The Irish standard., 1895-02-16
DIED A CATHOLIC.
An Authentic Contribution to the
Biography Of Thomas Moore
From the Pen of
DR.. AMBROSE, J, NJ, P. FOR LOUTH,
The Question of the Religion Of Ire
lands Poet and Songster Set
tied Beyond Doubt.


The Irish Ecclesiastical Record for
this month contains paper, the produc-
tion of Mr.. Daniel Ambrose, NJ. r. for
Louth, and is certainly most welcome
and, by all appearances. most authentic
contribution to the biography Of Tom
Moore, says the Irish World. 1t came
as painful surprise to hundreds Of
thousands Of Irish Catholics all the world
over to hear in 1862, when he died, that
Moore in the end had renounced the
faith Of his youth, and proved untrue to
the early teachings of his humble but de
voted Catholic parents. Mr.. Ambrose
tells us that with all his recollections OF
Moore his "Travels Of an Irish Gentle
man in Search of Religion, "bie noble mel.
odles, with their thrilling references to
that Church, whose 'Crown was of bri-
ars," while "Gold her rivals brow
adorned" and hundred other evideoc y
Of the poets loyalty to the ancient taish
-he found it hard to think that Moore
could have proved such srecreant to old
traditions and to parental teaching
With this doubt strong in his mind, and
with fellowcountryman's admiration
Tor our national poet, Dr.. Ambrose says:
''Some years ago made pilgrimage
TO the place where he lived most of the
time he spent in England, where he
breathed his last and where his remains
lie inferred. Some facts that came to
my knowledge during that pilgrimage I
narrated soon after to the editor OF ole
of the chief American magazines. He
was much interested by them, and re
quested me to forward them to him for
publication, yaI did 30. bnt the, MS got
lost; and lately, having related the sans
incidents to an esteemed clerical friend,
on his assuring mo he considers them OF
some ecclesiastical Importance. I have
again written them, and forward them
for whatever value they may possess, for
insertion in the Irish Ecclesiastical Rec.
ord. I may state, in advance, that the
letter copied in the concluding portion of
this paper, is still in my possession. and
the reverend gentleman who wrote it is
still, am happy to say, alive and ready
to further attest what I qHgte him for. :"
DR.. Ambrose proceeds td tell US that
having got to Devices, popularly sup
posed to have been the home and the
burial place OF Moore, he found that not
at Devices, but at Bromham, village
come five miles distant, he was to look
for the sought for spots. On his arrival
at Bromham he tells US that after pass
ing through long, narrow street, I
reached the parish church, which is sur
rounded by a graveyard, wherein the
poet is buried. Having obtained the aid
Of the sexton, young man, entered the
church. The first thing that attracted
my attention was very handsome stained
glass window, representing the Day Of
Judgment. The central figure is our
Savior, with angels blowing trumpets.
Underneath is Justice, with sword and
scales. On the right is an angel with an
olive branch calliug the elect, and on the
left is one with flaming sword, repell-
ing the wicked. Over all are angels car
rying shields,on which are written, Sound
the loud timbrel DER Egypt's dark sea-
words from the best known of the poets
sacred songs. Underneath is the follow
ing inscription: This window is placed
in the church by the combined subscrip-
tions of two hundred persons, who honor
the poet of all circles and the idol of his
own-Thomas Mocre.' At the end of
the church is window Of stained glass,
representing the crucitixion, erected to
tbs memory Of Mrs. Moore. The work
OF obtaining the subscriptions for the
poets window was undertaken by Mr..
end Mrs. S. G. Hall, and it was placed at
the west end of the church; for, ss Mr..
Hall said: The west Moore dearly loved,
often watching the setting of the sun in
the west; and, moreover, it is the point
nearest to Ireland
Son coming out OF the church Moore's
grave was pointed out to me. It lies
within q few feet of the gable OF the
church. i was glad to see that it showed
evidence OF being cared for. A large,
high iron railing surrounded q plain
tombstone almost level with the ground
DR.. Ambrose then quotes the inscrip
tion on the stone, with which many Of
our readers are already familiar, and
which % srrtainly contains nothing to indi-
cate that Moore died IN the Catholic
faith. Mr.. and Mrs. s. @. Hall, above
i to plainly insinuated, # they