William Hickley Gross
Encyclopedia
William Hickley Gross, C.SS.R.
(June 12, 1837—November 14, 1898) was an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Savannah
, Georgia
(1873-1885) and Archbishop of Oregon City
, Oregon
(1885-1898).
, to Jacob and Rachel (née Haslett) Gross. His father was German
and his mother was Irish
; his paternal ancestors came to the United States
from Alsace
during the nineteenth century. Following his mother's death, his sister assumed responsibility for William and his five brothers. He enrolled at St. Charles College
in Ellicott City
at age 13. In 1853 he returned to work in his father's store after St. Charles decided that he was not suited for the priesthood
. He entered the novitiate
of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
(more commonly known as the Redemptorists) at Annapolis
in 1857.
Following the outbreak of the Civil War
, the Redemptorists advanced Gross to Holy Orders
early in order for him to avoid the military draft
. He was ordained
a priest by Archbishop Francis Kenrick
on March 21, 1863. After six months of further studies, Gross was assigned as chaplain
to the wounded Civil War soldiers at Annapolis. He was also charged with a chapel
for Confederate
prisoners
on the outskirts of Baltimore, and worked among the freedman
. From 1865 to 1872, he served in a Redemptorist Mission
Band, which performed parochial missions
throughout Maryland, New York
, Florida
, and Georgia
. Gross, after recuperating his health in Baltimore over the next three years, returned to Georgia and thence continued his missionary work in Baltimore, at St. Alphonsus Church in New York City
, and Boston, Massachusetts
, where he served as superior
of the Redemptorist community at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Mission.
On February 14, 1873, Gross was appointed the fifth Bishop of Savannah
by Pope Pius IX
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following April 27 from Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley
, with Bishops Thomas A. Becker
and James Gibbons serving as co-consecrators
. At age 36, he was then the youngest member of the American hierarchy. He selected as his episcopal motto
: "Lumen Aeternum Mundo Effudit" (Latin
: "She
gave forth to the world the Everlasting Light
"). During his tenure in Savannah, Gross laid the cornerstone
of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in November 1873 and dedicated it in April 1876. In addition to erecting several churches, schools
, orphanage
s, and hospital
s, he opened a men's college
at Macon
, introduced into the diocese the Jesuits
and Benedictines
, and established a diocesan newspaper
, The Southern Cross, in 1875.
Pope Leo XIII
promoted Gross to the third Archbishop of Oregon City
on February 1, 1885. Installed
as Archbishop on the following March 31, he visited the 10,000 Catholics throughout the extensive Archdiocese by carriage
, horse
back, train
, steamer
, and even foot. During his tenure, he dedicated St. Mary's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in August 1885, acquired the Catholic Sentinel
as property of the Archdiocese, and founded the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon
in 1886. Cardinal Gibbons, who had earlier assisted at Gross' episcopal consecration, invested him with the pallium
in October 1887. He opened Mount Angel College
in 1887, a minor seminary
in 1889, and an elderly home in 1896; and presided over the Third Provincial Council of Oregon in 1891. In 1895 he ordained the first native Oregon
ian priest, Arthur Lane, the grandson of the Mexican–American War
general and Oregon politician
Joseph Lane
.
After falling ill while giving a retreat for Redemptorist students in Annapolis, he died shortly afterwards at St. Joseph's Hospital in Baltimore, aged 61. He was buried at the Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Baltimore. His eloquence had led him to became known as "the silver tongued orator of the hierarchy."
Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer is a Roman Catholic missionary Congregation founded by Saint Alphonsus Liguori at Scala, near Amalfi, Italy for the purpose of labouring among the neglected country people in the neighbourhood of Naples.Members of the Congregation, priests and brothers,...
(June 12, 1837—November 14, 1898) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He served as Bishop of Savannah
Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern United States comprising the southern counties of the state of Georgia...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
(1873-1885) and Archbishop of Oregon City
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland
The Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It encompasses the western part of the state of Oregon, from the summit of the Cascades to the Pacific Ocean...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
(1885-1898).
Biography
William Gross was born in Baltimore, MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, to Jacob and Rachel (née Haslett) Gross. His father was German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and his mother was Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
; his paternal ancestors came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
during the nineteenth century. Following his mother's death, his sister assumed responsibility for William and his five brothers. He enrolled at St. Charles College
St. Charles College, Maryland
St. Charles College was a seminary college in Catonsville, Maryland, originally from Ellicott City, Maryland.- 1776:Charles Carroll of Carrollton signs the Declaration of Independence for Maryland. One of the wealthiest men in the Americas, Carroll staked his fortune on the American Revolution...
in Ellicott City
Ellicott City, Maryland
Ellicott City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The population was 65,834 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Howard County...
at age 13. In 1853 he returned to work in his father's store after St. Charles decided that he was not suited for the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
. He entered the novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer is a Roman Catholic missionary Congregation founded by Saint Alphonsus Liguori at Scala, near Amalfi, Italy for the purpose of labouring among the neglected country people in the neighbourhood of Naples.Members of the Congregation, priests and brothers,...
(more commonly known as the Redemptorists) at Annapolis
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
in 1857.
Following the outbreak of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the Redemptorists advanced Gross to Holy Orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
early in order for him to avoid the military draft
Conscription in the United States
Conscription in the United States has been employed several times, usually during war but also during the nominal peace of the Cold War...
