New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-09
THE CATHEDRAL DOOR SHUT
mr.. ALKERs FUNERAL FORBIDDEN THERE.

| THE ARCHBISHOP NOT PLEASED AT THE JUDGES
| CONNECTION WITH THE HOUSE OF RErUGk'
Tho morning after ex Judge Henry Alkers death
on NJ venber 2B 1t was announced in the regular
death notices that the funeral would take place ut
the Cathedral. Ttis notice was repeated on Nov
ember %, but on the next day the place OF the
funeral was Given as st. Leo's Church, and there IL
occurred. The change caused some discussion ana
more curiosity The only explanation gwen at the
time was statement by Undertaken Hart, who had
charge of the iuneral that it Was due to q bunder
on his part
Efforts have been made to keep the facts quiet
but they have nanspired. The funeral was not
held In the Cathedral because Archbishop Corrgan
refused to allow the services to tako place there
aud tho Archbishop refused because Mr.. Aker be-
one of the Board Of Governors OF the House OF
Refuge against the wishes OF the Archbishop.
IL was reported yesterday that the Judge had,
with other Catholic members Of the Boardex-Chief
Justice DAILY and Nathaniel Jarvis jr.. expressed
himself III opposition to the Freedom OF worship
bilbut his friends say that he did not become con-
nected with tho House of Refuge until February.
IsSa. after the bill hal been laid aside. and hence
this could not be the precise cause oil the ArchD,h-
| ops action. I" The statement that the Archbishop
interferci IN account of Mr. Alkers allese opp"si-
tion 10 the bill, cannot undersiand sand Que of
! his most intimate friends yesterday. lfIs rlenhs
know bat Ie took no active part whatever III rela-
ton TO the bill, ami did nol even express ms opin
ION upon II. at least in public. Alter the blI had
BEEN defeated The Legislature he became man
ager o thc House of Refuge. and stated tnen tnat
he proposed at ths proper time to exert ms innu-
enco upon the cement for settlement OF the
ve<eu question the ceeDraton OF III - ~ Ine w
sIintonl favorab to The requests OF IN Catnoilc
Cnurch. The high reputation OF Judge Alker ior
| honor, Integrity aud purity OF character. the
highly creditabe Manner III winch he discharged
al, the dutie, Of official and private lie, the re-
| nlarksbe absence during all his career OF the
| ib
he'll. as "a fearless aud unilnching friend ot justice,
| and above ALL the earnestness OF ms religious con-
victions, surround the peculiar CIRCUMSTANCES CON
nected with his funeral wlth unusual Interest.
| Mr. Alkcr died az his home, No. 46 West FIFTY
tilthsL AS the family lived IN the Catt edrai par
sh and worsbipped there, they naturally wished "
have tpe iunerA. services held there. Undertaker
Hart. who conducts toneras held i'll the Ca hedrAl.
| was summoned. lie went to the Nev. Michael y,
| I.avel-, of the Cathedral, and made arrangements
for the funeral TO take place on November 70.
| After everything hal been arranged the iamliy
| were amazed To learn from MIR. hart that Arcn-
bisuop Corrlgan refused to allow the innera To oe
held III the Cathedral, justify inI his aclOn, ~ Is
| sail, bv stating that Judge Aiker had signed, or
| allowed his name to appear up0n. paper contain,
| mv An cxpressIvn of views which were considered
| antagonIsic To the Catholic Church. IhlS s'ate-
meut, IL appears the Archbishop atterwar'i denleh
| having made aud gave the sole grotnd OF MS
action the fact that Judge Alker h..i accepted a
seat IN the boa ri OF management OF the ttOnse or
Refugc Greatly surprised ana sn0cbed ny inc
| Arcbblshp's refusal. the family declde, to have II
take place from ~. Lros Church. Father Dncey,
the pastor of tnIs church. was Que o the Judge l-
innate friends. They had known eacn other Tor
wears, aud when the Judge felt that Ito was gong
to die ho sent for tue priest to administer the last
| sacrament.
