The Irish standard., 1898-06-18
LIFE AND lABoRs OF JOHN ENGLAND.
THE GREAT MAN WAS A NATIVE OF
THE CITY OF CORK.
ADDRESS TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
IN THE HALL OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WASHINGTON, d.. c.

Bishop England has been called "the
light Of the American Hierarchy" His
profound learning vigor of thought. en-
ergy of action, irresistible eloquence,
religious zeal and fervor, talents for ad-
ministration and enlightened enterprise,
made his influence and usefulness in
ecclesiastical affairs very great. He
was also distinguished for the dazzling
qualities of mind and heart that make
up the citizen and patriot.
John England was born at Cork, Ire
land, September 23, 1886. His boyhood
was in the days of his country's trial,
and persecution; and the wrongs he saw
and suffered made lasting impression
upon his mind and character, and intl,l-
enced greatly the conduct of his entire
life. His parents were people possessed
of worldly competency and belonged
to the great mass of Irish Catholics who
suffered so severely at the hands of
England, in their faith, goods, liberty,
| pCe1SO oA1u pOllIlCo1 1lSHlS.
His grandfather was among those who
went to prison for his faith, and his
honor, and as the patriot entered his
cell his wife, stripped of the last rem
her last illness under the roof of kind
neighbor, died and was buried by
strangers. Their eldest son, then in his
seventeenth year, became a parent to
| supported by teaching school. But it
was then unlawful for "Papist' to
| teach even the neutral science of geom-
etry.
There was not wanting informers to
prompt the government; he was, how
ever, in consequence Of his youth, al
lowed an opportunity of eXtricating him
self from the punishment, whicsl was
transportation, by swearing that he did
not believe in the. doctrines of Transub-
| sanitation, Penance and the Invocation
of Saints. But to him death would have
been preferable. He succeeded in maxi
ing his escape to the mountains. and
after year he secretly returned to the
city.
John England was the eldest son Of
such a father, and inherited in great
degree his parents faith, fidelity and
courage. The school of persecution in
which they were nurtured directed the
hearts Of Mr.. Englands children to
lofty and holy aspirations, for his own
family contributed two priests and one
religieuse to the church.
In the afflicted condition of his coun.
try at this time young John England
| had to attend the school of q Protestant
teacher. 1t was choice between this
and no school at all. Here he was SUBJ
jected to persecution for his faith, for
the bigoted teacher used to apply to
him, publicly before the whole school,
the insulting but glorious title of "the
little Papist," and thus expose him TO
the contempt of his associates.
The profession of law was the first at
tempt at practical business life. He en-
tered the office of an eminent barristcr,
under whom he pursued his legal studies
for two years. The beneficial effects of
these studies were ever afterwards ap-
parent in his public life. But the designs
of Providence, and his own pious inclin-
alton, soon attracted him TO the sancl,.
ary.
In the second year after his entrance
into Carlow he delivered catechetcal in
structiens for children, but they were SO
attractive that they soon were attended
by throngs of adults. He also devoted
much of his time to the instruction of the
Cork militia. In this he met with opposi-
tion from some bigots, who procured a
court martial to try those who attended.
which resulted in the approval of the
ministry of this young apostle. So much
were his talents appreciated at this ear
ly period, before he was licentiatc in
theology, that he delivered lectures in
the Cathedral during Lent.
In 1903 Bishop Moylan (brother OF
Gen. Stephen Moylan, aide-de-camp of
Gen. Washinston) called the young stu
dent to Cork, and appointed him pres-
dent of the seminary. DR.. Moylan had
already obtaired dispensation permit
ting John England to be raised to the
priesthood before attaining the canon
ical age Of 25 On the 9th of October,
1908, he conferred deaconship upon him,
and on the following day ordained him
as priest. Soon after this ordination
he began his lectures in the cathedral
on the Old and New Testament, in which
he matured and perfected that brilliant
and irresistible pulpit oratory which In
structcd, electrified and suhdued thous-
ands Of his native and adopted countries.
In 1917 he was appointed parish priest
Of Bandon, the seat of such bitter