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THE GUARDIAN, DECEMBER 20, 1924.
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ST. ANDREW'S CATHEDRAL
Little Rock, Ark.
The history of the Cathedral parish dates from the beginning
of the year 1838.
Looking back over the period of the seventy-five years that
have elasped since the first priest was stationed in Little Rock as
resident pastor, one cannot but marvel at what has been accom-
plished by the persistent ef/orts and zeal of the Bishops and
priests to whom have been entrusted the work of implanting more
firmly the faith in the hearts of those who were of the household
of the faith.
In the early days, the Catholics were few in number, and
scattered, and bigotry was rife; nothing daunted the persistent
efforts and zeal of the Bishop, priests and people bore fruit, and
little by little progress was accomplished, until t5 day the Cathe-
dral parish of St. Andrew's takes its place among the most flour-
ishing of the South.
The early history of the Cathedral parish is highly interest-
ing. What was destined to be the foundation of the Cathedral
parish, had its beginning in the coming to Little Rock of priests
from the diocese of St. Louis, who made the long journey at in-
tervals to minister to the needs of the people. As the numbers of
Catholics increased, a resident pastor was installed to care for
the spiritual welfare of the people ; in the year 1838, the Reverend
Father Donnelly of St. Louis, was sent here. Little Rock was at
that time a part of the St. Louis diocese.
The first Mass celebrated in Little Rock was offered up by
Father Donnelly in the year 1830, in a room over Dugan's store,
on Main Street, near Second -the site which is now occupied by
the Snodgrass & Bracy Drug Company. It is interesting to nora
that in attendance at the Mass were the forefathers of some of
the most prominent parishioners of the Cathedral parish, viz.:
Jacob Reider, Mrs. Bowman, Mrs. De.mpsey, Mrs. Kinnear, Mrs.
DeGursey, Miss Betty Bruder and five members of the Dugan
family. As the numbers grew, a building on East Marl(ham near
Third, was later used for religious services.
In the year 1839, the Reverend Fathers Jos. Richard Bole and
Paris, were sent here to erect a permanent structure on a block
of ground bounded by what is now Louisiana and Cealter and Sixth
and Seventh streets, at present occupied by the Arcade Building,
and directly opposite the Cathedral, which property was gener-
ously donated by Col. Chester Ashley, with a request that a school
be erected thereon.
This first church to be erected in Little Rock was a plain but
comfortable structure, and in the spring of 1841 it was dedicated
by the Right Reverend Bishop Loras of Dubuque, Iowa, and was
known as the old "French Church ;" later in the same year a con-
vent was built, and the Sisters of Loretta who had a house at St.
Mary's, Jefferson County, Arkansas, took possession of it and
opened a school for day pupils.
In the year 1843 the State of Arkansas was separated from
the diocese of St. Louis, and was erected into a diocese by the
Holy See as the Diocese of Little Rock, and on March 10, ].844, the
Right Reverend Andrew Byrne, D. D., was consecrated as the firs
Bishop of Little Rock. Up to this time, although a church had
been erected, . no provisions had been made for a home for the
clergy, so a house o East Markham street was rented for that
purpose.
]:n 1845 Bishop Byrne purchased the ground on the corner of
Second and Center Street, and there erected the first St. Andrew's
Cathedral, a modest frame structure of which Malacha Abbott
was the architect. The first priest to be ordained in the diocese
of Little Rock, the Reverend Father McKeown, received Holy Or-
ders that same year. The first Mass said in the new Cathedral
was offered up in November of that year. Mrs. Jacob Reider and
daughter were baptized before the Mass, at which Mrs. Reider
received first Communion, and was confirmed by the Right
Reverend Bishop Byr.ne on the same day.
In 1850 Bishop Byrne ordained the Reverend
Reilly, Cochran and Wheeler; Father Reilly was
rector of the Cathedral. Bishop Byrne later made a
land, and returnin-.,', brought with him three young
he later ordained to the Priesthood in the Cathedral;
Fathers Patrick Reilly, Behan and Martin. Father
appointed rector of the Cathedral, where he labored
ly and was beloved and endeared by everyone who
After 29 years his health l)eeame seriously impaired,
the advice of his physician, he returned to Ireland
1879, hoping that the rest and change might restore h
strength, but all to no avail. Ite died on the 29th of
at the home of his cousin, Reverend A. Lynch, P. P.,
County Cavan, Ireland. Father Reilly, during the
labor at the Cathedral, served as rector, and later, on
Bishop Byrne, in June, 1862, as Administrator of
until the consecration of the Right Reverend Edward
second Bishop of IAttle Rock, when he was made
the Diocese. As a memorial, the bell in the present
Little Rock was dedicated in his honor.
Realizing the need of co-workers in the cause of
Bishop Byrne, accompanied by his chaplain, the
Shehann, went to h'eland to secure a community of the
Mercy to labor in his diocese, and on November 30,
eleven Sisters, sailed for-home. They reached Little Ro
ruary 5, 1851, and upon their arrival the Right
surrendered his home ad.]oining the church for their
and his three students made their home temporarily wit
Judge D. W. Carroll. The Cathedral parish at that
ed of tweh, e families.
The Sisters opened a day school on the property
by the Southern Trust Company, with an attendance of
pupils, nearly all of whom were non-Catholics. Two
pupils of this school are still living and are
thedral parish: Mrs. Cassie Reider Newton and Mrs.
Butlei. A Sunday School was also opened at that
pupils in attendance, Miss Cassie Reider,and Miss
The irst named is well known to the citizens of Little
widow of the late General Robert Crittendon Newton,
latter, the daughter of the late Judge Carroll, passed
arly in life.
After the completion of the Cathedral on West
the Sisters of Mercy took up their residence in the
Church," at the corner of Seventl md Louisiana
ters of Loretta having gone back to Pine Bluff and
small and cramped, it was sufficiently large to meet
of the early days, With the growth of,the parish,
school was separated from the academy, and a more
building was erected on the corner of Sixth and
In 1871, Father O'Kean, who had been laborin
tas, Arkansas, was maderector of the Cathedral.
torate a Benevolent Society and a Young 'Men's
formed. Ile was much loved and esteemed by all who
and his sudden death, in August, 1875, was a shock to
community, tie was succeeded by the Reverend
Henneman, who also was Vicar General of the
years. Father tIenneman was a man of great piety
was born in Munich, September 6, 1838, and died in.
home mt Christmas, 188q.
The Reverend Doctor Halliman was appointed
Father Henneman as rector of the Cathedral and alsO
General of. the Diocese, coming here at the solicitation
Fitzgerald. For six years he devoted his time and
upbuilding of the Cathedral parish. He died at the
cousin, the late Col. Patrick Raleigh, in Little Rock, on
12, 1887.
The great progress and ever increasing prosperity
Catholic Church in Little Rock was strongly
I: