New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-04

ments OF Christian faith and hei0iem rohe 10 hm OF
The glores OF the holy universal church new "or"
was aied to HIM. and his soul gowed with love anu
enthusiasm which he had never felt before lie was
Aucd with n noble ambition 70 emulate In the new
world the Industrious examples OF the great ana
gifted men who had done 30 much Tor the hohor
OF the church in the old. He also acquired IN the
Eternal Guy the spirit of obedience 10 authority
and the special love aud veneration for the visible
head Of the church. a" without which Catholic obedi
ence IN the true sense is not possible" Upon his
return from Rome in 1884, DIR. spaldDg engaged in the
active of his profession in Kentucky until 1854,
when he appointed to I'LL the See OF Baltimore
made vacant by the death OF Archbishop KenrioE He
renamed in this Office, discharging Its high functions
with eminent ability until his death, which took
place on the 7th Of February, 1871 His last act
was in accordance with tho whole tenor
OF his life Calling the Sisters of Charity who attended
his dying hours TO perform flvefoId act Of devotion
in honor Of the five wounds of our Lord" he soon
afterwsrd became speechles. and receiving tho hnal
blessing from Bishop Becker, in few minutes
calmly breahed his last Rarely has such an example
been presented Of supreme and exclusive devotion 10
the glory Of the Church. lie the trucst representa-
tive OF The Oldest element Catholicism IN this country
While Puritanism according TO his biographer, had
been forced 70 yield tho influences OF freedom, he
remained faithful the primitive tradition H1 had
no sympathy with the weak sentimentalism when IL
affirmed by the author have taken the place OF tho
Puritan religion. Nor did he tolerate for mo-
ment the prctenaons Of modern science. lie
looked with profound contempt on tine endeavor
TO solve the mystery of life and Of the uni
verse by physical experiments. While Protestant
ism is tortured by doubt and anxiety. he stood
the foundations OF the past. In his We've
there was safeguard Of morality, as there was no
promise OF salvation, out Of the bosom OF the Catholic
Church lie had assured conviction OF the ult-
mate triumph OF the faith in this country He regarded
tno oitpion IL
out doctrinal creed or moral code. 1t was I'M
potent, in his opinion, TO save the nation from
dissolution IL had no vital power to c0unteract the
spirit OF pagansm which threatens to infect the life OF
the country. He was earnest in his warnings to
Catholics against the cOrruptons OF the age. The
Catholic faith he thought, the only conservative
element that could protect the nation against the cen-
tious principles which menaced it with ruin He
dreaded the worldly spirit which might soften the aus
terty Catholic influence he the enemy OF all
amusements which offend the most rigid idea OF
Catholic morality. The fashionable dances OF the day.
which he held 10 be opposed 10 the purity which Is
cherished by the Catholic the ewCl Of the soul were
tho objects OF his cordial adherence His scathng III
veetiyes against these ADJUSTMENTS had the effect Of
almost banshng them from Catholic society in Ken
lucky and continued the crusade against them after
his removal to Baltimore. His course at the Vatican
council was in harmony with his exclusive devotion TO
the Catholic rule. He had always believed in the in
allbhy OF the Pope and although at first r favor OF
an implicit rather than explicit definition, upon the
final question he took sides with the majority in
defending the announcement OF the prlnci-
pie as a dogma of the Church.-The prin-
cipal interest of the volume to general readers
consists in its exhibition OF Catholic influence
on personal character. 1t presents the example OF
man OF rare ability and high culture completely a0-
sorbed IN the interests of Church Exclusive deVo
ton to any object while it Darrows the mental range
and contracts II it does not paralyze the sympathies
usually dimnishes the OF temptation IL was 80
in the case Of Archbishop Spading No dark spots can
be pointed ont on the OF lis career no giarlne
defects OF character DO charged upon his history
The worst that can be said is that he appears more IN
the light Of an Instrument part OF an I'M
mense and complicated machine, than as man acting
from the free and noble instincts Of humanity The lit
erary execution the work is not especially creda0le
to the writer The narrative is without the charm OF
simplicity, and sometimes approaches the borders OF
inflated rhetoric. The occasional attempts at humor
such as the description OF the achievements OF physical
science, are truly deplorable.