The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-01-03
The Lion Of Judah.
ILondon Universe L

London Uniweree
The Catholic world is proud of the
great, the eloquent, the noble, the patriotic
John, Archbishop of Tuam. For more
than half a century that illustrious prelate
has been guiding light in Irish politics,
and there was no man to whom O'Connell
looked up to more than to him whom that
great leader named "the Lion of the fold
of Judah" Ireland is about to celebrate
the fiftieth anniversary of the conservation
of Archbishop MacHale, and there is no
reason to doubt that the country of which
he is so great an ornament will prove her
devoted attachment to him who has been
one of her most glorious champions.
1t was, we believe, about the year 1919
that DR.. MacHale commenced his pnblic
career by the publication of those letters
to Canning which brought out in powerful
language and in great strength of thought
the proofs of Ireland's right to full relig
these letters did to awaken attention to the
fact that Ireland was suffering deeply from
the remains of the penal laws. When in
1928 the Catholic Association was estab
lished by O'Connell and Shiel, no man
gave to that memorable body more active
or more valuable aid than the illustrious
prelate of whom we write. 1t is true that
the speeches of the lay leaders did much
towards winning the victory. and also that
the noble poems of Moore, Bapim, Griffin
and Furlong contributed to the same re-
suit. 1t must, however, not be forgotten
that DR.. MacHale and the great DR.. Doyle,
we'll known (because he was Bishop of
great impulse to the movement. TO DR..
MacHaie chiefly fell the task of exposing
the educational disadvantages under which
Catholics labored. He proved that the
system known as that of "Kildare Place
Schools" was most dangerous and insidious.
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the cause, which resulted in breaking to
great extent the chains which bound the
Catholics of the empire.
1t was not, however, merely in connec.
tion with educational and ecclesiastical
subjects that the wonderful Talents of DR..
flung himself boldly, actively, and with
noble patriotism into every movement
which had for its object the elevation of
Ireland. He was the greatest of those who
helped O'Connell in his struggles for the
laud which they both loved so we'll. His
letters in condemnation of the National
schools which were established by the
Wings in 1881 proved how we'll he saw
through the plot which (as the Protestant
prelate DR.. Whateley afterwards confessed)
was intended to destroy Catholicity in Ire.
land.
Dr.. MacHale became Bishop of Kildare
in 1925, and Archbishop of Tuam in Au-
gust, 1884, on O'Conneil's birthday. The
people of Ireland will do we'll to celebrate
! the jubilee of the very distinguished man
who has done 40 much for them. When
| the Repeal Association was in action he
did work which Ireland can never for
get. He organized those memorable meet
ings in the West of Ireland which gave
such an impulse to that great cause
When Lord John Russell brought in bis
| wretched Titles Act in 1851, by which he
! vainly thought to lessen the power of the
Catholic Church in these countries (Which
act has been, by general consent, expupged
from the Statute Book to which it was g
disgrace), the Archbishop of Tuam made
one of the best speeches at the meeting IL
Dublin, over which Cardinal Cullen, then
primate, presided. In 1852 he was amongst
the first to denounce the unholy conspiracy
by which it was sought to strike down the
liberties of ireland, and well did the
noble prelate do his work.
Of the literary labors of the great arch
bishop we have not space to write much to
day. He gave to the world fine transla
tions of "Homer" and of Moore's noble
lyrics, and, in fact, it may with truth b
said that there is no department of itera
ture which his grace has not adorned.
We conclude with the expression Of tn
hope that the fftieth anniversary of 5h
day when such great and good man be
came prelate will be marked by such
manifestation of feeling as will show tina
those for whom he has toiled are not un
grateful to a man who has, with devote
zeal and unswerving patriotism, devote
his splendid talents to the defence Ut re
ligion and fatherland.
Installation of Right Rev DR.. Pellicer, Bishop
San N