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On the ceiling was a copy of his favorite subject, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin.

At the four angles were the Evangelists. Monachesi was the artist.

On Sunday, November 9th, the church was formally opened.

High Mass was celebrated by Father Carter, Father Barbelin and Rev.-McMullen being deacon and sub-deacon.

Rev. C. Pise, of New York, preached the sermon.

Dos Santos' Mass with Prof. Dos Santos as organist was sung by the choir.

October 12, 1845, Sunday evening, a meeting was held in St. John's church in the interests of the new seminary. Father Carter made an address, speaking of the donations of the richer Catholics as bearing no proportion to the generous offerings of the poorer ones.

On May 10, 1846, the Provincial Council of Baltimore was opened. Father Carter appeared as theologian to Bishop F. P. Kenrick, of Philadelphia.

July 7, 1846, Sunday evening, a meeting wes held at the bishop's house, at 7 P. M., in the interest of the cathedral. A committee on finance was selected consisting of Rev. Fathers Carter, D. F. Devitt and P. Rafferty. Father Carter subscribed $20 per year for a period of five years.

At a meeting, January 13, 1847, of the society for the erection of a cathedral in this city Father Carter made the address. In the Catholic Herald of May 30, 1839, p. 173, we find the first mention of a new church in the district of Spring Garden, which reads as follows: "On Monday evening, May 27th, 1839, a meeting was held at St. John's church, Bishop Kenrick in the chair . and a resolution was adopted

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to the effect that a church was needed in that district. That the meeting approves the erection of a church That at least one-third of the body of the church be left free with benches for the poor and strangers That we appeal

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to the liberality of the Catholics, etc. E. J. Sourin, Sec." At the same time there was a letter signed "C," published in the Herald, explaining that the section between St. Michael's

and St. John's churches had many Catholics residing in it, who found the great distance to either church trying, it was especially so for children, etc. If we recall the vow made by Father Carter and see his desire to redeem that promise by dedicating a church to the Blessed Virgin under that invocation we can understand that he was the author of the letter and that Dr. Kenrick had already selected him for the work. It was his resolution at the meeting which took shape in the proposed formation of a new parish. But it was never carried out, and only in 1847 do we find that the Bishop purchased the ground and gave the parish over into his hands.

Sunday afternoon, May 23, 1847, Bishop Kenrick laid the corner-stone of St. Augustine's new church; he was assisted by Rev. Chas. Carter.

June, 1847. (Minutes of Board of St. Mary's Church): "Resolved that the sum of $1,200 be placed annually in the hands of the pastor, Rev. Chas. Carter, out of which he must pay $100 for incidental expenses of choir and $300 for sanctuary expenses. The balance, $800, to be for his own use in lieu of his present salary. This to take place from January, 1847. This $1,200 must come out of the penny collection taken on Sundays and holydays."

In October of this year the diocesan synod opened, and on Sunday, October 3d, Pontifical Mass was celebrated in St. John's church, Father Carter being deacon of honor.

At the time (1847) Father Carter was casting about for a lot of ground on which to build the proposed new church. A meeting was called of persons residing in the district. This meeting was held at the house of William Morgan, who lived on Spring Garden Street, just below where the church now stands. Six persons were present besides Father Carter. I have been able to secure the names of but four of these, viz.: Jerome Eagle, Daniel C. E. Brady, of the firm of P. Brady & Co., in businesss at the corner of Front and Chestnut Streets, William Morgan, and Walter Patterson. Eagle and Brady each subscribed $100. A number of sites was proposed, but it was decided to buy the present one, and Mr. Patterson, who was a

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convert, was chosen to enter into negotiations for the same. Father Carter proposed to call the church by the title of the "Immaculate Conception," but Mr. Eagle argued that the neighborhood was such a hot-bed of "Nativeism" that the title would be sure to receive much insult, and that the title, "Church of the Assumption" would be particularly a title of honor to our Blessed Lady since it covered all the miraculous events in her life. The new title was accepted.

On Sunday, February 13, 1848, he celebrated the anniversary of the institution of the arch confraternity for the conversion of sinners. High Mass was celebrated in St. Mary's church with Rev. F. X. Gartland as celebrant, Father Carter, deacon, Rev. Geo. Strobel, sub-deacon, Bishop Kenrick preaching. At Vespers the sermon was by Rev. Felix Barbelin, and at the evening services Father Sourin spoke of the good which had come out of the society since its foundation.

