The times., 1898-01-16
TO HONOR A DEAD BISHOP
The Late Right Rev. John n. New
man May Be Beatified.
A Commission Searching Out the
Life story OF the Former Phila-
delphia Prelate.

Baltimore. Jan. 15.-For the first time
in American history proceedings have
been instituted looking TO the beatifica-
tion and canonization of an American
Catholic prelate A commission of
Catholic dignitaries is now in session
at the home of the Redemptorists here
taking evidence of the life and char
acter of the late Bishop John n New
man, of Philadelphia, which is to be
submitted to Pope Leo at Rome.
The commission is composed as fol-
/ lows: Judges-ReV. Charles DriscoII.
provincial of the Augustinians. and
Rev. John Scully, s. j.. rector of ST
Joseph's, Philadelphia. Promoter of the
Faith-ReV. James G. Monahan, of the
Philadelphia Cathedral. Notary-Rey
William a. Fletcher, of the Baltimore
Cathedral MessenSer-Rev. N FirIe
c. SIS. r.. of ST. Jamess church. Balti-
more. Postulator-Rev. Joseph Wis
sci, c. IS r., Of the Missionary House
Saratoga, y. Y.
Bishop Newman was Bohemian by
birth, who came to America in 1886 and
was ordained priest by Bishop Dubois
of New York, in 1886. He received the
habit Of Redeemers in 1S40 and made
The profession as a Redemptorist in 1912.
being the first one of that order in
America. He was superior at Pitts
burg. then a vice provincial. afterward
in 1851, rector at st. Alphonsus's church
here in Baltimore. In 1852 he was ap-
pointed Bishop of Philadelphia, and
died in Philadelphia in 1860.
1t is in the parlors of the Redemp-
torists, adjoining ST. Alphonsus's 8
church, on Saratoga street, that the
commission is now holding its session.
These sittings are conducted with the
greatest secrecy. No one is admitted
10 the presence of the two judges ex-
cept the notary. the promoter. and one
witness at time All persons are
sworn to the most absolute and per-
petual secrecy. and a violation of the
oath calls forth the most drastic pen
alties of the Catholic Church The OBJ
Ject is TO reproduce completely the life
of the preiate whose career is being
investigated, and when the commission
has finished its Investigations here it
viii continue its work in Philadelphia
and wherever Bishop Newman labored
The sessions begin a 9 in the morning
ana continue all day, the questioning
being most searching
1T was at the instance of the present
Archbishop of Philadelphia that the
present proceedings were instituted Ar
his suggestion the title of venera bile
Nds dlioNei BlShop Newman by the
Pope. Since that time the Roman nom
tiff himself recommended the institu
ton of this additional investigation TO
determine whether more exalted dis
tinction should be conferred upon him
When this commission has completed
its work it viii deposit the original
minutes OF its Investigations in the ar
chives of the archdiocese of PhiIadel
phla and send an authenticated COPY to
the Pope, by whom it will be submitted
to high ecclesiastical body of council
lors. If the Pope decides upon the
worthinesS of the bishop he will accord
the privilege of beatification. These
privileges are the prefixing of Bless
ed to his name, also the allowance of
mass and Offices to be said in his honor
by the congregation of the Most Holy
Redeemer and throughout the diocese
of Philadelphia. The notice to the
world Of the beatification will be made
by proclamation in st. Peters Cathe
dral in Rome.
Then will follow special sermons in
all the churches throughout the Phila-
delphia diocese embodying the pontific-
al decree After that has been achieved
the next possible gIorification would
be the bestowal Of the honors of canon
ization, which, however, cannot be con-
sidered until the bishop has been dead
at least fifty years. This, therefore.
could not happen until 1910.