Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-30
BISHOP BEOKERs IRISH.
One of the Few Men Who Are Mas
ters of the Celtic Tongue


Bishop Becker, of the Roman Catholic
See of Savannah, is probably one of the
most fluent linguists IN the church. There
are, perhaps, many men as learned, but
he Is said to be the only one who has ac-
complished the feat OF learning the Irish
language from books, so as to be able
10 compose and deliver an Irish speech.
The Bishop is born German, was
reared among Germans, and never heard
an Irish word till he went to Rome TO
complete his studies for the priesthood
While in the Eternal City he became in
teresJed in old Celtic lore. and set his
mind to mastering the language, and a
good many stories have been told OF him
while he was endeaVorng to grasp it's
complexities. One story was recently
lold that illustrates what may be termed
his natural ability as q linkuist With
the scarcity of Irish books and the lack
OF teachers 1t NAV be imagined that his
task was a difficult one. and indeed
almost unprecedented. For a time he
was the butt for numerous jokes from his
fellow-students, who considered him one
of the genus cranks. He continued his
studies, however, and his wonderful apti-
! tude for languages was shown by the re-.
| suit.
just before his ordination the birthday
| vi rope RUS l-A. occurred, and, accord
ing to custom. there was presc ntatiOn
OF addresses in different Languages to eel
| citrate the event. AS the propa ganda has
| students from nearly all the countries in
| the world there was no lack of variety in
the addresses. Onlv one European coun-
try lacked representation, and that was
ireland. Since 1t was known that the
Pope especially loved the Emerald Isle
and its people the Cardinal managers re-
anl UAhf tn huU NJ Iri1 "A a ~ A..
to send to Ireland for student, They
were saved this trouble by the prompt
offer OF Deacon Becker to fill the vacancy.
The Cardinals, knowing the young man
10 be German, were at first increduInus
ABOUT his ability to take the role, and he
| mad TO declaim in Irish before them fire.
quently before he was accepted. When
the eventtul day came everybody was on
! the qui viye Tor Becker's Irish speech.
and MANY were the predictions of break
| down on his part. Several Irish church
| dignitaries we're present, among them the
! great Cardinal Cullen, of Dublin. An
authority on Celtic literature.
| 1t happened that Becker was the first
one selected to approach the Pope WITH
an address, and what made matters more
! embarrassing to the Young man WIS the
| fact that Cardinal Cullen was Just at the
Pope's right and directly in front OF the
| speaker. At first he stumbled a little,
! but soon, warming to his theme. he
! launched of into graphic Irish picture
| Of the growth of the church under bis
| holiness pontiticate. The speech lasted
| half hour, and was delivered. after the
| first five minutes, with all the fiuencv and
gesticulatory accomplishments of q son of
the Emerald Isle.
The moment he finished Cardinal Cullen
grasped his hand warmly and praised the
effort, and, when all the speeches had
been delivered and the Pope had retired.
every one present gathered around the
| young German-lrishmsn. lie was the
hero OF the hour, and during the rest OF
his stay in Rome was looked upon as a
prodigy OF linguistic ability. A ter ordj-
nation he went to Richmond, Va, becom-
ing assistant at the Cathedral, and there
| became the idol OF the people on account
of his ability to speak Irish and German.
His great effort at Rome was soon re-
warded by his appointment to the See OF
! Wilmington, 1t is frequently asserted
That he is the only man in America who
has learned colloquial Irish from books.