Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 3.djvu/25

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BROWNSVILLE


BROWNSVILLE


heard of Gioberti, from whom he obtained the formula ens treat existentias, which Gioberti expressed in the formula ens creat existens, to indicate the ideal or intelligible object of thought. By the analysis of thought he finds that it is composed of three insepar- able elements, subject, object, and their relation, simultaneously given. Analysis of the object shows that it is likewise composed of three elements simul- taneously given, the ideal, the empirical, and their relation. He distinguished the ideal intuition, in which the activity is in the object presenting or offer- ing itself, and empirical intuition or cognition, in which the subject as well as the object acts. Ideal intuition presents the object, reflection takes it as represented sensibly; that is, in case of the ideal, as represented in language. Identifying ideas with the categories of the philosophers, he reduced them to these three: Being, Existences, and their Relations. The necessary is Being; the contingent, Existences; and their relation, the creative act of Being. Being is God, personal because He has intelligence and will. From Him, as First Cause, proceed the physical laws; and as Final Cause, the moral law, commanding to worship Him, naturally or supernaturally, in the way and manner He prescribes.

Orkstks A. Brownsox, The Convert (New Y'-rk. 1857); Henry F. Bhowxso.v, Broitnson's Earhi. Middle, anil l.oWr l.ije i Detroit. 1898-1900); Idem, ed„ Broumam't Works (De- troit, 1883-87).

Sarah M., daughter of Orestes A. Brownson, b. at Chelsea. Massachusetts, 7 June, 1839; married William J. Tenney, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, 26 November, 1873; died at Elizabeth, 30 October, 1876. She wrote some literary criticisms for her father's "Review", and many articles, stories, and poems which appeared mainly in Catholic magazines. Her other works were: "Marian El- wood, or How Girls Live" (New York, 1863); "At Anchor; a story of the American Civil War" (New York, 1865); " Heremore Brandon; or the Fortunes of a Newsboy" (in "The Catholic World", I860); and "Life of Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin, Prince and Priest" (New York, 1873). Her novels arc interesting, genuine, and original, and all that, she published is stamped with her distinguishing traits of character, and shows that she thought for herself, expressed herself freely, with good sense and judgment, without undue bitterness, and with great benevolence towards the poor; and she scatters over her pages many excellent reflections. The life of Gallitzin is her principal production, for which she spared no pains to collect such materials as remained. She more than once visited the scenes of the missionary's labours, and formed the ac- quaintance of priests and others who had known him, collecting such facts and anecdotes of him as they remembered. It is a sincere and conscientious tribute to the rare virtues and worth of an extraor- dinary man, devoted priest, and humble missionary. Henry F. Brownson.

Brownsville, Vicariate Apostolic op, erected 1X71. Previous to this date the entire State of Texas was under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Galveston. It was then divided into two dioceses: Galveston, comprising all that part of the State north and north-west of the Colorado River; San Antonio, comprising all the territory south of the Colorado River and north of the Nueces River, with tin' exception of Bee, San Patricio, Refugio, Goliad, and Aransas Counties and the Vicariate Apostolic

of Brownsville comprising Cameron, SidalgO, Starr,

Zapata, and Webb Counties, bordering on the Rio

Grande; Encinal, Duval, and Nueces, situated north of the-.- counties; the part of La Salle, McMullen, and Live Oak, south of the Nueces River, and finally San Patricio, Bee, Refugio, Goliad, and Aransas


Counties, north of the Nueces River, a territory com- prising 22,391 square miles.

Its principal cities and towns are Laredo (Texas side), with 12,000 inhabitants; Brownsville, near the mouth of the Rio Grande, with S,000; Corpus Christi, on the Corpus Christi Bay, with 7,000; San Diego, in Duval County, with 2,000; Alice, in Nueces County, with 1,000; Rockport, on Aransas Bay, with 1,000; Goliad and Refugio with about the same population; Beeville, in Bee Count}', with 2,000. There are other towns with less population, Skidmore in Bee County, Kingsville in Nueces County, Falfurrias, Benavides, Realitos, Hebbronville, Edinburgh, Hidalgo, Carrizo (or Zapata), Minas, Rio Grande City, each with a population of 1,500. The Catholic population is estimated at. 79,000, mostly Mexicans; there are about 3,000 English-speaking Catholics. The total population is about 110,000.

This southern part of Texas was inhabited by Indians less than sixty years ago. Corpus Christi had for its first settler Capt. Kenny, who had a store several times visited by hostile Indians. Browns- ville owes its beginning to Major Brown, who came there at the time of the Mexican War. The church there was begun in 1852. San Patricio and Refugio were settled by Irish colonists under the Mexican Government. La Bahia is the most ancient settle- ment; it was built by the Spaniards to oppose the encroachments of the French under La Salle. After La Bahia the oldest place is Laredo, built at the end of the eighteenth century. In 1866 there was not a fence nor a railroad to be seen from San Antonio to Brownsville; now the whole country is fenced in, and there are six railroad lines in operation.

The Oblate Fathers, whose missions extend from San Ignacio to the mouth of the Rio Grande, located in Texas in 1852, their first superior being Father Verdet. Within a week he was drowned in the Gulf on his way from Brownsville to New ( rrleans. The mission of Rio Grande City was begun in 1872, the "lie at Roma in 1864, the San Diego mission in 1866. Laredo was in charge of Mexican priests until Father Girandon came in 1855. San Patricio was under the care of Irish priests. Father O'Reilly built in 1856 the first Catholic church of Corpus Christi. Brownsville, Laredo, Corpus Christi, Re- fugio, and Beeville have large and well decorated churches. There are twelve churches with resident pastors: Brownsville, Rio Grande City, Roma, Laredo, San Diego, Corpus Christi, Rockport, Goliad, Refugio, Beeville, and San Patricio. There are also forty chapels where regular monthly services are held. The vicariate has two hospitals, one in Laredo, under the care of the Sisters of Mercy, and a new one in Corpus Christi, under the care of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word, of San Antonio.

There are four academies, namely, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Laredo, and Rio Grande City, with about 60 boarders in all, and about 200 scholars. Besides, there are nine parochial schools, with about 500 pupils, under the care of 52 teaching sisters, assisted by 20 lay sisters. There are, in addition to

these, 12 hospital sisters, and 6 engaged in teaching non-Catholic public schools. There is but one college (in Brownsville, under the care of the ( )blate Fathers), with about 100 pupils.

The Reverend Dominic Manucy. then rector of St. Peter's church. Montgomery, Alabama, was ap- pointed first Vicar Apostolic of Brownsville, and consecrated Titular Rishop of Dulma, 8 December, 1878. He was born 20 December, 1823, and ordained priest, at Mobile, 15 August, 1850. He took po

sion at Brownsville, 11 February, 1.N75 and remained

there until he was transferred to the Diocese of Mobile upon the death of Bishop Quintan, 9 March, 1883. He resigned tin See of Mobile the following year and was reappointed to Brownsville, with the Titular