The Story of the Mountain
Mount Saint Mary's College and Seminary

On May 3, 1875, at a meeting of the Council it was announced that Cardinal McCloskey, '31, the first American to receive the "red hat" (he had donned it a few days before) would visit his Alma Mater at the Commencement, and this was anticipated a full week to suit his convenience. A committee of the alumni association had been formed in New York, and, besides other notables, all alumni were to be invited, addresses in Latin, English and French to be prepared, a new set of brass instruments to be purchased for the baud, etc.

The 23d of June, 1875, saw the greatest and grandest event that up to this took place at the Mountain, the reception to America's first Cardinal, her son. The concourse of visitors greatly exceeded the accommodations, so that the students and seminarians were forced to sleep in the outer buildings or in the open air. The program was carried out on a grand scale, coupled as it was with Commencement exercises, enlivened by the finest music (among the bands present being that of Fort McHenry), and graced by the talent and dignity of the American church. The scene was a spirited, a glorious one, favorably impressing not only the American prelates present, but the Papal dignitaries themselves.

Four Generations of the McSherry's

The Catholic Mirror of the day tells how the Cardinal with Mgr. Roncetti, the Papal Delegate, and Ubaldi, the latter's "Secretary, came on Monday, June 23, driving up from Mechanicstown (Thurmont), as the Emmitsburg railway was not yet open. On Tuesday the Cardinal and the Delegate said Mass in the Old Church on the Hill. Tuesday afternoon saw a variety entertainment by the boys and a reception at the Convent by the girls. On Wednesday the Cardinal said Mass in the College chapel, and at half-past eight the Commencement exercises began. A special train leaving Baltimore at 5.30 a. m. brought a large delegation, which arrived after nine. Father Edward Sourin, S. J., '30, opened with an address to his old schoolmate and a poem, then came the boys' speeches, then the doctorate in Theology was conferred by Georgetown's messenger on Father John McCloskey, President, who read a reply in Latin and rendered it in English afterwards, alluding incidentally to his venerable friend and predecessor, Dr. McCaffrey, who, being called on, made a characteristic speech. The distribution of prizes came after lunch, as well as the valedictory and the Cardinal's charming address." Whatever I am, whatever I may be, under God's Providence, I owe to this institution more than to any other here or elsewhere. "Hurrah for the Old Mountain!" and he waved his red beretta. Words fail to describe the enthusiasm. No one can appreciate it but one who realizes that this was the first Cardinal of the American continent and that he was a child of the most genuinely American college.

The New York Catholic Review, July 5, 1875, gives the Cardinal's speech : . . . " When the great ceremony which you have heard my friend from early youth (Father Sourin) describe in a style so ornamented with poetical imagination, when that terminated in the cathedral of New York, my thoughts were more and more drawn to the dear old Mountain, the scene of so much of my youthful happiness. I was filled with a desire to visit it as soon as time and circumstances would permit. I resolved to visit it, not to receive such an ovation as has been tendered to me and the other bishops to-day, but to make a pilgrimage to the sacred spot where I had knelt when a boy and an ecclesiastic in the seminary, where I imbibed those lessons in whose spirit I have walked till now; where I received my first call to devote myself to God and the service of the Church. I came not so much to renew by copious draughts of the mountain air my bodily health, but much rather my spiritual health, so that I might be fitted for the work which still remains for me to do. I came to renew my vows before the altar where I first pronounced them. I came in truth a pilgrim to the shrines of my early life. . . . Alas ! how few are there left when I look around me here or elsewhere ! How few there are who were boys or ecclesiastics with me ! One by one they have dropped away. Father Sourin, your venerable president, and one or two others are all that are left who were with me in rhetoric or theology. I thought, as I sat here, how soon the first generation of Mountaineers has passed away. I look to you, gentlemen of the graduating class. You are to grow up to take their places. You are to be the standard-bearers of the College, but you are to carry it higher than your predecessors, for you have a smoother way and greater encouragement. All you need is God's blessing. May you be a blessing to the church and to your families, and after a happy life on earth, may you have a still happier future! I thank you for all your kindness, which I have not been able to witness without swelling emotions. I say simply in parting that if in this honor any church or diocese has been particularly honored, what place has a right to claim a larger share in the honor than Mount St. Mary's, to which I am indebted for what I have been, for what I am, for what I may be in the future." (Unrestrained applause.) The Cardinal was then preparing to retire, the military band from Fort McHenry playing "Auld Lang Syne," when an enthusiastic graduate stood up and cried out: " Three cheers for the American Cardinal! " They were hardly given when His Eminence, entering into the spirit of the moment, waved his red beretta and called for " Three cheers for Mount St. Mary's!" The applause was renewed again and again.

