McCloskey, Father William, Baltimore, Maryland, to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1866 January 25

Purcell's letter of the 20th was forwarded to McCloskey at Baltimore. Since he last wrote, he assisted at the funeral of Mother Ann Simeon who was an admirable woman. It is not known who will be her successor but it is rumored that Sister Euphemia will succeed. She is the sister of Fathers Peter and William Blenkinsop. McCloskey agrees entirely with Purcell on the new form of baptism. It is ill-adapted here where converts are so frequent. He will ask the Archbishop Martin Spalding as Purcell desires him to do. McCloskey is under the impression that in Baltimore they are dispensed from using the long form. The Archbishop is now in Washington. He created some stir among the fashionable Catholics by preaching a scrmon on dancing "the German" whatever that is. Father Thomas Foley also gave a sermon on scandal. McCloskey is sure the Archbishop is eager to have the plenary Council. The Archbishop John McCloskey of New York does not seem to care to have it just now, neither does Bishop John Conroy. McCloskey asks if Purcell has heard anything of an assembly of bishop in Rome in 1867. He suggests that Purcell had better not wait for him to bring the check to the Pope. There is a rumor abroad that Dr. Cullen is to be made a Cardinal. The new Catholic Almanac has "His Eminence Dr. Manning" down as Archbishop of Westminister. It will be some time before McCloskey will be able to reach Cincinnati again but he will let Purcell know when he is coming. He sends regards to Father Edward Purcell and all his friends. :: II-5-c A.L.S. 4pp. 12mo.