The Shasta courier., 1864-01-16
Death Of krchblshop Hughes,

Sunday, the Sd inskr The following obitn-
ary notice of this emaRent' prelate we COPY
from an exchange:
John Hughes was born In tine north of
Irelandsin l99S He was tho son of farmer
of small means. In 1917 young Hughes en-
igrated to America. His father who had
preceded him to the United Stakes, placed
him with florist to learn the art Of garden
ing, but having little taste for such pursuits,
he devoted his spare time TO study. and as
soon as his engagement expired, entered the
theological seminary Of Mount ST. Maryts,
Emmettsburg, Maryland. where be remained
| for several years. being employed almost
priest in Philadelphia in 1925, and was set
cepted challenge from the Rev. John
Breckenridge, distinguished Presbyterian
clergyman, to discuss the question: is the
Protestant religion the religion of Christ ~
The controversary was carried on in the
newspapers for several months, and attracted
so much attention that the articles were sub
sequently collected in volume, which had
for time wide circulation. Ia 1884 Breck
enridge renewed the encounter, by proposing
an oral discussion on the question ''Is the
Roman Catholic religion. in any or all its
principles and doctrines, inimical to civil or
religious liberty?' Hughes Immediately
came forward as the champion of his creed,
and the debate, which was published in book
form in 1886, was regarded with great inter,
est by the public of both parties. In 1882
Hughes founded St. Johns Church, in Phil
adelphia, and was its rector as long as he
remained in that city. In 1887 Bishop Du
bois of New York, having demanded, on
account of age and infrmity, some relief
from the cares of the Episcopate, the Holy
See appointed Hughes coadjutor. He was
consecrated in New York January 9th, 1898,
and about two weeks afterwards Bishop Du-
bois was attacked by paralysis, from which
he never wholly recovered. In the following
year the Pope appointed Bishop Hughes ad-
ministrator of the diocese; and although he
did not succeed to the full dignity of Bishop
until the death of Bishop Dubois, in 1912, the
government of that portion of the Church
was thenceforth entirely in his hands. His
first measures were directed to reform in
tn, tenure of church property, which was
then vested in lay trustees, system that
had more than once given rise to scandalous
conflicts between the congregation and the
episcopal authority. All the eight churches
in the city were heavily in debt, and five
were bankrupt and on the point of being
Sold Bishop Hughes resolved to consolidate
the church debts, to remove them from the
management of the laymen, and to secure
the titles in his own name. In this under
taking he was violently opposed by the trus
tees, and was only partially successful; but
the most pressing debts were paid off, and
harmony was eventually restored. In 1889
Bishop Hughes visited France, Austria, and
Italy to obtain pecuniary aid for his diocese.
On his return he applied himself with great
energy to the cause of Catholic education.-
Already during the previous year he had
purchased property at Fordham. in West'
chester county, for the purpose of establish
ing college. He now completed its organ.
ization, and it was opened in 1871 under the
name of St. Johns College. The dispute on
the school question about this time brought
the Bishop still more prominently before the
public. 1t was charged by Catholics that the
common schools were sectarian in character.
and they complained of the injustice of tax
ing them for tie support of schools to which
they could not conscieptiously send their
children. Pu. lie meetings were held and an
association was formed for obtaining relief
1t was demanded either that the taxes should
be removed or that a change should lie made
in the system of education. The Catholics
petitioned the Common Council in Septem
Der, lS40 to designate seven Catholic schools
as entitled to participate in the common
school fund, upon complying with the re-
quirements of the law
Remonstrances to this petition were sent
in by the Public School Society and the pas
tors of the Methodist Episcopal Church, aid
on October Doth both parties appeared before
the Common Council The Public School
Society was represented by council Theodore
Sedgwick and Hiram ketchum-and on SUBJ
sequent evening addresses were made by the
Rev. Drs. Bond, Bangs, Reese, Knox aud
Spring. Bishop Hughes answered them in
an elaborate speech, but the petition was re-
jected. The Catholics now carried the mat
ter before the Legislature. A bill in their
favor, having passed the Assembly, was lost
in the Senate, and in the ensuing election
the school question assumed a striking prom
inence in the political canvass. The Catho-
lies. by the advice of the Bishop, nominated
an independent ticket. and the result of the
election showed them to be SO strong that
some modification Of the existing school sys-
tenn was soon effected. Throughout this ex-
citing controversy Bishop Hughes was the
animating spirit of his party. and was called
press against the personal attacks of his op-
ponents, in 1871 he established at Fordham
the theological seminary of St. Joseph. In
August, 1912. he held the first Diocesan Syn
cd of New York, and in a pastoral letter, da
ted September sth. enforced its degrees res
pectng secret societies and Church property.
(, Hist Rules for the Administration of Church
es without Trustees" published in lS45,
embody the systems adopted by this Synod.
About 1913 the extent of his diocese led him
to ask for coadjutor. and the Rev. John
McCloskey, now Bishop Of the diocese of AL
bany. was accordingly appointed. and was
conseerated March 10. 1874. In December,
1916, Bishop Hughes sailed again for Europe,
in order to procure the services of some of the
Jesuits. Brothers of the Christian Schools,
and Sisters of Mercy. He was successful in
his efforts, and returned in the Spring of 1916.
A few months afterward he was solicited by
President Polk to accept a special mission to
Mexico. but declined In 1917, at the re-
quest of both houses of Congress, he deliver
ed a lecture in the Hall of Representatives at
Washington on" Christianity the only source
of Moral, Social and Political Regeneration"
In this year his diocese was divided by the
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