A banquet followed with more speeches. Then came a meeting of the Alumni, who formed an association, Father Jeremiah Griffin, '62, of New York, being made President, James McSherry, ex-'63, Treasurer, and Outerbridge Horsey, '37, Chairman of the Executive Committee.

On Thursday all went to St. Joseph's, where the Cardinal made another of those graceful addresses for which he was celebrated.

In memoriam.

Visit of His Eminence, CARDINAL JOHN McCLOSKEY, Archbishop of New York, To his Alma Mater, Mount Saint Mary's College, Emmitsburg, June 23,1875.

I. Prince of the kingdom that shall stand forever, Till tilled with light of the eternal day, Time and its storm-clouds shall have passed away, Bathed in the splendors of the Sun that never, Never more more shall veil His face from thee: Salve Regina! Sponsa Christ!! 'Tis heaven's word divine, its law supreme; No gorgeous vision, mere angelic dream, But God's own pledge of thy eternity.

II. Oh! that my lips were cleansed with living fire, Like that the Seraph to the Prophet bore, To chant thy beauty, majesty and might, Church of the living God ! fair realm of Light! Where sin and sorrow, death shall be no more; No warring nations, soul-destroying strife, But Peace, Joy, Victory, Everlasting Life.

III. Spirit of Love ! my thoughts, my words inspire! Thrice-honored Servant of the Pontiff-king, Well may thy Alma Mater lift her brow, And bid the woods, the rocks, the fountains sing. Praised by thy Guardian-Angel be the hour, When, on this Mount-side like some gentle flower. Nurtured by Wisdom's Sons, through sun and shower, Through boyhood's April-grief, thro' manhood's fears, Health-wasting cares, it may be, bitter tears, Thy holiest thoughts all budded in the vow Which made thee Prince! Father, Cardinal, what thou art now! Joy of thy native land, Gem of thy Mountain-mother! Shall we, last relics of the youthful band That climbed these hills, some fifty summers since, With hope-inspiring joy Our souls all full of Brute’ and Dubois, Shall we not hail thee still our Friend and Brother?

IV. Yes! by the robes symbolical thou wearest, Emblems of suffering, dignity and love, Gifts of Thee, O sceptered-hand that bearest Rule o'er myriads; by the Almighty Dove Through all sustained: on whose aged brow, Through weal and woe, With mercy beaming pure as virgin snow, Still rests the triple crown, Despite the world's wild hate, its fiend-like frown; Its still repeated mockery" Come down! Come down ! and in thy royalty, The nations proud and free, Shall yet again believe, and bend the suppliant's knee": Yes, Father ! Cardinal! by every honor given From those blest palms that clasp the keys of heaven, Our hands, our hearts, our hopes are all with thee.

V. If in that land, where from the throne of God, E'en as a crystal river, pure, deep, strong, Outpours the stream of life, Filling the nations, as it sweeps along, With health eternal: while their bright abode, By day, by night, re-echoes with the song Of cherubs, thrones, exulting seraphim: If in those realms, where with the iron rod Of vengeance o'er their heads, the men of strife, And blood and shameless perjury, In bitterest, voiceless agony, Ever and forever pace the marl of hell; Forever on their lips: "Too late! Too late '." If in that kingdom of the lamb, there be One joy, one rapture, boundless ecstasy; 'Tis in the thought, how in the vanish'd years Of toil, grief, courage, never-ceasing fears, The days of agony and tears, They kept their high estate, And ne'er by word, or look, or even nod, Cringed to the Lion of triumphant tyranny.

