The San Francisco call., 1906-07-02
Only Catholic Prelate at
the Wedding of Prin-
cess Ena.
SPECIAL p1spAToH no THE GAIL

SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL.
LONDON, July 1.-Only one member
of the Roman Catholic church in Eng
land assisted at the wedding of King
Alfonso and Princess Ena at Madrid.
That man was DIR. Brindle. Bishop of
Nottingham. He is remarkable man
and well deserving of the honor. He
was an army chaplain and won the
distinguished service order in Egypt
a fact which is chronicled in army lists
and biographical reference books for
all to see.
What is not there written is the
character of the man, the distinct per-
sonality which makes him so great a
power, not only in his church, but in
the busy world, and in every place
where men meet and matters of mo-
ment are discussed. His tall figure
| flashing eyes, and resonant voice be-
long rather TO the soldier than the
priest And yet those who knew him
as Provost OF the new cathedral al
Westminster, or who have claimed his
kindly services at the court of the
Vatican (where he holds high office)
remember him as the very type OF q
great dignitary Of the church militant
No chaplain was ever more popular
in the army with officers and men OF
all denominations. He accompanied
Wolseley's forces in Egypt and entered
Cairo in the days when England and
/ English plans were distrusted and dis
| liked. The epidemic of cholera that
decimated the city first proved to the
Egyptians what manner of men were
| those who had come to Introduce the
reign of law and order in their country
The ellaheen-starving and wretched-
! bowed before the pestilence as sent by
Allah. raising no finger to help them
I - s.-&I
to work to fight 1T, disinfecting, cleans
sick; and foremost in this work was al
ways the sturdy young chaplain who
seemed TO know neither fatigue nor
| fear.
At Tel el-Kebir, instead of remaining
with the ambulance he was with the
Royal Irish Regiment In their charge
over the entrenchments. He said he
wanted ito be with his boys" where
they needed him most. Two years
later he took part In the expedition
for the relief of Gordon at Khartoum
Though entitled to a horse he would
never ride. insisting fon tramping with
the men.
In 1896 he was in the Soudan again
with Kitchener fighting the Khalifa.
Dongola in that year and Omdurman
some time later were battlefields where
/ the chaplain's mettle was proved as
the wounded and dying found to their
comfort Although these came always
! first with Father Brindle, there was
/ not an officer or a private In the bri-
Eade but knew that he could reckon on
| .he chaplain for all possible support
and help. ~
| 1t was at Atbara that he won the
! d s. o. There he brought up ammuni-
! tion from the rear when Burn Muir
! doch's men were desperately defending
/ their zereba, attacked on all sides by
! the Mahdps fanatic Soudanese. Again
and again he crossed the line of fire
carrying the cartridge cases. The men
face to face with death, paused to cheer
| him as he passed.
After his appointment to the see OF
! Nottingham in 1901 he was present al
! reception in Cardinal Vaughan's
house at Westminster. The room was
crowded with officers who had served
\ in Egypt and had come to do honor &c
their old comrade. The Bishop wore
on. his purple soutane a long row OF
| orders and medals. the crescent of @
Turkish order hanging close TO his
episcopal cross of gold. DR.. Brindle
/ laughed heartily as one of his old
/ friends whispered to him: You die
not wear such fine kit, my lord, when
had my last chat with you. Yor
wore the khaki then.