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Show : the Lak I 1 (Written for The Intermountain Catholic.) Last week The Intermountain Catholic Cath-olic announced the death of the Rev. Father Sylveer Malone of Brooklyn, ' X. Y. This week space is given to a more detailed account of his illustrious career, and which will be read with interest in-terest by Catholics and non-Catholics in this intermountain country, for Father Malone assisted in making the history of his adopted country. Xo American had a more deep-stated patriotism than Father Malone. When the news reached Brooklyn that Fort Sumter had been fired upon, his was the first Catholic church in the land to fly from its steeple the flag that had been fired upon by the enemies of the Union. Early travelers that Sunday morning morn-ing saw with astonishment the Stars and Stripes flying from the very cross itself 150 feet from the pavement, and no sermon preached that day was more eloquent of patriotism and loyalty than the flashing folds of the starry banner which silently but effectually identified Father Malone and his church with the Union cause. Throughout the four years, of the war the flag continued to fly from its place on this church. On the 15th of April, 1S65, the day following the assassination. assassina-tion. of President Lincoln, it was taken down, heavily draped with black and ' returned to ita place on the steeple. ASSASSINATION OF LINCOLN. The Brooklyn Timest of April 17, 1865, said: "That yesterday could have passed without proper notice by Father Malone of its solemnity in relation to -the American people was, of course, . impossible. That he would fittingly . denounce thi:i newest expression of rebellion, re-bellion, the asijUS'Sin'ation of Abraham Lincoln, we knew. That the members " of his congregation would be stimu- -lated by him to a more profound ap- -preciation of their duties as citizens, in . view of this most calamitous dispensation, dispensa-tion, we kneAv also. Our space will not acTonit of more than the merest synop- cr nis two discourses yesterday, discourses worthy of his head and heart, worthy of and flowing naturally from his manhood and his exacted estimate es-timate of his citizenship." We give but a few paragraphs from the reports that followed. At the 9 o'clock mass he concluded his remarks thus: I x as'K you to marK wen tne man who, calling himself a Catholic, shall dare to speak approvingly of this assassination, as-sassination, lest he shall bring disgrace upon us all. I ask you to mark well the man who tod-ay has no voice for mourning. . . . Pray that the life and integrity of the nation be preserved; pre-served; pray that the constituted . authority au-thority of the nation may past' through tiis trying ordeal unharmed and that this rebellinon may speedily be destroyed." de-stroyed." At the grand high mass Father Malone Ma-lone said: "It is not that Abraham Lincoln has thus been murdered; it is more it is the President of the United States the reoresi?ntative of a nation of freemen, the head and chosen of the people. We mourn today for the Christian patriot gone from us, but we stand appalled and horror-stricken horror-stricken at the murder of a magistrate whose heart was so filled with Christian Chris-tian charity anct forgiveness for those who had, forgetting their allegiance, taken arms against the most humane government on earth." FATHER MALONE'S COMING TO AMERICA. On the 9th of April. 1S39, an 18-year-old boy having crossed the Irish sea from Kingston to Liverpool, wrote to his mother in the town of Trim, county Meath, Ireland: "I preserve as good courage now as I had on leaving Kingston, and I will, I hope, until I arrive ar-rive at that goal for which my heart so ardently glows." The goal was America, and the following fol-lowing day he started for Philadelphia aboard the packet ship Susquehanna. This boy, Sylvester Malone, is honored hon-ored and respected today in thousands of homes, says a writer recently in speaking of the great Brooklyn priest, both Protestant and Catholic, not-merely not-merely as the venerable parish priest of SS. Peter and Paul in Brooklyn, Brook-lyn, 'where his long life of manly Christianity is so. well known, but in a wider circle of friends scattered over the whole United States, whose love and admiration he has won by his faithfulness to American ideas and national na-tional honor." Prior to his departure from Ireland young Malone was educated at the classical academy of two Protestant brothers named Carroll, one of whom was a fellow of Trinity college, Dublin. Dub-lin. The institution appears to have been a model of its kind and was attended in equal numbers by Catholics and Protestants, who were taught to fraternize fra-ternize pleasantly, and thus laid the foundation for many a life-long friendship. friend-ship. Sectarian bias was discouraged, religious re-ligious bigotry uprooted, and the universal uni-versal brotherhood of man so persistently per-sistently emphasized by the brothers Carroll that the. seed bore fruit in the after life of many of the seolars. FATHER MALONE'S EARLY LIFE. Indeed, the social status of the community com-munity in Which his early training was received was largely responsible in i forming Father Malone's character, for in writing to -a friend afterward he said: "My early life was toned by associations associa-tions with. non-Catholics. The kindliest kindli-est feeling was cultivated among people peo-ple who followed different religious beliefs. be-liefs. The Catholic priest and the Protestant minister walked arm inarm through the public streets of the town. Its influence on both s'ides was calculated calcu-lated to destroy prejudice and inspire confidence among citizens' of the same i