The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-09-17
BISHOP WIN.
McUOSKEY
is NO MORE
OFFICIAL HEAD OF CATH0.
Lie CHURCH DIOCESE OF
LOUISVILLE.
END CANE PEACEFULLY
THIS MORNING AT HIS
HOME.

Louisville, KY, Sept. II. Especial. d
bishop William George McCloskey,
of the Catholic diocese Of Louisville.
, died this morning at Z O'Clock at
|, Preston Park Seminary, near Louis
willie, as the result of gradual LESSEN
ing of vital forces. He had not been
! Ill, but simply had been wasting away
for some time. Not until Sunday was
II evident that his end was near. The
bishop retained consciousness through
out and his mind was clear until just
before the end, when he dropped into
Ia peaceful sleep, passing away a few
minutes later. He had been bishop
of the diocese of Louisville 40 years
and was the oldest Catholic prelate
IN the United States. He leaves a
sister. Miss Mary McCloskey, who
lived with him on the Newburg road
near Louisville.
I Until the bishops successor Is
chosen, Vicar-General Cronin, OF Lou
i5ville. will have charge of the affairs
of the diocese.
Bishop McCloskey was born in
Brooklyn and was So years old.
There are no arrangements for the
funeral II Is the belief an eastern
man will succeed him.
Bishop McCloskey was well known
in Paducah, as the Louisville diocese
comprises all of Kentucky west Of the
Kentucky river. He had been I'M
able to make frequent trips to the
strength. His last visit was in 1907.
when the twenty-fifth jubilee of the
Rev. Father Jansen was celebrated.
His death was expected in Padncah.
but when the news was received this
morning II shocked his people
j He was born in Brooklyn, n. Y, in
1923. and his preparatory training
for the priesthood was received at
Mount st. Mang's college at Emmetts-
burg, N. Y. For a short time he was
assistant priest at the Church of Ma
tivity in New York. He was pro-
lessor in his alma mater, when in
1859 he was called to Rome, where
he became the first president of the
American college. Until 1868 he was
the president, when he was appoint
ed bishop of the Louisville diocese of
the Cincinnati province Since his
appointment he served for Al years
I in a manner that gained him honor
and the respect of the world. The
honor of being the Oldest Catholic
prelate in the United States gave him
much distinction. He did much for
the uplifting of the diocese. and was
a constant worker and faithful in his
visits to the churches under his
charge. For years his health has
been breaking, but his indomltable
will kept him up.
The Official news of the death of
Bishop McCloskey was received at
1880 o'clock this afternoon by the
Rev. Father II. A. Connolly, pastor OF
the St. Francis de Sales church. In
telegram from the Rev. Father j. p
Cronin, vicar-general, of Louisville
The bishop was known intimately by
Father Connolly. who was ordained
by him, and since has been in his
diocese. He learned several days ago
that Bishop McCloskey was In criti-
cal condition. and the news of his
death was not a surprise. No details
of the funeral have been received.
but 1t is probable that Father Con-
molly viii attend the funeral and
burial.
II is thought that the funeral will
not be held before the first OF next
week and the funeral will probably
be held in the Cathedral.
1t is expected that his funeral will
be attended by many bishops and the
pontifical mass may be said by an
arch bishop. Masses will be snid
Throughout the diocese In his men,
DRY. The burial place is unknown.
although 1t Is customary to bury a
bishop in his diocese. Bishop Nc
Closkey has a b,other buried in Naza-
relatives residing in New York. One
sister. Miss Mary McCloskey, resided
in Louisville.
As to who will be his successor Il
is difficult to say. The. diocese has
not had coadjutor bishop since his
appointment, and nobody is known
as being directly in line for bishop.
The vicar-general is the next office in
power The power OF naming the
next bishop rests with the cardinals
and their selection must be approved
by the pope.
Bishop McCloskev was known as a
'pious man with heart full of SYM
lpathy. and his life was filled with
deeds of charity, which were done
without pomp. He had word OF
: kind greeting FOR everybody and his
-dnvnfion 10 his chiilrh lhrcnelcll