Yazoo City herald., 1890-09-19
OsaIA u Rsv. Father wm. 3. nIIss.


PIcayune, Isl
Z j. melancholy duty 10 Announce
with this lssuc the death u Rey. Father
VIM. X. Miles, >. j., which took place
from apoplexy al o'clock yesterday
afternoon. In the prime Of life, after
career of brilliant and strenuous en-
deayor and distinguished nsefnlness.
and with great faculties Of mind and
heart, he has passed from the struggle
Of time y the awards Df eternity, leay-
ing behind him memory that will be
gratefully and admIringly cherished By
the community NJ large and by his co.
laborers IN The cause 81 religion and
education.
Father Miles was a man OF immense
natural strength IN mind aud body
His eyes had the lightning Fash. his
voice the silvery ranes of a born orator.
capable Of the strongest feeling and en-
d0wed with a gift Of convincing arg,l-
ment. But the heart Of the man was
as the heart Of a woman, tender and
trIie. All his life an instructor of
| youth aud a student himself. his learn
ing was vast and varied. lie was par
excellence lingllist and Vas familiar
with the classical productions of angig-
uity and with the masterpieces in the
polite languages Of medieval and mod
ern times.
Father Miles was born IN jackson.
Miss, on the 30th OF June, lS4s. He
was the son Of Brigadier General WIN.
X. Miles, commanding Miles Legion
ia the Mississippi department
during the war, and now residing at
YazOo City, Miss. He was educated
BY the Jesuit fathers vt spring Hill
COLLEGE, Ala. Leaving college when
in the rhetoric class, he became ano-
vice in 1866 at Ions lie Saunier, de-
partment dc Jurat, France. lie stud
led the higher branches Of rhetoric at
Amiens aud completed his course OF
philosophy nc Poyanne, Spain. He
then came to New Orleans and Taught
philosophy in the Jesuit College, con
Quoted the higher classes Of English at
Spring Hill aud occupied the chair OF
rhetoric at Grand COteau.
After four years teaching he went TO
AK, near Marseilles, France, to study
theology and returned here a priest in
1881. The first sermon he delivered in
New Orleans was about that time The
subject Of his discourse was death" +"
and many are those who viii remember
the mastery and eloquent effort Of the
young priest on that occasion.
He remained here until 1888 when lie
was sent to England to make his third
probation and took his last VOWS on
Aug. 6, 1888. While in England it was
his privilege and good fortune to attend
a great mission held in Manchester, to
which about 100 Of the most distin-
giiished preachers Of Europe were pres
ent. 1t was here that the young
priests talent for oratory was develop
ed aud his eloquence first brought into
prominence.
In 1911 be returned TO New Orleans,
and has since taught philosophy, phys
les and chemistry at the Jesuit College. |
For the past two years he has been vice |
president of the college.
During the past six years he has FREE |
quently occupied the pulpit OF the |
church of the Immaculate Conception,
and his sermons have been admired for |
their convincing power and flow Of elo-
quence.
Father Miles was apparently enjoy
ing the best OF health up to the very |
last. Those who listened to his mag
nitieent sermon at high mass yesterday |
morning noticed little feebleness, but
they did not imagine for moment that
the gospel OF the day, the false con-
sciences Of the Pharisees, which urged
them to impose many false obligations
while neglecting real and more essen
tial ones.
After mass he repaired to his room
and retired. No particular alarm at
his condition was felt by his brother
priests, they believing that it was
nothing more than slight intlisposi-
tion. At o'clock in the afternoon the
fatal stroke came, his speech was stilled,
the final moment had come and all was
over.
The remains were clothed in priestly
robes and laid in state in the chapel Of
thesSo9cgy. Tie church, whose walls
have - oNen cchoed nis eneerng anu
consollng swords Of faith, hope and
will be drapcd in mourning
and the body exposed in the main aisle
near the ehancel.
The Jesuit fathers have communicate
ed the sad intelligence to General Miles,
at Yazoo City TO Father Edward Miles,
NJ. y. Of Jefferson college, st. James
parish, and to Mr.. Miles, Of Alexan-
dria, La. both brothers of the deceased
The news of the death of Rev. Father
Miles was received IN 1aIOOIltYSuhuay
night. 70 say that it caused sorrow,
is but TO state 1t mildly, for he was well
known and much beloved by not only
of the Catholic church, but by
every one who knew him. He made
friends of all who ever met him, and
his death Is II sad loss to his church, to
the community in which he lived and
10 the world Mt large, for his life was
such an one as TO be admired and re-
spected. His aged father, Gen. w. r.
Miles, with his wife, and Rev. Father
j. l.. Wise, left Monday evening to at
tend the funeral, which took place
Words fail to express the
that goes out from every one
to this aged parent, who feels most
heavily this great blow and sad ailiic-
ton which an Allwise Providence has
seen fit to send upon him.
Our community grieyes with the fam
lily and extends sincerest sympathy in
this hour Of their great sorrow and be-
rcavement.