The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-15
A GREAT EVENT
In Religious Circles This Week
VIII be the Gathering of
BIG CATHOLICS IN CONFERENCE
At the Cathedral in New York City
Thirteen Distinguished PrelHtes
VIII Participate and Weighty
Things VIII he Discussod--Im-
portant Council 10 tho Catholics of
the Country.

Of tho thirteen archbishops Of the
Roman Catholic Church in the United
States, which is to be held November
l6. at St. Patrick's Cathedral, will be
the most important meeting Of the
clergy OF this religious body oflO,00O ,OOO
people since the third Plenary Council
Il. Baltimore in 1854.
The proceedings OF the meeting will
not DO made public until they have
been submitted to tho Vatican. Many
important questions are to considered,
among them, not the least interesting,
will be the question of public or parish
schools for Catholic children, and the
relation OF the clergy to secret societies.
The pope will be represented at the
meeting by Mgr. Sotalli, who recently
arrived in this country to be present at
the dedication OF the Columbian Expo
sition. He is also commissioned to
gather information concerning the con-
tlition and progress OF the Catholic
church in the United States.
The Catholic church in America got
its first foothold either when the Morse
mon came down from Greenland, hav-
ing crossed from Iceland, which had
been converted by the Irish monk,
Brendan, and who left tho famous
tower Of Rhode Island, or else when
Columbus first planted tho cross on
Watlings Island and tho Jesuits with
him offered mass OF Thanksgiving.
The Jesuit missionaries sacrificed their
lives in their effort to spread their re-
ligion among the savage lroquois long
before the colonies had any organiza-
ton to speak Of.
Yet it is hardly more than 100 years
since the first Catholic bishop Of Amer
lea was consecrated by the Right Rev.
Charles Walmsley, vicar apostolic OF
London, in the private chapel Of the
wealthy common, Thomas Weld, whose
guest, the new bishop was during his
stay in England.
The Rev. John Carroll, who became
the first bishop, was later made the
first archbishop in the United States.
The Rev. John Carroll, when he became
bishop OF Baltimore, in 1890, was near
" 80 years OF age. He had been a
priest Of the Society OF Jesus until the
famous brief OF Clement XIV. had
driven the order from its monasteries.
In accordance with the papal mandate
he severed his connection with the or
der AT Bruges, and returned to his ma
tive land. For several years he lived
on his mothers estate at Rock Creek.
ten miles from the present city OF
Washington. where he ministered to
the spiritual wants Of the neighborhood
from his mothers private chapel.
When the mutterlngs OF the revolution
began he took sides with the colonists.
lie was sent as one Of the four COM
missioners to Quebec to secure the CO.
operation OF the Canadians. They
were unsuccessful, because it was
found that some OF the colonies had in
cluded among their grievances the
intollerable tyranny OF the King Of
England in allowing the practice OF the
Popish religion in Canada" Tho neu
trality OF the northern neighbors was
secured, however, and sutliced, as after
events showed.
When the Revolution was ended the
feeling was SO bitter that the impro-
priety OF having the clergy derive their
authority from the English Vicar Apos-
tolic was strikingly apparent This
authority was represented in the United
States by the Rev. Father Lewis, who
had been at the head of the American
mission OF the Society OF Jesus before
the suppression of the order. \ change
was speedily effected. The clergy num-
bering in all hardly more than thirty,
signed petition asking for the appoint-
ment OF an American superior general.
This was in 1854, and favorable ans
wer was returned in the shape Of tho
official appointment OF the Rev. John
Carroll as superior Of the American
clergy. All went prosperously for five
years and again the clergypetitioned the
Pope for an American bishop, and again
the reply was favorable and gave them
the right to choose the incumbent for
the position OF first bishop in the
United States and the see. The choice
was soon made, and on November @,
1879, Pope Plus vi. appointed Balti-
more the first episcopal see and John
Carroll its first bishop.
In the year 1910 four other sees were
created, those OF Philadelphia, Boston,
New York and Bardstown. Dir. Con-
connori, who was appointed for New
York, died before reaching Baltimore.
30 only three OF the new bishops were
consecrated. Immediately after the
ceremonies the first provincial conven-
ton was held, being presided over by
Dr. Carroll, who had recently been
made an archbishop.
In 1915 the archbishop died at the age
OF so. and beloved alike by Catholics
and Protestants. Like most of his sue
cessors he was noted for his great ex-
eculive ability, his qualities as an organ
izer OF work and men rather than his
powers OF eloquence
Few indeed OF the men at the head OF
the affairs OF the Catholic church in the
United States are noted for their ora-
torical powers. 1t is said that an ora
tor is OF more use as plain priest than
rs bishop. AT any rate an eloquent
priest is pretty apt to remain wearer
Of the black robe.
The two exceptions TO this rule are
the archbishops OF Philadelphia and
Oregon. Both OF these are really elo-
quent preachers. Archbishop Ryan,
; of Philadelphia, is Familiarity known as
the golden-tongued orator OF the Ro.
man Catholic hierarchy Of the United
States, and when he was the coadutor
OF the archbishop OF st. Louis he won
the title OF tho "Bossuet Of the Mis-
souri," However, in addition to his
genius OF eloquence he possesses shrewd
business qualities. lie Is one Of the
American archbishops whom rumor as
sociates with one OF the cardinals red
hats to be bestowed by the consistory
a.. ~ ho1l vn,-, Mouth IN RnNNn rrb