The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-09-09
THE ROMAN CATHOLICS.
Growth Of the Church In the West.-
Creation of q New AIchbIshop.

CIebIlon Oh NEW AIchDlsh0p1
About six months ago an Episcopa
council took place in Cincinnati, com
posed oi leading prelates Of the American
hierarchy, including Archbishops Bailey
Kenrick, and McCloskey, Of Baltimore
st. Louis and New York, respectively, al
which important business pertaining to
diocesan affairs was transacted. This
council met In st. Peters Cathedral, Plum
and Eighth streets, Cincinnati, under the
immediate direction oil Most Rev. John
Baptist Purcell, D. D., Archbishop Of Gin.
cinnati, fifty years ago prominent priest
Of Baltimore, but now the Oldest member
OF the American eplscopate. At this con.
ference Of prelates several matters OF in
terest were discussed, and suggestions
made regarding important changes.
Among matters determined upon were
the erection Of Milwaukee, Santa Fee and
Philadelphia into archepiscopal sees, the
division Of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Chi
cago, Illinois, into extra bishoprics
at st. Cloud, Minnesota, and Peoria,
Illinois, and the nomination ot clergy
to ill these dioceses, all subject TO the ap.
pToval Of Pope Plus *. The action OF
the council regarding tho matters above
named was communicated to the Pope BY
Archbishop Bsyley, but the bull announ-
cling the holy Fathers approval has not
been received as yet Information has
been received from Rome by Western
prelates, however, to the effect that Mil
waukee has been raised 10 metropolitan
dignity by the Pope, and Right Rev, DR..
Henni preconized Archbishop OF Milwau.
kee. The additional changes, it Is be-
lieved, will be acted upon 10 due course
of time. Fourteen years having elapsed
since the foundation Of the archdiocese,
the establishment Of the present one Is
something of an event in ecclesiastical cir.
Giles, especially in the lar West, where
heretofore but two metropolitan sees have
existed. As is generally known, Balti-
more holds the precedence among the
archdiocese of North America, this see
having been elevated in 1908, fifteen years
after Bishop Carroll's conservation.
Thence until 1916 all the bishops OF the
United States were suiIrsgsns TO the in.
cumbents Of Baltimore, being obliged to
participate at the various councils that
happened triennially in the Cathe-
dral, unless incspacitated by i'll
ness or other weighty impedlments,
During 1886 the diocese oil St. Louis.
governed by Right Rev. Peter Richard
Kenrick, u brother Of the late Arch.
bishop became an Archbishop. Four
years later New York, ruled by the emf
nent DR.. Hughes, was raised 10 the same
position, and the subsequent decade wit.
messed the alternate elevation of New
Orleans, Cincinnati, San Francisco and
Oregon, SO that seven archepiscopal sees,
and consequently seven ecclesiastical
provinces existed in 1860, where but one
could be found twenty years previous.
The progress oi Cathollcity in the West
ern States, particularly during the last
ten years, is best evidenced by the rapid
increase OF dioceses, some Of which now
exceed the Oldest dioceses in wealth aud
extent of territory. Among these Mil
waukee, Chicago and St, Louis stand con
spicuous. From recent statistics It ap-
pears that the newly erected archdiocese
Of Milwaukee actually comprises more
churches, clergy, religious institutions
and conlraternities at the present day than
any see in the Southern or the Middle
States. The same may be said Of Chi
csgo and 81. Paul, both OF which now
rank foremost among the largest sees in
this country. Owing to the rapid devel-
opment of these dioceses, the Prelates
composing the late council recommended
their early elevation and division, and, as
expected, favorable response has been
received in the ioImer instance, and will
probably soon be received concerning the
remainder. Most Rev. John Martin |
Henni, D. D., the new Archbishop, is a |
native Of Switzerland, but emigrated to
this country in early life. Having pur.
sued his classical and theological studies
in the Diocese Of Cincinnati, he was or
dained by Bishop Purcell in 1885, and
thenceforth labored In that see till the
period OF his conservation. On March
10, 1874, in the thirty.third year Of his
age, he was consecrated, at the C;ncin-
natl Cathedral, by DR.. Purcell, together
with the late Bishop Reynolds, Of Charles.
ton. His last visit TO Baltimore occurred
during October, 1866, when he attended
the second Plenary Council, accompanied
BY his Vicar General.