The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-30
Archbishop Corrigan Discusses the
Claims He Has Advanced.
His Church Standing Brought Into
Very Serious Question.
The Church Authorities Say He is a
Man of No Importance.
Mgr. Bourland Still Asserting the Hon.
esty of His Pretensions- Bishop
Potter Has Every Conf
dence In Him.

New YopK, April %, The Herald says
There is no sort of doubt that the rcnun-
citation by Mr.. Bouland Of the Roman
Catholic faith and his determination to
enter the Episcopal ministry, have created
q marked sensation in ecclesiastical cir
clos. AS might naturally be expected, the
monsignor has provoked number Of
attacks already from persons who disap-
prove of his course, and numerous nm
founded statements have been made con-
corning him. On the other hand, his
character and his claims to public consid-
Grafton are questioned 10y the second most
important Catholic ccclesiastic authority
in the United States Archbishop Corri-
gan himself.
Mgr, Bouland, to further establish in
the minds OF his Episcopal brethren the
verify Of his claims 10 various papal hon
ors, has submitted the original Of the
letter 10 them by which he was informed
OF his appointment 10 the dignity of hon
orary private chamberlain to the Pope
This document, which Is written in Italian
on the official paper Of the papal house.
hold, is signed under date Of December
!, 1881, by The major domo Of the vatican,
Mgr. Francisco Ricci PGmccioni, who has
since been created cardinal As II con.
tains passage 10 which Archbishop Cor
rigan, in m interview granted to the
Ho.ud representative, referred yesterday
rs taking from il much OF is otherwise
presumed value as a crcdcniial Of the
standing anil character Of the person hold
ing it, translation is here given:
i'run the Maggiordoma,o, the 1T Of December.
1871. Nu 90.
Tho Popc's holiness In graciously pleased
20 nominate a. onoof his private chamber
laiu's fupernumcrdry the priest monsieur
on Rouland, honorary canon OF our Lady
OF Victory of the diocese II Boston. The
undersigned major dumo Of his holiness
! hsstcns with true pleasure 10 convey the
announcement OF this special mark Of
sovereign pontiiical consideration.
Sig. u. Los, CANoN boutNND.
Il. Riucl PAHACCIoNI.
The archbishop, in the presence OF his
private secretary. received the Herald rep
examined with great attention certain
papers which were laid. before him. He
said:
1--WE don't know anything personally
about this gentleman beyond certain
negative facts. lie cannot bc a person OF
very great importance or OF high standing
or We certainly should have heard Of him.
The documents lac has brought forward
arr not satisfactory. They mainly belong
tn q time when lac actively engaged IN the
work Of the ministry. The commentators
they contain are based, Of course, upon
tina, fact That the latest letters which he
submits contain no commentator what
ever. beyond the mere formal terms Of
politcncss, IL sufficiently significant. Az
Ia correspondence with Mgr. BOccali, who
IL the private secretary NJ the Pope, you
must know that the excessive courtesy Oi
the Italians leads them TO reply In that
Wise 90 almost any one WHO may write Ia
them in ilnttery or conWaiua,ory stutin.
I find that the Archbishop Of Boston
granted a. BOulnnd, In 1856, permission Ia
Soy mass Tor two weeks. The Limitation
OF time would clearly imply that lac was
/ not held In much consideration 10y the
Archbishop aud that bis presence In the
diocese was not deemed Ia be- desirable.
"The cxcat or dismissal which was given
him on his leaving the diocese Of PrOvi.
dcncc u mere polite way ul dispOsing Of
him. II contains not o single coinmenda
ton. II does not even come up 10 the or
binary acrolypcd form Of such documents
~ regards the compliment In ecclesiastical
usage.
Another fact that l. not explained
aud the silence 81 Ties documents brings
| Il out al tho more clearly Is the omission
| Of this gcnlloman's name from the official
| lit oi Catholic priests. There Is no dOcu-
mcnt from the archbishop Of Boston 10 ox.
| plain that fact. Ills namc would certainly
/ be there " lac wcrc In good standing IN any
| diocese In Christcndoin.
Snow, this letter Of appointment 20 the
| position Of private chamberlain surornu.
merary 10 the Pope contains rank alb
| Hurdity and a very serious liaw ~ 10 It's
value M a crcdential of character. IL styles
/ Bouland honorary canon u the Church Of
Our Lady of Victory Of Boston, position
! which has no existence Whatsoever. IL
makes u appear, indccd, u We argue n
/ prior, that the honor that Is conveyed was
really obtained by falls approximation, for,
a. you doubtless are aware, the unk OF
canon IL quito n considerable ono, and the
step 10 the higher one Of m0nsignor would
for that reason be good deal easier than
u the pepOn desiring tie latter were but q
simple priest. Ills getting Of thisappoint.
mcnt through the French ambassador in
stead Of his own archbishop, whoprobably
know nothing at all about H. h very Tar
from fcdounding 10 hhcfodt. II u rather
an evidence OF his political than his cccle-
siaslical standing, ~ tho French ambassa-
dor ut the Vatican has only 10 ask for such
an honor 30 obtain IT,"
The archbishop was asked II he had au-
th0rikcd the published statement That
Mgr. POULAND, was the priest who had been
disgraccd In Rhode Island IN 1870. lie re-
piled that he knew nothing Of the matter
IN question.
Father Michael ]. Iayellc, Of s. Pat.
rick's cathedral, makes the statement That
Mgr. Bouland came 20 the United states
A. a deacon only, and was ordained by
Bishop IIendricken, II Providence, X. III
that he fell into disgrace Ut Woodsocket
and was burned In oiligy by bis congrega-
ton. The charge II also made that a! the
close Of his ministry al Central Fails he
was arrested for embezlcmcnt and alter
ward sent out Of the diocese, taking charge
In Boston Of the Church 81 Our Lady OF
| Il Ill.