nationality. "To this I lovingly turn as the school that has fitted me for the proper appreciation ap-preciation of what citizens, owe each other in. America, where religion is . left as an individual interest with which no one has the right to interfere." , lq 1S83 the Rev. Andrew Byrne, rec- X X x 0mK x 1 MJW? Vr Vl.Xr - i lipiip lite i : flUiJ1 H;,; m$ x X TELAT-I'ATH2Ii STLVESTEE. MALONE. ' to of S't. James' church, Xew York (afterwards Bishop of Little Rock, Ark., who died during the war of the rebellion a staunch supporter of the Union cause), went to Ireland to seek proper candidates for the priesthood in connection with American missions. Father Malone was one of those who returned with htm. They landed in Philadelphia Sunday, May, 12, 1SG9, and the following day proceeded to Xew York. Following the advicei of Bishop Hughes, young Malone at once entered St. Joseph's Seminary, which had been recently opened at La Fargeville, Jefferson Jef-ferson county, Xew York. The next year the seminary removed to Ford-ham, Ford-ham, where it is today, and here Father Malono completed his siudies after a four years course. FATHER MALOXE ORDAINED. Fifty-three years ago on the 15th of August, 1S44, Father Malone was ordained or-dained a. priest of tho diocese of New York. The ceremony took place in St. Patrick's Cathedral, and was performed by the Rt. Rev. Coadjutor Bishop Dr. McCloskey (who subsequently became the first American Cardinal), and was the first time he officiated at the cere-'mony cere-'mony of ordination. Not long afterward after-ward Bishop Hughes appointed Father Malone to the care of the little church and congregation in Williamsburg, L. I. There were but few resident Catholics in the. village prior to 1840, and these few used to cross the East river on Morrell's old ferry from the foot of Grand street to Corlear's Hook and attend at-tend mags at St. Mary's Church New-York, New-York, which was situated in Sheriff street, and afterwards in Grand near Ridge. A small church was erected on the corner of North Eighth and First streets, Brooklyn, capable of seating 500 people. It was dedicated June 27, 1S10, by the Rt. Rev. John Du Bois," second Bishop of New York. On Sept. 22, 1S44, Father . Malone assumed charge as its first pastor. It was called St. Mary's and lts parish limits extended ex-tended to Hallet's Cove, Astoria, on the north; Myrtle avenue, Brooklyn, on the south; the East river on the west, and the hamlet of Middle Village on tha east. An idea of the work of a parish priest at this early day is given in an interview with Father Malone. published in the Christmas number of the Brooklyn Eagle of 1394. "My earliest recollection in connection connec-tion with Christmas day here is of mv having been called to Newtown to attend at-tend the bedside of a dying Catholi. That was in the afternoon. There was a bad snowstorm and I had to walk thcire and walk back. When. I returned re-turned to my church I had, beng alone, to take my place in the con-fesional con-fesional and remain there till midnight, and the next morning to sing two masses, 6 o'clock and 10:30 o'clock, and preach to both congregations and also say a low mass at 9 o'clock." THE YOUNG PRIESTS COURAGE. The Volunteer Fire Department practically controlled the affairs of the town, and it was a common thing for its members to insult the young priest whenever opportunity offered. They frequently jeered him as he passed by their engines house, but could neither frighten nor ridicule him out of the performance of his duties. This manly way of facing his enemies, ene-mies, together with the unobtrusive but energetic prosecution of hi3 parish, work, soon made an impression on hi3 fellow citizens, and gained the respect and good will, in many instances, of his pronounced opponents. ! When Father Malone assumed charge i cf St. Mary's it was so heavily in. debt j that building and land together could not have been sold for enough to cancel can-cel the indebtedness, but in two years ! he paid the entire amount and quietly ! set to work to raisv? funds and acquire ! property for the present church. About this time he made the acquaintance ac-quaintance of a young Irish architect named Patrick C. Keely, and was so impressed with his ability (although the young man had never built a church) that he was asked to submit plans and specifications. Father Ma lone's confidence was- justilf-'d. for, though SS. Peter and Paul was Keely's first church, he afterward planned and superintended the construction of over 600 churches, anion',' the number being the cathedrals of Boston. H;fax. Montreal, Burlington, Buffalo an,! Portland, Me. During the first decade of Father Malone's Ma-lone's pastorate the few scattered attendants at-tendants of the early clays increased to a congregation of u.nno. He had paid 1 off the debt on the old church, built a new1 one, founded a sr-hool giving Instruction In-struction to 1.000 pupils, collected a valuable church library, established; several flourishing societies, beside attending at-tending faithfully to the routine duti of his parish. He had earned a well-. merited rest, hence Bishop Loughlim granted him permission to attend tha proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Im-maculate Conception by Pope Piux IX. in St. Peter's, Rome. Dec. S. 154. anJ he sailed from New York in October of that year. After a pleasant viit abroad he resumed the work of his parish about Easter, 1S53. HIS STRONG ANTI-SLAVERY VIEWS. From its inception Father Malone was politically identified with the Republican Re-publican party. This was the natural outcome of his strong anti slavery views, and grew out of his sympathy with tha little band of abolitionists! whose constant agitation for the freedom free-dom of the black man led up to the stupendous events which followed. From boyhood up Father Malone has believed and taught that the tru spirit of the Catholic Church is ini full harmony with the spirit of American! 