The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-01-01
Death Of Brother ., St. vin,o,.n. do Paul.

Members OF the Society OF st. vincent &c
Paul. wherever living, will read with edihca-
tion the following tribute to the memory Of q
departed member of their Society, 1t is taken
from the Bulletin:
The Lord has been pleased to take from this
world one who was known to have found III
the Society of st. Vincent de Paul the way
open to him Z" to exercise not alone the works
which relieve the body, but those, too, which
keep in view the sanctification of the soul"-l
Before all men, the life of our dear brother
John Whyte was a beautiful example of benig-
nifty, sweetness aud purity; to those who knew
him in our dear Society, it was far more. 1t
presented, wherever he went, in what circum- |
stances soever he was placed, life fruitful |
in every good work, n spit ever increasing in |
the knowledge of God.
The son of gallant Catholic officer, who,
during the existence of the penal laws, sub !
mitted to an unfair delay i'll promotion, and
an unjust deprivation of income, rather than
swerve in the slightest degree from the dnty
he owed to the holy faith he professed, our
dear brother inherited deep and ardent at
tachment to the Church of his fathers. His
knowledge of Catholic truths was enlarged,
his devotion to the Church was strengthened,
by his education in the College of the Jesuit
Fathers at Stonyhurst. Neither university nor
professional studies drew him away from the
practices of religion; almost immediately at
ter his call to the bar he became member of
our Society, joining the Conference OF st. Ma
ry, attached to the Metropolitan Church, Dub
lin, the Goth june, 1913. Here he found
engaged in noble emulation in the cause OF
the poor here he received edifcation and
gave it back, winning friendship and esteem
from those with whom he labOred. How well
he appreciated what should be the grounds of
true Christian friendship will be understood
from words written years afterwards to one OF
within the Conference "Oh" he says, were
it but for the sake of the friends that one
makes in our Society, it would be well worth
any ones while to become aVincentlan For
had n nfkT-
ence, doing his duty as . member so well, be-
ing constant in attendance, so diligent i'll
attentio to the wants of the poor, that when
a vacancy occurred in the office of President,
his appointment that position, in Decem-
| Der, 1S45, presaged the coming of a new life
| into the works OF the Conference. Those who
saw him discharS'ng that heavy responsl oiiity
can tell how he was animated with the spirit
| of the works, how zeal taught him to make
| leisure for them, how fine judgment directed
and regulated his energy, how to a con:iliatory
| spirit which enlisted cooperation he joined u
simple, regular, active piety, giving q holy in
| SEPARATION to those around him. Within the
| Conference circles 1lourished for reciting the
| Rosary of our Blessed Lady; his watchfulness
kept up the clothing depot and encouraged the
| Ladies' Clothing Society designed to assist the
Conference in supplying families with suitable
articles of dress; from time to time he visited
every case on the relief books, not interfering
| with the regular visitors, but aiding them,
when necessary, in such ways as his eXperi-
ence suggested as likely to assist each poor IA
his presence at the weekly meetings gave an
example of diligence and attention, absence
FROM town or the like necessity being the only
excuse his sense of duty admitted. Nor was
it within his Conference alone that his love foI
the Society and its works exercised ITSELF
Seeing how much good was left undone, how
much misery was nnrellcved IN consequence o.
funds being deficient, he took upon himself
wear after year. much of the labor inc dent tt
the preparations Of the bazaars held to assis,
the Dublin Conferences with funds to carry OF
fprn teri
the members OF the Society. Nor did this eX
} hanst his zeal. When, in 1856, the issue il
English of the organ of the Society, the Bale
TIM was resolved upon, its management, tn
+ arrangement of its matter, the regulation Q
, its funds, were undertaken bv that same goo'
: and faithful brother, who, in every service o
this association Of c't.rity, ,U:s,.izc II ~orl
we'll pleasing in the sight of God. Such wa
the member of the Society of st. Vincent d.
Paul with whom, at the close of 1867, the Dub
lin Conference had to part his appointment
to an important judicial position III the colony
of Eong- Kong, led 10 his departure from Ire
land. We may take pride in the fact that h'
who, in our Society, was doing the work OF ;
good Christian, was recognized in the world ns
a good citizen; to his public and private worth
a splendid testimonial was offered by II larg.
number of his fellow citizens, and presented tt
him on tho eve of his departure by the then
Lord Mayor.
81 Scarceiy had be arrived at Hong-K Kong than
he applied himself to bringing to the service
of the spiritual and corporal restitution wnich
Vincent. In July, 1863, he succeeded in estab-
fishing Conference under the Invocation OF
the APOSTLE of the Indies, st. Francis XAVIER
and of this, the first Conference of The Society
, | of St. Vincent de Paul in that part OF the
globe he was the first President. Shortly af-
ter another, intended for native Chinese, was
formed. Faithful to his early love tor Gods
service never ceasIng to repeat his first works
he engaged himself when circumstances al
! lowed, in visiting Canton, to take part III
works of Catholic devotion, and assisted al
pilyrimages to the Island of Sancian, to ven
, crate the grave of St. Francis Aavier. We
NAV Judge what WAS the tree OF which course
: of life such as has been indicated was the
, fruit; the open but unOstentatiuus practice o.
= religious duty, the Infusion into daily life o.
the spirit of igious life. won amongst tina
people the respect and admiration already &C
corded to his excellent qualities ut home, 81
that when he resolved to resign bis JndiciA
, position for the practice of his profession
number of native merchants addressed u lette
to the Governor of the colony, praying him u
! endaayor to 1etain the services of "one W no
for his probity and impartiality so accorded
: with the feelings of the people" After nav
practised his profession with much SUCCESS, ant
] having been called by the Colonial Govern
! ment to Il higher judicial position than he hat
8 previously occupied, he was compelled, by hi
state of health, TO return to his native country
in the year 1868. ,
Circumstances requiring his return TO th
distant land wherein Providence bad cast hi
lot, he performed the journey with his usua
readiness to perform what seemed COOS VII
: in his regard. "After all Che wrote) what re
; lirion teaches us is the best practical wisdom
} Submission to the will of our heavenly Father
who knows far better than we do what is goo'
for u.s."