SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF PHILIP FRANCIS SCANLAN. (1794-1880.) A PIONEER OF CATHOLICITY IN NEW ENGLAND, MICHIGAN AND NEW JERSEY.* BY MARY ANGELA SPELLISSY. Standing by the deathbed of the 19th century, surveying the past, forecasting the future, noting the spiritual advantages, that we enjoy, contrasting our religious rights and privileges with the privations of our forefathers, the thinker is led to inquire,-"To what causes are we indebted for the triumph of the Catholic Religion in this country?" To answer this pertinent question is the raison d'être of THE AMERICAN CATHOLIC HISTORICAL SOCIETY at whose request the following sketch of Philip Francis Scanlan is written. Though meagre in such personal details as usually form much of the matter of a biography, his life has been so fruitful in its influence on the various communities in which it was passed that, for the edification of his successors it appears advisable to place on record the acts of this Apostle and Patriot. It was at the close of the "Century of Gloom," May 12, 1794, that Philip Francis Scanlan was born in the city of Dublin, in Ireland. Pius VI sat in the chair of St. Peter; George III ruled over England; while Dr. Troy, archbishop of Dublin, governed the Catholic church in his diocese. At St. Omers, Daniel O'Connell, a youth of nineteen, was fitting himself, by hard study for the future, unconscious of his great •The biographical details relating to the subject of this Memoir are based mainly on family papers in possession of the writer. mission, and James Warren Doyle, known later as the inspired "J. K. L." of letters, was playing in Ross a sturdy boy of eight years.* Through an unfortunate accident by which the greater part of Mr. Scanlan's journals and papers were destroyed, there is but little data from which to draw the details of his early life. It is known that he was fond of serving Mass. When advanced in years he alluded with delight to the many eloquent orators to whom he had listened. The names of Dr. Troy, the Augustinian Father Gahan, Dr. Murray, and other famous ecclesiastics sprang to his lips as, with beaming countenance he reviewed the galaxy of noted clerics, who dwelt in Dublin at that era. Philip's home was probably not far from the Castle as he recalled running to Thomas street on the morning after Emmet's execution. He remembered, too, pushing aside with his childish foot some straw that lay upon the pave, curious to discover what it might conceal-the body of the martyr having just been removed. No doubt the little truant had followed his companions, who, noticing a commotion, ran to inquire the cause; Mr. Scanlan remembered the soldiers, driving the children from the spot. To properly appreciate the character of a man one must consider the influences, which have contributed to make him what he is. For that reason it appears advisable to give some attention to the environment of Philip's boyhood. Dublin had long been the centre, the heart of suffering Ireland, pulsing in anguish for her tortured children. Philip, living in the midst of this busy city, overheard much of what was going on; his mother's sister was blind, Philip was her reader. One can easily imagine the interest and the horror with which the lad recounted to his afflicted relative the passing events, which were doubtless supplemented by explanatory comments from "Aunt Mary." Born in 1738, she knew her native land, which six centuries of persecution had reduced to the abjection of "the most afflicted among nations." She was therefore well informed in the history of her time and prepared to give the boy many a side-light on the character of the prominent *Doctor Doyle, O. S. A., was bishop of Kildare and Le‘ghlin from 1819 to 1834. men of the day. The youth was healthy and fond of out-door exercise; he inhaled in copious draughts the tonic air fresh from the lovely bay of Dublin; but he also drank in eagerly the knowledge of his Creator, and early learned to recognize his responsibility as His creature. In the history of his native land Philip read of a people loyal to the one true Church, the Divine Founder of which was crucified by the very creatures for whom he gave a suffering life of thirty-three years, crowned by an ignominious death. The Irish people animated by a lively faith drew closer to their God as the malice of men waxed more cruel. In consequence of the beginning of the American War in 1775, the English Parliament at once resolved to relieve Ireland of some of her commercial disabilities. The American struggle for independence found a lively echo in Ireland and 1798 witnessed the horrors of the insurrection and the massacre of thousands. The groans of the tortured Irish ascended from Dublin close by the home of the blue-eyed boy, wherein he dwelt with his widowed mother and sightless aunt. From Mr. Scanlan's reminiscences it would appear that he frequently served Mass in the neighboring churches and that he was not a stranger to the Franciscans. This order having its members in many parts of the world, besides being loyal to holy Church, regarded with interest all that concerned her history, and strove to preserve her traditions. Two of their order, the brothers O'Cleary, in the XVII century, devoted themselves to the task of collecting from everywhere the literature of Ireland, which was fast perishing, the rage of their enemies having been as violently directed against their books as against their houses and their churches. The brothers O'Cleary associated with themselves two companions and their united literary work became known as Annals of the Four Masters. We can imagine that Philip gleaned much information from the Franciscan Fathers of his own day. The quays bordering the Liffey were rich in shops attractive to the antiquarian, old-book stalls tempted the student. Philip became a bookworm. Books his necessity. We see him at nineteen-ardent, impetuous, an enthusiastic lover of creed and country. It |