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. LANcAsTl
sPALDING.
louisville Catholic Advocate)
1t has been known for several weeks no
that q Kentucky priest has been selected
preside over that portion of the America
Church Catholic included within the bound
ries Of the newly established Diocese of Peori
Illinois: John Lancaster spalding bears
olicty in the United States and especially
| Mary land and Kentucky.
Among the first Catholic Immigrants int
this, from the former State, were his grand
parents, Richard spalding and wife, and job
Lancaster and wife. The families settled j
| what is now known as Marion county her
the elders lived to good old age, and died re
gretted by all who knew them. Both of tn
ancient couples were blessed with numerou
progeny, and they were duly blessed in tn
moral attributes and Catholic piety of thei
! children. Their descendants to this day ar
and, what is much better, they are illustrating
their Catholic faith by the practice of thos
heroic virtues by which men are made fl TO
heaven.
Three uncles of the Bishop elect of Peori,
became priests, viz: N. j. Spalding afterward
Bishop of Louisville, and Arch bishop of Balti
more B. j: spalding, V: g.. and afterwa1d
Admlnistrator of the Diocese of Louisville
and James Madison Lancaster, pastor of the
congregation of Frankfort, KY, and sfterw ards
Administrator of the DIOCESE of Covington.
Two soDs of Richard Spalding intermarrie6
with daughters of John Lancaster. From the
second of these marrlagee-thst of Richard M
SPaiding with Mary Jane Lancaster - the
Bishop of Peoria elect was the first ISSUE
John Lancaster Spalding was born on the ID
day of June, l94O, in Lebanon, Ky. He was
carefully trained at home, both in the elements
Of Christian doctrine and of secular kno wled se.
He was after wards entered as pupil at st.
St. Mary's of the West, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Having determined to devote his life to the
holy ministry, he was sent by his uncle, then
Bishop of Louisville, to the Catholic University
studies in 1864. and was ordained priest. Re-
turning to Louisville, he was appointed by his
then Bishop, the late Right Rev. DR.. Lavialle,
assistant pastor of the Cathedral This posi-
ton 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 q 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
side OF two years, a commodious church and a
neat parsonage (wholly paid for), and very
congregation of colored Catholics.
Three years ago Father Spsldlng, with the
consent of his bishop, took up his temporary
residence in the city of New York, where ne
received the appointments of assistant pastor
of st. MichaePs Church. In this position, as
IN those he had filled at Louisville, be proved
q most efficient worker in his Msster's cause.
the young Bishop of Peoria has already ac-
lulreu very nigga position among the pulpit
'rators OF The country. We were among those
who listened to his first sermon, after his urdi-
nation and return to his native land, and il was
bon our impression that we had never heard
o remarkable an effort from so young q man.
dis voice, like that of his renowned and
amented uncle, the late Archbishop of Balti-
more, is at once clear, incisive and pleasant. |
Without seeming effort he is able to make him
eli heard distinctly in the largest churches. |
His manner III the pulpit is at once graceful |
ignifed and modest. With a mind we'll stored |
ElUh the learning of the schools, anu possess
ng, In marked degree those specis 81 gifts and
ap abilities which characterize the successful !
ubllc speaker, it is no wonder that he attract
d the attention of his elders of the hierarchy
hat is implied IN his appointment to the high
fhce OF Bishop in the Church of God.
Father Spadipg is, possibly, even better
nown and appreciated a writer than rs a
oeaker. He Yields not only graceful pen
nt nervous one. AT one time be a eek
contributor to our own columns, and we re-
ember well the interest he then excited in
le public mind through his matured reflec-
ons ON the questions of the hour in thelr re- Ii
tlons TO mans int erests for eternity.
Father SpaldiDgs motive for leaving the
ocese, temporarily, was to be near we'll ,
nown ecclesiastical writer then engaged as ,
as supposed, IN preparing 70: the press "a me-
oral biography Of his uncle the Most Kew
b. ). SpaldinE, late Arch bishop of Baltimore
3 matters Turned ont, the entire labor att end. 1
G upon this work (sioce publIshGd) devolved
'on the nephew, wto brought to bis self
SnsA INV Onty eAaCJ kuO"leOR0 OF |
ots' but an earnest desire to perpetuate the
Emory OF one from whom be had himself re- /
lVed kindness, and whose name had become !
sntlhed with Catholicity in free America /
we regard the appointment of Father Spal- /
~ 10 the new See of Peoria as q most felici- I
- one: de possesses those very qualifca- i
ms which will best insure the success of his r
sslonsry labors among population of mixed +
speaking different languages. He
'aks the German almost as fnently as he
80 his native tongue, and he is familiar with
st other languages He is at once Jealous G
prudent, of great knowledge, yet simple in N
manners, strong in pursuing the right, and n
Ilstless of the praises of men. While re- Z
tting our own loss, we must certainly con- ei
tulate our brethren of the diocese of Peoria b.
I he fact that Providence has furnished them W
b pastor go well fitted, as we conceive, to Of
i them in their spiritual " arfare against the az
mics of Holy Church and their own saliva &C
]. tv
W