1 institutions: hence he never svvervcM from the course he marked out. He held that in order to maintain the approval ap-proval of his own conscience in the sight of God and to conserve the interests inter-ests of his Church and people in the community he was called to labor in, it was necessary to identify both, strongly and fearlessly with all that tendecl to build up true manliness and1, honor, whether in the individual or the state. Therefore, instead of lis?tenin?r to tha well-mear.'t suggestions of timorous friends, he became more pronounced in I his teachings, and vehemently attacked at-tacked the ill-concealed tendency toward secession and national dishonor which manifested itself immediately prior to the election of Abraham Lincoln. Father Malone was a regent of the State University of New York at tha time of his death. j FATHER 7dAT.ONE'S ESTATE. Rumor Says Relatives Will Make a Contest In Court. (From 'the New York Herald, Jan. 5.) There will be a continuation of the scandals that surrounded the closing days of Father Malor.'s life when his relatives take the settlement of his es-j es-j tate into the surrogate court. Tim .Church authorities, according to a I statement made to roe last night by Father Jchn L. Belford, now pastor of ; St. Peter and St. Paul's Church ,im Will'iarrsburg. are prepared to contest every point that is of any interest to them. For this purpose) they have se-; se-; cured legal renresentatives. In case the relatives offer any other will for j probate than the ore made by the dead Priest on Nov. 6, or claim that Father Malone died intestate, a legal battle will follow. "W"e know that Father Malone mad-? a will on Nov. 6," Father Belford told me. in tr.'e parish house at No. 69 South Third street, lat night, "and under that w-ilt the Church had certain bequest be-quest made to it. We feel raat we have a right to have that will offered for probate, or opportunity given for its being probated, and if this is not done, it mi;?t be proved that it has been de-i de-i troyed. This will is the one witnessed j by Father Martin Carroll and Monsig- nor Duffy." , T ! Tiu.3 will that Father Belford referred: . 1 . (Continued on Bags 7.) i Lak Taffies' malone (Continued From Pago 1.) to was the one that Geerge L. Fox of No. lo Taylor street, Williamsburg, al-. al-. legea was made on Nov. 6. He has further-alleged that after the frequent visits vis-its of Sylvester L. Malone. a nephew of the t.3tator, to his office, he returned the will to Father Malone on Dec. TS. and that the Priest turned it over to h'is nephew. "If there is a claim made," Father Belford continued, "that Father Malone diedinttutate, the Church simply wants to see that the administrator appointed is a fit ptrsim, and that his bonds are sufficient. The only will that I have any, knowledge about ia the one mentioned. men-tioned. Such property as may have been left to the Church is only trifling, but still it must be protected." "Have you refused to allow the relatives rela-tives of the dead Priest possession of Father Malone's personal effects?" "By no means," he replied. "For one reason, none of them have been to see me since the body was removed from here. There are certain things which Father Malone left which were his personal per-sonal propertv. and other effect which belong to the Church. Just what wa5 his and just what belongs to the Church is to be settled. Under the law of the Brooklyn diocese every Priest is required re-quired to make an in-entory cf what is his personal property and what belongs to the Church. Anything that a Priest bHjv? with his own money is his personal per-sonal property. It ia otherwise if purchased pur-chased with the Church funds. "When there is no such inventory," he continued, "the presumption is that everything belongs to the Church. All our search has failed to discover that Father Malone left any such inventory. in-ventory. Whatever property his relatives rela-tives can show belonged to Father Malone Ma-lone will be cheerfully 'turnel over. His effects are still in his room untouched, and will remain so for the present." Father Belford said, that he had no intention of referring to the troubles that have existed to his congregation next Sunday, when he will celebrate Mass for the first time. He denied mcst emphatically that Father Joseph O'Brien, whose feud with Father Malone's Ma-lone's reJativ s started th,e troubles, was to be removed. Sylvester L. Malone last night again refused to discuss the matter, saying that at the proper time the family would issue a statement. According to Mr. Fox, a retired lawyer law-yer and lifelong friend of Father Malone, Ma-lone, the will he drew up for the Priest on Nov. 6 divided the estate nearly eqirally between the family and the Church. There was bequeathed to Miss; Winifred Prsnnan $t W- to th Ristera of the Bon Secour Order, $200; to the Rev. D. J. Sullivan of St. John's College, Col-lege, $500, and to Bishop McDonnell, $1,000 in trust for Joseph L. O'Keefe. a nephew of Miss Brennan, who is studying study-ing theology. Various other bequests of his books are made to Catholic hos-pitals, hos-pitals, and $2,500 to Sylvester L. Malone, Ma-lone, the nephew. There have been persfetent rumors of a second will (having been made on or about Dec. 6. The relatives refuse to diecusBi this, however. I was told by a prominent ecclesiastic of the Church last night that their belief is that the will of Nov. 6 was destroyed, and that the claim will be made by relatives that the Priest died intestate. |