Rev. Dr. Carroll could feel deeply grateful to God that he had permitted to see his country thus prosperously advancing under a wise and beneficent government, where religion could hope for the utmost freedom, and where at the same time the Vicar of Christ had established a complete episcopal jurisdiction under an American bishop, much as he felt appalled at the heavy burthen he was called to bear for the rest of his days. When the news of Dr. Carroll's appointment reached England, Thomas Weld, Esq., of Lulworth Castle, a personal friend of the Bishop-elect, wrote to invite him to his seat during his stay in England, an elegant chapel recently constructed near the castle affording every convenience for the august ceremony of his consecration. Writing to his friend, Rev. Charles Plowden, Dr. Carroll said: "I cannot sufficiently acknowledge the most obliging and honorable testimony of Mr. Weld's regard: you will be pleased to express with all that warmth which you can communicate to your expressions, my deep sense of his generous politeness. My inclination certainly leads me to accept of an offer not only so flattering, but which will afford me an opportunity of seeing some of those friends whom I shall ever honor and love. But I cannot yet determine what I shall do. I still flatter myself that Divine Providence will provide some worthier subject to be its instrument in founding a church in America." Yet, writing to Archbishop Troy, he said: "When the subject of an American Bishopric was first started, I received so pressing an invitation from a most respectable Catholic gentleman in England, that I unwarily promised to be consecrated in his chapel, if the appointment should fall to my lot. Had it been otherwise I should have hesitated between Ireland, the land of my forefathers, and Canada, though, on IRISH DOMINICANS. 355 the whole, I flatter myself that my going to England may be attended with some advantages to the cause of religion within my extensive diocese.”1 Before embarking for England he was rejoiced by the arrival of two Irish Dominicans of merit, Father Francis A. Fleming, who had been Rector of the Irish College at Lisbon, and highly commended by the Pope's Nuncio' in that. city, Father Christopher V. Keating, from the same place,, and Rev. Michael Burke. Father Fleming was immediately Frances d. Fleming SIGNATURE OF FATHER FRANCIS A. FLEMING, O.P. placed at Philadelphia, to begin a ministry short in years but brilliant in zeal, ability, and self-devotedness. Rev. Mr. Burke replaced Father O'Brien at New York during his absence in Spanish America, and Dr. Keating's services found an ample field near Philadelphia. These Dominican Fathers all rendered essential service to religion. About this time Cardinal Antonelli advised Bishop Carroll to receive no priest from Ireland who did not come recommended by Archbishop Troy, to whom he subsequently 1 Rt. Rev. J. Carroll to Archbishop Troy, July 23, 1790, in "Spicileg. Ossor.." iii., pp. 507-8. Nuncio at Lisbon to Dr. Carroll, Lisbon, Sept. 4, 1789. A change had come with the recent immigration from Ireland. Hitherto sermons had been read in the English style, and Rev. Mr. Molyneux, writing to Dr. Carroll, mentions that a different style was required, and one for which he felt himself unfitted. Fathers Fleming and Keating seem to have impressed the Catholics and others as pulpit orators. Matthew Carey published in his American Museum" (vii., p. 177) an extract of a sermon delivered by Rev. F. A. Fleming, March 17, 1790; and (viii., p. 112) an extract from a sermon of Rev. Thos. Keating, Sunday, August 20, 1790, both in St. Mary's church. HE ACCEPTS THE BULLS. 357 referred all clergymen from that country who sought employment in the diocese of Baltimore.1 Visiting Philadelphia in the winter of 1789, Dr. Carroll says: "In this town we have now two very handsome and large churches, besides the old original chapel, which was the cradle of Catholicity here. This serves for a domestic chapel, being contiguous to the Presbytery house; and there is more consolation in it than in the more splendid services of the other churches, for here it is that every day, and especially on Sundays, the sacraments are frequented, etc. In the Presbytery house lately built live Messrs. Beeston and Graessel (a most amiable ex-Jesuit), and Mr. Fleming, an Irish Dominican, lately from Dublin, a gentleman of amiable manners and temper and a very excellent scholar. Near to the new church lives the above-mentioned Capuchin" (Helbron).❜ Though equally the choice of Rome and of his fellowpriests, Dr. Carroll felt that his acceptance would entail care, difficulty, and trial. His private correspondence shows that he dreaded to go on; but there seemed to be no one else to take his place at the helm of the little bark of the Church in this country. He decided to accept the Bulls, and responding to the invitation of Mr. Weld he sailed to England early in the summer of 1790, and presented his bulls to the venerable Benedictine, the Right Rev. Charles Walmesley, Bishop of Rama and senior Vicar-Apostolic of England, so eminent for his vast mathematical and scientific knowledge that government had called upon his aid when the Gregorian Calendar was established in Great Britain, and whose Exposition of the Apocalypse, issued under the name of Signor Pastorini, had attained great popularity. Bishop Walmesley con 1 Bishop Carroll to Archbishop Troy, Oct. 3, 1790. ? Letter from Philadelphia, Dec. 28, 1789. |