St Thomas High School - Thomist Yearbook (Rockford, IL)

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A 1 ll ' l 'fl I T fi '?l: I ll' l' Wil 1 3 we is if l-.Q-lfw :zig Ia ii df Q! ,Q Bishop Muldoon, The Leezeier The Archbishops of the United States, meeting in Washington, D. C., April 18, 1917, addressed a letter to the President of the United States, which said in part: Acknowledging gladly the grati- tude that we have always felt for the protection of our spiritual liberty and the freedom of our Catholic institu- tions under the flag, we pledge our devotion and our strength in the maintenance of our country's glori- ous leadership, in those possessions and principles which have been America's proudest boast. Inspired neither by hate nor fear, but by the holy sentiments of truest patriotic fervor and zeal, we stand ready, we and all the flock committed to our keeping, to co-operate in every way possible with our President and our national government, to the end that the great and holy cause of lib- erty may triumph and that our be- loved country may emerge from this hour of test stronger and nobler than ever. - Our people, as ever, will rise as one man to serve the nation. Our priests and consecrated women will once again, as in every former trial of our country, win by their bravery, their heroism and their service, new admiration and approval. VVe are all true Americans, ready as our age, our ability and our condi- tion permit, to do whatever is in us to do for the preservation, the pro- gress and triumph of our beloved country. The fulfillment of this solemn pledge meant united activity and service in ways ,..,..,, C ' ' W P P' ' ' Ny-A91 l -1 .Q-fl 5 -ffffq W MV' :ll- -ie -. A l27l 4 , innumerable, on the part of the Catholic body of the country. How generously both were given, history has recorded. The prelate chosen by the Archbishops to organize and direct the vast work of uni- fying Catholic activities was the Bishop of Rockford, the Right Reverend Peter James Muldoon. The appointment of four Bishops to constitute The National Catholic VVar Council had been decided upon by the Archbishops at another meeting held later in 1917. The selection of its members was entrusted to the late Cardinal Gibbons, no mean judge of men. Bishop Muldoon was appointed Chair- man, and Bishop Schrembs, Bishop Cnow Cardinalj Hayes, and Bishop Russell were chosen members. No one would minimize the inestim- able services rendered by each and every member of that Committee, but it is quite obvious that Bishop Muldoon, by virtue of his office had the greater responsibility, while his gifts of leadership were given the opportunity of manifesting them- selves in higher and more far-reaching ways than ever before. Not without much experience did he approach this dif- ficult task. He had already won the con- fidence of the Catholic organizations of the United States. For almost twenty years, as priest and bishop, he had labored hard as a pioneer in the work of Catholic lay organization. To those who knew him it was evident, not only that he had a talent for such work, but that he pos- sessed in an unusual measure the qualities that make for leadership among men. The full spirit of Catholic faith inspired him. Vision led him to see both ends and means. His devotion, his singleness of purpose, his utter self-effacement could 1 row ' r

