The Irish standard., 1900-02-24
A PRELATE AND PATRIOT.
The Great and Venerable Archbishop
CrOke of CaShel.

Inc uEeat ana venerable Archbishop
Croke Of Cashel.
In all the long and glorious roll of
Irish prelates of the Faith, from ST.
Patrick's day down to Our own time,
there is no name better calculated to
inspire the affection and arouse the
enthusiasm of the Irish race than that
of the Most Rev. T. w. Croke, Arch
bishop of Cashel, says "The Irish
People" Never did patriot-prelate
better deserve the whole-hearted affec-
ton and veneration of his people. For
half-a-century the Most Rev. DR..
Croke has been commanding figure
in Irish ecclesiastical and public life
Men have come and gone-great
movements have arisen and failed or
partially acknowledgements have fall
EN- and weak states grown mighty
but the struggle for the Irish cause has
ever continued, and, steadfast as the
historic Rock OF Cashel itself, the great
archbishop has through all these years
been pillar of faith and patriotism
hopeful in the darkest hours, fearless
in the face OF gravest dangers, indomit-
able when even strong men shrank
from the fray-in his own proud, men,
orable words, unchanged and I'M
changeable."
He was ready to die for ireland in
the field of battle when mems desperate
thoughts turned to arms amidst the
horrors of 1848 Fifty years after his
voice was the first raised to bless and
welcome the United Irish League when
it arose to make another 'Forty-Eight
impossible. And all through the long
and cfangeful haf-century there never
was a movement or project for Ire
lands veal that did not count upon
his cordial sympathy and hearty sup
port without fear OF disappointment.
Surely, life like his is at once an ex-
ample and an inspiration.
DR.. Croke was born near Mallow in
1827-fve years before the act of eman-
cipation gave some of the privileges of
ordinary citizenship to a section of the
Catholics of Ireland He went to
school at Charleville until he reached
the age of ID, when, having finally de-
cided to embrace an ecclesiastical ca
reer, the young student entered the
Irish college at Paris, and in that sane
tuary, sacred to some of the dearest
traditions of Irelands prosecuted faith,
he spent six years, and passed with
great distinction through the usual
course of philosophy, theology, and
Canon Law.
His experiences i'll Paris, and later
on at Menin, in Belgium, where he
pursued his studies and filled profess
soral chair at the college, are often re-
ferred to by DR.. Croke in reminiscent
mood. He learned much of the ways
of men during his long stay on the
continent-and his career as a student
was as distinguished in Rome as in
Paris In 1886 he was gold medalist
OF the Roman university and during
that year he was ordained in the Etcr-
nal City, soon afterwards returning to
Ireland, where he was appointed Pro-
lessor OF Rhetoric i'll Carlow, the oldest
OF 1reland's ecclesiastical colleges
However, he had held this position for
scarcely a year when he was called to
take the chair Of Theology within the
walls Of his old Alma Mater, the Irish
college, Paris. Thoroughly pleased as
he was to return to the scenes of his
earlier studies DR.. Crokc was not des-
tined to remain long in his new sphere
OF labor. He was recalled shortly al
forwards to his native diocese, Cloync,
where he spent the following nine years
in missionary duties, which were
marked by active and devoted zeal and
untiring energy for the welfare Of those
conhded to his spiritual charge. Dur
ing those years, however, he did not
abandon his favoritc pursuits of his
torical study and sacred literature liteerF attn
We need not dwell upon the Incl
dents of the archbishop's splendid cler-
ical career. The curate became the
president OF St. Colman's college,
Fermoy, in 1858. In this important Of
flee his great abilities and his lovable
nature won the respect and love OF all
the pupils who passed through the COL
lege, and there are hundreds yet who
recall the years spent in old ST. COL
mans under DR.. Croke's rule as the
happiest period of their lives. In 1866
he left the college to become P. P. OF
Doneraile, whose people ever since
proudly boast OF his connection with
them. And in 1870 the devoted priest
was called to the See OF Auckland, New
Zealand
We quote from a sketch of Dr.
Croke's career, published some time
ago.
CDR. Crokc's career as bishop OF
Auckland was successful one. He
accomplished efficiently the tasks
which had been appointed him. But
after four years assiduous labor and
tell in the discharge OF his episcopal
duties his health broke down and he
was compelled to return to his native