The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-11-07
IN MEMoRIAN:
REV WILLIAM STACK MURPHY. 8. j..

"Yee, returned the poet, land when the comet
appeared a month or two ago, 1 had sometimes
an imagination that it might possibly be come
to carry him home, just a. o coach comes to
ones door for visitors" Thus did the noble
spirits of the past speak of their compeers.
and it is no promising sign Of our age that few
now seem capable of recognizing any greatness
outside of themselves.
I have just read, Mr.. Editor, with much in
terest, your account of the late Father Murphy.
Finding it somewhat scant, however, and
deeming it among the highest offices Of Catho.
lie journalism to place in strong light the lives
of men like him, I have concluded to give the
public, through you, sketch of this great and
even sanity Jesuit.
Father Murphy spraug from family of mer-
chant princes, whose scions have been honor
ably distinguished in law, literature and Par
Lament, the army, the navy and the Church.
He was born April 90, 1903, at Hyde Park, near
Cork, the residence of his father, Jeremiah
Murphy, Esq. r" Old Jerry Murphy" as be was
popularity and affsctionately called, was one of
the magnates of the "fve-sled city,""a fellow
of infinite jest" noted for his scholarly attain
ments, his active benevolence and an mex
haustible fund of wit and humor. The boys
middle name was added in compliment of an
ancient maternal relative, the wealthy Captain
Stack, who chose him for his heir. may
remark here, that the gallant Captain dying
suddenly, his property was legally disposed of
(which never troubled me-" said Father
Murphy, Though it sadly disappointed my
poor, dear father"
From infancy upwards young Murphy's edu-
cation was most carefully conducted. As a
boy, he was remarkable for candor, uprightness
and genial, afectionate nature, which 80 en-
deared him to those about him that the few
who survive still speak of him with deep
affection. The companions of his studies and
sports were his brothers-Charles, who died at
college; Jerry, who succeeded his father at
Hyde Park, and Frank, a lawyer Jerry Muir
ply was the first Catholic who filed the Office
of Sheriff since the partial repeal of the penal
laws, and Frank Murphy was the first Catholic
authorized to place 9 c. after his name since
the same epoch.
The surroundings of the youth no doubt in
fuenced his after career. Cork was then illu-
mined by galaxy of learned men, several of
whom have since achieved fame in various
walks of art, science and literature. Hogan
the sculptor, Maclise, Ford and Fisher, paint
OA0t S0A1dhSn, G1O PSOV, duO CaGucE 1EOuGS are
but few of these great names. His uncle,
Right Rev. John Murphy, Bishop of Cork, was
| among the most noted sarans of the day, an
ardent admirer and liberal patron of men of
letters.
The parents Of our youth gave their frat
| attention to the faith and morals of their chill
dren. Hence, the higher schools of Ireland
being Protestant, they imposed upon them
selves the painful sacrifice of separation from
! their children, and William was sent to the
Jesuit College of st. Acheul, France, of which
he soon became the foremost scholar.
Obedient to the whisperings of the spirit of
God within him, he entered the Society of
Jesus, in his twentieth year. That he was
considered, even then, man of brilliant parts
is evinced by the fact that he was almost i'm
mediately promoted to the chair of rhetoric
After several years. study at the Roman Uni
versity, and heightened residence in Spain as
professor of bellies lettres, he turned his atten-
| ton to America. Deeply touched by the spir-
itual restitution of poor Catholics of all ma
| tionalities, he offered to labor in that distant
region of the Lords Vineyard, should his
! superiors deem him not unworthy of so high a
mission.
French, Spanish, Italian and Latin as auently as
his mother-tongue; could readily make himself
understood in Irish and in several Indian
dialects, and had no mean knowledge of the
dead languages, which enabled him to study
the Holy Scriptures and the Fathers in the
original. For man of his ability, polished
by high culture and constant intercourse with
the keenest intellects in Europe, life in the
backwoods of Kentucky would have been a
sacrifice, were he not already SO advanced in
holiness as to consider everything done and
suffered for God in the light of a privilege.
In 1885 Father Murphy was enrolled among
the staff of Bardstown College, but he did not
confne his labors within its walls. Every Ca
tholic church in Kentucky resounded with his
eloquence. He was always at the service of
the hundreds who focked to him to be enlipht-
ened in their doubts, instructed, consoled, alb
solved. To converts he was particularly suited.
Able to assume the difficulties, and throw him
1