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Show HOW IRE (MICE IS SAVED REMINISCENCES OF CHUBCH OF THE HOLY CROSS. Saving of the Chalice During the Big , Conflagration Bishop Foley's Characteristics. The fiftieth anniversary of the erection erec-tion of the first Church of the Holy Name in Chicago was celebrated Sunday Sun-day at the present cathedral on the northeast corner of Superior and State streets. The first church bearing the title of the present big one was a small j wooden structure built on the site now j occupied by the cathedral, though it ' looked toward the south, instead of the west. The cornerstone of the second Holy Name Chuch, which was located on the southeast corner of Superior and Wolcott streets, the latter now called State, was laid on Aug. 3. 1853, by Right Rev. Bishop Vandevelde the second Catholic bishop of Chicago, and the sermon ser-mon of -the ceremony was preached by Right Rev. Michael O'Connor, bishop of Pittsburg. The style of architecture was purely Gothic, and the material of which the church was built was Milwaukee Mil-waukee brick. The building was nearly near-ly complete the following fall. Mass for the first time was celebrated on Christmas day, 1854. There was no plas ter nnish, and the walls were running water, much to the discomfort of the congregation. Among the present residents resi-dents who attended the first mass were Philip Conley, Redmond Prindiville, John Prindiville, Frank Murphv, Thomas Thom-as Brenan, E. B. McCagg. Dr. N. S. Davis and Joseph McDonald. All during dur-ing the '60s the cathedral was famed for its magnificent music. Bishop Dug-gan's Dug-gan's love of art and culture made him a private favorite with all he prominent musicians of that time. They were only too willing to lay their gifts at his feet. Artists of international reputation have given of their best talents to the old church. During a short stay in Chicago Adelina Pattt sang solos there, and, strange to say. refused all compensation. compensa-tion. The diva was then nearly 19 years old. Her sister, Carlotta, was equauy amiaoie in tavoring cathedral Catholics. The well-remembered Pare-pa Pare-pa Rosa of English opera fame, found time to give forth her voice frequently to the old church. When Christina Nill-son Nill-son first visited America she twice favored fa-vored the North Side Catholics with her bird-like, sympathetic voice. Always when Italian opera was given in Chicago, Chica-go, during their stay over Sunday, it j supplied gTatis a quartette of its leading lead-ing members. To this day there are some of the old parishioners who recall with delight the soulful rendition of Rossini's "Stabat Mater," and especial-I especial-I ly Karl Formes' bass solo, "Pro Pec-I Pec-I catie." From 1862 until 1SG8 Rev. Joseph P. Roles, D. D., was pastor of the Holy Name. He was an English convert to cttinoucism, ana many or nts former "isms" clung to him for years afterward. after-ward. He was' a sound theologian, a good pulpit orator, and with his sermons ser-mons he made a deep impression upon the minds of his hearers. When preaching preach-ing he always used notes, but only for facts and the order of his points, then trusted exclusively to the moment for his words. Personally he was extreme- i ly dignified, yet cheerful, and had the I happy gift of always having on hand plenty of good stories which were always al-ways most apropos. He displayed great zeal for the welfare of souls, and his life was a truly priestly one. He died suddenly about three years ago of heart disease in his own rooms at the parish house of St. Marv's. Who does not know the story of Father Roles and the bishopric? Richard O'Hara, the time-honored time-honored sexton of the old Holr Name, had his own opinion of converts. One day he overheard two clergymen speaking' speak-ing' in the vestry of Father Roles as a man of intellectual power, who ought to attain to sime eminent position in the church. "Why, yes, a bishop at least," suggested one of the party. O'Hara, who was arranging some vestments, vest-ments, chimed in immediately and said: "Ah, no; Father Roles is a fine looking man. a good thinking men, but he haven't the right canonical shape o' the head!" Righ Rev. Thomas Foley was the last bishop of the old cathedral. He was an unselfish man. whose dominating qualities quali-ties were tact and determination. He was a gentle satirist, but incapable of wounding anyone's feelings. He never went into fashionable society. -and despised de-spised ostentation. Above ail things he disliked publicity, and during his' entire adminstration he never once consented con-sented to a journalist interviewing him. The Church of the Holy Name was burned down on the 9th of October. 1871. Very expensive repairs had been, made a short time before, and it was practically prac-tically a new church the night of the great fire. It took scarcely three hours to burn, inflicting upon the parish a loss of nearly $300,000. About 1 o'clock in the morning Dr. McMullen rushed into the church and tried to save the sacred vessels of the altar, but found the fire had made too great headwav. Just then the spire fell in toward the body of the church. The only "souvenir Dr. McMullen had to show from the Chicago fire was a little ivory miniature min-iature of the Virgin and Child, which he picked up from his own mantel- ! piece at the last moment. It was dear to hint for its associations. associa-tions. "When he was in Rome it was placed in a niche on the wall of the reception re-ception room of the Propaganda College. Col-lege. Everything about the church was a total loss, with the exception of Bishop Bish-op Foley's chalice, which was saved bf Richard O'Hara, the faithful sexton connected with the Holy Name work for over thirty-six years. Having covered cov-ered the chalice with a part of an old bed quilt he carried it through flying sparks and bunting brands up to Dr. Butler's church on North Franklin ftreet. the Immaculate Conception. He soon" found it was no longer safe to remain there. The relentless flames advanced, ad-vanced, hunting before them the homeless home-less people, sparing nothing and nobody. no-body. O'Hara walked over to Father Burkes on West Indiana street. Just as he was nearing the parochial residence resi-dence an old expressman, a former acquaintance ac-quaintance with a frantic horse nearly drove over them, whereupon O'Hara roared out: "Stand back, stand back for the bishop." The expressman tried to manage and pull up his horse, but when he recognized his old friend the sexton he was indignant and used "cuss" words. Then he screamed out: "Blazes, man! Have you gone mad with the fire? Do you really think you are the bishop?" There was no time for explanations. But by this ruse O'Hara gained his point and passed. He delivered the chalice to the bishop's hands. It was valuable for its associations as well as for its intrinsic worth. Being made of pure gold and studded with precious jewels, it had been a recent gift from devoted friends in Baltimore, the bishop's bish-op's old home. |