Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-07
A GREAT CHURCHMAN'S FALL.
MonsixnOr Capei Living I'm Poverty
and Disgrace.

and Disgrace.
DEPRIVED OF MS PRIEsrLY PRERoGATTvE.
THE ELOQUENT DIVINE TRUDGEs THROUGH
LIFE WITH BOWED HEAD-ALL FOR DRINK
From the v " star
From the western end of the continent II
flashed the startling intelligence that Mgr
Thomas John Capei is living in abject poverty
al San Francisco, tabOoed by fashionable so
ciety and his priestly functions taken away
from him by his church. IL is stated in add
ton that he is dependent entirely upon his per
for the accessories OF life. and has devoted him
self exclusively to literary work.
In san Francisco he did just what he had pre-
viousIy done in New iork-borrowed money
whenever he could and from whomever would
lend IL. AT times, II Is said, his condition Ii
piiiable IL the extreme, but his friends hope he
will see better days. He is now in the receipt
of a tolerably fair income from his pen and is
able TO live without charity. This state Of
affairs has been brought about by one sad fail
ing which the eminent divine has in common
with many other men OF genius-a partiaiity
Tor the fluid which inebriates well as cheers
ticuIarly brilliant one. He was one of the fore.
most churchmen in England and exceedingly
popular In English society. OF which he was 9
distinguished ornament. To magnificent
presence ne added charming suaNity OF
manner, which never failed To impress the
most casual observer and gave him that mag
netic power over men, which he turned to the
advantage of his church. The task of convert
ing 10 his faith people in high station was the
one great mission of his life, and he succeeded
To n degree. he was n social king, and was
warmly welcomed everywhere. He accom-
plished wonders in his way, bot it was noted
with some concern, even in his early days, that
he was developing 10 taste for the wine cup. No
great harm, however, came out ofit until about
the time he established the great Catholic
public school at kensington in 1878. He
entered that enterprise with the greatest enthu-
sistsin, borrowed extensively to carry out the
project, and contracted debts which he was
never able to pay. The school did not prove a
success, and The matter so preyed upon his
Is d he q W
The habit grew upon him, and fell under the
observation of Cardinal Newman. A confer
ence with that reverend gentleman brought
nor's habits.
About two and half years ago he arrived in
this country and society threw open its doors to
MIN. lie was the social lion OIL the bour, and
no company seemed complete without his pres
enee. He was the great English Catholic and
no attentions seemed toog great for him. He had
received q special diSpensatiOn from the Pope,
was free from all religious restraint and ac-
knOwledged supremacy To no one save the car
dinal. lie had a mission TO work out, and he
WAS permitted TO accom- plish 1T on his pc
culiar lines. His mission here was the CONVEX
sion OF prominent society people, and he sue
ceedeQ almost as well as he did in England.
Among those who succumbed TO mis- personal
magnetism and forciDie icgic was Col. George
Bliss The conversion OF the doughty colonel
was looked upon as something marvellous by
those who enjoyed his friendship, and Monsig-
nor Capei rose still higher in the estimation Of
his associates
Ever since his arrival in this country Monsig-
nor Capel has been almost continuously the
guest OF distinguished people in different parts
OF the country. To their sorrow they had no
ticed the Tact thai his rotations became more
frequent as time went on, and finally ii at
tracted the attention OF the late Cardinal
McCioskey- The cardinal suspended him, and
took away from him his prIestly functions.
That Was about a year ago, and from that time
forward a cloud seemed 10 hang over the for
tunes OF The distinguished divine. 1t lowered
anu completely enveIoped him when he ap-
peared III Intoxicated condition at the
famous dinner of tue police captains at Deimon-
: hat of
the guests. with "a poor idea OF what constituted
practical joking, brought Monsignor Capel to
the residence OF "A lady who mad Lot the entree
TO fashionable society, and spent some time in
social enjoyment. How long would have
st2iId is a matter of conjecture, but a servant
girl who had not the highest regard Tor her Mis-
tress called MN out into the hallway and whis-
pered 10 him that the mansion was no place for
Al Catholic clergyman. Thoroughly frightened
at the dilemma in which ne was placed he lett
The house anu rewarded the servant girl after
ward tor her kindly service The affair came
10 the ears of the late Cardinal McCIoskey, and
he. IL Is said, advised him TO leave New York
at his earliest convenience.
lie old leave, but society had shut Its doors
upon him before that event. This was not the
RESULT vi his intemperance, but for q graver
orfense. Abuse oI hospitality was urged against
him. Ii Was charged that he had not Kept his
word III returning large sums OF money he had
borrowed, and, most serious of ali, that he
tempted and almost succeeded in persuading
two or three young ladies of an excellent
iamliy whose guest ne Was, over whom tie eX-
erted an extraordinary influence, TO yield up
Just as 1T WAS almost contaminated. and the
MonsisnOr Was shown the door. The story
soon spread among the eiiIe, and after that he
was cOidly greeted ON all sides, and eventually
ostracised from society. He wanted the young
ladies fortunes To pay his debts III England and
10 build up the school in which he sui had an
absorbing interest.
Unable longer live in New York with honor
or profit, AonsisnOr Capet went occurring
through the west, and settled down finally in
San francisco. The story OF his career in New
York had, however, preceded him, and society
gave him the cold shoulder. He then manIuily
set 10 Work, and Is now among the toiiers who
earn their bread by the exercise OF their
teIlect.
Mgr. Capel. although popularity supposed to
be AN EnSlishman, was born in Ireland about
nifty years ago. and is Irish ON one size OF his
house His early education was obtained
almost entirely through tutors, and when he
entered the priesthood, IN 500, lie had already
acquired "A tar name - u lteraieur. 1t was not,
however, until 1870 or thereabout that ne ac-
CURED a national reputation throughout Eng
land he L. the AIgr. CatesDy wnOm Disraeli
sttIriZes in Lothian" tie has written many
literary works, all vi a religious nature. HIS
worst enemy attributes no dishonest motive Id
Agr. Capei, out charges that ne has no business
capacity wha:ever,and incurs debts winch he
has no IneSsIs of IIquidating. OF all the money,
which he has received All the course of his
eventIul career, mas not retained Il dollar Tor
his OWE Use, Dut mas spent il Tor the benefit of
his church For that church his admiration is
bouloleSs. ana his devotion to IL unim peacned
HENRY I.nxed