In April of 1848, measures were taken towards completing the building of the new church in the district of Spring Garden street. Father Carter was chosen to take charge of the building at the same time he was continued as pastor of St. Mary's. He went to work in his usual vigorous manner, and on Sunday, May 14th, he announced in St. Mary's that on the next Sunday, May 21st, the Rev. John Larkin, S. J., would preach at the High Mass and that a collection would be taken for the benefit of the new church. Father Larkin had been stationed with other Fathers of the Society of Jesus at the church of the Holy Name, New York city, which church. had been destroyed by fire on January 22d, preceding, but by the unexpected death of his brother, Rev. Felix Larkin, on May 20th, at Astoria, Long Island, he found it impossible to come to Philadelphia, Father Carter then made the appeal himself, as arrangements had been made for a grand event. Beethoven's new Mass was sung for the first time in the city with orchestral accompaniment under the direction of Mr. B. Cross. During this year there was famine in Ireland and Father Carter was the first priest in the diocese to call a meeting for relief.

On Sunday afternoon, May 21, 1848, the corner-stone of the new church of the Assumption was laid by Bishop Alexander Smith, of the diocese of Glasgow, Scotland. Bishop Kenrick preached. The collection amounted to several hundred dollars.

Dr. James Ryder, S. J., President of Georgetown College, preached at the Mass and Vespers in St. Mary's church, on Sunday, October 8, 1848, for the benefit of the church of the Assumption.

Father Carter was present and spoke of his great need of money to put on the roof of the new church.

The collection at both services realized sufficient for his needs and by December the church was under roof.

In December, 1848, there was printed and issued at Fullerton's book store the first lithograph print of the church of the Assumption. It is spoken of as the "handsomest in the city," and tells us that " progress is slow for want of money."

February 25, 1849, a meeting was held in St. Mary's schoolhouse, Dr. W. E. Horner in the chair; John Devereux, secretary. Father Carter gave a statement of the present condition of the new church of the Assumption, giving the cost as but little less than $26,000, of which $13,000 were now collected. Subscription books were taken out by Dr. Horner, Dr. Gegan, Dr. Killduff, C. Fallon, George W. Edwards, James M. Smith, W. Patterson, John Maguire, John Maher, John Sturdevant, William Morgan, Charles Hinkle, M. D. Sweeney, John Repplier, James McCann and James Devereux.

A fair for the benefit of the new church opened in the Museum Building, April 9, 1849.

October 1, 1849, Bishop Kenrick presided at a meeting in behalf of the seminary. Father Carter made the address, during which he insisted that the rich Catholics in this diocese could have the seminary an accomplished fact if they felt disposed to assist it as became them out of their means.

In October, 1849, the parish limits were laid out by the bishop. The Assumption parish extends, viz.: south line, the limits of the district of Spring Garden; north line, Franklin Street; east line, the west side of Seventh Street; west line,

Broad Street. Until the erection of another church to the north of the line the parish priest will have charge of all Catholics who live still farther northward.

October 30, 1849 (Minutes of Board of Trustees of St. Mary's Church):

"Whereas our esteemed Pastor is about to retire from his charge at this church .. A vote of gratitude and respect and a testimonial of $400 be given him, also payment of deficit in his salary of $108 in full till Nov. 1, 1849.''

To allow this resolution to pass Father Carter had vacated the chair and retired from the room. Rev. George Strobel took the chair, ad int.

Father Carter registered his last baptism at St. Mary's, October 7, 1849; he, however, performed a marriage on Nov. 30th. Nov. 11, 1849, the new church was dedicated by Rev. F. X. Gartland. Bishop Reynolds, of Charleston, S. C., preached. The church had been opened for services during the month of May.

The first ceremony performed by Father Carter in the Assumption, as far as the records show, was the marriage of Samuel Mawley to Mary Butler, on November 11th. The first baptism was that of Thomas O'Bryan on the fifteenth. He had no assistant until January 6, 1850, when Rev. Joseph O'Keefe was sent for a month. In June he had Rev. P. R O'Reilly until the end of that year. On March 1, 1851, came Rev. Henry Balfe, who remained until June 1, 1853. I give the line of assistants as they appear on the records :

Rev. P. J. Nunan, from June 1, 1853, till November 1, 1853. Rev. F. L. M. Jego, from November 1, 1853, till February, 1854. Rev. G. Rainaldi, from February 22, 1854, till October 8, 1854. Rev. J. D. Davis, from November 19, 1854, till February 11, 1855 Rev. Patrick Fitzmaurice, from Apri 12, 1855, till February 24, 1856. Rev. Charles J. Mangin, from March 10, 1856, till August 10, 1856. (Did not stay long in the diocese.)

Rev. T. Hannigan, from January 4, 1857, till January 20, 1861.

Rev. Patrick Toner, from July 29, 1859, till July 25, 1863. (Was ordained July 3, 1859; sent there at once.)

Rev. Henry L. Wright, from January 31, 1861, till June 1, 1863.
Rev. A. J. Gallagher, from July 4, 1863, till August 8, 1864.

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