New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-25
STATUS OF CARDINALS
Precedence Accorded to Them by
Non-CathoIiC Foreign Courts.

NCopyWright 1912, by the Brentwood Company
some confusion appears to exist with re-
gard to the exact position Of the four
American cardinals on the official table OF
precedence at Washington and in the vari
Gus states Of the Union. This was brought
to light by the attitude Of the Governor OF
Massachusetts, at the st. Patrcks Day din
ner, at which the President Of the United
states was present, Cardinals have not
heretofore figured on the official tables OF
precedence either of the federal govern
ment or Of the various states, possibly be-
cause until last Christmas there has never
been more than one at a time, and also be-
cause il was desired TO avoid appearing to
discriminate officially in favor Of one creed
at the expense of another.
Now, however, a different situation has
arisen, and as there is little or no official
precedent in this country for the precedence
of cardinals, IT may be we'll to mention how
the problems in this connection are solved
abroad, especially in England, where the
state Church is Protestant, and in Scot
land, where the official Church is Presby-
terrain. In the first place, it is necessary
to call attention 10 the fact that the point
raised about discrimination in favor Of one
church at the expense Of another cannot be
said to apply in the case of cardinals. They
are something besides ministers Of the Cos
pei and ecclesiastics Indeed, a cardinal is
not necessarily a priest but he is from a
purely secular point Of view very great
parsonage, who is regarded and treated
everywhere abroad not as a dgnitsry or
any church but as a prince Of the blood.
Thus in England tho Archbishop Of Can
terbury. as the primate of the state Church,
has precedence over every other dignitary
Of the realm, enjoying the pas Of the
Lord High Chancellor Of the Premier, OF
the Lord High Constable, Of the Earl Mar
shall and Of all the other non-royal dukes.
But he in his turn is obliged to make way
for the foreign ambassadors, as non-royal
representatives of foreign sovereigns, and
the ambassadors in turn make way for any
and every cardinal, the latter having from
time immemorial enjoyed the social and Of
fetal status Of a prince Of tho blood.
OF course. as mere Catholic Archbishop
Of Westminster tho Most Rev. DR.. Bourne
has to walk in the rear OF the Archbishop
of Canterbury, hut as cardinal he now
comes A long way ahead Of him, not in his
quality as a great dignitary Of the Church.
but in his quality as prince Of the blood
The table Of precedence in England, dat
ing from the Reformation, is statutory
and the names Of cardinals do not figure
thereon. But when King Edward inaugu-
rated the present arrangement, which mas
since been followed by Emperor William,
by the Car and by every other non-Catho-
lie ruler Of Europe, no word was raised IN
protest. II being recognized that the SOW
oroio, hos a ,srfaCt right 70 designate the
exact status Of foreign prince Of the blood
at his court, and that when he does TINS IN
accordance with tho rules Of international
comfy and old-establlshed usage, no one Is
qualified to gainsay him.
Under the circumstances it must be borne
in mind that even though Cardinals Farley
O'ConneH and Gibbons are at heart patri-
otto Americans and members Of an Amen-
can hierarchy, yet they are as cardinals
foreign princes of the blood TO whom the
United States, as enc Of the great powers
Of the world, is under an obligation 10 con
cede the same honors that they receive
abroad Thus were Cardinal Farley 10
visit an American man-of-War ne "ould
be entitled TO the salutes and TO the naval
bonors reserved for a foreign royal person
age. and at any official entertainments at
washington the Cardinal will outrank not
merely every Cabinet officer, the Speaker
Of the House and the Vice-President but
also the foreign ambassadors, coming I'M
medately next 10 the Chief Magistrate him
self
incidentally. II may be mentioned that
when a royal parsonage not OF sovereign
rank visits New York II is his duty 70 make
the first call on Cardinal Farley.