National Republican., 1886-09-02
A COMING CARDINAL.
The Impression Growing That Rev. Or
Foley VIII Be Cardinal Gibbons's Co

The Impression Growing That Rev. DR..
Foley VIII Be Cardinal Gibbons's Co
AdJutor.
A prominent Catholic pastor OF Bllti-
more who has been visiting st. Stephens,
in this city, was asked by reporter Of the
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN what he thought Of
the reports that Rev. DR., Foley, Of st.
Martins Church, Baltimore, would be
selected as eoadjutor to the cardinal.
"l believe they are true" said he, tai
though neither Cardinal Gibbons nor DR..
Foley has as yet spoken Of the matter,
even to the priests of the diocese. Nearly
all the clergymen Of Baltimore long ago
came to the conclusion that their next car
dinal would be DIR. Foley. This impression
was confirmed during the late plenary
council. II you have read the reports Of
the proceedings you must have noticed that
the highest offices that could be allotted to
q priest were given to DR.. Foley, and that
nc was throughout practically the carli-
nails coadiutor. All the prelates noticed
this and, while not giving expression pub
licly to their opinions, they quietly discuss.
ed the matter among. themselves, and
agreed that the pastor OF st. Martins was
the coming man. The fact is that for the
past few years DIR. Foley has been the
cardinals righthand man in the business
and other affairs Of the archdiocese. He
would have been made vicar general IN
name, as he is in fact, only for the
fact that Father McColgan is the oldest
priest in the diocese, and holds the place OF
honor by reason of bis seniority. Tue per-
sonal affection existing between the cardi-
nal ana DR.. Foley is marked. Though the
DOCTORS church is in the extreme western
part Of the city, he spends most OF his
time at the cathedral assisting the cardinal
in administering his heavy duties. The
two are seen together on the street nearly
every day. Their mutual love OF walking
as an exercise Is one Of the bonds that binds
them together. Both were famel rs long.
distance walkers at st. Charles College, Ell
liCott City, and the love OF the exercise
then imbibed has never left them. One Of
their evening walks Is from the cathedral
on Mulberry street up to st. Mary's Semi.
nary on Paca, aud thence by roundab) )ut
way back to the archleuiscopal residence.
II you have ever seen the cardinal and his
probable cOadiutor you certainly noticed
The remarkable physical contrast between
the two. The cardinal, you know, is slight
in build, attenuated In feature, and could
not, by any stretch OF the Imagination. be
termed good looking DIR. Foley is quite
the opposite. He has a stout, handsome
figure, a full, round, rosy face, and brown
curly locks, which any gllded society youth
might envy. do not know exactly how
old he Is, but he cannot be 40 yet,
and looks to be hardly 30. He
is one of the most popular men in Balti-
more among Catholics aud Protestants
alike. He is q great favorite in the highest
society circles, too. His parish includes
the fashionable West End, where most Of
the wealthy Catholics live. In the pulpit
be makes far more striking figure than
the cardinal, and Is better preacher. One
Of the chief charms Of his sermons is their
brevity. He seldom Keeps the pulpit more
than fifteen minutes, aud during this time
| he is SO earnest and full of his subject that
be always leaves his listeners with healthy
appetite for more instead Of satiatlng them
us many Of us do. II DR.. Foley receives
| the cardinals beretta, as we are confident
he will, be will probably be the most popu-
lar church dignitary IN the country among
| both priests and people"
| SIS 1t true that Cardinal Gibbons's health
is failing9" asked the reporter.
swell, It is not as vigorous as 1t might
| be. Since he returned from the seashOre
he has looked even thinner and weaker
than formerly. There is no doubt that he
| finds the duties of the position too onerous
| for him. He is by no means an old man
yet, but he has been delicate ever since his
college days. just after he was ordained
1t was not expected by his friends that he
would live through the first year of hi:
ministry. He recuperated, however, and
was in perfect health till he became vicaI
apostolic Of North Carolina. His rough du
ties there somewhat undermined his health
| again, and he has not fully recovered yet
or never will, probably. The ceremonies
attending the cardinaate investiture wer,
terrible strain on him. He has beer
almost prostrated ever since. A coadiuto
will soon become an absolute necessity T.
him, and when he comes to recognize thi
fact you will hear Of DIR. Foley's elevation
to the position. or the clergy have been YER
much mistaken, indeed"