Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-11-12
Bishop CarrOll's Jurisdiction
Extended Over. the Fed
eral Union.
Acted With Benjamin Frank
lin as Representative in
Canada.
ALIVE TODAY WITH DIVINE ENERGY

Plus VI. issued bull creating the HER
archy of the Catholic church in the
United States, and appointed the Rev.
John Carroll the first Bishop of Balti-
more, whose episcopal jurisdiction ex-
tended over all the territory then COM
prised in the Federal Union. He was
consecrated in the chapel of Lulworth
Castle in England by the venerable
Bishop Walmesley, vicar apostolic Of
the London district, on August 10, 1890,
and soon afterward set out for Baltimore,
where he arrived on December z.
After occupying this see for a quarter
of century lie died, full of years and
merits, December 3, 1915, in the eighty
first year of his age. The history of
Archbishop Carroll's administration
clearly shows that his appointment was
not only wise and judicious, but an es-
pecially providential one. Gifted by
nature with talents of high order he
improved and developed those talents by
long course of study in one of the best
colleges in Europe, and even among the
brilliant scholars of St. Omer's he won
high reputation for learning.
Archbishop Carroll was son of devoted
Irish Catholic parents, and inherited the
deep faith of his ancestors. Destined to
hold so conspicuous a place as leader of
the American church, he was born in
Maryland in 1885. At the age of fifteen
he was sent to the Jesuit College of St.
Omer's, in French Flanders, where he
met people of various nationalities, who
helped to enlarge and catholicize his
mind without weakening his patriotism.
Here he studied under the admirable
system of the Jesuit fathers, and finally
became a member of their society. Sub
sequently he was professor of philosophy
and theology in their scholasticate, and
thus enjoyed the advantages of thor
oughly Jesuit system of education and
religious training.
The suppression of the Society of Jes-
uits i'll 1873 left Father Carroll a secular
priest and free to return to his native
country. The suppression caused him
the most intense grief. He bowed, how
ever, with resignation to the inscrutable
degree of Providence. He well knew that
no individual and no society is essential
to the churchs existence; that her di-
vine life will be perpetuated, no matter
how many of her children fall. Pope
Plus VII, 1914, inst one year before the
death of Archbishop Carroll, re-estab-
lished it. 1t was the supreme dying con-
ISOLATION of the American prelate.
For several years previous to DR.. Car
rolls appointment as Bishop of Balti-
more the question was discussed of such
an appointment to some American city.
In 1856 Bishop Challoner, then Vicar
Apostolic of the London district, pro-
posed Philadelphia as the most suitable
place, because of the freedom enjoyed by
Catholics in Pennsylvania under the in
fluence of the gentle spirit and laws of
William Penn and his followers. But it
must be admitted that Maryland had
still stiong claims, because of the great
number of Catholics there, because of her
Catholic founder and his noble stand for
religious freedom. At the age of forty
DIR. Carroll returned to his native country.
For fifteen years he occupied positions
of trust, and was appointed First Bishop
of Baltimore and head of the Catholic
church in the United States. In COM
pliance with a promise made to an Eng
lish gentleman, Mr.. Weld, of Lulworth
Castle, he was consecrated in his domes-
tic chapel by Bishop Walmesley, Vicar
Apostolic of the London district, the book
of the Gospel being held over mis- shout
der by the son of his friend, afterward
the distinguished Cardinal Weld. In a
private letter to DIR. Troy, Archbishop of
Dublin, DR.. Carroll wrote that if it
were not for this request and promise, he
would have preferred the conservation to
have taken place in America or in Ire
land, the land of his Catholic forefath-
ers.
His conservation took place on the 10Th
of August, 1890, the Feast of the As
sumption of the Blessed Virgin, under
whose patronage he placed the church of
these States. Bishop Carroll was an
American patriot as we'll as Christian
Bishop. Love of country and of race is
feeling planted by God in the human
heart, and when properly directed be-
comes natural virtue. Bishop Carroll's
patriotism never conhicted with his re-
ligion, for he always acted for God from
a sense of duty, whether preaching the
gospel in Baltimore or with his friend
Benjamin Franklin, acting as representa-
tive of the Colonial Government in his
mission to Quebec.
The jurisdiction of the new Bishop ex-
tended over the entire country, but he
soon found it impossible. because of the
increase of Catholics and the great dis
lance of the places and difficulties of
travel, as we'll as his advanced age, to
faithfully guard so scattered flock. The
Bishops who, in 1910, were appointed to
aid him in his great work were apostolic
men, animated by his own spirit, like the
splendid Bishop Flaget, of Bardstown;
Egan of Philadelphia, and cheverus of
Boston.
When Bishop Carroll was consecrated,
a, iron the ertire t,f,Du1afion IF the limited