Thomas W. Spalding

2282 Martin John Spalding: American Churchman, by Thomas W. Spalding (read 31 Mar 1990) The subject of this biography was born in Kentucky in 1810, his ancestor having arrived in Maryland in 1657 as an indentured servant. Martin John Spalding was ordained in Rome Aug 13, 1834 by Cardinal Carlo Pedicini. He was appointed coadjutor bishop of Louisville in 1848. He succeeded to the see upon the death of Bishop Flaget on Feb 11, 1850. He began his duties as Archbishop of Baltimore July 31, 1864, and died Feb 7, 1872. This is a good book, published in 1973, so it is not too sanctimonious. Spalding was by no means a perfect prelate, but was fairly able. The author says he rather than McCloskey of New York would have been the US's first Cardinal if he had lived to 1875 (when McCloskey was named a Cardinal). Spalding's role at Vatican I was not a great one. Archbishop Kenrick of St. Louis was as stubborn an opponent of the definition as anyone, whereas Spalding began as an inopportunist but caved in. This is a well-written book, though Spalding's life is not super-interesting.… (mer)