The Irish standard., 1904-01-16

out over million books, pamphlets,
etc; (7) the preaching OF missions to
Catholics; (S) the formation Of
the Catholic Missionary Union and the
building of the Apostolic Mission
house for the training OF secular
priests to be missionaries to non
Catholics.
In all these many works Father De-
shon, who has just passed away, was
moving spirit. 1t is not claimed in
any sense that he originated all these
special movements, but under his
broad, liberal and approving admin
istration they have grown themselves.
Father Deshon has been the practical
man of affairs. 1t was under his pru-
dent management that the Paulist
Fathers were enabled to build the
great stone church that has become
one OF the landmarks of the upper
West Side. 1t partakes not little OF
his own massive, rugged nature. He
was genuine, simple man, with lit
tie OF the ornamentation that some
times constitutes with others veneer
to hide striking defects.
He was born in New London, eighty
years ago. His family goes back to
very early American ancestry. He
was reared in Professionalism. In his
early manhood he entered West Point,
and there was graduated second in a
class in which Grant was near the
foot. His early associations with
Grant had made them lifelong friends.
The military training he received was
SO inbred into his system that he was
ever after known as the Soldier
priest" on account OF his military
bearing. For five years after gradu-
alton he was instructor OF ethics and
mathematics.
1t was at this time that the religious
question interested him, and after
some years OF thought and investiga-
ton he submitted to the Church. In
his priestly life as missionary his
forte was the didactic Instructions, for
he had little of the orators power of
imagination. He was hard-leaded and
logical, with certain directncss OF
speech and forccfulness OF manner
that escllewed the graccs OF oratory.
The severity OF his mind led him to
incline to asceticisll, and his sermons,
volume OF which has recently been
published, were led with the best
ideas OF both ascctical and mystical
theology. He was all author OF some
distinction.
During his missionary life he pub
lished volume, Guide for Young
Women which has run through thir-
ty-two editions. He probably had as
much to do in shaping the activities
OF the Paulists as any one other mem-
Der, because of his hard-headed COM
mon sense view OF affairs.
Father Hccler referred to him a
great deal, while Father Hewitt, who
had no attrait for detail OF everyday
life, retired during the term OF his
superiorship to the quiet solitudcs OF
a scholarly life at the Catholic uni
versity and left the management to
Father Dcshon.. He continued in
charge OF affairs to the day OF his
death.
He rounded out long lie OF four
score years OF intense activity. He
was rarely, ii ever, sick and he died. as
he always desired, "in the harness"
and practically on his feet. He spent
the last evening OF his lie correcting
an old sermon. He retired at the
usual hour. Toward midnight, feel
ing that his heart was giving out, he
summoned an attendant BY hur-
ried call some of the fathers were
gathered at his bedside, the last sac
raments were administered and the
end came quickly, though not sud-
denly. He had a warning the week
before that at any time his heart
might stop and he was prepared for
the emergency.
Life for him was battlefield The
strictness and regularity OF his life
savorcd good deal OF the military
discipline OF the barracks. Every
morning OF his lie he was up and out
at o'clock, and was often the first
at the common meditation at $50 i'll
the chapel. He rarely, il ever, missed
celebrating his daily mass at 6 o'clock
and to all the other exercises Of his
priestly life he was just as faithful.
He is gone, but the great stone
church is his monument, and quietly
under its towers he is laid to rest.
Their massive, simple grandeur will
speak more eloquently than any cpl
taph of the rugged virtues and the
sterling worth OF George Deslon.
OnIV EnuliSh Snakes