The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-10-31
The Late Father William Murphy, S. J.

tho advanced age Of seventy-two years.
Father Murpby's name will always live
~ Intimately connected with the history Of
the Catholic Church In the United States a.
the works founded and supported by bim
will, 1t 10 to be hoped, never cease to bring
forth rich and abundant fruit. His entire
life was devoted to the service Of God, and
bis zeal and energy in the divine service
never Jagged till the moment Of bis death.
AS boy be was remarkable for innocence
and piety, and his virtuous and religions
mother fostered these iDestimable gifts
with much care and vatchfulness.
Born in the city Of Cork, Ireland, fn the
beginning Of this century, Of wealthy and
highly influential Catholic parents, bis
early education was attended to with the
most vigilant eircumspectioD, and thus he
was pgudently removed from the many In
fuences that tend TO corrupt the heart
or weaken the faith Of the young and
unthinking. As Ireland at that time
was deeply cursed by the withering
and long continued persecution Of Eng-
lish and Protestant misrule, and az her
children were cruelty excluded from all
knowledge Of scieDce and letters unless
they had recourse to masters and schools
hostile TO the faith and nationality of the
country, Father Murpby'S parents were
morally compelled to seek an asylum for
their son in Catholic France. They did not
hesitate to make the painful sacrifice Of
separating themselves from their child in
order TO secure for him the blessings Of 8
liberal education, and consequently they
sent him TO St. Acheul, jesuit College in
France, at that time distinguished alike for
its learning and religious fervor. Father
Murphy found himself Immediately at home
In this retreat, where, in the words Of
Scripture, "he advanced daily in wisdom,
age and grace" Having completed his col
Iegfate course of studies with success, and
being naturally called upon to seek some
profession In the world, he had recoursc to
God in prayer and fervently besought the
Lord to direct him in selecting the state Of
life most coDformable to the divine will.
Feeling that he was called to a religious
lie, at once, without a murmur or the
smalIeat feeling Of regret, he abandoned the
bright and promising worldly prospects, that
wealth and his own brilliant talents clearly
presented to his youthful imagination.
Father Murphy was then a whole .souled
boy and cheerfully complied with the
counsel OF the Lord "If thou wilt be per-
feet, go sell what thou hast and give to the
poor, and thou shalt have q treasure in
heaven: and come and follow me-" He
consequently, at the age Of twenty, entered
the Society of JeSus, where be felt himseff
removed in great measure from the dangers,
snarcs and temptations that surround and
very frequently deStroy even the virtuouSiy
disposed in the world. Bat as selfishness
had little part In his nature he beheld with
sorrow and alarm that his brethren, especi
ally in missionary lands, were tossed about
and buffeted by storms of no ordinary kind.
IrrsligioD, Indifference and infdelity very
generally prevailed in some places, whilst
it was next to impossible to find priests and
missionaries enough to supply even Catho-
lie children with the knowledge necessary
for salvation. lie therefore desired to de-
vote himself to their service if his superiors
should deem him worthy of this laborious
but holy miEsion. Preparation, however,
was necessary in order TO meet the many
crying wapts Of Catholics in the United
States. First class colleges, with able
masters, were absolutely required If the
young and rising generation we're to be
saved from heresy and infdelty. A know
ledge Of languages was most desirable, az
the Catholic community in this country is
composed Of members of all nationalities.
Theology and philosophy were indispensa-
BILE in order to refute error ard to teach
wholesome and salutary doctrine. Father
Murphy applied himself with zeal and
energy to meet as far as one man could AL
these wants.
His knowledge of classic literature was
elegant and profound, as We can easily IN
derstand from the fact that even in France
be was appointed by>bis superiors to teach
rhetoric. Having studied theology at Rome
under the best masters, he afterwards lived