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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 23, 1902)
3 Bishops Who Came First to Nebraska " t f KKV. JOHN P. NEWMAN, BISHOP MBTHOniST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Copied from an Oil Palntiug. s-s rv. If f T V,N( before the territory now I . I wlthlp the borders of the state of m. M Vntifaaba wns olvon tn rw o n I a v i unni rv u rv i v is iui su auu government by the nation Chris tian mlHHlonarles had followed the trapper and hunter Into the haunts of the Indiana. For years the humble mission ary had walked from topee to tepee spread ing the gospel of love and good will and later founded small settlements where communi ties of the converted Indians and the whit men of the frontier congregated between the seasons of their labors, but it was not until after the territory of Nebraska bad been organized that the population was of such a character as to require. In the opinion of the churches, the supervision of persons Rifted with greater powers than the prlcat and missionary. It was In 1859 that the first bishop of any church was given Immediate Jurisdiction over the territory now embraced within the borders of the state. In that year the Human Catholic church sent to Omaha Rt. Rev. James O'Gorman. Bishop O'Gorman had been selected by the then bishop of Dubuque as the man above all others fitted for work In a missionary diocese, or vlrarlate, as the territory now embraced within the confines of the states of Ne braska, Montana and the Dakotas was then known. t'huara from Monastery. Bishop O'Qorman was a monk of the Order of Trapplsts, the most austere of the orders of the church, whose members are not only bound by the usual rules of pov erty, chastity and obedience, but are com manded to refruln from conversation except surh as Is necessary for their existence. There were but two houses of the order In the United Stales, both founded by Irish Trapplsts. A party, of which BlBhop O'Gorman was a member, had, about 1800. come from Mount Malleray, In Ireland, and established a community near Dubuque, la , which they hud named New Malleray. The first prior of the new house was the man who afterward became the bishop of Dubuque. He was followed as head of the house by Bishop, then Father, O'Uorman. The bishop of the Iowa see looked on his successor as an able man aud when, at a ceremony held In Cincinnati, Father O'Gor man, by a sermon showing deep learning and much reflection, attracted the attention of Bishop Purcell, a man who at that time was one of the most prominent bishops In the Catholic church In America, the bishop of Dubuque pressed the name of the Trapplsl prior for advancement, with the result that In 1859 he was consecrated bishop at 8t. Louis by the late Archbishop Kendrlck and sent to the vicariate of Nebraska, which was at that time separated from the vicariate of Kansas. Bishop O'Gormau came to a poor vicariate. The largest In extent of any In the coun try, It contained fewer Catholic families than any other and they were so separated that they looked upon the visit of priest as a direct blessing from Providence. Tho church at that time lu Omaha was at the corner of Eighth and Howard streets and It became the cathedral of the bishop, who resided with the parish priest In a small house In the rear of the church. Old resi dents of Omaha say that Bishop O'Gormau was a most lovable man, and one of these, non-Catholic, said: "He came near to personifying the description of the bishop given In Hugo's novel, "Les Mlserables," a man who would give his last possession to another and who seemed to unite the power of a bishop with humility seldom seen." I phlll Work 1st Oiorrse. It was difficult work to organize a diocese In those days and the bishop could only work aa he was given opportunity. Over the western country be would drive In a buggy, visiting the outlying parishes, or go to those along the river by steamboat. It Is recalled that be was kept rather busy finding priests to serve In the cathedral, as it was not a desirable place when the parish contained not only a pas tor, but the personal presence of the bishop at all times, producing a division of au thority which was irksome to the subordi nate, so It came to pass that the parlablon- 11; i r s - : . . : -rV.;. ! . .:':v. :::lir .f " !: (1 :t : Ji i t 7 - &$lk 1 - -A RT. REV. JAMES O'GORMAN, FIRST BR ASK A From a Photograph. ers would wonder how long the new priest would stay, and the change of pastors al most passed Into proverb. Not that Bishop O'Gorman was a hard man, but he had learned his lesHon In a different school and would have bten. If possible, both bishop and parish priest. Life In the monastery had produced an effect upon the actions and thought of Bishop O'Gorman which was never ef faced. Ills surviving friends say that with all of his learning and his ability be was extremely diffident, shrinking from crowds and the plaudits of tho people. He made one visit to Home, accompanied by Rev. William J. Kelley, who had been ordained as priest by him, the first man to be or dained In the territory. Upon that visit he soon became tired and returned to the United States In a short time. After he had been in the vicariate but a few years be made up his mind to retire from active work and spend his declining years in retirement. This he was not per mitted to do. Many people of Omaha well remember when, on July 4, 1874, Bishop O'Gorman died. The majority of the citi zens bad visited a grove near the city o celebrate the day when a messenger an nounced the death of the bishop, which was unexpected, the result of a sudden seizure, tiesitl James O'Ciiisor. The second bishop of the Roman Catholic church In this territory and tho first bishop of Omaha was the learned and gentle James O'Connor. Ha came to Omaha In 1876. two years