Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-07-09

l Ills VdIlSH GOtCTCu TIC kHfC &C NVufkAr =
les of Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgsns
extending from Harper's Ferry to Paw-
Paw. a distance OF about 90 miles by the
| road over 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 on
the sick or dying He celebrated mass
| regularly in Martinsburg Harper's Ferry
and Berkeley Springs (the latter place
then called Bath, and also conducted)
services III private houses in Shepherds
town, Paw Paw, Cherry Run, Johnson
town and other remote settlements i'm
the three counties. He made irregular
trips through the more sparsely settled
sections conducting services. administer
and baptizing children.
Once, on one of these journeys, he
visited Catholic woman whose husband
was known as dangerous man, and
who had declared he would kill the first
priest that visited his home. either to adj
minister the sacrament TO his wife or tn
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
VH ifpi SN OdNh III hiHdiAs oNNiiOoh Ia
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 MartinsburgA
to Lowell, many years ago, but the older
people of the parish in MartinsburG
| paynv foroot btt,, and cfttt rayara HE
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,
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 girl
when he was stationed there, Miss
Blondel says:
II often heard my mother speak Of
Father John OBrien when | was ..
young girl, and he evidently made 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
notice in 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
short time | received courteous let
ter, stating that it was the same Father
John OBrien, and that the firm would
be pleased to give me any additional in
| formation i'll their power. That, | be-
| iicve, was some years after | had heard
about him. Father John must have been
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. II was Father John who
laid the plans and started the movement
to erect the present handsome Catholic
church in Martinsburg, which has cost
more than $4,000, and although he did
not remain to see il 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
II corrected his digestion, made new
tissure, 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 patent medicine, and does not con-
tain alcohol or poisonous drugs.
Father Johns Medicine is on sale in
most of the drug stores in this vicinity.
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