Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1910-03-29

street, and Mrs. Mary Mccormack, OF
East Martin street, mother of DIR. M. A.
Mccormack, the well-known physician
md surgeon, and all venerable and re-
pected residents of that city at the
resent time Each has a distinct re-
nembrance of Father John when he was
ector of St. Joseph's church in Martins
}urg, and they relate many interesting
eminiscences of his work and person
llity during the years he was stationed
here
The records of St. Josephs church,
Martinsburg, show that Father John
became the head of the parish in I84I,
succeeding Bishop Richard Vincent
Whelan, when the latter was elevated to
he purple in the old cathedral in Balti
more and sent to the Richmond see. 1t
is known, however, that Father John
had labored for several years previously
in that diocese as missionary, travelling
on horse back over a vast extent of
territory, suffering all the hardships of
those rude times and subjected to the
perils of long and lonely journeys
through the mountains of that state.
Father John remained in charge of
The Martinsburg parish until I848, when
ne was again summoned by the bishop
Of Richmond to resume the work of a
missionary, his great zeal, eloquence and
courage especially fitting him for that
character of work. He remained in that
diocese until 1853, when he went to
Lowell and became rector of St. Pat
rck's church, remaining there until his
death, some years later
ToL,, oG,o;o+aJ ~ tba cbr;c
tening of Mrs Schaarmann when she
was child of years and also prepared
Mrs. Mccormack for confirmation when
the latter was about 10 years old. Mr..
Schaarmann became we'll acquainted
with him when he visited Harper's Ferry,
one of the charges in the Martinsburg
parish, where Mr.. Schaarmann then re-
sided. OF Father John, Mr.. Schaarmann
says:
Father John O'Brien was greatly be-
loved by everybody-both Catholics and
Protestants. He was of splendid pres
ence, six feet tall and finely proportion
ed and possessed of great personal
strength and courage. He had fine
head, and his face was both handsome
and strong, expressing kindness, dignity
and benevolence in marked degree.
He was an ideal pastor, and exercised
an almost patriarchial influence over his
scattered flock While his most marked
characteristics were charity and zeal, he
could be austere and stern upon occa-
sions, which were rare. He was very
greatly beloved because of his unbounded
charity, and no one in need was ever
turned empty-handed from his door.
MANY times, while on his way to say
early mass on cold winter mornings, he
would take with his own hands supply
of food and fuel to some poor woman
or orphan children, and often cut the
wood and kindled the fire to cook the
provisions his bounty had furnished.
He lived a very simple and abstemious
life, and used practically all the offerings
of his parishioners in deeds of charity
among the poor.
"As a priest, he would go to the
uttermost lengths of his resources and
strength to attend to the spiritual need
of his people, and many times he rode
from 20 to 80 miles through the forests
and over the mountains at night to
carry the sacrament to some sick or
dying member of his flock. In emer-
gencies, if his horse was sick or travel
worn, he would walk the entire distance,
and so great was his strength and en-
durancel that he never hesitated to make
these lonely and dangerous journeys on
foot.