The New York herald., 1874-08-03
AM AMERICAN CARDINAL.
Archbishops McCIoskey and
Purcell.
SOMETHING ABOUT CARDINALS.
From the Cincinnati Commerclal.]

NEW YORK July 2s 1874
The meeting OF the Leading archbishops ana
bishops OF the Catholic Church, at Cincinnati In
May, has caused considerable speculation as to
the probable nomination, or promugaton, If one
has been already made. OF an American cardinal,
In well informed Catholic circles.
Since the NEW YORK HERALD has taken the sub
ject into consideration there is great deal OF
anxiety about the matter at Rome, where that
great journals influence Is as potent as at Padua.
It's correspondents in the Propaganda and the
Via Babrino and the FOntdine are well informed
gentlemen.
What is cardinal Who may be ones What
does he represent What are his dutiess
The title cardinal, although DID, does not 90
back TO the 'twilighr Of history" 1t was for
long time tine exclusive designation OF the leading
Roman clergy. the parish priests. When they
oficated on the occasion OF great festivals OF the
Church, in the baslicas, they were incardinated 10
perform tho functions. In process OF time an Eccle
siastical Senate was formed to advise and assist
the Sovereign Pontir in the government OF the
Church The constitution OF this body was not per.
fected and ultimately fixed In Its present form
until Pope Sixtus ". who reigned only five years,
four months and three days (15s5-90). The dignity
Of cardinal Is the highest in the Church after that
OF Pope, who Is selected by the assembled
body OF cardinals In conclave. This is often
confounded with consistory. The former IS
a Pope; the latter is nothing more than q
meeting OF the cardinals to hear an allOcution or
any osher thing the Pope may have to say to them.
The secular rank OF a cardinal Is that OF prince.
being olassed as electors and next after kings.
Their insignia (besides those worn by bishops,
winch ali cardinals, even those who not IN sa.
cred orders, are entitled to use are scarlet robes
hat and A. stockings, and ring of sapphire set In
they. as we'll as all bishops present, must appear
IN cdppa, which Is large cape Of ermins, with
ietta and mozzctto, liKo bishops. With Cardinals !.
the former Is scarlet while with bishops It is pur.
eose Is is 5
divided into three classes, as follows :-Cardlnai
bishops, SIX cardinal priests. my; cardinal dea
the former states Of The Church ostls ''fss Porto
next class consists of the cardinal priests,
which includes all the cardinals in and out or
deaux is only cardinal priest; the Archbishop Of
Dublin Is the same. The cardinal priests were
tfss to e na wno
there were already twenty-five at the close Of the
NTH century. The cardinal deacons are fourteen
the different districts. Both classes derive their
titles from particular church. and IN that
are generally men who have been selected nom
the most responsible classes for their Knowledge
ploycd IN the temporal Offices Of the Papacy Every
cardinal exercises quasi episcopal jurisdiction
e' ves who s pes saa
give the tomarc and minor orders. They out
rank all other preates even patrarchs. Their
appointment rests exclusively with the Pope.
Two thirds or the cardinals are natives of Italy,
notwithstanding that the DEGREES of the Councl'
OF Trent and the Constitution OF Sixtus v. dircr.
that the cardinals should be selected from all
nations. On the 1st OF January 1874, according to
La Cerarcnta Cattollco-the oncial directory Of
the PontIncal family throughout the word-there
were six cardinal bishops, thirty,nlne cardinal
priests and hlteen cardinal deacons. since then
a n
MIA, leayinGony nfiy-two. and eighteen vacancies.
The SIX bishops were born in Italy, twenty-thIee
OF the remaining. fourteen ls:--Francc, Ave; Ger
many, which Includes Austria and Hungary. four;
two; Portugal one. The Oldest is the cardinal
priest FEpoo De Angels. born in c,. Italy,
Der is Is2s. Tne!r residences are called
po!azE, whereas they are: except m few S cases,
American nat Mr.. Hooker, the American banker.
lives in the top floor OF fine house. near the Gesel
under him. The latter lives in o palazzo,
former in comfortable suit or nat ol apartments.
streets; 1t is not etiqnciie for them to be seen
walking IN Rome When they wish to take,,.a
and Es sr aaGS carasss S 0o4 Sy s sa
Who may be cardina'
Any good Catholic. priest or layman, whom tins
Pope may please TO appoint This reminds me OF
a late editorial in the Chicago Tribune, that the
Pope INTENDED to Sn eoner r. the Sdsny on the pous
JoW,7,dL THIS was very thin hoax; bad sell on
4 young attache OF that Journal. Dut there
Is no reason to state that he viii not
be appointed because he is eligible. Few
mch nave done more than this admirer OF
southern slavery and causeless rebellion TO swep
the pence OF Peter. Rome, like oil other placcs'
has quick ear for the chink OF scudi British
s0vereigns ana American double headed eagles,
The editor Aforesaid, like the Penians u 1865
opened his columns to all the servant maids and
plous widows who felt the wrong, 6f tho Pope
and, as he Is man OF the strictest In .egcity, no
sent all 10 the Piazza di SpaQ,.d, and IW)itA, "
onnxrruupn oV Nrumu n.nc, -.