New-York tribune., 1908-04-05
W8k2S8S RELIEF WORK FOR POOR mE8eD

place lived IN the American mind. and IL gave
wonderful impulse to American art More
over. it had been designed and erected after
the plans and under the supervision OF James
Renwick a sound and orthodox Protestant; citG-
zens without regard to creed had contributed TO
its erection. and at its dedication the whole city
turned out 20 the ceremony. as TO the dedication
OF public monument. A good deal OF annuse-
ment and indignation aroused by de-
tail OF Cardinal McCloskey's career After his
elevation some OF his friends presented him with
a coach and horses. all prepared. IN Rome.
where the members OF the Sacred College had
to deport themselves in public as princes OF the
blood. In the sober streets OF New York It
sembled the approach OF circus parade A
noted Catholic journalist denounced II as an In
vasion o: republican simplicity by nnonarchicaI
luxury. In -deference to his friends the Cardinal
used IL few times. although he preferred to
walk but in a short time IL laid aside with
out comment and has not since been seen
In 1855. the year OF the Cardinals death. the
Catholic body IN the states OF New York and
New Jersey. which constituted the ecclesiastical
province numbered close on two millions. They
had become notable in four five ways. pro-
voking considerable discussion and interest
Their hearty Endorsement OF the temperancs
cause led to important notifications IN the Iegs-
lation affecting the manufacture and sale or
alcoholic drinks Their strong interest IN va
rious farms OF charity and their support Of
orphanages. hospitals. protsctorfes for children
and care OF deaf mutes really reused the city
to the beginning OF that work Of charity which
has made New York the most notable city IN
the world. Their support and maintenance OF
church schools, which have resulted IN the
founding OF a strong educational system from the
kindergarten TO the university, have kept alivs
the tradition OF religious training for the young,
which has become one OF the momsntous
questions Of the hour. The building OF splendid
churches and the carrying OUT OF the Catholic
ritual have so stimulated the departments ot
church art and decorative art in general that II
may safely be said the Catholic body has given
the Republic its religious art. Moreover, ths
voluntary system OF church support has been
proved a great success. with all its disafvan-
tages and the financial integrity OF the church.
men generally has made the works OF the Church
a popular form OF investment for shreEd fnan-
ciers.
Archbishop Corrigan. the SUCCESSOR ot the Car
dinaI. reaped the benefits OF this happy condt-
ton. He had the financial world in close touch
and its leaders sought him Big men always
stood near his council table-nen Ike Eugene
Kelly and John D. Crimrnins and Thomas T.
Ryan. He never sought them, for he, too. cul-
ttyated obscurity ike his predecessor and pre-
ferred routine work for his people TO the public
arena, but he represented an institution the
, financial credit Of which was something TO ad-
nire. and he could not escape the consequences
He found little difficulty IN building his great
seminary at Dunwoodfe, which cost him perhaps
a million and half and in obtaining the aid OF
the Eugene Kelly family for the completion OF
the cathedral apse. His administration OF the
affairs OF the archdiocese was made conspicuous
by the dispute with Or. NcGIynn. a dispute
which included elements 50 many and diverse
the labor question, the Henry George theories.
the Irish Land League. the English lobby at the
Vatican the education problem and the author
ity Of the bishops-that the future historian will
ind a large volume necessary to describe its
ramifcations It had one distinct merit: the
people woke up to the fact that religion consists
OF several things besides merely attending
church on Sundays. The acrimonious and pas
sionate debate of all classes on the merits OF the
McGIynn trouble arose from the simple fact that
not even the leading parties to the dispute knew
al the ramihcations OF the question. and the ma
jority knew nothing at all, except the fact that
the Archbishop had dismissed from his parish
and suspended the popular priest.
The affair ended IN due time. and death closed
the chapter for DR.. NcGIynR in 1900 and for
Archbishop Corrigan in 1902. Dr. Corrigan was
an administrator OF no mean ability. besides be-
ing a charming man He had the problem OF
looking after the spiritual welfare OF The inrush-
ing NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., Hunsarians, Bohsu1-
t2nS, RuLlellans, SyrlalS and CreSkS-pOUre0
out on our shores destitute OF all things very
often OF religion itself. He had 20 find pastors.
chapels. schools. teachers for hundred thou
sand in the space OF few years, and hs sue
ceeded admirably. His position and his enter
prise enabled him. in cooperation with ths
bishops OF Brooklyn. Albany. Syracuse, Ogdens-
burg Rochester, Buffalo, Newark and Trenton.
TO do all that was possible FOR the multitude
His successor, Archbisr D Farley, has con-
tinued his work on nearly the same lines. max
ing a new departure in opening q college for the
special training OF boys intended for the Church
and by starting the enterprise of CathoEo
encyclopadia in fifteen volumes. To sum I'D
the history Of the Church in this province COM
parfson OF the figures in 1S0S with figures to-
day will illustrate the progress century azo
there were in the two states one bishop. seven
priests, four or five churches and about ten
thousand Catholics. At this moment IN the same
territory there are nine bishops. 2oO0 priests,
500 churches and 3.500Oo0 people. The stu
pendous advance IN America is due not alone
TO the immigrants, but also 70 the freedom ot
action allowed by our government and the a5-
scence OF persecution and prejudice IN conse
ouence while the Republic IS teaching the nz-
tons something new in government the Church
in America is teaching European churchmen
something new IN religious development.