Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-04-16

les Of Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan,
extending from Harper's Ferry to Paw
Paw, a distance of about 50 miles by the
road over a mountainous and sparsely
settled country; but he never hesitated,
no matter how far the journey, or how
late the hour, to respond to the call of
the sick or dying. He celebrated mass
regularly in M%artinsburg, Harper's Ferry
and Berkeley Springs (the latter place
then called Bath, and also conducted
services in private houses in Shepherds
town. Paw-Paw, Cherry Run, Johnson
town and other remote settlements in
the three counties. He made irregular
trips through the more sparsely settled
sections conducting services, administer
ing the sacrament, celebrating marriages
and baptizing children.
Once, on one of these journeys, he
visited a Catholic woman whose husband
was known as a dangerous man, and
who had declared he would kill the first
priest that visited his home, d1her to adj
minister the sacrament to his wife or to
baptize his child. The man was away
from home at the time, but became
furious when he returned and learned
of the visit Of Father John. He set out
OF horse back in pursuit, overlook Fa-
Their John on the road and declared his
intention of killing him. Father John
sprang from his horse, disarmed the man
and forced him to promise to treat his
family better in the future. This prom
Use was kept.
Father John went from Martinsburg
to Lowell, many years ago, but the older
people of the parish in Martinsburg
never forgot him and still revere his
memory and hand down the fame of
his many good deeds to their children
and grandchildren"
Mrs. Schaarmann and Mrs. McCor-
mack distinctly remembered the Incl
dents in the career of Father John re-
lated by Mr.. Schaarmann, and them
selves related other incidents of the
famous priest during his residence in
Martinsburg. Miss THESE Blondel, a
member of an old and prominent Catho-
lie family in Martinsburg, and who was
for years assistant organist and leading
soprano in St. Joseph's church choir,
Martinsburg, was told many incidents
of Father Johns life and work in that
parish by her mother, who was a girl
when he was stationed there, Miss
Blondel says:
Il often heard my mother speak of
Father John O'Brien when | was a
young girl, and he evidently made a deep
impression upon this parish. The people
here still referred to him as our Father
John, and often spoke of his many great
qualities and good deeds. Once | saw a
notice in a newspaper about Father
Johns Medicine, manufactured in Low
ell, Mass, and knowing that Father
John had gone from this diocese to
Lowell, | wrote the firm and secured a
bottle of the remedy, asking whether
Father John was the same priest who
had been stationed in Martinsburg. In
ter, stating that it was the same Father
John O'Brien, and that the firm would
be pleased to give me any additional in
formation in their power. That, be-
lieye, was some years after | had heard
about him. Father John must have been
a wonderful man and priest"
Father John was also well known,
personally and by reputation, in many
West Virginia towns and on occasions
celebrated mass in Winchester, Hag-
erstown, Staunton, Williamsport, Lees
burg and other neighboring places.
There are yet residing in these towns
and other places in Maryland, Virginia
and West Virginia people who remem-
Der him and his work in the Martins
burg parish. 1t was Father John who
laid the plans and started the movement
t erect the present handsome Catholic
church in Martinsburg, which has cost
more than $4,000, and although he did
not remain to see it completed, he had
the honor of having a large share in the
undertaking.
Some years after Father John left
Martinsburg and was in charge of the
Lowell, Mass. parish, he became serious
ly run down. A cold and stubborn
cough and lung trouble threatened his
life. An eminent specialist gave Father
John a prescription to cure the cold and
remove the lung trouble, as well as to
build up and strengthen the body. The
clergyman began to improve at once, the
cough disappeared and his lungs healed.
1t corrected his digestion, made new
t~issure, and Father John was soon re-
stored to his former health and strength.
Father John recommended the medi-
cine to his parishioners and friends, and
because of its merits it became the family
remedy in thousands of homes, and be-
came known as Father Johns Medi-
cine having been so named by the
people, and was advertised, all with
approval of Father John.
1t will cure throat and lung troubles
prevent Consumption, and make flesh
and strength if taken faithfully. 1t is
not a patent medicine, and does not on
tain alcohol or poisonous drugs.
Father Johns Medicine is on sale in
most of the drug stores in this vicinity.