The Irish standard., 1897-07-24
EMINENT CONTROVERSIALIST.
How He Intimidated Bigots From
Committing Violence.
TALKS WITH MAYOR HARPER.
President Lincoln Sent Him as
Envoy to Europe.

In reviewing the history of our coun-
Try there are some names which impress
themselves on our memory more promi-
nently than others. Amongst the num-
per are the names Of many Catholics,
both lay and cleric, and amongst the
clerics the names of Bishop John Car
roll. Bishop John England Bishop John
Hughes, Archbishop John Ireland and
Cardinal Gibbons are the ones that par
ticularly stand forth. With due defer
ence to the greatness of the others,
Bishop John Hughes was the greatest,
and his work for the church and for the
cause of the Union will he remembered
as long as the United States endures as
nation, says a writer in the San Fran
cisco Nation.
Bishop John Hughes was born in the
County Tyrone, Ireland, on ST. Johns
Day, June "a, 1897 After he received
a common school education in his native
place, he begaH working on his fathers
farm; but so firm was his intention TO
become a priest that on many a day
did he throw down the rake going
down on his knees to beg God to let him
become a priest. In 1916 his father
emigrated to the United States and
settled at Chambersburg, Penn, and in
short time his son and the rest of the
family Joined him. Here the future
bishop worked as a laborer, and as a
gardener and florist, but he never lost
sight of his vocation. In 1919 he enter
ed the College of Mount St. Mary, En-
mlttsburg, Md, and received his educa-
cation, board and lodging in considera.
tion for his services as gardener and
nurseryman. In 1896 he was ordained
priest by Bishop Conwell, and was i'm
mediate]y sent forth on his pries.ly mis-
sion. Before he was 35 years of age he
had become noted as a pulpit crater,
and had gained considerable notoricty as
controversialist.
In 1882 Rev. John Breckenridge, a
Presbyterian minister, and the ablast Of
his sect, made a series of kold -acks on
the Catholic church and challenged
priests OF bishops to meet lin in the
Field Of controversy. For some time
no notice was taken of his Challenge
but at the solicitation If one of his
parishloners, Father Hughes answered
NJ. breckenridge with such good effect
that the minister was neve" known to
again issue challenge to any Catholic
About :!'is time the subject OF our
sketch lecsr'e the edit y Of The ...atioli,,
Herald, which was usal as an organ TOR
destroying the delusions regarding
the Catholic church, preached by minis
tcrs wi Q were ignorant; whereof tley
spoke.
In 1888 Father Hughes was suggested
for the vacant see of Cincinnati, as was
also Father Purcell. So equal were
their claims that the authorities at
Rome were at loss as to which should
be appointed, and it was by strange
error that Father Purcell received the
appointment. Bishop England was 80
Journlng in Rome at the time and the
cardinal prefect meeting him one day
told him of the difficulty ard asked him
for some particulars regarding Fathers
Hughes and Purcell. Bishop England
answered, saying that Father Hughes is
a self-made man, while Father Purcell
has been reared in colleges and semina-
ries, and had little experience IN rough
Ing it such as he would have 10 endure
as Bishop of Cincinnati. then frontier
diocese. "Ah," said The car:llnal. IL
think that will do
Meeting Bishop England the ncN; day,
the cardinal said the matter was settled,
and Father Purcell recommended for
appointment because | told the college
of what you said regarding Father
Purcell being a selfmade man.
Bishop England did not tell the
cardinal of his error, believing tha,
the hand of God was shown in the mis-.
take, and thus Father Hughes was re-
served for a greater work. In January
1885, Father Hughes was consecrated
co-adjutor with the right of succession
to Bishop Dubois of New York. Within
month, owing to Bishop Dubois re-
ceiving an attack of paralysis, the entire
work of the diocese fell on our young
bishop.
In 1899 Bishop Hughes visited Rome,
where he spent three months; he also
visited Vienna and Pa"ls, and paid a
visit to his native land, where he had
the pleasure of meeting Daniel O'Con-
nell.
In 1s4l the famous agitation Of "the
school question" as it was called, tegaa.
The text books used in the schools v ere
Teplete with sneers and libels against
the church, Of even more mendacious