The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-23

to build his catherdal and contrast 1t
with the Scranton diocese of today, one
OF the largest, most important and best
governed I'm the United States. A quar-
ter Of century ago, to make strik-
ing comparison. the total number OF
priests in the diocese. twenty-five
scarcely exceeded the number who now
care for flocks which require u pastor
who can speak a foreign tongue, such
as Italian, Polish, Lithuanian and the
like.
Then there were only forty-seven
two religious schools. 400 pu-
pills and Catholic population of about
%, 1000, widely scattered. Now there are
churches with resident
priests. forty missions with churches
over thirty stations, several chapels
and about 100 priests: there are nearly
500 religious women including rovlces
and postulants. and about twenty-five
theological students. There are over
forty parochial schools with an attend
ance of 10000 pupils: one college fol
the higher education of boys. ten acad-
emies Tor young ladies' and the Catholic
population is now estimated at 125.0OO
The charitable institutions founded
and supported by Bishop O'flara need
but be mentioned, st. Patrick's Or
phanage, st. Joseph's Founding Home
and House of the Good Shepherd. The
value of unincumbered church property y
in the diocese is over S2.0000OO.
CAREER OF BISHOP HOBAN.
Through all the stages of his life the
training and education of Right Rev
erend Bishop Hoban have been caicu-
lated to render him worthy of the, Dig
nifty with which he was yesterday in-
yeSteb He was horn. tN lIlne X 1Sl3.
in n small hamlet. now grown into the
town of Waterloo. n. Y, He is the first
of "a family of seven children and a son
of Patrick. now deceased. and Bridget
Hennigany Hoban. The former was
horn in Ratheskin and the latter In
Ballina. in Mayo county, Ireland
The bishops parents We're united in
marriage at Archibald, this county, on
Jan. ., 1852. They moved to Waterloo
and when their first born was few
years old. they returned to this state
and located in Hawley, Wayne county
His father was railroad contractor
and by industry and enterprise. dc-
quired moderate means. His mother
taught him to read and write and from
her he learned the rudiments of the
English branches.
At the age of IA he entered st. Fran
els Xavier college, New York city
where he spent one year; from 1868 tt
1871 he studied at Holy Cross college
Worcester, Mass After this he re-
turned home on account of his fathers
death and for three years was actively
employed in mercantile pursuit. In;
February, 1874. he resumed study and
entered st. Johns college. Fordham
n. Y. In one year he finished his Latin
and Greek course.
From Fordham he went to the Over
brook Seminary of st. Charles Borro.
meO, Philadelphia, and on Oct. =, 1875
was selected by Rt. Rev. Bishop
OHara to enter the American college
at Rome to take up the study of the
ology. He attended the Propaganda
college also. on Oct. 10 he left fol
Italy land arrived there on Nov. .
subsequent.
ORDAINED AT ROME
On Saturday, May 22. 1880, after five
years of study he was ordained a priest
by Cardinal Manoco La Valletta. In
the church of st. John Lateran and he
read his first mass the next day which
was Trinity Sunday in the chapel OF
the American college. He remained In
Rome until June 6. and on his journe!
home, he Travelled through Switzerland
Austria. Belgium. England. and Ire.
land. He landed home on Sept. 2. 1880
During his theological course II
Rome he was under the tutorship OF
Cardinal Francis Satolli, who conse.
Grated him, and such other renowned
hierarchs as Monsignor Casca. a pro
found Hebrew scholar and archaeolO.
gist; MonsignOr Caprara. who has re-
ceived the title. promoter of the faith
Cardinal Galimbertf, then an arch
bishop: DR.. Ubaldi, a scriptural writer
of great fame In the church, Arch
bishop Agliardi. papal nuncio to Ven
ice; and Archbishop Sambucetti once
nuncio to Brazil
Soon after his return he was assigned
by Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Hara as assistant
to Rev Charles F. Kelley. d. D., In the
parish of TOwanda. At the end of two
years there, he was transferred to Pitts
ton to become assistant to Very Rev
John Finnen. He remained three ant
one-half years i'm Pittston. until he wa.
appointed castor of st. Johns parish
Troy. Bradford county: in which
charge he served until November 1887
when he was appointed pastor Of tn,
parish of Ashley. where he has since
been laboring in the Masters vineyard
HIS PARISH AT ASHLEY.
When Rt. Rev. Bishop Hoban tool
the parish i'm charge the congregation
worshipped in a rough One-story frame
building. Today it is one of the leading
parishes in the diocese; q magnificent
brick and stone church which cost $35,
900 has been erected on Manhattan
street. and adjoining the church is 6
parochial residence in keeping with tht
architectural style of the sacred edifice
The cost of the residence was $4,000
He has also one of the best libraries o
any person in the state and spend.
the greater part of his time with hi'
books.
In the summer of 1894 Rt. Rev. Bish
op Hoban secured a leave Of absence
and visited Palestine. He spent thre,
months i'm the Holy Land and Syria
and returned home in September ri
that year. The journey greatly bene.
fitted him physically and it also en-
larged his knowledge to a great extent
ON Thursday, Sept. II, 1895. the
twelve diocesan consultors met at st
Peters cathedral and selected three
names to send to Rome, recommended
for the appOintmnt as coadjutor to Rt
Rev. Bishop O'Hara. Rev. Father
Finncn. who was the unanimous choice
refused to allow his name to be men
toned on account of certain considera'
tions. and his wish was respected
Then the name of the new bishop was
substituted. The news of the appoint
ment did not come from Rome unit
Feb. 3 last. and the Papal bulls did MOI
arrive before the 26th of the same
month. They were dated Feb. ! an(
We're addressed to Cardinal Satolli VIII,
sent them to Archbishop Ryan: ant
from him they were received by Rt
Rev. Bishop O'Hara.
HIS MARKED CHARACTERISED
The new bishops most prominent
characteristics are his unobtrusiv,
piety and an animating devotion i'm th'
acquirement of knowledge. AS tn,
future bishop of Scranton his prudent
judicious and conservative tempera
ment. thorough executive ability arr
attainments which will exemplify il
his control of the diocese masterl,
policy. No better assurance of hi:
character can be given than to sa!