The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-23


Tho New Cathedral-Charch Building Pro-
gress and Charitable Contributions in
New York.
In the Catholic churches of this city last
Sunday it was announced from the affairs that
the subscriptions handed in by the different
congregations towards the building fund of the
new Saint Patrick's Cathedral since the COM
mencement of the year amounted to the sum
of eighty-two thousand dollars, and that this
total fell slightly short of that taken up for the
same purpose during the year 1868. As the
deficit was only ''slight," and as many addi-
tional contributions may be handed in before
New Year for the same purpose, it is pretty
safe to reckon the amounts equal and state the
aggregate at one hundred and sixty-four thou
sand dolars-a splendid attestation of the
devotional feeling, religious practice--as from
the days of Solomon-and Industrial resources
of the Catholic community of tho metropolis.
It should not be forgotten in this connection
that independent Of the Cathedral fund several
new Catholic churches have been completed
and dedicated in the city, founding hospitals
and houses of refuge and correction opened,
hospitals for the sick extended and enlarged;
free schools multiplied and attended to by the
Sisters of Charity and Christian Brothers,
and money and clothing given and
distributed most extensively-yet unseen
and unheard Of by the public-to
needed and acceptable charities besides.
Our Catholic friends have also sympathized
freely with his Holiness Pope Plus the Ninth
in his financial and treasury and general bank
ing house troubles in Rome-a sort Of excep-
tional call this season, and which may account
for the reduction in the Cathedral account
despatching solid bonds and guarantees Of
their adhesion to the centre of religious unity
in the shape of hard sterling gold cash with
Archbishop McCloskey. We have no doubt
indeed but New York has come up fully to, if
it has not eclipsed, San Francisco in this
respect, Notwithstanding the fact that it has
just taken small detachment Of the Papal
guards to carry huge nugget of silver,
brought from the Golden State to the feet OF
his Holiness, for we must remember that this
nugget has to be yet crushed and smelted.
and may not ssturn out so well after ALL"
whereas the New York testimonial was in the
shape of the handy, compact bars of the Sub
Treasury, duly verified with the world-re-
spected national initials ~. S."
The other religious communities have been
fervent and active in our midst also; the
r, - H.
Episcopalians, the Presbyterians, Methodists
and Israelites, in the rearing up and OPEN
ing and dedicating Of new temples, syna-
gogues and schools during the year being
worthy of all the praise which they have
received, as well az of the current reports
of their progress which have appeared in the
columns of the HERALD Immediately after each
ceremonial. The religious record is, on the
whole, of the most pleasing and encouraging
character, showing forth in a really sublime
manner what man will do for the glory of God
under governmental system which affords
freedom Of conscience to all by dsclaiming the
very idea of a connection between Church and
State On this point it is only necessary to refer
to the condition of the early Catholic Church
and Of the new Cathedral. The first priest Of
that persuasion known to have set his foot on
the soil Of the island of Manhattan was the
Rev. Isaac Jogues, who came in 1913. He
had been savagely tortured by the Mohawks,
but was received kindly by the Dutch settlers.
The Italian Father Bressani Came next, was
enslaved, tortured by the Indians, but ran
somed and returned to France by the Dutch.
Then came the Fathers Simon le Moyne and
Milet the first to actually extend the ministry
to 1909. In 1913 Father Jogues found in the
"colony" one Irishman and one Portuguese
woman, Catholics, and the Gcant commune
cants of the four hundred thousand people Of
that faith now worshipping in this city and ON
the same island of Manhattan.
II is useful to thus note the ''nows" and
''thens" of religion as well as Of the everyday
phases of life; 1t encourages man to persevere
in the faith and makes the community better.
1t anlmates the young, consoles the aged,
and nerves the struggling missionary. A
leading London journal In its illusions in
1929 gave what purported to be a sermon,
delivered by an Irish priest when asking for
a money collection for his church, in which he
was made to state that at the great day of final
account each clergyman would have to appear
at the head of his resurrected congregation and
answer for himself and the members thus -
''Father, how have you treated the people ?"
81 have baptized, married, confessed, absolved
and attended the sick and dying and buried the
dead" "a faithful priest to the people but,
father, how did your congregation treat your"
"And here, said he, is your danger, for you
know must tell the truth, and you know you
too you don't half pay me9" This ridiculous
satire does not certainly apply to the faithful
IN New York so all our clergy, from the arch