after the death of bis predeces sor, and from that date the progress of the church was marked. All of bis actions In the capacity of bishop were marked by firm faith in humanity and in the future of tho city to which be had been sent by bis superiors. He located Crelghton college and transferred It to the Society of Jesus; un der bis administration all of the various orders now In the diocese came to the state with the exception of the Sisters of Mercy, who came a few years previous to his ar rival. It was said of him by a former mayor of Omaha: "Had I bad Bishop O'Connor as a partner In my real estata business we would both have been mil lionaires." His rule was light and bis views of life not narrow. A typical act of bU was the advice given a party which was or ganizing a Catholic society In the city and who bad called upon him for advice: "My children, use your own good sense, add to your experience good business Judgment and keep away from the clergy." His foresight and courage resulted In giv ing the church the possession of real es tate which has Increased lu value every day since it was purchased and made it comparatively wealthy when the total Catholic population Is considered. It was October 2. 1885, that the sea of Omaha waa first created and Bishop O'Connor trans ferred to It. He died In 1890, after an ill ness of one year, during which time be vis ited many places la search of health, and re'urned to Omaha to die in his diocese, making the last Journey In spite of the ad vice of physicians. Catholics and non Catholics well remember the kindly man who, while never seeking prominence nor attracting attention to himself, was ever ready with advice and council; who would ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF NE- RT. REV. JAMES O'CONNOR, From a Photograph. FIRST ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF OMAHA r"1 ' " ' '"''mm -lift.,..., ,,.. lin,,,!,,,,,,., V TO .... j ... i r J" i t RT. REV. ROBERT HARPER CLARKSON. FIRST PROTESTANT BISHOP OF NEBRASKA From a Photograph. EPISCOPAL be found In the most unexpected places In the suburbs of Omaha on his daily walks for recreation and who never seemed better pleased than when conversing with bis frieuda and neighbors while wandering through the groves and lanes around the city. While the Catholic church was at work In the territory of Nebraska the Episcopal church was little leas behind. The first missionary bishop to have charge of the territory was Bishop Kemper, who resided in Wisconsin and to whom was given the entire Northwestern Territory. He was succeeded by Bishop Talbott. who upon being assigned to the Northwestern Terri tory resided for a while at Nebraska City, being the first bishop of that church to take up a residence within the state. Bishop Talbott continued In charge until 18t5, when Rt. Rev. Robert Harper Clarkson, then a minister in a Chicago church, was elected missionary bishop of Nebraska aud Dakota, being the third missionary bishop of the territory. Three years later the diocese of Nebraska was created and Bishop Clark son unanimously elected to fill the new diocese, being the second bishop of any church to reside In Omaha and the first to be consecrated within the state. Bishop Clarkson lives today in the monu ments he has erected for the people and the church. Men who were his associates and assistants from the day be arrived in Omaha until the. clese of his career in 18H3 hold green his memory and delight to toll of the many instances of faith, good will and courage shown by the first Episcopal bishop of Nebraska. When he came into the diocese a few parishes along the river and a growing community in Omaha ' about all there was to the church under bis guidance, with the exception of scat tered member of the faith In a dozen coun ties of the Interior and isolated churches in some of the smaller towns. The new bishop had become familiar with the work of organization and no better evidence of his ability could be shown than the condi tion of the church at the time when be lay down his work. His Memory la Frsgrsst. His friends of the earlier days delight to tell of the spirit with which be managed affairs and the genial way in which be touched all conditions of men. His was a happy disposition, which shone bright when surrounded by a few of bis Intimates, when no laugh could be louder and no jest mer rier than that of the bishop who would turn from Buch a scene to administer to the destitute and suffering, making all feti better for his words and presence. His greatest Interest was shown latterly in the Child's hospital, which baa since been con secrated to his memory as the Bishop Clarkson Memorial hospital. It was at the time of his last Illness the one thing which attracted his waking moments after the general affairs of the diocese bad been provided for, and his tenderness and affection tor children of all classes and conditions waa one of bis notable charac teristics. When he died the entire city mourned and the day of his funeral was one upon which the entire community showid their love and respect for the memory of the first bishop of Nebraska. Bishop John I rvrwaa. , At this time three churches maintain resident bishops in the state, and all of them have had at least two. The first b'shop of the Methodist Episcopal church to reside In the state was Rev. John P. Newman, a man of tar more than unusual ability and one whose Interest in the com munity was shown upon many occasions. but on none more than when he organized the movement which brought to this city the general conference of the Methodist church in 1892. No other man probaMy in the house of bishops of the church at that time could have succeeded in bring ing to so small a town as Omaha such a gathering, which assembled the leading bishops, ministers and laymen of that 1m- (Continued on Page Thirteen.)
