The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-01


representative OF the Head OF the Church. and
to have summary ecclesiastical authority OF
the highest order. II ! were to designate
his powers in legal language, 1 should say
that he has a general power Of attorney from
the Pope to do anywhere and everywhere that
which the Sovereign Pontiff could do II person
ally present: and his acts are ratified in adj
vance. Hence he has been called In Church
circles and elsewhere the Deputy Pope, and
other design atoms have recognized his exalted
and unlimited representative authority.
Coming as Mgr. satolli did. stranger
to our people and even to our language. he
necessarily depended upon tho alliances he
should form and the agencies he should consult
as to the influences which should control his
acts Has he allied himself impartiallyp Has
he consulted wiseiy' These are very impor-
tant considerations. Myriad appeals and ques-
tions OF discipline and INSTRUMENTATION from
all parts OF the country. in apparent disregard
Of any regularity Of appeal. have already over
whelmed him. Tho first signal example and
most i'm portant act Of his administration has
been the summary reinstatement Of the Rev.
Edward McGlynn from the accommodation
OF Archbishop Corrigan and the ratification
and approval of the Propaganda: and, so
far as surface indications go. those who
have chafed under the necessary discipline Of
the Church. as we'll as those who have openly
and defantly rebelled against it's authority.
have been taken into favor and hail his COM
ing as that OF o liberator. The reinstateme nt
OF McGlynn appears to have been accomplished
without hearing or notice to Archbishop
Corriean. to whom fell tho duty according to
the canons Of the Church. OF promulgating tho
sentence. In fact this archdiocese and its
distinguished administrator would appear to
be under sort OF ban, chiefly on account OF
the McGlynn imbroglio. The principle neces-
sarily proclaimed in the policy Of administra-
ton adopted in the case OF McGlynn is Of wide
spread consequence.
Before considering the effect Of the decision
In that case and the corresponding issues. let
us take brief retrospective glance at the
administration Of this archdiocese whose
affairs appear to be 30 directly involved in
the overturning line Of action upon which
the new authority has entered.
Cardinal McCloskey. the immediate prede-
cessor OF Archbishop Corriean. was man Of
learning and piety. Gifted with graceful elo-
quence. he fills an honored place In the his
tory Of the Church. He lacked. however the
supreme. dominating qualities Of the virile
and powerful John Hughes. his predecessor.
who was ever ready to take the field with in
domitable courage against tho foes Of the
long would McGiynn have dared to stand
up In Q public meeting. claiming to DO
priest, while reviling the Church.
its revered head. and its most sacred
authority. when Archbishop Hughes was in
his primer But the hand Of Rome was not 80
| near. or it's grasp so ready. then: and those
| clothed with authority were sternly sustained
by the Sovereign Pontiff in their wise discipline
Archbishop McCloskey was Of gentle. confld-
ing nature; he could not be severe: and age
and infirmity arrived to weaken his powers
Necessarily the command In his hands had be-
come relaxed in his declining years Arch
bishop Corrigan. for period. was his assist
ant but he was subordinate. and did not control
There was. in fact. no rigid rule then prevail.
Ing. and tho priesthood felt freedom which
knew no restraint. except their own innate
goodness and sense Of duty. Priests are like
other men some can rule themselves some
need to be ruled.
When Archbishop Corrigan was called to his
high Office Of administrator ofAhis diocese. he
found condition OF things greatly needing
firm control He had not reached his high dis
tinction through accident He was an &C.
cleslastio we'll known and we'll proved. His
superior endowments. vigor Of intellect, erudi-
ton, and breadth Of character. had marked
him out for the promotion which had regularly
attended his proRresA According to the estab-
lished rule ofthe Church. his advancement was
measurably. at least. due to tho sufTrages OF his
fellow priests as we'll as to the watchful and
careful judgment OF the deciding hierarchy.
As an experienced director in the Church. he
bore the highest reputation. when called to
say that no citizen could be held in higher
regard for his qualities as a member OF this
community. and for the wisdom and dignity
with which he has discharged the duties of his
responsible station SO important to the general
welfare. 1t has always been the wise aim OF
the Church to place In high positions its bright
est and strongest representatives; and Arch
bishop Corrigan has conspicuously distin-
guished himself as the chief Catholic dignitary
Of this metropolitan centre. He commands
the confidence and arectionate regard Of all
committed to his spiritual leadership outside
OF the limited influences to which We have re-
ferred. and no one could stand higher than he
does in tho esteem OF the conservative men OF
the Church In this country. the men Of per-
sonal weight who contribute SO largely to the
dignity and Importance OF Catholicism in