The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-01-05
BISHOP ENGLAND.
The Lecture Last Night by the Hon. NJ.
p. O'Connor.

Hibernian Hall was filled last evening to
overhowiDg with an appreciatlve audience,
including large number OF ladies, who had
assembled at the invitation OF the Catholic In
stitute to hear the lecture on Bishop England
by the Hon. N. P. O'Connor. Every seat In
the spacious hall was occupied before the ap-
pointed time, and late corners were compelled
to content themselves with standing room IN
the rear. At The appointed hour, the mem
bers of the Catholic Institute ascended the
stage with their honorary guests, and the
splendid band from The Citadel, which had
kindly volunteered for the occasion, regaled
the assemblase with some delightful music.
The Right Rev. Bishop Lynch then rose and
briefly introduced the lecturer.
Mr.. O'Connor, with few philosophic ref1ec-
kioas on greatness, and illusions TO some OF
| the great names Of the past, introduced his
theme by asking, 'Shau we be deemed pre-:
sumptuous for including In this category, and
placing upon the roll OF greatness. him who
has been pronounced by the Impartial ~ yeIaics
Of q lust posterity the Apostle OF the western
World ?'h Nearly a third of q century has
elapsed since the venerated and beloved John
England, the first bishop of Charleston, died.
ais mortal remains repose in yonder church,
| In the land and in the midst OF the people he
loved so well, and beneath the very spot where
once blazed in the ft.l meridian OF his power
and his glory. The altar from Whleh ne SPOKE
1s there no more. a rude and simple slab,
without inscription, marks his resting place,
and the solemn moutdering ruins Of the once
stately Cathedral stand as silent mourner
over his consecrated tomb. That Characters
tic love and attachment which animated his
| followers in life, and the marked veneration
and profound homage paid to bis exalted char-
| acter and resplendent aollitles, are now en- sn,
| twlned, as green and as fast as the Ivy to the
oak, around his haliowed memory.
John England, the speaker went on to say,
was born In Cork, Ireland. on the 23d OF Sep
tember, 1876. His grandfather suffered for
years in British dungeon the penalty OF 1dell-
ty to the obligations Of his conscience. His
father was treated as an outlaw, for teaching
geometry, and for years was refugee among
the hills OF his native country.
Having concluded the story of the Bishops
nativity, the speaker describes him as ne ap-
peared before us In Charleston In the full en-
5oyment of all his powers. "His head dome
of thought, a temple Of wisdom and OF knowl-
edge, and storehouse of learning; with
heavy overhanging eyebrows, which jutted
out like the ledge Of q rock from his clif-like
head, with q Cceronian brow, and q counte-
nance lit up By the lustre Of his full, clear blue
eve, whose glance penetrated while rlveting
the gaze which 1t attracted"
In a few burning and eloquent sentences the
lecturer now vindicated the action OF the irish
priesthood during the early part Of the Bish-
ops lie in Ireland, and particularly the part
taken BY the Bishop, and reyerting to the
endowments which 80 we'll qualified him for
the exalted position he sustained. "Blshop
England was endowed by nature with faciil.
ties that fitted him either to instruct or to
Mt ho oOptU Uor
resources Of 8 powerful and commanding IN
tellect, with the most wonderful Intuition,
with a determined will and well disciplined
temper, and. above all, genius that asplred
to great deeds; that, II fortune had go deter
mined. he might have signalized by his
triumphs the camp and tine field, and Illus
trated by his talents the cabinet oa the
forum. But he was destined for holIer
station. His parents aboundlpg IN that
Catholic plety which peopled Ireland with re-
ligiOus martyrs, and made her renowned Tor
her sanctity, bore him In his Infancy upon
their arms to the altar. and dedicated his SER
vices to the sanctuary"
next claimed the attention of the speaker,
who reviewed shortly the interesting rise OF
the Divine, from the completion OF his ecclesl-
astical education at the Theological College OF
Carlow, to his filing the presidents chair In
the Theological Seminary Of Cork, where he
cultivated with 30 much success those talents
for polemical controversy which SO dist!n-
pnished him in after life. '"Whether,n conlin.
ued the speaker, ''slanding in the tribune be-
fore the down-trodden masses, riding the
whirlwlnd Of popular passion, and Launching
his fierce anathema against England. or IN the
pulpit, grasping the thunderbolt, declaim1ng
against the lnfldel tendencies of the age, the
roar OF his oratorlc artillery resounded through
out the kingdom. His mind, when in blaze,
was as If the fires of Cyclfps were burning
and Titan fOrges working therein. Who that
has ever heard him In one OF his tremendous
outbursts of power that has not felt his nos
trils culver and his blood creep as peal alter
peal thundered upon hls startled ear His elo-
auence at times resembling the long, heavy.
distant roll of an Atlantic bilIow, as with heroic
impresslveness he described the Church on
the rock OF Peter, in mid-ocean, lashed by the
winds and the waves Of persecution; now re.
echoing from the shores of the Llfey the hill
side thunderings of the lion agIta, or and plead
ing for unborn millions the cause of Catholic
emancipation, or 10 plaintive notes lamenilng
his country'S fate, and depicting her sOrroWs
and gloom with voice that thrilled as 1t
moaned through old Cancellation Hail."
The lecturer next reviewed the events at
tending the coming OF the Bishop to this
country, and his taking pos ,ession of his see
in Charleston? He rose rapidly In the love
and esteem Of the people he hal come
6uOuRSl, huu MS luSkSdSluS 1SnOWu uAo"S
forth ths following eulogy from the speaker:
nHe rose steadily and rapidly In distinction
and renowp, and lowered high In the empy-
rean Of fame. The lustre or hls genius was
like unto the brilliancy. OF a new Jewel, more
precious than gold or sapphire, set 10 the cask-
ct OF Cardinals glory. Attracted by bis re-
fined wit and genial humor, as well as his rare
erudition, he was the glittering centre oil
charmed circle, adorned by the first Of Caro-
lina's scholars and jurists, and some OF the
best and wisest OF her statesmen. The gems
of wit of pureSt ray serene that dropped from
him, and The spicy anecdotes with which ne
enliveued the hosp.table board. are to this day
fresh in the remembrance of those who were
familiar with him. Exhibiting In his acts and
words charity as enlarged and as compre.
hensIve as bis understanding, he was the idol
and beloved shepherd OF his own fold. Com
mauding the admiration Of all classes, he be-
came the recipient of the most distinguished
favors from every quarter Of the American
Republic. By his consummats prudence, ell
Iightened zeal and piety, he soon acquired
the lead In the councils Of the American
church, and by general consent was accorded
the frat place among her bishops. He was
the prince ofthe American hierarchy.
The various and extensive writings OF the
Bishop were next treated by the speaker,
who, after reviewing the great wol ks OF the
deceased, concluded with the following
striking passage: ...--.
"Exhibiting the wonders the papacy has
wrought In lis conflicts with feudalism-draw.
Inc~ hia comma rieoDs from the days Of chiva1ry