The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-04-03
Complete History of Scranton Dio-


CeSe.
The most complete and authetic
history of the diocese of Scranton
yet published appears in the thir-
teenth volume of the Catholic En-
cyclopedia which has just come from
the press.
The early history of Catholicism in
Pennsylvania is graphically told and
the rise of the diocese from its hum
BILE beginning to it's present influen-
tial position in the community treat
ed at length. Interesting statistics,
hitherto unpublished, have been
compiled by the author, Rev.
DR.. Andrew j. Brennan, chancellor OF
the diocese, showing the full extent
of the ecclesiastical, educational and
charitable work of the diocese.
The diocese of Scranton, suffra-
gansee of Philadelphia, U. S. A, es-
tablished on March 3, 1868, COM
prises the counties of Lackawanna,
Luzerne, Bradford, Susquehanna,
Wayne, Tioga, Sullivan, Wyoming,
Lycoming, Pike and Monroe, all in
the northeastern part OF Pennsyl-
vania; area, 1857 square miles.
Scranton, the Episcopal see, is in the
heart OF the anthracite region and Is
progressive city of 100, 900 inhabi-
tants (19O0). Other large cities are
Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport, Halle
ton, Carbondale and Pittston. The
pioneer Catholic settlers were princi-
pally of Irish and German descent,
but in recent years the coal mining
industry has attracted numerous
European laborers, mostly OF the Slav
and Italian races, until these number
almost one-half of the Catholic pop
ulation.
The earliest permanent Catholic
settlements were at Friendsville and
Silver Lake, Susquehanna county
These, as well as other Catholic set
tiers scattered throughout the dis
trict, were attended occasionally by
a priest sent from Philadelphia. In
| 1925, largely through the solicitation
of Mr.. Patrick Griffin, father OF Ger
aid Griffin, the Irish novelist, dramat-
| list and poet, then a resident of Sus-
quehanna county, Bishop Kendrick OF
Philadelphia, sent Rev. John O'Flynn
as the first resident pastor, his work,
| however, was rather that OF a mis-
sionary, as his field of labor COM
prised thirteen counties in North
eastern Pennsylvania and five coun-
ties in New York State.
The nrSt cnurcn was Dulll III oSo
near Silver Lake. Father OFlynn
died at Danville in 1929, and was
succeeded by Father Clancy. On
February /, 1886, Rev. Henry Fitz-
simmons was sent to take his place in
Carbondale, where a church had been
built in 1882, Silver Lake being at
tended from Carbondale as a mission.
In 1888 Rev. John Vincent OReilly
was sent by Bishop Kendrick to as
sist in administering to the Catholics
of this extensive territory. He took
up his residence at Silver Lake and
his charge comprised the counties OF
Susquehanna, Bradford, Tioga, Pot
ter, and Sullivan in Pennsylvania,
and the five adjoining counties In
New York state The early history
OF the diocese is intimately bound up
with the truly heroic labors OF Faith
er O'Reilly, and the foundations or
many OF the present parishes were
the results of his missionary zeal.
His fruitful career was brought to an
untimely end at the railway station
at 6usquehanna, Oct. 4, 1875. He
was killed while rescuing a friend
from the path of an approaching
! train.