Tne relatives and friends of Mr. Alker declare
| that the Archbishop made mstaGe aud hint that
| he was mIsln lormed III regard TO the Judges
| actions certain matters hose iriencs VINO are
| Catholics feel some hesitation aponI saying anx
thing publicly against the Archbishop; we'll
known Catholic lawyer and warm friend OF Judge
| Alkers said YESTERDAY:
II think the Archbishop has made Il great mis-
| take. If Judge AlKer hau done anything wr"ng-
anything that pnt him uader ban so to speak -
One Cstholc church IS Just as nov rs auo.nen' i,
according IT, faith. Any church where tas sue
raientH @ tHs"ce there could nave bron nothing really
aie Archnishop do what he d,df Simply. sup
pose. brcase his personal wishes had not been en-
iirelv respecteA by tire Judge when the latter took
the postion of trustee IN the honse ot Refuge
You know the Archbishop tnOught that no Cath"lc
ought TO have ything 10 do Win The place 81 long
as the Roman Cal hoic form OF worship was not al
lowed there. Tie tried To prevent any Catnuiic
from Joining but was not snccessful III MS ehor
with Judge Alkcr. thOugh | am not aware tlat ne
made anv direct personal appeal TO him. Fad he
done SO no doubt his wishes wOui have been re-
spected Every one who knew Judge Alker was
aware that he was IL faithful Catholic though not a
blpote ed one, lie to Grant OF Othe: peoples De-
li.ls ami naturally broad in his viows respecting
every thing" -, r -.
Henry u. Cram. the counsel of the House OF
Refuge WAS not IN yesterday. but IA gentleman
who Is familiar ih the workings O tne INSTITUTION
said that white Judge Aker did not oppose the
Freedom of Worship bill. because he WAS not
trustee when the matter was before we LeG.s.a',
urr yet he WIS known to be opposed to Legislation
of that kind. "All the CathOllc members Oh the
Board" he continued, " were against the DILL ana
| thu. fact Was used with great elect ny tue oppo
| neuts of the measure. Naturally THIS inceuse tlt
Archbishop aud other Catholic dlenitaries De-
lrvt the Judge was made u manager III us own f0'
quest" -, ,,.-,,
But while many opponents OF the Archbishopt
course we're found, there were others no lhlolso
his action III the matter. Among these was proHii
nent city official who is supposed to hold liberal
views on MANY subjects. a" | think the Archbishop
has acted consi-trntlv,' lie sail. " IN lac,, IN
conld not well do Otherwise. uOn see no" Ju',s
! A;ker coui be called IL good Catholic when lie Dc
came a member of the House Df Rotugr, AZ insliu
tion that is ~ carried on. obJert0naDe 10 al
7 good Catholics. No provision Is made there lot 'n
proper in>tI auction of the inmates III tue tmtnon
faith. ] don't remember c, or seeing JuuSo hlhci !"
the Cathedral" 49,
The Archbishop and his private secretary; tn
' Rev. Or. Mcdonnell, declined 10 say aDythip,
, about the matter. The Kew. Micnaei hato,o h: - =
pressed great reluctance abont saving anything Oh
the sube t. pfefrrriug that the family OF .ne 1aus
shou d give all the information lie SAN tnac .h
mere fact that the funeral was noI noi' n; ao - !;
Cathedral Oh no. necessarily Imply a. 'nins H.
| regarl To the judges standing In the churcn
Catholics are at liberty to attend any cnurch tue.
please" he added. and the fact that the iainli
lived in this parish need not have prevented tnen
: from, going 10 St. Leos" He further stated tua
Judge Aker did not have q pew in the CathenIa'
After great deal OF hesitation ne anitte @ tnHI w
+ refusal of the Archbishop was due 10 tue d,s'cs y
y ure he felt at the judges connecting hilns9h Wy
Il the Honse of Refuge. 1t was not question oi w
Judge being good citizen etc; II SIMPLY s u n'atto
, of religious faith 10 speak lie dld not acb Is
q good Catholic should have done. | suppose III
! Archbishop thought Perhaps it might be termed
' mark OF mild dispeasure."
MIL