Anti-Catholic Cartoon of the Week, 1928

Last updated on: October 26, 2012 at 5:01 am By Pat McNamara

This poster was issued during the 1928 presidential campaign, when New York Governor Alfred E. Smith ran on the Democratic ticket. Seen here in support of him are the corrupt urban political machines (represented by the Tammany Tiger), the Roman Catholic Church, and those wanting to repeal Prohibition (called the “Wet Crowd”). Historians agree that anti-Catholicism played a significant role in the election, which Republican Herbert Hoover won. Smith’s defeat was called by the Jesuit poet Leonard Feeney ” the... Read more

“The Church Would Look Foolish Without Them”: Marc F. Vallette, Brooklyn, New York

Last updated on: October 25, 2012 at 3:51 am By Pat McNamara

Marc F. Vallette, LL.D. Marc F. Vallette, educator, editor, writer, and lecturer, and for many years prominently connected with the public schools of Brooklyn, and for many years prominently connected with the public schools of Brooklyn, is a native of Switzerland, born at Basle, November 19, 1839. He is of French parentage, and came to the United States when very young. While a student he became interested in journalism, and found employment in a printing office when he was but... Read more

Lecture on the Church and Western Civilzation, New York, 1866

Last updated on: October 24, 2012 at 4:35 am By Pat McNamara

THE CHURCH THE CIVILIZER OF THE NATIONS. Lecture by the Most Reverend M.J. Spalding, Catholic Archbishop of Baltimore. (The New York Times, February 7, 1866) Late evening Rev. M.J. Spalding, the Catholic Archbishop of Baltimore, and spiritual head of the Catholic Church in this country, delivered a lecture on “The Church the Civilizer of Nations,” at the Church of St. Stephen, in Twenty-eighth Street. The lecture was delivered for the benefit of the poor under the charge of the Conference... Read more

General Ethan Allen’s Daughter Enters Convent, 1814

Last updated on: October 23, 2012 at 5:05 am By Pat McNamara

Fanny Allen, daughter of Ethan and Frances Allen, was born in Sunderland, Vermont, November 13, 1784. She went to Burlington with her parents in 1787 when General Allen established his family on a farm, which is now Ethan Allen Park. Ethan Allen was one of the members of the Onion River Land Company, and was consequently one of the proprietors of the Winooski Valley. The land on which stand the Fanny Allen Hospital and Fort Ethan Allen, was included in... Read more

Notre Dame’s First Irish President: Father Patrick Dillon, C.S.C. (1832-1868)

Last updated on: October 22, 2012 at 12:17 am By Pat McNamara

Rev. P. Dillon, second President of the University of Notre Dame, was born in the County Galway, Ireland, on the 1st of January, 1832. Immediately after his birth, he was dedicated in a special manner, by his mother, to the service of God, and entered upon his studies for the sacred ministry, while yet a mere boy. After the removal of his family to America, he continued his studies at St. Mary’s College, Chicago, Ill. He entered Notre Dame in... Read more

Boston College Football Team, 1913

Last updated on: October 20, 2012 at 5:28 am By Pat McNamara

The Varsity Team of 1909, under the leadership of Captain Pierce, passed through a very successful season. Dr. Maguire’s coaching was of the highest order and a well-balanced team was the result. The season of 1910 marked the renewal of athletic relations with Holy Cross on the gridiron. The Worcester boys had a great advantage in weight, but we were saved from a “whitewash” by Leonard’s clever goal from the field. The team suffered a great loss from Captain Ed.... Read more

Paul Revere’s Grandson, Civil War General, Becomes Catholic

Last updated on: October 19, 2012 at 3:37 am By Pat McNamara

General Joseph Warren Revere (1812-1880) In the great national conflict which divided the North and South in 1861, members of our parish (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Morristown, New Jersey) were found under both flags. The roll is an illustrious one. On the battlefield, in the prison, in rank and file, the children of St. Mary’s gave ample proof of courage and patriotism. Among all names there is one conspicuous above the rest—Gen. Joseph Warren Revere. Descended from... Read more

Priest Tarred and Feathered by Mob, Maine, 1854

Last updated on: October 18, 2012 at 3:47 am By Pat McNamara

CATHOLIC PRIEST TARRED AND FEATHERED (The Brooklyn Eagle, October 19, 1854) The Bangor Mercury states that Rev. John Bapst, a Catholic pastor in that city, was tarred and feathered and ridden on a rail, on Saturday night, at Ellsworth, while on a visit to that place. He was formerly pastor in Ellsworth, and was then engaged in a controversy about the school question. The excuse the persons give is that they previously threatened to tar and feather Mr. Bapst if... Read more

“The Church Would Look Foolish Without Them”: Nicholas Alten, Lorain, Ohio

Last updated on: October 17, 2012 at 4:32 am By Pat McNamara

Mr. Nicholas C. Alten is a leading and successful hardware merchant, of Lorain, Ohio, and a prominent member of St. Mary’s congregation of that city. His excellent traits, combined with his business ability and public spiritedness, render him a successful, well respected, and influential citizen. This high estimate of him is entertained not alone by his Catholic neighbors but also by the entire community in his adopted city. He was born on a farm in Avon Township, Lorain county, Ohio,... Read more

Anti-Catholic Image of the Week

Last updated on: October 16, 2012 at 3:47 am By Pat McNamara

The years 1910-1915 saw one of the nastiest anti-Catholic backlashes in American history. This cartoon, titled “The Popish Bargain Counter,” shows an innocent Protestant farmer being duped by a priest in biretta and vestments behind the counter. Among the items parodied are Catholic indulgences, the sacraments, and the Catholic reverence for saints’ relics. This cartoon appeared in a 1915 issue of Watson’s Magazine, a journal published and edited by Thomas E. Watson (1856-1922). A Georgia newspaperman and politician, Watson was... Read more