New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-03-21
DEBTS OF ARCHBISHOP PUROELL
AN APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC.

a
AN EXPLANATION OF HOW THE ARCHBISHOP Coz
INFO Drpr-soME PHASES OF THE SUBJECT NOT
HERETOFORE KNOWN.
CINCINNATI. Ohio March 20.--The following letter,
written by Archbishop Purcell, Is given to the pup
lie to-day:
To NV Friends and the Public;
deem it my duty to make known to the very large
number Of persons whom happen to be more or Tess
known in Eu ope and in the United states, that I'D te
echteth year OF my age and the forthwith year OF my
episcopate am burdened with heavy debt, which l
am unabe TO liouidate The debt, all who know me
are aware was not contracted by waste, high living OF
e.trayagance II is my only consolation that my
conscience bears this testimony and II Ia ackho"i-
edged by Catholics and PrOtestants, as well az Dy
citizens Of every and 10 religion. 1t is asked now
came to owe so much must answer frankly. was
horn OF poor parents who had 10 stint themselves 10
give me an education, the best their means allowed or
the town in which was born afforded TO attain the
positon In life for which consecrated, II Goa 80
pleased, before | bora. / felt that my only
chance was TO TO America ana study lot
the priesthood. When ! succeeded IN TINS REGARD
I neither sought expected to be rich. FOOD ana
ramant were all received, and with these III may pre-
sumo 10 say 80 like ST. Paul. perfectly cOntented
was sent Paris by the venerable and sanity DUBOIS
first Superior o Mary Seminary and after
ward Bishop OF New-YOrk.
ON nv return as priest continued to teach well as
|
until was made Bishop and to Cincinnati In this
new sphere as IN my earlier life, began so poor that
had 10 borrow $500 for my travelling expenses to my
See for myself and two three students ana doneSc
Then had to contract debts Tor the many wants
Of n new diocese For this debt had 10 pay interest
and TINS interest growing yearly now MAKES accolu
ING 10 hc repnrt the trustees appointed To examine
the accounts and liabilities OF the diocese more thah
or the debt contracted by the financial agent
of the oces think can be safely said that not more
than $500 900 uulcy deposited with him. Inc resi-
Is the result OF compound int est. As PROOF OF ths
will state OF many facts mat have come 10 lgnl
Yesterday a creditor ilicd with claim OF Sl,lOO In
pre.ening II he admitted that $500 OF tho amount was
interest, and expressed his readiness TO accept ot
$500 the original deposit The claims OF hundreds are
OF the nature. Tie indebtedness OF the uIOcese III
equity does not amount 10 more thah SlOOoooo'
In accounting for the money loaned or deposited with
the financial agent OF me docysG s rgr u' tc an" %f
expenses. Until 1852 no general COLLECTION wa
ever taken ken orc,ln trm rms For 'G wcny years
therefore the burden OF educating priests fell upon my
financial AGENT. He supported the seminary without
asking aid from the diocese, when II was located IN
Brown County upon thr farm nOwsoccup.ed by the ur-
smnr Community he paid tie saales OF the professors
during many years and fed clothed aud educated the
spminarans He paid al the during the same
u, nrriod If rccl,astca students at Mount Mary,
EmInttsburg, in France and IN Rome In twenty years,
all these expenses which justice the whole diocese
should have borne amounted TO a vast sum.
In my various voyages to Europe had the lntcress
OF religion in mnd caly In looking Tor priests for
our mssions-Gcrnan Irish and OF other automobiles
and defraying the expenses or library CT
~ least 10000 volumes. philosophical appa-
raus etc. all OF which required large expenditures OF
the diocesan resources which, exclusive II sums spent
m the binding 81 The Orphan Asylum ut Cumminsyle,
Of churches aud the Cathedral anu other buildings Tor
Le support OF Summaries for many years, Tor schools
for which had TO 90 heavily IN dcOt fnaly s"amped
NJ brother the Very Rev. Edward Purcell, ordained
priest IN 1888. seeing me OycrwEclmcd by all these
labor. and responsibilities generously helped me to
bear these burdens But they were heavy for
who had KIND Of mercantile or nuanclal trdlulg 10
fiji him for the hard work he assumed aud 70 whiCh Tor
f,rtV /.
life was one Of immense labor ana no reward, pat tle
OF serving God the church and his breth
rem to the extent his ability. Takn. recreation,
40 te toll or rest, HE sc!t-Sac lc!hG spirit
a,,y one VINO knows him can tell and re put
dollar of of the Cnurch or of he peop" To MS
own personal account credit. The Official report OK
trustees while 1t shows au enormous debt OF $500
OOOh scmphatica Is declared that not the slightest stain
rests upon the honesty OF my brother. who Was inter-
Cstud with the financial affairs OF the diocese lhey re-
reat the CONVECTION which all who knew nm h0li,
that kind .heartedncss and an excessive trust IN tho
hune>y Others VINO borrowed from hn' united "lih
the Of compound interest have alone Lech the
siiiI I honestly owe my 5000 creditors The debt IS
large IL has crushed Inc with rs weight my iOrly-
nof hodt sorrowfgi hour When the storm broke
mon me | should have sunk into my grave bad not
been strengthened by the remenOIance 81 my Guly rs
bishop Of GOd's Church. and had not been sustained
by the generous sympathy winch thousands OF Catholics
The Catholic blsnOps Of the country have made me their
debtor forever by offer Of assistance. Though I'M
worthy Of much universal Kindness. stu rejoice
over II because II gives the hope Of meeting my
obligations It cheers that the charity OF many
bishop whose race ~ ncary run.
Afcr this truthful and faithful expose of facts,
apueal TO an Catholics AID Others who feel for others
woes 10 help ou Of my enharra' sments to relieve
inc poor and OaZ creditors VINO lent me their money
t. nuld churches, to educate youth, and 70 perform
suuGry works Of charity, religion and bcncYOencc ana
merit the Of Almighty God that such good
works may neyi til. Great ia the debt Is. dollar
from every one would cancel IT, The charity that
mas been ferventy manifested AL sides Is now my
strong reliance wipe out any disgrace that may
racn 10 Church. any injury that may arse to the
Faith through TIE miSndnagcmcI Of the deposits Of
poor people God bless, God reward hundrritod. the
kind hearts that censored poor n-olvent debtor
and God enrich with all temporal blessings all tuOs,
who dre ready to welcome him his representatives
with generous hands. They have created for me
deb greater my large debt OF dOlllr5-a deDt
If = attitude Ina; never pay. For this univ ersai
sympathy. uneX pccted ana unmerIted give all that