The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-05-03

Newark. he secured the services of the
eminent architect. Jeremiah O'Rourke. Of
this city. The designs and plans sub
mitted for a noble Gothic church were
accepted. contracts were awarded and the
work of construction began.
| can never forget the great day Of the
cornerstone laylng-Thanksgiving Day 1872.
! was one of the seminarians from Seton
Hall who were present to take part in the
impressive ceremonies on that occasion.
The stone itself had been brought from the
historic walls of Glenda1ough by Father
Dalton himself whilst on a trip to ireland
for his health. The preacher was the re-
owned Dominican, Father Tom" Burke,
who WAS on a lecturing tour In this coun-
try at the time. Before an immense con
course of people, who had come from far
and near to assist at the cornerstone lay
ing and to hear the famous orator, he de-
livered one of his powerful sermons, that
thrilled his vast audience. Carried away
with the soul-iHspiring scene and the rare
eloquence of the sanity priest, | recall
close TO him l reverently touched the black
cloak that covered his white Dominican
habit.
This was a memorable day for the Cath
olics OF Newark, a neyer-to-be-forgotten
one for the good people of st. Joseph's on
the Hill" The work SO auspieionsly be-
energy, but the. good Father Dalton ere
long felt that the burden he had assumed
was too much for his tender constitution,
III II a III GtdtC VI Cdt bC was
transferred to the pastorate of st. Mary's
Church, Bayonne, where he died in a few
weeks, to the great grief of all who knew
him.
His successor in st. Joseph's was the
Rev. Thomas j. Toomey, one of the curates
at the cathedral. He received his appoint
brother (of your present rector'sD. the late
Iamented Archbishop Corrigan, then
bishop of the See of Newark.
The second pastor was a tall and hand
Soma man inst d wears of aQp and a nriqsf
only three years. having been ordained at
Seton Hall. June z, 1873. To place one
SO young and inexperienced in charge Of an
course of erection. and at a time when the
business world was timidly recovering from
the panic OF 1874, seemed a risky appoint
ment and a dangerous experiment. The
bishop, however,, knew his man; he had
sized him up when he was president of
the college. and Father Tooniey was its
first project and chief disciplinarian. He
was well aware that what the young priest
lacked in experience he would make up in
ability. After taking charge he soon
fidence of his people by his zeal, earnest
ness and close attention to duty, and with
renewed life the work on the new church
continued without interruption until il
was completed.
No Error Made.
April the IL, 1880. furnished the best proof
of the fact that no error had been made
in the appointment, for on that memorable
day the solemn dedication of this mag
nifcent temple to the living God took
| place with great pomp and i
was a curate here at the time. and there
fore an eyewitness Of the inexpressible de-
tbl snnv Of ss the p pas III tSo ialt Haars i o3 oa at the
prayers and sacrifices. l trust the good
people of st. Joseph's are thinking of
rather Toomey today. thinking of him to
pray for him; that is all he may desire
from you or me. Years afterwards, when
he had finished the school building and
was In his last illness, l remember on one
of my visits to him how pathetically.
yet ~resignedly, he spoke of. the vigor OF
his mind ana of his desire to live and to
continue In his work for God and for you.
fatal" and then to cheer himself up he
remarked, Come and let us see the new
school: you go through it" he said, land
go with you; | cannot climb the stairs. :
After eighteen years of Jealous. untirine
and devoted labors. he entered into his
rest February 10, 1894.
The Present Pastor.
His successor for one short year was the
gentle and sanity Rev; Peter = o'Donnell.
Then came the Very Rev. John ], O'Con-
nor, V. G.. our esteemed bishop, who was
your pastor for over five years. He in
turn was succeeded by your present pastor,
the Rev. George W, Corrigan. The first
two of these appointments were made hy
one whose memory we still cherish. the late
lamented Bishop Wigger. the last one by
our present bishop. The work of these
pastors moved along the lines Of polishing,
predecessors; taking off the rough edges,
so to speak, in order that the gentleness
of Father Daltoh's regime might permeate
Father Toomey. Father O'Dounell was d
ripe scholar and skilled in perfecting de-
tails; the Very Rev. Vicar General, pro-
fessor of the sacred sciences at Seton Hal
for eighteen years, gave a powerful impetus
to the normal growth aud healthy develop
ment of the parish. You present pastor
a man of zeal and activity, needless to say,
has for the past eight years thrown his
whole soul into his work; his speciality is
the raising of his %parochial school to the
highest standard Of efficiency, and with
what success, not you alone, but the Cath
olics of Newark are well aware.
In this brief sketch of the jealous labors
of the rectors of the parish, and Of the
| active cooperation Of the people during its
existence Of half a century. ! have omitted
assistant priests who have ministered to
! you successfully In that time. Suffice to
| say, that they have been faithful. Jealous
and edifying, and that their names are held
In benediction by you because the people
OF St. Joseph's have always been a whole
souled and a grateful people.
Invaluable Services.
I iced not remind you Of the invaluable
services rendered TO you and to your chill
dren by the efficient and self>sacrificin,
| Sisters OIL C1arlLy, Ln6lf WUrk HdS Detu al
Important one, and religiously have the,
performed it. The charitable deeds of you
conference Of St. Vincent de Paul, the goot
works of your societies of the Holy Rosary
Holy Name, Father Mathew and the faith
full Children of Mary are all well worth,
of mention, and deserve commentator.
l might continue to speak to you at con
siderable length of the noble deeds and III
1 sanity lives of the priests and people o
this parish during the period you are celc
brating of incidents in the lives OF you
departed loved ones, but | mus
conclude, bearing in mind that M
time is limited by the day itsel
because it is a day of joy and gladnes
that should fill our souls today when W
look around and behold the exquisite beaut,
of this temple, listen to the delightful must
of the choir, hear the sweet voices Of thu
children and gaze upon the majestic cere
monial of the church; but more especial,
when PROSTATE before this lovely altar
fragrant, with choice flowers, at the solemn
moment of consecration We adore our Lort
and Saviour; it Is then that our joy am
gladness force us to exclaim: How lovel'
Are thy tabefnacles, o Lord of Hosts !
is then that we catch. a glimpse OF m
vision of st. john, as described In tn
Apocalypse, "And / heard a voice from m
throne saying: Behold the tabernacle O
God with men, and he will dwell with them
and they shall be his people, and God him
self with them shall be their God