The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-08-18
The Late Most Rev. George Conroy, D Bishop
of Ardagh and Clonmacneise, and Papal Able
gate to the dominion Of Canada.

The Late Most Rev George Conroy, D D, Bishop
of Ardagh ana Clonmacnoise, and Papal Able
gate to the dominion Of Canada.
r. Y Irish American.
A dispatch from St. Johns, Newfound-
land, received ON Monday of last week,
brought the sad intelligence that the Most
Rev. George Conroy, D. D Bishop OF Ar
pal Ablegate to the Dominion of Canada,
died suddenly on Sunday evening, 4th
instant, of syncope, at the residence of
Bishop Power. He had been the guest of
Bishop Power from June %, and was suf.
fering for some time from Inflammation of
the lungs, but had apparently recovered,
and on Sunday morning was pronounced
in a condition to travel with safety. He
was considered one of the ablest of the
Irish Bishops, and had attracted the spe-
cial notice of the late Cardinal Francbl
during short visit paid by the latter to
Ireland few years ago, which was the
cause of his being entrusted with the very
important mission to Canada, in the dis
charge of which he visited the New World.
Or. Coproy was native of Dundalk,
where he was born December 3lst, 1852
His early stNdies were made in Armagh,
but at the age of seventeen he was sent to
the College of the Propaganda, in Rome,
where, after a six years. course, during
which he greatly distinguished himself, he
was ordained to the priesthood, and on his
return to Ireland was appointed to pro
fessorehip in All Hallows Missionary Col
lege, nea7 Dublin. There he remained
till 1856, when Cardinal Cniien, attracted
by his admin jstrative ability and learning,
appointed him his private secretary. For
several years DR.. Conroy fulfilled not only
the onerous duties of this position, but
also occupied the chair OF Theology in
Holy Cross Seminary, Clonl1fe, aud super
intended the editorial management OF the
In
was appointed by Pope Plus TX, Bishop
of the united dioceses of Ardagh and Clon-
macnoise, and on April 11th of that year
he was conseerated in the Cathedral of
Armagh, of which ecclesiastical province
tn 0se dioc sses form part. The two dio
| ceses thus placed under the spiritual Juris
distiDn of the yopng prelats are am o1g the
| oldest in Ireland. That of Ardagh was
| founded in the middle of the fifth century,
| and Clnn naenoise about century later.
! Each has been distinguished for long
| line of pioas. zeAlous aud patriotic Esshops,
| thoroughly devoted to religion, charity
| and education.
| Bishop Conroy's administration, froc-
the fret, was marked by the same energy,
| discretion and wisdom which had charac-
ter7ed him in subordinate positions. HE
| visitations were frequent and exact, ano
his efforts to promote Cathonc eoucat'on
| among all classes untiriDg. When. on ac-
| count of some administrative differences
which had sprung up in the Church in Gao
| ado, the Sovereign PontiH resolved to send
thltber 3 legate, with a view to their ad-
jIstment, Bishop CoDroy was chosen
and on May 81, 1877; he left Irelant for the
new scene of his labo7s. His fret ohtcia
act on this continent was. the consecratiou
of the Most Rev. DR.. Hannah. ArchbishoL
of Halifax, N. S., on Sunday, May 30, 1877
| From thence he proceeded to Quebec
Montreal, Ottawa, and the cities of Upper
ECanadA, remaining for some time th'
Igueet Of the Most Rev. DIR. Lynch, Arch
bishop of Toronto. Everywhere he wa
the recipient of. ovations in extent AMI
splen6or unequal,ed on this side of the At
lausie his own we'll known merits, a
we'll as the dignity Of his office as repre-
sentative of the Head of the Church, evok
ing the most intense feelings of enthusiasm
among the Catholic 'popoiation. The de
nenstration in Montreal was especlall
imposing tho streets OF that city wer
beautifully decorated, and the processio
which passed through them numbered owe
eight thousand persons, while tens OF thous
ands lined the sidewalks. In Toronto ah
other western towns, his presence was ais
the signal for grand Catholic displays; an
during his sojourn at the Seminary of on
Lady of Angels, Suspension Bridge, NeV
{ York, his reception was OF the same corO
3 ial and aAectionate character. Daring hi
3 stay here DR.. Conroy was bhe recipient {
many tSUUTSbS6S, Ga0 uOSb poih
3 that presented to him, on the S3d of JSnu
3 ary last, at the residence OF the Rev. Ed
3 ward Corcoran, pastor of ST.. Joseph
Q church, Pacific street, Brooklyn, by
4 number of priests on the American Missio
d who had been among his former student
j in the College Of All Haliows. The Lament
T ed prelate likewise delivered several Bel
g mons on the doctrines, discipline an
i present sf1 lotions of the Church, all r'
9 markable fer profOundity, clearness an
t eloquence. His style WAS classical an
i severe, rather than ornate or rhetorical
K but what it lacked in grace and beauty VIZ
: more than supplied by the precision wit
which he stated his propositions, and II
|, artistic method with which he drew hiscoI
s clusions.
d DR.. Conroy was q man of middle statur
II stout, hale and hearty with round an
IT full face and forehead broad and slopir
z. high. His emitting features indicated tt
h possession of kind heart but the squic
e searching eye, the determined, firm lip
10 denoted that master will resided with
H., Sci H,-.o