The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-01-07
AncfInisuop , nuGnps.

lfeihnd ln-llJS, lie was tlle son OF a
respectable farmer, of small means,
and emigrated, to America in 1917,
Oh account Of the disabilities to which
his religion was subjected in his native
country. His father who bad prece-
ded him to, the United States, placed
him with a florist to learn the art of
gardening; but having little taste for
such pursuits, he dcyoted his spare
time TO study, and, as soon as his en-
gagement expired, entered the Theo
logical Seminary at Mount ST. Marys,
| Emmitsburg, Nd, where lie remained
several years, being employed almost
from the first as teacher. He was
lordaincd priest in Philadelphia in
| 1925, and was settled in parish in
THAT city. Tn 1880 he accepted chal-
lGnge from the Rev. John Breckenridge.
a distinguished Presbyterian clergy
man, to discuss the question ais the
Protestant religion the religion of
Christi The controversy was carried
on in the newspapers for several
months, and attracted so much attcn-
ton that the articles were subsequent
ly collected, which had for Il time
Iwide circulation. In 1884 MIR. Brcck-
iinridge renewed the encounter by pro-
posing an oral discussion of the ques-
tiohI; + is the Roman Catholic relig igion
1inanyipr all Ats principles and doc.
trihes, ihimicaEt6- civil or religious Iib--
erty?" Mr.. 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 interest, by the public of
both parties In 1892 Mr.. Hughes
founded St. Johns Church inPhiladel-
]phia, and was its rector as long as he
remained in that city. In 1887, Bishop
Dubois of New York, having demand
cd Gu account of age and infirmity re-
! lief from the cares Of the episcopatc,
the holy see appointed Mr.. Hughes
coadjutor. He was consccratcd in New
York, Jan. 9th, 1898, and about two
weeks afterwards Bishop Dubois was
attacked by paralysis, from which he
never wholly recovered. In the fol-
lowing Year. the Pope appointed Bishop
Hughcsi administrator 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 thcncctorth entirely in his
hands. His first measures were d-
rected to reform in the tenure of
thurclirproperty,wlnch wasthen vested
in lay trusttcs,a system Chat had pore.
than once given rise to scand&l0ts
conflicts between the congregations \
and the episcopal authority. All then
eight churches IN the city were hcavi- 4
ly in debt, and five were bankrupt,
and or the point of being sold. Bishop
Hughes resolved to consolidate the
CHURCH debts, to rcmove them from tile
management Of laymcn, and to secure
the titles in his own name. In this
undertaking he was violently opposed
by the trustees and was only partitliIy /
successful, but the most pressing debts |
were paid oil, and harmony was event |
ualV r hestolcdl T1n 1889 Bishop
Ildghes visited France, Austria and |
Italy, to 'abtain rccuniary aid for his
diocese. On his return he applied him
self with great energy to the cause of
Catholic education. n Already during
the previous Year he had purchased
property at y Fordham, in Westchestcr |,
county, for The purpose of establishing
y college. He now completed its or
Sanization, and it was opened in 1871,
under the name Of st. Johns College.
The dispute on the school question
abontathis timcs broughtgthc Bishop
still more prominently before thepab-
lie. Throughout this exciting contro-
versy Bishop Hughes was the anima-
tang spirit Of his party, and was called
oniat times to defend himsclfthrough
epress against the personal attacks
of his opponents In 1871 he cstab-
lishcd at Fordham the Theological
Seminary Of st. Joseph. In August
1872, he held the first diocesan synod
York land in 4, pastoral letter.
dated Septembol' Sth 8 enforced its dc
crccs respecting secret societies and
church property. Ills "Rulcs for the
Administration of Churches without
Trustees" pnBlishctl'in 1S45, cmbody
the system by this synod. In Dccem
bcr, 1915, Bishop Hughes saiIedIagain
for Europe in order to procure the
services Of some ofthc. .Jcsuits, brothers
Of the Christian schools, and sisters of
mcreyl lie Was successful in, his ef- l
forts, and returned in the spring OF :
1916, A few months afteyward he WAS ]
solicited by President Polk to accept I
a special mission to Mexico, but de- {
clined. In,lS47, at therequcst Of both
Houses Of Congress, he delivered ,
lecture in the hall, of Representa- t
tives at Washington, on "Christian- /
ity the only source Of Moral, So .
cial and Political Regeneration
In this year his diocese was divided ,
by the ereetionTof lthe,secs of Albany +,
and Buffalo, Bishop Hughes retaining S
OF New York south Of |
the parallel of 420, with a part of New {
Jersey, In 1850, New York was rails q
cd to the dignity Of an archi-cpiscopal =
secsaud Archbishop Hughes went to- !
Remote receiveathc' pallium at the |
hands of tho Pope, The first provin-
cial council of fNew York was held in v
1854, and attended by seven suffra- t