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'ffffkl l ,.,., l 19 27 V f. , :2 2 2' l . -125. .aa . ' :aaa 2:21 ':1: sfi., Sliver 25' fiifllf 22291451 f' Sr- 'z::: 1 sallam la. ll2f2'U15i2e ,.. '5l '2 ..-ii f1 f'Z22fih1fi l BN-1' DAQ. iifi --:' J Spirit used in giving to the Church in America one of its outstanding Church- men. Nature endowed our jubilarian with lavish hand. A superior man physically, of princely demeanor and handsome, he possessed the unfailing courage and the full energy that was suggested. Pious for- bearers transmitted to him the rich herit- age of a royal race, the Irish race, its abiding faith, its fertile imagination, a mentality of a high order, a capacity to suffer so characteristic of the Irish peo- ple, a sympathy, born of centuries of suf- fering and struggle for existence. Visu- alize such a man with a heart of gold, fired by the ambition to consecrate his unusual talents to God in the service of the weak, the poor, the sorrowing, de- voting the best years of his youth to the preparation for the Priesthood. At length ordained-a will, unyielding as flint in its fidelity to duty, relentless, constant, in- domitable, marshalled the tremendous spiritual, mental, and physical powers at hand and dedicated all to the work of the Apostolate. Such was Father Muldoon and such is Bishop Muldoon. Many years of zealous labor as Priest and Bishop have enhanced those qualities that from youth adorned this man of destiny. And so the writer of this feeble tribute knows him as a fearless man, uncompromising in the service of truth, unqualififedly just, kind and affable. Although like the Psalmist of old he hath loved justice and hated iniquity, be is the most patient of men when confronted with unmistakable evidence of another's injustice or perfidy. Recognizing the weakness of human nature, he is ever patient with the limitations of those about him. He has truly remarkable intuitions which are buttressed by sound judgment born of a lucid mind and a wide experi- ence. A slave to his work, he is not hard on others. He obtains the co-operation of his subjects by the force of his personality and the example of his own industry. Those subject to him, love him, and give a service prompted by love. Bishop Muldoon never fails to express appreciation for service rendered even though the service is obligatory. He has a happy manner of calling attention to the success of others. He never fails to give credit to others. His word of en- couragement is kindly and genuine. Patient with the limitations of others, he is self-effacing, seldom mentioning anything that would even indirectly re- dound to his credit. Humble, he is a con- firmed optimist. Few men have had more reason to lose faith in human nature, yet our Jubilarian is a delightful optimist. With a patience that rivals tht of holy Job, with the humility of a John the Baptist, with the zeal of a Francis Xavier, with a forgiving spirit suggestive of the Master Himself, he has labored, prayed, sacrificed, endured opposition, yet always he has maintained an abounding enthusi- asm, a sunny smile, a quiet dignity that have captivated all. VVe shall not look upon his like again! -sei fa? ...,.. .aua i . l ...... .... . . .. . ,...... ... .. . j . ,....,. ,.... . ..... .,. . ...... ......... ........ .. o r l26 l

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not but win him respect and admiration, as well as an ever-increasing number of disciples. A pleasant, equable tempera- ment, patience almost incredible, infinite tact, these were the characteristics that led men's and women,s organizations to forget their differences and to appreciate the value of concerted action with him as their leader. One might recall the early evidences of his genius for administration and leader- ship. When but three years a priest he was appointed Chancellor of the Arch- diocese of Chicago by that great and noble churchman, Archbishop Feehan. Six years later he was named pastor of St. Charles Borromeols, and at the end of another six years was consecrated Bishop and named Auxiliary to the Archbishop of Chicago. He was at the same time ap- pointed Vicar-General of the Archdiocese, which ohfice he held under both Arch- bishop Feehan and Archbishop Quigley until his appointment in 1908 to the newly created Diocese of Rockford. His re- sponsibilities, his labors, his problems, and his sacrinces in Chicago were enough to tax any man's strength, yet, through- out all those busy years, he went about the cause of Catholic the important work of of Catholic Societies, took a prominent and leading part. Likewise, in the organizing of the Knights of Columbus, the Forest- ers, the Young Men's Institute, the Cen- tral Verein, the Church Extension he was always an active, ready worker, and unto all a valued and trusted leader upon whose enlightened assistance and co-op- eration they could always count. Cath- doing good for organization. In the Federation Bishop Muldoon olic organization was to him the means whereby Catholic principles should be carried into political, industrial, economic, and social life. He saw clearly how the ignoring of Catholic principles had bred injustice, corruption, oppression-and his sympathy was always with the oppressed. Catholic America has had no more ardent crusader for justice unto the poor and the weak than Peter james Muldoon. He has been the leader who with vision, intuition, courage, tact, and rectitude has shown the way to his many followers of today, -the leader who made possible the Bish- ops' Program, and the work of the Social Action Department of the National Cath- olic Welfare Conference. VVe have already seen how in one great crisis of Catholic life in this country Bish- op Muldoon was providentially raised up to be the leader. When later on the Catholic body was again in need of a leader in a still wider field, Bishop Mul- doon was once more chosen. The seven welfare organizations working with the Government during the War undertook a common drive for Sl75,000,UO0.00. Each organization was required to do its share towards raising this huge sum. Bishop Muldoon accepted the charge of securing Catholic co-operation. Neither space nor the occasion warrants a detailed account of that gigantic undertaking, and its un- paralleled success. Bishop Muldoon had, as part of his complicated task, to organ- ize speakers and workers throughout the country. He was forced to gather to- gether hastily a staff of workers at head- quarters in .New York, to manage on short notice a nation-wide drive of the greatest magnitude. He championed both Catholic rights and Catholic devo- tion. He carried the work to complete success. The unanimous verdict of all who worked, or came in contact with him -of high and low, of friend, aye, and of foe-was, Bishop Muldoon is a born lead- er of men. 1'- IZS