VI. Such in every age, through every fate, Has been the temper of the sons of God, And even such was thine Shall mortal blame me, if I say divine? Thou Christ-like founder of these classic halls. Where every step, each stone, thy name recalls, Thy very memory, a fount of joy Loved, honored, venerated John Dubois! Not for riches, power, fame The cheating mirage of a brilliant name Not e'en for all that noblest nature's prize Such as might tempt archangels from the skies The love, the gratitude, The homage of the good, The pure, the heart-broken, The generous, the brave, The gracious master and the grateful slave: No! not for all that heaven itself could give, If from thy soul's first love, first treasure parted,-Didst thou amongst these mountains calmly live But all-Heart of love! Life for life O Sacred Heart! for thee!

VII. This, this it was, Beloved Cardinal! Friends, Brothers all, That to our Mount has given, Beneath thy smile, O peerless queen of heaven! O'er every foe, reverse, distrust, delay, To bear the palm of victory! To see this festal day! This, this it was that filled yon peaceful vale 'Neath summer's heats, the blinding snow, the chilling hail Midnight's appalling gloom, the fear-inspiring gale, With every form of heaven-born charity. Was it not this that with the myrtle boughs That shine perennial on your sainted brows, O veneraied Brute, Egan and Dubois! Entwined the violet, the lily and the rose, And bade them never, never cease to bloom. However parched the earth and deep the snows, Above the humble tomb, Where, like twin martyrs, robed in light, With every virtue graced every honor bright, Meekly repose a Seton and a White.

IX. O! chant their praise; their worth proclaim, The strong of heart, the pure of fame, Whose gentle beauty shines afar, Like some serene and peaceful star. "Wounded with love divine, each heart Shrunk from the bright but venorned dart Of worldly love, and bravely trod The rugged heights that lead to God. "To earth's vain joys, by fasting dead With prayer's sweet food each spirit fed, Now dwells amid the bliss of heaven The joys to God's chaste lovers given."Rex Christe! Virtus fortiimi! Strength of the strong! A Christ, our King! From whom alone such virtues spring, Our prayers receive: their daughters own, Who grateful bow before thy throne."

X: O Thou! whose presence on this glorious day Adds joy to joy; awakes the memory Of friends whose name, whose deeds shall never die, Whether they slumber 'nealh some foreign sky, As thou, De Bourgo Egan, or hard-by, Within the bosom of their native land, Await the trumpet-cry, To take their throne at thy right hand. Imperial Mother of the King of kings; Wher'er the battlefield of life they tread Be it the conquering North, the philosophic East, The South the beautiful, the brave, the thorn-crowned queen-Crowned by the sons who should have staunch'd the blood, And wiped her tears away: Or where magnificent, "the mighty West" Like some gigantic mother, to her breast Folds all that's richest, grandest, best, And pours it in the nation's lap: go forth Where'er we may, "mid all our wanderings, Through cities populous, o'er prairies green, North, East, South, West, thro' every changing scene, O'er valleys, mountains, plains, by field and flood; Be this the treasure we will hoard today: To hold the Faith for which our sires bled By cross, by crosier, mitre, banner led One Father, God of all: one Faith divine One brotherhood of men. whatever clime Pours them by thousands on our heav'n-blest shore: One Unity sublime: Union of heart and hand, and mind and soul; Of equal Laws and Eights, from pole to pole; 'Tis freedom's strongest, brightest panoply. Thus shall we greet once more, once more, The Union of the days of Washington ! Fraternal hate, strife, blood forever gone Fulfil our heaven-inspired destiny, And leave our country as we found it free! Free with the freedom of the Sons of God : Despite the traitor's kiss, the scourge, the ignominy; Despite the false world's smiles, its threats, its rod: Free e'en as God Himself has made man free.

Edward J. Sourin. S. J., '30.

From the Mountaineer of 1911 we glean the following description of the Cardinal's year, by Hon. A. V. D. Watterson, '75.

"It is not likely that any one who attended the 67th annual Commencement of Mount Saint Mary's College on June 23, 1875, will ever forget that brilliant occasion. It was the first appearance of an American Cardinal at a College Commencement, and, as Cardinal McCloskey had expressed himself that it was his heart's desire to give the first fruits of his love and devotion to his Alma Mater, to whom ' he was indebted for all he had,' the entire country awaited the event with the greatest interest.

"An American Cardinal, a Prince of the everlasting, ever glorious kingdom of God on earth, the Roman Catholic Church, was a new gift to America, a novelty' to Catholic and Protestant alike, and every one over the whole land was on the tiptoe of expectancy to see this new and much-heralded dignitary in all his pomp and splendor.

