The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-04
The Once Giant Intellect Gives
Way Under the Weight
of Years.
CAREER OF THE ARCHBISHOP,
He Won Worldwide Reputation
by Declaring Against Papal
InfallibiIity.

cablegram announcing his deposition and
the appointment of Most Rev. John J.
Kahn, Archbishop of Oxyrinchus, in
partibus infdelium," as the new Arch
bishop of St. Louis was publicly read dur
ing solemn pentecostal services at the
cathedral Sunday morning by Vicar-Gen-
eral Muehseipen.
The cablegram was signed by Cardinal
Project Ledochowski of the Congregation
OF the Propaganda, and stated that the
action had been taken at meeting held
on May u. The effect of the decision was
to effectually retire Archbishop Kenrick
from all rights, titles and privileges OBJ
tanning to the archbishopric of St. Louis.
Under supplementary instructions ex-
pected from the Propaganda, an order will
come to provide a fitting annuity for him
out OF the resources of the archdiocese,
Though matter of urgent necessity, the
compulsory retirement OF the venerable
prelate will come as rude shock to the
Catholics of his archdiocese. Archbishop
kenrlck was in no sense provincial. His
attitude at the Vatican council which de-
clared in favor of the dogmas of papal in
fallibility and the immaculate conception,
gained him worldwide reputation, and
involved him in controversies with the
greatest theologians within and without
his church. His attitude at the conclaye is
said to have begot him the amending oppo-
sltlon of the authorities at Rome. This
feeling has cropped out frequently, notably
IN the removal to Philadelphia of Arch
bishop Ryan, whom Archbishop Kenrick
wished to be his successor.
Since that time there has been an un-
broken silence between the Archbiship of
st. Louis and his ecclesiastical supporters
at Rome. The retirement of Archbishop
Kenrick is the result of a petition to the
Propaganda, setting forth his mental in
capacity and the dangerous condition of
the business affairs of the diocese.
Archbishop Kenrick's mental infirmity
displayed itself in the form of violent op-
position to his coadiutor. He regarded
him as an interloper, and refused at times
to eat at the same table or sit in the same
room with him. He was persistent in his
refusal to transact any business matters
suggested to him by his assistant. The
situation was intolerable from a business
standpoint, and Archbishop Kahn was
forced to appeal for help to Rome.
As result OF the petition the Propa-
ganda commissioned rchbishop Ryan of
Philadelphia, the man who most of all
others knew the old Archbishop and
shared his affection, to come to st. Louis
and report on his mental condition. The
Archbishop of Philadelphia came here a
month ago and tried by every means in his
power to get his venerable superior to so
adjust his affairs that his retirement could
be avoided. But the old Archbishop was
stubborn. He refused to make will or to
transfer his trusteeship of church property
to his successor. There was nothing for
Archbishop Ryan to do but to report to
Rome that the Archbishop was unfit to
conduct the affairs OF the diocese.
The Propaganda was not long in acting.
But Archbishop Kahn, fearful lest the hot
weather would carry off the old Arch
bishop before Rome acted, and leave the
affairs of the diocese in precarious condi-
ton, filed local legal proceedings to re-
move the Archbishop from the trusteeship
of church property. These proceedings
will now in all probability, as there is no
further necessity for pushing them, be
dropped.
The proceedings had hardly been filed
when Archbishop Kahn received word from
Rome that his superior had been deposed,
and that he was the new Archbishop of ST.
Louis.
Following the official announcement. the
next step will be the comforting of the
pallium. This is the insignia of archi-
episcopal honors. Archbishop Kains pal
lium will not arrive before another month.
perhaps later. 1t may not be conferred
upon him until after Archbishop Kenricks
death, if that event occurs shortly. But it
may have to be done during the life of the
Archbishop, for until it has been placed
upon the shoulders of the new incumbent
he cannot perform the duties pertaining to
his exalted Office.
Arch bishop Kenrick's future is not vet
determined upon. In all probability he
will be removed from the archiepiscopal
residence presented to him at the time of
his golden jubilee. If he ever compre-
hends that Rome has relieved him of his
authority he will gladly retire to any of
the asylums conducted by the sisterhoods
of his church. He has often expressed the
desire to get away from the cares of his
office, and spend the remainder of his life
in seclusion. But that was before his in.
tellect began to waver.
Archbishop Kenrick was born in Dub.
lin, Ireland. If he lives until the 18th of
August he will enter on his ninetieth wear.
He was ordained on March 6, 1882. He
came to America year later and went to
Philadelphia, where his brother was Co.
adjutor Bishop. In 1910 he went to Rome.
where he met Bishop Rosali of st. Louis.
who was in search of a coadiutor, and he
took the young ecclesiastic, whom he knew
by reputation. On November Ia. 1871. he
was consecrated Bishop of Drossa and
coadjutor to the Bishop of st. Louis in the
cathedral OF Baltimore. In 1s47 st. Louis
was elevated into an archdioce and
Bishop Kenrick became first incumbent.
In November, 1891, Archbishop Kenrick
celebrated the golden jubilee of his
episcopate. The excitement attendant to
the occasion was too much for the aged
Archbishop, and this, together with the
appointment of coadjutor, which he op-
posed, caused his once giant intellect to
give way.
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The Yeosnan Jury Disagrees,
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo, June b