The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-09-28
FIFTY YEARS A PRIEST.
HONORS TO BE PAID TO BISHOP
JOHN LOUGHLlN.


cupied the pulpits of the city while con-
nected with the church organizations
in i. are only two prelates. Each has
been the only incumbent of his office,
which he has filled since the formation |
OF his diocese, and has seen great
growth in all forms of religious activity |
since his supervisory labors over his fell
low clergymen began. Bishop Little
John has been at the head OF the Protest
ant Episcopal Diocese of Long Island
since 1869. when it was set off from the
Diocese Of New York. Before that time
the only bishop resident in the city was
Bishop Loughlin, of the Roman Catholic
Diocese of Brooklyn, the formation OF
which from the Archdiocese of New
York dates back to thirty-seven years
ago.
In that period the city has grown from
about 100000 TO over 500, 900 inhabi-
tants. and the estimated Roman Cath
ole population from less than 10000 to
$50. 900. All of this time Bishop
Loughlin has served in his present ca
pacity. From a score OF churches, half
of them in the city and the others scat
|
number has grown to 1l9, aud the
twenty three priests have increased to
1856. In supervising and managing this
increase. Bishop Loughlin has displayed
great energy, zeal and wisdom, and
now that the golden jubilee of his
priesthood approaches, it is proposed to
celebrate the interesting anniversary In
a manner BETTING its interest and I'M
portance TO more than quarter OF the
people in the city.
John Loughlin was born in County
Tyrone, Ireland. in the year 1915. and IL
now in the seventy.fifth year Of his
age. His parents brought him to this
country while he was child, and he
early showed an inclination to the
priesthood and was sent to Mount St.
Mary's College, at Emmettsburg. Nd,
where he completed his studies in 1870.
In October of that year he was ordained
| in the old st. Patrick cathedral, in
| Mott street. New York, by Bishop
| Hughes. His first duty was IN connec-
ton with the cathedral. and in 1S4o he
| became pastor of st. Patrick's. A year
later Bishop Hughes appointed him
vicar general Of the diocese. which
then included Brooklyn and the rest of
| Long Island in its limits. He discharged
the duties devolving upon him with
great fidelity and ability, and in 1852
accompanied Bishop Hughes to the first
Plenary Council in Baltimore. That
BODY suggested to Pope Plus TX. the
ACCESSIBILITY Of creating several new
dioceses, among them that Of Brooklyn.
The suggestions were approved, and by
apostolic letter dated July 80, 1888, that
| diocese and five others were formed
and Bishop loughlin was appointed tc
the head of the jurisdiction with which
he has since been connected. lie was
consecrated in the Now York cathe
dral on October 3, 1858, by Cardinal
Bedim. who was then special
Papal Visitor TO this country and had
not yet been made "a cardinal. Arch
r bishop Hughes preached the sermon on
, this occasion. The newly.created
bishop at once entered upon the duties OF
his See. with the indefatigable energy
which>has marked his administration
of the affairs under his care. An i'm
posing installation service marked hli
formal taking charge of his diocese. lie
chose the church of st. James in Jay
street. the oldest Roman Catholic
church in the city. which was erected
in 1898, as his cathedral church, and es
tabished the episcopal house on the
! Opposite side of the street from 1t
| Here he set on foot and carried out hi:
plans which have resulted in the enor
} nous growth III parishes and parlsl
work in all parts of the city and the
; rest of Long Island. With constan
watch, care, and oversight he ha
| superintended the work allotted
/ to him. Almost without assistance
he has discharged the multifariOu
t duties of great and growing diocese
/ 1t has frequently been reported that &
r coad tutor would be assigned to relieve
r him from some of the drudgery and de
= tail. but he has never sought such as
e sstance, and despite his years, he still
= superintends and manages all affair
| which require his supervision. Ever
e the loss of Vicar-G General Keegan las
year by death has not been supplied BY
0 the appointment Of his successor. TIL
= Bishop has a secretary, Father Mitchell
t who relieves HIM of some questions
A but is by no means intrusted with al
r his correspondence. When his nealti
4 permits the Bishop still maintains hi
= custom of many years standing o
+ walking to the postofiice every morn
Z ing for his mail.
5 After the fire which nearly destroyed
e the Jaw. Street cathedral in 1889, tn,
: Bishop was induced'to remove from tn
=. house which he had long occupied t
1 the new one which had been prepared
for him at Greene and ClermOnt av
q enues, and there he now has the head
z quarters CT the diocese. The Bishop
. house is d mansion constructed IN &C
= cordauce with the size and importanc,
. of the diocese, and intended to form
5 part of the great cathedral, the founda
I lions of which occupy large part o
. the entire book bounded by Lafayette
2 , Ciermont. Greene, and Vanderbilt av
8 lenues. This structure was projected
more tran a quarter of a century ago
and tie foundations were laid aud tn,
walls built up so that the corner stone
} was IL J will imposing ceremonial II
June, 1868. But work was sooI
after stopped, and only st. john
t chapel, small part OF the en-
tire structure, has been completed
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Con
. ception, when it is completed, will rep
resent an expenditure Of upward of
S2, 600, 900, and it will be a noble
structure, with seating capacity OF
, many thousands of persons. The SIZE
/ of it will be $50 by 100 feet, and the
towers will be $50 feet high. AS de
signed it will be French Gothic
2 structure OF granite. The site cost
S75, 900, and is worth far more now
r comprising as it does block of 49, by
. 200 feet in the heart of the city. The worl
done upon the foundations. the chape
e and the Bishops house represents al
e expenditure of over quarter of mil
lion of dollars. Although the Bishop haI
had the money to bnild the cathedral
he has preferred TO expend upon new
churches. schools, hospitals, and othel
needed structures rather than to bullo
/ stately cathedral before it was actu
| ally needed. About eight years age
3 Vicar General Keegan set on foot
movement TO build the Bishops hous'