The Irish standard., 1901-11-09
A SOldier-Bish0p.

a Dublin letter has the following:
With crozicr and sword crossed on
his coffin, Right Rev. Anthony Butler,
s. j., was buried in Demerara. 1t
was probably one of the most remark
able funerals in the annals Of the
church and of the British army, for
the body was borne to its last resting
place on 81 gun carriage. and us the
remains were lowered into the grave
made for them in the cathedral, SOL
diers outside fired their farewell shots
for the hero of the soutane and the
sahrctachc
Thus ended The career of one of the
remarkable men in the British Empire
ii career Of romance, adventure, and
ascctsm-that has few equals in the
pages of fiction.
Anthony Butler WAS II years old at
the time of his death. Born in the
county Glare, he was descended from
a family of high connections in both
Munster and ComlGlught, and was con-
ncrtrl with an army famiy." His
father was Walter Butler, OF Aslnfield,
and his mother. before her marriage,
Frances Blake. of l'rcnchfort. Several
members of the family have won dis
tnrlion under the colors in various
campaigns of early and recent dates. /.
Butler WAS educated at the famous
Jesuit College at Clongowcs and at
the OSrott School near Birmingham.
At 10 he entered the army as Il lieu
tenant in the Royal Irish Fusiliers,
serving In China and in the Indian
Mutiny. For deeds Of yalor he was
decorated with many clasps and med
ais, and his promotion was rapid.
lie was the idol of the younger Of
fircrs, and was Familiarity known as
TONY Butler, but little these royster-
ing, reckless tghtinS men Thought that
In years to come Capt. Butler, instead
Of being their boon companion In war
like exploits and adventures, would be-,
come their chaplain. This is what
actually occurred, though, for Mt the
age OF thirty-slx Butler Informed his
family that he had decided to abandon
the army and to join the church.
He was in barracks Mt Portsmouth
when Inc pcnncd the famous letter exs
pressing his determination to enter the
Jesuit novitiate Mt Rochampton, and
the letter is said to have been a
strangely Impressive document.
The earnest protests OF his family
we're futile, and In 1866 Captain But
Ter entered the Society of Jesus, ana
was ordained to the priesthood III 1872.
He was then sent to Jamaica on
mission, but soon returned to prose-
cute his theological studies, for which
purpose he eutercd the college at
Client. Belgium. Then Father Butler
took charge of n mission Mt Belford-
Leigh Lancashire, and in 1873 the Pope
appointed him Bishop Of Demerara
and vicar apostolic Of British Guiana,
in succession to the late DR.. Etherldge.
1t was ut this time that the eccles-
iasticnl fighting qualities OF the new
prclatc developed. The greatest diff
clIticS were surmOunted: schools, mis-
sions and converts multiplied, and
more especially was the cause of edu-
cation advanced, and the care Of the
unfortunate lcpcrs ON the West India
Islands promoted.
Arduolls labors finally affected the
sol1icr-bishop's robust health and the
depressing climate also had its ill ef-
fects. He visited Europe in 1898 in the
hope Of lettering his physical condi-
ton, and the trip improved him con-
sidcra|bly; but the ravages Of the ar
my service on the sun-scorched plains
Of India and the mlasmatic swamps
Of China had made deep impress on
his constitution, and upon his return
to Dcmarara he declined rapidly. The
end came peacefully twenty years ex-
acuy from the date Of his elevation to
the eplscopate, and Bishops Buffers
funeral took place with impressive
ceremonies at Georgetown, the Church,
the army and the state participating
in the obsequles. 1t was, however.
distinctly military funeral-some-
thing remarkable for a prelate Of the
Church of Rome.