Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-29
Mgr. Kennedy Dead;
Noted EccLesiastic
Continued from Pare Ono


student with Monsignor Kennedy. and the
two were always warm friends.
Archbishop Kennedy was born March 23,
1858, in Conshohocken, where his aged
parents MIR. and Mrs. Patrick Kennedy,
died In 1913 within n month Of each other
After studying in st. Matthews Parochiai
School Conshohocken, he finished his
academic education at fremont Academy,
Norristown. a private school conducted by
the late John w. Loeb. ana some months
later accepted the position OF principal of
st. Matthews School. Conshohocken, which
he retained four years In September. 1879.
he entered the Theological Seminary OF
ST. Charles Borromeo, where he completed
the classical course and the first year in
the course of philosophy Being recog-
nized as an unusually bright student, II
was decided by the Overbrook faculty, act
ing on behalf of the Archdiocese of Phila-
delphia, to send him abroad to complete
his education. He sailed for Europe Au-
gust 10. 1882, and for six years was
student in the Pontifcal College of the
United States, commonly called the Ameri-
can College. in Rome. There he pursued
the fun course OF studies in philosophy and
theology, and took the degrees OF Phi d.
and ID. u. Cardinal Parrochi Vicar OF
Rome, ordained him TO the priesthood In
the Church of st. Chryscgonus, Rome, July
"a, 1887, and in July the following year
Doctor Kennedy returned to America. and
and mathematics in the seminary at Over
brook, where in January, 1893. he was ele-
waited to the chair of dogmatc theology.
In June of the latter year Bishop Ken
nedy presided over memorable philosoph-
ical and theological disputation carried on
altogether in Latin, by several students In
the seminary chapel at Overbrook. in the
presence OF Monsignor Satolli. the then
apostolic delegate to the Catholic Church in
the United states. and subsequently ele-
waited to the Cardinalate, who had spent
most OF his life In the priesthood as SEM
mary professor in Rorhe, and being thor
oughy learned in all the nice metaphysical
distinctions and subtle theoretical diff
culties which come up for discussion in the
schools, he proposed to the disputants a
number of objections and difficulties re-
gardng the Church's doctrine OF the Holy
Trinity and other questions under consider
alton. But all Of these. even the most per.
picking. were readily elucdated or refuted
offhand by the seminarians. whose skill as
dialecticians and incidentally, their pro-
ficiency in speaking Latin delighted the
Pope's representative At the conclusion
Of the exercises Monsignor Satoli congrat-
ulated the late Archbishop Ryan. the fac
ulty and students. declaring in effect that
he had seen nowhere else in this country
training school for priests 50 closely ap-
preaching the models and high standards
established In Rome. While a student in
tended, among others, Monsignor' Satolli's
lectures delivered at the famous College OF
the Propaganda Eide.
Doctor Kennedy was noted as an elo-
quent and erudite preacher. and was fire.
quently called upon to deliver sermons on
special occasions cornerstone layings.
church dedications and the like. He was
often heard in the Cathedral in this city
and elsewhere, during the Lenten season
as well at other times. At the conse-
Grafton OF Monsgnor Sberretu as Bishop
of Havana. a notable ceremony, attended
by members of the hierarchy from all over
the country. which took place in St. 1g-
| natius's Church, Washington, d. C.. Febru-
ary. 1900, Bishop Kennedy preached the
conservation sermon. He was a man OF
| fine presence and affable manner, and was
highly exercised by his fellow clergymer
throughout the archdiocese
In the autumn of 1895 the Archbishops OF
| the United States placed him first on the
| list of three nominees for the vacant rector
| ship OF tn American College.
Bishop Kennedy remained at Overlook
until June 5, 1901, when, his work attracting
the personal attention Of the Pope, he was
called to Rome and appointed rector of the
North American College. Subsequently he
was named Domestic Prelate by Leo XIII
or December 49, sO1. And on March 15
904. was named Prothonotary Apostolic by
Piux "
November 80, 1907, he was appointed titu.
| lar Bishop OF Adrianopolis to which office nc
diocese is attached. The Illness that led tC
| his death began In 1913. when he returned
| to this country because of the death of his
parents. He was greatly affected by their
| loss and during a visit to his old home at
Conshohocken was seized with pneumonia
which left him with weak heart.
He rallied and returned to Rome. but suf.
fered a relapse almost Immediately. His
|
| Kennedy, hurried across the ocean to his
| side He surprised all by apparently win
ming back his health.
year later he was again stricken.
being taken i'll at Castel Gandolfo, where
he was spending his vacation. Once more
his life was despaired of, but he recovered
in n short time.
The prelate was made Titular Arch
bishop Of Selencia Trachaea, OF Isauria.
by Pope Benedict XIV. in July, 1915.
After going to the American College as
vice rector, Monsignor Kennedy frequently
visited the United States and Philadelphia
to see his mother. his sisters and his niece.
After his mothers death his sisters and his
niece went TO Rome to he near him.
Monsignor Fisher said today: He was
n most remarkable man and one OF the
most eminent of the church. He was a
member of the papal household and was
regarded as the most valued adviser of
affairs. He will be buried in the vault of
the American College at Rome. where also
lies the body of his brother Joseph, who
died while attending the college"
At the close Of 1908 Bishop Kennedy
came to Philadelphia to attend the golden
jubilee of the marriage of his parents.
Among the many complimentary entertain.
ments given in his honor during his visit
was a banquet at the Bellevue.Stratford.
at which We're present Archbishop Ryan,
Bishop Prendergast and more than 200 cler-
gymen
At the time of the earthquakes of Avez-
zano and the Marsi, Monsignor Kennedy
threw open the villa of Santa Caterina in
Castel Gandolfo, to the children who had
lost their parents in the disasters. This act
brought a letter of commendation from the
Vatican by courier. The villa was the
summer home of the students of the Amer
lean College. Visiting the orphans the
day after they found shelter there. Mon.
signor Kennedy discovered they were with.
out clothing, He raised funds to remedy
this condition by appealing to wealthy
Americans. So impressed was the Pope
that he asked that Bishop Kennedy be
photographed with a group Of the young
sters and that a copy be sent to his private
apartments In the Vatican.
For time Monsignor Kennedy, then a
curate, was In charge of st. Matthew g
parochial school, Conshohocken A cousin,
Miss Margaret Cannon, is still organist