Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-03-27

trary, he was kindhearted, affable and gems
erous. Outspoken, frank, joining even
in the hearty laugh, he was all to
all. The poorest boy in rags was as dear to d
him as the wealtbiest. The proudest of the
richest looked up to him as their superior,
while the smallest and feeblest gathered
around him as they would about an elder
brother. The Oldest and the strongest We'd
with each to win his friendship. The mo-
tives by which one Is actuated in child
hood, and the traits of character that are
then developed, whether for good or for
evil, will follow the man throughlife, and
will direct and sway his whole subsequent
career. Hence the vast importance, which
no language can exaggerate, OF an early
Christian, Catholic education. The educa-
tion of young Fitzpatrick had been of the
right kind. 1t had been commenced at home;
at home he had been taught to love God and
to fear his Judgments. Hence It is not sur
prising that the two traits Of his character,
| which more than any others, made him
great and good Prelate, were precisely
those for which he was most remarkable
when boy at school. These were con-
slant sense of the presence OF God, and a
| firm, never wavering conviction OF the truth
of the Catholic faith, without which no
man could be saved. How, he loved the
Church. Sunday was to his young heart
seven.t The faithfulness which character
lied the late Bishops attendance upon Mass
was Justly noticed, and the example 1t
| taught Impressed upon the hearers. God
called him to His service in His Holy Tenn
pie. He heard that "still small voice." The
| brilliant success which marked the studies
OF the late Prelate we're noticed at length;
how he came to be appointed Bishop OF this
diocese was touched upon. Some OF his
traits of character were then dwelt upon.
A beautiful trait of the Bishops char
acter was love of truth. This was rec
Ognized and felt by all who knew him,
and by none more than they who knew
him best. in any assembly, il dis
pute or difference OF opinion existed, the
simple words, 1.-THE Bishop told me-" or
''the Bishop said So" Immediately produced
silence; that silence was equivalent to sim
cere acquiescence. Argument was at an
end. The Bishop never spoke rashly, never
falsely The hypocrite and the dissembler
trembled in his presence, and dared not look
him in the face. For the contrite wrong
dOer he was iull of compassion and forgive
ness, but the deceiver he could never brook.
Abiding to the Bishops faith, Fitzpatrick
was born in the bosom of the Catholic
Church and OF truly noble line of ances-
! tors, the nOblest of which he could conceive,
line of saints, martyrs and confessors. lie
| was born, however, in country and at
time most dangerous to the faith-in
Protestant country, < Crying in its PrOtes-
tantism. and at an epoch when Irish
Catholics were despised as too contempti-
BILE even for persecution. But never pass
ing cloud crossed the bright disc of his be-
lief; so strong was his faith, and so intense
his love for the Catholic Church that he
cOnsecrated himself wholly to her from
| oh W!
lay down in her bosom and die. But the
Bishops faith was not merely strong. 1t
was also simple and reliant. 1t was not
upon reason ana reflection that he leaned,
but upon God himself and the Church, his
oracle. Hence iC was that when the Bishop
came in contact with inquirers after truth,
he delivered no lengthy arguments or at
tempted to prove Christian doctrines arti-
Gle BY article, or make apologies to eccle-
siasiical usages, but would fix the attention
Of the inquirer undivided upon the au-
thority of the Church. "He that believ-
eth shall be saved he that believeth not
shall be damed." Decision of character
was another of the Bishops promi-
nent traits. His was decision
proceeding not from self-will or pride,
but from confidence in God. After weigh
ing carefully every consideration, he calm
ly laid out his course of action and was
seldom known to deviate from his first de-
cision; and if he did, it was in Difference to
the opinion of others. In all matters of
doubt he felt there was rightand wrong.
After noticing other salient traits of the
Bishops character, which added to his dig
nifty as a man and to his grandeur as a
Prelate, the speaker concluded by elo-
quently alluding to his patience and long
suffering. During the eight long years of
pain aud suffering, both of mind and body,
no murmur came from his lips, nor a hope
or wish that he might recover unless it
were the will of his Father. The Bishop
died with the same calm dignity and sub
mission to the Divine will that had marked
his whole life. His mind had lost nothing
of its energy, nor his eye its lustre, nor his
will its power, when intelligence came Of
the appointment by the Holy See of CO.
adjutor and successor. Nov Lord let thy
servant depart in peace" The news
brought Joy and consolation to his pater-
nal heart; now he could die in peace; his
children would not be orphans; he would
now begueath to them father. one after
his own heart and of his own choice. A
few days only and his pure spirit returned
to God who gave it. He died as he had
lived-like Bishop. "Do you not know
that. Prince and great man has died
| thic 6av IN Israel ~ .,.. ..f