Hurley was a friend of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, who commended him for converting a number of high profile people, including her sister-in-law, to Catholicism. When Philadelphia was afflicted with an epidemic of Asiatic cholera in July 1832, Hurley allowed the friary of Saint Augustine's and a building adjacent to it to be converted into hospital, as the existing hospitals of Philadelphia became overwhelmed by the number of patients. This makeshift hospital was overseen by one doctor, Hurley, and the Sisters of Charity. For this work, he received an honorable citation. Likewise, Hurley had earlier been praised by the local medical profession for his assistance in the 1805 yellow fever epidemic. While pastor, Hurley also said mass at the Belle-Air estate owned by Jane and John Rudolph in Radnor Township, Pennsylvania. Moreover, in 1830, he received into the steeple of St. Augustine's Church a historic duplicate of the Liberty Bell that was cast in the same foundry as the original Liberty Bell; this bell had hung in Independence Hall and had been rung with the Liberty Bell on July 4, 1776. A reputed orator, Hurley gave speeches at the consecration of Bishop Ambrose Maréchal and at the funeral of Bishop Michael Francis Egan. At one point, he was successful in having a clause removed from the New York State Constitution that Catholics regarded as offensive. Hurley died on May 14, 1837 in Philadelphia. He was succeeded as pastor of St. Augustine's by Father Patrick E. Moriarty in 1839. His funeral was presided over by Bishop Francis Kenrick, and he was buried in the vault beneath St. Augustine Church alongside Matthew Carr and other Augustinian friars. Notes Bibliography