The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-05-29
The Measures Taken for the Relief Of The
Venerable Catholic Prelate.
An Address which Appeals to the sym.
phthJ nmd Charity Or the CMthO.
Hes OT the UHitM States.


ton to appeal luthr symmthrs which ",
know aru already sufficiently aroused
The facts Of the ease have touched on,
hearts with M clolucncC that needs M
enforcement, neither is it our Intention IA
pass any verdict whether Of blame or OF
vindlcation on the causes which have led
to this dcplorablc state Of affairs, No one
needs to be assured that the integrity Of
the Venerable Archbishop Purcell is
above reproach or suspicion, aud it would
serve no practical purpose 10 enter into
any discussion OF the administration of his
business, and We desire that it should be
most distinctly understood that our pres.
ent action is no recognition OF any ohliva.
tlor resting On the Catholic Clergy or thu
people Oft the United States to assume auy
responsibility in regard to the debts Of any
ecclesiastical person or body whatever
that may at any time be insOlvGnt or e,n.
barrasscd.
The Catholic Church in the United
States forms no corporate organization.
Each diocese is responsible i0r its own
financial administration, nor do we, even
IN the present case, assume any RESPONSE.
bility whatever, or in any way engage our
selves TO discharge the Indebtedness, on
any portion Of ii, burdpncd us all our par
lshes and dI0ceseS are, either with debts
OF their own or with works Of charity and
religion to be carried on or to be begun.
Any such action would be rash and un.
wLrrantablG. Neither do We intend thatour
action i'll the present case shall stand as
a precedent in the future 1t would be an
injustice TO ourselves and our Successors,
aud to all ecclesiastical debtors and crcdi.
tors that any such expectations should be-
entertained. Our procedure is one of
charity, OF Willingness to assist Arch.
Bishop Purcell, and 10 second the efforts
OF his own clergy, and is for the prcsrn,
case alone. All this being distinctly un.
dcrstoOd We now proceed to Law before
you the results OF our deliberations.
Ata meeting called by Ills Eminencc
Cardinal McCIoskcy, and held at his resi-
dcnce on the evcnlngo May 96, there were
present all the Archhishops and Bishops
who had assisted at the dedication OF the
new Cathedral, with the exception Of Il
very few whose duties had called them
from the city before the meeting.
\ letter was read from Cardinal Simconi,
Prctcct OF Propaganda in ltomr. expressing
his qualification at the evidences already
given Of the willingness Of the Catholics Of
the United States To come to the aid Of the
venerable Archbishopol Cincinnati in hi.
great distress and giving earnest rncuur-
agcmcnt To the same.
\ statement was then read bv Rev. DR..
CalIaghan, Secretary Of Archbishop pnr-
cell, showing from the figures of the as-
Slgner the real amount ri the Liabilities.
assets and surplus indebtedness, and the
measures that had already been taken and
might now he counted on towards arriving
NJ Il practicable solution. Here follows 4
statement Of the assets and liabilities, and
the address continues aS follows: Accept.
ing the payment OF 80 per cent us Il basis
Ui settlement. To which the creditors are
disposed To come when they are assured
nfpaymrnl Of the remainder and making
the widest allowance for the doubtful char.
act"r Of portion Ut the notes, the nav.
mcnt Oi which is NOT counted ON At all, il
will be seen that the Indebtedness Of the
Archbishop OF Cincinnati will br reduced
to oamilIIon aud Il half Of dollars.
While the Catholic clergy and laitv oi
the whole country are moving in the unity
ol Catholic faith and charity 10 The aid oi
the diocese OF Cincinnati. The faithful Of
that diocese will be inspired, without
doubt, IL do most generous part in re-.
!irvlns their good Archbishop Of his heavy
burden In the past We know that they
have not been idle Their grra, zeal and
courage in the calamity that has fallen ON
their diocese arc well known aud deserve
all praise. Many oi the more wealthy
have subscribed II thousand dollars. Con.
IrcgallonaI and individual donations have
amounted To tens OF thousands Of dollars.
Committees have been organized to relieve
the suffering creditors, Diocesan debt
societies are multiplying IRON day to cav
to hasten the extinction ii the debt What
has been done in the past is Il bright omen
ul successful work in the the future. The
cooperation Of all the Catholics OF the
country will certainly enlarge the noble
spirit the diocese Of Cincinnati has already
manifested, sad is is the exhibit here pre-.
Scntrd: yet the final figures were received
wtha SENSE OF relief and oi tue hope that
the evil may not be irrrmrdjabr E>pr-
rlaIly dld We feel encouraged 10 action hy
the willingness already manifested ny "A
portion o! the creditors and confidently
hoped Tor in the rest 10 arrive at Al, hon
orahIc and charitable comprumi,r.
Had the condition oi things brrn such
Is was at first feared, We could have hai
no courage to approach an apparently in.
Solvah!r problem, or had creditor, shown
no Willingness To make au aba,cmcnl.
which, however, charity dictated un.
der thc circumstances, VT would scarce
dai"d To put our hands 10 work that
wonld still! he beyond the reach nj all prac
urahIc measures. I"d IorbiG that We, or
anyone else, should wish to take a,lvan
tagr OF creditors in difficulties which weigh
rs heavily on them Ns on their debtors
We fully recognize that the obligations ni
justice are III no way lrSsrnrd bv such
difficulties, hut such obligations can hr
E:rt only 10y the charity ri the parties
who are IN no way responsible Tor the
debt. 1t is but right that W. shnulL Lr
met hall way by the charity and honor oi
Al. IL