Yesterday – April 4, 2008, The Tablet turned 100 years old.

You might think that The Tablet would be one of the oldest diocesan newspapers in the country. Actually, 29 Catholics weeklies that are still published today were established before The Tablet.

The Catholic Miscellany of the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, is the longest running diocesan paper in the country, having first appeared in 1822. The Pilot of the Archdiocese of Boston is the second oldest. It began in 1829. The Catholic Telegraph, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, is third with a publication date of 1831.

There had been three previous attempts in Brooklyn to publish a weekly Catholic newspaper but all had failed because of economics. The diocese was without a newspaper for 17 years when The Tablet first went to print. Father James Coan, a future Chancellor of the diocese, was the Editor of the paper which was owned by William P. Lawler, the publisher of The Monitor in Newark, N.J. It wasn’t until Christmas of 1909 that Bishop Charles McDonnell, the second Bishop of Brooklyn, decided to buy the paper and make it the official voice of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

To be sure, Bishop McDonnell had followed the progress of the fledgling paper. He had given permission for it to be first published. He had even named it after his favorite Catholic periodical, The Tablet of London, which also is still published.

In the first editorial, Father Coan explained why the paper was started. He wrote: “The work is inaugurated for the greater glory of God, for the honor and expansion of our holy religion, for the conservation of loyalty and reverence for the Holy See, for the uncompromising advocacy of Catholic teaching and Catholic practice pure and undefiled, for the spiritual intellectual and special wellbeing of our people.”

The first edition consisted of 16 tabloid pages. Front and center on the front page was a photo of Bishop McDonnell and the lead story was about the upcoming dedication of Our Lady of Loretto Church in East New York. The story claimed the dedication would be “the most notable event that has taken place in Brooklyn Catholic circles in a long time.”

Two other first page headlines read: “Native Chinese priest, Father Peter Cheng Visits in Brooklyn,” and “Father Cherry to Saint Malachy’s – Father Malloy to Great Neck,” thus beginning the popular policy of printing diocesan clergy transfers.

On the inside there were features such as News from Rome, Authentic News from Our Own Special Correspondent on Events Close to the Vatican; News from Everywhere; Throughout the Diocese; A Question; Propagation of the Faith; Father Ned and the Youngsters; Fraternal Societies; and The Home Circle.

While there was news, both international and local, there also were instructional pieces, short stories, and feature writing. The style of writing was more ponderous, but the idea was the same – tell the news from the perspective of the Catholic Church.

Some of the ads in the first edition were bought by The Prudential Insurance Co. of America, The New York Tribune, advertising its special features about the Centennial of the “New York Diocese,” Holy Cross College in Worcester, Mass.; St. Elizabeth’s College, Convent Station, N.J.; and the Scranton and Lehigh Coal Co., whose offices were located on Kent Ave. in Greenpoint.

One feature story on page seven was titled “Three Greatest Portraits of Christ,” in which a German religious painter claimed that prior to the fourth century, images of Jesus never showed a beard or long hair.

On a page listing events for fraternal societies were some of the same organizations that are still active today, such as the Cathedral Club of Brooklyn, which had just elected David T. Leahy as its new president; and the Knights of Columbus.

One hundred years later, the Catholic Press puts news into perspective, taking the good along with the bad. We do things differently. Computers have replaced typewriters. Offset printing has advanced hot type. There are more photos. The writing should be sharper and crisper.

What remains the same is the power of the Word, regardless of how it is delivered. The Tablet for 100 years has been determined to bring its readership the news it needs to better understand the road to salvation. It remains committed to that same lofty goal.