. He was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
a priest by Archbishop Francis Kenrick
Francis Kenrick
Francis Patrick Kenrick was an Irish-born clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the third Bishop of Philadelphia and the sixth Archbishop of Baltimore .-Early life and education:...
on March 21, 1863. After six months of further studies, Gross was assigned as chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
to the wounded Civil War soldiers at Annapolis. He was also charged with a chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
for Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
prisoners
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
on the outskirts of Baltimore, and worked among the freedman
Freedman
A freedman is a former slave who has been released from slavery, usually by legal means. Historically, slaves became freedmen either by manumission or emancipation ....
. From 1865 to 1872, he served in a Redemptorist Mission
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
Band, which performed parochial missions
Parochial mission (Catholicism)
A parish mission or parochial mission is, in the terminology of the Roman Catholic Church, a term applied to certain special pastoral efforts among Catholics. These are "home missions", distinguished from the apostolic missions sent to make conversions among pagans and heretics...
throughout Maryland, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, and Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. Gross, after recuperating his health in Baltimore over the next three years, returned to Georgia and thence continued his missionary work in Baltimore, at St. Alphonsus Church in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and Boston, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, where he served as superior
Superior (hierarchy)
In a hierarchy or tree structure of any kind, a superior is an individual or position at a higher level in the hierarchy than another , and thus closer to the apex. It is often used in business terminology to refer to people who are supervisors and in the military to people who are higher in the...
of the Redemptorist community at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Mission.
On February 14, 1873, Gross was appointed the fifth Bishop of Savannah
Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern United States comprising the southern counties of the state of Georgia...
by Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following April 27 from Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley
James Roosevelt Bayley
James Roosevelt Bayley was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the first Bishop of Newark and the eighth Archbishop of Baltimore .-Early life and education:...
, with Bishops Thomas A. Becker
Thomas Albert Andrew Becker
Thomas Albert Andrew Becker was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the first Bishop of Wilmington and the sixth Bishop of Savannah .-Biography:...
and James Gibbons serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. At age 36, he was then the youngest member of the American hierarchy. He selected as his episcopal motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
: "Lumen Aeternum Mundo Effudit" (Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
: "She
Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
gave forth to the world the Everlasting Light
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
"). During his tenure in Savannah, Gross laid the cornerstone
Cornerstone
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in November 1873 and dedicated it in April 1876. In addition to erecting several churches, schools
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
, orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
s, and hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
s, he opened a men's college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
at Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, introduced into the diocese the Jesuits
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
and Benedictines
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
, and established a diocesan newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
, The Southern Cross, in 1875.
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
promoted Gross to the third Archbishop of Oregon City
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland
The Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It encompasses the western part of the state of Oregon, from the summit of the Cascades to the Pacific Ocean...
on February 1, 1885. Installed
Enthronement
An enthronement is a ceremony of inauguration, involving a person—usually a monarch or religious leader—being formally seated for the first time upon their throne. This ritual is generally distinguished from a coronation because there is no crown or other regalia that is physically...
as Archbishop on the following March 31, he visited the 10,000 Catholics throughout the extensive Archdiocese by carriage
Carriage
A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light,...
, horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
back, train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
, steamer
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
, and even foot. During his tenure, he dedicated St. Mary's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in August 1885, acquired the Catholic Sentinel
Catholic Sentinel
The Catholic Sentinel is, according to its masthead, the "Oldest Catholic Newspaper on the West Coast." A weekly publication, it is sent out every Wednesday to subscribers and is the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Portland and the Diocese of Baker...
as property of the Archdiocese, and founded the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon
Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon
The Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon are a Roman Catholic religious order founded in 1886 in the U.S. state of Oregon. Their convent is located in Beaverton...
in 1886. Cardinal Gibbons, who had earlier assisted at Gross' episcopal consecration, invested him with the pallium
Pallium
The pallium is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the Pope, but for many centuries bestowed by him on metropolitans and primates as a symbol of the jurisdiction delegated to them by the Holy See. In that context it has always remained unambiguously...
in October 1887. He opened Mount Angel College
Mount Angel Abbey
Mount Angel Abbey is a community of Benedictine monks near the city of Mt. Angel, Oregon, United States. It was established in 1882 from the Abbey of Engelberg, Switzerland. The abbey, located on the top of Mount Angel, a 485-foot high butte, has its own post office separate from the city of Mt....
in 1887, a minor seminary
Minor seminary
A minor seminary is a secondary boarding school created for the specific purpose of enrolling teenage boys who have expressed interest in becoming priests. They are generally Roman Catholic institutions, and designed to prepare boys both academically and spiritually for vocations to the priesthood...
in 1889, and an elderly home in 1896; and presided over the Third Provincial Council of Oregon in 1891. In 1895 he ordained the first native Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
ian priest, Arthur Lane, the grandson of the Mexican–American War
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
general and Oregon politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
Joseph Lane
Joseph Lane
Joseph Lane was an American general during the Mexican-American War and a United States Senator from Oregon.-Early life:...
.
After falling ill while giving a retreat for Redemptorist students in Annapolis, he died shortly afterwards at St. Joseph's Hospital in Baltimore, aged 61. He was buried at the Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Baltimore. His eloquence had led him to became known as "the silver tongued orator of the hierarchy."