New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-04
A SEMITIC ARCHBISHOP.
A POWERFUL PROTEST AGAINST RACE
PREJUDICE IN ACSTRIA-vIEN.
NESE TOPICS.

Vienna, November 10.
Although Austria H. after Russia, the country
in Europe where the Anti-Scmitic movement plays
the most important role in politics. and where
the hostility TO the Hebrew race, irrespective of
their creed, is the most pronounced. yet it is q
converted Jew, the Of village pcder, who
has just been elected by a chapter composed eX.
clusively OF mobiles, to the arch.cpiscOpal see of
OImutz The latter, ever since its foundation
in the ninth century, has been invariably held by
prelate Of illustrious birth, and several of tho
archbishops Of Olmutz have been Archdukes OF
the Imperial House of Austria The archbishop
OF this diocese. which is renowned as being the
wealthiest of Continental Europe, yielding
revenue or 100000 per annum receives by
virtue of his Office the title of Prince and has
precedence over vepbody in the Empire ex-
cept those members of the Imperial family who
are in the direct line Of succession to the throne
He is entitled to a salute of twenty-four guns, and
has private bodyguard Of his own. dressed in
quaint grenader uniform. Moreover the Arch
bishop of Olmutz has an hereditary right to the
red hat Of cardinal, and is always nominated by
the Emperor for a seat in the Sacred College
Immediately after his appointment.
The new archbishop, who bears the name o;
Cohen, is comparatively young man. and is not
only the most youthful OF all the Austrian arch.
bishops, but will also be the youngest of all
the cardinals Brought up and educated as
member Of the Jewish faith, he became con-
verted to Christianity in his eighteenth year. and
having entered the seminary at Strassniz, sue
ceeded in attracting the attention of the late Arch
bishop Of Olmutz, member Of the princely House
OF Furstenberg. BY the influence of the latter
he was appointed some years later professor OF
canon law at the theological college in Olmutz.
then created Canon of the Chapter Of o.
mutt, and finally nominated director OF the Clam
cery of the Olmutz Consstory, in which capacity
he managed the large archiepscOpaI estate SO
admirably that the entire chapter was full OF
his liaise The Chapter of Olmutz by the bye, Is
the only one in the Empire, save that Of Salz-
burg, which enjoys the right Of election Of its
archbishop In all other the archbislops
and bishops are chosen and appointed by the
Emperor and his Government. The choice OF
Dr. Cohen by the chapter quite as great
q surprise to the Emperor and TO his Government
az il has been TO the people Mt large.
Dr. Cohen is by no means the orly preIate
of the Roman Catholic Church who was born
jew There have been not only cardinals OF
Jewish blood but even Popes. AnncIetus ii. who
assembled the Papal Throne toward the middle
of the twelfth century, was converted jew.
So, too, was Monsignor Bauer, tho principal chap
lain, confessOr and alnoner Of the Empress Eu-
genie OF France. Indeed, he bcgan life az
clerk in the banking house of Rothschilcs at Vi
emma. but suddenly deserted finance for the
Church, rising in his new profession so rapidly
that he was selected to represent the Roman
Catholic Church at the opening of the Sucz
Canal and TO pronounce the bcncdictlon OF Ills
Church upon that great undertaking. Today
he has reverted to the faith OF his forefathers and
has abandoned the ecclesiastical profession IN
order 10 become once more financier, and Ills
present mode of life is quite the reverse OF
clerical.
Americans who have visited Vienna Will be In
tcrested to learn that since couple Oh "eeNS
past the ancient Cathedral of ST. Stephen mas peen
lighted by electricity. Twelve enormous ramps
float in midair between the points OF the Gothic
arches and the ground, and white coid nen.
fills the three giant naves. There can he no couos
az all that one of the finest architectural moEu'
ments Of the world. which is fully equal In
majesty i'm size and in richness of architecture,
has been stripped by this innovation OF the poetry
with which the pious and romantic have invested
il for centuries Formerly when the eye wall
dered from the sculptured affairs and follated pull
pits upward into the vague world OF arches' COL
umns and inches it lost itself in hay twilight
which added grandeur TO the lofty building. Now
by the cold glaring light the eye is able to dis
tnCuish the clear outline of every foil, and where
nothing is left TO doubt ana. Imagination, cool
Judgment is passed, and admiration and VEN
Grafton are nipp.d in the bud. The CarNinal Arch'
bishop Of Vienna, together with the Mayor inc
Governor and the City Council were present at the
trial lighting and did not seem to miss the old
poetry of the place. The cardinal took little
prayer-book, tried if he could read, and succeeded
in the rcmotest corner This seemed TO satisfy
him. The preacher said he would be able 20
command much greater attention from the congrc-
cation now that they could see the varying en-
prpsson of his face during the sermon IL is IN
the crypt of this ancient Baslcl. by the bye, tlao
the visccra Of the members OF the Imperial family
are inferred. Their hearts are deposited IN tho
Church OF the Augustnes, and their bodies in tho
vaults of the Church of the Capucines. 10th the
visccra In the crypt of ST. Stephen and the hearts III
the Church of the Augustlncs are contained IN large
silver urrs engraved with the Imperial Arms, the
most ornate being those containing the remains OF
Empress Maria Theresa and Napoleon H. AL oil
these three crypts, namely those of 81. Stephen,
of St Augustine and Of the Capucincs were
tbronced with visitors on the day devoted to the
anniversary of the dead.
II was especially the Capucine vaults which
seemed 10 attract the people. There in a long
line. are ranged the collins containing tie EN-
palmed bodies Of all the iiapsburgs vino have
died since 1913, a grewsomc collection OF em-
| perors. empIes-es archdukeS, archduchesses and
princes of the Church Many Of the collins arc
of pure silver ard maen.centiy ornamented, but
since the advent TO the throne OF the present
Emperor all such ornamentation has ceased. ana
cha collins are mere oblong boxes of polished
metal standing on four simple feet with cross
ard tablet bearing an inscription upon the lid.
frop fba oil
volumes. and receive moro than ordinary atten.
ZION. not only from the people, but also from the
Emperor. who makes point of coming TO pray
beside them soon after dawn on All Souls Day
| eycrv wear They the collins of his favorite
brother. Emperor Maximillau Of Mexico. and OF