"Cardinal McCloskey; Monsignor Roncetti, the Papal Abiegate; Doctor Ubaldi, his secretary ; bishops by the dozen; priests by the hundred ; laymen by the thousand; a special train from Baltimore with all Baltimore on board and the great brass band from Fort McHenry thrown in to help along with the noise; Doctor Dielman's brass band of splendidly equipped and sumptuously attired collegians pouring forth the doctor's new ' Cardinal's March;' college students, enthusiastic alumni and others cheering and yelling like mad, bad everybody going at the Mountain; and, I tell you, I was going some myself, for lo and behold! I was one of the graduates, the Mountain was in labor, and I was to bring forth a speech on ' The Descent of Man' before this mighty multitude. We were rigged out in our best bib and tucker, as we had not yet arrived at the dignity of caps and gowns, and in addition thereto I was adorned with a unique and beautiful pair of cuff buttons, my graduating gift from my reverend brother, which I wore on that day for the first time, and which I have worn every day since up to the present time, and of which I was justly proud.

"Do you suppose I am going to forget that occasion? Not for some little time yet, I hope! You must remember it was my first appearance, too. Scared! I was scared to death. Indeed, I am not sure that I ever got over it, or ever will.

"It was a great day and the Mountain did herself proud. I was not the only orator, although my oration would have sufficed in point of time, for it was forty minutes long. There were about seventy-five others, more or less, during the day, and not all in English, either, and altogether the poor Cardinal and a few others of us were almost wrecked. It certainly was the survival of the fittest, but as we were lucky enough to be all fit, we all survived.

"The Commencement was scheduled to begin at 8:30 in the morning, but it was 10 o'clock before we got well under way, and, worse yet, 4 o'clock in the afternoon before we got through.

"The upper terrace was covered with candy and lemonade booths by the dozen, all gayly decorated with American and Papal flags and bunting, and altogether the tout ensemble was something stunning.

"I can see the Cardinal this minute as plainly as on that occasion, and I am not given to seeing things, when he arose from his seat on his great white satin throne, on the back of which was suspended a laurel wreath, and the top of which was tipped by a big bouquet of cardinal roses specially sent by the New York Herald for the occasion. When the tremendous cheering subsided, the Cardinal pointed his long, thin finger at the clock over the prayer benches and said : ' Nothing would give me more pleasure than to speak as I wish to the graduates and students, but the hands of yonder clock warn me that time is flying fast. If, in the dignity conferred on me, the Church, the diocese of New York, or the United States, has been honored, what place in the United States is more entitled to that honor than Mount Saint Mary's College, to which institution I am indebted for all I have?'

"It was the unanimous opinion that the Cardinal on this occasion made one of the most feeling speeches of his life, filled, as it was, with touching and loving remembrances of his Alma Mater; and the great audience went away with the gratification and conviction that a loving son had brought home his laurels and had laid them at the feet of his benign mother, acknowledging that to her alone was the glory.

"It goes without saying that my fellow classmates, Isaac H. Stauffer, on the 'Harmonies of Nature;' Richard J. Malone, on ' Moral Courage;' Patrick L. Duffy, on ' Modern Progress;' Joseph L. Kilpatrick, on ' Shakespeare;' Joseph F. Tearney, on ' Astronomy,' and Owen O'Brien, Jr., on the ' Growth of the Catholic Church in America;' were ' among those who spoke,' and indeed they discoursed quite learnedly; but, candor compels me to confess that the Cardinal and I received most of the applause and really were the best.

"During the proceedings, Doctor Young, president of our old friend, Georgetown, arose and announced that Georgetown College had conferred upon Father John McCloskey; our president, the degree of Doctor of Divinity. Doctor Young then requested the Cardinal to bestow the degree and the latter promptly complied, amidst a tumult of applause. ' Father John' then delivered a Latin oration, which the students particularly enjoyed.

"Ike Stauffer's valedictory made all the class weep most copiously, and I felt that there was nothing else left but the deluge. The Commencement over, it was announced that a meeting of the alumni would be held in Commencement Hall as soon as practicable. By half past four the meeting was in full swing and an alumni association in process of formation. It was a most excellent practical thought which brought it forward and the occasion was most auspicious for its formation and realization. An election was held and the following officers elected Edward W. Tiers, President; Rev. Jeremiah J. Griffin, William George Read, Hon. Thomas E. Garvin and John G. Devereaux, Vice-Presidents; Rev. John A. Watterson, Recording Secretary, and Doctor Joseph F. Corrigan, Corresponding Secretary.

