The Late Archbishop Corrigan.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 22, 29 May 1902, Page 6

The Late Archbishop Corrigan.

A FEW w&ks aero \*e announced the death of Archbishop Corrigm, of New Yoik. An esteemed correspondent has forwarded us the following particulars regarding the deceased prelate :—: — Mu-hael Augustine Corrigun was born in Newark, New Jersey, of In-h p runts-, August IIS, '83.). While prospering in life the family retained euch piety and love for religion that three of the sons became jri>stp, and a danghrt-r a nun at Meaux, in France. M eh el was sent in lS'io to St. Mury's College, Wilmington, but four * ears lat> r < n'ered Mount St Marj'a at brnmittsbu rg, where his ibility a d studious char eter won a hgh rank. When the Am. ricin Col.ege at Koine, whu h had been founded by Pope Pius lX,wa< op-ned for students, Michael A. Comgan way the li s' sera narian chosen and tt.e fi nt t > «-nt~r. He. was ordained m the La eran j'.a-ilna, Septemb r lit. 18(>3, by Cardinal Patrui, but p olonged bii resi ience in Rome in order to pursu^ special st-idus and win his d. otor'.s c.ip. On his le urn t « Newark in July, 1 S < "> t , Bishop havl> y, who had the highest esteem for hi* learning sw d piety, «ppointed him profesa'-r of dogmatic theol'^y and Sa'-rul ftoiipturea in the seminary at II ill Ha soon btome director of that inst tutn.n and Vu; -pre-ident of Seton Hall College, and its President afttT the elevation of Dr. M( Q mid to the Si-e of Rochester. In his devotion to the cau«e ot education, D-. Corrij/an bent all his energies to render S ton Ua'i a college of the highest rank. During the aba nee of Bishop Baylr-y at the V >tiuan Council in 1870, Dr. Corngin w,b Vi ;ar-G-eneral and Administrator of the diiwese, diso'nargu-g ih • onerous ad lition.il duties with singular prudence When Bidoo Baylt-v was promoted to the See of Bal imore, Dr. Corriyan was elected Bnhop of Newark on February 14, 1873, and on the FeaU of the P.nrur-ige of St. Joseph was consecrate 1 in his own Cathedral by his Giaoe Archbishop Mc f )loskey, of New York, 17 bishops be ng present, and was at once enthroned. He was the y .ungest member o* the Americin hierarchy, but showed the maturity and exp-ritm-e of years. Retaining the presidency of the college to which he was po greatly attached, be devoted his mind to the more so of religion. H;s diocese was already a flourishing- oni with 121 churches and mission stations, 116 prusts, and 57 parochial schools. He introduced the Jesuits, Dominicans and Franciscans ; established a Catholic Protectory for boys at Denville under the care of the Franciscan Brothers ; a House of the Good' Ml pherd at Newaik ; and a hospital in charge of the Little Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis. Besides these Orders, he engaged in active works of mercy ; he wished to endcv the diocese with a contemplative Order, convinced that it, would draw down blessings on all. The Sisters of the Order cf Perpetual Adoration from Lyons, France, came to fuJfi, his wish.

A Diocesan Synod, held in 1878, renewed and extended the statutes previously promulgated by Bishop Bayley for the church under his care Meanwhile tne Catholic schools received an impulse, so that lowards th- close of 1880 there were in New Jereey lod w,th no less than 26,000 pupils. The churches had increaeed to IM, with 40 stations, and the priests to 190 The advanced age of Cardinal McCloskey made appointment of a coadjutor a necessity, and, to the regret of the Catholics of New Jersey Bishop Corrigau was, on October 1, 1880, promoted to the bee or Petra, and made coadjutor to the Archbishop of New York with the right of succession. In his new position the active part of the episcopal work soon devolved upon him— the visitation of the diocese, ordinations, oonfirmations, and dedications. The Fourth Provincial Council and fourth Synod of New York were mainly directed by him, and for tbe use ot such assemblies he prepared a useful manual He was summoned to Borne as one of the Archbishops whom the Holy See wished to consult in regard to tbe wors of the proposed Plenary Council, and when that body met in November, 1884, he represented tne diocese of New York. On the death of his Eminence Cardinal MoCloskey, Archbishop torngan became, on October 10, 1885, third Metropolitan of the province of New York.