The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-28
PRICE TWO CENTS.
0HIO'S ARCHBISHOP'S DEBTS.
4 FORMAL LETTER OF EXPLANATION
TO ms CONGREGATION
Heavily Involved for building Lots. Churches.
Asyiums aud seminRries-The Clergy ofthe
diocese Expected to IInsien 20 his KcIIeG.

hcnvlly Involved Tor Hutlding Lots. Churches
Asyiums aud eminRries-The Clergy ofthe
Diocese Expected TO Hasten 90 his Relief
CINCINNATI, Dec. 27.-The following letter
from Archbishop Purcell and motto OF advice
from the clergy OF the diocese. was published
to-day in the Catholic telegraph. the official
organ OF the Church here:
Last Sunday tho undersigned felt 1t to be
his duty to make n manifesto or certain ex-
plantations to the cathedral congregation and
TO all who take the trouble to road them. II has
boon his fate or good luck to work hard for his
living since his early years Since tho age OF n
little more than Is years he supported himself
and helped his Woodworking parents to pay
for his education. At 90 he entered n Seminary
in Frederick County. Maryland. where he after
wnrd became Professor. Then he was made
president. and after six or seven years was
consccrated Bishop of Cincinnati. Ho had
officially to contract debts ns Professor and
Bishop. He had no salary with which to curry
on the work OF God When he left the college,
he was 50 poor ms TO be Obliged to borrow 1900
to pay his way md the expenses Of two or three
young students to Cincinnati. and for grocery
bill for provisions consumed here before
his arrival. Such were his beginnings here.
AT that time there WIS but one small church in
Cincinnati. For 40 many others since erected
he had to beg or borrow. He cannot accuse
himself before God OF having expended any
thing In waste or cxtTavagancc. carriage
and pair Of horses. kindly presented TO him by
the congregation. he found too costly to retain.
so he quickly disposed Of them. SO 1t happens
that for building lots and churches. for asylums
in which there are four hundred orphans. for
seminaries and their support to n great extent.
and for various necessities he IL now pretty
heavily in debt but with Gods mcrciful aid ho
hopes in no long time to pny all the diocesan
debts and. il he will not DO relieved from the
heavy burden Of the epscopatc. which he has
earnestly entreated the Holy Father to relieve
him from. no trusts in the charity and goodness
OF tho clergy aud laity 10 pay all
y. b. PURCELL"
The subJoined is a memorandum Of n con-
ference held by some Of the clergy OF Cincin-
natl for the purpose OF dcvising some plan 10
aid and assist the moet Row. Archbishop Purcell
out OF the present financial cmbarrassmcnt:"
II was agreed to submit to the most Rcv.
Archhishop the following points:
- First-lt is respectfully suggested to his
Grace to take undor consideration the pro-
priety and advantage Of making public State
mcnt for the Information and rcassurancc Of
ns he has always held himself. responsible for
9ll ilnnncinl claims against his brother. the vcry
Hcv. Edward Purcell. who has been acting as
his confidential agent and the manager Of his
Second And as security for such claims and
liabilties, the Most Rcv Archbishop pledges all
the assets. OF whatever Kind or value. tnnt bo-
long 70 him. rs well as NIL properties which nre
strictly diocesan or common to the whole do
ccse. such us the cathedral property. the SOM
mary property the Cumminevlllo Orphan Asy-
!
-" Third-And it is further submitted 10 the
Most Hsv. Archbishop to consider the propriatV
and Hdysability Of selecting and appointing
some person or persons to assist the Roy. Father
Purcell IN preparing statement OF his Imam
ca Sondi,oa as soon 90 1b rs pGsi'Glc 1 s,ou,1 o
given. in Whatever way may be Judged most
likely to reach the parties interested TO tho
present thcir claims within. let us say, thirty
"Finh-A statement having been prepared
from tho data thus obtained and from other 40
counts, II there appear mn excess OF liabilities
clergy present at this conference pledge thom-
selves, and they have no doubt that all the
ot S y, VIII phSST p1hS Non sy 10
bishop in proyidnG means TO meet all dcmandA
aud lay OF all debts. and FOR this purpose thoy
ton Of the clergy could ha best Obtained and the
necessary regulations thcrcunto could be most
cnicaciously enjonrd and enforced In n dioce-
san synod. which might be convened as soon 40
the llnnncial statement Is rcaly.
"SiNth-lt may be allowed the clergy gathered
on this occasion to assure the Most lscv. Arch-
bishop. though the assurance may seem super
nuous. that after his long and hnppy career.
remarkable for the untirng zeal the simplicity.
humility. and unselfsh spirit of self-sacrhca
which have adorned his life. the difficulties OF
the present moment only serve 10 draw closer
tho bonds of union between them and his
Grace. They are willing to share in any sacri-
iiccs that may be necessary to relieve his Grace
from the present embarrassment and tighten
the burden, which no fault OF his, but rather
tho untold circumstances Of the times hnvS
made 10 press SO heavily upon him. They bo-
licve that public confidence will be restored by
the means they hnyc respectfully suggested.
and time will thus be gained to take further
steps. # need be-, to meet all demands and pro-
serve unblcmished the credit and good name
Of the diocese
Present at the informal meeting or confer
enco wero twelve clcrgymen. representing tha
principal parishes TO which the depositOrs boz
long. The above proposition OF the clergy. az
will be seen. ia virtual admission OF the facts
stated in THE SUNS despatch from this city on
the 10Th inst. No action has been taken in rs-
gard 10 the suggestions Of the clergy