years. He was Il
curate under Father Matthews. Father
| O'Toole was Jealous advocate of total
abstinence, and having taken the pledge
| from the great apostle of Temperance.
Rev. Theobald Matthew, founded an or
ganization known as the Father Matthew
| Total Abstinence Society which flouirshed
| for many years. AT later day the Rev.
j. J. Keane took a deep interest in the
work, and his eloquent voice was often
heard in Carroll Hail. warning the intem-
| perate.
| During the passionate or Father OToole
| the Sisters OF the Holy Cross came 10
| Washington TO open st. Joseph's Orphan
Asylum for Boys. This was in February,
| 1880. The institution was first established
/ at 18th and IL streets, moved thence e
| the southwest corner of 10th ana G
| streets and finally to its present location,
on II street between 9th and 10th streets.
After a pastorate of six years sf'ather
O'Io DOLE went to New Gprk, where he
! died March II, 1888 His remains rest in
| Mt. Olivet cemetery, this city.
Succeeded by Father Walter.
Rev Jacob Ambrose Walter was pas
tor of ST. Patrick's from 1860 to 1894 1t
was said of him his most ennobling char
acteristic was his charity. Father Wal
ter's pastorate included the stormy days
of the civil war. His connection with
the famous trial of Mrs. Surratt is well
remembered. In 1864 Father Walter APP
preciating the need of the church in the
northern part of the city. founded the
| parish of the Immaculate COnceptjOu and