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which at that time was probably not less than sixty square miles, and also much impressed by his association with the Benedictines of Carrolltown, of the peace and quiet of a religious life, Father John Burns joined that Order of rigid discipline and died a few years later.
Pastorate of Father Edward J. Burns.
Rev. Edward J. Burns, brother of Father John Burns and his assistant from October, 1862 to April, 1866, became the successor the latter, his first entry on the Registry bearing date April 29, of that year. During his pastorate he had for assistants, Rev. James Ward from August, 1868 to January, 1869; Rev. Dr. James Keogh from April, 1869 to May, 1870; Rev. E. J. Dignam from December, 1870 to January, 1873; and also Rev. Francis McCarthy from March, 1872 to May, 1872.
From the number of assistant pastors who served under Father E. J. Burnes, as he signed his name - two at one time - it would appear that the congregation was at the zenith of its prosperity during his pastorate.
Having gone to Pittsburg about December, 1872, Father Burnes died suddenly and unexpectedly in that city. He was succeeded by Rev. Father Thomas McEnrue in January, 1873.
Father MeEnrue's Pastorate.
As Father McEnrue's pastorate extended over the period of financial depression from 1873 for several years thereafter, on account of the failure of Jay Cooke & Co., and as he was a priest inured to arduous labors in a previous mission in the counties of Washington and Green, where he attended several missions, to serve which he was compelled to ride about 150 miles every week, and being a splendid horseman, and of robust health, he did not need an assistant. People who knew him say that during the business stagnation he often befriended people who were in financial difficulties, which he was able to do, as during his unremitting toils on the Washington-Greene missions for several years, he was allowed the entire perquisites which it is said aggregated $2,000 per year. His pastorate at St. Augustine extended to October, 1877.
As the writer was a school-mate of Father McEnrue as far back as 1854, he is better qualified to write a bio graphical sketch of his life than he is of any other pastor of the parish.
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