"The great banquet was next in order, and it began at 5 o'clock with everybody ready. It certainly was a credit to Father John McCloskey, who had laid himself out to make it one of the very pleasant features of the occasion ; and in this he succeeded most admirably. Like the Commencement Hall, the refectory too was gay with wreaths, banners, hanging baskets and canaries, and flowers perfumed the air with their sweet odors. The Cardinal, the graduates, and a few other specially privileged personages, sat at the great table, and about five hundred others of much less consequence filled in the rest of the space. It required two hours' time to do full justice to the bountiful supply of everything under the sun, after which singing on the terrace, reminiscences and stories were the order of the night.

"The Cardinal was a most genial gentleman, with a smile and a pleasant word for every one. I recall the very informal reception held by him under the portico on the back terrace on the evening of Commencement Day. He had expressed a wish to have a chair brought for him that he might sit under the portico and gaze upon the little chapel; at Plunket's Folly; at the old music hall; hear the soothing murmur of the dripping fountains; drink in the balmy breezes which came down from the mountain side; and reflect upon the dear old days agone; but his friends would not have it so. The old gentleman was fatigued and wanted rest. The younger generation was full of action. The gay spirit of the day was rampant, and one chair was brought, and then another and another, for the older and more dignified men, the crowd gathered around and increased in numbers, and in a few minutes all were boys again, loaded with merriment, remembrances and laughter, and the Cardinal as young in spirit as the rest.

"When I look back at the pleasures and dwell upon the memories of that eventful day, I am free to admit that nothing which I have achieved at any time since has afforded the same unalloyed happiness. There is always some shadow in the sunshine of success obtained after our boyhood days. There was no shadow that day for me. Everything was sunshine.

"Many of the prominent figures upon that historic occasion have gone to their eternal reward, among them the Cardinal, Father John McCaffrey, Father John McCloskey, Father John A. Watterson, all the bishops, the great majority of the priests, three of my classmates, many of the student body, and every member of the reception committee. In fact, no one now remains at the College itself who can recall with the famous class of '75 the glorious Commencement of the Cardinal's year, excepting Professor Jourdan and Professor Lagarde. They are the only living landmarks of the day of a choice assortment of 'old, old grads.' They are the only living landmarks.

'Of the tender grace of a day that is dead, Which can never come back to me.'"

On June 28, 1875, it was decided in council to hold an election in September. None had been held since November 22, 1872; none before that since July 22, 1864. It was also decided to secure Sisters for the domestic department as soon as possible, or if not possible, a professional or otherwise competent cook to reform the culinary department.

Vicar-General Raymond writes from New Orleans August 29,1875, introducing to Dr. McCaffrey, whose class in the Baltimore Seminary he had taken when the latter became President of the Mountain, Master James Hosmer, who " will be one day an ornament to his Alma Mater." [Hosmer, '80, died in his young manhood.]

On September 11^th an election took place, Father John McCloskey being made President; Father John Watterson, Vice-President and Prefect of Studies; Father John Hill, Secretary ; Father Michael Hays, Treasurer. The last named "resigned the office immediately, saying he did not wish to accept until the late treasurer's report would be handed in, and until there would be some deliberation about thepropriety of separating the office of treasurer from the procuratorship." His resignation was accepted and the election of a treasurer was postponed for one mouth. Father O'Brien was elected Director of the Seminary. Precautionary measures against fire were discussed, and the question of a plan and expense of water-works was referred to a committee.

On the 8th of October the Prefect of Studies asked what were his duties. It transpired that the office had been filled almost always by the President, and it was now decided that the course of studies was to be decided by the President and Council, the Prefect to examine new-comers, visit classes, note manner of teachers and report to the President.

On the 19th of November the President reported that the Sisters of St. Joseph's, Emmitsburg, had declined coming, as their rule forbade labor in institutions of the other sex. He was instructed to apply to Mount St. Vincent, in New York, but on December 7 Cardinal McCloskey wrote that it was not expedient for the " Black Cap " daughters of Mrs. Seton to seem to encroach on "Cornette" territory.

