The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-01-28
THE BISHOP ELECT OF PEORIA.
SKETCH OF DIR. LANCASTER
sPALDING.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF DIR. LANcAsTE
sPALDING.
| louisville Catholic Advocate)
1t has been known for several weeks no
that Kentucky priest has been selected f
preside over that portion of the America
Church Catholic included within the bounda
ries of the newly established Diocese of Peoria
illinois: John Lancaster spalding bears
| olicity in the United States, and especially /.
Maryland and Kentucky.
Among the fgst Catholic immigrants int,
parents, Richard Spalding aud wife, and Johs
Lancaster and wife. The families settled il
| what Is now known as Marion county, where
the elders lived to good old age, and died re-
ancient couples were blessed with numerous
progeny, and they were duly blessed in the
| moral attributes and Catholic piety of theil
| children. Their descendants to this day are
| reckoned among our most honored citizens
and, what is mnch better, they are illustrating
their Catholic faith by the practice of those
heroic virtues by which men are made fit for
heaven. <
Three unoles of the Bishop elect of Peoria
became priests, viz N. j. Spalding q, after wards
Bishop of Louisville, and Arch bishop of Balti-
more; b. j. spalding, v: G.. and afterwards
administrator of the Diocese of Louisville
and James Madison Lancaster, pastor of the
congregation of Frankfort, KY, and afterwards
Administrator Of the Diocese of Covington.
with daughters of John Lancaster. From the
second of these marriages-thst of Richard Nj.
Spalding with Mary Jane Lancaster - the
Bishop of Peoria elect was the fret issue.
John Lancaster Spalding was born on the I'd
day of June, 1910, In Lebanon, KY. He was
carefully trained at home, both in the elements
ct Christian doctrine and of secular knowledge
He was afterwards entered as q pupil st st.
Mary, Emmittsburg, Maryland and to that of
St. Msry's of tho West, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Heving determined to devote his life to the
Bishop of Louisville. to the Catholic University
Of Louvain, where he finished his ecclesiastical
studies in 1864. and was ordained priest. Re-
turning to Louisville, he was appointed by his
assistant pastor of the Cathedral. This posi-
tion he retained until 1868, when the then ana
present Ordinary of the Diocese, DR.. VIM. Mo.
Closkey, entrusted to him the difficult task of
forming congregation out of the colored Ca
tholic population of the city and building q
church for their use. He went to work with
commendable activity, and the result was, in
eide OF two years, commodious church and
neat parsonage (wholly paid for), and a very
respectable congregation of colored Catholics.
Three years ago Father SpaldIng, with the
consent OF his bishop took up bic temporary
residence in the city of New York, where ne
received the appointment of assistant pastor
of st. MichaePs Church. In this position, as
IN those he had SLED at Louisville, be proved
a most efficient worker in his Masters cause.
the young Bishop of Peoria has already ac-
CURED a very high position among the pulpit
orators OF the country. We were among those
W no listened to his rst sermon after his ordi-
nation and return to his native land, and it was
then our Impression that we had never heard
so remarkable an effort from so young a man. |
bis voice, Ike that OF his renowned and
lament ted uncle, the late Archbishop of Bait- |
more, ls at once clear, incisive and pleasant. |
Without seeming effort he is able to make him
self heard distinctly in the largest churches |
His manner in the pulpit is at once graceful, |
iignitied and modest. With a mind well stored |
With the learning of the schools, and possess
ng, in marked degree those special gifts and |
capabilities which characterize the successful
IN bic speaker, it is no wonder that he attract
ID the attention of his elders of the hierarchy
hat Is implied IN his appointment to the high
thce OF Bishop in the Church of God
Father SpaidiDg IL, possibly, even better
Known and appreciated as q writer than rs a |
peaker. He Yields not only a graceful pen
nut q nervous one. AT one time be " as week
contributor TO our own columns, and We re-
MEMBER we'll the Interest he then excited in
be public mind through his matured rehec-
ions on the QUESTION: of the hour in theIr re-
atoms TO maEs terests for eternity.
Father Spaldipg's motive for leaving the
locese, temporarily, was to be near a we'll.
nown ecciesiasticnl writer then engaged, as
'as supposed, in preparing 70. the press q me-
1ortal biography Of his uncle, the Most Rev
l. j. Spalding, late Archbishop OF Baltimore
3 matters turned ont, the entire labor attend.
og upon this work (since published) devolved
pom the nephew, WHO brought to his self
hposed task not only exact knowledge of
lots' but an earnest desire to perpetuate the
emory OF one from whom be had himself re-
'lVed kindness. and whose name had become /
entlhed with atbolicity in free America.
we regard the appointment of Father Spal- |
ng to tho new See of Peoria as a most feici- I
us one. he possesses those very qualifica- i
Ons which will best insure the success of his r
visionary labors among population of mixed !
speaking different languages. He
eaks the German almost as fuently as he
'es his native tongue, and he is familiar with
ost other languages. He is at once Jealous {
a prudent, of great knOwl60Oa al m nj in | n
5 manners, strong in pursuing the right, and II
t listless of the praises of men. While re- T
citing our own loss, we must certainly con- e
atulaJe our brethren of The diocese of Peoria b
the fact that Providence has furnished them "
tn pastor so well fitted, as we conceive, to 81
I'd them in their spiritual warfare against the 81
emies of Holy Church and their own saliva 81
n. t.
--llE1ln---- "