The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-16
DIR. CUMMINGS.

DIR. PRIMES PLEASANT RECoLLEcTIoNs OF A
ROMAN CATHOLIC PASTOR AND FRIEND.
The New York Observer publishes the following in
terestng letter from Dr. Irenmus Prime on the late
DR.. Cummings
This as learn by the daily papers. is the annver-
sary OF the death OF Rev. Dr. Cummings. the pastor
OF st. Stephen Roman Catholic Church, in Twenty
eighth street, in this city. His church was and is
distinguished for its music, which draws throngs to
it's courts. The style OF the music IL more artistic
than we have in our most fashionable Protestant
churches but it is attractive in the highest degree.
He died thirteen ago to-day and as on the return
OF each anniversary, solemn high mass OF requiem
was celebrated i'll the church OF his affection. He
a remarkable man, companionabe, cultivated
scholar ana gentleman.
MY racollc tons of him are refreshing. and they
come this evening cheerily that must ask
was indebted TO a .mutual friend" Mr.. W. A.
Seaver, formerly editor. and now the worthy
President OF the Adriatc Fire Insurance Company,
for my first acquaintance with Dr.. Cummings. We
were Mr.. Seayer's guests ut dinner few moments
after first speak ny with him. for the grasp OF his
warm hand assured me he was ready for cheerful
CDR Cummings. take this the first opportunity
of meeting you. to beg your o pardon Tor breaking
"Ah, said he, "how was that! have forgotten
it?'
OF our editors bore the same name as yours he
supposed it for him and broke the seal But nd-
ing it was written in Latin and came from Rome we
concluded it must be for some one else, and We re
turned it to the Post Office.
..Oh yes" he replied, II remember now; it was
indulgence we had sent for from the Pope but prob
ably You needed it at your Office more than We did,
and SO it went TO you'll!
We were soon at the table, and it proved to be
OF the early days Lent Our host inade apology
and said to Dr. Cummings :"Perhaps, as 1t is Lent.
you abstain from meat?
ooh, no, it's meet, meet mcct-ing all the time" he
said, and without meat we should be unequal to the
duties OF the season.
In conversing with the subject Of news
paper making, and especially the conflicts OF the re-
ligious press he referred humorousy to his own OK
perience when he Was young man aud in the FAM
lily of Bishop Hughes. He sad:--
The Bishop at that time running newspaper
himself. and was his assstsnt. He would some
times come in when hard up tor copy and throwing
down the New York OJssrrcr before me, would say,
There, take that, and pitch in:
TO which added-"And you always did as you
were tod, believe"
speaking OF the power Of music in church he said
to met will undertake to fill any one of your
churches to overlooking every Sunday IL you will let
me provide the music
Your music, replied. "wi not suit the taste of
stophens.''
.:Bnt it shall be purely Protestant and Presby-
music as you . aelisnt in; adapted 20
Our music would dr.ve away your congregations;
but music delights and will always draw the crowd
am very sure that your Churches do not appre-
ciate its value as means OF bringing the multitude
to the house OF God.
= 1--WE spend money enough on it,, said-'often as
much on the choir as on the pulpit.
Every true; hut you pay tor that kind of music
that does not accord with your serviceit does not
emotional nature. 1t is often an approach to the
opera without reaching it-so that it Is neither the
one thing nor the other. Ours is artistic, in har-
mony with our ritual. addressing the imagination
through the You appeal to the intellect ana
the heart and need music to match your services.
These few only of the words we exchanged,
but met not long afterward 1T his own table, in
his house. Fifteen or twenty gentlemen sat
down; all but four were priests or eminent laym
OF the Romish Church. DR.. Cummings n: the head
of the table, lad two Protestants on one hand
and two on the other. Tho Austrian Consul presided
nt he ut her md of
seated, our host looking along the rows OF guests,
remarked, with great glee:-
"Now we have these Protcstants, well roast them.
returned his smiles, aud said, II thought we all
belonged to the same sect.
'And which p exclaimed some one.
1.-The Society of Friends. said !, and they gave me
cheer along the line and did not try to roast Prot
estant after that.
of several men of learning. travel and genius,
whose friendship priced Among the books lying
around was q volume of epitaphs composed by DR..
Cummings. He told me that his people constantly
to him for lines to put the grfvesoncs of
their children and friends and he obliged to make
a book OF them, so that they could take what
pleased them. He gave copy and made
ccnnendatory notice OF it in the New York Observer
He remarked aftcrwaru to friend of mine that no
did not suppose IL possible for Protestant to speak
kindly Of II Cathclic production. AS the epitaphs
were the expression of human sympathy and love,
the most Of them were such as come from and to
Aud by and 10y IL curne his time TO die He was in
the prime ana vigor OF life when disease overlook
him, and with slow approaches wore his Lie away.
His constitutional checrfulncss never failed him.
think invitation he gave to friend Mr.. Scaver
has exampi, in the speech of dying OF ancient
modern times. socrates conyerscd with his
friends sercncy. Philosophy and religion have DO IA
made dcatibcds cheerful. have spoken Of Dr. Cun
uiugs love of music and its exquisite culture ut ST.
Stephens. II Was Ills pride aud Joy: and one who
has music in his soul cannot understand his dying
words. Mr.. Scaycr was In the habit OF sccing him
almost daily, aud each visit was now apparently TO bc
the last. One day, the end very near and the
two friends parting, the dying sad 20 the liy-
ing, "Conie to tn, funeral, the music will DO splen-
did"
and so II was; ana each return of his dcathday.
January the 4th the arches OF st. Stephens become
anthems and its walls vocal with song. In MEM
DRY OF the departed pastor, accomplished gentle
man ana genial friend