The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-15
CARD1NAL JOHN McCLosKEY.
The Simplicity of His Private Life-His
Services in the Church.

as the almost Spartan simplicity of his private
life Although presiding over the wealthiest
diocese of the Catholic Church in America, and
by virtue of his high rank welding
almost unlimited authority over his spiritual
subjects, his mode of life is without
ostentatlon. There are many priests, and
hundreds of laymen, in the diocese whose
style of living far outshines that of the cardinal
People who only see his Eminence at the cathe-
dral, arrayed in the magnificent robes OF his of
flee, when conducting the high ceremonials of
the church, can form but an imperfect idea Of
the simple, plain-lookmg, yet dignihed gentle
man of everyday life All the pomp and cir
cumstance, the scarlet and purple and cloth of
gold, are reserved for the church. To add to
her glory and grandeur has ever been the aim
and ambition of the man whom the church has
honOred.
Three generations ago the Catholic Church
purchased plot of ground bounded by Fourth
and Fifth avenues, and Fiftieth and Fifty
ond streets. AT that time it outside of the
city limits, a rough, rocky piece of land that
could not even be utilized by squatters. Beyond
1t was great swamp, the present site Of Cen
tlral Park then undrained Upon this unprom-
Using piece of ground, in 1858, the foundations
We're begun for a magnificent cathedral. Every
body thought it was a gigantic piece of folly,
but time has vindicated the sagacity of the
leaders of the church. To-day it stands com
plete and occupies the geographical
center of the city; is in the heart of the most
arlstocratic and wealthieSt quarter of the globe.
ClalUlllS upon JDe n1gneSb ana mOSG ueSlfADle
building ground south of Fort Washington, it is
only nine short blocks from the main entrance to
Central park, and fronts of the finest streets
IN the world. Across the street, on Fifth ave
nue. are the palaces of the various members of
the Vanderbilt family, and all around are the
mansions Of the opulent citizens of New York.
Soon after the purchase of this plot of land Mad
ison avenue was cut through dividing it into
four blocks. One of these was sold to the re-
Gently deposed railroad king, Henry Willard, who
erected he hereafter a
be known as Wizards Folly. Upon the two
northernmoSt of these blocks are the Catholic
male and female orphan asylums, and upon the
fourth-bounded by Fifth and Madison avenues
and Fiftieth and Fifty first streets-are the
cathedral, which covers half the block fronting
Fifth avenue, and the archepiscpal residence,
which fronts on Madison avenue. The latter is
divided into two houses, one of which forms the
dwelling of the Cardinal, and the other will
be occupied, when completed, by the priests
of the household. These houses are
built of the same beautiful white marble
used in the cathedral. They are spacious
and massive The style of architecture is renais-
sance, encircled with gothic ornamentaton.
The one occupied by the Cardinal was COM
pleted about two years ago Previous to that
time his Eminence lived in a modest brown
stone house Fiftieth street, opposite the
cathedral, and now the temporary residence of
the household priest.
The interior of the Cardinals house is finished
plainly, almost to the point of being forbidding
in these days of artistic household interiors.
The walls are white, showing merely the plain,
hard finish of the plasterer. The woodwork is
heavy, in keeping with the size and dignity of
the rooms, but it is all uncarved. The reception
rooms on the first floor are comfortably furnished
with old-fashioned furniture The only striking
object in these rooms is an illuminated testimo-
NAL given by the city of New York to Arch
bishop Hughes as a recognition of his patriotism
during the war of the rebellion This beautiful
and elaborate piece of work occupies one wall
of a large reception-room, and helps to dissipate
the disaereeable effects produced by StiH-backed.
hard looking chairs and monumental marble-top
center tables which are the only other adorn-
ments in the salon. The private apartments of
the Cardinal are on the second floor, and consist
of parlor bedroom, bathroom chapel and libra
ny. These are all comfortably, but by no means
sumptuously furnished, AS a member of his
household remarked: 1.-THE Cardinal must have
a bed and table and chair, and so he gets the
simplest to be found that will answer the pur
pose" There is only one bit of relief to the
austere plainness of the tabernacle, and that is
magnificent window of stained glass to the chapel.
1t is on the Fiftieth-street side, fronting the
south, and the sunlight streaming through its
glorious panes fills the room, with a mild and
iridescent radiance. 1t goes without saying
that the Cardinal has the finest ecclesiastical
library in the country as he is a well-known
bibliophile and collector From early youth
John McCloskey has been an earnest student
and deep thinker. To such man books are a
necessity The attraction is as unerrng as the
needle is to the pole, and large collection is
the inevitable result. But the Cardinals
library is something more than an extensive
collection of ecclesiastical works. Art,
science, history, biography, and general litera-
ture are all fully represented and the library is
especially rich in rare and valuable volumes and
manuscripts. The household consists of the
CARDINAL Archbishop Corligan (who yesterday
returned from Rome, whittier he has been to at
tend the council, and Father Farley, secretary
to his Eminence. The Cardinal is now very
nearly recluse, owing to the feeble condition of
his health He is still able however, to attend
to the duties of his office, although it has often
been necessary of late to apologize to the public
for lis being compelled to sit during the celebra
ton of some important ceremonial of the
church. The Cardinals health is too
feeble to permit him to sustain the weight of
the gorgeous robes of his Office for any great
length of time For this reason he lately alb
stains from mingling in general society, where
he has always been great favorite, with Protest
ants as much with Catholics owing to his
liberal views and broad culture. In manner and
appearance the Cardinal is very distinguished.
Courteous, atfable, and suave to strangers, to
those who are happy enough to be on an intimate
footing with him he is delightful companion.
His scholarly attainments make him fine con-
versationalist while his polished and courtly
manners set everyone at their ease and render
intercourse with him easy and delightful.
In reviewing the life work of Cardinal McClos-
key it must be borne in mind that large part of
it was done before he was called to preside over
the diocese of New York For many years he
was coadjutOr to Archbishop Hughes when this
diocese comprised the whole of the State Of New
York and large portion of New Jersey. A di
vision of the diocese was made in 1S47, and
Bishop McCloskey was called upon to preside
over the northern half when only thirty six
years of age. At Albany he distinguished him
self by his interchangeable labors in the interests
of his charge One Of the most conspicuous re-
suits of his untiring labor in that field is the
IN licb h..
ceived and constructed during his administration.
When the death of Archbishop Hughes called
Bishop McCloskey to preside over the metropol-
itan see in 1861, the financial affairs of the do
cese were at a low ebb To these the new Arch
bishop applied himself with intense zeal He
brought to bear upon them so much business
tact and administrative ability that marked
improvement was soon developed Work had
been commenced on the new cathedral in 1858,
as stated above, but, owing to lack of funds,