The sun., 1903-09-02
The Society Of St. Vincent de Paul.

To THE EDITOR OF The SUS-ST: The intelligent
Catholic laity Of New York have always generously
acknowledged the services rendered by their
Bishops and clergy to the cause Of religion They
arc equally jealous OF the good name and fame of
the great prelates, now departed. who, when the
Church was poor and strug Cling. laid the founda
tions OF those splendid works OF religion and charity
which are the pride and boast of this generation.
When. therefore, we are told In THE Sun Of the
25th that Archbishop Farley Is to be chosen Car.
dnal. according to the opinion of certain visiting
preiates- UNNAMED. whom quotes. and whose
wish Is evidently father 20 the thought. we make
comment. Perhaps these gentlemen have
advance information on the subject and their
prediction may be correct But when. In addition
We read that one II not the chief. reason why the
Holy Father should select Mgr Farley for this high
honor Is that the Archbishop has been prac-
ucally the founder" OF the ST. Vincent de Paul
Society. we Catholics OF an Older generation who
know what the great Archbishop John Hughes did
In this diocese bound. in justice to his memory
and In the interest Of TRUTH 10 deny that Arch
bishop Farley founded this great charitable society
and we assert that the credit and the merit OF this
good work belongs OF right to Archbishop Hughes
who established the society In this diocese in the
year l8tS
This be II remarked. is not to he considered in
derogation OF tho credit due to the plous layn en-
who nrst proposed TO Bishop Hughes the establish
ment Of the society In New YORK and obtained his
approval.
In support Of my assertion | extract the follow
irE letter OF recommendation addressed 10 his
people by the Archbishop, which may be found at
tho beginning Of the soc!e,ys printed manual In
the hands OF every member
TITS with sincere pleasure that We give our hearty
approval W the Society Of ST. Vincent de Paul RS
tabllshed in New York, which cannot fail 10 be OF
tho greatest advantage to those who compose 1T
This society has been most sOemnly approved
by the Holy See and many spiritual privileges
conferred BY our Holy Father upon Its members
1t is now widely extended throughout Catholic
Europe. and Its progress has been marked by many
blessings OF which rich and poor have been equally
partakers We should be rejOiced TO see il e1-
tended to every parish and congregation in the
N'CH,ni Given a, New York this 18th day of August.
A. ID. lSAs JOHN, bishop OF New YORK
With the Archblshops aid and announcement,
both from the pulpit and In private. the society
grew and fourished. that al his decease In 1864
thero were al least nineteen Conferences. that +,
local societies, attached TO as many different
churches throughout tho city where the number
and circumstances Of the people called for the
charitable efforts of the society.
Included among these was the Church OF st
Gabriel, OF which Archbishop Farley was appointed
pastor In the early SOS. and In which Conference
had been established some Thirty years before
In 1897, ny his predecessor the lamrnted Father
W. II Clowry.
Cardinal hcCloSkey continued the good work
thus begun by Archbishop Hughes and with his
warm encoursg ement, and as new churches arose
many additional Conferences were established, and
II was not until the accession OF Archbishop cor.
rigan, and after the society hac been extended
all over th- city. that Mgr Farley was appointed
Spiritual Director OF the society at large ra0h
local conference having rs own separate Director
generally the pastor Of the church or one Of his
aSsustanLs
The writer has det,ued this communication,