The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-09-06
OBlTU AIRY.
RIGHT REV. WILLIAM HENRY ELDER, D. D.,
CATHOLIC bishop OF NATcHEz

RIGHT REV. WILLIAM HENRY ELDER, D. D.,
CATHOLIC BISHOP OF NArcHEz
A telegram from vicksburg records the death at
that city OF Right Rev B!sho p Elder who fell VIC
tim to tho dread epidemic after "nobe and glorious
service" in mnstcring to tho bodily aud spiritual
wants OF the sufferers Tho Right Reverend preate
ordained priest In 1s46, appointed bishop OF
that diocese (which comprises the whole OF the state
Of Mississipp) January 0, 1857 and csosecrated
May 3, 1857. 10 tho third in tho list OF tho
prestss Of tina, diocese. which erected July 2s.
1887, his predecessors having been Right Rev John
j. Chancac, d. D., cousecrated March IA, 1sl1, died
July %, 1852, and Right Rev. J. o. Van dc vsldc,
ID. D., transferred from the Bshopric Of
Chicago July 90 1883 died November 10,
1855. With singular propriety TO the present state
Suffering in that stricken city tho Cathedral Church
OF ST. hary Natchcz Is consecrated TO the alteration
OF sour Lady OF SOrrows." Tho telegraph has for
borne constant testimony TO the dsinterss,ed
ard heroic abors OF tho Catholic clergy OF Mississippi
the head Of whom tho venerable Bishop who
fallen martyr IN tho discharge Of his hgh mission.
One OF tue notable ncidsnts OF Bishop ELDERS career
his conflict with the federal military authorities
In 1864 upon curious point OF ecclesiastical disci
pine. Under date oil June u.s. 1864, the post command
ant at NaIehez. Colonel b. G. Farrar issued special
oracr No. H. requiring all minister's OF the Gospel 10
pruy Tor the President OF the United States SIM.
lar intmuiiOn had been made 10 Bishop Elder two
. months before, when ne had referred the matter TO
received the assufance that he 'shouid not
se ora.r shv Eaer %no shared ,ss
political convictions OF The secsdiDg States refused TO
oosy H. making known h. reason. 10 closely roa'
July IL, 1854, which nils three columns 10 the spa
pes OF that Tune. In this letter Bishop Elder recog
the good conduct OF the federal olcors
tnom Tor applies gwen 10 he orphan children under
charge ana protection TO tho Sisters Of Mercy, whose
.ssr ssn .H csus Declined @ 1 q S
ply with the special order on The impregnabie ground
mat the American Catholic Church haa connection
che state aud could not DO found by It's behosss.
Ho incidcn tally mentioned that tor tho mouths
preceding sinco August 1853 the chief portion OF
labors all Catholic clergy OF Natchez had been
absorbed by the OF the sick and dying soldiers OF
the United States Army and OF the poor colorod
people gathered tnore IN onseQuence OF federal occu-
patton that he had himself given moro time to those
objects than he ever gave 10 any sick before In tho
same length Of time during all the eighteen years OF
his sacred ministry and that OF tho priests his
diocese, the one whom he most loved and esteemed
amoog ihem all (sev. Is. EIiA). had sacrificed his life
Tor she soldiers oil the Unitod states Army In Feb
ruary 1893, by going out OF tho diocese to Young's
Point, where an average OF = hundred Catholic
soldiers were DYING weekly. ne concluded his letter
IN these remarkable terms:-"lt YOU demand Of US,
IN tho name OF tho civil OF military government, 10
alter our religious worship, the caro- OF which Is In
trusted by God TO the Churcn alone our line oil con-
duct 10 simply and clearly marked out by the Divine
Author OF both Church and state, and with the assist
oil HIS grace We hope to adhere to it--.Render
TO CDsar tho thngs that CBsar's ana 10 God the
things that are Gods"
As the result Bishop Elder was sont out OF his
diocese 10 Vdan La, but on tho accession Of Briga
der General ~ Broyman to tho command OF the post
OF Naicbcz he issued special order No 81, Of August
H. 1864, huspsnding 10 much oil tho previous order
MS required Bisnop Eldor TO remain within the mill
tary lines oil Vidaiia aud permitting him 10 return to
his homo duties 'uutil the pleasure OF tho War
Department be known In MS case" Tho order tsrmi-
mated AZ ioows:-
Aud rs all solemn appeals to the Supreme Being
seedng from honest hearts and willing minds
necessarily OIL nsivo to HIN and rnbversve OF sound
morality mucp OF special order No. ~ unc H. 1894
requires puzzle to be pronounced la behalf OF tho
President OF tho United states anG the Union Is suspended
until further Orders leaving all persons conducting divine
ship at liberty to manifest such measures OF hostility
they feel anst tho governments aud inc Union OF
these States and their sympathy With tue rebellion by
emitting such application II 80 minded
Bishop Elder was born 10 Bait more In the year
1918, and received hrs early education In the schools
oil That city Being destined for ecclesiastical no
no entered Mount 81. Mays College, Emmctsburg
where he prosecuted MS theological studies unl he
had advanced To sub>dcaconshtp Ito ibcn went 70
Rome continuing his studies In the PSopags nda for
three yeats, when hs was ordained priest. On re-
turnng to mis- native diocese he was appointed pro-
lessor Of theology 10 Mount ST. Mays College and
made director OF that institution. He remained
In this position abodt ten years AMI was then pro-
NOTED To the Bishoprc OF Natchcz, where he re-
NAMED con tn uousy ior tho past twenty years lie
recently appointed coadIutor TO the Atchb shop
OF San Francisco aud would nave soon icit Tor his
new see