The Irish standard., 1899-04-08

NS"iidiI HlluSiSe dlOAie kept MIN at
his post When Newman conversion
to the faith was announced, Father Fa-
Der Immediately followed his example
and he bade farewell to his parishioners
whom he loved and who loved him.
Painful as such separation must always
be, there were peculiar circumstances
which rendered his departure from Ell
ton particularly painful. He had
formed a society of young men who de-
termined to follow him, and their aban-
donment OF family ties was attributed as
a crime to their spiritual guide. He
and they were received into the house
OF ST. Chad at Birmingham, and from
thence he published the reasons for his
conversion.
His first care was to form little COM
munity out OF his Elton followers and
then to visit Italy to obtain countcnance
and funds for its maintenance. Thus.
out OF the small, mean house in Caroline
street. Birmingham, sprung the we'll
known London Oratory.
The young community. now known
as St. Wilfrid's, later, at Lord Shrews-
bury's invitation, moved to Cotton Hall
near Cheadlc and there Father Faber
began his Lives OF the Saints In
1850 Doctor Newman resigned his NOM
inal headsiip over the community and
Father Faber was elected superior The
labors he now undertook were very
great. He superintended the works of
the new house at Brompton, he preach
ed. he instructed the novices, he con-
Quoted vast correspondence and he
wrote many books.
When Faber was rector OF Elton,
Wordsworth. with whom he lived for
years on terms of intimacy. declared that
were it not for Frederick Faber's de-
voting himself so much to his sacred
calling, he would be the poet OF his age.
In 1885 he won the Nedigate poetry
prize, the subject being THE Knights
OF St. John" A few years later he pub.
lished two volumes OF minor poems
called from the leading piece in each,
"Cherwell Waterlily' and the "Stygian
Lake" OF higher order than these
was Sir Lancelot," romantic poem OF
great beauty, drawn from medieval
sources. 1t was between the fatigues
OF the ministry and frequent spells OF
sickness, that he wrote those pious
works in which the mysteries, doctrines
and devotional practices .oi Christianity
are presented in a style imaginative and
eloquent "All for Jesus" "The Foot OF
the Cross" Bethlehem" The Gre
ator and the Creature" The Precious
Blood Spiritual Conferences ap-
peared in quick succession.
He published also Book OF
Hymns" many OF which have found
their way into almost every collection.
Catholic and Protestant. of sacred lyrics
that have been printed since. They are
$50 in number, and cover the whole
range OF Catholic piety. His verses,
less labored and polished than Keble's,
quite make up in natural warmth what
they lack in artistic finish; and we ma,
find in them always that ease OF express
sion which we miss in the highly
wrought poems OF keblc The liglr
and charm OF these spiritual treatiscs
which unite mystical devotion with pro-
found theological learning, have OBJ
tanned for them an extraordinary popu-
larity, as many editions i'll England and
America attest.
The sweetness OF Father Faber's dis
position. the generosity OF his character
the excellence OF his poetical genius
especially the skill with which he has
dressed in popular style the most alb
struse doctrines OF Christianity, have ell,
dearcd his name to the Catholics of this
country and England.
The last three years OF his life were
marked by acute suffering borne will
singular courage and sweetness. At tho
head OF the largest community in Eng
land, created by himself, loved by al
its members, appreciated by the church
he had joined, and rcconciled to the
friends Of his youth, he passed away OF
the 26th OF September. 1868, his last
words being: God be praised" In his
Life and Letters OF Frederick William
Faber," Father Bowdens final sentence
is: "Words cannot reproduce the gra-
cious presence, the musical voice, the
captivating smile-cannot give back tc
earthly life the charm OF person, or the
fascination OF manner, any more than the
fire Of genius or the nobility OF SOUL
and cannot, therefore. satisfy those
whose labors were cllcercd, and sorrows
comforted, whose interior lives were
formed and directed to God, whose
brightest, happicst hours were blessed
by the wisdom, holiness and love ot
Frederick William Fabcr.'