Meanwhile the Emmitsburg Railway was graded and the tracks laid. The first train ran November 22, 1875, with free excursion all day. The first excursion to Baltimore was November 27, 1875, and carried 400 passengers, many of whom took that day their first railway trip.

Rev. Michael Haves was elected to the Council. Father John writes to Dr. McCaffrey, May 17: "We will advertise in all the Catholic papers for four weeks, and may get the New York Herald to notice the change in date of Commencement."

The death of Isaac H. Stauffer, one of the members of the class of '75, evoked from the pen of Rev. P. L. Duffy, our first Doctor of Letters, the following tribute:

In Memoriam.

ISAAC H. STAUFFER, New Orleans. La. Class of 75.

As radiant annals of youth's years unroll, Love clasps this man, My Friend, who kept the whiteness of his soul Arthurian.

To heights where starry science is enthroned He upward trod, And knelt, for higher wisdom still he owned The fear of God.

Devout, yet debonair, there was no place For other fear; Obedience became him like a grace, This Mountaineer.

Life was a knightly tourney then; his dower, His panoply High honor, and his heart the perfect flower Of chivalry.

Honor to Faith was vassal. Thus he bore A kinglier part Serving his God. Pulses no more, no more, His golden heart.

To Alma Mater royal love he gave: Those years bequeath No fairer name than his upon whose grave Love lays this weath.

1875, January 7, Father Hitzelberger, S. J., Vice-President. '33, died, but Dr. William Patterson. the College physician, as old as the century, was still bale and hearty. On June 13 the first Solemn Mass was celebrated at Thurmont, Father John McCloskey being celebrant and preacher, Father Hill the pastor, and other clergymen assisting.

The minutes of the sodality meetings, held on Sundays at this period, are very interesting. The director was a priest. From the minutes we gather that a member at each meeting spoke on some pious subject, then "accusations" were made, some members appointed to receive communion on Saturday, and some to make a " retreat." The officers besides the director were the guardian, the secretary and the sacristan. With June, 1876, this record ceases. The society was for aspirants to the priesthood.

July 5, 1875, Abp. Purcell, third President, writes in the Catholic Telegraph of Cincinnati: " With all the good feeling possible and perfect good nature the undersigned rises to answer a question started in some of our newspapers :

Did Abp. Purcell oppose the creation of an American Cardinal? Answer: He did not, this year or the last. But he did twenty-four years ago, not exactly oppose it, but he did in 1851 state to the Cardinal Prefect of the Propaganda the opinion of Abp. Kenrick of Baltimore that it was then inopportune and premature to create a cardinal in the United States. This subject was then discussed, and our Charge’ d'Affaires in Rome, Mr. Cass. had rather much to say on the subject. Archbishops Hughes and Purcell were then in Rme, where each received the pallium from the hands of His Holiness, and the latter took occasion to ask the Holy Father if it was true that the former was to be raised to the cardinalate, the rumor being at that time current that Abp. Hughes had received a subsidy from the Leopoldine Association of Vienna to enable him to meet the expenses of the high dignity. The Holy Father smiled at the ruse adopted by Abp. Purcell to find out the truth, and replied: 'It is true that the American Government has asked for the appointment of a cardinal, not celui-la mais un cardinal (not him, but a cardinal),' and I answered: 'There was then no place of cardinal-priest vacant.' This was true, and at the same time quite diplomatic on the part of His Holiness. Second question. Was Abp. Hughes not made a cardinal because of his having opposed the definition of the Pope's infallibility? Answer: No, for Abp. McCloskey also opposed it. He was one of some ten American bishops who signed a paper addressed to the Holy Father, deprecating the definition, as did seventy other bishops. And the fact of the Pope's making him cardinal, and sending the pallium to the Prince-Bishop of Breslau, and laudatory letters to Bishop Dupanloup. who also spoke and wrote against the definition, proves that the bishops had perfect freedom of speech, and that they not only incurred no disfavor, but have been commended by His Holiness for their ingenuousness and a certain decent independence which, if censured elsewhere, is not placed under the ban in Borne.

"J. P. Purcell, Abp. of Cincinnati."

Special thanks to John Miller for his efforts in scanning the book's contents and converting it into the web page you are now viewing.