The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-01-20
OHETU A Il u.
rt. Rev. John meGil, Of Richmond, va.

His grace the Right Reverend John Nc
Gill, Roman Catholic bishop of Richmond.
Va, died in that city on Sunday last. Ho
expired at his residence. on Grace street.
Bishop II, Gill was distinguished Amsr>
lean prclaie, who administered the hisrarchi,
cal and rriestly affairs of diocese which
comprised all Western Virginia and the val-
ley formed by the Allegheny and Blue Ridge
Mountains, extending as far as Monroe coun-
ty, in West Virginia. lie was carried off
by cancer Of the stomach, from which he
had been confined to his bed for tho past nine
weeks. This well know divine, by tho afni-
ability of his temper and manner, won the
esteem of all the other religious sects in Vir-
ginia IS we'll as that of all the member of
his own Bishep McGiil was born in Phil
adelphia on the 4th of November, 1909
While be was yet very young his parents
removed to Bardatown, Kentucky. In his
youth lie studied the profession Of law, which
he afterward practiced in Now Orleans for
about . year, when his inclinations led him
to study for the church. With this view he
removed to Baltimore and entsrsd st. Mary's
seminary, where be went through full
theological course. After be had graduated
with high honors he returned to Bardstown.
Ky. where ne was ordained priest by the
Right Rev. Bishop David, June 13, 1880,
and was at onco made assistant priest, or
curate, to tbs Rev. Dir. Spalding, then parish
priest at Louisville, and now archbishop of
the dioceEe Of Baltimore. Father McGiil soon
after this, owing to the labors Of his mission
and great study, had his health impaired,
and took a trip TO Europe with view to
recover his physical energy. This wa. in
the year 1887. He was eminently success,
ful, returning with renewed vigor and health
to the performance of his former dutiss On
his arrival in the United States. 10 addition
to his ministerial duties, be edited weekly
Catholic journal. and was next appointed
pastor to a church in Lexington Ky. While
there he received on the 10th of October, in
the year 1850. bull from his holiness Pope
Plus the Ninth. elevating him to the dignity
Of bishop of the see of Richmond. He was
corsecrated bishop at Bardstown by the most
Rev. DR.. P. r. Ksndrick. archbishop of st.
Louis, on the 10th Of November, 1850. He
at once repaired TO the scene of his duties,
and arrived in Richmond December 6, 1850.
Bishop McGil was the author Of several
literary works Of great merit. Among them
may be mentioned his "Hstory of Calvin"
and THE True Church." He also made
several translatons of foreign literary works.
In 1870 he attended the session of tho Ecu
menical council In Rome, returning from the
holy city. in the early part of 1871. Upon
his arrival in New York he was for consid-
erable period delayed there in consequence of
an attack of the disease which has just now
brought him to the grave. Bishop MceilFs
labors in his diocese were rewarded with the
most signal success. He established several
new churches. both in the state Of Virginia
and of Wet Virginia.
The bells in the Catholic churches in Rich
mond were kept tolng the solemn and sad
news of the death of this eminent cleric all
Sunday.