New-York tribune., 1902-05-07
ARCHBISHOP CORRTGAN.

In the death of Archbishop Corrigan the
American Roman Catholic Church loses, perhaps
its ablest administrator. Although a charming
speaker, he was not one of its greatest popular
preachers or orators and in fact looked upon
the gift of facile oratory with grave suspicion.
AS Archbishop of New York, without doubt the
greatest office in the American Catholic Church,
he one of the most influential persOnages
in the metropolis He did MOI seem, however, to
take a leading public part in general move
ments for the betterment of the community. AS
a result he was personally one of the least
known of the citys eminent men to the general
public outside of his own communion. But
even if he had desired to take part In the larger
civic life of the metropolis or nation, he would
have found no time to do so, for the affairs of
the archdiocese required his close and constant
attention. He was, indeed, one of the busiest
men in the city, and only succeeded in getting
through the enormous mass of work laid upon
his shoulders by his unwearied industry and
system. In the administration of the archdio-
cese, representing, as it does. great and complex
interests, he showed himself to be an able and
firm ruler, who never for a moment allowed
the reins to fall out of his hands. He may not
have been as widely loved or revered were
his great predecessors, Archbishop Hughes and
Cardinal McCloskey; but his winning personal
traits greatly endeared him to those who came
to know him well, and he had the respect and
esteem not only of Catholics but Protestants,
who saw in him a strong and answering
churchman and a sagacious ruler.
The course of Archbishop Corrigan in the
McGlynn case did not at the time meet the
approval Of all Catholics, and it Is possible that
he may have made some tactical mistakes in
dealing with that recalcitrant priest. though the
issues largely emotional and rhetorical that
were raised in that case have now almost COM
pletely disappeared with no apparent harm to
the Church The Archbishop, in fact was by
temperament untitled fully to understand such
a man as DR.. McGynn. He was an accom-
plished canonist and theologian, with the
methodical mind of an administrator and the
typical ecclesiastic's reverence for Church law
and tradition. DR.. McGlynn, on the other hand
was a warm hearted and emotional Irishman,
the typical "Soggarth Aroon" of Irish folklore,
most lovable in all personal relations, but hazy
in his thinking, inexact scholar and easily
led into indefensible positions by his emotional
exuberance and fondness for fine rhetoric. 1t is
not for a layman TO say whether his espousal
OF the single tax theory laid him open to the
censure of the Church; but it is certain that to
the Archbishop of New-York his fantastic cru
sade against poverty and his extravagant utter
ances must have seemed not merely unedifying,
but opposed to the policy of the Church, which
does not like to have its parish priests assume
the role of leaders or revOlutionists Whatever
else it was or not, the course of DR..
McGlynn plainly subversive of discipline.
and that was fault which the Archbishop of
New-York could least easily forgive. Gentle
and soft spoken though he was, he had will
of iron, and in this and other controversies
never shrank from the exercise of his power as
a prelate and Prince of the Church.
To those who had the privilege of knowing
Archbishop Corrigan personally he showed a
side of his character that the general public did
not suspect him of possessing. He was an
accomplished scholar, especially in Church his
tory and the classics, and delightful conversa-
tionalist with a keen though quiet sense OF
humor. Conservative churchman though he was
he not bigoted or bitter toward those who
could not conscientiously accept the claims of
his Church, and he was on terms of pleasant
social intimacy with many who were not Of his
faith. Many Catholics believed that his great
work for the Church fairly entitled him to a
Cardinals hat. He would probably have gained
that honor soon; and possibly he might have had
it years ago, had it not been for his promi-
nence as a conservative leader in the contro-
versies of the Church. which raised up against
him enough opposition TO make the expediency
of his appointment seem questionable