The Irish standard., 1890-12-20
a LEARNED son.
The Church's Great Loss BY the
Death Of Cardinal Hergenrot her.

The ChlIrch's Great Loss By the
Death Of Cardinal Hergenroth er.
tury-His Magnificent Works in Spite oil
Ill Health His Death Caused BY Several
Attacks of ApOplexy.
BY the death some time ago of Cardinal
Hergenrother the Church has lost one of
her greatest ornaments of a centHry, and
one Of her most learned sons He had
been all his life long Of poor health, and
It is marvellous how he was able to work
ON for SO many years, steadily and perse-
veringly, in spite of his infrmities. The
quantity and Quality of the work done
was still more surprising.
Nearly every summer since his eleva-
zion to the cardinalate transferred his
ordinary residence to Rome, he has been
IN the habit Of coming to his old home,
passing the later summer months and
early autumn at various places in Ger
many and Austria, usually spending a
short time at some Of the health resorts.
This year the Roman climate seemed to
usual, and he was exceptionally weak,
and generally indisposed when he came
Aorth.
The German physicians formed a very
unfavorabie opinion of his condition,
prescribing absolute rest and fresh noun
tain air. He took up his abode at the
Gistercian Monastery of Mehreran in tn g
Vorarlberg, where at last he had more
than one attack of apoplexy, which had
a fatal termination on the evening Of
October 3.
Joseph Hergenrother was born at
Wurtzburg on Sept. Is, 1924, so that he
was d little over 66 years of age at the
time of his death. After the usual pre-
E1ninary studies he began his theological
course at the university of his native city,
but On account of his weak health he was
sent to the German College in Rome. Here,
however, the troubles Of 1S48 cut short
his studies. He was ordained priest, re-
turned to Bavaria and finished his course
at the University Of Munich, where he
had for one OF his professors DR.. Dollin-
ger, who conceived q high esteem for the
salents and character of his pupil He
took his Doctors degree in 1850, and was
immediately licensed to teach in the uni
Nersity as d privataocent. But his great
abilities and capacity were quickly recog
nized, and, two years later, when only
in his Goth year, he was APP
pointed, mainly on the recommendation
of Dollinger, professor of canon law and
ecclesiastical history in the University Of
Wurtzburg. Here he passed a quarter of
s. century along with Hettinger, who died
last January, lamp of knowledge, a
pillar OF faith, and a pattern of piety for
she students. The reputation of the uni
versity as a school Of sound Catholic
theological teaching is we'll known, and
has attracted to it's halls many students
from outside Bavaria. 1t has been for
sunate in it's staff of professors, but the
pair we have just mentioned, Hettinger
and Hergenrother, contributed much to
building up it's good name He was one
OF the divines summoned to Rome to
sake part in the preliminary discussions
which We're to prepare the subjects to be
brought before the Vatican Council. 1t
has since become known that Plus TX.
was so deeply impressed with his learn
ing and his extensive acquaintance with
Church history in all it's branches, that
he contemplated raising him to the dig
nifty of Cardinal. He indicated as much
even in II conversation with Bishop
Fessler, afterward secretary to the Coun-
cil But, probably fortunately for the
interests of the Church in Germany, he
did not carry out his purpose, and it was
reserved to the present Pope to confer
upon him the honor contemplated by his
predecessor. He was created Cardinal in
May, 1879, in the company of Cardinal
Mgliara, and of the late Cardinals Peeci
and Newman. The Pope testified his
thorough appreciation of the services and
the capacity of the new Cardinal by the
duties ASST gned to him, which required
that he should sever his connection with
his beloved Wurtzburg and reside at
Rome. He was appointed project of the
Apostolic Archives, in which position he
bad a rare opportunity, of which he fully
awaited himself, of rendering a great SER
vice to the Church and to historical truth
and it's students. Leo XIII. wished to
make the treasures of the Vatican Library
available for historical investigation,
fully convinced that the Catholic religion
has nothing to fear from the fullest pub
icity of the truth. The new Ger
man Cardinal heartily concurred in
this wish Of the Pope, know
ing by his own experience that the
publication of the truth as to the facts of
history was most powerful weapon for
combating error and Misrepresentation
The Holy Father appointed historical
commission, whose duty it is to examine
the historical documents of the Vatican
Library, to publish, as may be found con-
yenient, such of them as may be consid-
cred most useful, and TO facilitate their
inspection and publication by historical
students under proper safeguards. Car
dinal Hergenrother had large share in
she arrangement OF the details for carry
ing out the intentions of the Pope, the
successful issue of which has immensely
exceeded all anticipations. Under his
supervision the archives were thoroughly
examined and Systematically arranged