Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-12
CARDINAL McCLosKEY.
Points in the Career OF a Remarkable


Points in the Career of a Remarkable
Man.
In its sketch Of the career of Cardinal
McCloskey, whose death was announced
IN our dispatches Saturday, the New York
Times had the following:
at was a proud day for the Roman
Catholics OF this country when, on March
rs, 1915, news came from Rome that
among the six Cardinals named by Pope
Plus TX. on the preceding day was in
cluded Americas first Cardinal. The
dearest wish Of the church for years was
at last gratlfied, and Catholics Of the do
cese OF New York at least were thankful
that the Pope's choice had fallen upon
John McCloskey, Archbishop of New
York He had become known and loved
in this diocese through more than forty
years Of constant church labor, and in
all that time, although he filled positions
in which he had to deal with cross pur-
poses and yeXing questions, no one
had ever heard an expression of ill-tem-
per pass his lips or had ever seen
him deyiate from the lofty ideal that he
set before himself when he assumed the
priesthood. His life had been one of
kindness, Of simplicity, and of steadfast
adherence to the trust OF his high mission.
His life began among a lowly people. He
rose slowly through the various Offices OF
the church, retaining always the same
gentle, peace loving, religious nature. He
had ready sympathy, stern good sense,
effective powers a. a speaker in direct ap-
peals without OratOrical skill, and he was
a ripe scholar. The honor accorded him
by appointment as Americas first Car
dinal, was gladly welcomed both by the
priests and by the people as an acknOwl-
edgment of merit worthily bestowed.
THE CARDINALS BERETTA.
No Catholic viii forget how eager be-
came expectation over the reception OF
the ENJOYS from the Pope, who came
across the ocean to bestOw the beretta
upon the new Cardinal. That ceremony
took place on April 27, 1875, in the old st.
Patrick's Cathedral, Mulberry street. II
called together a notable gathering OF
church officials. Mgr. ROncettI, Cham
clad in rich purple. The dazzling uni
form Of the POpe's noble guard was worn
by Count MarefOschi. All the bishops
and prelates displayed their richest gar
ments. Behihd the grand procession from
the sgcrsty walked the Cardinal Arch
bishop alone. In the simplest robes Of his
Office. and as he passed 10 his place the
bishops raised their mitres. His face was
as kindly. his manner as simple, IN this
work had been out among
the people. Among the church
officials that filed the old
cathedral none was more unpretentiOus
than he in whose honor the ceremony was
performed. II was not until the briefs
from the Pope had been read with the va
riOus responses incident 20 an occasion so
dignifed that the Archbishop retired 10
the sscristy whence be emerged In the fun
and briliiant'robes Of the new Office Of Car
dinal In time for the ecclesiastical process
sion from the cathedral. To the last
moment, so far as he was concerned, the
induction into fun Office Of the first Amer
ican Cardinal was a ceremony as thor
Oughly American in its freedom from
pomp as was possible on such an occasion.
As from the beginning so 10 the end Of
his life, IL was the man that shone rather
than the robes. HIS character rose above
all the accidents Of office.
AS CoADJUToR BISHOP.
In 1912, when 81. Johns college, at
Fordham, was founded, he was asked 20
assume the Presidency OF II, Tor which he
was specially fitted by education and zeRl.
He felt that he could not refuse II, nor yet
abandon his parish. So 20 his parish bur-
dens be added that imposed by the college
duties, carrying on the two for three
wears. Meanwhile, the diocese having
grown and new churches having started,
Bishop Hughes asked the provincial
council TO give him a coadiutOr. The
Young priest and college President was
thereupon nominated at the age OF 80
years as coadjutor bishop. His title