New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-05-29
RCHBISHOP PURCELL'S DEBTS.
AN APPEAL TO ROMAN CATHOLICS.

AN APPEAL TO ROMAN CATHOLICS.
CIRCULAR TO THE CLERGY AND LAITY-sUBscRIP-
TONS ASKED FROM EVERY PARISH.
An address in behalf of Archbishop Purcell,
OF Cincinnati adopted by Cardinal McCoskey and the
archbshops and bishops at meeting at the Cardinals
residence Monday evening was made public Yesterday
The address which was prepared by Bishop Keane is as
folows
To he Clerqy and Laty of he Catholic Church through
VESERABIE AND BELOVED BRETHREN: In addressing
you concerning the financial embarrassments OF the
tion to appeal sympathies which we know are ALREADY
sucieny aroused The facts OF the case have touched
ali hearts with eoquerce that needs no enioreemen,
Neither intention to any verdict whether
of blame OF vndication on the causes which nave leu
assured that the integrity OF theS
Purcell above reprOach or suspicion, ana u would
serve no practical purpose to enter into any discussion
OF the administration of his business Ana we desire
that il shold be most distinctly understood that our
present action is recognition Of obligation rest
ing the Catholic clergy or people o. Inc Uted states
To assume any responsibility in regard to the debts Of
ony eccesiastca person body whatever that may at
any time be insolyeDt or embarrassed Inc Oatnoic
Church in the United States forms no corporate organ
cation diocese is responsible for Its Own financial
administration:
Nor do we, even in tho present case assume any re-
sponsbilty whatever or In any way engage ourselves
to discharge the indebtedness or any portion oI ~ Bu
debts of their with works or cnaily ana eIgon
TO be carried to be naugurated any such action
would be evidently rash and unwarrantable Neither
do intend that action Ia the present case shal
81 : III
justice to ourselves and our successors ana 10 an ecce
siasIcal debtors and creditors that any such eXpecta
tiofshoud be entertained. Our procedure is one OF
charity willingness assist Archbishop Purcell and
to second the efforts OF ms own clergy ana Is IoI tG
we now proceed lay before you the results OF our de-
beratiOs aud to request united and vigorous effort III
AT a meeting called by His Emnence Cardinal Me-
ClOskey ana held at his residence on the evening
%s6oS py W. Who S''S had assisted at the dedication
of the new Cathedral, with the exception OF a
iqg
meeting. letter wasread from Cardinal Smeoni, Pre-
1ect OF the rropaganua m nTg y az fbe ngness
or the Catholics of the United states to come TO the aid
OF the venerable Archbishop Of Cincinnati In hs great
distress giving earnest encouragement to the same
secretary of Archbishop Purcell, showing from the fig
ures OF the assignee real amount OF liabilities, assets
and surplus indebtedness and the measures tIat hau
ward arriving at practicable solution. This state
ment being the basis OF action, we judge 1t will be
The oicla report of the assignee of the Most Rever
end Archbishop Purcell gives the following statement
of his assets aud liabilities:
ASSETS
RS9 $i4s2555 SSh Sac s's 54 &c &c
$ $ 81 SS S2S S
IoIooo 20
Liabilities ~
doubtful and notes there remain assets TO the
assets Would then be ISL 10 Recently the cred
itors of congregations Of the City OF Cincinnati,
900. This cancellation reduces the debt to $2490,-
ssh 10 The disposition to throw off Onehaf OF
the claims. or even more has been widely manifested by
all creditors Accepting the payment or 90 per cent
the basis of settlement 10 which the creditors are
they assured or the payment
of the remainder and making the widest allowance for
the doubtful character Of portion OF the notes. the
payment of which is not counted on at all, II will be
that the Indebtedness OF the Archbishop OF Clncn-
natl will be reduced TO S1,500,0O1.
While the Catholic clergy and ATTY OF the whole coun-
try moving III The unity of Catholic faith and char
y, the aid OF the Diocese OF Cincinnati the faithful
OF that diocese will be inspired, without doubt, do
most generous part in relieving their good Archbishop
have not been idle Their great zeal and coura in the
calamity that has fallen upon their diocese are well
wealthy have subscribed thousand dollarsj congrega
gaonai and indlvldual donations nave snouhCea 10
ganized to relieve suffering credltOrs Diocesan Debt
Extinction Of the debt VIII has been done in the past
bright omen OF successful work In the future The
cooperation of all the Catholics OF the country VIII Ger
tainy enlarge the noble spirit the DIOCESE VI Ono
has already manifested. ., 80. A.. 49,, a.
ures were received With sense of relief and OF hope
we feel encouraged by the Willingness already
manifested by portion OF the creditors and confidently
charitable compromise. Had the condition Of things
been such as was first feared. could have had
or had the creditors shown no willingness to make the
abatement which honor and charity dictated under the
hands work that would still be beyond the reach Of
all practicable measures God forbid that We or anyone
should take Vantage of creditors In difficulties
which weigh as heavily on them as on their debtor
We fully recognize tnat ODgauOns OF 1ustlce
way diminished by difficulties. But since the Obli
cations be only by the charity of parties VINO
are III no way responsible for The debt 1t is but right
that we should be met halfway by the charity and honor
OF the creditors, especially very large proportion
of the entire consists of accumulated compound In
terest.
All this being taken into consideration, the assembled
preates we'd that united action should be taken
iolows Each preiae agrees to have subscription lists
opened without delay in parish OF his diocese for
special contributions to be paid at once or in install
ments OF five years; Que copy OF every such list when
closed be sent to the Ordinary and one to be kept by
the parish priest for collection OF the amounts sub
scrbed. In each parish mission there shall be col
lection taken up Sunday previous to the LIST OF
November Of tins year. by which date all subscription
lists and amounts subscribed and collected shall have
been forwarded to the Ordinary. central committee
have consented to take charge Of all tie funds thus col
lected and TO their juulciOus disbursement This
committee will consist Of mis- Eminence Cardinal Nc
COskey; the Most Rev j. j. Williams, Archbishop Of Bo5
ton; and the Very Rev. VIM Quinn Vicar-Gcneral OF
NCw-YOrk.
As a substantial proof of the earnesness of the
sembled prelates list at once made out of the
amounts which they personally pledge themselves to
contribute annual ns taments during five years,
follows:
j. c. MeCloskey.."$l000 z j. Ryan an. i,,,.; $500
John j. Williams 1000 5. '. Ryan 800
John LOugIin 900 j. J.. Spadng 900
Is. j. McQuaid 500 William H. 500