The sun., 1918-07-13
BISHOP CUSACK dies
A VICTIM OF CANCER
Catholic Prelate Elevated to
High Honors From Simple
Missionary Post.
WON CONVERTS BY SCORES
End Comes in Albany Diocese
After Months Of Suf-
fering.

ALBANY, July lZ-Tne tNgnt rev
Thomas =. Cusack. Bishop Of the Catho-
lie Diocese OF Albany, died soon after 2
o'clock tbls afternoon. Bishop Cusack.
who was IS years old. hsd been in poor
health since June. 1917, but had been
able to perform his diocesan duties at
intervals until recently Cancer, In
duced by intestinal trouble, was the
| cause OF death.
He was operated upon at Philadel-
,,hia Just before Easter, but the opera
ton did not greatly improve his condi-
ton. For several weeks he had been
lingering between life and death.
Until a week ago Friday Bishop
Cusack had hoped for recovery. When he
was then told that his death was
matter or days he explained:
Welcome Is the will OF God !"
Recently Bishop Cusack offered to the
Government all the Catholic hospitals
and schools In the diocese for the care
and treatment OF invalid soldiers Held
erberg Inn, a large hotel acquired by
the diocese for hospital purposes, was
included In the offer.
Gov. Whitman sent the following tele-
gram to the Episcopal residence when
'1n the death Of Bishop Cusack the
whole community suffers great loss.
/ knew Bishop Cusack for many years
both In New York and Albany. He was
big minded. public spirited. a devout
man and priest We all feel his death
as a great personal bereavement"
High preferment in the church, to
whose service his devout mother had
dedicated him at birth. came to Bishop
Cusack fourteen years ago, 30 suddenly
that II left him breathless. One day
In March. 1904, he had been plain
Father Tom. missionary priest, as
simple as he was beloved. The next
day, circled by reporters. he was half
incredulously exclaiming
"A Bishop? Why ! can't think of
myself as ever being other than a
missionary priest. Who could ever
have suggested me for such an office?
! am not even a PASTOR
Not even a pastor had Father Tom
been. but Bishop he had certainly be-
come-Bishop Auxiliary of New York
and, honor upon honor, irremovable,
rector Of st. Stephens one Of the most
desirable parishes In the city. To him
had gone, at the instance Of him who
held the highest. the next highest
honor which the Catholic Church had to
bestow in his province.
Observed by Archbishop.
I, was Jobp Cardinal FARLEY then
Archhixhon Farlev Who recommended
the elevation ~ Father t,nsack For
years the Arcbhishon had bnen observ-
ing the missionary labors of one who
had sidetracked personal ambitions for
the greater good of the church. Par
ticulnr,y amopp po,-Catholics Father
Tom had been successrul and at the
time his Archbishop went to Rome
on a mission OF significance unsus-
pected by himself Father Tom had to
his credit no less than 1000 CONVEX
sions in New York alone
Father Cusack was not the only one
TO be astounded nv news of his eleya-
ton. While the aupoiutment proved
most popular-for the record of the new
Auxiliary RIshon made irsnirinp reading
once attention had been focused on it
Catholics of the New York diocese had
had no such surprise in wears In point
OF the honor which had been bestowed
Young man. Although the beard which |
he had worn 10 shelter a weak throat |
made him look considerably older. he |
was only AZ when he celebrat ed his first |
pontifical high missionaries
The future Bishon was born in New
York city February %. 1852. and passed |
his boyhood in the cid Seventh ward !
When first his mother looked unor h,,,
she pleaged him 10 tho church ard u
was len 10 tho how only IN IaciG. IVA