The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-06

United States, and includes the counties of
Orange, Westchester Duchess. Putnam,
Ulster, Sullivan, Richmond and Rockland
and the Bahama Islands. There are near
ly 100000 Catholics in the diocese, and the
clergy and laity of this vast body made
every effort to the end that the anniversary,
recurring on May 4 of that year, should be,
memorable in the history of the See. I'm
portant religious and festive ceremonies
were participated in by immense throngs
of people who made New York their Nee
ca, with the intent to show their devotion
to the archbishop.
Yet his popularity was not, in a large
sense, personal. 1t arose chiefly from an
apprecia ton of his singleness of purpose
in advancing the interests of his charge
and in safeguarding his people. He adrOit-
ly managed the affairs of his ever-growing
See and added to its material wealth by the
increase of schools. hospitals and charita-
BILE institutions. The cathedral in Fifth
avenue is the finest bit of church archi-
lecture in America and DIR. Corrigan left
behind him other works that will recall
the glory of his administration. His daily
round of duty differed but little from that
of other men in positions similar to his
own. His habits were governed by a self
restraint native to men of great achieve
ment, and if not ascetic, were in no sense
indulgent. He devoted almost all Of his
time TO the labors of his office, by no means
small, and the few hours he had for himself
he devoted TO his books. He was a master
Of French and italian and was familiar
with German and Spanish. This for the
modern languages. In the classics he was
an adept. His faVorite study in history
was that with which the name of Christie
pher Columbus is associated. His address
on columbus at the Chicago worlds
fair was a masterpiece in its way and was
in itself an evidence of the great care
and patience exercised in the researches
through which its materials were brought
together.
The archbishop's sermons were not noted
for their Oratorical or rhetorical excellence.
He had not the golden mouth of the arch
hlGhOn nf Phila6alnhiH ~ the nlnOnnnn of
dictiOn that gave Bishop Spalding a prom
inent niche in the literature of America.
Blu his doctrines were sound Crom the
viewpoint OF Roman Catholic theology and
ethics). and his u~tterances had a directness
of purpose and a clarity that make them of
extreme value TO one who desired 10 ac-
Quire a knowledge of the dOgmas of his
church and their Interpretation according
to the authority which he regarded as the
equivalent of that of the divine. He was
not an originator. preferring TO accept
what had gone before as immutable, and
clinging to the traditions that are so high
ly priced by the element of Catholic
thought with which he was identified. But,
though no orator or writer of extraordinary
ability, he was a scholar beyond all contro-
versy, and one of the ripest scholars, as
Christian scholars are judge, of his time.
Personally the archbishop was not gra-
cious, Notwithstanding his title. He did
not scatter the perfume of a sweet dispo-
sition among the people Of the highways
and the byways he threaded. In the every
day caller the archbishop was not inter
ested. In so much he was no fisher OF men.
He received those who were permitted TO
reach his presence with an apathy that
was singularly hurtful 10 self-pride. He
listened until he began TO be able TO form
a definite idea OF the callers purpose. If
II were material he heard the story To the
end, and, perhaps. asked a question or two.
But DR.. Corrigan was not noted for the
patience with which he heard rambling
tales, and the result was a reputation for
eXclusiveness. iciness and reserve which he
deserved in full measure. This reputation
was not merely local, but national. In
many quarters he was said 10 be an auto
crat, and the feeling against him on this
score was deeper and wider than, perhaps.
he would have cared TO know. He was
most unfortunate in that he succeeded
Cardinal McClOskey, a man who was pa
thence and kindness itself. So ender and
gentle was the nature Of the cardinal that
no words descriptive of him but saint on
earth can satisfy the minds OF those who
remember his sunny ways and his wide ac-
ceptance of all men, high and low, that
came to him. McClOskey radiated kind
ness. COrrigan froze those who came to sit
at his feet. His nature could not absorb
the ways OF his great predecessor. and he
paid the penalty by losing the sympathy
that flowed into the cardinals presence like
streams 10 the sea. And the archbishop did
not seem to regret the loss.
To balance this fault Archbishop Corri-
gan found il easy TO be pleasant with men
OF intelligence. or with men and women
who had intellect enough 10 appreciate his
own. This is pride. To such as these he
ronizing. and sympathetic when consort-
ing. He is said by those who had been so
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8, COL. 81