CINCINNATI
775
CINCINNATI
causes of complaint at Buffalo and Philadelphia,
arrived at Cincinnati in June, 1853. Prior to his
coming popular prejudice was appealed to, his
character was maligned, and crimes imputed to him
of which he was innocent. On his arrival in Cincin-
nati the smouldering spirit of Know-Nothingism was
fanned into a flame. < >n Christmas night, 1853, while
the guest of the Archbishop of Cincinnati, a mob
determined upon his death inarched to the cathedral,
threatening to burn it. The loyalty of the people to
their archbishop, wdio counselled prudence and for-
bearance, put to shame and disarmed the spirit of
revolt, while tin action of the mob, disgracing the
hospitality of Cincinnati by insulting an unoffending
visitor of one of her citizens, was abhorred by every
lover of law and order. Archbishop Hughes was the
champion of the Church in the East and the vigilant
guardian of her interests; Archbishop Purcell was
the power which moulded her destiny in the Wist.
His tongue and pen were always active in her de-
fence. Broadminded and devoted to truth, he was
loved by all. irrespective of creed. Convinced that
he was right, he never swerved from the path which
duty marked out for him to follow. Able and wise
ainl fearless as a churchman, lje was none the less
loyal as a citizen. When the clouds of civil war were
gathering, he proclaimed himself an advocate of the
Union in opposition to the sentiments of a large num-
ber of his people, hoisted the flag upon the cathedral
spire, and delivered an address, classic in thought and
expression, which breathed the spirit of the patriot
and lover of peace. He was signally honoured by
Pius IX; and on the silver jubilees of his priesthood
and episcopacy, in 185] ami 1858, on his return from
the Vatican Council, and on the occasion of the golden
jubilee oi his priesthood in 1S76, the clergy and laity,
non-Catholic and Catholic, vied with each other in
their demonstrations of devotion to this patriarch of
the West, who had laboured incessantly for half a
century in the vineyard of the Lord.
father Edward Purcell, the archbishop's brother, had conducted for years a private system of banking. Simple in its beginning and easy of control, it assumed in tlie course of years proportions which passed, it may be, beyond the grasp and management of an individual. The crisis and financial reverses came in 1879, it is not known how. In his eagerness to com- pensate the creditors, Archbishop Purcell attempted to assume the responsibility of the bankruptcy. The courts decided that the obligation was not diocesan, that Father Purcell was individually responsible, and that churches and institutions were liable for borrowed monies only. This indebtedness (of churches and in- stitutions), amounting to some $200,000, was paid. The event hastened the death of Father Edward Purcell, and that of his brother followed on 4 July, 1883, at St. Marlins, Brown County, Ohio, where his remains now rest. The sorrow was universal. Some, it is true, in the hour of their losses, were disposed to blame, but the majority of citizens, Catholic and Protestant, believed firmly in the honesty of purpose oi tin' deceased archbishop and his brother, whose only faults, if such they may be called, were their forgetfulness of self and their willingness to aid their struggling people. The diocese, which in 1833 com- prised tin- State of Ohio, had grown from infancy to full manhood WO churches and Mm chapels raised their crosses heavenward. Tin- Catholic population amounted to 450,000, more than 85,000 being in Cin- cinnati alone. He found one church in Cincinnati upon his arrival; there were now upwards of thirty. The original diocese (embracing Cincinnati. Cleve- land, and Columbus) employed the services of 440 clergymen, 52 religious communities, 3 theological seminaries, 3 colleges, 25 academic institutions for girls, 22 orphan asylums, 1 protectory for boys, 6 hospitals, 40 charitable institutions, and 266 paro-
chial schools. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati at the
time of his death had 180,000 Catholics.
(3) William Henry Elder, Bishop of Natchez, Mississippi, was transferred to the titular See of Avara and made coadjutor to the Archbishop of Cincinnati, with the right of succession, 30 January, 1880, and succeeded to the See of Cincinnati 4 July, 1883. He had been the first to extend his sympathy and to volunteer assistance to his predecessor in the hour of his affliction. He entered upon his episcopal duties during the crucial period of the financial failure. Its settlement was brought about largely through the prudence and wisdom of his administra- tion. He received from Reuben R. Springer the generous bequest of $100,000, and in 1887 he re- opened Mount St. Mary's Seminary of the Wist, which had been closed for eight years. In 1890 he founded St. Gregory's Preparatory Seminary at Cedar Point, Hamilton County, tin- Very Rev. J. C. Albrinck being its first rector. In 1904 it was transferred to Cincin- nati and made a day college. Saintly and retiring, the archbishop exercised an influence silent but effective by the unostentatious sanctity of his life. Judi- cious at critical moments, he ruled wisely. A true lover of souls, he could be found in the confessional up to the close of his eighty-fifth year. He adhered closely to the laws of the Church, and exacted a similar fidelity in others. Two provincial councils win' called, in 1883 and 18S8. Several synods were convened and regulations framed, creating system and smoothness in the working of the archdiocese. The zeal of his predecessor characterized his efforts in behalf of Catholic education. Charitable institu- tions were placed upon a firm basis, and the adminis- tration of parishes made more methodical. He was loved by all during life, and was mourned by all at his death, 31 October, 1904.
(4) Henry Moeller, consecrated Bishop of Col- umbus, Ohio, 25 August, 1900, was promoted to the archiepiscopal See of Areopolis and made coadjutor to Archbishop Elder, with the right of succession, 27 April, 1903. He had been for twenty years Chan- cellor of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, previous to his appointment to the See of Columbus.
Causes of Growth. — Up to 1829 there was prac- tically no immigration to the West. In after years the fertility and wealth of the country lying between the Eastern mountains and the Mississippi directed thither the tide of incoming Europeans. The Irish famine of 1848, and political disturbances in Ger- many about the same time, sent large numbers of Irish and Germans to America. Friends had pre- ceded them, and glowing accounts of the agricultural possibilities of Ohio attracted many to the Ohio Val- ley. Steamboat facilities after 1830 and railroads after 183S contributed largely to increase the popu- lation. The Civil War did not retard materially the progress of religion.
Pioneer Priests. — The following are worthy of mention: Revs. E. Fenwick, S. T. Badin, N. J. Young, E. Thienpont, J. B. Lamy, Joseph P. Mache- beuf .Frederic Rise. J. Ferneding, J. Reed, J. H. Luers, H. D. Juncker, Martin J. Henni, II. Kundig, B. Toebbe, W. Cheymol, J. J. Million, Thos. Bolger, and tin- Jesuits Joseph de Bonnecamp and Armand de la Richardie. Fight of these priests were raised to the
episcopate. Among the laymen of distinction, the Fink and Dittoe families in the early years of the Church in Ohio deserve to lie remembered. In sub- sequent years the following merit special mention: Patrick and Michael Considine, John and Joseph Slevin, Stephen Boyle, Chas. Conahan, Joseph and Patrick Rogers, Joseph Butler, Joseph Heman, J. P. Carberry, Dr. Bonner, Col. McGroarty, James F. Meline, N. H. Hackman, Joseph Kline, B. VerKamp F. A. Grever, Reuben R. Springer, Patrick Poland, Joseph Nurre, H. Himmelgarn, Joseph Niehaus, and
