The New York herald., 1879-03-21
ARCHBISHOP PURCELL SPEAKS

PURCELL SPEAKS
THE TOUCHING PLANT OF sIMPLE-HEAHrED
OLD MAN-How THE DEBT GREW AND OVER
wHELMED HrM--HE APPEALS TO THE CHARITY
OF THE WORLD.
CIScTHNATI, March 90 1879.
Archbishop Purcell has at last broken silence on
the question of his indebtedness how it caused.
and finally. how he hopes 1t may be liquidated The
following open letter to thcpublic appeared in this
mornings papers OF this city,
THE AncHBmHoP's LETTER.
To MY FRIESDs AND THE PuBrLc:--
deem il my dhty to make known to the very large
number Of persons to whom happen to be moro or
less known in Europe and in the United States that
in the eightieth year OF my age and the forty
heavy " debt G wkich t-sy am Ut unable to iiquidate.
This debt, as all who know mo arc aware,
was not contracted Dy waste: nign . Lying; @
conscience bears me this Testimony. and It is
acknowledged by Catholics and Protestants as we'll
as by citizens OF every and no religion It is asked
how came to owe much. must answer frankly.
rIYE HISTORY
was born OF poor parents, who had to stint them
allowed the town in which'I boru afforded. to
attain the position in life for which wos conse-
that my only chance to to America and study
for the priesthood When succeeded in this regard
neither sought nor expected 70 & BE- rich. Oh Food and
presume to say so, like st. Paul. perfectly
tented. was sent to Paris by the venerable and
Seminary and nfterward Bishop of Now York. On
my return priest ! continued to teach we'll as
could in that time hCnosed school @ the priest
gan poor that had to borrow $500 for my travel
ling expenses to my for myself and two or three
students and domestics
DEBTS BEGIN.
Then had soon to contract debts for the many
wants Of new diocese. For this debt had to pay
interest. and this interest growing yearly now makes
according TO tho report Of the trustees appointed to
than half Of tho Indebtedness Of the diocese.
OF the debt contracted by the financial agent of tho
diocese. l think II can be safely said that not
more than S5O0,000 money deposited with
him. The rest is the result Of compound interest.
As proof of this will state one Of many facts that
claim Of 81 100. In presenting 1t he admitted that
$500 Of the amount interest, and expressed his
readiness TO accept for it $500 the original deposit
The claims Of hundreds are of tho same nature The
indebtedness Of the diocese in equity does not
amount to than $1.0oo,Ooo. to place It at its
HEAvY DIOCESAN TxpENsKs
In accounting for the. money loaned or deposited
with the financial agent OF the diocese the trustees
expenses. Until 1852 general collection ever
taken up in the diocese for the support Of the
burden Of educating priests fell upon my financial
agent. He supported the seminary without asking
aid from the diocese When 1t was located III Brown
line Community he paid the salaries Of the profess
sors during many years and fed clothed and edu.
h inc ann erod o
at Mount st. Mary. Emmettsburg. in France and in
Rome. In twenty years all these expenses, which in
justice the whole diocese should have borne,
amounted to vast sum. In my various voyages to
Europe / had the interests OF religion In
II ana oI apr our
and defraying the expenses of library Of at least
sixteen thousand volumes. philosophic apparatus,
diocesan resources, which. exclusive Of sums spent
in the building OF the Orphan Asylum, at Cummins-
vile. Of churcpes and the Cathedral and other build
ings, for the support of seminarians for many
years for schoots for which had TO 60 heavily In
debt, finally swarnpod me.
MY brother. the Very Rev. Edward Purcell. or
dained pr.oet In 1888, seeing me overw hefmed by
al these labor. sna n sns .
heavy for ono who had no kind Of mercantile
financial training to At him for the hard work he
else to devote himself. His life one Of immense
labor and reward but the consciousness Of
serving God the Church 1r .,7 and hi. brethren
recreation, no respite from toll or any
rest. his self-sacrifcing spirit any who knows
Of the Church or Of tho people to his personal
account credit Tho Official report OF the trustees
while it shows an enormous debt Of $360o.o0o has
declared that not the slightest stain
with tho financial affairs of the
who IL knew him hold. that kind heartedncss
and excessive trust in the honesty Of others who
from him, united with the payment Of
interest. have alone been the Of my
financial calamity.
AN OLD MAS's APPEAL r..
Still, honestly owe my 5000 creditors. The debt
Is large; it has crushed me with Its weight OF my
forty ve in the epscopacy this is the darkest
most painful, most sorrowful hour. When the storm
broke upon me should have sunk into my grave
had not been strengthened by the remembrance of
my duty . bishop OF Gods Church. and had not
been sustained by tho generous sympathy which
OF Catholics aud Protestants alike have
shown me in my distress. The Catholic bishops Of
the country have made their debtor forever by
their offer OF assistance Though unworthy Of so
much universal Kindness. still rejoice over 1t be-
cause 1t gives me tho hope of meeting my obligs-
tions. IL cheers me that the charity of many has
been stirred by the misfortuncs Of old missionary
bishop whose IL nearly run.
THE CHARITABLE OF ALL FAITHS
After this truthful and faithful expose Of facts
woes. to help out OF my embarrassmcnts; to re-
leve the poor and toing creditors who lent their
money to build churches, TO educate youth and to
perform suudry works OF charity, religion nnd bene
violence. and merit the assistance Of Almighty God
that such COOL works may never fail. Great az the
debt is, dollar from everyone would cancel IT,
The charity that has been ierventy manifested
sll sides s now my strong reliance to wipe ont any
disgrace that may attach to the Church or injury
that may arise to the Faith through the mismanage-
ment Of tho deposits OF poor people. H
gs ON. ASsoIp MANS PnArxn l.,g.,ss..
God bless, God reward q hundred fold the kind
hearts that have consoled poor. tnsolvcnt debtor.
and God enrich with all temporal blessings all those
who nre ready ~ wccoHe him or his representatives
with generous hands. They have orested fpr me
debt greater than even my large debt Of dollars
, debt Of gratitude that pay. For this
universal sympathy, unexpected and unmerited,
give 3, 'ns, na.e the n hast prsyets q old age
~. b. PURCELL, Archbishop OF Cincinnati.
BISHOP FoLEY's MEMORY.