Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-11
Death, OF Archbishop Hughes.

The report of the death of Archbishop
Hughes, which reached US on Saturday
night, and was subsequently contradic-
ted, proved only a little premature =
Archbishop Purcell received a dispatch
yesterday announcing his decease.
JOHN HucHEs, Catholic Archbishop of
New York, was the son ofa respectable
farmer in the north of ireland, and was
born in the year 17eS. Tho elder
Hughes came to this country early in the
present century and his son followed him
at the age of nineteen. He was at first
placed with florist to learn the art of
gardening, but having little taste for it,
devoted his leisure hours to study, and
as soon as his engagement had expired,
entered the Theological Seminary of Mt
St. Marys, at Emmetsburg, Nd, where
he remained several years, being for the
most of the time employed as a teacher.
He was ordained priest at Philadelphia
in 1926. In 1880 he gained notoriety
from his discussion with the Rev. John
Breckenridge, Presbyterian, on the ques-
ton: is the Protestant religion the re-
ligion of Christi" The debate ran
through several years, and in 1886 was
published in book. In 1887 he was
sappeinted eoadjutor to Bishop Dubois, of
New York, who was then in feeble
health, and on the death of the latter in
1888 was made administrator of the dio-
cese. He did not succeed to the full
dignity of bishop until 1842, but during
the intervening period exercised al the
prerogatives of the Office.
His first step, in which he triumphed
over serious opposition, was to remove
the tenure of church. property from the
hands Of lay trustees. By this means
the heavy debts on the churches of bis
diocese were consolidated and eventual
ly paid off, and the power and influence
of the bishopric were greatly enhanced.
In 1889 the bishop Visited Europe and
collected large sum of money Soon
after, he founded st Johns College,
Fordham, and became involved in the
controversy on the Common School cues
ton, which has been agitated between
Catholics and Protestants ever since. In
1915 he again visited Europe, for the
purpose of bringing over Jesuits, Sisters
of Mercy, and Brothers of the Christian
Schools. In1S46 he was offered by Presi-
dent Polk, but declined, special mission
to Mexico: In 1850 New York was
raised to the dignity of an Archiepisco-
pal See, and Archbishop Hughes went
to Rome to receive the insignia of his
office from the hands of the Pone. In
1854 the first provincial council of New
York was held, and attended by seven
suffrsgan bishops Not long after its
close the Archbishop went to Rome, to
be present oat the definition ofathe doc
trine of the Immaculate Conception.
Onhis return, a controversy arose be-
tween him and Erastus Brooks, of the
New York Express, growing out Of bill
which eventually passed the New York
Legislatures9 vesting the title of all church
property in. trustees. 1t was stated by
Mr. Brooks, in the course Of the argu-
ment, thatthe Archbishop owned property
in the citygfINevJ York tothe amount OF
$50, 90, ,00G. The letters on both sides
were collected by the Archbishop and
published in volume. Beside the above
named controversies, the well-known
exchange of letters between the Arch
bishop and the late Dr. Murray, Of Eliza
beth, n. j., ('k1rwan,' will be remem-
bered by eur readers. The Archbishop
was. also the author of a number. of lee
lures and pamphlets, which have been
published. His latest appearance in
public-apart from his official duties
was duripg the draft riots in New York,
in July1ast, when be addressed the mob
in a. eo1Niliatory speech.
Estimates of the character of Arch
bishop Hughes? will vary according tc
the sectarianS proelivities of the several
judges, but alb will concede to him the
possession of unwearied~ industry and
| great executive ability Gin Gazette