The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-05-09
ARCH BISHOP
CORRIGANS
Sudden Death Brought Sorrow
Within and Without Church

WllllIlI 0llu WItIlUuL OIluI I'll
Very Rev. Dean Flynn on the
Life and Work of the Great Pre-
Iate-An Indomitable Worker
Courteous to aIl-s.Do Unto Others
His rlotto-Dedicated Church o.
Assumption in Morristown.
In an interview with the Very Rev
Dean Flynn relative to the death OF Arcf
Bishop Corrigan he said:
The great prelate, whose death mas
so deeply impressed Catholic circles
was born in Newark, and received
from the veteran teacher, :, Bernard
Kearney, known to generation fast
passing away, his elementary educa-
tion. Passing from the college of
Father O'Reilly, Wilmington, Ill.
he entered Mt. st. Mary's, Smithburg,
the alma mater of those who have
touched eminence both in church and
state. Upon graduation he went to
Rome, and was one of the first stu
dents of the American College, and a
class mate of DR.. McGliynn, from
whose political views he was later on
to differ, and preoipitate a contest,
the memory of which is still too fresh
to make allusion necessary.
On his return to the diocese OF
Newark he was appointed by Bishop
Bayley professor in the Seminary, and
later, on the promotion of Bishop
McQuaid to the new See of Rochester,
president of Seton Hall. From this
on his advancement to dignitles and
responsibilities was rapid. When
Bishop Bayley was transferr I'D to
Baltimore a primate. he became as
primate, and afterwards bishop of
the diocese of Newark, and was the
youngest bishop in the United States.
Grave financial and administrative
complications faced the young pre-
late; fierce opposition on the part OF
the older clergy, who questioned the
policy of his appointment on account
of his youth and inexperience, per-
picked him; Seton Hall had lost its
prestige, and was about to be aban-
doned as diocesan institution.
But, with an infexible will, and a
courage that won admiration from his
friends and his opponents alike, he
overcame every obstacle, and when he
left TO assume the new dignity OF
coadjutor archbishop of New York,
the diocese of Newark was peerless
among all the diocesesgof the country.
In his official life, his industry was
indefatigable. Of frail and delicate
constitution his capacity for work
was amazing; but his habits OF regu-
larity, punctuality and method en-
abled him to accomplish almost the
impossible. He was never too busy to
receive visitors, and it mattered not
how great the worry, how heavy the
burden of care, his urbanity and cour-
tesy never failed him. He was ever
eager and ready to exercise all the
functions of his Office. have known
him after day of constant toll, when
his room was besieged with visitors
from morning to sunset, to go to the
confessional to relieve sick priest,
although himself ready to drop from
exhaustion. Nothing delighted him
more than to visit the lowly houses
of the poor, and cheer them with his
peculiar winsome smile, and, perhaps,
administer to some dying Catholic
the sacrament of confirmation. He
enjoyed playing innocent tricks on
his clergy. On certain occasion
he was invited to bless a cemetery
but on condition that the pastor would
not ask him to preach. A clerical
neighbor was invited to make the
oration, and delivered we'll prepar.
ed and touching sermon. The next
day similar function had to be per.
formed, and the pastor, insisting that
Bishop Corrigan would say few
words, he preached the sermon he
heard the day before, although the
reverend orator was down for a repe.
tition of his oratorical effort later OF
in the cemetery. After the service in
the church was over the priest child.
ed Bishop Corrigan ''for stealing his
thunder, and said to him: "What
am going to talk ahout?" "Oh!
Father Blank, don't care" he
chuckled, "You preached a good ser.
mon in "A and Father So-and- sc
insisted on my saying something,
so 1 simply appropriated it. 1t was
good sermon, very good sermon
And he laughted heartily at the dis.
comfiture of the reverend orator.
Without the aggressiveness Of
Hughes, he rivalled his predecessor,
Cardinal McCloskey in prudence,
and surpassed both in the upbuildine
of hisIpriests and diocesans in strictel
conformity with the requirements Of
the canons and the liturgy.
His imperishable monument is the
American Seminary of Dunwoodie,
the chapel of which-an architecture
gem, was built at his personal ex
pense. 1t will be remembered thai
while Bishop of Newark he dedicated